Kitchens and Baths Continue as Focus of Design Activity in Homes
February 29, 2008
Renewable materials and energy-efficient products for kitchens and baths have risen in popularity, while economic concerns among homeowners has resulted in a decline in demand for high-end appliances and features. To accommodate an aging and less mobile population, there is also a greater emphasis on accessibility and adaptability throughout the home. These findings are from the American Institute of Architects (AIA) Home Design Trends Survey focused specifically on kitchen and bathrooms in the fourth quarter of 2007. Residential architects have reported the weakest business conditions in the three-year history of this survey, indicating that the housing market is not poised for a recovery in the near term.
Click here for link to the full report
“Kitchens continue to be the dominant design area within the home, with dedicated computer work areas or cell-phone and personal digital assistant recharging stations becoming an emerging trend. There is also a growing interest in eco-friendly features for kitchens such as bamboo and cork flooring, and concrete and bamboo countertops,” said AIA Chief Economist Kermit Baker, PhD, Hon. AIA.
A recent AIA poll of registered voters revealed that 90% of respondents said they would be willing to pay $5,000 more for a house that would use less energy and protect the Earth.
| Popular kitchen products and features* | 2007 | 2006 |
| • Renewable flooring materials: | 61% | 53% |
| • Computer area / recharging stations: | 56% | n/a |
| • Larger pantry space: | 51% | 64% |
| • Renewable countertop materials: | 49% | n/a |
| • Wine refrigerators / wine storage: | 49% | 53% |
| • High-end appliances: | 47% | 65% |
| • Drinking water filtration systems: | 44% | 37% |
| • Recycling center: | 45% | 48% |
| • Integration with family space: | 43% | 48% |
* Index score computed as % of respondents reporting increasing minus those reporting decreasing popularity
Baker added, “Water saving toilets and LED lighting options have become more popular in bathrooms, along with continued strong demand for radiant heated flooring. Conversely, there has been a drop-off among homeowners looking for high-end features including towel warming drawers, double-sink vanities and whirlpool baths.”
“To promote greater accessibility, there is a much greater emphasis on universal design elements in bathrooms and features like doorless and handheld showers.”
| Popular bathroom products and features* | 2007 | 2006 |
| • Radiant heated floors: | 60% | 62% |
| • Multi-head showers: | 59% | 62% |
| • Doorless showers: | 59% | 47% |
| • Accessibility / universal design: | 58% | 48% |
| • Water saving toilets: | 57% | n/a |
| • Hand showers: | 42% | 36% |
| • LED lighting: | 39% | n/a |
| • Linen closet / storage: | 30% | 36% |
* Index score computed as % of respondents reporting increasing minus those reporting decreasing popularity
Housing market business conditions
AIA Home Design Survey Index for Q4 2007 (any score above 50 is positive)
• Billings: 42 (down from 47 in Q3 2007)
• Inquiries for new projects: 40 (down from 50 in Q3 2007)
“With billings and inquiries both down substantially from last quarter and compared to the same period a year ago, the housing market does not have a favorable outlook. Of additional concern is the shrinking project backlog at residential architecture firms meaning there is less work in the pipeline to keep staffs fully billable,” said Baker.
Specific construction segments (index score computed as % of respondents reporting improving minus those reporting weakening conditions)
| • Kitchen and bath remodeling: | 25 |
| • Additions / alterations: | 22 |
| • Custom / luxury home market: | -15 |
| • Townhouse / condo market: | -34 |
| • Second / vacation home market: | -41 |
| • Move-up home market: | -45 |
| • First-time buyer / affordable home market: | -64 |
San Antonio Ranks 10th For Highest Rate of House Price Appreciation
February 26, 2008
*Top 20 Metropolitan Statistical Areas and Divisions With
Highest Rates of House Price Appreciation
Percent Change in House Prices with MSA Rankings
Period Ended December 31, 2007
(Estimates use all-transactions HPI which includes purchase and refinance mortgages)
*For composition of metropolitan statistical areas and divisions see
http://www.whitehouse.gov/omb/bulletins/fy2008/b08-01.pdf or see OFHEO HPI FAQ #8 for more information.
**Note: Rankings based on annual percentage change, for all MSAs containing at least 15,000 transactions over the last 10 years.
Source: Office of Federal Housing Enterprise Oversight(OFHEO)
Report published on February 26, 2008 can be found at www.ofheo.gov page 30.
Technorati Tags: San Antonio House Price Appreciation, Texas House Price Appreciation, Top 20 House Price Appreciation, San Antonio Real Estate
Don’t Skip On Title Insurance
February 24, 2008
TYPICAL TITLE PROBLEMS
To close on a house, the buyer usually must have title insurance guaranteeing that he or she will be the sole owner.
Insurance companies refuse to provide that insurance in some cases. Here are common examples of why title insurance would be denied:
•Grandparents die without leaving wills, and one child keeps the home without proper legal documents. It’s not found until two generations later.
