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10 Most Horrifying Decorative Trends

The short list of things people are most afraid of shouldn’t include the property you’ve just listed for sale. But if the home’s staging brings undead design fads back to life—will circular beds ever die?!—buyers are going to scream bloody murder. October may be the month for ghosts and goblins, but no one should confuse your listing for the gates of home design hell.

REALTOR® Magazine’s Styled, Staged & Sold blog used staging surveys and feedback from professional designers to develop our choices for this year’s scariest home decor trends.

1. Toilet Seat Covers

fuzzy toilet cover

Adding toilet rugs or furry seat covers to the commode may be the worst offense of all. In fact, a 2018 Samsung survey of designers from the United Kingdom found the decorative element to be the most despised home design trend over the past 50 years.


2. Inspirational Quote Art

inspirational art

Tired sayings, such as “love you to the moon and back,” may be losing popularity. “EAT” signs in the kitchen and “LAUNDRY” signs in the laundry room are obvious and redundant, and thankfully, they’re starting to disappear, too. Nineteen percent of respondents to the Samsung survey said inspirational quote art stenciled onto walls was one of their least favorite design trends.


3. Popcorn Ceilings

popcorn ceiling

The textured ceilings have long popped up on designers’ most-hated lists. While statement ceilings are trending, the popcorn ceiling has failed to make a comeback. Beware: It’s cumbersome to remove and often attracts asbestos.


4. Ruffles and Florals

ruffled bedroom set

The 1980s sure did love its floral chintz. The pattern was popular on ruffled bed skirts, curtains, and furniture. While bigger floral prints have made a comeback, the smaller and ruffled versions have not. Twenty-eight percent of designers called floral chintz furniture one of the biggest design horrors of the past 50 years, according to the Samsung survey. Take a look at this home that went viral in April on Twitter for all the wrong reasons: pink and stenciled cabinets as well as an abundance of floral ruffles.


5. Wallpaper Borders

kitchen wallpaper border

The wallpaper border hung at the edge of walls, offering a touch of design without the commitment of wallpapering the entire room. Twelve percent of designers call it one of the worst trends ever, according to the Samsung survey. While ivy and floral wallpaper borders may now be outdated, wallpaper itself is not—particularly for your ceiling.


6. Hollywood Vanity Lights

vanity lights

They may have made you feel like a star, but the placement of bulging bulbs above the bathroom mirror has fallen out of favor. The harsh lighting has been replaced with warmer, softer fixtures like wall sconces.


7. Round Beds

round bed

Furniture with curves is a re-emerging trend, but it never should have included beds. These space-age beds trended in the 1960s. Seventeen percent of designers placed “round beds” on their hate list, according to the Samsung survey.


8. Wood Paneling

wood paneling

Dark brown wood paneling was a popular and affordable design option for walls in the 1960s and ’70s. The outdated look can put a room in an instant time warp. Still, wood paneling has experienced a comeback, but more modern options include shiplap and lighter wood tones. Usually, these items are used as an accent and not for the entire room. For example, West Elm offers a trendier adhesive wood paneling for walls and reclaimed weathered wood finishes for backsplashes.


9. Vertical Blinds

vertical blinds

While vertical blinds served as a practical solution for window coverings in the 1990s, designers now think the trend can make a room look outdated. The trendier choice nowadays: curtains—or better yet, bare windows that let natural light flow in.


10. Artificial Fruit

fake grapes

That bowl of fake pears and grapes wasn’t really fooling anyone back in the ’80s and ’90s. Try a real bowl of fruit, such as apples or lemons, as a centerpiece. Real fruit is a stager’s favorite trick to dress up a countertop.

Source: REALTOR® Magazine, Melissa Dittmann Tracey

Posted in: General Real Estate News

Study: Real Estate Cheapest in Fall, Winter

Home buyers likely won’t want to shy away from the fall or winter months. They may score the best deals.

Home sales prices in the nation’s largest metros typically peak during the summer but drop in the fall and are lowest in the winter, according to a new study from NerdWallet, in which researchers analyzed sales and listings over the past two years in the 50 largest metros using realtor.com® data.

Home sale prices tend to peak in June and July, according to the analysis. Buyers will find the most inventory or home choices during those months but there is also more competition from other buyers that they will have to contend with.

