Q: I know most of your letters come from people who own houses, or want to buy houses, but I’ve been a longtime reader and rent an apartment in Fair field. Now I have a question and I’m hoping you can give me some information. I live in a rather large apartment complex and have lived here for almost three years now. The manager came to my door last night and handed me an envelope. Inside were a letter and a form called an Estoppel Certificate. The letter instructed me to read it carefully and sign it. It kind of looks like it has all the terms of my lease, like when it expires and how much I pay for rent, but the form is much different. Additionally, the amount of rent is wrong. It’s too high, although not by much. I don’t know what this is and I don’t want to sign something I don’t understand. Do I need to go see a lawyer about this?
A: As enjoyable as it is, and as much as people look forward to talking to a lawyer, you probably don’t need to in this case.
Although rarely seen by residential tenants, estoppel certificates are actually very common.
My guess is that whoever owns your apartment complex is selling it.
If you were buying a big, expensive building that has numerous tenants with longterm leases, you would want to know how many leases, what the terms and conditions of the leases are, and most importantly, how much rent you can expect to receive every month.
Simply put, the higher the rent each tenant pays, the more the building is worth. Of course,
process of buying the building, a common condition of the sale is that the seller gives to the buyer a completed estoppel certificate
Estoppel certificates contain all of the material terms of the lease, including the rent and any options the tenant might have to
Once the estoppel certificates are given to the buyer, the buyer reviews them to make sure the -
actual terms in the lease. If the certificate is accurate, you sign and return it.
Now here are the two things you need to know.
First, you are probably required under the terms of your lease to sign an estoppel certificate if the landlord presents you with one, but only if you agree that it’s accurate. If you refuse to sign an accurate certificate you could be subject to an eviction for breaching your lease.
And most importantly; the estoppel certificate is the last and final word regarding the terms of your lease.
In other words, if you sign the certificate with the erroneous higher rent amount, once the sale is finalized you will be on the hook for the higher rent payment. You can’t argue later that the terms are different than in the written lease.
The word “estoppel” comes
from the Latin and literally means to “stop” or “prevent.”
In this case, it prevents the tenant from claiming that the terms of the lease are other than what was contained in the estoppel certificate she signed. Period. End of discussion.
So read it carefully. If there are mistakes, like the amount of rent you are obligated to pay or the term (length) of the lease, immediately call it to your landlord’s attention so it can be corrected before you sign.
Other than making sure the estoppel certificate is accurate, there is nothing else you need to worry about. Your lease, and all of its provisions, are just as enforceable against the new owner as they were against the old owner.
You’ll probably never know the sale actually took place.
Tim Jones is a real estate attorney in Fairfield. If you have any real estate questions you would like to have answered in this column, you can send an email to AllThingsRealEstate@ TJones-Law.com.
Irecently got hooked on the new Perry Mason show on HBO. I watched Season 1 from 2020 and Season 2, which came out in 2022 and I assume skipped a year due to the pandemic.
It’s set in 1932 when Mason and his awesome sidekick Della Street first became partners in Los Angeles. The commentary on race, political power of the haves versus the have-nots, and government corruption, is part of the show and interesting but what they really nailed is the tobacco industry’s brilliant business strategy of getting everyone hooked. Everyone smokes on the show – on planes, trains and automobiles and even in the court of law.
Thankfully, my dad never smoked, and my mom quit 40 years ago. I quit in 1998 till I started again in 2008, thanks to Great Recession depression, and then quit again in 2012 and have been hooked on gum ever since. Millions and millions of people quit smoking since 1980 and not only is it no longer cool, but everyone also now admits it will kill you dead.
Thanks to this and advances in medicine, men and women are living longer, which is great, but 52% of all Americans over 55 have no IRA or pension plan. Sixty percent of these folks own a home and many will not have to worry about a huge mortgage payment when they retire at 65 or 70 but, yikes, will Social Security provide enough income to pay the property taxes, insurance and home upkeep and still be able to buy food, keep the
lights on and have basic cable TV? What I have learned over the past 40 years is that people never plan to fail, they fail to plan. My suggestion and what I have learned from experience, other financial professionals, estate lawyers, and people a lot smarter than me, is that seniors should not wait till they must move down to a more affordable home with less maintenance, or wait to do a living trust, or wait to do a HECM reverse mortgage line of credit, or wait till next year to talk about their finances and things like death and health with their adult kids.
For those people who are 55 with no IRAS and plan to work till they are 65 to 75, start an IRA right now and maximize your contribution with a local certified financial planner. For you folks that plan to move to Sun City in Lincoln, Trilogy in Rio Vista or back home to Texas, start the investigation now, even if you aren’t going for a year or two, with a local mortgage pro, a financial advisor, and a local real estate broker. It’s free. Do it now before it is too late.