•The property description differs from the sales contract.
•The previous owner forged mortgage documents to show that he or she had paid off a previous mortgage. But the former mortgage company still owns the property.
Source: Alamo Title Co.
WHAT DOES TITLE INSURANCE COST?
The Texas Department of Insurance sets the same on-time premium rates for all properties, regardless of type of home, its age or where the house is located. The insurance policy must cover at least the sales price of the property.
The minimum premium is $229 for the first $10,000 in sales price. Premium rates are broken down into six tiers and get smaller as the purchase price increases to $25 million.
For instance, buyers pay the minimum rate plus an average of $3.41 for each additional $500 of the price, up to $100,000.
A home priced at $100,000 would have an $843 premium.
The premium for a $200,000 house includes the $843 from the first $100,000, plus $2.67 per $500 of additional value, or $1,377.
Source: Texas Department of Insurance
Read “Title insurance protects buyers” Written by Aïssatou Sidimé Express-News Business Writer
Technorati Tags: Title Insurance, Title Policy, Closing Costs, Title Company, Mortgage Companies, San Antonio Real Estate
San Antonio Real Estate Market Report January 2008
February 22, 2008
San Antonio began 2008 with a slow month which saw the number of home sales for January drop 17.3 percent from a year ago, as well as a 1.9 percent drop in the median home price from $142,400 to $139,700, according to the Texas A&M University Real Estate Center.
While median home prices tend to dip each January from December, it was the first time since 1999 that the price dropped lower than the previous January’s price.
“It’s definitely a little down but not enough to create all that much excitement,” said Jim Gaines, research economist at the Real Estate Center. “I think the median price will still go up but at a relatively modest rate this year.”
The dip actually outpaced the rest of the state, which saw the number of home sales drop 14.4 percent and the median home prices stay statistically flat at $138,400 in January, compared to $138,200 in January the year before.
But while national prices are expected to continue to slide as inventories rise, San Antonio and Texas sales prices should not see an extended decline, Gaines said.
In fact, looking at the 12-month moving average that evens out seasonal price fluctuations, the median home price in San Antonio was up 4.6 percent to $147,208 as of the end of January 2008, versus $140,700 for the 12 months ending January 2007, Gaines said.
What may keep Texas’ price gains modest is the increasing home inventory across the state, due in part to the slower sales.
Sales statewide, including in San Antonio, are expected to drop this year by about 5 percent.
Meanwhile, the inventory of homes in San Antonio rose in January to 6.3 months from 4.4 a year ago. An inventory of 6.5 months is considered evenly balanced between buyers and sellers, so San Antonio appears on its way to a buyers’ market if not already.
Source: Texas A&M University Real Estate Center
Servicer Contact Numbers for Homeowners
February 21, 2008
Below are the customer contact telephone numbers of HOPE NOW servicer members. If
you are a homeowner having trouble with your mortgage, please call your servicer’s hotline for
assistance (please have your account number ready when calling).
If you would like to talk to a HUD-approved homeownership counselor, please call the
Homeowner’s HOPE Hotline, 888-995-HOPE, operated by the Homeownership Preservation
Foundation. Free counseling is available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. You can also visit
www.995hope.com for more assistance.
| Servicer | Hotline |
| Aurora Loan Services | 800-550-0509 |
| Avelo Mortgage, LLC. | 866-992-8356 |
| Bank of America | 800-846-2222 |
| Carrington Mortgage Services | 800-790-9502 |
| CitiFinancial/Citi Trust Bank | 800-422-1498 |
| CitiMortgage Conv/FNMA | 800-695-0384 |
| CitiMortgage/Gov’t & Freddie Mac | 866-272-4749 |
| CitiResidential Customer Care | 800-430-5262 |
| Countrywide Home Loans | 800-669-6650 |
| EMC Mortgage, Inc. | 877-362-6631 |
| First Horizon Home Loans | 800-364-7662 |
| GMAC/Homecomings/ResCap | 800-799-9250 |
| Home Loan Services, Inc. | 800-500-5022 |
| HomEq Servicing | 888-270-6663 |
| HSBC Consumer Lending | 800-333-5848 |
| HSBC Mortgage Services | 800-365-6730 |
| HSBC Mortgage CorporationC. | 888-648-3124 |
| IndyMac Bank | 800-880-6848 |
| JPMorgan Chase Prime Loans | 800-446-8939 |
| JPMorgan Chase Non-Prime | 877-838-1882 |
| JPMorgan Chase Home Equity | 866-582-5208 |
| JPMorgan Chase Default HPO Help Line | 866-345-4676 |
| Litton Loan Servicing | 800-999-8501 |
| National City Mortgage Corporation | 800-523-8654 |
| Nationstar Mortgage, LLC. | 888-480-2432 |
| Ocwen Loan Servicing, LLC. | 877-596-8580 |
| Option One Mortgage Corporation | 888-275-2648 |
| Saxon Mortgage Services | 888-325-3502 |
| Select Portfolio Servicing | 888-818-6032 |
| SunTrust Mortgage, Inc. | 800-443-1032 |
| Washington Mutual, Inc. | 866-926-8937 |
| Wells Fargo Home Mortgage | 877-216-8448 |
| Wells Fargo Financial | 800-275-9254 |
| Wilshire Credit Corporation | 888-917-1050 |
Technorati Tags: Hope Now Program, HUD Approved Counselor, Hope Hotline, Homeownership Preservation Foundation, San Antonio Real Estate
Shorten Your Mortgage And Save Thousands
February 20, 2008
A 15-year fixed-rate mortgage lasts half as long as a 30-year fixed-rate loan. You don’t have to work in the lending industry to know that. But if you guessed that monthly payments on a 15-year loan cost twice as much as on a 30-year loan, you’re in for a surprise.