The market tends to slow in the fall and sales prices start to dip. Sales prices drop nearly 3 percent, on average – a fall of $8,300 on the median home – from summer (June through August) to fall (September through November).

Home sale prices tend to be cheapest in the winter. In January or February, for example, homes could potentially cost 8.45 percent less on average than in June through August.

January had the lowest sales prices in 29 of the 50 metro areas analyzed; February had the cheapest in 19 areas.

“If your circumstances give you the freedom to be able to choose the best time to look to sign a contract on a new home, there’s no question that the market dynamics favor you the most to do that in the dead of winter, ideally in January or February, right before the activity starts to heat up,” says Jonathan Smoke, realtor.com®’s chief economist.

Source: “House Shopping After Summer Ends? Buying Later in the Year Could Save You Thousands,” NerdWallet (Sept. 20, 2016)

Posted in: General Real Estate News

5 Ways to Add Curb Appeal

Pay attention to the curb appeal of the home you’re selling. From the driveway to the front yard and home exterior, the outside of the home is a big key to buyers’ first impression of a home.

A recent realtor.com® article highlights some ways to boost the curb appeal of your listing, including:

Landscape: It can pay off. Well-landscaped homes get anywhere from a 5.5 percent to 12.7 percent sales boost, according to Alex X. Niemiera, a horticulturist at Virginia Tech. Adding some plants and sprucing up the landscape may be worth it for potentially an extra $16,500 to $38,100 in value on a $300,000 home, according to his research. Make sure the grass is trimmed, clear away any dead limbs or unwanted foliage hanging around the house, and remove any tree branches or bushes that are overcrowding the yard.

Pay attention to the mailbox: “Paint it, polish it, or replace it,” according to the realtor.com® article.

Check the lights: A front porch light can add some appeal. “Attractive light fixtures can really add to the appeal of a home, even if the lights aren’t on,” realtor.com® notes.

Clean: Wash the windows. Consider power washing the house to remove any dirt and grime.

Do some touch-ups: The entire house may not require repainting but just certain areas, like the trim and front door. “While you’re at it, consider brightening the façade with a touch of contrasting color,” the article notes. “You’ll be surprised by how a little pop of color can really freshen up the space.”

Source: “What Is Curb Appeal? How to Supercharge the Impression Buyers Have of Your Home,” realtor.com® (Sept. 21, 2016)

Posted in: General Real Estate News

Homes Are Getting More Affordable

Housing affordability may finally be showing signs of improvement, according to a new analysis of American Community Survey data.

About 33.6 percent of households were cost-burdened in 2015, which means they spent more than 30 percent of their incomes on housing costs. That’s down from 34.6 percent a year earlier, according to Jed Kolko, chief economist at job site Indeed, and senior fellow at the Terner Center for Housing Innovation at the University of California, Berkeley.

Low mortgage rates are one factor helping to improve affordability. Renters are also seeing improvement, which may be aided by recent income gains that are outpacing rent growth, Kolko notes.

About 49 percent of renters were cost-burdened in 2015, which means they spent more than 30 percent of their incomes in rent, compared to about 50 percent a year earlier. That is the lowest percentage since 2008, according to Kolko’s analysis.

Also notable, single-family home ownership has seen its biggest rise since 2007. Single-family ownership rose to 65.7 million owner-occupied single-family homes in 2015 compared to 65.2 million a year earlier.

Source: “U.S. Households Make Long-Awaited Gains in Housing Recovery,” The Wall Street Journal (Sept. 15, 2016)

Posted in: General Real Estate News

5 Home Buying Myths

Home buyers get a lot of advice from friends and family – some good, some bad. A lot of myths can pop up and negatively guide their home purchasing experience. Make sure you don’t fall for one of these common buying falsehoods.

1. The only upfront cost is the down payment.

Buyers need to be prepared for several expenses – everything from fees, taxes, costs for inspections, credit reports, insurance, and others. Closing costs can be anywhere from 3 percent to 6 percent of the purchase price. Those costs can fluctuate greatly depending on the state you live in too.

