Having a Baby? What's Hot in Nursery Decorating Trends.

Nursery Decorating Trends for 2016

by Jacklyn Renz

Whether it’s your first or your fifth, having a new baby is exciting and a cause for preparation. The nursery, where your bundle will sleep and play, is key to creating an atmosphere conducive to sleep and relaxation. You’ll be especially thankful for your nursery amidst the cries and late night snacks. Here are some of the nursery decoration trends to watch for in 2016 that can help make your baby’s new room a portrait of his or her personality!

Pastels Are Back

The sweet gentle colors of pink or blue are still around. Pastels have returned with a bang, offering a calming effect to any room. But don’t feel closed in by the traditional colors. We see others like periwinkle, lilac, and pale green. These soft colors are modernized by blending with newer patterns and modern decor.

The Wonder of Wood

It’s no secret that natural wooden decor has made its way into our homes, from carvings for the walls to natural wooden crates made into shelving. Now that wooden look seeps into the nursery. This year, wood panel wall pieces are big, and often splashed with phrases or names. For cribs, reclaimed wood or natural wood tones are on the rise, but they still compete with the traditional white and espresso tones.

Statement Cribs

Cribs are essential to the nursery, and they’ve got something to say! In 2016, we see statement cribs in the baby’s rooms as more than a sleep place, but an art centerpiece. Crib manufacturers are getting bold, playing with the shapes, materials, and colors of the crib. One maker even uses solid, colored acrylic pieces as one side of the crib’s wall.

Making it Modern

Even with pastels coming back, they are blended in with the sleek, clean look of modern decor. Instead of frills and florals, we are seeing a resurgence of simple and sharp. Geometric shapes can be incorporated in the wall hangings, how the wall is painted, or into a rug. The sharp lines of a modern look helps to balance the fluff traditionally seen in nurseries.

To the Skies

It is typical in the nursery world to have a shape or animal that people gravitate to that they can splash here and there in the room. According to ProjectNursery.com, 2016 will see many nurseries that are zooming to the skies with pictures of clouds or moons as the focus. Having a specific theme to the nursery offers a fun and creative way to decorate the nursery and incorporate that icon in several different places.

Bold With Lighting

Along with cribs as a centerpiece, there is also a trend towards bold statement lighting fixtures. Pendants or chandeliers sparkle from the ceiling, drawing the eye upwards as you glance around the room. Just a quick stroll through Pinterest, and we see large lampshade fixtures, lighting made to look like wood, main lights with dangling mobile pieces (a great way to include your chosen animal or shape), or large modern bulbs.

In the end, the nursery and the decorations you choose are what you love. Don’t be afraid to venture out of the trendy box to make the room a relaxing environment for you and your baby.

sources: Pinterest.com, projectnursery.com, sheknows.com

Shar

MOVING PETS: How to keep your pet healthy and happy while making the move !

Moving Day Madness: How to Keep Your Pet Healthy and Happy throughout the Process By Keith Loria When it comes to moving, there’s no shortage of things to think about as you go through the process, but one thing that many people don’t think much about is the impact a move can have on a pet. Cats and dogs get used to a routine and like familiar surroundings. When they’re yanked from a home and placed in a new environment, it could lead to behavioral changes, loss of appetite or overall sadness. According to the American Humane Association, prior to moving day, pet parents should make sure pets are fitted with collars and ID tags with your name and current cellphone number. Microchipping is also recommended, serving as a backup if your pet loses its collar. Before the move, be sure to check with the City Clerk’s office in your new town to find out about local ordinances. Not only are leash laws and licensing common, but so are limits on the number of pets per household. For pet owners with more exotic pets, make sure you know the pet laws and regulations of the state to which you're moving. For example, if you own a monkey or reptile, you might need a special permit. Zoning laws may prohibit certain animals, as well. When traveling, if your pet is prone to car sickness, make sure you visit your veterinarian a few weeks prior to your move to get any prescribed medications and feeding recommendations. The last thing you want is a sick pet adding to the stress of moving day. For long-distance moves, be sure to identify pet-friendly hotels along your route and reserve rooms ahead of time. Once you arrive at your new house, create a pet-friendly space filled with your pet’s favorite blanket and toys. It’s also important that you spend some time with your pet—whether it’s a cat, dog, bird, rabbit or even guinea pig—to help them get comfortable. Make sure they know where their food is, and for cats, where the litter box is located. Moving with pets doesn’t have to be a stressful experience. Most pet owners treat their pets like members of the family, so don’t forget about their needs when a move is made. A happy and healthy pet can make any move go smoother. For more tips to make your move easier on your pet, contact our office today. Copyright© 2016 RISMedia, The Leader in Real Estate Information Systems and Real Estate News. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be republished without permission.