First off, you can typically get a slightly better interest rate on a 15-year loan. Also, you pay much less interest over the life of the loan and start paying down the principal on your loan balance much sooner. That means you build equity in your home sooner as well. For example, with a $150,000 30-year loan at 6.25%, your monthly loan payment would be $924. Your monthly payment on a 15-year loan at 6% would be $1,266. You would pay more than $100,000 more over the life of the loans if you went with the 30-year fixed instead of the 15-year. In fact, after 15 years, you would still owe more than $100,000 on the 30-year loan.
Does that mean you should always go for the shorter term? No. The choice you make will depend on several factors. Can you afford the higher payments? If you have to forego investing in your retirement or can’t afford the lifestyle you want, the 15-year loan does not make sense. Also, if making the higher payments leaves you no cushion for emergencies and large expenses, you are likely better off with a 30-year loan. The amount of time you plan to stay in the home and other factors can factor in your decision as well.
Of course, there are other loans out there besides fixed-rate offerings, and your Trend Setter Realty REALTOR® can help you sort through various loan options and discuss which ones will work best for you. Contact us today and find out how we can help you save thousands.
Technorati Tags: San Antonio Mortgage, Fixed Rate Mortgage, Build Equity, San Antonio Real Estate
First American CoreLogic Report San Antonio Increasing Property Value
February 18, 2008
| 3 and 12-Month Change By Top CBSAs (Core Based Statistical Areas) as of December 2007 | ||
| 3 Month | 12 Month | |
| Change | Change | |
| Austin-Round Rock, TX (Metropolitan) | 0.91% | 8.09% |
| New York-White Plains-Wayne, NY-NJ (Metropolitan) | 0.61% | -0.35% |
| San Antonio, TX (Metropolitan) | 0.12% | 6.82% |
| Houston-Sugar Land-Baytown, TX (Metropolitan) | 0.00% | 3.70% |
| Salt Lake City, UT (Metropolitan) | -0.03% | 9.07% |
| Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington, TX (Metropolitan) | -0.06% | 3.21% |
| New York-Northern New Jersey-Long Island, NY-NJ-PA (Metropolitan) | -0.18% | -2.06% |
| Cape Coral-Fort Myers, FL (Metropolitan) | -0.75% | -13.74% |
| Detroit-Warren-Livonia, MI (Metropolitan) | -1.15% | -0.26% |
| Honolulu, HI (Metropolitan) | -1.25% | 13.81% |
| Boston-Quincy, MA (Metropolitan) | -1.49% | -4.54% |
| Philadelphia, PA (Metropolitan) | -1.67% | 0.13% |
| Portland-Vancouver-Beaverton, OR-WA (Metropolitan) | -1.96% | 1.47% |
| Raleigh-Cary, NC (Metropolitan) | -2.38% | 3.61% |
| Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Marietta, GA (Metropolitan) | -2.42% | -1.75% |
| Chicago-Naperville-Joliet, IL-IN-WI (Metropolitan) | -2.82% | -3.19% |
| Charlotte-Gastonia-Concord, NC-SC (Metropolitan) | -2.87% | 3.10% |
| Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA (Metropolitan) | -3.59% | -0.02% |
| Denver-Aurora, CO (Metropolitan) | -3.76% | -3.83% |
| Minneapolis-St. Paul-Bloomington, MN-WI (Metropolitan) | -4.26% | -5.86% |
| Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV (Metropolitan) | -4.67% | -8.42% |
| Las Vegas-Paradise, NV (Metropolitan) | -4.80% | -13.43% |
| Miami-Miami Beach-Kendall, FL (Metropolitan) | -5.24% | -9.83% |
| Tampa-St. Petersburg-Clearwater, FL (Metropolitan) | -5.31% | -11.18% |
| Miami-Fort Lauderdale-Miami Beach, FL (Metropolitan) | -5.44% | -13.26% |
| San Francisco-San Mateo-Redwood City, CA (Metropolitan) | -5.49% | -5.66% |
| San Diego-Carlsbad-San Marcos, CA (Metropolitan) | -5.53% | -14.19% |
| Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, CA (Metropolitan) | -5.69% | -18.18% |
| Orlando-Kissimmee, FL (Metropolitan) | -5.72% | -13.12% |
| Phoenix-Mesa-Scottsdale, AZ (Metropolitan) | -6.02% | -12.71% |
| Oakland-Fremont-Hayward, CA (Metropolitan) | -6.33% | -14.10% |
| St. Louis, MO-IL (Metropolitan) | -6.52% | -3.98% |
| Los Angeles-Long Beach-Santa Ana, CA (Metropolitan) | -6.55% | -14.71% |
| Cleveland-Elyria-Mentor, OH (Metropolitan) | -7.51% | -9.74% |
Source: LoanPerformance HPI, Single Family Detached Series as of December 2007
Technorati Tags: San Antonio Property Values, San Antonio Real Estate, San Antonio Home Values, San Antonio Texas
Home Staging Could Be The Difference Between Sold or Still On The Market
February 16, 2008
What is Staging?