Jim Porter, NMLS No. 276412, is the branch manager and senior loan adviser of Solano Mortgage, NMLS No. 1515497, a division of American Pacific Mortgage Corporation, NMLS No. 1850, licensed in California by the Department of Financial Protection and Innovation under the CRMLA / Equal Housing Opportunity. Jim can be reached at 707-449-4777.
THE WASHINGTON POST
The Biden administration on Thursday will take a major step toward ensuring low-income Americans reap the benefits of Democrats’ landmark climate law, as the White House seeks to invest in poor and minority communities that have historically borne the brunt of pollution.
The Department of Housing and Urban Development will announce the
availability of nearly $1 billion for lowincome multifamily housing to become more energy-efficient, water-efficient and resilient to climate disasters. The funding comes from the Inflation Reduction Act, the sweeping climate law that President Biden signed last summer.
The climate law offers households thousands of dollars to switch from
See Biden, Page 4
These are the local homes sold recently, provided by California Resource of Lodi. The company can be reached at 209.365.6663 or CalResource@aol.com.
TOTAL SALES: 6
LOWEST AMOUNT: $290,000
HIGHEST AMOUNT: $825,000
MEDIAN AMOUNT: $624,500
AVERAGE AMOUNT: $584,000
1784 Devonshire Drive - $620,000
04-05-23 [2 Bdrms - 1055 SqFt - 1984
YrBlt], Previous Sale: 07-31-17, $450,000
241 Dundee Way - $825,000
04-07-23 [4 Bdrms - 2236 SqFt - 1973
YrBlt], Previous Sale: 12-31-20, $710,000
465 Hawthorne Lane - $629,000
04-04-23 [2 Bdrms - 1090 SqFt - 1983
YrBlt]
1474 London Circle - $290,000
04-06-23 [2 Bdrms - 1138 SqFt - 1980
YrBlt]
565 Lori Drive #5 - $355,000
04-03-23 [1 Bdrms - 641 SqFt - 1982 YrBlt],
Previous Sale: 00/1990, $82,500
470 Raymond Drive - $785,000
04-05-23 [4 Bdrms - 1835 SqFt - 1978
YrBlt], Previous Sale: 08-21-13, $470,000
TOTAL SALES: 4
LOWEST AMOUNT: $583,000 HIGHEST AMOUNT: $830,000 MEDIAN AMOUNT: $724,500 AVERAGE AMOUNT: $715,500
[5 Bdrms - 3249 SqFt - 2021
TOTAL SALES: 15
LOWEST AMOUNT: $200,000 HIGHEST AMOUNT: $890,000
MEDIAN AMOUNT: $515,000
AVERAGE AMOUNT: $558,667
2409 Beaufort Drive - $480,000 04-05-23 [3 Bdrms - 1272 SqFt - 1973
YrBlt], Previous Sale: 01-12-09, $100,000
2900 Burbank Drive - $615,000
04-04-23 [4 Bdrms - 1738 SqFt - 1979
YrBlt], Previous Sale: 01-11-00, $197,000
2741 Cascade Circle - $515,000
04-04-23 [3 Bdrms - 1584 SqFt - 1989
YrBlt], Previous Sale: 11-22-05, $430,000
4805 Chesapeake Court - $850,000
04-07-23 [4 Bdrms - 2781 SqFt - 2012
YrBlt], Previous Sale: 05-23-12, $411,000
4830 Fernwood Court - $420,000
04-04-23 [3 Bdrms - 1310 SqFt - 1983
YrBlt]
515 Great Jones Street - $200,000
04-07-23 [2 Bdrms - 1185 SqFt - 1939
YrBlt]
4627 Green Valley Road - $890,000
04-03-23 [2 Bdrms - 1821 SqFt - 1967
YrBlt]
368 Lily Street - $495,000
04-05-23 [3 Bdrms - 1403 SqFt - 1971
YrBlt]
3132 Muse Way - $765,000
04-07-23 [4 Bdrms - 2602 SqFt - 2019
YrBlt], Previous Sale: 04-29-19, $589,000
1917 New Jersey Street - $465,000
04-03-23 [3 Bdrms - 1260 SqFt - 1959
YrBlt]
2048 Nottingham Drive - $330,000
