Five Upgrades To Do To Create Your Dream Kitchen and Bath

 For ages those in the industry have told sellers that a bathroom or kitchen remodel will also benefit the resale value of their home. Homeowners always think of these upgrades when they are ready to sell their home. Homeowners should do the upgrades while they still live in their home so they can enjoy the benefits. Here are five things to do to upgrade your kitchen and bathroom for you to add style and functionality.

1. Upgrade Your Kitchen Cabinets

Upgrading your kitchen cabinets can instantly give your kitchen a new and refreshed look. You can simply buy an off-the shelf style or have custom cabinets built. If you would like to make your kitchen feel bigger and brighter, then a shaker-style cabinet in white is the perfect option. Choose cabinets with the functions that you want and that will work for you. Remember what kind of material a cabinet is made out of is important, those made out of plywood are stronger and are better at holding off water damage.

2. Install New Countertops

Another great way to give your kitchen a great new look is by getting new countertops. Today’s countertops are more durable and easier to maintain. “We’re seeing a lot of new materials in countertops. Products like ultra-compact, quartzite and porcelain are incredibly strong; scratch-, stain- and heat-resistant; and require practically zero maintenance,” says Ximena Johnson, product manager at Cabinets to Go.

3. Add a Stylish Bathroom Vanity

When you think of a bathroom vanity, you think of storage and a counter to put your toiletries, but a bathroom vanity is just as much the focal point of a bathroom. Getting a new vanity in your bathroom will give the whole room a refreshed look. “Homeowners are becoming more adventurous. Statement colors like rich Newport Blue and warm Montpelier Sage are having a moment. At the same time, classic favorites like Nantucket Bluff, a gorgeous, warm cream, are being used in fun and refreshing ways. Bathrooms are a great place to play with a pop of color, especially if you’re not ready to commit in the more high-traffic rooms of the house. We’re renovating in my own home right now and using Newport Blue raised-panel cabinets for our bath vanity,” says Johnson.

4. Switch to Waterproof Flooring

Hardwood floors are very popular, however they are prone to water damage. A good alternative is a vinyl floor that has a hardwood look. “XRP waterproof vinyl flooring stands up to daily traffic and can be installed just about anywhere in the home and over a variety of subfloors, including bathrooms, kitchens, living rooms and bedrooms,” suggests Johnson.

5. Rethink the Little Touches

“The devil is in the details when you’re remodeling, particularly when it comes to important, everyday rooms like kitchens and bathrooms,” says Johnson. If you do not want to do a big rehaul in your bathroom or kitchen, update smaller elements in the room. Change out the cabinet handles for a more updated look or add a tiled backsplash behind a vanity or the kitchen stove.

Remember the little touches can create a fresh new look in your kitchen or bathroom. These small touches can make you fall in love with these rooms in a new light!

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Popular Exterior Paint Colors for Selling Your Home

 When you are in the market to sell your home, one of the most important factors to consider is your home’s curb appeal. When a potential buyer pulls up to your home, the exterior is one of the first things they will see. Like in life, first impressions are very important and can impact a buyer's perception of your home. Your favorite dream home might be a white with bright blue trim, but this is not everyone’s favorite. Using a bold and unique mix of colors can make a home stand out in a negative way. If you are trying to decide on a color for your potential listing, consider these tips for selecting an exterior paint color.

When choosing a paint color to use on the exterior of your home that you are about to sell, there are many things to consider. First, remember that you are not choosing the color you want, but a color that appeals to the mass. To figure out the best option, take a look at the color schemes of your neighbor’s homes, your home’s architectural style, roof color, stonework and landscaping and construction materials. You want to keep up with the trends, however, you do not want to do anything too stylish or off-the-wall. A good choice is to go with warm, earthy neutral colors that blend well with your home’s natural environment. A classic that never goes out of style is classic white, simple and traditional.

