Transforming A Small Space with Tile

 Professionals in the industry reveal a secret; when updating a small space use tile to create texture and dimension. Tile can add color either bold or a hint. Tile comes in tons of color options and patterns. Using tile can refresh a small area without having a full renovation.

1. Bring attention to a wall niche

Adding tile to a decorative wall is a perfect focal point. Tiling the area will highlight the architectural feature while adding definition and drama. A great idea is to add a ribbed glass tile that will reflect light back.

2. Add flair to a fireplace

The fireplace is already a focal point in a room, and adding tile to the surround really makes it pop. A tile can add interest and depth to the fireplace and can also mask an outdated surround.

3. Define a space within a space

Designers say tile can accent a space just like a rug can. M.S. Vicas Interiors used a geometric patterned tile on the floor of a nice wine vault. The tiled floor of this glass-framed wine “cellar” provides a structural footprint for the walls. A striking geometric pattern from the Gem collection by Kelly Wearstler is an arresting counterpoint to the warm wood floors of the rest of the room, letting the wine walk-in shine.

4. Think outside the shower

When you think of tile in the bathroom, you think of the floor or the shower surround. Tile helps keep water from damaging the space. Many designers are currently doing floor-to-ceiling tile accent walls in bathrooms. It gives the space impact and personality. This can also be done in the kitchen. If you have a wall in the kitchen that does not have any cabinets, tile the wall from floor to ceiling giving it a roomier look to the kitchen.

There are many colors, shapes, and patterns of tile. Remember to think outside the box, and think of using tiles in places that you might not think about when it comes to tile.

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The Age Most Are Purchasing Homes In The Current Market

 The average age for a first-time homebuyer is getting older.  On average in the U.S. a first-time home buyer is 33 years old and the overall average age of homebuyers is 47.  This data was first gathered in 1981 and current average ages are drastically higher. 

Each succeeding generation is seeing a drop in homeownership.  A current report found that between 1985-2020 homeownership rates  broken down by generation are 77.8% for Baby Boomers, 69.1% for Generation X and 47.9% for Millennials.  In terms of the real estate markets, the Millennials represent the major portion of homebuyers.

The change in the average age is due to several different factors.  Home prices continue to rise due to lack of inventory and student debt is now also adding to the expenses.   Mortgage rates are also shifting and are also adding to the problem especially along the coasts. Younger generations have gone to college and have college debt that is also making it difficult to save money for a down payment.

Since this is such a big generation, over the past five years we have seen a massive increase in the purchasing of homes.  New first-time homebuyers in their 30s outweigh those in their 60s.  In 1981 the typical homebuyer was at the average age of 31 according to the National Association of Realtors.

In terms of overall homebuyers 34% are first-time homebuyers.  Younger Millennials made up 81%  in the generational bracket, while 48% were older Millennials.  Even though older Millennials made up less of the Millennial homebuyers, they were the biggest generation of first-time homebuyers.

The bad news is that Millennials are perceived to have less money than the preceding generations. Generation X came in on top with $125,000 as the median annual household income, where Millennials were only $110,300 per year. Millennials are perceived as the most educated group with 84% having earned a bachelor’s degree from a four year college even though they are not the highest paid generation.

Sixty percent of homebuyers were married couples, 19% were single females, 9% were males and 9% were unmarried couples.  Baby Boomers were the highest group with 27% single female buyers.  For unmarried couples, the Millennials had the highest at 21%.  Thirty one percent of homebuyers had a child under 18 living at home.

If you are in the market to purchase a home, hire a real estate agent in your area.  Many homebuyers today are purchasing for investment to earn a passive income.  A Realtor can help you find the perfect home for investment due to the rise in rental income.

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Cash Sales Are Beating Out FHA-Backed Sales In Today’s Market

ccording to the National Association of HomeBuilders’ study of the U.S. Census Bureau’s Quarterly Sales by Price and Financing more homes were purchased by cash in the third quarter of 2022.  This is the first time a cash sale has beat out an FHA loan since 2007.  The share of cash purchases climbed 9.5% to a 20-year high which amounted to 14,000 sales. 