In The Market for A Home: Finding The Right Realtor For You Is Key To A Smooth RE Process

New Ad Campaign Urges Consumers to "Get Realtor®"

RISMEDIA, Tuesday, February 09, 2016— Buying a home isn’t as easy as clicking a few buttons and magically getting the home of your dreams, as the current real estate advertising landscape leads many to believe. The reality is that real estate transactions can be stressful and there are often challenges and obstacles along the way.

To communicate Realtor® value in helping consumers succeed in all things real estate, the National Association of Realtors® has launched a new advertising campaign, “Get Realtor®.” The campaign targets hyper-connected and emerging generations of home buyers, sellers, owners and investors.

Technology has advanced modern life in many ways and allows people to do more online than ever before. With just a few keystrokes or taps on a screen, consumers can shop for a mortgage, learn about the buying or selling process and browse through photos of homes for sale. But access to information doesn’t automatically translate to success when buying or selling a home. In other words, when it comes to the biggest purchase many people will likely ever make, consumers need to “Get Realtor®.”

“When it comes to real estate and the Internet, today’s consumers don’t always know what they don’t know,” said NAR President Tom Salomone, broker-owner of Real Estate II Inc. in Coral Springs, Florida. “The Get Realtor® campaign demonstrates how Realtors® – members of the National Association of Realtors® – can help buyers, sellers and investors succeed. We want today’s consumers to understand that having a Realtor® at their side is their competitive advantage in the real estate transaction.”

NAR’s consumer advertising campaign began 17 years ago, and launches in 2016 with a whole new look and feel to help modernize consumer perceptions of Realtors®, particularly among Millennials, who are currently the largest homebuying segment.

“Contemporizing an established brand will take time. To reach new generations, we’ve created advertising that is dramatically different and bold enough to break through the clutter and get noticed, and help drive consideration of Realtors®,” said Salomone. “Also, our own research found that consumers have anxiety about reaching out from behind their tech screens for professional assistance, including from a Realtor®. With this campaign, consumers will be exposed to a redefined brand in more contemporary channels that demonstrates why consumers need to Get Realtor®.”

The Get Realtor® campaign currently includes social, digital, print, and radio creative; NAR’s media mix is shifting significantly from previous campaigns to the social and digital side for greater engagement with tech-savvy consumers who are increasingly going mobile, getting their content on demand, and sharing information across their social networks.

The Get Realtor® campaign is the first created in partnership with advertising agency Arnold Worldwide, which was named NAR’s agency of record in 2015 for its strategy, creativity and extensive history of helping clients reinvent their brands, including Volkswagen, Ocean Spray and Progressive.

Real Estate Apps to Help Renters, Buyers, Sellers and Remodelers. Be Knowledgeable and Efficient.

                        New Real Estate Apps Can Help Renters, Buyers, Sellers and Remodelers

   

RISMEDIA, Tuesday, February 09, 2016— Real estate technology has grown exponentially since the first Internet boom, and with every passing year the pace seems to accelerate even more.

This summer, I attended multiple real estate conferences around the country and learned about a bunch of new technology that can help renters, home buyers and sellers at every stage of the process. Here’s a round-up of some of the tech that I’ve been keeping an eye on:

For Renters:
RadPad is a popular site for renters in search of their next apartment, condo, house or roommate. It shows how many people have clicked on a listing so potential renters can get an idea of how much interest there is for a specific property.

Another popular feature from RadPad is the ability for renters to pay their rent with a credit or debit card to any landlord in the country. Renters simply pay RadPad directly and the company sends a check to the landlord. This feature is ideal for millennials still renting, because once the check is cashed, they will receive a text confirming that the rent has been paid. It is free if you use a debit card, but there is a small fee for credit card payments.