There are other options, but you need to consider them carefully to make sure they fit. Charcoals and blacks are popular nowadays, especially on a modern home, but make sure these are not too bold for your neighborhood. Navy blue has also become a popular choice and can be used on a variety of home styles. If you can’t go without a pop of color, think about adding a bold color to your front door such as red, yellow or blue.

Remember seeking out your Realtor’s advice can be a win-win situation. A local sales agent will not only be familiar with what is trending but will also know what will fit on your home in your neighborhood.

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This Year’s Southern Living 2022 Idea House Is Located in North Carolina

This year Southern Living chose River Dunes which is located in Oriental, North Carolina for their 2022 Idea House.  The community features 14 miles of waterfront on the Pamlico Sound, Intercoastal Waterway and the mouth of the Neuse River.  River Dunes offers wonderful amenities which include a 400-slip marina.

The home represents coastal living at its best and was brought to life by a team including Jordan Maroules of SLD Custom Homes, Charlotte Lucas of Charlotte Lucas Interior Design and William Court of Court Atkins Group.

“Our vision was to create a Southern ‘coastal-inspired’ home that has a strong traditional sense of place-but a slightly more contemporary sense of detail,” says architect William Court.

The home features multiple structures instead of just one which includes a guest home.  The main house sits at 4,125 square feet and includes a wraparound porch for outdoor living.  The porch gives a nice harbor view with great space for outdoor entertainment.  The exteriors are constructed of James Hardie siding which will stand up to the harsh coastal elements.

“While we are blessed with unparalleled beauty in the Southeast, the climate comes with humidity, moisture, salt air and pests. We love using Hardie fiber cement products in southern coastal areas because they hold their own in rain, sleet or snow. This allows us to provide our clients with a great low-maintenance and sustainable alternative to natural wood siding. Anytime we can get the look and feel of natural wood without the headache of ongoing maintenance, that’s a win, ” says Court.

The siding design used on the home is the Artisan shiplap siding by James Hardie.  “In our more contemporary coastal designs, we want to blend the use of historical proportions and familiar colors with unexpected details and clean lines. Our design team relies heavily on the range of products by James Hardie to create realistic historical details, as well as updated contemporary profiles with a sense of weight and proportion. Using the Artisan shiplap siding with mitered corners was a natural choice to get a crisp clean edge-but with an elevated sense of detail,” says Court.

The 2022 Southern Living 2022 house will only be on tour until the end of the month.  Currently the home is decorated for the holidays and can be toured by purchasing a ticket. All the proceeds will go to local charities.

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Small Businesses Are Considering Alternative Lenders Over Traditional Banking

 Many small businesses in the U.S. have been getting frustrated with traditional banks and their loans. Businesses have voiced that the process is very slow and burdensome, even though there are strings attached when it comes to using alternative lenders.

According to a study from the Harris Poll, 62% of small businesses admit they need more financing and 68% say they need fast cash. Five hundred small business owners with $25,000 to $20 million in annual revenue were surveyed. Many surprisingly said they would rather wait in line at the DMV, sitting in congested traffic, assemble furniture or clean a toilet rather than apply for a loan through a traditional bank.

Eighty-four percent of small businesses agreed that they would be open to applying for financial services through outlets such as fintech and e-commerce platforms. Of these small businesses, 51% said it would be because of affordable loans, 49% instant loan approval, and 45% said it would be due to using a single platform to manage their finances.

The Small Business Administration (SBA) will hopefully come to the rescue. While Unit itself does not make loans, it works with five banks that provide financial products, which fintech companies can then market on the bank’s behalf.  This would be made through a proposed rule change from the SBA. The proposed rule would let fintechs and other alternative lenders apply for a license in order for them to be able to offer SBA-backed 7(a) loans. This will speed up the process but at what costs?

“The faster it is to get the money, the scarier the rates and terms will be,” says Ami Kassar, the founder and chief executive officer at MultiFunding, a Philadelphia-based consulting firm focused on business financing options.

