Treasure Coast Weekend Happenings

ROBIN: The Ultimate Robin Williams Experience!

Summer Crush Vineyard and Winery

Date: Friday February 26, 2021

Time: 5:30 pm – 8:30 pm

Location: Summer Crush Vineyard and Winery

Address: 4200 Johnston Road, Fort Pierce, FL, 34951

Category: Comedy

Gone, but not forgotten. One of the greatest comics of all time returns through the comic and impersonating genius of Roger Kabler! Tables available NOW! Take a sneak peak: https://youtu.be/LIY2ISxlCwA

Summer Crush Vineyard and Winery

 

Port St. Lucie Arts League Members Art Exhibition

MIDFLORIDA Credit Union Event Center

Date: Thursday February 4, 2021 through Thursday March 25, 2021.

Time: 8:30 am – 5:00 pm

Location: MIDFLORIDA Credit Union Event Center

Address: 9221 SE Event Center Pl, Port St. Lucie , FL, 34952

Price: free

Category: Arts / Exhibits

OPENING RECEPTION:

THURSDAY, FEB. 4, 2021 on the terrace. Covid safe practices and Masks required indoors.The PSL Arts League celebrates the 14th annual member exhibition at the MIDFLORIDA Gallery. It will be the largest exhibit in league history and will showcase over 100 works by 41 league artists, including fine art professionals, as well as those who create purely for pleasure. The Port St. Lucie Arts League has been enhancing the cultural art life in the City of Port St. Lucie and the Treasure Coast since 1993. For more information about the PSL Arts League, visit pslartsleague.org.

https://www.pslartsleague.org/midflorida-center-art-gallery-2021

 

SEAN KENNEY’S NATURE CONNECTS® Made with LEGO® Bricks Exhibition

Indian River County

Date: Friday January 15, 2021 through Sunday April 25, 2021.

Time: Times Vary

Location: McKee Botanical Gardens

Address: Vero

Category: Arts / Exhibits

A Beautiful and Inspirational Exploration of Art & Nature presented by David and Barbara McKenna

JANUARY 15 – APRIL 25, 2021

McKee’s third installation and Sean Kenney’s latest series of his award-winning and record-breaking exhibition that uses LEGO® bricks to explore animal endangerment, the balance of ecosystems and mankind’s relationship with nature. Produced by Imagine Exhibitions, Nature Connects presents a playful spin on traditional sculpture art – making it accessible to guests of all ages and backgrounds. Using the beloved toy bricks as an artistic medium, the sculptures, and exhibit post the question: just as LEGO bricks interconnect, how is our natural world interconnected?

HOURS OF ADMISSION: Tuesday – Saturday (10 am – 5 pm), Sunday (noon – 5 pm). Last admission ticket sold at 4 pm. Closed Mondays and major holidays.

ADMISSION: $15 Adults, $13 Seniors (65+)/Youth (13-17), $10 Children (2-12). McKee members and children under 2 free.

 

2021 St Lucie County Fair

St. Lucie County

Date: Friday February 26, 2021 through Sunday March 7, 2021.

Time: Times Vary

Location: St Lucie County Fairgrounds

Address: 15601 W Midway Rd, Fort Pierce, FL

Category: Arts / Exhibits

The largest family entertainment event on the Treasure Coast since 1966! Carnival Rides, PRCA Rodeo, Agricultural Exhibits, Demolition Derby, Baking Contest, Art Show, Business Displays, Games, Tasty Food Vendors!

The Jazz Market

Fort Pierce Jazz & Blues Society

Date: Event occurs every Saturday of every month.

Time: 8:00 am – 1:00 pm

Location: Historic Downtown on the Waterfront

Address: 200 N Indian River Dr

Category: Festival

Every Saturday, the Fort Pierce Jazz & Blues Society hosts a Jazz Market “featuring creative arts & crafts” in Historic Downtown Fort Pierce on the waterfront of the Indian River. Original hand made crafts, stained glass, Highwaymen paintings, hand-painted glassware and much, more are available for purchase. Funds raised support education programs and local scholarships.

The Fort Pierce Jazz & Blues Society Jazz Market is a year-round event.

The Jazz Market summer hours are 8:00 a.m. – 1:00 p.m.

