Archives for August 2020

COVID-19 is still creating a lot of uncertainty—which has many homeowners wondering whether now is a good time to sell their home. Well, as it turns out, now isn’t just a good time to sell your home—it’s one of the best markets to sell your home in years.

A recent article from realtor.com outlined the top reasons why now is the perfect time to sell your home, including:

• Demand is high and inventory is low. After months of being stuck at home due to COVID-19, buyers are emerging ready to make a purchase—but there just aren’t enough homes to keep up with demand. According to realtor.com’s market outlook housing inventory was down 27 percent year-over-year in June. Fewer homes mean more buyer demand—and higher prices for sellers.
• Mortgage interest rates are low. Mortgage interest rates are at an all-time low; according to data from Freddie Mac, on August 6, average interest rates hit 2.88 percent for a 30-year fixed-rate mortgage. Buyers are scrambling to lock in those low-interest rates (and save big money in the process)—making it an ideal time for sellers.
• The economy is showing signs of recovery. There’s no denying that COVID-19 initially sent shock waves through the economy. But unemployment is starting to trend downward, meaning more people are getting back to work—and more people may be in the economic position to purchase a home. “Data from May and June suggests that businesses are adding back jobs as consumers get back to spending, and some companies are now scrambling to keep up demand,” realtor.com’s chief economist Danielle Hale said in the article. “Some speculated that we’d see a sharp bounce back in activity, and I think it’s fair to say that’s what we’re seeing so far.”

The point is, there hasn’t been a more seller-friendly market in years—so if you’ve been thinking about selling your home, now is the perfect time to make a move.

Most homeowners and real estate agents will agree that decor from the 1980s and ‘90s can make a room feel dated, and perhaps even unappealing. But one iconic brand from that era is leaning hard into the nostalgia aesthetic and generating plenty of interest.

The last standing Blockbuster video store, located in Bend, Oregon, is offering movie buffs the chance to visit the past and spend the night inside the film emporium in September. Listed on Airbnb as the ultimate “End of Summer Sleepover,” this store looks a lot cuter and cozier than you may remember. In fact, you might want to incorporate some of these details to recreate a nostalgic overnight in your own home and save yourself a road trip to the Pacific Northwest.

Take a walk down memory lane as you peek inside these eclectic accommodations. No membership card required!

Mix bold colors

Movie mavens would recognize that royal blue and gold sign anywhere. Who knew it worked so well with black-and-white area rugs? The takeaway: Don’t be afraid to mix and match bright shades and bold prints!

Get comfortable

Throw pillows, a beanbag chair, and ambient lighting, courtesy of those table lamps, make the space super-comfortable. Whether you’re ready to watch a rom-com, drama, or even a horror flick, you’ll feel right at home.

Get your old gear out

Turntables have made a big comeback, why not the VCR? Rather than hide your electronics, put them on display, and give your space a hip, vintage vibe.

Snack bar, anyone?

You don’t need a fancy retail rack, but a nice display of snacks on an end table will round out the room and the mood.

Make a statement with retro bedding

These sheets are a total throwback to the sleepovers of yesteryear. Relive the good old days by popping in a flick and falling asleep to the voices of Marty McFly and Doc Brown.

So, if you’d love a night at this Blockbuster Airbnb, but can’t book yourself a night, at least you can recreate this vibe and enjoy a throwback night right in your own home!

But…

If you had the chance, would you want to spend a night in this Blockbuster? If not, what store would make the ultimate overnight retreat?

As our communities work hard to flatten the curve, we also continue to face new challenges and learning curves of our own. This August looks very different from last year for many children and families throughout the country. Virtual back-to-school nights and remote learning from home have become the new norm. Not to mention, working parents are adjusting their schedules to oversee their children during the school day. 

This month’s newsletter explores some of the challenges of at-home learning with the goal of offering some helpful resources, classroom design inspiration, lunch ideas and more. We also take a look at the local real estate market, which has earned very high marks throughout this pandemic. Read on for the full scoop!

Class is in session…at home! With many of our homes now doubling as classrooms, we’ve found a few ways to transform any room or small space into the perfect study spot. Check out these fun and creative ideas for some inspiration. 