Her advice is to slow down and make sure you know the terms and conditions of the loans. This includes interest payments and the frequency of payments which will determine how this will impact your cash flow.

“You have to be extraordinarily careful, really understand if you’re taking a loan what your monthly payment is going to be, and make sure you’re not getting yourself in a debt trap, ” advises Kassar.

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A New Look For Audubon Aquarium and Woldenberg Park

 The Audubon Aquarium is currently closed for at least six months but the good news is that it is getting a facelift along with Woldenberg Park. The $41 million renovation will be a great perk once it is finished.

The Aquarium has been renovated before, but this is the biggest renovation since 1990. The new attraction called the Audubon Aquarium and Insectarium links the aquarium to the Audubon Butterfly Garden and Insectarium. The Entergy Giant Screen Theater will be removed and replaced with the insectarium exhibits.

The renovation will add over 17,000 feet of exhibit space. The new entrance and lobby will be an enclosed 60-foot tall glass lobby. The glass pyramid will shoot out from the building facing the Mississippi River.

The Insectarium space will have a special event space on the first floor and the second floor will include the insectarium galleries and butterfly pavilion. The new butterfly exhibit will have lower ceilings so visitors can get a better look at the butterflies.

The aquarium will get upgrades including the Mississippi River Gallery, the Amazon Rainforest Gallery and the Top of the Gulf Experience. Woldenberg Park will also get $7 million in upgrades on the entrances, landscaping and electrical system.

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A New Park Opens With Free Outdoor Concerts

 St. Claude Arts Park is a new park in Arabi that was built on the lot next to the Zeitgeist Theatre & Lounge.  The park is a nice new outdoor venue and art market space for residents and visitors to enjoy.  The park opening was celebrated with two free concerts sponsored by the Jazz Foundation of America. 

The land that the new park is located on is owned by Meraux Foundation which also owns the land the two blocks art district is located on. The arts district includes Zeitgeist Theatre, the artist’s studio and exhibition space St. Claude Arts and the consulting, design and framing business Art Conscious. The foundation is a private family foundation that supports many initiatives in St. Bernard Parish.  These initiatives include projects in coastal restoration, economic development, arts and culture, and education.

“We want to leverage arts and culture as an economic driver. It’s organically growing into a nice destination,”  says Chris Haines, who is a member of the Meraux Foundation Board.

The St. Claude Arts space is made up of 11 studios that are affordable for artists to use.  They are currently filled with artists who are using a vast array of different mediums including painting, mixed media, photography, printmaking, woodworking, furniture refurbishing, and vintage clothing.  One of the studios is Visual Arts which displays local exhibitions.  Art will also be displayed on walls throughout the art district as the foundation has hired 10 muralists to complete this project.

As for the park, there are around 10,000 square feet of open space with lights and a covered area for bands and performances.  The building facade located at 6609 St. Claude Ave houses the restrooms, and storage space and the black back wall will be used for outdoor movies.  The park and Zeitgeist Theatre will hold the reception for PhotoNOLA which is New Orleans’ photography festival that runs December 7 – 10, 2022.  During this festival, there will also be a photography-themed art market.

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New State Cultural Districts To Be In Jefferson Parish

 The state has decided to locate two new state cultural districts in Gretna and Jean Lafitte.  One of the main reasons is that these are sites where two historic buildings are located that could possibly qualify for state historic tax credits.  Another bonus is that any qualifying art that will be sold at the two locations will be exempt from local sales tax. 

In order for any artwork to be exempt from local sales tax it must be an original, one of a kind visual piece, conceived by the artist and made by their hand or under their direction, and not intended for mass production.  Art can be reviewed by the Office of Cultural Development to see if it qualifies for tax exemption.

Jefferson Parish will now be the site of five state cultural districts in Louisiana.  The first will be the new South Gretna Cultural District that will cover parts of southern Gretna along the south of Gretna Boulevard including Gretna City Park and Timberlane Estates.  Everything north of the Westbank Expressway is already included in a separate state cultural district.  The new Jean Lafitte Cultural District will include a block on both sides of Jean Lafitte Boulevard from Camille Court south to Shipyard Street.

