By DANIELGOLDSTEIN PERSONAL FINANCE REPORTER Plastic surgery might improve one’s looks. But so might a little makeup. When it comes to making your house more attractive to prospective buyers, home staging is definitely in the makeup category. What is home staging? Just like makeup, it’s an on-the-surface solution. Staging can help your place look its best during the sales period without the cost or expense of a renovation. For about $3,500 to $4,500 a month, the home you’re … [Read more...]
U.S. Home Builder Optimism Slipped in July
July 19, 2016 by Leave a Comment
U.S. home builders said they lost a bit of confidence in July due largely to uncertainty over how the housing market will perform in the next six months, though they maintained a positive outlook overall as sales strengthen. The National Association of Home Builders said Monday its monthly index of builder confidence in the market for single-family homes slipped one point to 59 in July. Economists surveyed by The Wall Street Journal expected a reading of 60. Economists look at builder confidence because when … [Read more...]
Are We Entering A New Housing Bubble?
March 17, 2016 by Leave a Comment
Home prices are rising too fast in much of the country. In Dallas and Denver, prices have surpassed their prior peak and have risen over the past two years by 18% and 20%, respectively. Similar gains were recorded in many Western cities, including Seattle and San Francisco, regaining most of the price declines during the bust years to reach very close to their prior peak. Nationwide , home prices have risen by 10% over the past two years, according to the Case-Shiller repeat price index, and by 13% in the median … [Read more...]
Is Open-Plan Living Over, or Here to Stay?
January 19, 2016 by Leave a Comment
Architects, designers and Houzzers around the world have their say on this trend and predict how our homes might evolve Open-plan living hasn’t merely risen in popularity in recent years, it seems to be the mainstay of what many people look for in a home. At the time of this writing, there were more than 600,000 photos of open-plan spaces on Houzz.com, so it’s clearly a popular lifestyle choice with a strong fan base. Why is it so fashionable, and what are the pros and cons of open-plan living? We … [Read more...]
Millennials consider buying homes as rents get more expensive
October 8, 2015 by Leave a Comment
While the Valley’s economy continues to improve, the housing market has lagged. “It’s been the one major missing piston in the whole economic recovery,” said Jim Huntzinger, chief investment officer of BOK Financial. “Housing has been slower than it almost ever has been coming out of any major recession.” And who do the experts blame? Millennials, mostly. Millennials, once labeled “the generation of renters,” have appeared to have no interest in buying homes – until now. “Partly, it’s the millennials (who) have … [Read more...]
5 housing projects breaking ground in Phoenix neighborhoods
October 8, 2015 by Leave a Comment
Phoenix is in a building boom. Cranes dot the downtown skyline as construction crews transform lots on nearly every major street. Housing projects run the gamut from apartments to townhouses, from the central city to the suburbs. Some already are underway. Others will need more planning and approval before they break ground. Downtown A rendering of Alta Fillmore. (Photo: Wood Partners, LLC.) Project: Alta Fillmore. Developer: Wood Partners, LLC. Location: Fillmore Street and … [Read more...]
10 Tips for Planning a Galley Kitchen
October 8, 2015 by Leave a Comment
Follow these guidelines to make your galley kitchen layout work better for you A galley kitchen consists of two parallel runs of units forming a central corridor in which to work. The galley layout works well for all kitchen styles; it’s also the preferred design of many professional chefs, who love it because it enhances safety and efficiency during cooking. Just like the compact galley on ships, for which the layout is named, galley designs optimize space by packing in an abundance of storage and work area, … [Read more...]
Plans for Arcadia Frank Lloyd Wright House include tours, weddings
August 6, 2015 by Leave a Comment
Early plans for the David and Gladys Wright House envision the Arcadia home as a visitors’ destination, including a shaded garden and underground education center for tours, performances and weddings. Site maps and a list of property uses — submitted to the city late last week — are the first official look at how the owner of the Frank Lloyd Wright-designed house intends to open it to the public. The documents were filed as the first of many steps to seek a special permit allowing the uses in a residential … [Read more...]
5 Things Every Home Should Have
August 5, 2015 by Leave a Comment
Every designer has his or her own style rules. Over the years, I’ve honed mine down to the top five that I come back to again and again. Follow these ideas — or break them if you see fit — and I guarantee you’ll be able to take any space from feeling like it’s a boring, everyday thing to something you love every day. 1. A midcentury piece. I’m a huge believer in always using at least one midcentury modern element for a number of reasons. For one thing, the design period, despite no longer being … [Read more...]
Save Money With Smaller Jumbos
August 5, 2015 by Leave a Comment
Government-backed jumbo loans can be cheaper and easier to get than jumbos that exceed the $625,500 federal limit Home buyers trying to purchase a pricey property will probably need a jumbo loan—a mortgage that exceeds government limits. But there are different types of jumbos, and some are a little easier and cheaper to get than others. But first, a handy breakdown for those befuddled by the confounding terminology of the mortgage business: Conforming mortgages are capped at $417,000 and backed by … [Read more...]
