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Inside Real Estate:
Decor Trends - Page 5 WTHBA Featured Floorplan - Page 7
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Realtor Revealed Debora Perez Lopez
ABR, CRB, CRS, GRI, e-PRO, SRES – Short Sales & Foreclosure Resource Certification (SFR)
MoVaDe Realty 806-795-7794 debora@deboralopez.com REALTOR® has taken education Where did you grow up? I was born in Dallas, Texas and programs that specialize in difhave lived in Lubbock since 1970. ferent areas of real estate sales, thereby providing better service to clients and customers. For Why do you live in the Lubexample, the ABR (Accredited bock area? What do you like Buyer Representative) focuses most about it? on learning the needs of BuyI love the friendly people in Lubbock and the way you can see ers; SRES (Senior Real Estate for miles! I raised two daughters Specialist) addresses the needs in Lubbock. I believe it is a great of seniors; SFR (Short Sales and place to raise a family, and I look Foreclosure Resource Certificaforward to seeing my two grand- tion) focuses on helping sellers maneuver the complexities of daughters grow up here. short sales, as well as help buyers pursue short sale and foreWhat do you enjoy when closure opportunities; and CRB you’re not working? I enjoy spending time with my (Certified Real Estate Brokerage Manager) is designed to elevate two beautiful granddaughters! professional standards, enhance What local organizations and individual results and office charities are you involved in? performance. Each designation means more specialized educaI am on the board of the Lubtion for the real estate agent. bock Housing Finance Corporation. I have worked with United What are the most gratifying Way and am very involved in aspect and the most challengmy church which is Monterey Church of Christ. I am currently ing aspect of what you do? The most challenging aspect serving as President-Elect of the Lubbock Association of Realtors. of the business is helping buyers and sellers overcome obstacles to buying and selling. It can be What designations do you a challenge to get a buyer to have and what does that the point that they are ready mean for the people you to purchase a home financially work with? and emotionally. For the seller, Though designations are conthe challenge can sometimes be fusing to the average consumer, understanding the current marwhat they mean is that the
someone looking to buy or sell a home? The one tip I have for someone looking to buy or sell is to understand that the real estate market is local. Lubbock has its own market conditions. Buyers and sellers need to take what is happening nationwide with a grain of salt. For example, buyers often believe they can make extremely low offers because nationwide homes are selling for such low prices. Lubbock did not have the highs many areas had, therefore we won’t have the lows either. Why should someone select you as their Realtor? I feel what I have to offer is my experience and empathy for what each buyer or seller. I try to listen to what clients/customers need from me. Then I try to give them the best advice and/or assistance I can to help them accomplish their goal and to make educated decisions.
Debora Perez Lopez, MoVaDe Realty ket conditions and be realistic in their expectations in terms of pricing and marketing time. It is gratifying assisting buyers and/
Photo by Misty Setzler
or sellers to achieve their goal – whatever that may be. What tip would you offer
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What do you see in the future for real estate sales/prices? The future in real estate is good. Real estate has always been one of the most stable investments and it will continue to be. It may take a couple of years to stabilize – but I’ve been around long enough to know that it will come back. With low interest rates and with the inventory we currently have, there really has never been a better time to buy!
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Josh H 806-766-o8rs6e5y3
Jason W-h2it1tle96 806-766
Katie McKinney 806-766-8646
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Black, white and silver are a modern color combo for a clean look.
Mid-century MODERN is again in vogue, with a clean lines and a colorful palette.
Trends to heat up fall/winter home decorating (ARA) – Are you over orange as an autumn decorating accent? Bored with relying on balsam and fir touches to evoke a holiday spirit in your home? If cooler weather and the coming holidays have you looking for new decorating ideas, here are some trends that will be heating up interior design this year:
and designers to the look, he predicts. “As financial markets plummet and natural disasters proliferate, people are going to look for the (relative) innocence of the ‘60s,” he says. “Look for furniture with clean lines and sleek legs, a muted color palette of grays and creams, and rich wood surfaces on tabletops and even walls.”