Create a Cozy Study Space: Limited on space? Build a “Study Nook” in your child’s room to create a comfortable, organized, and efficient place for them to learn from home. You can also utilize a space in the bonus room, art, music, game or playroom. Check out this adorable Parsons Mini Smart Desk from Pottery Barn. If your child is on the go, they also have a great mobile Lap Desk.

Designate a Special Area for Reading: It’s no surprise that children tend to get stir crazy when sitting in one place for long periods of time. So switch things up when it comes to reading time! Whether you have a playroom or a small space in your child’s bedroom, designate an area where your child can escape from the “classroom” and curl up with a good book. Use your imagination and gather a reading chair and comfy blankets, some fluffy pillows, a bean bag chair, reading tent…the possibilities are endless! You can also purchase a bookshelf to store their books and tie the space together.

Stay Organized: Organization is essential to staying on track for the school year…especially when merging the classroom and home. Take advantage of color-coded bins to store homework for each subject, add initials next to each child’s workspace, personalize cubbies, organize school supplies in an easily accessible rolling cart, and hang floating shelves and file holders to your room of choice. 

Utilize Natural Light: Have you ever been stuck working in a poorly lit cubicle and had a hard time focusing? The same applies to your kiddos…Help them stay motivated by letting nature inspire them! Creating a study room near windows is not only easier on the eyes, but it will also help them focus on their studies better. You can also breathe some life into the room with beautiful succulents or indoor plants. 

Choose Active Seating: Do your little ones have a hard time sitting still? Encourage them to stay active while they’re studying by swapping out traditional chairs with exercise balls. This is also a great option if you’re trying to fit everything into a small study room.

Be Mindful of Distractions: When choosing a study room or area, be mindful of distractions and noises like the television, phones, tablets and anything that might interest them more than their upcoming math test. Opt for background music or silence during study time. 

Forget about that boring PB&J sandwich, stale cookie, and those uneaten apple slices…Lunches at home mean that we can be a little more creative and healthy, even when we’re on a time crunch. Check out these simple yet satisfying lunch recipes that will have your kids asking for seconds! Quesadillas with a Twist: Pair this black bean and sweet potato quesadilla with avocado slices, pineapple chunks, and tortilla chips for a healthy (and easy to make) lunch.  Turkey Roll-Ups: If your kid is a fan of the classics, you can’t go wrong with these turkey roll-ups. Pack with pretzels, celery sticks dipped in peanut butter, and cinnamon-sprinkled apple slices for a well-balanced meal.  Pasta Salad: If your kids are adventurous, try this California pasta salad, which is loaded with veggies. Pair with some fruit slices for a hearty lunch. Breakfast for Lunch: Is your kid a fan of brunch? Turn on the skillet and whip up these delicious buttermilk pancakes. Pair with some strawberry slices, a hard-boiled egg, and squeezable yogurt for a delicious meal. Easy Pizza Pocket: Short on time? Make these easy pizza pockets with a can of refrigerated biscuits, lots of cheese, and pizza toppings of your choice. You can save even more time by buying a jar of pizza sauce. These pair perfectly with a side salad. Cookie Bars: Ok so these may not be the healthiest option, but they’re certainly better for us than processed cookies. So put the Oreos down and make a fresh batch of cookie bars for the school week! You can’t go wrong with this chocolate chip recipe from Tollhouse.    Having the kids home from school is taking on new meaning these days. That’s why we’ve pulled together some informational links and resources to help you overcome the learning curve that comes with this big change.  In this article, the author reaches out to teachers for tips on designing environments at home that are as conducive to learning and discovery as the classrooms they have lovingly created. This article published by Children and Screens shares 10 tips for successfully navigating the new realities of online learning.  A recent online article published by Time magazine shares the secrets to keeping your kids happy, busy, and learning during school closures.  Julie Mason, a former teacher, and now mother of three and head of content and curriculum at TeacherVision, shares a helpful guide and at-home learning resources for both parents and students. This online article published by The Center for Discovery outlines some safe indoor and outdoor activities for families during Coronavirus.  According to a recent article from Redfin, more than 27% of homebuyers are searching out of town, with Phoenix, Sacramento and Las Vegas being the most popular destinations. The reasoning behind this? The pandemic is causing homebuyers to rethink what they want in a home, with more people relocating to places where they can afford more outdoor space and room for home offices, according to the article. Click here to read the full article.