There are 124 state cultural districts now in Louisiana, including six new districts that were announced.  The other new districts were the City of Crowley African American Cultural Historical District in Crowley, Divine Nine Cultural District in Monroe, Franklin Cultural District in Franklin, Pointe-aux-Loups Cultural District in Iota.

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The Future Sees An Increase in Housing Inventory

 Studies reveal that the population in many communities is ramping up.  Gainesville, Georgia has seen its population jump from 100,000 to 250,000 with around 15,000 projected listings.  Other areas in the county that have seen an increase in population are Port St. Lucie, FL with 23,800, Durham-Chapel Hill, NC with 44,850, North Port-Sarasota-Bradenton, FL with 40,141, Nashville-Davidons-Murfreesboro-Franklin, TN with 82,050, Phoenix-Mesa-Chandler AZ with 136,394 and New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ-PA comes in at 280,999. The market in June 2023 is predicted to see 7.3 million homes come on the market in the 364 Metropolitan Statistical Area (MSA).

Families with children in grades K-12 should make up 22.5% of the market presence of all homes sold in the country. The report broke down each MSA by size and concluded that of those markets with a population of less than 100,000 Rome, GA had the most predicted listings to hit market by June 2023 at 4,323 properties.

Below follows a list of those markets with most homes predicted to come on the market through June 2023 in eight different population sizes:

Markets Under 100,000 Population	Predicted Listings Through June 2023
Rome, Ga.	4,323
Corvallis, Oregon	4,027
Midland, Mich.	3,998
Columbus, Ind.	3,879
Kokomo, Ind.	3,395
Cape Girardeau, Mo.-Ill.	2,869
Victoria, Texas	2,792
Casper, Wyo.	2,669
Elmira, N.Y.	2,651
Grants Pass, Ore.	2,541

Markets 100,000-250,000 Population	Predicted Listings Through June 2023
Gainesville, Ga.	14,911
Appleton, Wis.	14,050
Iowa City, Iowa	11,285
Punta Gorda, Fla.	11,272
Barnstable Town, Mass.	10,372
Daphne-Fairhope-Foley, Ala.	10,248
Charlottesville, Va.	9,704
Oshkosh-Neenah, Wis.	8,826
Rochester, Minn.	8,808
Bend, Ore.	8,499

Markets 250,000-500,000 Population	Predicted Listings Through June 2023
Port St. Lucie, Fla.	23,800
Greeley, Colo.	22,522
Fort Collins, Colo.	20,395
Naples-Marco Island, Fla.	20,041
Myrtle Beach-Conway-North Myrtle Beach, S.C.-N.C.	19,061
Reno, Nev.	17,956
York-Hanover, Pa.	17,448
Fort Wayne, Ind.	17,037
Boulder, Colo.	16,591
Springfield, Mo.	15,594

Markets 500,000-750,000 Population	Predicted Listings Through June 2023
Durham-Chapel Hill, N.C.	44,850
Des Moines-West Des Moines, Iowa	34,677
Akron, Ohio	24,866
Provo-Orem, Utah	24,726
Fayetteville, N.C.	24,490
Lakeland-Winter Haven, Fla.	23,979
Port St. Lucie, Fla.	23,800
Deltona-Daytona Beach-Ormond Beach, Fla.	23,495
Winston-Salem, N.C.	23,404
Madison, Wis.	22,760

Markets 750,000-1 Million Population	Predicted Listings Through June 2023
North Port-Sarasota-Bradenton, Fa.	40,141
Cape Coral-Fort Myers, Fla.	35,609
Omaha-Council Bluffs, Neb.-Iowa	34,113
Colorado Springs, Colo.	32,345
Greenville-Anderson, S.C.	30,573
Columbia, S.C.	29,307
Charleston-North Charleston, S.C.	28,193
Worcester, Mass.-Conn.	27,969
Knoxville, Tenn.	27,020
Allentown-Bethlehem-Easton, Pa.-NJ.	26,980