Economize and simplify “People are starting to simplify their spaces by paring down their decor to items that show off their interests and personality,” says Nancy Hadley, a former design producer for Extreme Makeover: Home Edition, Trading Spaces and Kitchen Nightmares. “Entertaining spaces will begin to represent comfortable elegance and less pretense.” Multifunctional rooms, such as kitchens with office, homework and reading areas, will speak to this trend, Hadley predicts.
Eco-influences Natural influences, like plant and aviaryinspired tribal patterns, landscapes and natural scenes or textures like bamboo will attract those looking for both beauty and conservation. Products like re-usable SmartStick wall graphics will appeal for both their beauty and practicality. Available with an array of natural scenes and textures, their modern wallpaper material allows homeowners and designers to mount a wall mural on virtually any flat surface. The space-age material is easily removable and can be moved and re-used over and over anywhere in the house. Log on to www.muralsyourway.com to learn more. Homeowners and designers will also embrace energy efficiency in their interior design, Hadley says. “LED lighting will be big this year, and ecoefficient appliances will continue to dominate the market.”
‘Mad Men’-style nostalgia “Mid-century modern has always been popular, but it’s going to get even bigger this season,” says interior designer Jonathan Fong, author of “Walls that WOW” and host of the web TV show “Style with a Smile.” The hit TV show “Mad Men” will provide the design inspiration for the trend, but the desire for comfort through continuing economic challenges will be what draws homeowners
Anti-season decor If you’re tired of rustic textures and golden
hues for fall, and you’ve had your fill of pumpkins and holly, the anti-season decor trend may be for you. “People are putting their own spin on the holidays that is more modern and sophisticated,” Fong says. “Harvest-themed decor is out, and simpler accessories in cooler, muted shades are in.” Fong predicts favored colors this season will evoke a “New Year’s state of mind” with black, white and silver accents to create a clean look. “Colors will be contrasts of bold and vivid beside neutral grays, browns and warm whites,” Hadley agrees. “Accent walls or brightly colored furniture pieces will play off soothing neutral areas of a room.” Furniture hacking “Furniture hacking” – transforming or repurposing old furniture pieces – will grow in popularity, Fong says. “Crafters and DIY enthusiasts are taking the design world by storm.” Painting or decoupage gives a new life and a new look to used furniture, or you may totally repurpose an item, like a chair, and turn it into something completely new and useful, such as shelves. “Right now, my obsession is adding graphic images to plain cabinet fronts and table tops,” Fong says. “In the past, I’ve done this with decoupage, but now I’m trying repositionable wallpaper.”
Bold is back; Showcase your personal style Today’s homeowners are increasingly savvy when it comes to identifying trends in home redecorating. Picking up on the aesthetics around them – from the coffee shop to the airport and everywhere in between – people are willing to experiment with multiple colors to define their personal flair. Homeowners should understand, however, the subtle nuances of painting with bold colors and consider the following tips when getting started: • Ultra matte paint is a great finish to show off color. The more shine, the more imperfections you can see. • Don’t hold a paint chip in front of a white wall, since bold colors will appear darker or more intense on the wall than they do on a small chip. • Test first. Use a large test sheet and a “time test” – view your color in all light: morning, noon and night. Live with it for a few days to make sure you love it. • If you are going to go bold, then really go for it. There’s no such thing as a pale red.
