Welcome to December—the month where your to-do list triples, your patience halves, and somehow Mariah Carey is legally required to play in every building you enter.

While everyone else is stress-baking cookies and trying to remember where they hid the presents, the real estate world is still twinkling right along. Homes are being listed, deals are being made, and yes—people are still moving (even if the rest of us can’t find the tape for wrapping gifts).

So grab your coziest blanket, your most festive beverage, and let’s sleigh our way through this month’s market update where you will find volunteering highlights, a look at year-to-date market trends, featured listings, tips on preparing for a cold weather home inspeciton, advice on choosing a home that will be cozy all winter long and how to extend the life of your water heater.