10 Hot Trends in Home Design

Contemporary touches are what home owners and buyers desire in 2009, according to a panelist of designers at a session Tuesday on “Design Trends Marketplace” at the International Builder Show. Today’s minimalist design may mix straighter furniture elements, two different colors repeated throughout (e.g. white and green) and a mix of fun, bold accessories (such as a red chair) or a traditional element (such as an antique mirror).

Indeed, contemporary architecture is even spreading to suburbia (see examples from Agave’s energy efficient contemporary homes in Austin, Texas).

Here are some of the common design trends growing in demand.

1. Lighting options used as pieces of art in funky shapes (see examples: www.lightcrafters.com). A variety of lighting options can be used that are decorative yet functional.

2. Outdoor living that serves as an extension of the inside of the home with outdoors that boast comfortable seating, audio, TVs, a fireplace, and artwork to punch up the space. Why stay cooped up inside when you can extend the livable portion of your property by creating outdoor living spaces? It certainly isn't difficult to build outdoor living spaces. But it does take an appreciation for the "divide and conquer" approach.

3. Design accessories reflecting nature speak to buyers who are more aware of preserving the environment. For example, tree designs are popular, such as via an art sculpture, painting, or even reflected in a table (see www.palecek.com).

4. Green design elements, such as water-efficient appliances and LED lighting under the kitchen cabinets, continue to gain traction and offer cost savings.

5. His and her amenities are increasing, such as even separate garages and vanities with his countertop higher than her’s for a more custom look.

6. Car lifts offer compact storage of vehicles and are expected to grow in popularity as lot sizes grow smaller. A basement built under a garage can allow for the car to descend into the basement until you need it. Or a garage with a higher ceiling can stow the car above.

7. Windows can serve as focal points of a room as well as boost energy efficiency. Floor-to-ceiling windows can add drama to a room.

8. Wood in dark or light stains and in various materials are being used throughout homes. For example, wood details on the ceiling can enhance the architecture and Palmwood, which comes from coconut palms, can be used to add a featured wall in the room.

9. Mirrors add glamour to a room and help buyers see themselves in the space–literally. Mirrors add a focal point, enlarge rooms, and can be an important detail to include in homes (see www.mirrormatecommercial.com for examples).

10. More electronics are being sprinkled everywhere, such as iPod docking stations throughout the home and TVs in practically every room (e.g. kitchen, study, and bathrooms).

Home Fads That Are Falling Out of Style

Some home features don’t stay popular forever. More homes are inching away from incorporating the following home features, according to recent consumer preference surveys.

1. Fireplaces: The fireplace skyrocketed in importance in homes in 1991 with 62 percent of new homes having one or more. But the number has steadily been decreasing ever since. In 2007, the number dropped to 51 percent.

2. Carpet: While 54 percent of homes still have carpet floors, the number is decreasing and hardwood floors are taking the place. Vinyl and ceramic tile flooring also are being bypassed more by buyers. Seventeen percent of new homes contain hardwood floors throughout the entire house.

3. Living room: These once-decorative centerpieces of homes are slowly vanishing from newer homes. Thirty-four percent of consumers say they’re willing to buy a home without a living room.

4. Desks in the kitchen: These desks were once looked at as great storage areas but they’re often too small and quickly become clutter spaces in a home, said Gayle Butler, editor in chief of Better Homes and Gardens. Instead, more consumers say they prefer larger desks in or near the family room—equipped with a messaging center—where they can keep an eye on their kids as they work on the computer.

5. Skylights: The little windows that allow natural light to seep into a home from above are falling out of style. Only 10 percent of new homes will include them this year, a continuing downward spiral for skylights.

6. Upscale kitchen finishes: Granite countertops are slowly becoming less desirable among buyers who are now moving toward affordable, low-maintenance laminate countertops—which tend to last longer and now come in various styles.

What trends are you noticing are falling out of favor?
By Melissa Dittmann Tracey

Tips for Home Sellers

Price correctly from the get-go. Unless you're living in a handful of relatively stable U.S. markets, don't start out too high-priced just to "test the waters." Your backup plan of adjusting on the fly may prove futile. Keep that window of opportunity open from the first time the "for sale" sign appears on your lawn. The first 30 days a home is on the market are when it gets the most attention from potential buyers and their agents.

Looks do matter. Don't underestimate the importance of curb appeal. Not only is there an acute price war going on out there, there's also a beauty contest being staged. You may be strategically located in a quiet cul-de-sac, near great schools, great health-care facilities and fabulous shopping, and you may have easy highway access for that morning commute, but unless your exterior is well coifed and in sparkling condition, other offerings will outshine it.

Don't overdo it. By contrast, if you go too far in improving your place, you likely will not be able to recoup your remodeling investment.

Don't be an ambiguous seller. Either you are going to sell or you aren't. Why waste everyone's time, including yours? If you manage to fetch a decent offer with a test listing in this market, commit to sell. You may be able to buy a better replacement house at a disproportionately lower price with so many steals still out there.