Markets 1-2 Million Population	Predicted Listings Through June 2023
Nashville-Davidson–Murfreesboro–Franklin, Tenn.	82,050
Raleigh-Cary, N.C.	66,952
Jacksonville, Fla.	64,055
Richmond, Va.	46,963
Oklahoma City, Okla.	42,448
Salt Lake City, Utah	38,769
Providence-Warwick, R.I.-Mass.	38,738
Louisville/Jefferson County, Ky.-Ind.	37,593
Hartford-East Hartford-Middletown, Conn.	36,282
Milwaukee-Waukesha, Wis.	33,408

Markets 2-4 Million Population	Predicted Listings Through June 2023
Phoenix-Mesa-Chandler, Ariz.	136,394
San Francisco-Oakland-Berkeley, Calif.	117,457
Boston-Cambridge-Newton, Mass.-N.H.	114,061
Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, Calif.	107,895
Denver-Aurora-Lakewood, Colo.	100,250
Detroit-Warren-Dearborn, Mich.	96,938
Tampa-St. Petersburg-Clearwater, Fla.	93,578
Charlotte-Concord-Gastonia, N.C.-S.C.	93,354
Orlando-Kissimmee-Sanford, Fla.	89,535
San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, Calif.	82,928

Markets Under Above 4 Million Population	Predicted Listings Through June 2023
New York-Newark-Jersey City, N.Y.-N.J.-Pa.	280,999
Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington, Texas	235,338
Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, Ill.-Ind.-Wisc.	225,742
Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, Calif.	214,522
Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-Va.-Md.-W.Va.	213,012
Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Alpharetta, Ga.	208,133
Houston-The Woodlands-Sugar Land, Texas	202,488
Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, Pa.-N.J.-Del.-Md.	150,759
Miami-Fort Lauderdale-Pompano Beach, Fla.	96,356

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Why House Hunters Will Be Ready To Buy In The Next Six Months

 According to a survey done by Realtor.com, 46% of potential house buyers said they were planning on purchasing a home within the next six months. This study looked at those who accessed listings and search results of homes on the site. The survey justifies that although we look like we are in a recession and the 30-year fixed mortgage rate is close to 6%, this is not detouring buyers in the market. This share of buyers reported is actually higher than reported in 2019 even with mortgage rates reaching the highest level since 2008 and home prices increasing.

Many potential home buyers are looking at the market as an advantage. Rising inventory levels are bringing more options for buyers to find a home within their budget. It is reported that two in five buyers feel that the U.S. economy is already in a recession but it will have no effect on their decision to purchase a home in the near future. Close to 27% of home buyers are more likely to purchase while the economy is in a recession. This figure is up 24% from what was reported in 2021 although there are many potential home buyers that are scared of the current market. In fact, the share of buyers who say they are more than likely not going to purchase a home during a recession rose from 5% to 6.5% this year.

The housing market is definitely tipping the scale from a sellers’ market over to a buyers’ market. Those in the industry said there are fewer buyers who are being outbid going from 12.6% to 9.4% from this spring to summer. The share of buyers who report being overbid on a home has decreased as the market has begun to correct itself

Even though there are home buyers who are willing to purchase in an uncertain economic time, it is still a sellers’ market. Twelve percent of first-time homebuyers are still being outbid in today’s market. Two in five first-time home buyers are also having a hard time finding a home within their budget. Currently, the median price of homes in the U.S. was $435,0000 according to Reatlor.com. This summer was at an all-time high of $450,000! Twenty percent of first-time homebuyers also said they are having a hard time buying because of their credit score.

If you are a first-time homebuyer or in the market to purchase a home, you will want to work with a local real estate agent who can help you navigate these uncertain waters. A local agent can help you find a home in your price range in your desired area.