For Buyers:
Mozaic is a new mobile-optimized social platform that connects buyers and their real estate agents directly to listings in the multi-listing service (MLS) database. It is currently available in Washington and its surrounding markets (i.e. all of the areas served by our MLS for the Mid-Atlantic).

Mozaic’s easy-to-use and collaborative home search enables buyers to share, comment on, select favorites and review homes they are interested in. Buyers can also invite up to 10 friends or family members to join the conversation, share instant feedback and suggest properties.

If buyers are looking for a fixer-upper, for example, and have an experienced carpenter in their social circle, they can invite that person to see their saved listings and share their thoughts about how feasible each project is to take on.

For Mortgage Shoppers: 
Fannie Mae jumped into the app development world with HOME, which pulls together mortgage related features usually found on different sites and puts them all in one place.

HOME comes with several calculators — a monthly mortgage estimator, a savings calculator to determine how much to plan for a down payment and an extra-payment calculator to help with the math on reducing the number of years on a mortgage.

There is also a built-in data dictionary and educational resources about home buying. HOME can also connect users directly to HUD-approved housing counseling agencies.

For People Making an Offer on a Home:
After a mortgage, utility expenses are often the next highest cost of living in a home. Now with Enerscore, anyone can find out more about the total monthly cost for a home before they move in, even before they make an offer on the property.

Enerscore uses public records to make up a profile of a home and then determines an energy performance rating. Using this information, the site estimates the monthly utility costs based on local rates for that neighborhood.

For Recent Home Buyers: 
The MagicPlan and Floorplanner apps work in conjunction to give users an interactive floor plan of their home.

MagicPlan is a smartphone app that lets you create a floor plan of any room just by walking its perimeter and noting where the corners are. Users can then import the floor plan into Floorplanner and use its library of furniture icons to plan out the furniture arrangement.

For People Renovating a Home:
Kukun (a play on the word ‘cocoon’) gives you the tools to complete renovation projects on time and on budget. After you provide details about a proposed project, Kukun not only gives you an estimate of the cost and a planning tool, but the site also provides a general idea of the financial return on investment for the project once you sell your home.

For Sellers: 
roOomy is a virtual staging app that creates a 3D image of any room in your home based on a photo taken with a smartphone or tablet. Users can choose from an extensive furniture catalogue to ‘stage’ the room on their screen.

This is especially helpful to sellers, who can delete images of their existing furniture and virtually replace them with updated pieces so that the listing photos look fresh and inviting. All of the furniture is available for purchase through roOomy’s retail partners directly within in the app.

The proliferation of technology tools to help throughout the entire real estate process isn’t showing any signs of slowing down. By this time next year there will be a whole new crop of options to choose from.

Whether you’re a renter, buyer, seller, renovator or anyone else who works in the real estate industry, there’s a technology tool — or several — to serve your needs.

This article originally appeared in The Washington Post.

Buying Beats Renting in Less Than 2 Years, but .......

Buying Beats Renting in Less Than Two Years, but Millennials Still Have Reason to Rent

RISMEDIA, Saturday, February 06, 2016— Home buyers in Boston, New York, and Washington, D.C. have to stay in a home for at least three years to break even on a home purchase, and buyers in the Bay Area would have to stay nearly that long to make buying financially advantageous, according to Zillow's Breakeven Horizon analysis for the fourth quarter of 2015.

Those under 35 stay employed at the same place for an average of three years, so buying may not make sense for them, from a financial standpoint, even if paying a mortgage would be more affordable.

In general, Americans can break even on a home purchase in less than two years in 70 percent of U.S. metros, thanks to low interest rates, healthy home value forecasts, and the relatively fast pace of rents in recent years.

The Breakeven Horizon is featured in the paperback edition of Zillow Talk: Rewriting the Rules of Real Estate (Grand Central Publishing, Jan. 26), as one of the major data points to consider when deciding whether to rent or buy. On average in the U.S., you don't need to plan on living in a home for even two years to make purchasing the home more financially advantageous than renting it over the same time period. Among large housing markets, the Breakeven Horizon is longest in Washington, D.C. – 4.5 years – and shortest in Dallas – 1.3 years.