Tips for Homebuyers

Cash is the new king. If you can spare the cash, brother, it has a heck of a lot more buying clout now. In the past, we've tried to persuade people to seek out more liquid investments for their cash on hand and grab an easy-to-get, low-interest mortgage. Now, with the equity markets depressed at the same time that mortgage loans are hard to find, the tables have turned. Those wielding ready cash in a recession are always ahead of the game.

Negotiate extras ... and more extras. This is a no-brainer in the current market. But while sellers continue to offer throw-ins such as built-in appliances, flat-screen TVs and even cars, the best throw-ins are always the ones that take monetary form. Think paid closing costs, a year's worth of property taxes, repair credits and paid homeowners association dues, to name only a few.

Determine your own home-buying budget. Do this before you start talking with lenders. They will tell you what you qualify for, but only you can determine what you can really afford.

Research = savings. Agents will almost always tell you that the time to buy is now. But do your own research. Go online to scour newspapers and other local sources, and look for housing inventory backlogs, the average "for sale" time that the home is on the market and average selling prices.

Watch for foreclosed-property inventory to loosen. Banks will soon be under greater pressure to cut their losses on property they own through foreclosure and to increase revenues. With a smaller percentage of distressed homes selling at auction, banks are loaded up with more of these "nonperforming assets."

If you would like more tips if you are buying a home please email
AZhomes4u@gmail.com

Did You Know?

Nearly one-quarter of first-time buyers are single females who purchased their first home on a median income of $47,400.

Women are not waiting around for their soul mate to show up to buy a home, they are going out and getting it on their own. According to The National Association of Realtors 2008 Profile of Home Buyers and Sellers, women are becoming the second largest group as homebuyers. In 2008, 2.0 million (23%) of single women were homebuyers due to higher divorce rates, delayed marriages and longer life expectancies. Women are also making more money giving them the income necessary to purchase a home.
Becoming more educated and financially stable has given single women the confidence to procure a home. They make sure to research and read every single line of an application or contract before purchasing a home. Females understand that homeownership will bring them tax benefits. They realized that buying a home is an investment that will benefit them in the future. Purchasing a home gives them a sense of security, economically, and a place to live when they retire. Since women understand that a good home investment brings equity, many of them are investing into buying a second home.


-Single females accounted for 13% of all second/vacation homebuyers in 2001/2003, according to the Realtors Profile.
-Single women purchased approximately one in five homes in 2003, while men purchased more than in 10.
-More women (15.5 million) than men (11.8 million) lived alone. Among these, women were more likely than men to own their homes (56% vs. 47%).
-In 2001, the total homeownership rate was 67.8% overall, 49% for single mothers, 51.9% for single women without kids, 69% for single men with children; for racial and ethnic minority women overall, homeownership rate is only 35.5%. (2001 Census)
-Fannie Mae predicts that by 2010, women headed households are to increase to nearly 31 million-close to 28% of all households in the country.
If you would like more info on buying a home please contact Linda Wieczorek
Azhomes4u@gmail.com

Green Renovations Will Help You Sell Your Home

With the challenges of selling a home in a declining market, a seller needs every advantage. Also, for those of you who are thinking you might sell in the next few years, here is some news you will want to take note of: Buyers are more attracted to “green homes”. Here are several survey results to prove the trend is real and here to stay.

1. In a recent survey by U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC) and McGraw-Hill Construction, the results show that interest in green-friendly renovations and building strategies are on the rise. Some of the findings:

Builders are finding it much easier to sell green homes than traditional homes in a down economy.
70% of buyers surveyed are more inclined to buy a green home.
Making homes greener is now the number one reason for home improvement (42 percent) over remodeling for comfort reasons (34 percent) or to improve appearance (24 percent).
2. A Better Homes and Gardens Real Estate survey found that consumers are well-informed about green homes (82%) and that 48% of homeowners would spend $2500 on green renovations, while about 1/3 would spend as much as $5000.

3. The American Institute of Architects Home Design Survey shows that business for residential architects has declined sharply, with the exception being home improvement architects. The emphasis is on home insulation technologies, while interest in alternative energy generation techniques and energy management systems is growing.

What are Green Homes? Green homes are defined by McGraw-Hill as those containing energy-efficient, indoor air quality, water-efficient, resource-efficient and site management features. To read more go to the Survey of Green Home Builders. If your home is on the market or you plan to put it on the market soon, check out some of the Green Homes websites, before you undergo any major renovations. You’ll find that often making some minor changes will make a big difference. If you are not thinking of selling anytime soon, then you have lots of time to do your research. Any time you need a new appliance, or need to make a repair, check out the green alternatives and give them serious consideration. When it is time to sell, no matter how many years from now, you won’t find yourself light years behind the latest money-saving technologies. Great places to start your search: The New American Dream, Green Home Swicki, (a swicki is a custom social search, on a topic of your choice), and the National Association of Home Builders.
Questions just give a jingle...

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