What Will The New Homes in 2015 Look Like ?

The sluggish housing market has reshaped what Americans will look for in their next home as home owners get more practical with their wish-list and wiser about their use of space.

By 2015, homes are expected to average 2,152 square feet–10 percent smaller than the average size of single-family homes in the first three quarters of 2010, according to a recent study by the National Association of Home Builders.

Say goodbye to living rooms–they are likely to be the first casualty in new homes due to the dwindling square footage. More than half of builders say they expect that by 2015 the living room will merge with other spaces in the home, and 30 percent say living rooms will vanish completely.

Here are some other predictions about the changes in design of new homes by 2015, according to the survey:

• Family rooms likely will increase in size–the only area of a home expected to get larger.
• The size of the entryway foyer and dining room are expected to get smaller.
• New homes in 2015 will likely come with the following: A great room containing the kitchen, foyer, and living room; walk-in closets in the master bedroom; a separate laundry room; ceiling fans; a master bedroom on the first floor in two-story homes; and a two-car garage.

Homes also are expected to become more “green” and technologically advanced, boasting such features as low-E windows, engineered wood beams, water-efficient features (such as dual-flush toilets or low-flow fauce

via styledstagedsold.blogs.realtor.org

Wow! Lifestyles have surely changed through the years.....would you ever consider....no more living room space ? Larger family rooms? This tells me...family space is critical in new housing design. "Green" design is big !....
environmental awareness and introducing energy efficient features into your home...... builders looking to scale back on their sq.ft. of new homes. I feel change is good....improving on your home quality of life is only a positive that will give way to a happy healthy lifestyle.

Posted via email from Holly Wiesner Olivieri , The Staten Island Real Estate Resource

"Working Women".....WLC of SIEDC Mentoring CSI Students...Rewarding Evening !

Great evening for WLC of SIEDC ....Women's Leadership Council joined CSI in "A Day In The Life Of Working Women". A fun evening of mentoring... a question and answer session with the women students of CSI. We spoke with Gracia from CSI who is an admirable woman, ....... she actually inspired us... with her positive attititude and strong faith, that has helped her to overcome life's adversity.

The evening was filled with ....conversation about what the students aspired to be, career choices......Mentors discussed their real life experiences.......leading to more questions.....positive relations were formed...this was my first mentoring event with WLC.....enjoyed this event immensely.

Georgette a communication student at CSI.......asked for advice.....not sure of which area of commmunications  she would like to work in...... we discussed various topics of choice..... warm relationships were formed ... an overall positive energetic event. I was very happy to have participated in this fabulous networking event !

Visit SINY's North Shore Expert FB page http://facebook.com/northshoreholly .Also join me on twitter http://www.twitter.com/hollyolivieri. Check out www.hollyl.listingbook.com for all homes on Staten Island.

Have a extraordinary day!

Posted via email from Holly Wiesner Olivieri , The Staten Island Real Estate Resource

Discounts Expected In Spring Housing Market........Lights A Fire Under Buyers !

Sales of previously owned homes fell sharply in February, setting the stage for steep discounting in the spring market.

The National Association of Realtors reported Monday that existing home sales dropped 9.6%, and the median price, $156,100, was the lowest since February 2002.

Buyer's Market

Existing-home sales in February

View Interactive

The silver lining, say economists, is that bargain prices, coupled with low interest rates, might finally spur some buyers off the fence as the real-estate industry prepares for its busiest season. Even without the $8,000 federal tax credit that stoked sales last spring, industry watchers predict a larger number of transactions this year.

"The job market is getting better and that will make people feel more confident about their income-earning prospects," said David Berson of the PMI Group. "You need that confidence to buy a house. Household formations are also very important. ... Kids may have moved back in with their parents, or two people may have moved in together, because of job concerns. Now they can move into their own place."

Still, Monday's data painted a picture of pain and price declines that have spared no region.

"The housing market is still clearly years away from staging any meaningful recovery," Toronto-based Capital Economics wrote in a note to clients.

February sales data due Wednesday are expected to show that the market for new homes is just as lackluster as that for existing dwellings.

Some builders of new homes are increasing discounts on residences and boosting commissions to brokers.

"They don't do that if things are going well," said Alex Barron, a home-builder analyst with the Housing Research Center, an independent sell-side research firm. "The level of desperation in the builders is just going to increase substantially in the next two months, which is the heart of the spring selling season."