04-07-23 [3 Bdrms - 1008 SqFt - 1959
YrBlt]
549 River Road - $550,000
04-03-23 [4 Bdrms - 2191 SqFt - 2003
YrBlt], Previous Sale: 08-01-22, $715,000
2978 Sunbird Drive - $420,000
04-05-23 [2 Bdrms - 1196 SqFt - 1978
YrBlt], Previous Sale: 07-17-20, $337,000
MEDIAN AMOUNT: $518,000
AVERAGE AMOUNT: $520,250
82 Buena Vista Avenue - $505,000
04-07-23 [4 Bdrms - 1490 SqFt - 1978
YrBlt]
621 Chyrl Way - $531,000
04-07-23 [3 Bdrms - 1446 SqFt - 1977
YrBlt], Previous Sale: 05-14-10, $168,000
410 Craven Drive - $545,000
04-06-23 [3 Bdrms - 1492 SqFt - 1989
YrBlt]
46 Dawn Rose Court - $500,000
04-06-23 [4 Bdrms - 1533 SqFt - 1999
YrBlt], Previous Sale: 12-09-16, $345,000
TOTAL SALES: 16
LOWEST AMOUNT: $285,000
HIGHEST AMOUNT: $1,125,000
MEDIAN AMOUNT: $544,500
AVERAGE AMOUNT: $556,344
406 April Court - $535,000
04-03-23 [3 Bdrms - 1306 SqFt - 1985
YrBlt], Previous Sale: 12-09-03, $300,000
YrBlt]
155 Wisteria Circle - $620,000
04-06-23 [3 Bdrms - 1663 SqFt - 2020
YrBlt], Previous Sale: 06-09-20, $488,500
TOTAL SALES: 18
LOWEST AMOUNT: $150,000
HIGHEST AMOUNT: $675,000
MEDIAN AMOUNT: $465,000
AVERAGE AMOUNT: $462,556
1315 Alabama Street - $325,000
04-06-23 [2 Bdrms - 954 SqFt - 1931 YrBlt],
Previous Sale: 04-24-00, $114,000
307 Amelia Street - $350,000
04-06-23 [3 Bdrms - 1080 SqFt - 1960
YrBlt], Previous Sale: 06-11-14, $185,000
509 Bonita Court - $507,000
04-07-23 [2 Bdrms - 1184 SqFt - 1941
YrBlt], Previous Sale: 10-27-09, $116,000
5156 Carisbrooke Lane - $675,000
04-07-23 [2 Bdrms - 2401 SqFt - 2004
YrBlt], Previous Sale: 02-22-11, $290,000
421 Ebbetts Pass Road - $330,000
04-04-23 [3 Bdrms - 1170 SqFt - 1974 YrBlt]
18 Howard Avenue - $439,000
04-04-23 [2 Bdrms - 982 SqFt - 1940 YrBlt],
Previous Sale: 06-13-19, $377,000
473 Idora Avenue - $150,000
04-04-23 [3 Bdrms - 1122 SqFt - 1954
YrBlt], Previous Sale: 12-24-15, $200,000
1745 Illinois Street - $470,000
04-06-23 [3 Bdrms - 1745 SqFt - 1939
YrBlt], Previous Sale: 11-30-09, $105,000
514 Indiana Street - $550,000
04-07-23 [2 Bdrms - 2293 SqFt - 1949
YrBlt], Previous Sale: 08-09-22, $399,500
449 Jade Circle - $581,000
04-04-23 [3 Bdrms - 1446 SqFt - 2000
YrBlt], Previous Sale: 05-31-19, $488,500
From Page 3
fossil-fuel-powered appliances to cleaner versions, including up to $7,500 for a new electric vehicle and up to $2,000 for a new electric heat pump. Yet many low-income Americans may not be aware of these subsidies, or they may lack the time and resources to claim them.
To address this issue, the law provided HUD with $837.5 million in grant funding and $4 billion in loan commitment authority to implement the Green and Resilient Retrofit Program, which will pay for owners of low-income housing to install rooftop solar panels, heat pumps and other climate-friendly upgrades.
“Our mission is to make sure that low-income people are participants in what we believe is going to be one of the biggest climate-focused projects across this country,” HUD Secretary Marcia L. Fudge said in an interview Wednesday. Fudge will announce the funding Thursday in Center Line, Mich., alongside White House climate advisers John D. Podesta and Ali Zaidi.