Around the country over the last year, the Breakeven Horizon quickened in most of the Midwest and Southeast as well as in the Northeast corridor from New York to Boston. The Horizon stretched longer in Florida, Northern California, and in the Northeast from Virginia Beach to Philadelphia, but it remained clear that financially, it's still a better deal to buy a home than rent it, assuming you're planning to stay in the home for at least a couple years.

However the decision to buy may not be so simple for millennials – whose first jobs often take them to job centers with relatively high Breakeven Horizons. Boston, one of the nation's youngest cities, has a Breakeven Horizon of just over three years. San Francisco's Breakeven Horizon is 2.9 years, up from 2.6 years in the fourth quarter of 2014. Both markets are attracting young people following jobs, and many of those remain renters despite record-high rental costs.

"Even with record-high rents in job centers like San Jose, Boston and Washington, D.C., putting off a home purchase might be the best financial decision for a young person who has saved enough for a down payment, depending on how long they intend to stay in their jobs and homes," says Zillow Chief Economist Svenja Gudell. "Young workers face a lot of hurdles on the way to homeownership, including saving for a down payment in the first place and deciding where and when to settle down. The latest Breakeven Horizon gives young people another data point to consider when they're making this important financial decision."

In general, rents are flattening across the country and expected to continue to stabilize, a factor that could lengthen the Breakeven Horizon as homes continue to appreciate. Condominiums – a common choice for young home buyers in urban neighborhoods – have a longer Breakeven Horizon because of condo association fees.

TIPS: Financial - Home Selling - Home Ownership: Make Life Better at Home

BY: Liliana De Angeli, Greenville Realtor--Berkshire Hathaway--Talking Real Estate newsletter  FINANCIAL TIPS

The Importance of Assets Lenders dissect the entire credit history of a potential client with strict attention to income, credit, collateral and assets. Of the four, assets are perhaps the least discussed, yet may be the most important in securing credit and buying a home. Assets include the amount of money needed for the down payment plus closing costs, pre-paid costs (e.g., insurance and taxes, escrow fees and funds that would be available in case of an emergency). Assets could be considered a reflection of a one’s fiscal strength. Savings and budgeting could be a significant factor in assessing paying habits. What are assets? Common considerations for a loan include stocks, bonds, mutual funds, 401Ks, retirement accounts, life insurance, cars, boats, antiques, jewelry and other real estate. The source and timing of assets is also critical as restrictions have tightened. When borrowers are paying off credit cards to get their ratios in line, lenders want to know where the money came from. If it can’t be determined when a direct deposit is made from your employer or a transfer from one account to the next, a letter of explanation and a showing of proof of where it came from is likely to be required. It may not be advisable to make cash deposits or take any monies from someone personally unless it is a gift from a relative. Large and recent savings deposits raise underwriter concerns as they can indicate loans that have yet to appear on borrowers’ credit reports. Borrowing from relatives to boost savings and credit worthiness also doesn’t help. If funds aren’t reflected on income statements and tax returns, they can’t be used to qualify for mortgages. Make sure your assets are in order with proper documentation. Your preparation can speed you on the road to homeownership.

HOMESELLING TIPS

Curb Appeal: It’s Important Home sellers spend so much time preparing their interior for the sale that they can easily overlook the outside. Great curb appeal invites prospective buyers to view the rest of the property. In fact, it can increase the value of a property by as much as 15-20%. Start with the basics: A well-manicured lawn is a magnet for buyers. Overgrown trees or large bushes hiding the house are a definite no-no. Don’t forget to rake leaves, wash windows and skylights, clean gutters and trim shrubs. Don’t overlook the details: Consider adding flowers or sprucing things up with decorative grasses or Japanese maples. Accent trees with rocks or boulders to make a bold statement. Or how about adding a modest fountain to the yard or garden? Add low voltage lighting to highlight the yard, trees and the home’s exterior. Sometimes it’s the little, inexpensive things that can make a real difference. Do something as simple as adding a new mailbox, address numbers on your home, a new welcome mat and some potted plants by the front door. Remember, first impressions are often the most important.