Although we enjoy promoting our local Fort Pierce and St. Lucie County resident artists and crafters, our market is open to all crafters who wish to participate, given space available and our Market Managers discretion. If you are interested in displaying or selling your items, download the The Jazz Market Guidelines and Vendor Application.

If you are an interested new vendor, applications are now being accepted.

Print and fill out an application and return it with pictures of your items to:

P.O. Box 1086, Fort Pierce, FL 34954-1086

For more information, please email: JazzMarket@jazzsociety.org

Fort Pierce Jazz & Blues Society

 

 

Treasure Coast Garlic Festival by POTTC Events

MIDFLORIDA Credit Union Event Center

Date: Saturday February 27, 2021 through Sunday February 28, 2021.

Time: Times Vary

Location: MIDFLORIDA Credit Union Event Center

Address: 9221 SE Event Center Pl, Port St. Lucie , FL, 34952

Price: $5

Category: Festival

POTTC presents the Treasure Coast Garlic Fest on Saturday, Feb. 27 and Sunday, Feb. 28.

This two-day outdoor food festival celebrates the wonderfully delicious and bold taste of garlic. Enjoy a plethora of pungently pleasing dishes and mouth watering garlic recipes prepared by gourmet chefs. Eat, Stink and be Merry!

Festival Admission: Single Day $5 / Children 12 & under – Free when accompanied by a paid adult.

Free on-site parking!  For more information, visit www.treasurecoastgarlicfest.com

Hours of operation: Saturday 11 a.m. – 6 p.m. | Sunday 11 a.m. – 5 p.m.

Please note: This event will be hosted outdoors. Rain or Shine.

Facial coverings are required.The MIDFLORIDA Event Center is dedicated to providing smart, safe entertainment for the residents of Port St. Lucie and surrounding areas. To ensure guest safety, the Event Center will be operating under the guidelines set forth by the Centers for Disease Control and Florida Department of Health at the time of the show. For more information, please visit www.midfloridaeventcenter.com.

Buy tickets – MIDFLORIDA Credit Union Event Center

 

New Rules for PPP Loans Open Funding Up to Smaller Businesses

The smallest of businesses are getting more attention under the Paycheck Protection Program, the Biden administration announced Monday. New rules, taking effect this Wednesday, aim to extend the forgivable loan program to more minority-owned, smaller businesses, and sole proprietors. The PPP was implemented during the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic to help businesses struggling financially.

Under the changes, small businesses with fewer than 20 employees will have an exclusive two-week window, beginning Feb. 24, to apply for PPP loans. The Biden administration says it hopes the exclusive window will offer smaller businesses a speedier application process. Larger businesses will be unable to apply for funds during that time.

PPP loans will also be calculated differently. Under the former model, PPP loans were calculated on the number of employees with a business. The Biden administration announced that sole proprietors, independent contractors, and the self-employed are eligible for more funding from PPP loans. They’re also opening PPP eligibility to more entities by eliminating restrictions around delinquent student loan debt and non-fraud felony convictions. Some non-citizen business owners also could be eligible to apply.

Ninety-eight percent of small businesses employ fewer than 20 people. However, only 45% have received PPP funding so far, according to the SBA, as reported by CNBC.

“It’s a great idea to make sure that we’re prioritizing small and minority-owned business owners because we saw that they were left out of the process,” Marvin Owens, the chief engagement officer of Impact Shares and former senior director of economic development at the NAACP, told CNBC. “What you saw in the beginning of PPP was really a revealing of the disparities around access to capital.”

The PPP is administered by the Small Business Administration. Learn more.

Source:

“Biden Administration Announces PPP Updates,” National Association of REALTORS®’ Washington Report (Feb. 22, 2021); “Biden Administration Changes PPP Rules to Help Reach the Smallest Businesses,” CNN (Feb. 22, 2021) and “The Smallest Businesses Are Getting Extra PPP Help. What to Know Before You Apply,” CNBC (Feb. 22, 2021)

FLORIDA'S HOUSING MARKET CONTINUES STRONG IN JANUARY 2021

Florida Realtors®’ data: Single-family home sales rose 18% year-over-year, median sales price up 15.1%; condo sales up 24.6%, median price up 15%. Chief Economist O’Connor: Closed sales in Jan. were “way, way above our historical average,” which is likely for most, if not all, of 2021.

