West + Main Homes

🍂🛣️ 11 Colorful Autumn Drives in Colorado Come September the aspens begin to glow! Fall is one of the best times to tour the Rockies. The leaves usually begin changing in early September and last no longer than mid-October. It all depends on the weather, so be flexible and ready to travel. The display begins high up in the mountains and works its way down in elevation as the temperature gets colder. Splashes of yellow, orange, and red all mingle along rolling alpine roads. Each year the timing of the fall colors changes by a little bit, either sooner or later, based on when the cold temperatures first strike. Learn more about when autumn foliage starts in Colorado. https://lnkd.in/gQ_ccAvv

🌱 4 ways to prepare your garden for autumn As the sun-soaked days of summer begin to fade and the leaves on the trees begin to turn myriad autumnal hues, the cooler weather and shorter evenings tend to mean less time spent outside enjoying your garden, and more time cozied up indoors. But before you put away your trowel and cover your garden furniture for the new season ahead, there are some key things to do to prepare your outdoor space and ensure that it’s able to withstand the turbulent weather conditions of autumn and winter. Whilst it might be tempting to leave all of your pruning and prepping until springtime, getting ahead will make your life a whole lot easier when March comes around and means you’ll have less to do to get your garden looking gorgeous again. Plus, with some extra tricks, you can extend the time you’re able to spend in nature and enjoying the outdoors each year, and all of it is easier than you think. From tidying and trimming to adding some luxurious new all-weather features, here are four easy ways to prepare your garden for autumn, and you can get started now. Learn more at https://lnkd.in/gZgkawPG

🏘️👀 How the Federal Reserve’s Next Move Could Impact the Housing Market Now that it’s September, all eyes are on the Federal Reserve (the Fed). The overwhelming expectation is that they’ll cut the Federal Funds Rate at their upcoming meeting, driven primarily by recent signs that inflation is cooling, and the job market is slowing down. But what does this mean for the housing market, and more importantly, for you as a potential homebuyer or seller? Get all the details at https://lnkd.in/gcijbGsX

🍂 I Asked an Organizer for the Best Way to Store Seasonal Decor, and She Had 3 Clever Ideas (Just in Time for Fall!) As the last few months of the year near, I enter what I lovingly call my seasonal decor era. As soon as September rolls in, I know that it’s time to transition my home from summer to fall, which then slowly turns from fall to holiday. It’s truly the most wonderful time of year in my opinion, but admittedly, I cringe a bit once it’s time to sift through my seasonal decor. It resides in big plastic tubs, which works just fine, but it makes finding specific items challenging. Not to mention the seasonal decor I know I’ve outgrown but am not sure what to do with, gets all mixed in with the ones I want to keep. Just like any other space, decluttering and organizing seasonal decor will make your life at home so much easier. I chatted with Natalie Ron of Swoon Spaces, who shared all of her seasonal decor organizing tips and hacks, so you can declutter just in time for fall. Read on at https://lnkd.in/gBtCEUTU

🤔⚖️ Should You Sell Now? The Lifestyle Factors That Could Tip the Scale Are you on the fence about whether to sell your house now or hold off? It’s a common dilemma, but here’s a key point to consider: your lifestyle might be the biggest factor in your decision. While financial aspects are important, sometimes the personal motivations for moving are reason enough to make the leap sooner rather than later. If you find yourself needing features, space, or amenities your current home just can’t provide, it may be time to consider talking to a real estate agent about selling your house. Your needs matter. That agent will walk you through your options and what you can expect from today’s market, so you can make a confident decision based on what matters most to you and your loved ones. Learn more at https://lnkd.in/gBq958Vj

⌛ Tired of Waiting for Lower Mortgage Rates? 4 Steps That Could Slash Your Rate Right Away Homebuyers who are tired of waiting for lower mortgage rates can take concrete steps now to get a better deal on their own, according to a new report from the Realtor.com® economic research team. Altogether, the four steps examined in the report can lower a borrower’s mortgage rate by nearly 150 basis points, or 1.5 percentage points. On a $500,000 home purchase with 20% down, that equates to a savings of $400 per month, or $4,800 annually. Shopping around for the best rates yields the biggest average rate savings, of 86 basis points. Improving your credit score to at least Very Good (750-plus) can shave off an average of 39 basis points. And increasing your down payment to at least 20% of the purchase price, while keeping a debt-to-income ratio of less than 30%, reduces rates by a combined 22.5 basis points. Get all the details at https://lnkd.in/gJqtrY-r

🔨🚿 How Much Does It Cost To Renovate a House? Average Home Renovation Costs for Bathrooms, Kitchens, and Beyond Home renovations and remodeling costs may be a hard pill to swallow after shelling out the purchase price of a new home, but if you’re the proud homeowner of a fixer-upper (or even if you’re the proud owner of an older home that needs some work), you may be itching to make some updates. And that will get you wondering: How much does it cost to renovate a house? Knowing your numbers ahead of time is crucial, lest you end up with plans that are bigger than your budget. So, before you so much as take a peek at a tile sample, check out this detailed breakdown on how much your dream home renovation will set you back, plus average home renovation costs and your potential return on investment (ROI). https://lnkd.in/g87Xfq8E

⚖️✨ Are We Heading into a Balanced Market? If you’ve been keeping an eye on the housing market over the past couple of years, you know sellers have had the upper hand. But is that going to shift now that inventory is growing? Here’s a breakdown of what you need to know. A balanced market is generally defined as a market with about a five-to-seven-month supply of homes available for sale. In this type of market, neither buyers nor sellers have a clear advantage. Prices tend to stabilize, and there’s a healthier number of homes to choose from. And after many years when sellers had all the leverage, a more balanced market would be a welcome sight for people looking to move. The question is – is that really where the market is headed? Learn more at https://lnkd.in/gZq2biPh

🗯️🤔 Today’s Biggest Housing Market Myths Have you ever heard the phrase: don’t believe everything you hear? That’s especially true if you’re thinking about buying or selling a home in today’s housing market. There’s a lot of misinformation out there. And right now, making sure you have someone you can go to for trustworthy information is extra important. If you partner with a real estate agent, they can clear up some common misconceptions and reassure you by backing them up with research-driven facts. Here are just a few misconceptions they can help disprove. https://lnkd.in/g8Ch8NjB

🍂☕ Pinterest Predicts the Coziest Home Decor Trend for Fall 2024 If there's one place you can depend on to have the scoop on the latest trends in, well, just about anything, it's Pinterest! The social media platform has released its trend report for fall 2024, which it describes as "a season for connectivity and creativity." In terms of home decor, Pinterest predicts cozy corners to take over every space in your home. Specifically, users have been searching for cozy sunrooms and cozy reading room ideas. So, just how can you achieve this comforting vibe for your own autumnal home refresh? According to Pinterest, people are "embracing dreamy, cozy corners with a floral room aesthetics and cozy lighting, infusing their spaces with soothing colors." If you'd like to take a page from Ree Drummond's book, or at least her Walmart line, you could start with some textural, floral accents, like a plush reversible throw. Just imagine curling up in the warm blanket with a book in hand. Get all the details at https://lnkd.in/gjPFjNUQ