- Home staging is anything that helps a home seller make a home more attractive and appealing to potential buyers.
- Typically, a home stager brings in furniture, artwork, plants, rugs and accessories to make a house look its best while on the market.
- Some stagers also offer contractor-consulting services, which may include choosing paints, tiles, carpets and working with contractors to get the house ready.
- When sellers want to use their own furnishings, the stager can consult with them on how to reduce clutter and to open up rooms.
- Professional stagers typically start off with an in-home consultation. The price depends on the condition and size of the home.
- Do-it-yourself stagers on a budget also can use a professional stager to get a list of items to help make their home more appealing.
- Stagers tend to work with sellers for several hours to several days at a time.
Home Staging Tips
Studies have shown that most buyers make a decision about a house within 15 seconds of walking in the door. Many other buyers make a decision without ever getting out of their car. The message here is that first impressions are very, very important when selling a home.
Home Staging Tips for the Outside of Your Home
The feeling that people get about the house from the street is called “curb appeal” and there are many home staging tips to improve it.
1) Eliminate any and all clutter. Trim back overgrown bushes, and generally do a thorough clean-up.
2) A fresh coat of paint goes a long, long way to making a house look good. Be careful not to pick too strong of a color. The idea is to appeal to the greatest number of buyers as possible.
3) Fresh sod or landscaping can make a major difference.
4) Eliminate any other negatives like oil stains on the driveway, an old T.V. antennae on the roof, etc.
5) Putting out some some simple flowers in a pot on the front porch, and a new doormat can create an inviting feeling to buyers.
Home staging tips to improve the inside of the home also:
1) Eliminate all clutter. Homes look bigger and more stylish without any clutter. Many stagers have the clients move out entirely, and the stagers bring in their own items. Take all of the pictures off of the refrigerator, remove any stacks of paper on your desk, etc. Also, having a professional house cleaning service come in and do a thorough once-over is almost always well worth the cost.
2) Fresh paint can make a real difference. It is the frosting on the cake. Use colors that will appeal to the greatest number of people. You may prefer something bolder or outrageous for yourself, but when selling a house, neutral-colored interior paints work best. Also, replace any worn carpets or other flooring. If you have hardwood floors that are in rough shape, having them refinished can often return many times the cost of the refinishing, and sell the home much faster.
3) In many parts of the country homes are shown with no window coverings at all. This creates an open and airy feeling.
4) Make sure there are no unpleasant pet or cooking odors. Some sellers now bake cookies for the open house, creating a warm feeling in they buyer’s mind.
5) Use size-appropriate furniture. If you have a small bedroom, don’t put a king-sized bed in there. Conversely, if you have a huge master suite, putting a single bed in there would look unbalanced.
6) Leave the lights on even during the day to make the home as bright as possible.
All of these home staging tips are really geared towards making the whole package seem as pleasant and comfortable as possible. One would think that buyers buy with their heads, but it’s often their hearts that make the decision!
Source: www.HomeStaging.com
Technorati Tags: Staging, Home Staging, Home Staging Tips, Curb Appeal, San Antonio Real Estate
San Antonio’s Median Sales Price For Single-Family Homes Up 7.9 Percent
February 14, 2008
Roughly half of metropolitan areas continued to show rising home prices in the fourth quarter of 2007, according to the latest quarterly survey by the National Association of Realtors®.
In the fourth quarter, 73 out of 150 metropolitan statistical areas(1) show increases in median existing single-family home prices from a year earlier, including 11 areas with double-digit annual gains and another 12 metros showing increases of 6 percent or more; 77 had price declines including 16 with double-digit drops.