2. Just looking for a house casually is not a big deal.

Some people may want to just start looking at homes to get a feel for the area, before they even sit down with a REALTOR®. But they could be setting themselves up for major heartbreak. “A buyer might be viewing homes that are in a higher or lower price range than what they are qualified for,” Connie Antoniou, a broker associate in Barrington, Ill., told realtor.com®. Home shoppers – even at the earliest stages – should get pre-approved for a mortgage so they know their budget from the get-go and don’t waste time looking at homes that are out of their price range.

3. You must have a 20 percent down payment.

A 20 percent down payment will help a buyer avoid paying private mortgage insurance. But 20 percent down isn’t required. Many lenders will still qualify a buyer for home loans with 10 percent or 5 percent down. Some buyers can even qualify for only 3.5 percent down with a Federal Housing Administration loan. There are many options for down payment assistance that lenders can explore with a buyer who has a limited amount to put down.

4. Schools shouldn’t matter if you don’t have kids.

“The neighborhood you choose matters – both now and later when you might consider selling,” notes the realtor.com® article. “Even if you don’t have children, good schools are a sign of a good neighborhood.” Buyers should explore all factors with their REALTOR® on items that could influence their homes appreciation and desirability so they don’t run into trouble later on one day when they try to sell.

5. You don’t need a home inspection.

When the housing market is extremely competitive, some home shoppers may be willing to waive the home inspection in order to get the home they want. “But beware: sellers are banking on your skipping this crucial step,” the realtor.com® article notes. “It means you’ll get the home as is, including any and all problems that come with it. And sometimes those problems aren’t exactly visible.”

Source: “9 Home-Buying Myths You Need to Stop Believing Immediately,” realtor.com® (Sept. 6, 2016)

Posted in: General Real Estate News

Some First-Time Buyer Mistakes

First-time home buyers are facing some stiff competition this summer, and while they may feel compelled to make a hasty real estate decision, doing so could lead to financial remorse or home buyer regret, according to Curbed.com. In their article, real estate professionals share some of the most common mistakes by first-time home buyers, including:

Choosing the most expensive home. Just because you can qualify for a loan to buy that high, doesn’t mean you necessarily should. Some buyers max out how much they spend but then have nothing left over for savings. They get over their head quickly then when they move into home ownership.

Not shopping around enough. This applies to seeing enough homes and shopping for the right mortgage. “We are in a crazy market, and many buyers feel rushed,” says Mark Ferguson, a real estate professional and creator of Invest Four More. Buyers likely need to be able to act quickly in some areas but they don’t need to feel pressured to buy the first house they see. They should take time to learn the markets and its values so they can feel more confident about their purchase. They also should take into account all the costs of home ownership, including mortgage, insurance, taxes, maintenance, utilities, and unexpected incidentals, Ferguson says.

Being indecisive. On the same note, home buyers can’t be paralyzed to act in the market either if they want a home. Many first-time home buyers “suffer from the fear of missing out,” says Kwame Joseph, a real estate professional with Coldwell Banker Residential. “They may find a home that they love, and though their gut tells them it’s the right house for them, they believe that there’s something better.” Joseph says he’s had markets make an offer and then still want to view other properties. But backing out at that point could become costly.

Working with the seller’s (listing) agent. Some buyers get the help of the seller’s agents, but they are there to represent the seller, not the buyer. Often, they don’t realize that the buyer’s agent will be compensated through a commission split from the seller’s side so there’s “no out of pocket expense” to first-time home buyers seeking an agent for themselves.

Source: “6 Common Mistakes First-Time Homebuyers Make,” Curbed.com

Posted in: General Real Estate News

Millennials Choose Parents’ Homes Over Romance

Mom and dad must make cool roommates. Young adults between the ages of 18 to 34 are more likely to live with a parent than to get married or move in with a romantic partner, according to a newly released analysis of Census data by the Pew Research Center.

This is the first time in more than 130 years in which young adults have chosen their parents’ homes over forming their own households, the study notes. In 2014, 32.1 percent of young adults were living with a parent. On the other hand, slightly fewer—31.6 percent—were living in a household formed upon a “romantic relationship,” either with a spouse or a partner, according to Pew’s analysis.

