Becoming a rst-time homeowner is a remarkable achievement, but the journey doesn’t end at closing. With today’s market challenges, making your new house feel like home can seem daunting. The good news: with thoughtful planning and proven DIY tips, you can create a space that’s beautiful, functional and uniquely yours, without stretching your budget.
Budgeting and planning
One of the biggest reasons to DIY? You can save serious dollars. In fact, a 2024 report by NerdWallet showed that on average, DIY projects cost less than half of professional projects.
Before beginning any DIY endeavor, establish your budget and assess what your house needs, prioritizing the most coste ective yet impactful updates. Take a trip to a local home improvement retailer or do an online search to gauge costs.
“While it’s tempting to cut corners on
A DIY guide for rst-time homeowners
costs, investing in high-quality products up-front can save you signi cantly in the long run. Quality materials o er durability and better performance, minimizing the need for frequent replacements or repairs. Think of it as buying peace of mind — a well-chosen faucet, sturdy cabinetry or durable ooring can elevate your home for years to come,” said Danielle DeBoe Harper, senior creative style manager, Moen.
Once you have a map of projects in place, plot when you want to tackle each one on the calendar.
De ning your home’s aesthetic
Before diving in, ensure you’re investing in an aesthetic that resonates with you versus what is trending online.
“As you embark on the exciting process of styling your rst home, it is essential to determine your personal taste so that it truly re ects who you are,” said DeBoe Harper. “Whether your style leans modern,
Photo courtesy of Moen
New hardware — faucets, door knobs, showerheads, etc. — in a new house can make the space feel more like home.
HOUSING MARKET AT A CROSSROADS
Inventory climbs but some sellers hold out
increased to 53 days — ve days longer than a year ago and matching prepandemic patterns.
The Realtor.com June Housing Trends Report reveals a new stand-o between buyers and sellers in today’s evolving real estate landscape. While active inventory climbed 28.1% year-overyear to hit a fresh post-pandemic high, some homeowners are choosing to pull their listings from the market. In May, delistings rose 47% from a year ago and have trended 35% higher year-to-date. Delistings are growing faster than active inventory at 31.5%, an early signal that sellers may be losing patience in a market that’s taking longer to deliver desired o ers.
“This year’s market is a study in contrasts,” said Danielle Hale, chief economist at Realtor.com. “Buyers are seeing more choices than they’ve had in years, but many sellers, anchored by peak price expectations and upheld by strong equity positions, are deciding to step back if they don’t get their number. Looking forward, this dynamic will a ect whether we tip from a balanced to buyer’s market, and if so, how quickly that happens.”
More options
Even with more homeowners withdrawing their listings, buyers still have more homes to choose from since the pandemic began. Nationally, active listings topped 1 million for the second straight month, putting inventory about 13% below pre-pandemic norms, but steadily closing that gap.
Inventory grew in all four major U.S. regions in June, with the West seeing a 38% jump and the South up nearly 30%. Every one of the top 50 metros posted active inventory gains year over year, led by Las Vegas (+77.6%) and Washington, D.C. (+63.6%). More homes staying on the market longer is also contributing to this buildup, as median days on market
Price cuts
Facing sti er competition and a ordability-challenged buyers, more sellers are adjusting their expectations, but cautiously. In June, 20.7% of listings saw price reductions, the highest share for any June since at least 2016 and the sixth consecutive month of growing price cuts.
Still, even with more markdowns, the national median list price held steady at $440,950, up just 0.1% from last year, underscoring that many sellers are still anchored to peak-era prices. The willingness to wait, either by holding out for the right buyer or pulling the home o the market entirely, has helped slow broader price declines.
Delistings rise
While the number of homes for sale rose substantially, marking the 20th straight month of inventory growth, more homeowners are also opting to delist. Delistings outpaced overall inventory gains, jumping 35% year-todate and 47% year-over-year in May, compared to active listing growth of 28.4% year-to-date and 31.5% yearover-year. As a result, delistings now make up a growing share of the market, climbing from about 3.2% of all active listings last May to 4.1% this year. These stats highlight an important market dynamic happening; inventory is up by a lot overall, but delistings are growing faster than overall inventory growth, so more homes are listing and staying on the market, but more homes are coming o as delistings too.