Lawrence Yun, NAR chief economist, said disruptions in the mortgage market have played a role. “The continuing crunch in the jumbo loan market that began in August has disproportionately reduced the number of transactions in higher price ranges,” he said. “For buyers who need loans of more than $417,000, mortgage interest rates have been running more than a percentage point higher, and that has been having an obvious impact. Higher ratios of sales for more moderately priced homes are naturally dampening the national median price as well as the data for some of the more expensive markets.”
NAR’s track of metro area single-family home prices is the largest published series of metropolitan home prices, with data available back to 1979. The metro home price series treats all homes equally, without placing higher weights on more expensive homes as in other home price series. (See NAR Metro Area price charts.)
The disruption in higher priced sales continues to drag down the aggregate national median existing single-family home price, which was $206,200 in the fourth quarter, down 5.8 percent from the fourth quarter of 2006 when the median price was $219,000. The national median normally is a typical market price, where half of the homes sold for more and half sold for less.
NAR President Richard Gaylord, a broker with RE/MAX Real Estate Specialists in Long Beach, Calif., said he is encouraged with plans to increase conventional loan limits. “Higher limits for FHA loans, which go into effect March 14, will be a big help to first-time buyers in high-cost markets. Higher limits for conventional loans purchased by Freddie Mac and Fannie Mae will take a bit longer – when they become available, high-income, creditworthy borrowers in high-cost areas will have access to affordable and safer financing, and that will help unleash pent-up demand,” he said.
“With the market in a state of flux, it’s especially important for consumers to stay abreast of widely varying and changing market conditions. We encourage them to have a traditional long-term view, which means taking the time to thoughtfully research the market. More than ever, the best resource is a Realtor® who can put local conditions in perspective, provide advice and negotiate the transaction.”
Technorati Tags: San Antonio Home Prices, San Antonio Median Sales Price, San Antonio Real Estate, San Antonio Housing Market, San Antonio Homes
San Antonio Ranks 44th In The Nation For Foreclosures
February 13, 2008
| Rate Rank | Metro Area | Foreclosure Filings | Properties with Filings | %Households (foreclosure rate) | % Change from 2006 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | DETROIT/LIVONIA/DEARBORN, MI | 72,616 | 41,273 | 4.918 | 68.15 |
| 2 | STOCKTON, CA | 22,184 | 10,608 | 4.866 | 271.3 |
| 3 | LAS VEGAS/PARADISE, NV | 59,983 | 30,375 | 4.228 | 169.11 |
| 4 | RIVERSIDE/SAN BERNARDINO, CA | 102,506 | 51,739 | 3.826 | 186.14 |
| 5 | SACRAMENTO, CA | 49,532 | 23,772 | 3.189 | 272.54 |
| 6 | CLEVELAND/LORAIN/ELYRIA/MENTOR, OH | 49,071 | 27,848 | 2.972 | 112.43 |
| 7 | BAKERSFIELD, CA | 13,682 | 7,524 | 2.96 | 244.82 |
| 8 | MIAMI, FL | 51,662 | 25,296 | 2.724 | 106.13 |