03-19-20, $445,000
4042 Greenfield Court - $1,125,000 04-04-23 [4 Bdrms - 3123 SqFt - 2015
Previous Sale: 02-10-15, $757,500 136 Kingswood Avenue - $580,000
[4 Bdrms - 1685 SqFt - 1978 YrBlt]
172 Kodiak Drive - $660,000 04-04-23 [4 Bdrms - 2502 SqFt - 2017
YrBlt], Previous Sale: 04-09-21, $668,000
130 La Paz Street - $520,000
04-06-23 [3 Bdrms - 1381 SqFt - 1977
YrBlt]
484 Manchester Way - $517,500
04-07-23 [4 Bdrms - 1602 SqFt - 1977
YrBlt], Previous Sale: 07-13-09, $170,000
101 Manzanita Drive - $525,000
04-07-23 [3 Bdrms - 1212 SqFt - 1967
YrBlt], Previous Sale: 08-04-22, $338,000
1801 Marshall Road #105 - $325,000
04-07-23 [2 Bdrms - 948 SqFt - 1986 YrBlt],
Previous Sale: 06-28-16, $205,000
106 Monte Verde Drive - $660,000
04-03-23 [5 Bdrms - 2349 SqFt - 1978
1161 Louisiana Street - $435,000
04-04-23 [2 Bdrms - 1273 SqFt - 1910
YrBlt], Previous Sale: 08-29-16, $280,000
137 Martin Street - $479,000
04-04-23 [3 Bdrms - 981 SqFt - 1955 YrBlt],
Previous Sale: 01-18-11, $111,000
162 Nautilus Drive - $620,000
04-07-23 [3 Bdrms - 1834 SqFt - 1986
YrBlt]
100 Nautilus Drive - $615,000
04-07-23 [3 Bdrms - 1834 SqFt - 1986
YrBlt], Previous Sale: 12-20-18, $480,000
443 Pepper Drive - $460,000
04-04-23 [3 Bdrms - 1703 SqFt - 1961
YrBlt]
213 Phelan Avenue - $375,000
04-04-23 [2 Bdrms - 759 SqFt - 1936 YrBlt],
Previous Sale: 12-09-19, $303,000
160 Rose Court - $400,000
04-04-23 [3 Bdrms - 1170 SqFt - 1974
YrBlt], Previous Sale: 05-20-04, $320,000
1129 Symphony Way - $565,000
04-04-23 [2 Bdrms - 1513 SqFt - 2007
YrBlt], Previous Sale: 10-05-22, $556,000
Already, HUD helps property owners offer reduced rent to low-income tenants by paying a portion of their rent. Under the new program, these property owners can apply for grants or loans to cover upgrades that improve energy efficiency, reduce water use or increase resilience to weather disasters. The spending could trickle down to tenants in the form of lower utility bills without increasing their rent.
A HUD official estimated hundreds of properties will receive the new funding, covering tens of thousands of households. But the official, who spoke on the condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to comment publicly, acknowledged the $837.5 million in grant money will not be enough to reach all 23,495 properties with multifamily assisted-housing units.
Earlier this year, Jenny Bicks, a former writer on the HBO series “Sex and the City” tweeted: “24 years ago I wrote an episode of SATC where Miranda is shamed for buying an apartment as a single woman. Now single women outnumber single men in being homeowners. This is thrilling.” The missive racked up nearly 22,000 likes. In the replies, women shared their personal home-buying victories. When Bicks wrote the episode in 1999, she was in her mid-30s
and drawing from her own exasperating house-hunting in Los Angeles. It seemed like every mortgage broker and real estate agent asked, “Oh, just you?” she tells The Washington Post. “You were constantly faced with the fact you were a single woman, of a certain age, buying a house.” Though Bicks may have been treated like an oddity, it turns out there were more real-life Mirandas in the housing market than Mr. Bigs back then, too. Single women have outpaced single men as home buyers since 1981, See Women, Page 12
Nadja Amaguana, 25, bought her first home last year in Maryland. She began saving for her townhouse while she was still in college.
MELANIE D.G. KAPLAN SPECIAL TO THE WASHINGTON POST
Acouple years ago, Hammy started needing help getting into our SUV. Then last year, with little fanfare, he stopped sleeping in bed with me. Most recently, he’s gotten fussy about his food – blasphemy for a beagle. These changes happened slowly, so when I stepped back recently to think about Hammy’s life stage, at age 13, I was surprised to realize my little hound has not only earned senior status but may be “geriatric,” which veterinarian Mary Gardner describes as a more fragile phase for our animal companions.
Gardner, co-founder of Lap of Love Veterinary Hospice, a nationwide network of veterinarians who provide in-home geriatric services, estimates from data on U.S. dog populations that 44 percent of our pups are senior or geriatric. She says many vet schools don’t address the special needs of these wobbly, skinny, sleepy, graymuzzled, sweet canines – which include modifications at home. Gardner regularly visits residences where a dog has been struggling to get around and get comfortable – problems often easy to fix.
None of us likes admitting age-related limitations. But whether you and your pooch of a certain age live in an apartment building with slick floors or a townhouse with a treacherous staircase, there are many ways to make our older dogs’ lives –and ours – better and safer.
