House & Home: February 04, 2023

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By Todd Shea President of the Santa Barbara Association of REALTORS®

Family Members Say Wait to Buy?

I heard some discussion this week from an agent on our team working with a buyer. I wanted to pass this along as I thought it was a great case of where we are now. He mentioned that the parents of the buyers were saying to wait to buy. Which as a parent or family member, being protective of their kids or extended family from an outsider could make sense. But let’s dive deeper into this advice.

One focus of this advice was that rates were high. Considering that when they purchased, the rates were double digits is an interesting perspective in which they responded, “But the prices for homes were so much lower then.” Ok, yes, but let’s think about this. At that time, how much lower, 8-10-12x lower? If they had not purchased during that time with double-digit interest rates, would they not have gained 810-12x equity in their home? This, in turn creating generational wealth that they are now using to help their kids purchase today and the rate they have refinanced over time.

I would say there is not a buyer that I work with that, when getting into a transaction, feels a little stretched or concerned about purchasing a property. This could be due to various reasons but always reflects whatever is happening in the market. My favorite is that most of those buyers talking to them 2, 3, and 4 years after are so happy they moved forward with the transaction and are loving their home, doing renovations, enjoying their equity and other homeowner benefits, and so happy “they don’t have to buy now.”

With a “frothy” market right now, I wanted to update everyone looking to buy and sell. Over the past 2-3 months, seasonality over the holidays, higher rates, low inventory, and a market seeming to slow down, not many properties had multiple offers; if they did, there

New Year’s Resolutions of HOA Service Providers

By Kelly G. Richardson, Esq. CCAL

[This is the fourth and final installment of this series, which previously addressed directors, homeowners, and managers]

As the association’s service provider, I resolve to:

NUMBER ONE:

1) Follow the Golden Rule. [Treat others how I want to be treated.]

were 2 to 3. There were and still are talks of recession which is understandable but also remember, recessions are usually months long and short-term pain or unknown. The market is shifting so much lately. Over the past week, there were three properties with a combined 49 offers. 22 on 1, 18 on the other, and 9. The interesting thing will be what is the delta of these multiple offers from the listing price to the final purchase price. Over the 2 years of the hot market, these multiple offers pushed properties up to $500- $1 Million over the asking price. I am not sure where these three will land as they are still pending, but I feel it will not be as high of a delta with buyers being a little more cautious when going above asking as they were in the past hot market.

Properties that are showing and performing are well-priced first and foremost. Agents that have homes selling are working hard with their sellers to price the homes according to this market and stay up to date on current trends and local statistics. Our local SBAOR and brokerages work hard to supply the agents with up-to-date statistics. Networking with other agents and teams reveals a clear picture of what is happening up to the day, as this information is crucial in guiding clients. Most of these homes moving quickly are well done as most buyers don’t have the cash to put into a large remodel after purchasing. If they need updating, the agents consider this with pricing accordingly. Local Real Estate agents are doing a great job counseling clients to prepare for the market and create successful outcomes not dependent on the condition of the home. Seeing multiple offers again on many properties is showing the strength of our market and the number of buyers still out there looking to purchase.

With Gratitude, Todd

Shea

PROPOSALS:

2) Give the association the best proposal I can. If the association’s request for proposal omits important elements of the work, I will add those elements to my proposal and disclose the proposed extra cost now instead of charging it later as an “extra.”

3) Tell the HOA if they really don’t need my services right now.

4) Disclose any less expensive (and possibly less profitable) alternatives they didn’t consider.

5) Explain my recommendations, and never tell them just to “trust me.”

6) Promise only what I know I can deliver.

7) Not seek a contract of more than one year in length unless the work cannot be completed in less than a year.

KNOWLEDGE:

8) Pursue professional designations and attend seminars to keep current.

9) Take CAI’s Educated Business Partner course to ensure my understanding of the unique needs and characteristics of common interest communities.

SERVICE:

10) Promptly answer the board’s or manager’s questions.

11) Explain my company’s charges, taking no offense.

12) Take instruction only from the manager or from the person designated by the contract as my point of contact.

13) Immediately alert management if a homeowner, even a committee chair or director, interferes with the work.

14) If any work outside the contract becomes necessary, I will in writing quote a price in advance and will first obtain written authorization.

15) Not attempt to perform work outside my expertise and immediately advise the association of additional expertise needed.

COMMUNITY RELATIONS:

16) Be courteous to all residents, being aware that my work might occasionally be disruptive to them.

