Breakfast nooks used to be staples in the average kitchen. Before the advent of the eat-in, center islands, or great room designs, homeowners loved sitting down with their first cup of coffee in the kitchen. Often this was in the breakfast nook; a small space carved out of the kitchen where the family could enjoy a casual meal or break.
Recently, floorplans have considered this lifestyle element by incorporating the kitchen into the general living area, but not all homes have the space for this. A kitchen nook does not need to take up a lot of space. Even if you have only a small area to work with, you can create a lovely little space to enjoy the morning.
·              Install a Bench – If you don’t have enough room for a table and chairs, consider installing a bench. A small built-in seat in a window or corner can be a great place to relax. Perhaps you could even add storage under the bench. We can. ...

Over the past few years, many of us have spent extra time at home—and that means we appreciate the personal design touches that make a house cozy and comfortable more than ever. Some of us have adapted our dwellings in new ways, from creating functional home offices to upgrading the appliances we use most.
But while it’s important to make your home your own, it’s also smart to think about the long-term impact your renovations could have on its value. Choosing highly-personalized fixtures and finishes can make it harder for future homebuyers to envision themselves in the space. Even if you don’t plan to sell your home soon, investing in popular design choices that are likely to stand the test of time will make things easier down the road.
And if you’re in the market for a new home, it’s wise to keep an eye out for features that might need to be updated soon so you can factor renovation costs into your budget.
We’ve rounded up six trends that 4 ...

Over the past year, many homeowners realized what they need in a home is changing, especially with the rise in remote work. If you’re longing for a dedicated home office or a change in scenery, now may be the time to find the home that addresses your evolving needs.
Working from Home Isn’t a Passing Fad
Before the pandemic, only 21% of individuals worked from home. However, if you’ve recently discovered remote work is your new normal, you’re not alone.
A survey of hiring managers conducted by Statista and Upwork projects 37.5% of U.S. workers will work remotely in some capacity over the next 5 years (see chart below):
Working from Home Gives You More Flexibility and More Options
If you fall in that category, working from home may provide you with opportunities you didn’t realize you had. The ongoing rise in remote work means a portion of the workforce no longer needs to be tied to a specific ...

3 Charts That Show This Isn’t a Housing Bubble


With home prices continuing to deliver double-digit increases, some are concerned we’re in a housing bubble like the one in 2006. However, a closer look at the market data indicates this is nothing like 2006 for three major reasons.
1. The housing market isn’t driven by risky mortgage loans.
Back in 2006, nearly everyone could qualify for a loan. The Mortgage Credit Availability Index (MCAI) from the Mortgage Bankers’ Association is an indicator of the availability of mortgage money. The higher the index, the easier it is to obtain a mortgage. The MCAI more than doubled from 2004 (378) to 2006 (869). Today, the index stands at 130. As an example of the difference between today and 2006, let’s look at the volume of mortgages that originated when a buyer had less than a 620 credit score.Dr. Frank Nothaft, Chief Economist for CoreLogic, reiterates this point:

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    As I have written, many times before, real estate markets vary greatly from region to region. Nationally rent prices are going up. It is important to keep in mind when you see statements such as, “rents are up 9.2% in the first half of 2021” according to Apartment List, that this is the national trend and the percentage will differ locally. Rents always go up some in the summer time as seasonal rentals are included as well.
    What does this mean for you? If you are renting, you might want to think about purchasing. I know, you may be thinking that buying doesn’t make sense due to the shortage of homes on the market and the competitive nature of home sales that we are currently experiencing. Let’s look at some numbers.  If you were to purchase a home at $200,000 with a down payment of 5% and you financed with a fixed rate conventional loan for 30 years at a rate of 3.4% your principle and interest payments would be $84. ...