Tips to Freshen Up Your Home

 Springtime is usually the time for cleaning, hence the phrase "Spring Cleaning." It is also the best time to freshen up your home's look. Here are five things to do to spring up the look.

#1: Clean and Declutter

After being indoors for the winter, your home might be musty and stale. The first step when the weather starts to warm up is to refresh your home. To do this start with dusting blinds, cleaning windows, washing floors, and prepping your porch — don't forget to clean your appliances, dust light fixtures, wipe down doorknobs and light switches and freshen up your front door. If you need to update the smell of your home aromas such as linen and cotton are great choices.

#2: Awaken Your Home With Scent

As mentioned earlier, the scent of your home is important. Infuse your home with spring fragrances. Some of these scents include the calming scent of Lavender & Almond Blossom, the floral hints of Honeysuckle & Raspberry, the fruity sweetness of Vanilla & Pink Papaya, or the tropical freshness of Palm Breeze. To do this you can use an Air Wick Essential Mist diffuser.

#3: Get Into Blossoms and Houseplants

When springtime comes, people love to buy flowers and plants. The spring is when a majority of plants turn green and bloom. Bringing the outdoors in is a perfect idea for your space. You can do this with houseplants and flowers. Low-maintenance houseplants can be a perfect thing for most anyone to have. Examples are asparagus fern, snake plant, pothos, or philodendron.

#4: Say Yes to Of-the-Moment Hues

Spring colors are another great way to update your home. Use cheerful and bright spring shades to welcome the warm weather. The trend for this year is electrifying hues and muted pastels. Examples include hocking pinks, vibrant azures and canary yellows, along with ocean blues, soft basil greens and pretty lavenders.

#5: Switch Out Textiles

You don't need your heavy duvet during the warmer months. Switch them out for nubby blankets made of lighter linens and cotton throws. This season you will see cottagecore with wildflower prints and pastoral motifs, groovy patterns and highly textured fabric, and boho chic designs.

Remember to mix this season's colors, patterns and blooms together for a nice fresh look. To do this add a nice aroma to create a good mood in your home.

Click Here For the Source of the Information.

Truth and Myths About Improving Your Credit Score

 One of the most important factors for your financial health is your credit score. If you do not have a good credit score, you are more than likely going to have a hard time obtaining a mortgage. So before you think about buying a house, here are some truths and myths about how you can improve your credit score.

1. Truth: Late payments can hurt your credit score

Payment history is a big part of your credit score. In fact, payment history makes up around 35% - 40% of your credit score. Paying bills late is a crime when it comes to your credit health. If you are having a hard time remembering to pay a bill, set an account alert on your phone or calendar to remind you to pay a bill.

2. Truth: You should always use credit cards responsibly

Focus on your credit behavior when calculating your credit score. Be responsible with your credit history because this can improve your credit score. Do not spend over your means and try to pay the balance in full each month.

3. Truth: It’s important to stay below your credit card limits

You should not max out your credit cards. This can raise a red flag about your ability to handle debt. Do not use over 30% of your available credit to avoid this. If you have a limit of $1,000 on your credit card, you should not have a balance over $300 month to month.

4. Myth: You shouldn’t review your credit report

This is not true! It is recommended to obtain your credit report once a year.  Keep in mind: by federal law, you are entitled to one free credit report per year from each of the three credit reporting bureaus. There are two kinds of reports that can be pulled for your credit. A soft credit is when you check your credit or a creditor checks your credit to be preapproved. A hard credit report is for when you apply for a new line of credit. It is very important to understand your credit so you can improve it and make sure there are no outstanding balances you have missed.

5. Truth: Having no credit is worse than having bad credit

Again this is a myth because creditors want to see how you handle your debt. Having multiple credit lines is okay however you need to pay on time and keep your balances low. If you have no credit, think about opening a small credit limit. Never open several credit lines one after the other.

6. Myth: I should close credit lines I’m not using

Closing old accounts that you might not be using at this time, can negatively affect your credit score. Keep the line open with no balance, this is actually more positive than removing it.

Remember your credit score will be taken into consideration when you are getting approved for a mortgage. A higher credit score will allow for a better interest rate. If you get a better rate, you will be able to have a smaller monthly payment.

Click Here For the Source of the Information.

Tips For Turning A Patio Into A Living Room

 An outdoor living space should feel like an extension of your home. This extra living space should be a place that welcomes you with a cozy feel. Here are some tips from the pros for turning your patio into a living room.

1. Add an Awning for a Retractable Ceiling

A retractable ceiling or awning will let you enjoy your outdoor living space rain or shine. This will also allow your space to be a place to go and beath the heat. A retractable awning can make a statement along with giving UV protection. A Sunbrella Shade Fabrics awning is low maintenance. They are water-repellent, mildew resistant, mold resistant, and stain resistant.

2. Pick Patterns that Pop

A patio area is a great place to add colors to make the area pop. Mix and match stripes with solids and go bold. Different patterns and textures can create both dimension and visual interest. To do this, use pillows, or an awning to add color to your outdoor living space.