Overall, February's weakness could have been driven by bad weather, deals canceled over lowball appraisals and a higher number of distress sales, according to the National Association of Realtors.

A third of transactions were all-cash sales, and investors accounted for 19% of February sales activity, down from 23% in January. Low prices in many markets also reflect a new reality as sellers finally give in and reduce the asking prices on their homes in hopes of a fast deal.

"After three years of the housing downturn, people are becoming much more realistic in terms of valuing their homes," said Lawrence Yun, the National Association of Realtors' chief economist.

In Atlanta's upscale Buckhead neighborhood, Natasha Swann put her family's five-bedroom colonial on the market about six weeks ago. The $1.6 million asking price won't recoup the roughly $200,000 that Ms. Swann spent on renovations such as finishing the basement and adding a bedroom. Still, the 41-year-old mother of three is eager to sell because she is building a bigger house nearby.

After six showings, she is optimistic the home is priced competitively. "We had to be kind of aggressive" about making the price attractive, she says. "We don't know where the market's going, and I'm not going to wait a long time in an uncertain market."

Economists say the number of distressed sales will continue to rise, and put pressure on prices. But mortgage rates, which were trending upward during the fall and winter months, have been falling in recent weeks amid global turmoil over the crises in Japan. Rates for 30-year loans were well below 5% last week.

via online.wsj.com

Spring is here......job market getting better...Wow ! Bargain prices.....low interest rates.....buyers get ready for the opportunity of a life time! In my opinion right now is the time to make a move....wait no more !

Posted via email from Holly Wiesner Olivieri , The Staten Island Real Estate Resource

What’s Hot....What's Not In The Kitchen Right Now ?

The following is a list of what’s cooking in kitchen trends for 2011, based on NKBA survey results of which kitchen designs are increasing in demand and which are losing favor.

Maple kitchen; Photo credit: Courtesy of KraftMaid Cabinetry

1. Cabinetry

Gaining steam: Maple cabinetry

Losing steam: Cherry cabinetry (Cherry dominated kitchens in early 2010 but was overtaken by maple cabinetry this year)

Kitchen cabinets in Sonoma Maple, Midnight with Bristol Maple, Pebble; Photo credit: Wellborn Cabinet Inc.

2. Kitchen finishes

Gaining steam: Dark natural finishes; light natural and colored painted finishes also remained fairly common, inching up slightly in use.

Losing steam: Medium natural, glazed, and white painted finishes are on the decline and the use of distressed finishes has dropped significantly in the last year.

Photo credit: Miro Dvorscak

3. Color

Gaining steam: Grays, beiges, and bones

Losing steam: Brown tones, whites, and off-whites

O’Neil Cabinets shaker style; Photo credit: Courtesy of O’Neil Cabinets

4. Design styles

Gaining steam: Shaker style, which is characterized by its simplicity, un-ornamented yet functional, finely crafted style. (Shaker overtook contemporary style this year as the No. 2 most popular kitchen design style). Traditional style remains the most popular kitchen design, although it has dropped slightly in popularity compared to last year.

Losing steam: Contemporary style

Kitchen from Huntwood Cabinets features an island with built-in wine cubbies; Photo credit: Alan Bisson

5. Cabinetry upgrades

Gaining steam: Unchilled wine storage (yet undercounter wine refrigerators are losing favor)

Losing steam: Tall pantries, lazy Susans, appliance garages, and pull-out racks are declining slightly in popularity.

DuPont Corian solid surface in Sorrel; Photo Credit: TC Studios

6. Countertops

Gaining steam: Solid surfaces, a low-maintenance countertop surface, has grown in popularity, but granite and quartz continue to hold dominance. Other countertops surfaces increasing in niche use include butcher block and marble.

Losing steam: Laminate

Liebherr’s 2060 series

7. Refrigerators

Gaining steam: French door and side-by-side refrigerators

Losing steam: Freezer-top refrigerators and freezer-bottom models

Thermador’s Masterpiece Series 36-inch Silver-Mirrored Induction Cooktop; Photo credit: Thermador

8. Cooktops

Gaining steam: Induction cooktops are closing the gap on gas and electric models; double wall ovens are increasing in use.

Losing steam: Gas cooktops are still popular but their use is falling slightly in favor of induction and electric cooktops. Single wall ovens and warming drawers are also on the decline.