New home sales through the Federal Housing Administration (FHA) came in only at 11,000 sales which was 7.5% of the total sales in the third quarter of 2022.  The share has dropped close to two-thirds since spring of 2020.  Conventional loans made up 77.6% of new home sales in the third quarter of 2020 while VA loans declined to 5.4%.

The national median sales price of a new home was $454,900 in the second quarter of 2022.  This was a 5% increase but there is still a big difference in the type of financing percentages.  New home sales with all-cash increased 27.3% since the beginning of while FHA-backed sales have decreased 7.6%.  The median prices varied for new homes by the type of financing, conventional $503,200, FHA, $340,300, VA $432,200 and cash $494,200.

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Celebration in the Oaks, A City Park Tradition

The pandemic put a damper on almost all of the events that were traditions around the country. This year, Celebration in the Oaks will return to City Park in New Orleans. The 2.25-mile driving tour has over a million lights along with a walking tour, amusement rides and the Botanical Garden.

The tour began this Thanksgiving and will run through New Year’s Day this year nightly from 6pm to 10pm every Wednesday, Thursday and Sunday and 5pm to 11pm every Friday and Saturday. This is New Orleans City Park’s largest annual fundraiser. The proceeds help with the park’s maintenance, care and beautification year round.

Celebration in the Oaks brings in over 135,000 visitors from all over the world. The park’s annual holiday event began in the late 1980’s. The park is over 170 years old and is managed by the City Park Conservancy. The park also includes the New Orleans Botanical Garden, Couturie Forest and Arboretum, the New Orleans Museum of Art, the Louisiana Children’s Museum, and trees over 800 years old.

There are a limited number of tickets sold per day so hurry to purchase your tickets and choose your time slot. Cars and SUVS begin at $25, walking tours begin at $25 and Limousines and vans start at $150. Bike tours begin at $5 and will only be held on November 29th, December 6th and December 13th.

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What Will Become of Emril Laggasse’s French Quarter Restaurant NOLA?

NOLA, has been a French Quarter staple for close to 30 years but has been closed since March of 2020 due to the pandemic.  It has left many wondering if the restaurant will reopen?  The question has been answered as a different local restaurant company has leased the building that NOLA is located in at 534 St. Louis Street. 

NOLA will be turned into Boulevard American Bistro by Creole Cuisine Restaurant Concepts.  The group owns over 20 different restaurants and bars around the New Orleans area.  The Boulevard brand which currently has locations in Metairie, Elmwood and Covington, will now have a fourth location in the French Quarter.

The new restaurant is slated to open its doors by January 2023.  The restaurant will serve cuisine between high-end Creole and casual Creole which is a perfect fit for the French Quarter.  "We want to bring something fresh to the French Quarter, something needed in the selection of restaurants here.  It's going to be an All-American, polished casual restaurant," says Marv Ammari CEO.

The new restaurant will still have the same structure to it, with just renovations to the decor and furnishings. The wood-burning oven, open kitchen and elevator will still be there.  The bar will be larger in the new restaurant like the bar in the Boulevard American Bistro in Covington.  In fact, the company started up with bars and then went into the local restaurant business.  Their restaurants include Broussards, Cafe Maspero and the Bombay Club which are all located in the French Quarter and Tommy's and Ernst Cafe in the Warehouse District.

"At the end of the day, we owe it to New Orleans, and we need to be part of building the city," Ammari says.
Boulevard first opened in 2015 after the group took over the Houston's in Metairie.  All the locations share the same American temporary flare with dishes including prime rib, seared tuna salads, crab cakes, cedar plank salmon and barbecue ribs. The new restaurant will have a slightly different take with more steaks and a bigger wine list.

"We're working with a menu we know and execute very well. It's a matter of getting the right team together, Ammari commented.

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The Current New Orleans Housing Market

 Many buyers have become very frustrated with the housing market within the past two years.  Buyers are in crazy bidding wars making it hard to find a home. One home buyer, who has a price range of $400,000 to $450,000, is surprisingly being outbid the last several attempts and purchasing a home. 