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Featured Floorplan – Mystique Homes
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6305-76th Street – Bacon Crest Mystique Homes is proud to offer its Alexander Home as the Featured Home, available in the Bacon Crest community. The architectural style of the home is a traffic stopper with it is elegant blend of brick and stone surrounding the vaulted inviting cedar entryway. The Alexander is a stunning open concept home that offers great connectivity and flow. It has 2,581 feet of livable space allocated into four spacious bedrooms with three full bathrooms, with one of the bathrooms serving as a semi Jack-and-Jill bath. The large kitchen with a convenient island and butler’s nook make this kitchen a chef’s delight. For those needing extra space, this home has a three-car garage, which is two and half longer than typical garages. This home also includes a mudroom and large utility room with built-in sink. The rear of the home is fully fenced with a 7-foot privacy cedar fence. Included with the home also is an easily programmable Hunter sprinkler system and Bermuda sod in the front and back yards. Bacon Crest is located in the explosively growing southwest portion of Lubbock. This is no surprise, as you are within moments of exquisite dining, the most desirable shopping, and fun-filled family entertainment. You are also a convenient five minute commute to Lubbock’s Legacy Park, a fully-fenced fort and playground. Bacon Crest is a part of the state-recognized Frenship ISD. You can rest assured that your children will be receiving a quality education. The new FISD Heritage Middle School and Oak Ridge Elementary are within walking distance, which makes those busy mornings more manageable. Mystique Homes was established by Tim Roten Jr., a second generation home builder. “We are a local family-owned and operated business,” he says. “This provides us with the unique opportunity to develop a close personal relationship with each of our customers. Our homeowners tell us that having personal access with their builder was important to them. “We have more than two decades of experience in providing exceptional service
and quality to hundreds of satisfied customers throughout Lubbock,” Tim adds. “We are fully staffed to take care of your individual needs throughout your time as our valued customer. As a new owner of one of our homes, you will be assured of a pledge to stand behind an affordable quality-built home – one that you and your family will be proud of.” Mystique Homes is an active member of the local and state Home Builder Associations, as well as carrying an A rating with the Better Business Bureau. They have been a featured builder in several West Texas Home Builder’s Parade of Homes. Mystique Homes is so committed to customer satisfaction that they put their commitment in writing. “We guarantee each of our homes against workmanship defects for one full year. And further, we back it up with 10 years of structurally insured warranty protection provided by Strucsure Home Warranty, which is included with all of our homes and is transferable in the event you should sell your home in the future. We also perform 30-day and 11-month scheduled follow-ups.” Over the years, Mystique Homes has established a fine working relationship with some of the area’s leading financial institutions. One of their representatives, Bob Rowten, will be happy to meet with you – at your convenience – to go over a variety of great plans that are available and to assist you in making the mortgage process very easy. In addition, the next 9 customers to buy before Dec. 31, 2011 will receive either $2,500 towards closing costs or $3,500 towards
personalized features. This week’s Featured Home is sponsored by the West Texas Home Builders Association in cooperation with the Lubbock Avalanche-Journal. The Alexander
Home, priced at $247,500, is located at 6305 76th Street. The home will be open Saturday from 2 to 4 p.m. and by appointment. Please call Amy at (806) 368-5946 to schedule your showing.
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Local Real Estate News Tucker joins Coldwell Banker Next Generation Leaders
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Coldwell Banker® held its first Next Generation Leaders meeting on October 6-7 at the Coldwell Banker brand’s worldwide headquarters in Parsippany, NJ. DeRon Tucker, Exec Vice-President of Coldwell Banker Rick Canup, Realtors serving Lubbock County, was one of just 20 Coldwell Banker leaders from the United States and Canada invited to participate. “Coldwell Banker, like any great business organization, recognizes its future leaders and we were pleased to spend this time with some of the top young brokers in North America,” said Budge Huskey, president and chief operating officer of Coldwell Banker Real Estate LLC. “Their input on our strategic direction and how to best position our network and affiliated companies to attract the next generation of real estate talent is invaluable.” Along with numerous learning sessions, the Next Generation Leaders group met with CNN-
Money.com reporter Les Christie for a tour of the CNN facilities in New York where they participated in a roundtable discussion on current real estate market conditions. “I was thrilled to have had the opportunity to be a part of the program,” said DeRon Tucker, who has been serving the Lubbock market for 28 years. “Coldwell Banker fully recognizes that the needs of home buyers and sellers remain constant, but that generational differences and adaptability to current tools are different. The Next Generation Leaders program allowed me to gain great perspective and the confidence that the Coldwell Banker brand and Coldwell Banker Rick Canup, Realtors are on the right track.” Coldwell Banker Rick Canup, Realtors, located at 4924 South Loop 289, can be reached by calling 806-793-0677. Coldwell Banker Rick Canup, Realtors has been an affiliate of the Coldwell Banker System for 27 years.