Add traction
“Mobility is the number one
Carpet runners or non-slip treads can be key for wobbly dogs negotiating stairs. (At our house, we made treads from artificial turf.) Pay particular attention to the bottom of the stairs, where dogs need a nonslip landing. When stairs become too difficult for your pup to navigate solo, block him with a large cardboard box or baby gate. Gardner also suggests installing a couple tension rods between the walls of your staircase to obstruct the top and bottom. “These old guys aren’t jumping over things,” she says, “so you can get away with something a little less secure.”
If your senior dog insists on trying to zip up and down steps, it is possible to train him to put on the brakes. Jackie Moyano, a training and behavior consultant in Maryland, created a video to demonstrate how to use treats to make dogs more mindful on staircases.
issue we deal with,” Gardner says. “I see these hardwood floors, and dogs can’t get up and around, can’t get to their sunny spot.” Arthritis, obesity, disc issues, chronic inflammation and loss of muscle mass can all be culprits. Adding traction will give your pup confidence, cut down on splayed legs and prevent wipe-outs when he gets the zoomies, geezer-style. The solution can be as simple as
adding rugs to highly trafficked areas; just make sure they have a non-slip mat underneath. Ruggable, for instance, makes thin rugs that attach to a grippy pad and can be easily thrown in the wash. One friend spread nonslip, waterproof dog pads around her house to assist her aging poodle-mix Owen.
Meg Hamilton, a veterinary acupuncturist who has helped many older dogs, including Hammy, suggests lining the major arteries of your home with quarter-inch thick yoga mats (find them for $5 on Five Below). If you have a slippery porch,
deck or exterior stairs, a coat of anti-skid paint works wonders.
If you live with an older human – perhaps one who uses a walker – rugs and mats will increase their fall risk. So you may opt for inexpensive antislip paw coverings such as Expawlorer socks or disposable balloon-like boots from Pawz.
Julie Buzby, an integrative veterinarian in South Carolina, created ToeGrips, a system of small bands that wrap around each toenail, allowing for better traction. Trimming nails and the long fur between your dog’s toes will also help.
When the halcyon days of leaping are only a doggy memory, set up a mini staircase or ramp to reach beds, sofas and vehicles, such as Pet Gear products, available from Chewy. Whatever assist you use, make sure it has a grippy surface, and avoid jumping-down injuries by training dogs to descend the stairs or ramp, too. Save money by looking for used products on sites such as eBay and Craigslist, or for products made for humans, such as this anti-slip toddler step stool.
See Simple, Page 14
Graceful Grasses “Queen Tut” papyrus is making its debut this spring and is the perfect finishing touch to your mixed containers no matter the partnership. Here Queen Tut is partnered with Solenia Apricot begonia and Supertunia Mini Vista Ultramarine petunias.
Oh my gosh, the queen has spoken.
I am talking about the plant queen, who indeed does rule all mixed container designs in 2023: Queen Tut papyrus, Proven Winners’ new selection in their Grace ful Grasses program.
I’ve been showing several images in previous articles, and even more on my Face book page. The gardening public has gone simply wild about the delicate look pro vided by each tufted airy stem. I simply forgot that last year was a trial year for garden writers and such, and therefore this year it is new to the gardening public.
Botanically speaking it is
Cyperus prolifer, and despite it being from Africa, you do not need the Nile River to grow it (or any river, creek or body of water). You may have seen some growing in water gardens, but they will do just fine in mixed containers.
Since you will be growing it in a mixed container, you do not need to worry about how perhaps it needs more water than your Superbells, Superbenas or Supertunias. Most of us are relegated to watering
our containers every day in the summer, and this will be perfectly fine for the queen. The next biggest fear or misconception: If Prince Tut papyrus needed the jaws of life to get out of the pot, surely this will be the same with Queen Tut. This is simply not the case – or it wasn’t for me, as I simply pulled them out of last year’s containers. These are annuals everywhere I have lived, but they might be perennial in zones 9 and warmer.
Queen Tut is the grassy element you have longed for. It reaches 18 to 24 inches tall with a 12-to-18-inch spread. When you design your containers, don’t worry about its
This is the fabulous home you’ve been waiting for, located in the historic district of Woodland. From the moment you step inside the majestic entry way, the stunning woodwork will leave you wanting more. With a freshly painted interior and French doors that lead to an outside covered patio, this home is perfect for entertaining. The Gourmet kitchen opens to a family room surrounded by wood framed windows. You’ll have plenty of room for a big Thanksgiving dining table. Downstairs includes a bedroom and full bath. This spacious home with fabulous architectural details won’t last!
spread. Simply plant it in the center and then start placing fillers and spillers around it. (I can tell many of you are fretting over how many plants are in your containers – or maybe mine.)
You might be asking, what size of container is that? You put how many plants in there? Most of my pots are 14 inches; I have a couple of 16-inch pots and a few in the 10-to-12-inch category. I am a sucker for reconstituted bamboo and agave containers and was forcibly stopped at the back door as I was taking my wife’s glazed orange pot made out of paper.