17) Provide regular updates to the board and management on major projects.

18) Volunteer at no charge to attend occasional “town hall” meetings to update the membership on the progress of major projects.

19) Ensure that the work areas are clean and safe for residents at the end of each workday.

20) Not start work too early, nor end it too late, to avoid disturbing residents.

ETHICS:

21) Not offer commissions or personal incentives of any kind to directors or managers and will promptly refuse and disclose to the board any requests for improper benefits from managers, directors, or committee members.

22) Not give expensive gifts to managers or directors.

23) Never give preferential treatment, free products, or services to directors, and treat all members equally.

24) Not advise or assist anyone to keep or attain a board seat and demonstrate complete neutrality regarding board elections. My personal opinions on candidates will remain private.

25) If my company has any business relationship with the management company, I won’t assume the manager disclosed it and I’ll promptly disclose it in writing to the board.

PERFORMANCE:

26) Always carry proof of workers’ compensation and liability insurance and provide it with my proposal.

27) Alert the association as soon as possible in writing if work is requested that my company is not licensed or qualified to perform.

28) Stand behind my company’s work, promptly conceding and correcting any mistakes.

LAST:

29) Follow the Golden Rule.

Todd Shea

Kelly G. Richardson, Esq. is a Fellow of the College of Community Association Lawyers and Partner of Richardson Ober LLP, a California law firm known for community association expertise.

These kitchen design trends will dominate 2023

By Hunter Boyce

Design trends come and go. And while you probably won’t be ripping out your entire kitchen just to stay on top of trends, they can certainly provide some inspiration if you were already planning a renovation.

According to the experts, these are the top trends to look out for in 2023:

Creative cabinetry

Designers are embracing more experimental aesthetics inside the kitchen this year, especially when it comes to cabinets. According to A1000XBetter interior designer Kirsten Blazek, boldness will be an important facet of kitchen design in 2023.

“For me, one of the keys to great design is when a client and a designer have the trust to take a risk together and choose a kitchen cabinet color or patterned tile that is bold and unexpected,” Blazek told Good Housekeeping. “I believe in 2023, we are going to see even more bold cabinet color choices, mixed with other interesting and unique finishes.”

Worn-in textures

Natural colors and textures were huge influences for 2022′s design trends, and 2023 is not going to be much different. Within the kitchen, homeowners and designers alike are leaning into less polished and more wornin textures — especially when it comes to countertops.

“I think people are realizing that there’s a certain amount of charm that comes with using and abusing your kitchen,” designer Maggie Dillon told Southern Living. “If you have marble or soapstone countertops, don’t be afraid of the scratches or dings that might accompany late nights with guests or prepping for a big family meal.”

Saturated colors

Neutral-colored kitchens have been popular for quite some time. And while they won’t be going away any time soon, interior designer Julia Dempster is anticipating that saturated colors will play a larger role in kitchen design this year.

“People want to feel something emotional in their spaces and are trending toward saturated colors like deep-forest green, rust, rich reddish brown, amethyst, or jewel-toned blue rather than neutrals and white,” she told Insider.

Larger islands

Kitchen islands seem to be getting bigger and bigger as the years pass. And that trend is only expected to escalate in 2023, according to Hilary Matt Interior’s Hilary Matt.

“Traditional kitchens are evolving into other parts of the home,” Matt told The Spruce. “In the coming year, I predict larger — and even double — kitchen islands will be integrated to accommodate for larger entertaining and gathering spaces in the kitchen.”

Designers are embracing more experimental aesthetics inside the kitchen this year, especially when it comes to cabinets. According to A1000XBetter interior designer Kirsten Blazek, boldness will be an important facet of kitchen design in 2023.

Photo courtesy Daniel Ouellette/Dreamstime/TNS

Santa BarB ara County SaleS

This is a partial list of all recorded residential sales in Santa Barbara County from January 17 thru January 20, 2023. While these recordings are public record, the News-Press receives this information from an outside source. This list does not represent all sales that occurred over this time period. Consult your REALTOR® for further information regarding home sales in your area of interest.

Design Recipes:

Sofa seating alternatives

By Cathy Hobbs

While sofas are often the go-to seating option, often a smaller seat would be ideal. This is where seating and sleep solutions such as day beds, chaises and benches can play a useful and purposeful role.

An ottoman is paired with a coffee table to create a second table option in this living room. Photos courtesy Handout/TNS

A day bed creates a sleeping option in a small bedroom.