Number of improving housing Texas REALTORS® endorse markets nearly doubles in October, includes 7 in Texas Prop 2 on the November Ballot The second edition of the National Association of Home Builders/ First American Improving Markets Index (IMI), released last week, shows 23 individual housing markets now qualifying as “improving” under the new gauge’s parameters. This is nearly double the 12 housing markets that made the list last month. “Both the number and geographic diversity of improving housing markets expanded this month, with Iowa, Illinois and South Carolina all newly represented by one entry or more on the list,” said National Association of Home Builders (NAHB) Chairman Bob Nielsen. “This is further evidence that, despite the tough conditions that persist in many cities, pockets of improvement are emerging in local housing markets across Nielsen the country.” The index reveals metropolitan areas that have shown improvement for at least six months in housing permits, employment and housing prices. The following metros were listed in October: Alexandria, LA Amarillo, TX Anchorage, AK Bismarck, ND Casper, WY Fairbanks, AK Fayetteville, NC Houma, LA Iowa City, IA Jonesboro, AR Kankakee, IL McAllen, TX Midland, TX New Orleans, LA
Odessa, TX Pine Bluff, AR Pittsburgh, PA Sherman, TX Sumter, SC Waco, TX Waterloo, IA Wichita Falls, TX Winston-Salem, NC. “While Pittsburgh and New Orleans remain the two largest improving markets, the October IMI is heavily weighted by smaller cities in which energy and agriculture are the primary economic drivers and where the effects of the recession have been less pronounced,” said NAHB Chief Economist David Crowe. “In particular, Texas stands out for its seven entries on the improving markets list.” Bangor, Maine, was the only area to drop off of the improving markets list in October, due to a decline in local building permits. The IMI is designed to track housing markets throughout the country that are showing signs of improving economic health. The index measures three sets of independent monthly data to get a mark on the top improving Metropolitan Statistical Areas. The three indicators that are analyzed are employment growth from the Bureau of Labor Statistics, house price appreciation from Freddie Mac, and single-family housing permit growth from the U.S. Census Bureau. NAHB uses the latest available data from these sources to generate a list of improving markets. A metro area must see improvement in all three areas for at least six months following their respective troughs before being included on the improving markets list. Please visit www.nahb.org/imi for additional data, tables and a list of 2011 future economic release dates.
National Association of Home Builders: ‘Pro-housing policies will stimulate job growth’ While the nation may have added 103,000 new jobs in September, the employment report showed relative weakness, particularly as it relates to the residential construction sector, which remains far below its job-creation potential in the absence of policies to restore the health of the housing marketplace, according to the National Association of Home Builders (NAHB). “We are seeing now what an economic recovery looks like without housing, and the picture is hardly encouraging,” said NAHB Chairman Bob Nielsen. “We need to address anti-housing impediments to home builders creating jobs in countless communities across the land.” The inventory of new homes for sale is at a record low and there are many areas of the country that are approaching a housing shortage. Tight credit conditions are preventing builders from meeting this emerging demand, putting workers back on the job and helping the
economy move forward. Further exacerbating the situation is today’s pervasive anti-housing climate in Washington, said Nielsen. “Leaders in Washington must stop scaring consumers by talking about eliminating the mortgage interest deduction, ending a federal backstop for housing and calling for a minimum 20 percent down payment on home loans,” said Nielsen. “This is counterproductive and harms consumer confidence, the housing market and the nation’s economy.” Housing normally accounts for more than 17 percent of Gross Domestic Product and building 100 single-family homes creates 305 full-time jobs and $8.9 million in taxes and revenue for state, local and federal governments. “Getting housing back on its feet would be a shot in the arm for consumer confidence, boost job growth and lead to a long-lasting economic recovery,” said Nielsen.
