August 26, 2024

West + Main Homes

Colorado, National, Oklahoma, Colorado Springs, Mountains, Oregon, Minnesota, North Carolina

As Featured in West + Main Home Magazine: Renovation Revelations!

August 26, 2024

West + Main Homes

Colorado, National, Oklahoma, Colorado Springs, Mountains, Oregon, Minnesota, North Carolina

West + Main Agent Bev Marsh

“Our mini home makeover came on fast and furious for me.”

— Bev Marsh

After living in our builder grade home for over 10 years with original builder grade everything, it was really time for a refresh. My hubby was going to be out of town for 3 weeks and I wanted to surprise him, so I quickly got to work (first by unplugging the blink cameras) so he couldn’t see what was going on. I knew that I didn’t want to bust out any walls or do any major demos, but our home really just needed a face lift.

My first call was to my Interior Design friend, Elise Bratz from EMB Design in Castle Rock, CO. I needed someone to help me make my home look like a model home. She helped to bring my vision to life. I wanted simple changes, ie. paint color, furnishings and light fixtures and she really helped me with all the things. She also added all the finishing touches for me, little items in your home that you don’t think about, she thought of.

BEFORE

We shopped everywhere, but found most of our items at Wayfair, Home Goods, Target, World Market and even Walmart. We added a fresh coat of paint (Modern Grey by Sherwin Williams), changed out all of the light fixtures, added rugs and my whole main floor received all new furniture. The lighter paint alone made my home feel so light and bright. I was able to successfully pull off this home makeover in just 3 short weeks and honestly, I fell in love with my home all over again.

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If there is a home that you would like more information about, if you are considering selling a property, or if you have questions about the housing market in your neighborhood, please reach out. We’re here to help.

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August 23, 2024

West + Main Homes

Colorado, Colorado Springs, Mountains, Minnesota, National, North Carolina, Oklahoma, Oregon

Pinterest Predicts the Coziest Home Decor Trend for Fall 2024

August 23, 2024

West + Main Homes

Colorado, Colorado Springs, Mountains, Minnesota, National, North Carolina, Oklahoma, Oregon

If there's one place you can depend on to have the scoop on the latest trends in, well, just about anything, it's Pinterest!

Not only does the creative board-based app give users the lowdown on everyday styles, like cute cowgirl boots or bud vases, but also the best seasonal trends in food, home decor, makeup, and more.

Last winter, Pinterest predicted the most comforting food trend of 2024: "melty mashups." And this year, they once again anticipate a super-cozy theme in time for fall, but it has less to do with French onion pasta and more to do with the home decor front.

The social media platform has released its trend report for fall 2024, which it describes as "a season for connectivity and creativity." In terms of home decor, Pinterest predicts cozy corners to take over every space in your home. Specifically, users have been searching for cozy sunrooms and cozy reading room ideas.

So, just how can you achieve this comforting vibe for your own autumnal home refresh? According to Pinterest, people are "embracing dreamy, cozy corners with a floral room aesthetics and cozy lighting, infusing their spaces with soothing colors." If you'd like to take a page from Ree Drummond's book, or at least her Walmart line, you could start with some textural, floral accents, like The Pioneer Woman Plush Reversible Throw. Just imagine curling up in the warm blanket with a book in hand (Ree's latest cookbook, anyone?).

Cozy lighting and air-purifying plants are also predicted to be huge in fall 2024. That can look like warmly-lit lamps, string lights, and even a roaring fireplace. On the green side, there are so many low-maintenance indoor plants that also purify the air (and add so much color)! Consider adding a snake plant or English ivy to the mix for the ultimate zen space.

If these ideas aren't enough to convince you that cozy corners will be all the rage this fall, let the numbers speak instead. The social media platform's trend reports have been accurate on over 80% of their predictions for the last four years, so this year should be no exception!

Read more at ThePioneerWoman.com

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August 22, 2024

West + Main Homes

Colorado, Colorado Springs, Minnesota, Mountains, National, Oklahoma, North Carolina, Oregon

Today’s Biggest Housing Market Myths

August 22, 2024

West + Main Homes

Colorado, Colorado Springs, Minnesota, Mountains, National, Oklahoma, North Carolina, Oregon

Have you ever heard the phrase: don’t believe everything you hear?

That’s especially true if you’re thinking about buying or selling a home in today’s housing market. There’s a lot of misinformation out there. And right now, making sure you have someone you can go to for trustworthy information is extra important.

If you partner with a real estate agent, they can clear up some common misconceptions and reassure you by backing them up with research-driven facts. Here are just a few misconceptions they can help disprove.

1. I’ll Get a Better Deal Once Prices Crash

If you’ve heard home prices are going to come crashing down, it’s time to look at what’s actually happening. While prices vary by local market, there’s a lot of data out there from numerous sources that shows a crash is not going to happen. Back in 2008, there was a dramatic oversupply of homes that led to prices crashing. Across the board, there’s an undersupply of homes for sale today. That makes this market a whole different scenario (see chart below):

So, if you think waiting will score you a deal, know that data shows there’s not a crash on the horizon, and waiting isn’t going to pay off the way you’d hoped.

2. I Won’t Be Able To Find Anything To Buy

If this nagging fear about finding the right home if you move is still holding you back, you probably haven’t talked with an expert real estate agent lately. Throughout the year, the supply of homes for sale has grown. Data from Realtor.com helps put this into context. While there are still fewer homes on the market than in a more normal year like 2019, inventory is still above where it was at this time last year (see graph below):

So, if you’re remembering all that media coverage about record-low supply during the pandemic, you can rest a bit easier. While the market isn’t back to normal just yet, inventory is moving in a healthier direction. And that means as your options improve, you can let go of this now outdated myth because finding a home to buy won’t feel quite so impossible anymore.

3. I Have To Wait Until I Have Enough for a 20% Down Payment

Many people still believe you need a 20% down payment to buy a home. To show just how widespread this myth is, Fannie Mae says:

“Approximately 90% of consumers overstate or don’t know the minimum required down payment for a typical mortgage.”

And if you look at the data from the National Association of Realtors (NAR), you can see the typical homeowner isn’t putting down as much as you might expect (see graph below):

First-time homebuyers are typically only putting down 6%. That’s far less than the 20% so many people think they need. And if you’re looking at that graph and you’re more focused on how the number for repeat buyers is closer to 20%, here’s what you need to realize. That’s only because they have so much equity built up in their current house that can be used to make a larger down payment for their next move.

This goes to show you don’t have to put 20% down, unless it’s specified by your loan type or lender. Many people put down a lot less. Not to mention, depending on the type of home loan you get, you may only need to put 3.5% or even 0% down. So, if you’re buying your first home, you likely don’t need nearly as much for your down payment as you may think.

An Agent’s Role in Fighting Misconceptions

If you put your move on pause because you heard one or more of these myths yourself, it’s time to talk to a trusted agent. An expert agent has more data and the facts, just like this, to reassure you and help break through any misconceptions that may be holding you back.

Bottom Line

If you have questions about what you’re hearing or reading, connect with a real estate agent. You deserve to have someone you can trust to get the facts.

Read more at KeepingCurrentMatters.com

Related Links

The Number One Mistake Sellers Are Making: Overpricing Their House