Sold!

In the first few years we lived in the Huon Valley, we spotted a pattern. Each spring, the 'for sale' signs would go up along the Huon Highway, and when the temperatures dropped in autumn, they would be taken down again. It looked like the owners were hoping for a 'lottery win' sale to a passing tourist over the summer season, but weren't really serious about selling. During that time, prices were mostly flat. Properties took a long time to sell. Six to nine months would be good. Much like most regional areas, I expect.

That's not the case now. Hobart has become a very competitive market and where we live, only 40 minutes drive from the centre of town, has picked up too. Lately, the Huon Highway is lined with 'sold' signs and many of those properties were only on the market for a few weeks. To explain why, here's a video of one of our local real estate agency principals discussing the state of the local market this month. Thinking of moving here? Get in quick!

Seven years in paradise

Yesterday marked seven years since we arrived at our little piece of paradise in Tasmania's Huon Valley. So much has happened and yet so little has changed. The weather yesterday looked almost exactly the same as the day we arrived.

Compare the photo of me in the very first post on this blog, when I looked a little dazed from the relocation, the dislocation. The sun rises noticeably north at this time of year - see the shadow in the photo above - and dews are heavy. Fog starts to appear in the valley, but up on the hill, it's usually sunny.  The occasional patch of frost. A few snowflakes falling. Some dark and moody days heralding winter.

Autumn is a spectacular time in the valley. Moving to Tasmania was definitely one of the best decisions we ever made. I am so grateful we've landed here.

Backyard of Fires

Okay, it's not exactly the famous Bay of Fires in the north east of Tasmania, or a tourist attraction, but we have a lot of rocks at our place that are also covered with a striking bright orange lichen.