THE REAL ESTATE ECOBLOG

Is a Large House Taboo?

It used to be that living in a large two story in the suburbs with your family was an ideal a lot of American families strove for.  Is that beginning to change?  According to a recent article in E the Environmental magazine it is.  They previewed some people who are choosing homes under 1000 finished square feet.  Is this the newest real estate trend?  Undoubtably, the real estate market has gone through some major changes in the last few years.  Changes that were sorely need both from a regulatory aspect and from a pricing perspective.  The view that we need to consume more and have more had a drastic effect on the housing market.  Years ago people treated their homes as an investment and moved only few times in a lifetime but in the last 10 years or so that changed to every three to five years.  Housing began to look like a commodity not an investment especially with the availability of sub-prime loans and easy credit.  Now it seems people are migrating back to city centers and if the recent article in E The Environmental Magazine argued choosing homes that are under 1000 sq ft.  Is this something you would consider?  Could you live in under 1000 sq ft?  Perhaps with a good architect to maximize space?  I would love to hear what you think.

Anyway please feel free to call or email me with any questions or you can visit my website.

Guest Bedroom Must Haves

With the holidays just around the corner entertaining for many of us is a must. How do we make our guests feel the most welcome? I stumbled upon an article written a few years ago about this very topic. I know for myself entertaining is enjoyable and nerve racking all at the same time but with these tips at least one part of it will be less stressful!

A number of things are a must for a guest bedroom, check out the list below for help making your home unforgettable this holiday season!

1) The Bed is one of the most important aspects of a guest bedroom. Make sure the Bed is in good condition but even more important make sure you have a comfortable quilt and plenty of pillows of different softness! Make sure you air out the bedding before your quests arrive. You may also want to place a dryer sheet under the bottom sheet to preserve freshness and clean smell!

2) The Guest Bathroom is the next most important room whether it is attached to the bedroom or down the hall. It is important to stock the bathroom with the necessities, I think we have all been in the situation where we have forgotten a bare necessity. Save your guests the hassle of finding the nearest Target and have your bathroom stocked!

These two tips are the most commonly used but if you want to go a step further consider the following!

1) Provide fresh flowers or aromatherapy candles.

2) Pitcher of ice water and glasses

3) A local map, area guide and disposable camera.

4) Pictures of the area and your family!

5) Mints or Chocolates on the pillows if you really want go all out!!!

I hope this holiday season is blessed and wonderful for all!

If you have additional comments or tips do not be afraid to offer a comment to this post, I am sure we will all appreciate some more wonderful ideas!

Please feel free to call or email me with any questions. You can also visit my website at www.watersrealtymn.com for up to date real estate information!