So Cal Homes and Lifestyle by Patty

After five consecutive years of Millennials outpacing all other home-buying demographics, sellers would be wise to wrap their thinking around what makes this generation tick. According to a 2018 Home Buyer and Seller Generational Trends research study, Millennials purchased more than one-third of all homes in 2017. With home purchases totaling approximately 36 percent of the market in 2018, this class of buyer has increased its market share from 34 percent in 2017. Taken as a whole, the previously formidable Baby Boomers ranging from 52-70 years old enjoyed only a 32-percent market share. GenXers declined from 28 percent in 2017 to 26 percent in 2018. With the relatively young Millennials still not fully engaged in the real estate market, expectations are that this group could set the tone for decades. Millennials Have Improved Buying Power If you accept the Pew Research Centre definition of Millennials, then they were born between 1981 and 1996. That means the entire po...

With guest season (also known as THE HOLIDAYS) coming at you fast and furious, you want to be sure your home is cozy, but with that  fresh-as-spring feel  — as opposed to that musty-damp-winter feel. Here’s how to make that happen. 1. Deck the Halls, Inside and Out Deep clean inside and out. Organize your home especially if you have guests who will be staying over. Cleaning and organizing will not only make your home guest ready, but it will make entertaining easier in an organized space. 2. Spiff up the exterior Spruce up your curb appeal, check the lighting, and sweep the walkways or steps that your guests will take. Give the lawn or plants care or, if you live in a cold climate, make sure the ice and snow are cleared.  Do your holiday decorating and make you home look like it is holiday ready. 3. Stock Up on Guest Supplies Be prepared by making sure you have a stock of holiday entertaining essentials. Towels, sheets, pillows, shampoos, etc. Keep the...

With guest season (also known as THE HOLIDAYS) coming at you fast and furious, you want to be sure your home is cozy, but with that fresh-as-spring feel — as opposed to that musty-damp-winter feel. Here’s how to make that happen. 1. Deck the Halls, Inside and Out Deep clean inside and out. Organize your home especially if you have guests who will be staying over. Cleaning and organizing will not only make your home guest ready, but it will make entertaining easier in an organized space. 2. Spiff up the exterior Spruce up your curb appeal, check the lighting, and sweep the walkways or steps that your guests will take. Give the lawn or plants care or, if you live in a cold climate, make sure the ice and snow are cleared.  Do your holiday decorating and make you home look like it is holiday ready. 3. Stock Up on Guest Supplies Be prepared by making sure you have a stock of holiday entertaining essentials. Towels, sheets, pillows, shampoos, etc. Keep these on a shelf that...

Though the real estate business never stops, most people associate its busy periods of the year with the spring and summer seasons. And while this is true to a large extent, those who think that selling a home in the fall is a bad decision are sorely mistaken. Just as families want to get into new homes before the school year starts, which makes spring and summer busy seasons, there's also an urgency to get into new homes prior to the holiday season. It's one of the reasons why you shouldn't hesitate to list your home in the fall season. Here's a look at five more reasons why it's smart to list your home in the fall: 1. Demand Is Still There It's a seller's market out there, which means that there's still high demand for quality homes. So don't think that buyers have put their searches on hold until next spring, because they're still out there. You'll take advantage of this continuous demand by listing in the fall. 2. You Can Enjoy...

1. Prepping the room More time will be spent preparing to paint than actually applying the coats. It pays off — good preparation will save you from dealing with hiccups. Remove everything you can from the walls and doors, including doorknobs and electrical outlet faceplates. Wipe your walls clean; dirt and oil prevent paint from bonding with the wall. Use cotton instead of plastic drop cloths — plastic is slippery to walk on and leaves paint wet and easily tracked around the house. Mix all the paint in one big bucket to even out any slight variations in color from can to can. You can always pour the paint back into the original cans if you have too much. Don't be afraid to dive into deep green or fall into fuchsia! 2. Taping, to make it easy While still technically preparation, taping is crucial to keeping your paint neat and professional-looking. Apply the tape in short, overlapping strips where walls meet, on the side you want to pr...

Once you have decided that you want to put your home up for sale, you should start taking the steps to get it ready to go on the market. While some homes may be almost ready for pictures and a showing, there are others that may need a lot of work. Because of this, it is always a good idea to evaluate the condition of your home as soon as you know you will be selling. Use these steps to not only determine what you need to do but also get started on your home preparation.  ·          Have a home inspection done. You can definitely take a look around your home to see if any work needs to be done on the cosmetic side but you should consider relying on a professional to tell you if there are any underlying problems that you will need to fix before selling. This is a small price to pay so you can know exactly what needs to happen around your home and you can also start getting quotes from the inspector.  ·    ...

When our home reflects our heart, our soul, our life and our family, we can’t help but feel warm fuzzy feelings about the place we live. How we design our home tells our story in so many ways! And how we design our home can write our story, too. Are you mindful of the life you want to live as you design your home? Do you consider a sense of “belonging” in your home? Have you started thinking about the upcoming holidays?  What mood and experience do you want to create in your home? Remember the last time you walked into a professionally designed home and marveled at its beauty? Chances are, the designer carefully planned the interior finishings -- like crown mouldings and interior doors. While trim and doors have a major impact on interior decor, few homeowners select them with the same care as their furnishings or paint. Interior finishings are decorative interior products that create the look, feel and flow of design throughout your home. They includ...