Chaises

Chaises are typically shorter versions of a sofa. They sometimes come in more organic shapes and may include softer lines and rounded arms. Chaises can be great choices in smaller spaces or nooks in bedrooms and offices.

Day beds

Perhaps you picture a day bed to be a piece of furniture made of white or black painted iron, padded with an ill-fitting mattress, camouflaged with toss pillows. This may have been the standard day bed of decades past, but these days day beds can serve as an attractive, sleek and even modern addition, especially in smaller rooms or spaces.

Benches

Benches are considerably thinner and smaller than day beds. Benches can be used for function as well as aesthetics. Benches work well in entryways, at the foot of a bed, as well as in small niches and nooks where a larger piece of furniture typically would not fit. In entertainment spaces such as a living or family room, benches can also provide extra seating and can even be used as an alternative to a traditional coffee table.

Ottomans

Ottomans, typically half the size of a bench, are the most versatile items on the list when compared to a day bed or bench. Ottomans can either be used alone or in pairings, often in a set of two or three. They’re great for extra seating, as a footrest or as a decorative furniture element to introduce a fun material or fabric into a space. Ottomans can also come in various shapes, including rectangles, circles, squares and ovals.

Cathy Hobbs, based in New York City, is an Emmy Award-winning television host and a nationally known interior design home staging expert and short-term rental/vacation home designer with offices in New York City and The Hudson Valley. Contact her at info@ cathyhobbs.com.

©2023 Tribune Content Agency, LLC.

Darker tones, as well as organic and metallic elements, are the anchor of this design.

A chaise provides a functional seating option in a modern home office space.

A chaise provides a seating opportunity in a home office.

Sunday’S Open HOmeS

To view this weekend’s Open Home Guide and all other Real Estate for sale or rent go to: newspress.com – click on Special Editions, House & Home

Sun Coast Real Estate Kathryn Sweeney 805-331-4100 # 01045083

NO OPEN HOMES LISTINGS FOR SATURDAY

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Click on “SPECIAL EDITION” then click on “OPEN HOME” If you have any questions please e-mail: openhomes@newspress.com

Style:

Here are 2023’s top colors for painting your home office

By Hunter Boyce

A new year means a new look. With more people working inside of their homes than ever, now is the perfect time to consider giving that home office a new coat of paint. But don’t just recoat it. Give it a new personality by using one of this year’s top home office paint color trends.

Hale Navy by Benjamin Moore

If you are looking for the best of both worlds, Hale Navy by Benjamin Moore offers a darker paint that still has enough colorful pop to level up your home office space.

“Bringing back color is something we are seeing strong for 2023,” House Sprucing owner and principal designer Heather Fujikawa told Veranda. “Color drenching walls in darker colors is all the rage and we love this Hale Navy paint color by Benjamin Moore that brings the perfect hue of navy blue.”

Citrus

While inky blacks can give your home office depth, blotches of vibrant color can give it a more cheerful personality. One of the most popular options this year is citrus.

“Small shots of big citrus bring excitement to a space without creating visual overwhelm,” interior designer Jackie Terrell told Good Housekeeping. “It’s like a punchy-colored throw pillow for the wall. When used in a specific area of wall, it defines a space and everything looks good against this yellow green. Even beige!”

Inkwell by Sherwin-Williams

Home offices are often given the smaller of the house’s bedrooms, making space a valuable commodity. Luckily, dark colors can help make the most of that home office space.

“Dark colors in smaller spaces can pack a punch and make a huge impact just through tone and depth of paint,” Miretta Interiors’ Zandy Gammons told Elle Decor. “In this case, we created a focal point by using Inkwell, a really dark but neutral paint color. The art and other details make for a contrast that is more noticeable than if they were hung on lighter walls.”

Viva Magenta by Pantone

If you’re looking for a real punch of color, go all out with a coat of Viva Magenta by Pantone. “If your work relies on you being creative and full of energy, then Viva Magenta, Pantone’s 2023 Color of the Year, is great for invigorating home offices and boosting your energy,” Ryan McDonough, interior design expert at Myjobquote.co.uk, told House Beautiful. “Raspberry is also a color that’s tipped to be big.”

©2023 The Atlanta Journal-Constitution. Visit at ajc.com. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC. Photos courtesy Colleen Swiatek Dreamstime

745 East Anapamu Paseo Bonito is a Spanish-revival style, boutique complex of 6 units. This townhome has no common walls. It is a free standing structure with an attached 2-car garage. 2400 sq/ft with an open, airy floorplan.