| 9 | DENVER/AURORA, CO | 49,519 | 26,632 | 2.641 | 27.79 |
| 10 | FORT LAUDERDALE, FL | 45,367 | 20,801 | 2.632 | 110.05 |
| 11 | ATLANTA/SANDY SPRINGS/MARIETTA, GA | 81,038 | 50,271 | 2.531 | 52.25 |
| 12 | AKRON, OH | 12,359 | 7,083 | 2.326 | 107.53 |
| 13 | MEMPHIS, TN | 22,654 | 11,291 | 2.141 | 30.35 |
| 14 | FRESNO, CA | 12,330 | 6,208 | 2.121 | 168.16 |
| 15 | DAYTON, OH | 14,285 | 7,812 | 2.073 | 145.51 |
| 16 | OAKLAND, CA | 39,483 | 19,463 | 2.071 | 191.06 |
| 17 | WARREN/FARMINGTON HILLS/TROY, MI | 30,378 | 21,607 | 2.069 | 95.19 |
| 18 | INDIANAPOLIS, IN | 25,695 | 14,591 | 2.019 | 7.89 |
| 19 | TOLEDO, OH | 10,056 | 5,756 | 1.938 | 117.29 |
| 20 | ORLANDO, FL | 24,004 | 15,834 | 1.932 | 117.74 |
| 21 | PALM BEACH, FL | 18,561 | 11,918 | 1.924 | 88.9 |
| 22 | PHOENIX/MESA, AZ | 56,040 | 30,453 | 1.915 | 177 |
| 23 | TAMPA/ST PETERSBURGH/CLEARWATER, FL | 41,539 | 24,086 | 1.908 | 95.9 |
| 24 | SARASOTA/BRADENTON/VENICE, FL | 11,807 | 6,805 | 1.84 | 226.69 |
| 25 | COLUMBUS, OH | 24,055 | 13,823 | 1.832 | 86.39 |
| 26 | SAN DIEGO, CA | 38,917 | 20,217 | 1.816 | 157.77 |
| 27 | JACKSONVILLE, FL | 15,149 | 9,540 | 1.748 | 38.99 |
| 28 | DALLAS, TX | 49,133 | 24,921 | 1.653 | -5.2 |
| 29 | FORT WORTH/ARLINGTON, TX | 25,050 | 12,295 | 1.645 | 2.42 |
| 30 | CHICAGO, IL | 73,469 | 50,350 | 1.641 | 50.22 |
| 31 | VENTURA, CA | 6,261 | 4,341 | 1.629 | 195.11 |
| 32 | LAKE/KENOSHA, IL-WI | 5,034 | 3,718 | 1.507 | 35.45 |
| 33 | CINCINNATI, OH | 21,392 | 13,119 | 1.469 | 104.38 |
| 34 | CHARLOTTE/GASTONIA, NC | 13,032 | 9,426 | 1.44 | 113.5 |
| 35 | LOS ANGELES/LONG BEACH, CA | 93,696 | 45,415 | 1.36 | 137.77 |
| 36 | ST LOUIS, MO-IL | 19,084 | 15,444 | 1.279 | 58.11 |
| 37 | CAMDEN, NJ | 5,237 | 3,415 | 1.229 | 42.35 |
| 38 | ORANGE, CA | 23,002 | 12,501 | 1.229 | 168.15 |
| 39 | HOUSTON/BAYTOWN/SUGARLAND, TX | 39,220 | 24,917 | 1.221 | 4.08 |
| 40 | KANSAS CITY, MO-KS | 15,681 | 10,076 | 1.177 | 83.7 |
| 41 | WASHINGTON/ARLINGTON/ALEXANDRIA, DC-VA-MD | 28,455 | 19,229 | 1.16 | 574.94 |
| 42 | GARY, IN | 5,320 | 3,114 | 1.108 | 41.29 |
| 43 | NEWHAVEN/MILFORD, CT | 7,348 | 3,790 | 1.093 | 340.19 |
| 44 | SAN ANTONIO, TX | 13,699 | 7,658 | 1.067 | 4.56 |
| 45 | NEWARK, NJ | 15,403 | 8,770 | 1.049 | 45.71 |
| 46 | TUCSON, AZ | 7,372 | 4,239 | 1.041 | 75.02 |
| 47 | TACOMA, WA | 5,276 | 3,107 | 1.025 | 38.95 |
| 48 | GREENSBORO/HIGHPOINT, NC | 3,329 | 3,078 | 1.025 | 137.5 |
| 49 | MILWAUKEE/WAUKESHA/WST ALLIS, WI | 9,856 | 6,529 | 1.017 | 79.47 |
| 50 | WORCHESTER, MA | 6,993 | 3,094 | 0.994 | 169.98 |
| 51 | SAN JOSE/SUNNYVALE/SANTA CLARA, CA | 11,433 | 6,173 | 0.991 | 161.57 |
| 52 | SALT LAKE CITY, UT | 4,882 | 3,692 | 0.984 | -16.96 |
| 53 | RALEIGH/CARY, NC | 5,249 | 3,884 | 0.982 | 122.83 |
| 54 | SUFFOLK/NASSAU, NY | 11,880 | 9,700 | 0.973 | 48.41 |
| 55 | LITTLE ROCK/NORTH LITTLE ROCK, AR | 5,396 | 2,702 | 0.952 | 15.52 |
| 56 | TULSA, OK | 5,670 | 3,532 | 0.912 | -3.66 |
| 57 | OMAHA/COUNCIL BLUFFS, NE-IA | 3,403 | 3,021 | 0.89 | 59.67 |
| 58 | AUSTIN/ROUND ROCK, TX | 10,100 | 5,166 | 0.874 | -11.75 |
| 59 | NASHVILLE/DAVIDSON, TN | 8,454 | 5,301 | 0.869 | 54.01 |
| 60 | MINNEAPOLIS/ST PAUL/BLOOMINGTON, MN-WI | 12,755 | 10,798 | 0.836 | 146.81 |