My 14-inch pots have a
See Winter, Page 11
THE WASHINGTON POST
It’s a familiar problem: Strong cooking smells from the kitchen waft into our living areas and linger long after dinner is over. Or the stench of the garbage sticks around, even after the trash can has been emptied.
There are generally two approaches to whisking away bad smells: neutralizing the odor or changing it to something more pleasant. For a quick, inexpensive fix to the stinky-kitchen
problem, Becky Rapinchuk, author of “Clean Mama’s Guide to a Healthy Home,” likes to leave a dish of white vinegar out overnight. “Vinegar absorbs odor,” she says. “It works similarly to the way baking soda works in the fridge.”
She also likes charcoal bags, which absorb odors in smaller places, such as drawers or the bottoms of garbage cans. Or just open a window for five to 10 minutes a day, says Gurl Gone
Green blogger Suzi Swope.
The other option – masking or changing the unpleasant smell – is where things get tricky. It’s tempting to reach for a cute candle or an aerosol air freshener, but scientists say that might not be the safest choice. Conventional home fragrance products can contain hundreds of chemicals, including phthalates, benzaldehyde, camphor, ethyl acetate, benzyl acetate, musk ketone, benzene, formaldehyde, BHT and acet-
aldehyde. Studies have shown that some of these chemicals can cause headaches, breathing problems, contact dermatitis and other health issues.
The easiest way around this is to choose fresheners with ingredients that you know and can research if needed. Think dyefree candles made of beeswax and scented with essential or natural oils, Rapinchuk says. (If you’re concerned about whether the beeswax is harvested ethi-
cally, soy is a good alternative.) Wicks should be clean-burning, which means they’re made of all wood, hemp or cotton. The same selection principles apply to deodorizing sprays.
And be on the lookout for “greenwashing” – a company’s attempt to market something as green or “natural,” even though it’s full of preservatives and artificial ingredients. You can check a product’s ingredient list on the
See Smell, Page 10
From Page 9
Environmental Working Group’s website (ewg.org) or app.
We asked Rapinchuk, Swope and Sara Swabb, an interior designer and the owner of Storie Collective in D.C., for their favorite air fresheners without potentially harmful chemicals. Here are their suggestions.
Swope likes the three-wick Botanica beeswax candle for its cotton wicks and essential oil fragrances, such as spruce, vanilla and lavender ($26, beeswaxcandles.com). It burns for about 18 hours. Rapinchuk says that a
plain beeswax candle can contribute to cleaner air. When beeswax burns, it produces fewer volatile organic compounds and less soot than paraffin candles, according to the Journal of the American Oil Chemists’ Society.
Another popular option is to use an electric essential oil diffuser. Swope loves Vitruvi’s stone essential oil diffuser ($123, vitruvi.com), which can be set to run for four or eight hours and has a 500-square-foot diffusing capability. The initial cost is steeper than that of a candle or spray, but the diffuser should last for years.
Rapinchuk suggests Plant Therapy essential oils for diffusers, such as the organic lavender essential oil ($8.99 for 10 milli-
liters, planttherapy.com). To create a room spray, she mixes a half-cup of water, a quarter-cup of vodka, and 10 to 15 drops of essential oils.
Reed diffusers from Naked Goat distribute scents for two to three months. The reeds act like plant stems or straws, drawing the fragranced liquid to the top, where the scent is released. One of Swabb’s favorite scents is Naked Goat’s Cactus, a combination of citrus, coconut, pear, sandalwood and more ($24, nakedgoatsoapco.com).
For small spaces, Rapinchuk suggests cutting a bar of soap while it’s still in the wrapper to expose the top and let the scent permeate the air around
it. She suggests using a Castile soap bar, such as Dr. Bronner’s pure Castile bar soap in lavender ($4.99, drbronner.com). Try using this in a closet, in mudroom storage bins or in powder room bath towel drawers.
And if you need to freshen up
a room quickly because of a pet accident or some bad fruit lurking in a corner, Swope suggests using Grow Fragrance’s plant-based air and fabric sprays, which come in cedar, lavender, bamboo and more ($15, growfragrance.com).
In colorful containers that might resemble Sapphires and Rubies, Queen Tut elegantly sits as the crown. Partners are Superbells Grape Punch, White Knight Sweet alyssum and Supertunia Mini Vista Scarlet petunia.
