New Home Friday - October 20, 2023

NHA WHAT IS GOING ON IN THE MARKET A REAL ESTATE NEWSLETTER

An update of the real estate market

OCTOBER 20, 2023

HOMEKEEPR Moving Made Simple

E-CREDIT ADVISOR Get Mortgage Ready

DESIGN TRENDS Fall Decor Trends to Stay Away From

HOMEOWNER TIPS Home Cleaning Tips

PAINT DESIGN BOARD Virtual Color Consultation

HOUSING UPDATE

Buying a multi-generational home can be a smart way to tackle some of today’s affordability challenges. When In today’s world of rising housing costs, many buyers are looking for ways to still be able to buy a home. Some of them have found a solution in multi-generational living.

Multi-generational living is when two or more adult generations live together under one roof. This includes siblings, parents, or even grandparents. Here’s an in-depth look at why more buyers are choosing this option today, so you can see if it may be right for you too.

Reasons To Buy a Multi-Generational Home According to a recent study by the National Association of Realtors (NAR), the top two reasons people are opting for multi-generational homes today have to do with affordability (see graph below):

Reasons to Purchase a Multi-Generational Home 28%

28% 18% 11%

Cost Savings

Wanted a larger home multiple incomes could afford together Source: NAR

Cost Savings: About 28% of first-time buyers and 11% of repeat buyers are deciding on a multi-generational home to save on costs. By pooling their resources, households can share the financial responsibilities like mortgage payments, utilities, property taxes, and maintenance, to make homeownership more affordable. This is especially helpful for first-time homebuyers who may be finding it tough to afford a home on their own in today’s market.

you team up to share expenses, you can make your dream of homeownership more attainable.

More Space: Another 28% of first-time buyers and 18% of repeat buyers are doing it because they want a larger home they couldn’t afford on their own. For some of the repeat buyers who listed this as a main motivator, it could be because they find themselves taking care of older parents while also welcoming back young adults who’ve returned to the nest. With everyone chipping in and combining their incomes, suddenly, that big dream home with more space is within reach. As the Triangle Business Journal explains: “Choosing multi-gen living allows people to purchase a home much larger than they could afford on their own by leveraging the combined income, credit and a down payment of those that they will be occupying the home with.”

Finding the perfect multi-generational home isn’t as simple as shopping for a regular house. That’s because there are more people with even more opinions and needs that should be considered. You’ve got to make sure everyone has their own space, find room for shared household time, and possibly even create adaptable areas for older relatives. It’s a puzzle, and the pieces need to fit just right. Your real estate agent has the expertise and local knowledge to help you find that home where everyone can be comfortable without breaking the bank. As MoneyGeek.com puts it: “Having a good multigenerational property can improve the prospects of success when living with loved ones. A multigenerational home should fit the specific needs of most family members regardless of age or health. Speaking to a real-estate agent can help you gain clarity and locate a fit.”

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Fall Decor Trends to Steer Clear of this Season.

With fall finally upon us, it's the perfect time of year to start thinking about cozy decor as we spend more time relaxing indoors. While there are of course so many stylish design ideas to experiment with, there are also lots of outdated fall decor trends, and interior designer Jeremiah Brent has warned of decor he avoids during fall.

Flannel Sheets

You may think of flannel sheets as the ultimate bed sheet trend for fall, but Jeremiah isn't a fan. He says: 'I don't think that they transition well throughout the year.' He's got a point; this cottagecore aesthetic is a niche style so it's certainly not the best pick if you're hoping for functional bedding that looks great throughout the seasons. Instead, consider refreshing your fall bedding with cozy throws to create a fall-appropriate look whilst they can easily be swapped out into various rooms throughout the home all year long.

Silk Plants

Silk plants, otherwise known as artificial plants, or a big nogo for Jeremiah. Calling them 'dust collectors', this isn't just a fall decor trend to avoid, but an all-year-round one. To capture a more practical and natural look, opt for real plants to bring the outdoors in, or experiment with displaying branches in a vase for a fun take on creative fall craft ideas.