| 61 | EDISON, NJ | 15,800 | 7,723 | 0.836 | 43.42 |
| 62 | OKLAHOMA CITY, OK | 7,042 | 4,054 | 0.801 | -15.44 |
| 63 | ROCHESTER, NY | 3,903 | 3,404 | 0.776 | 126.78 |
| 64 | ESSEX, MA | 5,378 | 2,251 | 0.765 | 190.83 |
| 65 | HARTFORD, CT | 7,427 | 3,699 | 0.761 | 216.97 |
| 66 | BALTIMORE/TOWSON, MD | 10,059 | 8,003 | 0.734 | 544.36 |
| 67 | SPRINGFIELD, MA | 5,190 | 1,985 | 0.706 | 109.83 |
| 68 | BRIDGEPORT/STAMFORD/NORWALK, CT | 5,091 | 2,439 | 0.703 | 258.15 |
| 69 | BOSTON/QUINCY, MA | 11,165 | 5,106 | 0.683 | 199.47 |
| 70 | BETHESDA/FREDERICK/GAITHERSBURG, MD | 4,179 | 2,999 | 0.682 | 1288.43 |
| 71 | ALBUQUERQUE, NM | 2,921 | 2,217 | 0.651 | 5.77 |
| 72 | KNOXVILLE, TN | 2,770 | 1,813 | 0.607 | 46.8 |
| 73 | PORTLAND/VANCOUVER/BEAVERTON, OR-WA | 5,834 | 5,162 | 0.602 | 24.18 |
| 74 | LOUISVILLE, KY | 6,233 | 3,197 | 0.601 | -12.05 |
| 75 | BIRMINGHAM/HOOVER, AL | 3,069 | 2,351 | 0.521 | 63.15 |
| 76 | NEW YORK/WAYNE/WHITE PLAINS, NY-NJ | 33,714 | 22,569 | 0.518 | 74.04 |
| 77 | EL PASO, TX | 2,317 | 1,257 | 0.515 | -17.57 |
| 78 | CAMBRIDGE/NEWTON/FRAMINGHAM, MA | 7,205 | 2,906 | 0.496 | 209.15 |
| 79 | PHILADALPHIA, PA | 16,246 | 7,899 | 0.492 | -32.09 |
| 80 | SAN FRANCISCO, CA | 5,895 | 3,485 | 0.478 | 116.73 |
| 81 | SEATTLE/BELLEVUE/EVERETT, WA | 9,028 | 5,016 | 0.475 | 16.35 |
| 82 | BUFFALO/CHEEKTOWAGA/TONAWANDA, NY | 3,850 | 2,210 | 0.426 | 113.53 |
| 83 | PROVIDENCE/NEW BEDFORD, RI | 3,241 | 1,839 | 0.411 | 354.07 |
| 84 | NEW ORLEANS, LA | 4,501 | 2,318 | 0.399 | 215.8 |
| 85 | WILMINGTON, DE-NJ | 1,363 | 1,012 | 0.367 | 157.51 |
| 86 | PITTSBURGH, PA | 9,012 | 4,040 | 0.367 | -29.58 |
| 87 | NORFOLK/VIRGINIA BEACH/NEWPORT NEWS, VA | 2,321 | 1,841 | 0.361 | 258.17 |
| 88 | COLUMBIA, SC | 1,113 | 961 | 0.324 | -2.93 |
| 89 | CHARLESTON, SC | 1,043 | 839 | 0.318 | 35.1 |
| 90 | POUGHKEEPSIE/NEWBURGH/MIDDLETOWN, NY | 1,391 | 656 | 0.271 | 12.52 |
| 91 | BATON ROUGE, LA | 997 | 823 | 0.27 | -59.81 |
| 92 | SCRANTON/WILKES/BARRE/HAZLETON, PA | 2,380 | 685 | 0.267 | 23.65 |
| 93 | WICHITA, KS | 1,322 | 662 | 0.262 | -13.12 |
| 94 | ALBANY/SCHENECTADY/TROY, NY | 1,617 | 960 | 0.256 | 638.46 |
| 95 | RICHMOND, VA | 1,090 | 908 | 0.184 | 168.64 |
| 96 | ALLENTOWN/BETHLEHEM/EASTON, PA | 834 | 526 | 0.173 | 12.15 |
| 97 | HONOLULU, HI | 621 | 517 | 0.157 | 52.96 |
| 98 | MCALLEN/EDINBURG/PHARR, TX | 339 | 305 | 0.132 | -19.74 |
| 99 | SYRACUSE, NY | 935 | 364 | 0.128 | 128.93 |
| 100 | GREENVILLE, SC | 306 | 213 | 0.082 | -73.47 |
| – | U.S. Total | 2,203,295 | 1,285,873 | 1.033 | 79.21 |
| – | Top 100 Metro Areas Total | 1,774,778 | 1,010,355 | 1.382 | 78.23 |
Source: RealtyTrac.com
Natural Look Is In For Home Decor
February 12, 2008
By JESSIE MILLIGAN
FORT WORTH STAR-TELEGRAM
What’s in store for home decor in 2008? Expect to see a lot of anything that looks “natural.” Slubby undyed linen upholstery. Neutral-colored natural-fiber rugs. Tables made to look like logs.
“Anything that looks like something that helps save the environment will be big,” says Amy Larrabee, spokeswoman for the Color Marketing Group in Annapolis, Md. “It does not necessarily have to be better for the environment, but it will look that way.”