Photo credit: Kichler Lighting

9. Lighting

Gaining steam: LED energy-efficient lighting options

Losing steam: Incandescent lighting and CFLs (compact fluorescent lights)

Photo credit: Rev-A-Shelf, LLC

10. Trash

Gaining steam: More designers are taking into account trash considerations in kitchen designs, with trash or recycling pull-outs, garbage disposals, and trash compactors on the rise.

via styledstagedsold.blogs.realtor.org

Our kitchens are the gathering point in our homes.....food, drink, a good laugh and small talk. It is no wonder the kitchen remains to be the focal point of our home. Whats Hot ?...... warm welcoming neutral colors in the grays, beiges and bones. I adore the earth tones... the feeling of tranquility, relaxed and calm environment after a long day is splendid. Whats Hot ?...simplicity in cabinets.... maple tones...... earthy natural elements in the kitchen creates a relaxed feel good atmosphere. What Hot ?..... hiding the trash containers..... gives you an overall clean organized look in your Kitchen...I love this design feature. It is definitely the finishing touch on your Kitchen design!

Posted via email from Holly Wiesner Olivieri , The Staten Island Real Estate Resource

Who Wants A Free Tree ?

Who wouldn't like to have a living tree to plant at their home ? ....plant it, nurture it and attend free workshops on how to protect trees in your neighborhood. Wow! I think this is a great program,and wanted to let you know about the dates available to get your Free tree on Staten Island.

NYC is looking to give away one million trees, the goal is to have one million trees planted in NYC by 2017. Million trees NYC is sponsored by NYC Parks and New York Restoration Project.  http://www.milliontreesnyc.org/html/programs/pdr_tree_giveaway.shtml .This ambitious goal is to plant and care for one million new trees across the city's five boroughs.

Spring is around the corner....it has been a long cold Winter, let the planting begin! The three Staten Island tree giveaway locations are listed on the link provided above. The dates to remember are May 22, April 3 and April 16. There will be limited quantities of various varieties of trees.....Redbud, Magnolia, Linden, Dogwood, Cherry and Katsura. Trees are intended for planting on private property, care instructions come with each tree. All you need to provide is a place to plant,a shovel and water. I find this to be a wonderful way for New York City's residents and neighborhoods to reap the benefits of a living tree in their environment. Happy planting !

Check out homes for sale in Staten Island at www.holly1.listingbook.com . Also visit SINY's North Shore expert FB page http://facebook.com/northshoreholly, "like" this page for future updates. Join me on twitter http://www.twitter.com/hollyolivieri

There are two kinds of Real Estate professionals.... those who understand the emotional and financial compexity of selling and buying a home....and those who don't. Have an extraordinary day!

Posted via email from Holly Wiesner Olivieri , The Staten Island Real Estate Resource

How Do You Hold On To Tradition ?

You hold on to tradition by ... honoring the past memories and good times which in my opinion is an important component of values and heritage..... at times it is lacking in today's busy times. A local establishment with a long history on Staten Island's North Shore, has new owners.....who believe that holding on to tradition is important to the community. Justino's Pizzeria formerly Al's Pizza located at 965 Jewett Ave. in Staten Island's North Shore community of "Meiers Corners" is embracing Al's Pizza's past history. Al's Pizza was a staple pizzeria on Staten Island's North Shore.....I remember as a child eating at Al's. It was always a friendly neighborhood pizzeria that was a staple in the community.

 

Great food is prepared fresh daily with traditional homestyle Italian cooking......Justino's pizzeria has Al's original sign highlighted behind their pizza counter. The pizza is still cooked in the original 50 yr.old ovens. Is that the secret ingredient? I suggest stopping by and telling Joe , Holly sent you.... enjoy the tradition and good food that certainly has made its mark on Staten Island's North Shore. Again welcome to businesses,people and homes of Staten Island's North Shore community.

Please visit SINY's North Shore Expert page! http://facebook.com/northshoreholly  Visit my website www.holly1.listingbook.com  Join me on twitter http://www.twitter.com/hollyolivieri

There are two kinds of Real Estate professionals..... Those who understand the emotional and financial complexity of selling a home.... and those who don't. Have an extraordinary day!

Posted via email from Holly Wiesner Olivieri , The Staten Island Real Estate Resource