The trend for young adults to live with their parents longer grew more pronounced after the Great Recession in 2008. Fewer job opportunities forced some young adults to move back home. Also, young professionals are delaying marriages longer (with one in four young adults who may never marry), and the trend of young adults living together has “substantially fallen since 1990,” according to researchers.

Young men are living at the family home at the greatest numbers. About 35 percent of young adult men were living with a parent compared to 29 percent of women. About 14 percent of 18 to 34 year olds live alone, the study shows.

Source: “Living with Parents Is Most Common Arrangement for Young Adults,” Chicago Tribune

Posted in: General Real Estate News

5 Top Motivations for Selling

Inventories of homes are tight nationwide. So what’s going to get home owners to finally sell? In a recent survey, realtor.com® researchers found some of the top motivations to sell:

1. Want to be in a different neighborhood (40%)

2. Need a home with different features (28%)

3. Need a bigger home (22%)

4. Want location with better weather, views, or lifestyle (19%)

5. Need to lower cost of living (17%)

Different motivators are more pressing to various age groups. Realtor.com® research found that households between the ages of 35 and 44 tend to be driven by the desire to be in a different neighborhood and have a bigger home. On the other hand, households of those 65 and older are more motivated by retirement and tend to be looking for a home with different features or trying to improve their weather, views, or lifestyle.

However, “the biggest factors standing in the way of today’s sellers are time, making necessary improvements in their existing home in order to sell, and finding a replacement home to purchase,” says Jonathan Smoke, realtor.com®’s chief economist.

Source: “It’s a Great Time to Sell a Home – and to Buy Again,” realtor.com®

Posted in: General Real Estate News

Sellers Happy, But Home Buyers Are Frustrated

The number of home buyers who say now is a good time to buy dipped to an all-time survey low in Fannie Mae’s latest Home Purchase Sentiment Index. Meanwhile, home owners who say now is a good time to sell soared to an all-time survey high.

The disconnect in the market is likely partially due to the limited number of homes for sale in many markets, allowing sellers to face less competition and ask for higher home prices. On the other hand, home buyers are having fewer choices and stuck paying higher prices, sometimes in multiple-bid situations.

Indeed, “we can partially attribute the sizable gain in April in home selling optimism both to a correction for last month’s unexpected dip and to typical seasonal strength in housing activity in the spring and summer,” says Doug Duncan, senior vice president and chief economist at Fannie Mae. “Even after accounting for these factors, continued tight housing supply has led to renewed strength in home price appreciation, making selling a home a more attractive prospect this year in particular. This improved sentiment could provide an extra boost of much-needed supply for the spring selling season.”

Some highlights from Fannie Mae’s latest Home Purchase Sentiment Index:

  • 30% of Americans say now is a good time to purchase a home, a drop of 3 percentage points from the previous month and now at an all-time survey low.
  • 15% of Americans say now is a good time to sell a home, now at an all-time survey high.
  • More consumers think home prices will rise over the next 12 months compared to March, and slightly fewer consumers also expect mortgage rates to go up over the next year.
  • The percentage of respondents who say they are not concerned with losing their job increased 6 percentage points to 74%, nearly a 7 percentage point decrease in March.
  • The percentage of respondents who say their household income is significantly higher than it was 12 months ago held at 11%.

Source: Fannie Mae

Posted in: General Real Estate News

Make a Cramped Space Feel More Open

Even small rooms can be made to feel larger and more open with the right design. RISMedia recently featured some ways to open up a small space:

Declutter: Make sure every bookshelf isn’t crammed. Scale back on everything in the room. Clear out every corner of the room that has a tower of belongings.

Colors: “White is a great default color because it adds light and goes with everything, but playing with color gives you the opportunity to carry the eye throughout the room,” the RISMedia article notes. “Painting a room a light shade of green, while doing the ceiling in an off shade will force the eye upward, giving the impression of a higher ceiling.”

Mirrors: Add a mirror to expand a small space and add light to an otherwise dark room. For example, place a mirror opposite a window or in a sunny place in the home to bring in more light. Use a large mirror as a centerpiece on a wall for well-lit areas.

Minimize furniture: Pick one large piece of furniture to serve as the focal point of the room. Keep other pieces small and minimize what you bring in.

Source: “How to Transform a Modestly Sized Room into a Palace,” RISMedia

Posted in: General Real Estate News

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