Florida’s housing market continued to show momentum in January even with the ongoing pandemic, with more closed sales, rising median prices, more new pending sales and increased pending inventory compared to a year ago, according to Florida Realtors® latest housing data. Single-family existing home sales rose 18% compared to a year ago.

“2021 began with the same market conditions we saw over the previous months, such as very low mortgage rates, high buyer demand and a lack of inventory,” said 2021 Florida Realtors President Cheryl Lambert, broker-owner with Only Way Realty Citrus in Inverness. “This shortfall in inventory continues to put pressure on home prices. However, new pending sales increased 16.9% for single-family existing homes last month compared to January 2020, while new pending sales for condo-townhouse units rose 32% year-over-year.”

In January, closed sales of single-family homes statewide totaled 21,587, up 18% year-over-year, while existing condo-townhouse sales totaled 9,608, up 24.6% over January 2020. Closed sales may occur from 30- to 90-plus days after sales contracts are written.

The statewide median sales price for single-family existing homes was $305,000, up 15.1% from the previous year, according to data from Florida Realtors Research Department in partnership with local Realtor boards/associations. Last month’s statewide median price for condo-townhouse units was $230,000, up 15% over the year-ago figure. The median is the midpoint; half the homes sold for more, half for less.

Florida Realtors Chief Economist Dr. Brad O’Connor noted that Florida’s housing market kicked off 2021 on a strong note.

“Eighteen percent year-over-year growth in single-family sales and 25% growth in condo and townhouse sales is way, way above our historical average – and we will likely remain well above our historical average for most, if not all, of 2021,” he said. “The primary reason is that mortgage rates will likely remain quite low for the duration of the year. The Federal Reserve has repeatedly signaled it intends to pursue a monetary policy agenda that ensures this will be the case.

“That said, economic forecasters have reached something of a consensus that mortgage rates have finally reached a bottom. Interest rates are, of course, notoriously difficult to forecast, so you never really can be sure exactly where they’ll be 12 months from now – then again, it’s a reason to take notice when everyone’s forecasts actually agree on something. However, there is still some mild disagreement among prominent forecasters in terms of how fast rates will rise from here – although no one is currently predicting rates are going to rise too significantly.”

Taking a look at the supply side of the market, last year’s decline in active listings of existing homes for sale continued into January 2021, according to O’Connor.

He added, “To be clear, I’ve pointed out that year-over-year growth in new listings – at least on a statewide basis – was positive over the second half of 2020. It’s just the pace of sales has been so phrenetic that these new listings have not replaced enough of our inventory to reverse the trend. However, in January 2021, new listings of single-family homes were down over 10% year-over-year in what is normally a strong month for new listings. Likewise, new listings of condos and townhouses were down statewide by almost 7%. We’ll need to keep an eye on new listings for the next few months to see if this is really a downshift or just a one-time decline.”

On the supply side of the market, inventory (active listings) continued to be constrained in January. Single-family existing homes were at a very restricted 1.6-months’ supply while condo-townhouse inventory was at a 3.9-months’ supply.

According to Freddie Mac, the interest rate for a 30-year fixed-rate mortgage averaged 2.75% in January 2021, significantly lower than the 3.62% averaged during the same month a year earlier.

To see the full statewide housing activity reports, go to Florida Realtors® Tools and Research section. Realtors also have access to local market data (password protected) through Florida Realtors®’ SunStats resource.

 

Source: Florida Realtors®

ST. LUCIE: LOW INVENTORY IN JANUARY BRINGS DOWN DAYS ON MARKET

Just in! Newly released market reports from Florida Realtors® detailing recent real estate activity in St. Lucie County. The reports compare year-over-year data for January. Here are statistics on single family homes.

 

 

“Last year’s trend of monthly increases in closed sales and median price looks to be continuing into 2021! The steady rise in both categories along with a low supply of inventory should have homeowners ecstatic for the year ahead. In January, we saw the median price rise 17.4 percent to $270,000 while closed sales increased 21.9 percent to 423,” said Karen Johnson, President of Broward, Palm Beaches & St. Lucie Realtors®.