Put simply: although buyers have more homes to choose from overall, a growing
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traditional, industrial, farmhouse, glam or a combination of a few, understanding your preferences will help you establish the overall atmosphere of your home.”
Luckily, there are many places to nd inspiration. Try browsing the aisles of a home décor store — what lamps or pillows are you just dying to put in your cart? When visiting a friend’s home, mentally note what you love and what you’d leave. At the grocery store? Pick up a few home décor magazines on your way out. And, of course, your phone or computer holds a treasure trove of style inspiration, from renovation tutorials on social media to style and décor trends on your favorite brand’s website.
Diving in
Before getting to work, ensure you have versatile supplies for various projects. The essentials include: a hammer, athead, Phillips screwdrivers, painter’s tape and a power drill.
Now it’s time to DIY. Not sure how to approach a project? Lean on inspiration from friends and family, use YouTube tutorials to walk you through
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it or get instructions from an expert at your local hardware store. Of course, make sure whatever you choose is something that’s safe to DIY.
“One of the rst projects I recommend is painting, since it’s a relatively a ordable update that can completely transform the way a room comes together — and even how it makes you feel,” said DeBoe Harper. “You can paint an entire room or update a piece of furniture or cabinetry with a new color. Other high-impact projects that can be done at a lower cost include swapping hardware, like cabinet knobs or pulls, installing a new showerhead, building bookcases, changing the kitchen faucet or hanging peel-and-stick wallpaper, all of which can enhance your look almost instantly while boosting DIY con dence.”
For even more DIY renovation tips and inspiration visit Moen.com. And remember, successful DIY renovation is built on planning, preparation and a willingness to learn. With these tips for rst-time homeowners, you can shape a stylish, comfortable space tailored to your needs.
Housing
All real estate advertising in this newspaper is subject to the federal Fair Housing Act which makes it illegal to advertise “any preference, limitation or discrimination based on race, color, religion, sex, physical handicap, familial status or national origin, or an intention to make any such preferences, limitation or discrimination.” California also extends protection based on age and marital status. The Mountain Democrat makes every effort to comply with these federal and state regulations. We ask your assistance in maintaining an acceptable standard of advertising. While they may seem inconvenient at times, these laws are written to protect you, our readers and advertisers, as well as ourselves. This newspaper will not knowingly accept any advertising for real estate which is in violation of the law. Our readers are hereby informed that all dwellings advertised in this paper are available on an equal opportunity basis. For further information, you can call the Dept. of Fair Employment & Housing at (916) 445-9918 or the State Dept. of Consumer Affairs at (800) 344-9940.Note: Rental ads that contain the phrase “Single Occupancy” refer only to the physical characteristics of the dwelling and are not intended to state a preference of either marital or familial status.
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slice of sellers have tested the market and would prefer to sit on the sidelines rather than reduce their price. The ratio of delistings to new listings reached 13% this spring (covering March-May), meaning roughly 13 homes were pulled for every 100 newly listed, well above the rations seen over the past three spring markets, spring 2024: 10%, spring 2023 10% and spring 2022: 6%.
In hot spots like Phoenix, Miami, and Riverside, Calif., sellers are especially likely to take listings o the market if the right buyer doesn’t materialize, signaling a pocket of supply that may return later at similar price points.
“We’re seeing hesitation on both sides of the market,” said Anthony Djon, founder of Anthony Djon Luxury Real Estate. “Inventory is rising, giving buyers more options and making them more price-sensitive and selective. At the same time, some sellers — especially those not getting immediate traction — are stepping back. The market has clearly shi ed from the urgency and intensity of recent years, and today’s homeowners are having to recalibrate their expectations.”
Stay up to date with a subscription to the MD website: mtdemocrat.com. Call (530) 622-1255.
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Huge kitchen! Eight burner gas range, double oven, a built-in oversized refrigerator, two dishwashers, a very large butcher block island, a wet bar with a wine frig and a pantry to die for. Vaulted ceilings, and a six foot propane fireplace. The master Bedroom opens to the valley view and deck. The master bath w/free-standing slipper style soaking tub and a enormous shower. The double doors to the master closet reveals a large closet .Tile roof w/ solar.
