Real Estate Market News for September – Leslie Lerner Properties – Houston Realtor

[wpcol_2third id=”” class=”” style=””]SEPTEMBER NEWS YOU CAN USE
Housing Stats ∙ Kitchen Remodeling

HOUSTON HOME SALES EASE IN AUGUST

After a few months of esclating sales, the Houston housing market slowed down a fraction, while prices set new highs in August. The sale of homes priced between $150,000 and $500,000 slightly increased, while the low and high ends of the market experienced sales declines.

Single family home sales increased minimally in August 2015 versus August 2014. Total property sales were flat, but prices reached record highs for an August.

Houston housing inventory reached a 3.5-months supply, versus the 3.0-months supply last year. Nationally, there is a 4.8-months supply of homes.

According to the latest monthly report prepared by the Houston Association of REALTORS® (HAR):

  • Single-family home sales edged up a fractional 0.6 percent versus August 2014;
  • Single-family home sales broken out by price range:
    • $1 – $79,999: decreased 8.9 percent
    • $80,000 – $149,999: decreased 20.1 percent
    • $150,000 – $249,999: increased 9.1 percent
    • $250,000 – $499,999: increased 5.3 percent
    • $500,000 and above: increased 1.8 percent
  • Total property sales were flat year-over-year at 8,836 units;
  • Total dollar volume increased 2.6 percent to $2.4 billion;
  • Single-family homes months of inventory climbed to a 3.5-months supply;
  • Days on Market for single-family homes held steady at 45 days;
  • Single family home leases were up 4.5 percent while townhome/condominium leases rose 10.0 percent with average rents up year-over-year;
  • Townhouse/condominium sales slipped 4.0 percent.

>>>Read the entire release.

KITCHEN REMODELING DECISIONS YOU’LL NEVER REGRET

Thinking about remodeling your kitchen, but want to future-proof it? Below are seven definitive kitchen features that will retain their beauty, marketability, and value — all while giving you lasting enjoyment.

#1: White is the Dominant Color

White is the most marketable color. You’ll always find it atop the National Kitchen and Bath Association’s annual survey of most popular kitchen colors. It simply doesn’t go out of style. With a white backdrop, you can be as conservative or expressive as you want. For example:

  • Add your personal touch with colored glass knobs and pulls
  • Show off antique Fiesta ware on open shelves or in upper cabinets with glass fronts.
  • Paint walls the color du jour — even off-white.

#2: Hardwood for Flooring

Today, more than half of home buyers who purchased a home without hardwood floors say they would have paid an extra for them and among buyers of any age, upwards of 80% say hardwood floors are "somewhat" or "very important."

  • Perfect for open floor plans. It flows beautifully from the kitchen into adjoining rooms.
  • It’s tough. Hardwoods such as oak, ash, and maple will shrug off your kitchen’s high-traffic punishment for years. Solid hardwood flooring can be refinished 10 to 12 times during it’s typical 100-year lifespan.
  • It’s eco-friendly. Hardwood is considered a green building material when it’s certified by the Forest Stewardship Council and comes from sustainably managed forests.

#3: Shaker Style for Cabinets

Shaker cabinets are an enduring legacy of American style and, like wood flooring, have the knack for looking good in any setting. Their simple frame-and-panel design helps reduce the amount of busyness in a kitchen, making it a soothing, friendly place to be.

Those plain, simple, clean lines are a perfect fit for transitional style — a beautiful combo of traditional and contemporary styles. In fact, the National Kitchen and Bath Association says that after creeping up on traditional for years, transitional is now the most popular kitchen style.

#4: Carrara Marble for Countertops

Carrara marble is a timeless classic that’s been used in homes for thousands of years. Carrara’s lacy graining and subtle white colors look terrific in a white kitchen (or any kitchen, for that matter).

  • It has a whiteness you won’t find in other natural stones.
  • It’s readily available, making it less expensive than other high-end choices, such as quartz.
  • It’ll last for generations.

#5: Subway Tile for the Backsplash

Subway tile goes back to the early 1900s, when it was used to line New York’s first subway tunnels. Classic subway tiles are white, 3-inch-by-6-inch rectangles — a look that became popular in American kitchens and baths, and has stuck around ever since. Now it’s an iconic part of the American design vernacular, destined never to go out of style.

In the kitchen, ceramic tile excels as a backsplash, where it guards against moisture, is a snap to clean, lasts forever, and always looks classy.

Sure, a backsplash can be an opportunity for a blast of color and pattern, but neutrals will always be current and blend with any look. Plus, a subway tile backsplash and a marble countertop make a dashing couple that will stand the test of time.

#6: Ergonomic Design

Adaptability and universal design features mean easy living at any age. A recent survey on kitchens from the American Institute of Architects points to the growing popularity of smart ergonomic design, a sign that kitchen adaptability will stay in vogue.

Smart ergonomics simply mean convenience — for young or old, party people or homebodies — a key factor when remodeling a kitchen that will function well, retain its value, and always feel right.

  • Create different countertop heights. Standard height is 36 inches, but you can raise or lower sections of cabinets by altering the height of the base.
  • Swap a standard range for a wall oven and a cooktop. Ranges have fixed heights. There’s no getting around the fact you have to bend to access the oven. But a wall oven conveniently installs about waist-high.
  • Add pull-out shelves to base cabinets. Lower cabinets with doors mean having to twist like a pretzel to see what’s inside. Pull-out shelves put everything at your fingertips.
  • Keep wide clearances. Kitchens attract people, and with open floor plans, you’re apt to have folks hunting for snacks, helping you cook, or just hanging out while you prep meals. Keep traffic flowing with a minimum of 42 inches between counters and islands.

#7: Smart Storage

Cabinet manufacturers have you covered with nearly unlimited storage options — shelves and compartments that unfold, turn, extend, and slide.  But it’s not just about having storage, it’s about designing it smartly. Follow these guidelines to make your storage timeless:

Create a primary storage zone. This is an area 30 to 60 inches high and within two feet on either side of your body. Store your most-used items here — your favorite work knives, measuring cups, salt and pepper for cooking, your trusty pots and pans. With one easy motion, you can grab what you use all the time.

Plan for the unknown. A truly timeless kitchen anticipates and adapts to future needs, such as:

  • A space that can easily convert to an office, wine storage, or a closet.
  • Lower cabinet spaces that can accommodate a wine cooler, under-counter refrigerator, a second dishwasher, or new must-have kitchen appliances on the horizon.
  • An open space that fits a freestanding desk or favorite antique that can personalize the kitchen — no matter who owns the home.

For more information, please see houselogic.

[/wpcol_2third][wpcol_1third_end id=”” class=”” style=””]All of the service, for less money!

LESLIE LERNER PROPERTIES WILL:

  • List Homes $300,000 – $799,999 for $4,500
  • List Homes $800,000  and up for $12,000
  • $200,000 – $299,999 for $1.5%
    >>Read More
  • We will rebate 1.5% of the Buyer’s Agent’s Commission if we show you 1 – 3 homes.
  • We will rebate 1% if we show you 4 – 6 homes.
    >>Read More

>>>SEE WHAT PEOPLE ARE SAYING ABOUT LESLIE LERNER PROPERTIES

If you think it is time to buy or sell a home, remember to call Leslie Lerner Properties at 713.489.9900.  Leslie Lerner Properties is the Home of Flat Fee Listings and Rebated Commissions.  A great amount of information can be found at www.LeslieLernerProperties.com.  Leslie Lerner Properties offers all of the service for less money, when buying or selling a home.

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