Median sale price is our preferred summary statistic for price activity because, unlike average sale price, median sale price is not sensitive to high sale prices for small numbers of homes that may not be characteristic of the market area.

“The low inventory levels of 1.8 months are causing homes to be sold at an astonishing quick rate. The median days on market in January for St. Lucie was 15 days, a 66.7 percent decrease year-over-year. Also, migration reports suggest that 2021 is going to be another huge year for growth in Florida. As more prospective buyers flock to Florida, make sure you have a professional working for you. Contact a local Realtor® today for guidance on all real estate transactions,” continues Johnson.

Days on market measures the number of days between the initial listing of a property and the signing of the contract which eventually led to the closing of the sale.

 

Market Reports: St. Lucie Single FamilyOpens as PDF. | St. Lucie Townhouses/CondosOpens as PDF.

 

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Broward, Palm Beaches & St. Lucie Realtors® is the 3rd largest local Realtor® association in the country, representing over 35,000 Realtors®, 36,000 MLS subscribers, and 5 regional boards across South Florida & the Treasure Coast. For more info, visit Rworld.comOpens in new tab. or contact Communications@rworld.comOpens in new tab..

New XPRIZE Funded by Elon Musk

New XPRIZE Funded by Elon Musk Will Award $100 Million For Top Carbon Removal Ideas to Address Climate Crisis

The largest incentive prize in history was announced this month to inspire innovators to develop and scale carbon removal solutions that combat climate change.

The nonprofit XPRIZE, which sponsors design competitions to solve humanity’s greatest challenges, will award $100,000,000 for the top 3 carbon removal innovations.

The contest, funded by Elon Musk is looking for the best solutions that can pull carbon dioxide directly from the atmosphere or oceans and lock it away permanently in an environmentally benign way. To win the competition, teams must demonstrate a rigorous, validated scale model of their solution at a level of carbon removal of 1 ton of CO2 per day, and further must demonstrate to a team of judges the ability of their solution to economically scale to gigaton levels.

The objective of this XPRIZE is to “collectively achieve the 10 gigaton per year carbon removal target by 2050, to help fight climate change and restore the Earth’s carbon balance.”

“We want to make a truly meaningful impact. Carbon negativity, not neutrality. The ultimate goal is scalable carbon extraction that is measured based on the ‘fully considered cost per ton’ which includes the environmental impact,” said Elon Musk, founder and CEO of Tesla and SpaceX. “This is not a theoretical competition; we want teams that will build real systems that can make a measurable impact and scale to a gigaton level. Whatever it takes. Time is of the essence

Peter Diamandis, the Founder and Executive Chairman of XPRIZE said, “We want to see them built, tested, and validated. We hope this XPRIZE will activate the public and private sectors to get involved in the same way that the $10M Ansari XPRIZE brought about the commercial spaceflight industry.”

“For humanity to reach the Paris Agreement’s goal of limiting the Earth’s temperature rise to no more than 1.5˚(C) of pre-industrial levels, or even 2˚(C), we need bold, radical tech innovation and scale up that goes beyond limiting CO2 emissions, but actually removes CO2 already in the air and oceans. If humanity continues on a business-as-usual path, the global average temperature could increase 6˚(C) by the year 2100.”

The full competition guidelines will be announced on April 22nd, 2021, which is also Earth Day. On that same day team registration will begin and the competition will last for 4 years through Earth Day 2025.

The $100 million in prize purses will be distributed in the following manner, under these guidelines:

The 15 top teams selected will receive $1 million each, and $80M awards will be distributed as follows: Grand prize Winner (1st Place) wins $50 million, 2nd Place takes home $20 million, and 3rd Place gets $10M.

A total of twenty-five $200,000 student scholarships will also be distributed to student teams competing.

Teams can submit entries across natural, engineer and hybrid solutions. Judges in the competition will evaluate the teams based upon four basic criteria:

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      1. A working carbon removal prototype that can be rigorously validated capable of removing at least 1 ton per day.
      
      
      2. The team’s ability to demonstrate to the judges that their solution can economically scale to the gigaton level.
      
      
      3. The main metric for this competition is fully considered cost per ton, inclusive of whatever considerations are necessary for environmental benefit, permanence, any value-added products; and
      
      
      4. The final criteria is the length of time that the removed carbon is locked up for. A minimum goal of 100 years is desired.
      
