Realtor®

Paint Color Forecast 2022 – Favorable Shades That Are Likely to Trend

Paint Color Forecast 2022 – Favorable Shades That Are Likely to Trend

Article paraphrased from Cyndy Aldred, Better Homes & Gardens Inviting colors that bring about warmth and comfort are expected to be the most popular paint shades for 2022. From neutrals, to greens, to blues. Experts expect that there will be an emphasis on natural earth tones.    Warm Undertones Consumers are starting to move away from cool, white undertones towards more warm comfort shades.  Natural materials are starting to become increasingly popular in new construction. Such as natural stone, brick, and wood.    Paint Color: Tallow, Farrow & Ball    Restorative Greens   Global events are believed to be a determining factor in the shades consumers gravitate towards according to color experts. Paint manufacturers analyze trends and other societal influences to form color forecasts.    For 2022, research has suggested that restorative colors, especially those reminiscent of nature, will be popular due to their calming effect. Be on the lookout for green hues.  Paint Color: Bancha, Farrow & Ball   Organic Earth Tones Brown undertones, reflective of Earth’s foundation, will be the leading trend for 2022. Different saturated brown colors mixed with creamy whites will create beautiful shades that will bring attention to walls and details.    Wall Paint Color: Broccoli Brown, Farrow & Ball   Blues as Neutrals Blue has continued to show up in paint forecasts and trends for the past decade, and many designers believe it is here to stay.  Blues can be used as a neutral color if it has gray undertones and will blend in seamlessly with other neutral shades.     Paint Color: Lulworth Blue, Farrow & Ball   Tempting Taupes As trends...

Market Report for Altadena and Pasadena | February 23

Here is a Market Report for Altadena and Pasadena for the week of 02/23. Altadena This week the median list price for Altadena, CA 91001 is $1,144,500 with the market action index hovering around 76. This is about the same as last month’s market action index of 76. Inventory has increased to 30. While the Market Action Index shows some strengthening in the last few weeks, prices have settled in a bit of a plateau. We are currently in a Seller’s market so prices will likely resume their climb should this trend persist. Detailed Altadena market report.  Pasadena This week the median list price for Pasadena, CA 91101 is $1,100,000 with the market action index hovering around 37. This is less than last month’s market action index of 40. Inventory has held steady at or around 1 The market has been cooling over time and prices have recently flattened. Despite the consistent decrease in Market Action Index (MAI), we’re in a Seller’s Market (where significant demand leaves little inventory available). If the MAI begins to climb, prices will likely follow suit. If the MAI drops consistently or falls into the Buyer’s zone, watch for downward pressure on prices. Detailed Pasadena market...

How to Plan the Ultimate Staycation After Listing Your Home

So you just listed your home and you have a lot of potential buyers – yay! Now is the perfect excuse to plan a staycation. Alternatively, renting an AirBnB or hotel locally can be easier than constantly switching your schedule around for showings… and more fun!    Set a budget. First create a budget of what you are willing to spend. List your priorities then figure out how much you’re willing to spend.    Plan what you want to do. Luckily here in Southern California, there are a ton of things to do. Amusement parks, beaches, mountains, and wine countries are all a hop, skip, and jump away. Research what’s nearby you and make a priority list of what you would like to do. Here are some ideas: family movie night, spa day, local theater production, local game night, guided tour, fancy dinner   Use online resources. Scour through Groupon and see if you can find any local discount deals or promotions happening in the area.    Create an itinerary. Now that you have an idea of what you would like to do, create a schedule to make sure you can fit everything in!      Book a room. Although for staycations the idea is to stay home, if there are many showings scheduled, you might want to get a room. Find a local hotel room or AirBnB near you and close by to the planned activities for easier accessibility. Maybe access your credit card points to reserve cash for your move? Be a tourist. Treat this like any other vacation. Explore places you’ve never been before. Eat at...

Market Report for Altadena and Pasadena | February 14

Here is a Market Report for Altadena and Pasadena for the week of 02/14. Altadena This week the median list price for Altadena, CA 91001 is $1,194,500 with the market action index hovering around 76. This is an increase over last month’s market action index of 73. Inventory has increased to 24. Home sales continue to outstrip supply and the Market Action Index has been moving higher for several weeks. This is a Seller’s market so watch for upward pricing pressure in the near future if the trend continues. Detailed Altadena market report. Pasadena This week the median list price for Pasadena, CA 91101 is $1,100,000 with the market action index hovering around 37. This is less than last month’s market action index of 43. Inventory has held steady at or around 1. The market has started cooling and prices have recently plateaued. Since we’re in the Seller’s zone, watch for changes in MAI. If the MAI resumes its climb, prices will likely follow suit. If the MAI drops consistently or falls into the Buyer’s zone, watch for downward pressure on prices. Detailed Pasadena market...

5 Mortgage Misconceptions

There are plenty of misconceptions when it comes to securing a loan for your home. Below are the top 5 myths about getting a mortgage.  Myth: You need 20% down to buy a home    Larger down payments have advantages, such as better interest rates and avoiding Private Mortgage Insurance (PMI). However, having 20% is not a requirement for securing a home loan. Mortgage brokers and lenders prefer 20% down since it lowers their lending risk.    According to the National Association of Realtors, the average down payment on condos was 12%. For homeowners under age 30, the average sits at 6%. If you qualify for government-backed loans your required down payment will be even lower. FHA requires only 3.5% and VA-backed loans require no down payment at all.    Myth: Pre-qualification is the same thing as pre-approval    During a mortgage pre-qualification, a borrower answers questions regarding their financial situation. In order to be pre-approved, the lender must verify the information that the borrower has provided. In case false information arises, most sellers (and agents) will require a pre-approval over a pre-qualification letter from the lender.    Myth: You need perfect credit to get a mortgage    Credit is only one of the many things lenders look for when determining if you qualify for a home loan. They also look out for debt-to-ratio income, down payment, income, and savings.    There are programs and loans for borrowers with lower credit scores. Loans backed by FHA only require a score of 580 and most conventional loans require 620.   Myth: A 30-year fixed rate mortgage is always the best...