3. Up the Plushness

Soft areas are a great place to relax and read a book. Invest in soft plush cushions for your patio furniture which will make your seating area cozy. Couches and daybeds make an outdoor area livable. This space will make you want to take your shoes off and relax!

4. Make Space for Your Favorite Hobbies

Listening to music, drinking morning coffee, or reading a book are perfect hobbies to enjoy outdoors. These activities can be easily done in your outdoor living space. You can have different zones with different purposes on the blueprint of your patio. For example, you can have a grilling zone that has an outdoor kitchen, a sitting area with a sofa and coffee table, or a book nook with a nice comfy daybed. To make the area enjoyable you will want to add an awning to the space.

5. Pull it All Together With a Rug

A rug is a great focal point in almost any space. It can anchor a space and create visual interest. Remember you will need an outdoor rug that is made of synthetic materials such as acrylic, nylon and polypropylene.

Remember it is fun to mix up your fabrics and pieces to make a great outdoor space. The summertime is the perfect time to go and relax outdoors.

Click Here For the Source of the Information.

 A drop in growth pushed the housing share of the economy up at the beginning of 2022. The overall GDP dropped at a 1.4% annual rate. This was due to the increased inventories and a jump in imports. The housing's share of GDP rose to 16.7%.

The beginning of the year also saw a 4.8% increase in GDP in terms of residential fixed investment. There will be challenges this year for home construction. There will be a higher interest rate due to tightening monetary policy. RFI added 10 basis points to the headline GDP growth rate at the start of 2022.

Housing activities add to the GDP in two ways. First through RFI which stands for residential fixed investment. This measures how home building, multifamily development, and remodeling contribute to GDP. It can do this through the construction of new single-family and multifamily structures, residential remodeling, production of manufactured homes, and brokers’ fees.

Second is the measure of house services and how it affects GDP. This includes gross rents (including utilities) paid by renters, owners’ imputed rent (an estimate of how much it would cost to rent owner-occupied units), and utility payments. In the first quarter of 2022 housing services made up 11.9% of the economy, totaling $2.9 trillion on a seasonally adjusted annual basis.

This year the recent interest in housing has definitely affected the economy in a positive way. The shares are near historic norms.

Click Here For the Source of the Information.

If You Want To Make Your Space Look Bigger, Avoid These Paint Color Trends

 Most people want their spaces to look bigger than smaller. There are some ways you can make a space seem bigger and it really is. There are many colors that are trendy this year, but this does not mean you should use them in your small spaces. If you want to make your space look bigger, choose white paint. Make sure to use an eggshell or satin finish which will reflect light. When light is reflected, it creates the appearance that a space is larger.

Even if you pick white, not all white shades are the best. It can be a challenge to pick which hue is right. A perfect choice is white paint in a soft shade that has warm undertones. This hue will add brightness to any space. Remember to test your white paint in your space to see how it reflects the light. If white is too sterile, then a pale lavender or cooler tones can also make a space feel open and airy.

A trend that has become very popular is painting the ceiling a dark color. You do not want to do this if you want your space to look larger than it really is. If your walls are in a light tone, paint the ceiling the same color which will make the room seem bigger.

A larger room nowadays looks great with dark trim on lighter walls, but this does not deem true for a smaller space. Painting the trim the same color as the walls can trick the eye to help the space look bigger. You do not want any visual distractions. Another example is not to paint one wall a different color than the others in a small space.

Remember strong bright bold colors will always make a space feel smaller. Go for light, airy tones to make your space feel open and bright.

Click Here For the Source of the Information.

A Golden Opportunity For Sellers This Spring

 The current housing market is booming for sellers. Timing is crucial with the sale of your current home and the purchase of a new one. As a seller, you will want to get the best of both worlds. Listed are four reasons why this is the best time for you to sell your home.

1. The Number of Homes on the Market Is Still Low

The past year and currently the housing inventory is low, low, low. This is great news if you are a home seller. Buyers are fighting for what little is currently on the market. Buyers are waiting for homes to go on the market in order to get to them first. Your home will be the center of attention when it comes on the market. Realtors will price your home according to the market value and will get your home sold quickly.

2. Your Equity Is Growing in Record Amounts

CoreLogic's Homeowner Equity Insight reports that current  homeowners are sitting on record amounts of equity thanks to recent home price appreciation. The report finds that the average homeowner has gained $55,300 in equity over the past year. With this amount of equity, you will be able to make a move in this hot market.

3. Mortgage Rates Are Increasing

While mortgage rates have been slightly rising this year, they are still lower than they have been. Freddie Mac shows that the current 30-year fixed mortgage rate is at 3.85%. “For homebuyers, we believe that borrowing costs will likely rise with the increase in mortgage rates,” according to Doug Duncan, Senior Vice President and Chief Economist at Fannie Mae.

4. Home Prices Are Climbing Too

With the demand from buyers and lack of inventory, home prices are skyrocketing. It is predicted they will keep rising if this imbalance continues. If you are thinking of selling, now is the time to sell. Get ahead of the curve by selling and purchasing now before the prices climb even higher.

Remember if you are thinking of selling, contact your local Realtor. A local Realtor can help you price your home right and get it sold in no time.

Click Here For the Source of the Information.