      
      
      
   
   
   
   

 

“Our Earth’s changing climate is a fundamental threat to humanity. But it’s not too late if we take action NOW,” said Anousheh Ansari, CEO of XPRIZE. “By partnering with Elon and the Musk Foundation, the XPRIZE Carbon Removal competition is inviting the teams to make history and become our climate heroes by reshaping our future.

The group calls it a great fit for carbon removal because there are so many ways to pull CO2 out of the air and our oceans. “We expect to see approaches like engineered direct air capture, mineralization and enhanced weathering, natural solutions based on plants, trees, or ocean-focused solutions. We want as many viable scalable demonstrations now so we can all help the best solutions get to deployment as soon as possible.”

 

Link

Technology Drives 4 Newest Home Design Trends

Companies aiming to provide comfort for homeowners reveal innovations for more flexible appliances and wellness-inspired features at the virtual CES 2021.

 

Customized appliances, vertical laundry room setups, and an increasing number of wellness-inspired home design options were on display Monday at the virtual CES 2021, which runs through Friday. Take a look at some of the trends from this year’s popular tech show that likely will influence home design this year.

 

Samsung’s Bespoke refrigerator

 

1. More colorful kitchens. More appliance manufacturers are touting four-panel refrigerators. They offer more options for temperature settings for individualized food compartments. The four-panel model also offers flexibility for greater organization. The refrigerator could also get more colorful.

Samsung debuted its Bespoke line of four-door, contemporary, flat-panel refrigerators, which can be fully customized, during the kickoff of CES 2021. You can select from eight colors in glass or steel finishes: gray glass; sky blue glass, navy steel, champagne steel, matte black steel, navy glass, white glass, and rose pink glass.

“As families spend more time in the heart of the home—the kitchen—they’re investing in home appliances they can personalize,” says John Herrington, senior vice president and general manager of home appliances at Samsung. Bespoke refrigerators are customizable on the outside and inside with a variety of colors, materials, and finishes as well as convertible drawers.

 

Kohler’s Stillness Bath

 

LG also showed off a line of customized appliances through its Furniture Concept Appliances, which offers several materials and color combos to choose from, such as stainless steel, glass, and metal.

2. Wellness design centers on relaxation. Several tech companies at CES 2021 are promoting relaxation and wellness gadgets as more people spend time at home. Kohler’s Stillness Bath could take the freestanding tub to the next level in an owner’s suite.

It mixes water, light, fog, and essential oils and features an infinity-style water cascade that falls onto a Hinoki wood moat that then recirculates the water back into the bathtub.

 

LG WashTower

 

3. Laundry rooms go vertical. Appliance manufacturers showed off vertical washer and dryer setups that bypass side-by-side models, which often take up too much space in a tight laundry room.

The space that’s freed by the vertical alignment can then be used for more storage. An armoire or bookshelf could fit for storing more items, such as common home products.

For example, LG presented the stackable WashTower as part of its new lineup. Its design is thoughtful when it comes to user-friendliness: The control features are in the middle of the two stackable units for easy access.

 

Samsung’s Picture Frame

 

4. TVs on display—or tucked away. As televisions get larger, they may get tougher to mount on walls. Several TV manufacturers presented their latest high-tech models on three-legged metal stands, displaying fancy televisions like artwork on an easel. LG Electronics showed off a new OLED Evo panel on a gallery stand.

Samsung’s The Frame, an extra-slim 4K television, attempts to turn the TV into actual artwork that you can hang on your wall like a picture frame. It’s offered in sizes from 32 to 75 inches and is as thin as a picture frame. It also can be displayed either horizontal or vertical. You can access more than 1,400 curated pieces to add to your TV art.

If you want to make your TV more discreet, LG also showed off a futuristic concept: an OLED TV with a transparent display that can slide in and out from the foot of the bed.

 

FHFA EXTENDS FORBEARANCE, FORECLOSURE AND EVICTION MORATORIUMS

At-risk homeowners can now postpone mortgage payments (via forbearance) for 15 months. Foreclosure and REO-related eviction bans run until March 31.

 

The Federal Housing Finance Agency (FHFA) announced that mortgages held by Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac have extended their moratoriums on single-family foreclosures and real estate owned (REO) evictions until March 31, 2021.

