No Place Like Home

Ornate landscaping and weaving in a blue color palette are two big trends for yards in the new year, according to the National Association of Landscape Professionals. The association recently released its list of the top landscaping trends in the new year.

“Foundational landscape elements remain on homeowners’ wish lists, but modern updates and technology are now a top priority,” says NALP CEO Britt Wood. “With a wave of design and technical innovations, our members report that ornate hardscaping, contemporary features, lush gardens, and smart irrigation are all trending and will influence landscape designs across the country in 2020. This year’s trends showcase how homeowners of all generations desire a striking, custom, and well-maintained outdoor space that benefits their community and the environment.”

Here are top trends that the NALP predicts will be hot this year.

More homeowners are refinancing to take equity out through a cash-out tranaction. They’re then using the extra cash to pay down credit card debts, renovate their home, or even invest in a new home.

Over the past two years that has resulted in a large number of homeowners who are taking on higher interest rates via refinancing. Still, owners say that the mortgage rates are lower than what they would have to pay through a credit card or home equity line of credit.

Read more HERE.

Home insurance rates are climbing due to a rising number of natural disasters. As a result, homeowners, particularly those located in some at-risk markets, will need to brace for higher costs.

In 2018, there were 850 “natural catastrophes” worldwide that totaled some $350 billion, up from 500 disasters a decade earlier, the Insurance Information Institute reports.

Oklahoma homeowners are seeing some of the largest increases in home insurance rates in the nation. Costs have surged by 78%, or $821, since 2007. On average, an Oklahoma homeowner pays more than $1,800 annually for a premium. That is up from $1,054 a decade ago, according to QuoteWizard. Oklahoma has seen 192 natural disasters since 1955.

Read more HERE.

While certain features in a kitchen—like statement lighting, cabinet hardware, and even range hoods—are taking center stage, many are also getting muted or hidden. That may mean you have to look extra hard with your buyers in the latest kitchen designs to uncover all of its amenities.

This hidden design in kitchens will take many forms, from more discreet appliances to high-tech voice assistants hidden within. Faucets may have motion-based or other hands-free technology, kitchen islands could have hidden charging stations, pet stations might be tucked into barely noticed areas, and kitchen cabinetry styles can seek to blend in more than stand out, designers told Forbes.com.

Read more HERE.

It’s important that those granite countertops gleam during showings, but some cleaning products may actually harm them. White vinegar, for example, has been a popular cleaning agent because it’s inexpensive and can combat bacteria and mold on many surfaces, such as glass and linoleum. But the acid in the vinegar can gradually ruin the finish of granite and wear away at the protective sealant, according to a new article at Apartment Therapy.

Acid-based cleaners such as lemon juice or citric acid—which can be found in many all-purpose cleaners—wear away the sealant, the article warns. Instead, clean granite countertops with mild soap and water. To disinfect counters, use isopropyl alcohol, along with soap and water, or commercial granite cleaners.