AUSTIN – The Texas Association of REALTORS® has officially announced its endorsement of Proposition 2, on which Texans will vote in the general election on November 8, 2011. Dwight Hale, chairman of the Texas Association of REALTORS®, explained, “The state’s tremendous growth has created a dire need to repair and expand aging water systems. With our state’s population forecasted to double over the next 50 years, providing a clean, reliable source of affordable water to accommodate this growth is the foremost issue facing our state over that time frame.” The proposition would expand funding programs offered by the Texas Water Development Board (TWDB) and utilize the state’s AAA bond rating to give local communities access to a lowercost financing option for water and wastewater infrastructure improvement projects. Proposition 2 authorizes the TWDB to issue additional general obligation bonds in an amount not to exceed $6 billion outstand-
ing at any time for water-related projects. As currently set, the Texas Water Development Board’s bonding authority will exhaust itself within in the next two years. Chairman Hale continued, “Unfortunately, there is some confusion about the impact and costs of this proposition. What you should know is that this is a winwin for all involved. It provides much-needed resources for water infrastructure improvements in a way that saves money at no cost to taxpayers.” The bonding authority granted by Proposition 2 is designed to be self-supporting, meaning that the bonds issued are repaid by the debt service of the borrowers, and, therefore, do not count against the state’s constitutional debt limit. In addition, the proposition saves taxpayers money because it expands the state’s ability to provide lower-cost financing to local communities by utilizing the states better bond rating. An adequate supply of clean, affordable water is critical for the long-term viability of the Texas economy. Water is essential to the
success of the state’s manufacturing, oil and gas and other major economic sectors, making water a vital component of job creation and economic development. Chairman Hale concluded, “As our state continues to grow, water and wastewater improvement projects are necessary and inevitable. Proposition 2 will help ensure we meet those needs in a proactive, responsible manner to protect the public health, water quality and economic viability of Texas for years to come.” The Texas Association of REALTORS® joins a broad-based coalition in support of Proposition 2. For more information, visit Texans4Prop2.com. With more than 80,000 members, the Texas Association of REALTORS® is a professional membership organization that represents all aspects of real estate in Texas, advocating on behalf of Texas REALTORS® and private-property owners to keep homeownership affordable, protect private-property rights, and promote public policies that benefit homeowners.
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‘Green up’ home, office with plants The best-laid floors start with a plan – and the most effective flooring plans require asking yourself a few questions, such as what look are you going for and how much can you spend.
From the ground up: master the stages of home flooring (NAPS) – The best-laid floors start with a plan – and the most effective flooring plans require asking yourself a few questions: 1. What look are you going for? What’s your style and how do the latest flooring trends fit into that style? Is your home’s decor casual, formal, exotic? Do you want a luxurious traditional look? Let your imagination run wild. If you want to go glam, consider gold leaf marble tiles. If you want to go green, there’s renewable bamboo and cork flooring in dynamic textures and brilliant hues, including pinks, greens, blues and even purples. You may be able to achieve the right look for less with affordably priced flooring products. For example, laminate is no longer the only wannabe flooring product out there. Many of the replica floors debuting this season look so close to the real thing, you may have to get on your hands and knees to determine authenticity. To determine what’s right for you, use helpful resources such as WFCA.org, the site created by the World Floor Covering Association. The new site showcases an ever-changing lineup of content including design articles and advice, the latest in floor trends, as well as industry updates.
2. What will the room be used for? Carpeting may be just the thing in a bedroom or guest room, but will it remain pristine in the playroom? Highly trafficked areas or rooms – such as the kitchen or bathroom – where the floor is exposed to spills and must be cleaned often, may be better suited to ceramic or porcelain. Another option for kitchens and bathrooms is resilient vinyl flooring. Easy to keep clean, it’s durable, water resistant and doesn’t fade, stain or dent. Since resilient vinyl flooring comes in sheets, planks and tiles, there’s lots of room for self-expression. Resilient vinyl floors are flexible and soft to walk on – and, like carpet, can go on a subfloor that isn’t perfectly level. 3. What flooring materials are available? Learning more about available flooring products may offer a surprising selection. A popular trend is international woods. You can find them in their authentic format as well as look-alike products. 4. What’s your budget? Figure out how much you can spend. Are you planning on doing the labor or do you want someone to install the flooring for you? If you decide to hire a
professional installer, get more than one estimate before finalizing your budget. Ask for referrals. Factor in the cost of floor preparation, furniture removal and replacement. 5. How green can you go? There are many renewable and recycled materials you can use for flooring. Besides bamboo and cork, a new greener alternative – that also offers cost savings – is thinner hardwood flooring, which uses up less of the tree and can lower the cost of the floor by about 20 percent. For the well-worn look, woods are being sourced from old barns, sheds and mills, where it has been naturally weathered over decades and even centuries. 6. Is my flooring installation DIY or should I hire a professional? You can find answers to all these questions and learn how to master all the stages of flooring at www.wfca.org. The WFCA is the floor covering industry’s largest advocacy organization representing specialty floor covering retailers, cleaners, installers, manufacturers and distributors around the globe. An interactive design tool allows visitors to view hundreds of different floor styles in rooms that resemble their own.