The foreclosure moratorium applies to single-family mortgages and only those backed by Fannie and Freddie. The REO eviction moratorium applies to properties they’ve acquired through foreclosure or deed-in-lieu of foreclosure transactions. The current moratoriums were set to expire on Feb. 28, 2021.

Forbearance

Mortgage borrowers with a loan backed by Fannie Mae or Freddie Mac may also be eligible for an additional forbearance extension of up to three months.

Under forbearance, homeowners financially harmed by the pandemic can postpone payments that can then be paid at the time the home is sold, refinanced or at mortgage maturity. Foreclosures aren’t expected to pick up significantly until forbearance ends, and the government hopes most homeowners in forbearance will be able to return to work before then.

Eligibility for the forbearance extension is limited to borrowers who are already on a COVID-19 forbearance plan as of Feb. 28, 2021, and FHFA says other limits may apply.

With the just announced extension, the COVID-19 Payment Deferral allows borrowers with a Fannie or Freddie-backed mortgage to cover up to 15 months of missed payments.

FHFA projects that the program will cost Fannie and Freddie $1.5 to $2 billion for the COVID-19 foreclosure moratorium and its extension.

 

Source: Florida Realtors®

3 Predictions for the 2021 Rental Market

Many renters have transitioned into homeownership during the pandemic, and rental demand and prices are dropping in major cities like New York and San Francisco, ApartmentList reports. “The pandemic is likely to change the expectations and behaviors of renters for an extended period, as people grew accustomed to conducting virtual real estate tours and finalizing leases and other financial transactions at home so they could easily social distance,” ApartmentList notes in a new report that looks at rental trends heading into 2021. Among the trends the online rental marketplace expects to dominate in the new year:

Rental prices to flatten for first half of year. Prices for apartments will likely stabilize during the first half of 2021, reflecting the still-high number of Americans who have lost work due to business shutdowns because of the pandemic. “Overall, multifamily markets have remained tight from an occupancy perspective, even as rent growth has been weak to negative as operators focus on renewals,” Brad Dillman, chief economist at multifamily investment and management firm Cortland, told ApartmentList. “As a result of this resiliency, we expect rent pressures to rebound in the second half of next year. This rebound appears sustainable given the relative strength of the employment recovery as it, in turn, is likely to slow.” Rental prices likely will be weakest in dense urban areas, while suburban sunbelt areas likely will see small increases in rents.

Affordable housing demand will grow. “Given the undersupply of housing, estimated by ourselves and others, it is possible the country will see a renewed focus on housing affordability narratives as rent growth pressures resume next year,” Dillman told ApartmentList. Also, new construction is facing delays. Evictions likely will grow in the first and second quarter of next year as the national moratorium, which Congress is likely to extend through January, expires. Demand for affordable housing will likely grow as more people look for one-bedroom apartments in suburban areas, predicts Freddie Zamani, CEO of EcoSmart Builders, a construction company.

Remote work influences addresses. As remote work grows more commonplace, Americans may be more enticed to move. “We don’t anticipate job seekers placing as much emphasis on location as it relates to their commute as in years past,” Dillman says. But as cities may lose residents, rental prices may fall sharply as a result. Americans will “slowly but surely” be attracted to city life once again as prices moderate, the report notes.

Source: “6 Rental Market Trends to Expect in 2021,” ApartmentList (Dec. 16, 2020)

Happy Mardi Gras!

HAPPY MARDI GRAS & FAT TUESDAY

The last day of Carnival and the day before for Ash Wednesday, Fat Tuesday (Happy Mardi Gras) is the intertwining of a period of festivals and feasts that lead to a time of fasting and reflection. Also known as Shrove Tuesday and Mardi Gras, this enduring celebration has many traditions and deep roots around the world.

Mardi Gras (French for Fat Tuesday) dates back to an ancient Roman festival honoring the deities Lupercalia and Saturnalia which took place in mid-February. When Christians arrived in Rome, they incorporated the festival into Lenten preparations.

For centuries, this solemn feast prepared Christians for the season of Lent and used up valuable meat and supplies they would be abstaining from in the days to come. Traditions surrounding the day have changed through the ages. Through time and culture, the practices of Lent and Carnival, Mardi Gras, and Shrove Tuesday have varied and become incorporated into regional customs.

