Maximizing Your Space in a Smaller Home

• In 2005, 9% of new homes were 1,400 square feet or smaller.
• In 2015, 4% of new homes sold were 1,400 square feet or smaller.
• In 2005, 7% of new home sales were for houses 4,000 square feet and up.
• In 2015, 11% of new home sales were for houses 4,000 square feet and up.

For years, developers had been building larger houses, as wealthier buyers who wanted grander homes were the only people who would qualify under tougher mortgage standards. Recently, lot availability has declined and become more expensive, causing builder profit margins to become tighter, so builders have more of an incentive to build large homes that will sell for a higher price. Distressed sales rates are still over double what they were in the year 2000, many featuring medium to smaller-sized homes— giving developers even less of an incentive to build small homes. However, this doesn’t speak to the rate at which modest houses are being purchased. Odds are, those who aren’t buying brand new homes are taking advantage of the availability of more affordable, smaller ones.

After World War II, financial struggles gave birth to the modern midcentury homes that so many people know and love; a style returning to the tiny house movement and newer postmodern styles. The beauty of some of these great homes is what can be done to fully take advantage of the space by combining midcentury storage design and visuals with fresher ideas. One great style to turn to is the open floor plan, which should be executed thoughtfully; it’s important to consider the level of privacy needed for each space of the home, be it bedrooms, bathrooms, home offices, etc.

Playing with blurred layering and zone separation are important concepts to consider when remodeling a smaller space in order to keep your open area from feeling stale. Features like floor level, islands, furniture placement, and lighting can have a major impact on the feeling of space within a home. Utilize natural light and highlight areas of importance with a skylight or angled light. Allow the different areas of your home to be viewed from multiple angles by occasionally blurring the boundaries between two— like the kitchen and the dining area. Selecting the right furniture will also make a major difference in creating a great sense of space, like layering different heights to break up uniformity, as will utilizing smart storage practices.

 For houses of any size and budget, contact the Mistretta Group today!

Jeff Mistretta 

631-484-0133 

LongIslandAreaRealtor@gmail.com

New Home Trends for 2017

The Scandinavian look has been a popular design trend in past years, especially in the fall and winter due to its appeal to the chilly seasons. In the past, real and faux-fur accents and cold metals have been the focal points of minimalist, organic features of homes. Currently, gray flooring is making a major comeback to add to an already calm color scheme; unlike the stained concrete which became particularly trendy in the recent past, grey-stained wood floors could become a major staple to compliment homes. This could majorly increase homeowners’ freedom in decorating and painting, as well as maintaining a unique, modern appearance to update any house. 

Warm and cool subdued tones and moody hues are predicted by paint and decor companies to dominate in the new year, compared to the louder, brighter colors of 2016. Jewel tones and baby pastels are sure to take a backseat this time around. Especially appealing in the coziness of your warm home in the winter, 2017 brings soft neutrals that will easily transition into the following seasons. Sherwin-Williams introduces Poised Taupe as a counterpoint to the cool gray that has become popular recently, as does Olympic’s purple-hued Cloudberry and Glidden’s Byzantine Blue. Industry experts cite mindfulness, harmony, coziness, and meditation as their prime focus for each new color; this might be an especially beneficial switch for homeowners who might need a visual refresher in their homes. For new homeowners, these hues could be a great solution to assembling fresh spaces after their move. For a major punch of color, a nostalgic warm gold— Honey Glow from Dunn-Edwards—can become a great accent color or could be used in an entire room for a serious mood boost, and the complex and contemporary Shadow 2117-30 by Benjamin Moore is a weighty choice for anyone looking for a unique pick. 

Whatever 2017 brings design-wise, the one thing you can always count on in putting together your new home is a great real estate agent! 

Jeff Mistretta 

631-484-0133 

LongIslandAreaRealtor@gmail.com

Holiday Moving Tips

November and December aren’t the easiest possible months to move into a new house, but they’re oftentimes the most inexpensive! With the busiest and most expensive moving season behind you, moving in the late fall may be a smart choice of yours or a last resort, but it doesn’t have to be nightmare. Here are some easy tips and tricks that you can keep in mind while you prepare your move whether it’s sometime soon around Thanksgiving, or throughout the December holiday season. 

• Send out a Change of Address card. 
• This can kill two birds with one stone: Announce your new address while also sending out a lovely holiday card to your friends and family! 
• Pack early.
• As difficult as this one sounds, it’ll be a lot easier with all of your spring and summer gear already packed up (hopefully) for the winter. 
• Pack and label based on necessity.
• As you’re packing, try to keep everything in boxes that have a theme, or at least that feature items used at a similar frequency. 
• Choose the right movers 
• Call a few different providers to compare rates and make sure to check the reviews. Movers are usually less expensive around this time, but many often run holiday hours that could delay your move!
• Pack decorations that can be opened and set up easily, or wait to buy until you’re in your new home.
• It might be a good time to part ways with older decorations that take a little more effort to set up outside. 
• Ship gifts and cards ahead of time.
• Sending out holiday cards and gifts a little early is a whole lot better than trying to send them out late. Plus, it’s one less thing to worry about while you’re setting up your new home. 
• Keep old traditions, but try to introduce a few new ones.
• Especially for kids! Leaving home during the holidays might be a little traumatic if some of your family members are taking the move harder than you expected. Try to distract them with a new tradition. 
• Set up your utilities in advance and make dinner arrangements ahead of time.
• You and your family will thank yourself later. 
• Prepare with snow gear.
• If it’s already starting to get frosty, you’ll be prepared with shovels and salt!

Of course, another wise decision for making your holiday relocation a breeze is to use the right real estate agent. My clients are everything to me, and providing them with help for their move, no matter what time of year, is my policy. Get in touch with me today for any of your real estate needs. 

Jeff Mistretta 

(631) 484-0133 

LongIslandAreaRealtor@gmail.com