Ah, September. The weather is changing, and we’re getting back to our normal, post-summer routines. It’s also a great time to give the house a little extra love and maintenance. Stain the Deck Image: Mark and Luzy Gunter-Smith Check Fire Extinguishers Image: CSA Images/Mod Art Collection/Getty According to the Red Cross, fires increase in the fall and winter. […]
Author Archives: Christopher Shea
9 Habits for a Home That Always Feels Neat and Fresh
Home is literally the center of your universe right now, so make sure it’s a source of minimum stress. Here’s how to keep your house clean and orderly all the time. Wake, and make your bed pronto. That’s one task down already. Keep your kitchen sink empty for a soothingly clear sight line. Clean a […]
25 Stylish Fall Mantel Decor Ideas to Cozy Up Your Space
Come fall, you might be inclined to decorate with layers of texture, transition your home’s color palette from energetic hues to earth tones, and even carve out a cozy nook that’s perfect for lounging. Autumn presents an opportunity to make the most of more time spent indoors, which means finding ways to make your home more cozy and welcoming. […]
What Will The Pandemic’s Impact Be On The Real Estate Market?
The pandemic has already caused a mini-exodus out of New York City, and with lower taxes, lower interest rates, and — for the wealthiest among us — higher earnings thanks to stock market gains and some helpful bailouts, the housing market is roaring outside of urban America. What will be the impact on real estate […]
It Just Makes Cents! 7 DIY Home Improvement Projects That Promise Serious ROI
DIY home improvements can be great feel-good projects. You get to learn a new skill, use your hands, and take pride in something you create yourself. But let’s face it: Your DIY project doesn’t make sense if it won’t make cents. In other words, it needs to pay off when it comes time to sell […]
These 5 Real Estate Trends Have Emerged From COVID-19
Today’s real estate trends reflect the reality that, after months of quarantine, Americans who have not been economically impacted by the pandemic are looking at their homes and realizing that they want something bigger and better. “Everybody that ever wanted to do anything is doing it now,” says Stacey Oestreich, a saleswoman for Douglas Elliman in Westchester County, New York. “There […]
July New Home Sales: Strongest Release Since 2006
By Matthew Speakman on Aug. 25, 2020 July new home sales were up 13.9% from June and 36.3% from July 2019, to 901,000 (SAAR), according to the U.S. Census Bureau. The median price of new houses sold in July 2020 was $330,600, up 7.2% from a year ago. Inventory of new homes available for sale in July fell […]
Rental Crisis Hits College Towns Thanks To COVID-19
From Realtor.com In January, Rita Slavin‘s daughter signed an ironclad lease on an apartment near the University of California, Davis, to secure housing for her senior year of college. There was no way Slavin could have known that just a few months later her daughter Nicole‘s college classes would be held entirely online. She also had no […]
How to spot a walkable neighborhood
From Trulia Online and on-the-ground strategies for finding out how pedestrian-friendly a place is—before you buy or rent. Strolling to a cafe for breakfast, walking around the corner to yoga—isn’t that the life? Before you buy or rent, here’s how to suss out whether a neighborhood you’re interested in will let you get out from […]
So, Can I Have People Over for Dinner Now?
From House Rules Can I have friends over for dinner? I’m going to say a provisional yes. After over three months of total self-isolation in which I went without any IRL social interaction at all, I understand the importance of spending time with friends and loved ones. In the last month or so I’ve hosted […]