(ARA) – Looking for a fresh new look for your home or office or want to add some color and cool for your college digs? Houseplants are always in style. For an easy transformation for any space, houseplants add high impact and eco flair that rival expensive makeovers. Whether you choose orchids or Bonsai, houseplants fit any lifestyle, mood and taste. From finding the perfect plant to decorating ideas at your fingertips, check out the new digital magazine GrowingStyle. This free download and app is your go-to resource for the hottest plants, green living tips, expert advice and lots of eco eye candy. Whether you’re a long time plant collector or novice, these tips from top garden experts show just how easily houseplants will “green up” your life. The air in there. Did you know that houseplants do double duty? They not only add beauty to indoor spaces but also clean our indoor air and remove nasty toxins from carpets, paint, household cleaners, printers and even furniture. “Besides what they give back in aesthetics, one of the greatest things houseplants do is provide much needed humidity in the winter months and freshen the air year round,” says Justin Hancock, editor of Better Homes and Gardens online (BHG.com). Plant hunter and expert, Mike Rimland, says that houseplants help clean indoor toxins commonly found in homes, apartments and offices. “What houseplants you choose and where they’re placed are important considerations to maximize air filtering benefits.” Rimland suggests houseplants like peace lilies for bathrooms and Sanseveria and Golden Pothos for your entryway and living spaces. “They’re easy to grow and can help remove volatile organic compounds found in cleaners, carpets and furniture like benzene, formaldehyde, acetone and xylene.” Set the mood. From added drama to a touch of whimsy, houseplants instantly liven up any room or office with natural beauty and add a funky touch of greenery to boxy dorm rooms. For happy plants, Rimland recommends you assess your rooms for optimal lighting conditions and care requirements, follow the plant care guidelines on the tags and choose plants that fit your lifestyle. Want to create a quick and easy upscale look or a serene retreat? Nothing beats orchids, arranged in simple or elaborate containers, for high impact drama and Zen-like simplicity. “As a great ‘everyman’ plant, orchids can’t be beat,” says Hancock. “Mini orchids are easy to grow and perfect for a centerpiece or a thing of beauty and tranquility alone on a windowsill.” Green-up your space with living walls. If you have limited space or want a visually dramatic, high impact design for a room, living walls are the ticket.
Succulents are great-looking, low maintenance plants that make it easy for everyone to bring the outdoors inside. For an easy transformation for any space, houseplants add high impact and eco flair that rival expensive makeovers.
Not only can they improve air quality, but they are quite a conversation piece, adding instant “wow factor” to any room. Rimland says that living green walls are a great way to maximize the benefits of houseplants to purify and beautify spaces. “Whether you buy one of the new kits available or have a professional install your living wall, your rooms will spring to life with living art you create.” Go green and groovy. Looking for fun and easy houseplants that are practically a no-brainer? Water-retaining, light-loving, easy-care succulents and cacti are virtually indestructible and come in many colors, shapes and varieties. So mix them up in containers for a visual feast that draws the eye and soothes the soul. “Succulents are great-looking, low maintenance plants that make it easy for everyone to bring the outdoors inside,” adds Hancock. For more ways to spruce up your home with the hottest houseplants and tips on decorating with a splash of sophisticated and refreshing greenery, visit www.growingstylemag.com.
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