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Gentilly Festival Will Be Held At Pontchartrain Park

 The Gentilly Festival is a three-day event full of music, art and food with  three stages located in Pontchartrain Park.   The festival is a free event that will run on Friday from 6pm – 9pm and on Saturday and Sunday from noon – 8pm.  The festival will be located at the playground at Press and Prentiss Drives.

This fall-filled New Orleans festival will also raise funds to support first responders and nonprofits that serve the Gentilly community.  “It’s going to be really exciting. We’re keeping our flavor, our flair of the community. We’re trying to unify and reunite the neighbors post-pandemic,” says chair and organizer of the festival Gretchen Bradford.

This year there will be over 25 food vendors and an eclectic range of entertainment.  There will be restaurants, caterers and food vendors from the area serving up their dishes at this year’s festival.  Many local caterers that are starting a business will introduce themselves through the festival. There will also  be veteran Gentilly food fest vendors that will also provide delicious assortments.  “We’ve got a little Latin, a little hip hop, brass, funk……….We got a little bit of that New Orleans bounce. We can touch many different audiences,” says Bradford.

The festival is a great event for the whole family.  This year there will be a Kids’ Village which will include pony rides, an entertainment stage, pottery making, face painting and more crafts.  For the adults, there will be tons of local organizations which will provide services and tell about what they have to offer for Gentilly residents, and for an additional charge a VIP Champagne Experience.

The Gentilly Festival is not just for locals, as the festival also attracts tourists and those who used to live in Gentilly and are back to visit for the event.  The festival will kick off with “Jazz Under the Stars” with live music and DJ’s.  Performers include Brian Quezergue Quartet, Indys Blu, Quiana Lynell and DJ Juane Jordan.

This is a fun time for Gentilly and all of New Orleans.  “We promote happiness,” says Bradford.

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The Battle of the Bike Lane

 The bike lanes along Newton Street between Elmira and Behrman in Algiers are the battleground for many cyclists and residents. Several months ago District C Council member Freddie King wanted the city to reevaluate their position on the protected bike lanes in Algier due to neighborhood disagreements regarding the lanes.

Since the situation was brought to the city’s attention, minimum changes have occurred. The city has removed dozens of the flex posts and the ones that remain have been shifted closer to the bike lane. They said this should help with parking on the street and alleviate residents’ concerns that the flex posts could obstruct emergency vehicles from getting by.

Residents are still up in arms about the protected lanes while cycling advocates are afraid of what might happen if the lanes are removed. King suggested the city remove over 2 miles of protected bike lanes located on MacArthur Boulevard and Newton Street. If this passes and goes through, this will be a downfall for the citywide bike plan created by Mayor LaToya Contrell.

West bank residents voted for King over Kristin Gisleson Palmer when he said he would advocate the removal of the paths. Residents wanted to be heard and felt that the city did not survey enough residents regarding the installation of the bike lanes in Algiers. The city has defended its actions but does admit that it did not do enough outreach to the residents of Algiers.

“We did have a number of meetings in Algiers. Obviously we needed to have more,” said Sarah Porteuos, a city infrastructure spokesperson.

As of now, the cyclists’ lanes on MacArthur and Newton include plastic posts guarding the separate lanes and parking spaces closer to the main travel lane than the curb. Automobiles will be the second line of defense for cyclists. Those who are for the lanes say that the protected lanes not only increase the safety of cyclists but motorists as well.

Research has shown that cyclists’ lanes reduce accidents for drivers, pedestrians, and cyclists. Around the city, around 30 of the 75 planned miles already have cyclists’ lanes installed. According to city officials, there were 327 crashes involving cyclists between 2014 and 2018 on MacArthur Blvd before the cyclist’s lanes were installed.

“Please do not remove protected bike lanes, said Corinna Chaney, a resident who wrote to the City Council. ” This critical infrastructure is saving lives, drivers included. We should be slowing down traffic not tearing up what little safety we have here.”

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