HOME OWNERSHIP TIPS

A Glance at Green Benefits Single-family homes are responsible for more than 20% of the country’s greenhouse gas emissions. A green home can help reduce the causes of climate change and more homebuyers are looking to purchase homes with eco-friendly features. Consumers want homes that are sensitive to the environment. Solar panels aren’t for everyone. A home must be in an area with sufficient sunshine and be in an appropriate location. They typically require an up-front investment but because they are clearly visible from the street, they are likely to command a price premium. There are more inexpensive ways to make a home green. Energy-efficient appliances can reduce utility bills. Tankless water heaters mean less time and waste. Replacing old furnaces can lower your heating bill. Consider replacing windows and doors and finding ways to insulate the home. Producing 12 months of past electricity bills can signal to potential buyers that the home has an added bonus. A potential buyer may notice a swimming pool or great kitchen, but the home’s energy efficiency and “greenness” is harder to see. Therefore, a homeowner should make their home’s green features well known.

HOMESELLING TIPS

Think about adding a Home Theater Home-theater technology has evolved. Prices continue to drop, placing the concept easily within reach for many households. It’s where the family comes together to be entertained—and is likely one of the most occupied room in the house. There are several ways to make the home theater more appealing prior to showing a home: Clean all surfaces: Keep wiring discrete. While seating space is practical in a media room, consider reducing the number of sofas to give a spacious look to the room. Smart furniture choices: Choose furniture that improves the look of the room and creates the movie environment that so many desire. Keep equipment out of sight: Blu-Ray players, gaming consoles, speakers—should be kept out of sight. Unique features such as hidden wheels, flow-through ventilation, adjustable shelves, built-in media or speaker storage, and integrated cable management systems can make a big difference. Indeed, we’re in the golden age of gadgets and components. Rooms focused on technology and entertainment can be extremely appealing.

Is there a PrePayment Penalty? Is There a Downside to Prepaying Your Mortgage?

Is There a Downside to Prepaying Your Mortgage?

 By Dottie Wells  Bethany Beach L&F Mgr Newsletter

Long before you settle on a mortgage lender, one of your interview questions should be, "Is there a prepayment penalty and if so, how much is it?" Unfortunately, too many homebuyers don't understand what a prepayment penalty is, how it works, or even if they are paying it.

Prepayment Penalty

When you take out a mortgage but your credit is less than stellar, banks want to make sure that you will at least stick to your obligation for a few years. Most prepayment penalties come in three-, five-, or even ten-year terms.

Once you have made your mortgage payments for the term of your prepayment period, you no longer face any penalty. If you do pay off your loan before the end of your prepayment period, however, you are going to be on the hook for up to six months of interest on your remaining balance.

How It Works

Most prepayment clauses work this way: If you pay your loan off early no matter the reason, you will have to pay a penalty for it. Some clauses will waive the penalty if you are paying early because you resold the house.

Some mortgage agreements allow you to pay up to 20% above and beyond what you have to pay in any given year without a penalty. Others will penalize you for paying any amount above your agreed upon monthly mortgage payment.

If you refinance your mortgage you do not get credit for the prepayment period that you have already exhausted. The clock starts all over again from the time you refinance. Homeowners who refinance in order to resell within a few years get hit with the prepayment penalty if they do not have a resale waiver written into their mortgage loans.

Why It Is There

A prepayment clause is helpful if you really want to own a home but your credit score is not high enough, or if you can reduce your monthly interest payments by a hundred bucks a month. Think of this clause like your free phone cell phone deals: You get the phone for free as long as you sign up for a two-year contract. If you terminate that contract early, you will be charged the retail cost of the phone. In essence, the phone is not really free.

Banks will cut you some slack on your credit score or your interest rate as long as you guarantee that you will be making regular monthly payments for years to come. Yet the vast majority of homeowners don't buy a primary residence and then flip it two or five years later. It winds up just being an additional cost to taking out a mortgage for most.

Should You Prepay Your Mortgage?

The first thing you have to do when deciding whether or not to prepay your mortgage is to verify whether or not you have a prepayment penalty clause. If your agreement allows you to waive the penalty upon resale, you have one less thing to worry about in that instance.

However, if you still have a year or two left before you avoid the prepayment penalty, waiting may be the best move. Otherwise you could end up paying an extra $10,000 in penalties for the average home.