East sidE - UppE r

This corner of the bed was showing out in September with Limelight Prime hydrangea, Color Coded One in a Melon coneflower, Sunstar Red Pentas, Truffula Pink gomphrena and Rockin Playin the Blues salvia.

On Gardening:

Limelight

Prime garners Hydrangea of the Year

By Norman Winter

Photos courtesy Norman Winter/TNS

The Limelight Prime hydrangea has done its part in bringing in several species of butterflies including this Question Mark.

It wasn’t until the summer of 2019 that I realized I lived in a Hydrangea paniculata forest. If you have read my columns, then you know The Garden Guy can exaggerate a little. So, to be more succinct: My neighbors all down both sides of the street have the most glorious monster hydrangeas. I, on the other hand, have the more refined Limelight Prime, the 2023 Hydrangea of the Year, as so designated by Proven Winners.

When I planted it in 2020 to join the neighborhood Hydrangea Society, I had no idea it would be the hydrangea of the year three years later. In fact, I was part of the testing process, as it wasn’t released until 2021. To me the differences with Limelight, the all-time granddaddy of hydrangeas, are huge. Well, maybe the big truth here is that they are NOT huge.

You see, my neighbor’s wonderful hydrangeas push 8 feet tall, maybe more, and some of their clusters actually block the view of traffic. Others are so large they even screen the front of the house. So a smaller version like Limelight Prime, which gets only 4 to 6 feet tall, is just what the doctor ordered. They are easier to work into small yards, or even smaller beds like I am doing. They also boast sturdier stems able to hold those huge blooms upright. It has a better foliage cover and starts blooming earlier.

I have had great fun developing this bed and making changes over the last three years. Whether you grow the original Limelight or Limelight Prime, I hope you are giving them companions in the landscape. I have always believed that if you saw these giant white blooms in the islands, say Martinique or St. Thomas, you would think they were the most beautiful tropical flowers you had ever seen. This points out the tropical style garden can be a bit of an attitude or illusion.

Since I am a tropical nut, I have combined my three Limelight Prime hydrangeas with exotic foliage like the Red Abyssinian banana, Ensete maurelii, and two giant Alocasia Portora elephant ears that reached 10 feet tall last season. I can truthfully say the Limelight Prime blooms looked like the most gorgeous tropical flowers on my street.

If you have read my columns in the past, you know that butterflies, hummingbirds and other pollinators stoke a flaming passion in The Garden Guy as well. So the quest for the third growing season was to transform this bed into a full partnership of hydrangeas, tropical foliage and the best of pollinator plants.

I added dwarf Pugster and the taller Miss Molly butterfly bushes. Then toward the front of the border, I planted Truffula Pink gomphrena, Sunstar Red pentas, Rockin Playin the Blue salvias, Meant to Bee agastaches and Color Coded coneflowers. The best surprise of all is that not only are there butterflies and hummingbirds on the butterfly bushes and perennials, but I have also photographed the spicebush swallowtail, great purple hairstreak and the exquisite question mark butterfly on the Limelight Prime hydrangea.

This one bed that started as an end-of-driveway eyesore has now become my favorite hangout place. The impetus for all this fun came about from the opportunity to test three Limelight Prime hydrangeas, then creating their combinations.

Since this is the Proven Winners’ hydrangea of the year for 2023, the supply should be up for you to be able to purchase. They are recommended for zones 3-8, which is a huge geographic area. In my three years, I have had blooms from June through November, and two of the years I had better rose coloration than I ever dreamed possible in the South.

I hope you will join in the celebration of Limelight Prime, the Hydrangea of the Year.

(photos in order left to right)

Last year perennials were added like Meant to Bee Queen Nectarine agastache, Luminary Ultraviolet phlox and Rockin Playin the Blues salvia.

The Garden Guy started growing Limelight Prime in 2020 and began by clustering three around a Red Abyssinian banana.

Limelight Prime is the Hydrangea of the Year for Proven Winners. It is smaller in stature than the first Limelight and is easy to fit in the landscape. Here it is starting to show color last July at The Garden Guy’s house in Georgia.

Norman Winter, horticulturist, garden speaker. Follow him on Facebook @NormanWinterTheGardenGuy. / ©2019 Norman Winter / Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.

The Garden Guy then started adding pollinator plants like Truffula Pink gomphrena.