In the United Kingdom, Shrove Tuesday is also known as Pancake Day. Pancakes are the perfect menu item when the future includes abstaining from fats, eggs, and sweets!  In Russia, they celebrate the entire week during Shrovetide as Pancake Week.

Carnival & Mardi Gras

While the French didn’t originate the medieval feast, they did put their stamp on it. From parades to beignets and colorful masks, the last day of Carnival is full of elaborate costumes and lavish food sure to hold the revelers over through a long fast. During the 16th century, their ancestors celebrated Boeuf Gras (fatted calf) which included a tradition of parading a bull decorated with flowers through the city. The decorated animal is followed through the streets by a retinue of colorfully dressed attendants and bands playing unusual instruments. There was even a Boeuf Gras Society in Mobile, Alabama at one time.  (See history below for more information.)

New Orleans holds the crown for Carnival and Mardi Gras celebrations in the United States.  While the city is filled with French flavor and style, its culture is an eclectic infusion of many cultures. Colorful King Cake and thick, savory muffuletta sandwiches only suggest the indulgence possible on Fat Tuesday. Regional specialties like Etouffee, Po’boys, and jambalaya all add to the atmosphere of the day.

And while we satisfy our cravings, let’s not forget our beverages. Signature creations from New Orleans hit the spot. Be sure to try the Sazerac made with absinthe or the citrus cocktail Arnaud’s Special. For a smooth drink with some punch mix up a Vieux Carré made with whiskey, cognac, and sweet vermouth. But you don’t have to have a cocktail to enjoy the feast! Fat Tuesday has plenty of beverages full of refreshing flavor. Coffees, sodas, and shakes of every flavor can be found.

HOW TO OBSERVE #FatTuesday

Join in festivals around the country or have your own Fat Tuesday feast! Share your favorite traditions by using #FatTuesday, #MardiGras, #ShroveTuesday

Find your Fat Tuesday deals here.

FAT TUESDAY HISTORY

The roots of the celebration have been woven together for centuries from medieval spring festivals and feasts that were based on the Christian calendar.  Fat Tuesday is celebrated around the world in its various forms all of which harken back to these roots of spring festivals and religious fasting in preparation for the Holy day of Easter.

Credit for bringing Mardi Gras to America goes to French explorers Pierre Le Moyne Sieur d’Iberville and Jean Baptiste Le Moyne Sieur de Bienville. In 1699, d’Iberville reached the mouth of the river on Shrove Tuesday near what is now Louisiana and named it Pointe du Mardi Gras.

Thanks to their establishment of Fort Louis de la Mobile, modern-day Mobile, Alabama lays claim to the first Mardi Gras celebration on American soil in 1703.

When de Bienville established Nouvelle Orleans in 1788, Mardi Gras celebrations reportedly began immediately. In 1875, Louisiana declared Fat Tuesday an official holiday.

PRESIDENTS DAY 2021

On the third Monday in February, the United States celebrates the federal holiday known as Presidents Day. The day takes place during the birth month of the country’s two most prominent presidents, George Washington and Abraham Lincoln. While the day once only honored President George Washington on his birthday, February 22nd, the day now never lands on a single president’s birthday.

Across the country, most Americans know the day as Presidents Day. More and more of the population celebrates the day to honor all of the past United States Presidents who have served the country. Throughout the country, organizations and communities celebrate the day with public ceremonies.

HOW TO OBSERVE #PresidentsDay

Some businesses close, including banks and federal buildings. Celebrate your favorite U.S. president. Here are some ways to participate:

• 
  
  
  
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    • Watch a documentary about the POTUS. For example, The Presidents by the History Channel.
    
    
    • See if you can name all the presidents in order.
    
    
    
    
  
  
  
  

 

Challenge yourself to some presidential trivia:

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      1. Who are the three presidents who served in 1841?
      
      
      2. Forty years later, this same phenomenon occurred again in 1881. Name the three presidents who served that year.
      
      
      3. Name the three presidents who died on July 4th.
      
      
      4. Who were the four presidents who were assassinated while in office?
      
      
      
      
   
   
   
   

 

Use #PresidentsDay to post on social media.