We’ll see textured neutral backdrops-sofas and tables-punctuated with bright and bold color-saturated accessories, the non-profit color-marketing group predicts.
The Color Marketing Group gathers about 400 of its members each year to forecast color. It’s serious business. Color can be up to 85% of the reason people decide to buy one product over another, the group said. Marketing folks from all manner of companies-Cadillac to Kleenex to Thomasville Furniture-gather each year to look at social, political and economic trends and events, and then translate those ideas into colors they think will be appealing to buyers.
Here’s a breakdown of what you’ll see in stores, and simple ways to incorporate it into your home decor, whether you want to spend a lot of money or a little.
Natural Looks
“Seriously fashionable.” That’s the term the marketing group uses to describe anything that looks handmade, undyed, unbleached.
What color is environmentally “green”? Turns out, it is not just green but also shades of bleached shell, sand, stone and wood. Think whites, off-whites, beiges and browns.
Texture is as important as neutral color. Natural imperfections are big in high-end home decor.
Design tip: Get the high-end look without going broke. Jute rugs, neutral sofa slipcovers and coats of wall paint are widely available and easily done for a few hundred dollars.
Or go high-end, as does Williams-Sonoma Home in its spring spreads of neutral backdrops. “When the economy is low, people want safe, soft, comforting colors,” says Larrabee says.
Accents of blue and green create a calming environment, but consumers this year may be flipping for bolder, zestier accent colors as well.
Vivid Accents
Taking a cue from the upcoming Beijing Olympics and the global economy, the marketing group predicts hot hues will be sizzling in throws, pillows and other accents. Think of the colors of India, Asia, Africa and Latin America-deeply saturated reds, oranges, yellows and rosy pinks.
Design tip: Vivid accent colors work well on accent walls, table lamp bases, vases, throws and pillows. The splashy colors add zip to a neutral room. Check out Pottery Barn’s throws and floral pillows. The retailer also is carrying milk-glass lamp bases in marigold (a bright yellow), green, espresso, white or orange ($90).
Mixing blues
Trend spotters at the large New York-based advertising agency JWT are predicting blue will replace green as the symbolic color of the environmental movement.
Either way, sky blues and deep navys already are showing up in home decor and products, even in the kitchen.
Design tip: Martha Stewart already is on to this trend. Her Macy’s line includes light blue silicone bakeware. A three-piece set costs $40. Bed, Bath & Beyond carries a light blue Kitchen Aid stand mixer. Kitchen Aid products are particularly colorful, especially in its line of mixers that get put away in cabinets most of the time. The manufacturer also is on to another trend: bronzes and coppers.
Metallic Finishes
Stainless, chrome and nickel still are big, but expect to also see a warmer range of metallic finishes in everything from vases to refrigerators.
Technological innovations are making a wider range of metallic finishes easier and less expensive to produce, says Larrabee of the Color Marketing Group.
Design tip: Bronze-finished Jenn-Air refrigerators, dishwashers and ovens already are on the market, but not yet widely available. We found them at www.us-appliance.com, where the refrigerator retails for $2,570.
Technorati Tags: Home Decor, Design Tips, Natural Looks, Interior Design, San Antonio Real Estate
Average HOA Costs In San Antonio
February 11, 2008
Annual homeowners association fees can include a transfer fee, reserve or capital improvement fee as well as monthly, quarterly or annual dues.
They differ by size, the number of homes in an association, and the amenities provided.
Transfer fee for single-family home
$100 to $150 one time
Annual dues for single-family homes
0-99 units: $250-$400 without a gate or other amenities and $500-$700 with an entrance gate Pools
100-299 units: $250-$400 without a pool; $350-$500 with a pool 300-699 units with a pool: $450-$600 700+ units with a pool: $350-$500
Condos and Townhomes
$150-$250 per month, which usually includes waste disposal and water service
Source: Spectrum Association Management and Glenn Clarke
To HOA Or Not?
These are some tradeoffs to consider when trying to decide whether to buy a property that is part of a mandatory homeowners association.
Homeowners Associations: Offer control over cleanliness, landscaping and decor, down to the color and thickness of the tiles used on a roof, as well as recourse when the neighbor builds an addition that blocks your view of the night sky or a local lake.
In exchange, homeowners must pay for the HOA and get approval before changing exterior paints or setting a basketball court in the driveway; if they don’t get permission, they could be required to repaint or to remove unapproved construction — or to face foreclosure actions.
Non-HOA communities: No extra fees. Plus, owners can leave the trash can out for days and accessorize their homes as they please.
But there’s no one to turn to if the neighbor begins using all the street-side parking for the vehicles he is repairing in his home garage-turned- mechanic shop.
Read “Homeowners associations: The final authority?” by Express-News Business Writer Aïssatou Sidimé at MySA.com
Technorati Tags: San Antonio HOA, San Antonio Homeowners Association, HOA Costs, San Antonio Real Estate