From Page 7
thriller and four to five others representing spiller and filler. Believe me, even when planted I still may stick a sprig of Lemon Coral Sedum or Goldilocks Creeping Jenny in a little spot that sees sunlight just to see what develops over time. But back to the star of the show, Queen Tut papyrus. To me this is like Elizabeth Barrett Browning’s poem “How Do I Love Thee?” I love it with Heart to Heart Burning Heart caladiums; I love it with Solenia Apricot’s glowing begonia blossoms and paired with blue petu-
nias. I love it in mixed containers that are so colorful they look like sapphires and rubies. Yet the crown on top is the elegant Queen Tut.
The point is, you cannot create a mixed container that will not be made more beautiful by the addition of Queen Tut papyrus. Now your challenge will be finding this gorgeous grass.
Norman Winter is a horticulturist, garden speaker and author of “Tough-as-Nails Flowers for the South” and “Captivating Combinations: Color and Style in the Garden.” Follow him on Facebook @NormanWinterTheGardenGuy. He receives complimentary plants to review from the companies he covers.
From Page 5
according to the National Asso ciation of Realtors (NAR). Even as home prices and interest rates surged, the trend has held steady, with single women representing 17 percent of home buyers in 2022 and single men accounting for 9 percent.
But the prevalence of single women in the market has not cur tailed the biases that can hamper them at nearly every step of homeownership, from applying for a loan, to dealing with contractors, to turning a profit on resale. Yet another challenge described by some women is harder to quantify: an ambivalence about how society may perceive them for taking such a big financial step alone.
The number-one reason that both women and men seek out homeownership is simply because they want a place of their own, according to NAR data. Many single women also see it as a way to build economic stability – which can be particularly relevant as they plan futures without partners (and while, on average, they earn 83 cents on the dollar compared to men). Changes to their family situation, such as divorce, are another factor that motivates single women to buy, according to NAR.
Nadja Amaguana, 25, got serious about saving for a house during her sophomore year in college – and she was smart to start early; research from the Urban Institute shows single women have a harder time getting home loans, despite being statistically better than men at paying them off. (Single women received about 20 percent of U.S. mortgages extended in 2020, compared to about 33 percent for single male borrowers.)
Amaguana transferred from Towson University to the University of Maryland so she could live at home and work full-time. On top of scraping together $30,000 from waitressing, she
ignored her, though he immediately chatted up her 25-year-old brother. “I think he presumed my brother was the one that had the financial backing,” she says.
Competing against couples further complicates things. Dana Kinsella, 38, recalls being surrounded by couples at open houses. She lost six bidding wars – she assumes because the other competitors had dual incomes – before landing a house in Danvers, Mass., in 2019. Kinsella says she only won the seventh, despite being up against higher offers, because she wrote a letter to the seller, vowing not to tear down his childhood home.
negotiate, women don’t get the same discounts.
After renovating her threebedroom house for three years, doing much of the work herself, Kinsella says it still didn’t feel like home, and she was constantly pouring any savings straight back into it. Last year, the marketing professional decided to sell and go back to renting – not an easy choice, but necessary for her mental health, she says. Kinsella paid $400,000 for the house and sold it for $531,000. She says about half the profit went toward her renovation debt.
she says. (The experience influenced her career path – she’s now executive director of FirstHome IQ, which educates young adults about homeownership.)
Allie Hall, a 34-year-old nurse, also went through something of a personal reckoning when she bought post-divorce. “Going from splitting rent or living with a partner to doing this all on your own is really scary, because you don’t have that extra person to fall back on if something happens,” she says.
opened an online trading account to invest in stocks when prices were low during the pandemic. Upon graduating, she got a job offer from a real estate private equity firm, which helped her get preapproved for a mortgage.
In 2021, Amaguana bought a townhouse in Montgomery Village, Md. At that point, she’d been searching for eight months and been outbid several times. “I did cry,” Amaguana recalls of finally getting a house. “I was overjoyed.”
Yet after all that effort, when contractors come over, they often assume she’s not the one who bought the place. “It’s always, ‘can I speak to the homeowner?’” she says. “And it’s like, ‘I am the homeowner.’”
Other women recounted similarly frustrating encounters with contractors and repairmen. One recalls being asked, “Why is a pretty girl like you single?” Another tells The Post she was instructed to “make sure your husband is there” for the appointment.
The struggle to be taken seriously is a recurring theme. Last year, Whitney Sharpe, a vice president of sales at a recruiting firm, trekked to an open house near Boston with her brother in tow to offer a second opinion. When they arrived, Sharpe, 28, says the listing agent practically
But as Precious Lewis points out, that tactic can also be fraught for solo buyers. Her agent encouraged her to write personal messages when making offers in the competitive market of 2021. He showed her an example that included a photo of a mom and dad with their child, explaining how they planned to grow the family in their new home. Lewis didn’t feel she had a story that could stack up.
“I think couples have a better way of doing that,” says the 31-year-old lawyer. “For a single person, it’s a little bit harder.”