“There is not a lot of property on the market that is viable and when they do come up, they sell within a matter of days.  I even offered all cash, full asking price recently and it got bought out from under me,”  says a current renter.

New Orleans and the surrounding neighborhoods have seen their share of quick home sales and high bids on properties.  This scenario has been the same whether a homebuyer is purchasing a starter home or a luxury home.  Professionals in the industry say there are many determining factors that say a change is ahead.  In 2021 a 30-year mortgage was at 3% while current rates are averaging around 6.3%.  The higher monthly payment cost coupled with the rising inflation is making buying power weaker.  The U.S. inflation has climbed above 8% which was around 5% this time last year.

All of these occurrences have caused a slump in the number of home sales.  In fact, the New Orleans metro area which includes nine parishes, is seeing a 10% decrease in the number of home sales compared to the home sales of the same time last year.  This is also confirmed by the number of homes on the market.  The market is up 14% compared to last year but the sales are down from last year.  Currently, we are also increasing the months’ supply of inventory from 2 months to 3 months.

Even though the market is becoming less and less of a seller’s market, it is still not seeing the sales.  The most demand seen is in Mid-City, Uptown, parts of the Bywater and Old Metairie.  “It’s probably the strangest housing market I’ve seen in 20 years. Some houses now are sitting for 30 to 60 days, and offers fly off the market overnight with multiple offers. It’s house by house, block by block, and it doesn’t make a lot of sense,” said Craig Mirambell, a Metairie area broker.

“Anything that is well priced, realistically priced, goes fast.  Some of the frenzy has died down.  But anything well priced will sell,” says Bron Hebert, a realtor with Francher Perrin Group.

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Shingle and Paint Pairings to Boost Your Home’s Curb Appeal

 One of the most dramatic changes to a home’s curb appeal is replacing the roof. Choosing the right shingle is a must when it comes to replacing your roof. Here are five shingle and paint pairings that professionals suggest.

1. Warm, Earthy Neutrals

Earthy neutrals are one of the most popular trends of 2022. Shingles that are dark and light brown with tonal variation present a warm and welcoming feel. These colors blend into the surrounding environment giving the home’s exterior a natural feel. Not only to do they blend into nature, but they also hide dirt well so you do not have to clean your roof all the time.

For paint colors, earthy brown shingles are complemented by shades of beige, taupe, or hunter green for the exterior. The brown shingles also pair well with warm brick or stone facades. A classic, Craftsman, farmhouse or cottage-style home looks great with this shingle.

2. Bold Black

You can never go wrong with black. A nice black or charcoal will definitely make a statement and give a timeless appeal. If you are using solar panels, a black shingle can help the panel recede into the background.

A white siding or trim with a black shingle is a classic look that will never go out of style. Warm cool grays, soft blues and seafoam green can also work well with a black shingle. Black shingles compliment a contemporary and midcentury modern style home.

3. Light Tones

These tones include cool soft blue or pale gray. This looks great with white, stone, or dark blue paint on a coastal or traditional home. If your roof has a lot of architectural detail, this tone of shingle will not be visually dominant. Shingles nowadays will also not stain as much as the older roofs. They are built to resist blue-green algae growth.

4. Rustic Combination

Homes that have dark red brick or beige stonework give off a bold and rich vibe. Again, rich brown is a perfect match. Organic and earthy roof colors go well with Colonial-style, classic farmhouse and heritage cottage.

To give an old-world feel choose the hand-cut look for your shingles. This gives a modern shingle a charming handcrafted look. When going for this look, use a mixture of warm, cool and brown-toned shingles.

5. Monochromatic

If your home uses several different colors on the siding and trim a monochromatic roof color will work best. For example, if you have a home with a medley of greenish grays and white, you will want a mid-tone or cool gray shingle. A uniform shingle look goes best on Colonial Revival or Tudor Revival architecture.

If you are in the market for a new roof, you can’t go wrong with any of these combinations. Remember climate used to play a big part in what color and kind of roof you had to use. Today’s modern technology such as high-performance cool roof shingles can reflect the sun to help it stay cooler in hotter climates.

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