Orange

While decorating with orange is strongly associated with fall, Jeremiah doesn't bring this hue into his home for fall.

He instead prefers colors 'with a little bit more brown in tone-wise' such as terracotta. For a layered and cozy look, experiment instead with different textures across soft furnishings, such as pillows, to capture an inviting sofa setup that transcends the seasons.

Burlap

His next fall decor to avoid is burlap, which he calls 'the modern-day doily.' For a more understated approach to fall table decor ideas, opt instead for natural linens in rustic hues that will stand the test of time and bring an organic feel to the table.

Pumpkin Scents

While it's perhaps his most controversial point, Jeremiah isn't a fan and prefers to steer clear of this hallmark fall decor. There are lots of other equally warming fall candles to embrace at this time of year that are less sickly sweet, such as sandalwood and fig.

HOME CLEANING TIP: VINEGAR MAKES THESE HOUSEHOLD JOBS EASIER It’s amazing how many things you can clean with vinegar, from sinks and stainless steel to stovetops and showers. It’s white vinegar that can help keep everything hygienically clean – and the key is to dilute it with water and any other natural extracts or essential oils of your choice to add a lovely scent.

WINDOW CLEANING:

THE STOVE:

To clean windows without streaks, mix equal parts of white vinegar and hot water and add a splash of liquid soap.

Martha Stewart says that the best time of day to clean is when the sun isn’t shining directly on the windows: 'Using a sponge, wet (but don’t drench) the window with the DIY window cleaner solution and rub the dirt away, being sure to keep the solution from touching the window frames,' she advises. 'Next, wet a squeegee and starting at an upper corner, draw it down in a straight stroke. Return to the top and repeat, slightly overlapping the first stroke. After each stroke, wipe the rubber edge of the squeegee with a sponge or lint-free cloth. Finish by pulling the squeegee across the bottom of the window, and dry the sill with a sponge or cloth.'

These can become so greasy and sticky, especially when you’re cooking for the family once or twice a day.

Vinegar is great for cleaning flat-top stoves and gas stoves, as its acidity cuts through grease in an instant.

Simply spray your vinegar and water mix onto the cooktop, leave it for about 10 minutes then scrub with soapy water using a non-abrasive scouring pad.

THE MICROWAVE:

To get rid of that horrible limescale inside your tea kettle or coffee maker, pour the water and vinegar solution directly into the appliance or water reservoir. Boil the kettle or run it through the coffee maker, followed by a few water-only run-throughs to rinse the taste and odor away. If you’re cleaning a humidifier, a vinegar solution can get rid of buildup in the tank in the same way. Check the manufacturer's instructions before cleaning a coffee maker with vinegar – they may advise against it, in which case, take heed.

Combine equal parts water and vinegar – this time in a large microwaveable bowl. Pop the bowl into the microwave and set it for about five minutes. The steam created will loosen any food debris, which you can simply wipe away with a microfiber cloth,

FLOORS: 'Floor cleaning products can be expensive and leave behind a strong smell, so you might want to clean tile floors using vinegar – although do test this first if you are cleaning encaustic tiles or cleaning stone floors. Take your equal parts vinegar and water solution and mop. It not only lifts off grease and dirt but the diluted solution stops the floor from being damaged by the acid of the vinegar. Cleaning with lemon juice is another great, cost-effective and ecofriendly way to keep various areas of the home fresh while leaving a citrus scent.

THE KITCHEN SINK: Your 1:1 diluted vinegar and water solution is ideal for cleaning the kitchen sink, too. Simply spritz it onto all areas of the sink and rinse with soapy water afterward.

KETTLES AND COFFEE MAKERS:

POTS AND PANS: Vinegar is an option when you want to get rid of burnt-on marks on pots and pans. Again, use a vinegar and water solution, adding enough to the pan to cover the stain completely. Bring the solution in the pan to a boil and continue boiling for about 5 minutes. Allow the liquid to cool in the pan, before tipping it out and using a sponge suitable for the material the pan is made from to remove any remaining marks.

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