Some Highlights:
- Even a small increase in interest rates drastically impacts your budget.
- Securing a mortgage now while rates are still low means you can get more house for your money.
- Spend your money on your dream home, not on interest.
The Difference Your Interest Rate Makes [INFOGRAPHIC]
May 18, 2015 By Leave a Comment
How to Choose the Right Bathroom Sink
May 17, 2015 By Leave a Comment
Learn the difference between 8 different styles of bathroom sinks and how to find the perfect one for your space
“Eight,” I hear you say. “She can’t possibly be serious. Isn’t a sink just a sink?” But yes, I am serious — and my clients are often baffled when trying to choose from the available options. The truth is that choosing one can be a bit overwhelming, but only when you’re not sure what you’re looking for. First, you need to consider which room you are shopping for (master en suite, family bathroom, powder room), who will use the room and how much space you have.
So before you head off to choose your new bathroom sink, grab a coffee, have a read and then go out armed with the information you need to help narrow down the best options for you and your space.
Top tips on how to use technology to change your space
May 16, 2015 By Leave a Comment
When there is greater natural light? Have you ever considered how you could modify your generated lighting to improve or enhance your living and work space? Research supports ever more subtle ways that lighting can affect us and how lighting products, including light therapy and color changing light systems, can significantly enhance our environment to promote learning, productivity and relaxation…
Lighting for maximizing comfort and enjoyment in your home…
8 Inexpensive Ways to Decorate Your Room
May 15, 2015 By Leave a Comment
A variety of furniture in the room greatly affects the style of decoration as well as appearance the rooms. Move it or make a few changes to some of the furniture by repainting using our favorite colors are smart way to decorate the room as well as inexpensive. If you do it right as a whole will give a new look room decor and refreshing atmosphere. Including repainting some photo frame also makes viewing your photos look charming in the room…
Ask an Expert: What to Do With an Awkward Nook
May 14, 2015 By Leave a Comment
Discover how to decorate and furnish rooms with oddly shaped corners and tricky roof angles
Sloping ceilings and oddly shaped nooks are the focus of this installment in a series on how to decorate rooms with difficult shapes and sizes to minimize their flaws. Not sure what to do with that low-ceilinged attic room, angular alcove or dead space under the stairs? Three designers share their ideas and tricks of the trade.
Concrete & Glass: Marvelous Multi-Level Mansion
May 13, 2015 By Leave a Comment
In the lovely green Mediterranean setting of El Sauzal, Santa Cruz de Tenerife in the Canary Islands, the G House from architect Esaú Acosta nestles into a cozy spot between the mountains and the sea.The G House was built on a small 6.5 meter wide plot of land in an area where there are no legal limits on the size and shape of homes – meaning that it had to be squeezed in between existing irregular plots.
However, the lack of horizontal space wasn’t a hindrance to the architect. He simply built down a bit, then very carefully arranged each element of the home to provide maximum space and maximum privacy. Three stacked volumes of different lengths hold – from the ground up – the entrance courtyard/garage, living/dining areas, and sleeping quarters.
Your Guide to Common Light Fixtures — and How to Use Them
May 12, 2015 By Leave a Comment
Get to know pot lights, track lights, pendants and more to help you create an organized, layered lighting plan
I’ll let you in on a little secret that designers use to get that photo-ready finish in a home: layers of light. Just like with clothing and accessories in fashion, when creating your interior lighting scheme, layering your light sources helps create a rich look that highlights great features and eliminates harsh shadowing. To do that, you’ll need an approach that combines many different styles of fixtures and sources. Here’s my guide to common light fixtures you can use to create a sparkling scheme for any space or mood.
What Mom Wants for Mother’s Day
May 10, 2015 By Leave a Comment
You’re right about a nice dinner and time with family. Here’s what else will make Mom happy this weekend
We asked more than 750 moms about what would please them for Mother’s Day this year. A special meal and time with you took the top spots, but hold that dinner reservation for a moment — nearly half of the moms said their ideal Mother’s Day activity would take place at home. Twenty-seven percent of Houzz moms would like something for their home or garden; 24 percent would like a personal gift, such as jewelry or clothing; and 22 percent say they’d prefer no gifts at all. Here’s what we asked them, and the top responses:
3 in 10 Americans Looking to Buy
May 9, 2015 By Leave a Comment
More potential home buyers are poised to enter the market this year, according a national survey by Chase, “Insights: From the Mind of the Homebuyer.” Three in 10 potential buyers say they plan to purchase a home in the next 18 months, with 32 percent of respondents citing low interest rates and 20 percent attributing rising rental costs as reasons for getting off the sidelines.
The survey also found that 62 percent of interested buyers believe that now is a better time to purchase a home compared to last year. And 20 percent of buyers surveyed say they want to upgrade from their current home.
But the survey did find concerns about affordability and competition. Nearly 70 percent of prospective home buyers say they worry that they missed the chance to buy at the best time because of rising home prices. Fifty-six percent say they are concerned about finding a home that fits within their budget and that’s located in a quality neighborhood. Bidding wars are also a concern, with three out of four buyers worrying they will be outbid by others.
“Buyers are clearly concerned about housing inventory and rising prices, especially during the competitive spring buying season,” says Cecelia Barbieri, senior vice president of marketing for Chase Mortgage Banking. “But the research shows that interested buyers are optimistic and ready to act on their goals. In fact, 73 percent said they’d give up things like eating out and taking vacations in order to buy their dream home.”
Quick stats from the survey:
- 43 percent of potential home buyers feel that getting a mortgage will be easier this year.
- 49 percent of women surveyed say they are more conservative than their partner and don’t want to go beyond their agreed-upon budget, while 39 percent of men say they are less conservative than their partner and are willing to push their budget limit to get the home they want.
- Only one in four interested buyers correctly answered a series of questions about home buying, including how annual percentage rates work, down payments, and lenders.