Once you’ve completed your schooling, you’d probably prefer not to set foot on a school bus again. After all, those yellow behemoths are hardly synonymous with luxury. And yet, one couple, Robbie and Priscilla, opted to skip the RV route and instead renovate a 1998 Thomas school bus. The results send them straight to the head of the class when it comes to working some real makeover magic.

Take a peek at the finished product, which proves you don’t have to be a rock star to have a tricked-out bus.

Looks like your standard school bus with a fresh coat of paint. Not so fast… Check out that fancy front door. Step inside (virtually) and prepare to fall in love with this tiny home on wheels.

So cozy!

The potted plants are a nice touch. Let’s hope they’re bolted down so they don’t spill when the rubber meets the road.

Check out this clever use of space. Who couldn’t benefit from a pull-out pantry?

Forget the PB&J in your lunchbox! You could cook up feast in this sophisticated kitchen, complete with farmhouse sink and subway tile.

The lofted bed makes room for the washer-dryer combo, which will save the owners a trip to the laundromat.

Nicer than you’d find in some homes, the floor and shower tile make the small but elegant bathroom appear larger.

The propane heater allows for year-round use. While cats aren’t traditionally fans of road trips, that kitty looks pretty comfy. Can you blame him?

How would you like a soaking pool that is big enough to comfortably fit the family, easy to maintain, and costs around $440 to get started?

Whether you live in a place like this…

Or this, you can’t beat a deal like that

Stock tank pools are a new trend quickly rising in popularity. You might be thinking, “I don’t know how I’d feel swimming in a cow trough.” But these pools aren’t just inexpensive. They are highly versatile.

For instance, this “cow trough” has a saltwater filter, a waterfall, and quite the setup for day or night soaking

Tractor Company Supply has commented, “More and more, we see our customers turning to this innovative solution as a way to enjoy many of the benefits of a pool without the high cost.”

Setting one of these pools up is easy too. All you need is a flat surface large enough for the stock tank, and the pump. Then set up the tank, seal it, put the pump on and fill it up.

You can use gravel or sand to help create a flat area

You can also simply sink them into the ground for added insulation and style

Annie McCreary, the owner of a stock pool, wrote on Instagram wrote, “We use an above ground pool pump/filter.” She also stated, “We do add chlorine as needed, just like a regular pool/spa. I test it daily with the pool strips, [and], I shock it once a week—so easy! If it gets too funky, it’s easy to drain and re-fill.”

You can style your pools any way you like, and not have to spend tens of thousands for it

Or you can decorate using the most versatile DIY material ever, the wood pallet

“Sounds pretty simple, but is it really? How do I make one of these?”

Stacey Maaser, author of Embracing Motherhood put together this detailed stock tank pool DIY to show you how to create one suitable for the whole family. Bottom line… it’s inexpensive, easy to do, can be turned into any sort of soaking tub paradise you can imagine, and it can fit nearly anywhere. What’s the drawback?

My guess is, never wanting to get out

Few people would say they’re satisfied with their current closet situation. From lack of space to poor lighting, there are plenty of reasons to covet about a closet upgrade.

One woman got a closet makeover that’s safe to say surpasses most people’s dreams. How did it come about? Her husband Rodolfo Cabrera, the talented owner of Maryland-based Remodeling & Design LLC, converted their unfinished walk-up attic space that was going to waste, so the builder decided to repurpose it. The transformation is nothing short of spectacular.

Brace yourself for serious closet envy!

Looks like a massive undertaking, right? Not so for Cabrera. He went right to work framing the space, then installing the drywall and electrical work. He even put a split air conditioning unit up there, making it even “cooler” than your average closet in more ways than one!

With the walls in place and painted this vibrant white, you can see it already taking shape. The LED lights make it nice and bright. No more hunting around in a dark closet!

This window adds tons of natural light but if the couple gets dressed in there, they may want to hang some curtains as soon as possible.

These built-in shelves are beautiful and will help keep clothing and accessories well-organized and easy to reach.

As if the closet itself weren’t beautiful enough, take a look at the ultra-modern staircase that leads to it.

This floating staircase is a work of art in itself.

Now that is a way to put an unfinished attic to better use!