Lewis grew up with a mother who was a sole homeowner and, while working as a divorce attorney, saw the potential pitfalls of sharing property. So she forged ahead. Last April, after six months of searching, she bought a two-bedroom home in Newark –no personal letter required.
As rewarding as homeownership can be, it doesn’t always generate the most optimal outcome for single women. Research has shown they get lower returns from housing investments than single men. Faculty at the Yale School of Management who studied the phenomenon found that single males have better luck at timing the market, and negotiating in a way that’s advantageous for their returns. Gender bias can play a role in this trend, one researcher noted, citing studies on car buying that reveal when men and women use identical scripts to
For a lot of women, buying a home is about more than resale value. It’s about charting their own futures – which can dredge up questions about how society and romantic partners will perceive them.
“I had in my mind from when I was little that you get married, and then you get a house,” says Kristin Messerli, 35, who bought in Los Angeles in 2021. Though she hesitated to do things out of that order, she says she ultimately concluded that it was up to her to build the life she wants. “You don’t have to have a partner that’s going to affirm you or validate your decisions along the way,”
She saved for two years to buy her three-bedroom ranch house in Raleigh, N.C. But Hall eventually wants to remarry and start a family, and wondered whether owning her own home would deter potential partners. “This isn’t what I wanted my life to look like,” she recalls of her thinking at the time of the purchase.
She worked through it, she says, by reminding herself that if she wants to move in with a partner, she can just sell or rent out the house. What’s important is that it will be up to her: “One of my big goals when I got divorced was to buy my own home, on my own, that no one could take away, and it was super meaningful when I did that.”
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From Page 6
Nearly all senior dogs have osteoarthritis, says bioethicist and author Jessica Pierce, and most go untreated. A dog who was glad to flop onto a tile floor back in the day will likely want more cushion in their golden years. Orthopedic beds, which provide therapeutic benefits for dogs with joint pain and muscle stiffness, are terrific but often pricey; a hand-me-down baby mattress can be a more affordable option. Kuranda makes a cot-style orthopedic bed that
evenly distributes weight and is ideal for dogs who have trouble getting up and down.
Similarly, raised water and food bowls – especially those angled toward the dog – are helpful for pets with neck and back pain. Make sure your dog has easy access to water, too, adding bowls in a few favorite rooms.
Keeping older dogs comfortable also means paying attention to what they do and don’t enjoy, which may have changed. Pierce talks about asking consent of our pets, even if you’ve been together 15 years. If your dog ducks when you reach to pet her head, for example, maybe it’s
audit” of the sounds in your house. “Pain seems to increase noise sensitivity in many dogs,” she explained in an email, “so make sure that potentially aversive noises (beeping microwaves, loud music, screaming kids) are minimized or your dog has minimal exposure to them.” Create a place where your pup can retreat – Pierce calls it the “Alone Zone.” And if the doorbell bothers your dog, post a note asking visitors not to ring it.
Like humans with dementia, older dogs can experience cognitive dysfunction, sometimes appearing lost or pacing in the middle of the night. Nightlights can help reduce anxiety and disorientation. The Cornell College of Veterinary Medicine suggests blocking unsafe areas of the house, such as stairways and spots your dog may get stuck, like behind the couch.
Cognitive enrichment is critical for senior dogs – as it is for humans. “If you go to a nursing home, you’ve got to play canasta,” Gardner says. “Same thing with our older dogs, except most of their games are food-motivated.”
There is an amazing array of puzzles that require dogs to roll, shake, lick or snuffle a product to access food or treats. Lowcost fun is limited only by your imagination: I often play hideand-seek with Hammy, calling his name and rewarding him with a treat when he finds me. I also set up scavenger hunts around the house and backyard, hiding treats at various levels.
Even if your floors are lined with yoga mats, your dog may still need extra support – and constantly lifting him can take a toll on your own body. Support and mobility harnesses with a handle can be a game changer, letting you help your dog be
more active while preventing yourself from injury, says Buzby. She suggests the Help ‘Em Up Harness (a lifting aid designed for all-day wear that several other experts also recommended) and the GingerLead Dog Sling (a hind-end support for walks). One of Hammy’s friends, a petite woman who recently said goodbye to her 14-year-old pup Piedra, said this dog sling was a huge help getting her pal up and down steps.
In addition to physical assis-
tance, older dogs need more of our love, patience and, often, money. Gardner surveyed people caring for senior animals and found they spent more than three hours a day in a caregiver role – administering medications, taking poky walks, cleaning accidents. She advises knowing your emotional, financial, physical and time limitations. The better you can avoid burnout, the more you’ll enjoy these months and years with your sweet, white-faced friend.
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