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City Living Poised To Make A Comeback in 2021

January 20, 2021 By admin

When COVID-19 hit, the way people work and live immediately changed. Stay-at-home orders kept people at home more than ever before. Workers who previously had to report to an office were given the green light to work from home indefinitely. And as a result of these changes, many large cities saw huge portions of their populations say goodbye to city life (where even small apartments can be costly), in favor of more affordable, spacious dwellings in suburban or rural areas.

But it looks like the ‘burbs weren’t the right fit for everyone—and there are signs that the exodus is reversing.

According to data outlined in a recent article from REALTOR® Magazine, people are starting to move back to cities across the country. For example, sales of single-family homes and condos in Boston hit their highest level on record in October—while home sales in Chicago were up 39 percent year-over-year the same month. And with vaccine distribution underway—which will (hopefully) make city living safer—the increased popularity in city living is only going to increase into 2021.

The Takeaway:

So, what does that mean for you? People may have left city-living behind in response to COVID, but that’s starting to change—so if buying a home in a city feels like the right fit for you, now is a great time to make a move.

2021 Kitchen Trends

January 20, 2021 By admin

Renovating your kitchen can not only make the space more functional and enjoyable for you and your family, but it also can make your property more appealing to buyers if you decide to sell.

But if you’re planning to renovate in the upcoming year, what kitchen trends should you plan to incorporate to ensure your kitchen renovation feels timely, functional, and on-trend?

The 2021 U.S. Houzz Kitchen Trends Study surveyed 2,014 homeowners who were planning or in the midst of a kitchen renovation to identify the upcoming year’s top kitchen design trends. According to the survey, some of 2021’s biggest kitchen trends include:

Added storage. A whopping 94 percent of renovators performed at least some work on their cabinets. The driving force behind these upgrades? Additional kitchen storage; for example, of the 31 percent of homeowners who partially upgraded their cabinets, 28 percent added more cabinetry—almost four times as the previous year.
Kitchen islands—and, more specifically, kitchen islands with built-in appliances. 55 percent of homeowners either added a kitchen island or upgraded their existing island—and of those kitchen islands, 55 percent featured a newly installed appliance.
Tile backsplashes. Backsplashes are a must if you want to protect your kitchen walls—and in 2021, the go-to material for kitchen backsplashes? Ceramic or porcelain tile, which was featured in 54 percent of the kitchen renovations surveyed.

KGG Gingerbread Contest

December 19, 2020 By admin

8 Things That Suddenly Change When You Become a Homeowner

November 30, 2020 By admin

Home ownership is a big part of the American Dream. It’s also a rite of passage, and millions of people go into their careers and family lives picturing the day when they can finally own a place of their own. When that day comes, it can be quite an experience. Signing the paperwork and getting the keys to your new place is one of the most exciting feelings in the world.

But it’s what comes after that can feel a bit strange. When you become a homeowner, you not only get to see your name on a deed, you also get to experience some of the things that only other owners get to experience.

Here are eight things that suddenly change when you become a homeowner:

1. You start having conversations about being a homeowner with other homeowners

“Yeah, we redid the kitchen first, but the bathrooms weren’t too bad. I’d like to add a deck but the nursery needs some attention next.”

2. All of a sudden you have to buy all the things every homeowner is required to have

You spend so much time at Home Depot buying tools and lawn equipment, people begin to think you work there…

3. You quickly learn how handy you are (or are not)

How’s the saying go? Is it “measure once, cut twice”, or “measure twice, cut once”?

4. You start to notice every little flaw around the house

I swear they said it was “smudge proof”…

5. You want to buy nice furniture, instead of cheaper, disposable stuff

Bye bye Ikea.

6. You begin to take special note of what’s happening in your neighborhood

Is that a “for sale” sign being put on the Jones’ lawn?!

7. You identify a favorite room

A place you could spend all day in if you could…

8. You’re proud to tell people that you just bought your own place

“Yes, I actually just bought a place. It’s near the park. No, on the far side, next to the baseball field. I really love the neighborhood so far.”

No matter how many of these things sound familiar, there’s no denying that becoming a homeowner changes things—and usually for the better!

Buying A Home? Make Sure You Understand What Home Insurance Does—And Doesn’t—Cover

November 30, 2020 By admin

Getting homeowners insurance when you purchase a house is a non-negotiable. But while standard home insurance policies provide a high level of coverage and protection, they don’t cover everything—and in order to protect your home (and your investment), it’s important to understand what potential issues might fall outside your home insurance umbrella.

A recent article from realtor.com outlined the surprising things home insurance doesn’t cover, including:

Floods. While home insurance typically covers water issues like burst pipes, if your home is flooded due to a hurricane or excessive rain, most standard home insurance policies won’t cover the damage. In order to get coverage, you’ll need to purchase additional flood insurance.
Earthquakes. Similar to floods, most standard home insurance policies don’t cover earthquakes—so if you want coverage, you’ll need to buy a separate earthquake insurance policy.
Renovation damage. If you’re doing major renovations on your home—like gutting the interior or replacing the roof—most home insurance policies won’t cover the damage. If you want to protect yourself in the case of damage caused by the contractor, you’ll need to purchase a renovation policy.

The Takeaway:

So, what does this mean for you? If you’re thinking about buying a home, it’s important to understand the limits of your home insurance policy—and that you purchase additional coverage when necessary to protect your home.

Painting Your Home This Winter? Here’s What You Need To Know

November 29, 2020 By admin

This winter selling season is gearing up to be one of the most active in recent years; inventory is low, demand is high, and homes are selling quickly and profitably in markets across the country.

But even though the current market is favorable to sellers, you still want to do everything you can to make your home as appealing as possible to buyers. And when it comes to improving your home before listing, there are few projects that make as big of an impact—for as low of a price tag—as painting.

A fresh coat of paint can completely change the look and feel of your house—and make it a much more attractive property to potential buyers. But if you’re going to paint your house in the colder months, there are a few things you need to know.

A recent article from realtor.com outlined the key things homeowners should know when painting their homes in the winter, including:

Paint dries faster in the winter. Many people think that the summer heat makes interior paint dry faster. But if you live in an area with humid summers, the opposite is actually true. There’s less humidity in the winter—and the less humid the air, the quicker your paint will dry.
Crank up the thermostat while you’re painting. The cold air outside can cause a drop in temperature in the interior of your home—and even if your thermostat reads 65, the temperature of your walls may actually be much colder. In order to paint interior walls, the temperature needs to be above 60 degrees—so make sure to crank your thermostat well above 60 to ensure your walls are warm enough to paint.
Use speciality paint. If you’re going to be painting your home’s exterior during the winter, make sure to use paint and primer that’s specifically formulated for colder temperatures.