Category Archives: Home Trends

What Do First-Time Buyers Want?

A recent issue of Realtor Magazine noted that first time home buyers make up roughly a third of the buyers who will hit the market this year, and that number keeps growing. They are a little younger than the repeat buyers who currently dominate the market and they are thriftier.  At a median age of 31 (versus a repeat buyer who is on average 53), their average income is $70,000. They also have a different set of priorities. read more

Fall Tune-Up Checklist

Homeownership comes with its share of routine seasonal tasks and chores. But keeping track of what needs to be done – and when – can be a challenge. To help homeowners stay on top of their maintenance projects, home improvement retailer Lowe’s offers easy-to-follow checklists for each season of the year ad covers both inside and outside chores. Get your home ready for Fall and Winter with these tasks: read more

Top 10 Trendiest Home Features

Whether you’re thinking of selling soon or have an eye on remodeling with solid return-on-investment potential, think about which features make your home oh-so-desirable when it’s time to list. Ananalysis of the Realtor.com listings over the past five years found that the following items were listed most often, solidifying a venerable spot among buyers’ favorites: read more

Outside Entertaining Made Easy

Summertime, and the living is easy? It may not seem that way when you’re entertaining guests, but hosting friends and family doesn’t have to be stressful, especially if you choose to do it outside using these simple ideas from Martha Stewart.

Even before prime outdoor entertaining season gets underway, stay ahead of the game with built-in decorations. Hanging brightly patterned or monogrammed dishes on the side of your house can make a fun and personal statement. A graphic-print umbrella on the patio can tie the space together. Create storage space and seating (and add another pop of color) by painting wooden chests and topping them with custom cushions made of waterproof foam and fabric. read more