Existing home sales fall again in December

By Jeff Ostrowski Bankrate.com

Existing-home sales — meaning sales of previously occupied homes, rather than newly built homes — have been on a downward trend all year. And with both mortgage rates and prices remaining fairly high, home shoppers have pulled back. A new report by the National Association of Realtors (NAR) indicates that buyers continue to take a wait-and-see approach.

“December was another difficult month for buyers, who continue to face limited inventory and high mortgage rates,” NAR Chief Economist Lawrence Yun said in a statement. “However, expect sales to pick up again soon since mortgage rates have markedly declined after peaking late last year.”

Existing-home sales fall for 11th straight month

Existing-home sales encompass all sales of non-newconstruction homes, including single-family houses, condos, townhouses and co-ops. According to NAR, U.S. existing-home sales fell in December for the 11th month in a row. The decrease was 1.5 percent from November and 34 percent compared to December 2021.

The West region experienced no decrease in existing-

home sales from last month but a 43.4 percent year-overyear decline. In the South, existing-home sales dropped 2.2 percent since November, and 33.1 percent year-over-year. Sales in the Northeast fell 1.9 percent for the month and 28.8 percent for the year, and the Midwest saw a decrease of 1 percent for the month and 30.3 percent for the year.

Homes are also sitting on the market for longer: Properties stayed on the market for approximately 26 days in December, which was up from 24 days in November and 19 days in December of last year.

Yun attributes the plunge in sales to mortgage rates, which peaked in late October and early November. Rates have pulled back since then.

The slowdown was especially pronounced in the $1 million-and-up price range. “The luxury end is seeing a larger hit, perhaps because of weakness in the stock market,” Yun told reporters Jan. 20.

Median sale prices lose momentum

Despite the number of existing-home sales falling and mortgage rates remaining on the high side, median sale prices are cooling rather than crashing. The nationwide median sale price for existing homes is now $366,900, which is slightly lower than November’s median price but still up 2.3 percent compared to December 2021.

December marked the 130th consecutive month of year-over-year median sale price increases. In other words, it’s been almost 11 years since home prices were in decline. That’s the longest-running streak since NAR started keeping records.

Regionally, home prices rose year-over-year in all four regions tracked by NAR. The West has the highest median price by far at $557,900, a fractional increase since December 2021. In the Northeast, the median rose 1.6 percent to $391,400, and in the South, it rose 3.5 percent to $337,900. The Midwest had the lowest median sale price in December at $262,000, a 2.9 percent increase over last year.

Housing inventory remains scarce

Total housing inventory — the overall number of homes on the market for sale — sat at 970,000 units at the end of December. This is up 10.2 percent from a year ago but a decrease of 13.4 percent from November. At the current sales pace, this represents about a 2.9-month supply, which is well below the amount needed for a balanced market, typically thought to be five to six months. “Inventory levels are still tight, which is why some homes for sale are still receiving multiple offers,” Yun said.

(left)

According to the National Association of Realtors, U.S. existing-home sales fell in December for the 11th month in a row.

Photo courtesy Dreamstime/TNS

Yard Sale Tips Yard Sale Tips

Yard Sale Tips

Before Your Sale

• Prepare to start early. Collectors and antique dealers like to show up early in the morning.

• obtain a permit if required

• Clean up your space. People like clean and neat places.

• Gather lots of shopping bags. Gathering Items

• Test any electrical items to make sure they work.

• Collect your items and sort it by type. (clothing, toys, tools, etc.)

• Take time to clean or repair your items.

• Wash all the clothes so they smell fresh.

WhaT SellS BeST?

• Tools: Guys love it all, any kind.

• Baby items of all kinds, especially clothing.

• Kitchen appliances.

• Clothing: Kids and adult.

What Should You Not Sell?

• Items missing safety parts.

• unused prescription drugs or medications.

• Personal hygiene items.

• halogen floor lamps.

• old baby cribs or playpens, incomplete child safety seats.

adverTISING

• Tell your friends, family or coworkers about your sale. Word travels.

• Place a classified ad in the Santa Barbara NeWS-PreSS!! remember to check the publication’s deadline.

• In your ad, give lots of details. Include the address, day(s), time of your sale. list major items such as “lots of kids clothes.”

SIGNS

• Check your local ordinances.

• list your address and sale date on all signs.

• Post your signs at main intersections, street corners and at the end of your driveway.

• use same colors and writing on your signs as people recognize them at a glance.

• Keep a list of where you posted your signs. It will be helpful when it’s time to take them down. The consumer Protection Agency offers a complete list of dangerous items to avoid selling at yard sales. Visit www.cpec.gov

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