PRESIDENTS DAY HISTORY

The origin of Presidents Day lay in the 1880s when the birthday of George Washington was celebrated as a federal holiday. In 1968, Congress passed the Uniform Monday Holiday Bill. The bill moved several federal holidays to Mondays creating three-day weekends. During the debate on the bill, one proposal suggested George Washington’s birthday be renamed Presidents Day to honor the birthdays of both George Washington and Abraham Lincoln. Washington’s birthday is February 22nd and Lincoln’s birthday is February 12th. Although Abraham Lincoln’s birthday was celebrated in many states, it was never an official federal holiday. Following much discussion, Congress rejected the name change.

Despite the rejection, soon after the bill went into effect in 1971, and the observance of Washington’s birthday shifted to the third Monday in February, gradually Presidents Day became the commonly accepted name. Over time, the observance came to be known to many as a day to honor both Washington and Lincoln. However, today another shift has occurred and many see the day as a celebration of all the U.S. Presidents.

 

Answers

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         Martin Van Buren, William Henry Harrison, John Tyler

         
         
      
      
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         Rutherford B. Hayes, James A. Garfield, and Chester A. Arthur.

         
         
      
      
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         John Adams, James Monroe, Thomas Jefferson.

         
         
      
      
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         Abraham Lincoln, James A. Garfield, William McKinley, John F. Kennedy

         
         
      
      
      
      
   
   
   
   

Wall Color Preferences Shift Toward a Brighter Future

The COVID-19 pandemic has nudged homeowners to lighten the mood set by the color in their spaces. While gray has been dominant inside homes in recent years, it may now feel too gloomy, a new study says.

Earthy and warmer neutral tones are replacing grays as the most popular shades, according to 54% of 68 design trendsetters recently surveyed by Fixr, a home renovation resource. Sixty-three percent of designers said that whites and creams are the shades to pick for those selling their homes in 2021. Overall, 81% of designers believe that quarantining has strongly affected homeowners’ color choices.

 

Fixr.com

 

Fixr.com

 

Designers believe that Benjamin Moore’s Aegean Teal and Sherwin Williams’ Urbane Bronze will be the most used “colors of the year” by homeowners this year. Blue also has become a popular choice for personal spaces and for sending soothing vibes inside a home, the survey finds.

Also, white has become the dominant choice for exteriors. White is expected to be the leading choice for exterior colors to sell a house in 2021, according to Fixr’s report.

Home design and staging inspiration: Styled, Staged & Sold blog

Some other findings from Fixr’s color trends report are:

Light-colored furnishings: Light natural tones, and light colors in general, received the most nods from designers for furnishings. It marks a move away from the darker brown and dark gray furniture to soft natural tones. “Light and natural tones on the furniture would coordinate well with the natural and neutral colors for the walls, also making the ideal backdrops for some fun, bold colors added by accent pillows or art,” the report notes.

Adding pops of color: Sixty-five percent of designers say that textured walls and wallpapers likely will lead the way for accent walls. Textiles—pillows and bed linen—can be a popular way to incorporate newer colors into a home.

 

Fixr.com

Fixr.com

Most popular colors by spaces: Room by room, the following hues proved the most popular:

• Home office: Off-white or navy blue


• Kitchens: natural and earth tones or shades of green


• Bedrooms: Blue (dominant choice)

Source: “Paint & Color Trends 2021,” FixR (Feb. 4, 2021)

Shhhh! When a Home Is Too Loud

Too Loud – With many people working or studying remotely, these strategies may help cut down the noise.

The ability to work from home during the pandemic has been a blessing for many people, but it’s also made some acutely aware of the absence of one element helpful for productivity: quiet. Many have taken to barricading themselves in closets or hiding in their cars to insulate themselves from chatty household members or noisy street sounds. Echo-prone open floor plans have exacerbated the problem as family members concurrently try to do their jobs or attend remote school.

Enter acoustic consultants, armed with sound- proof design techniques and technology to bring some peace and quiet to home environments. Real estate pros can benefit from learning about these enhancements, which can be a valuable amenity for resale, especially for a home on a busy street.

“The pandemic has forced people to look at their home’s acoustics very differently,” says Bonnie Schnitta, founder and CEO of SoundSense, an acoustic consulting company based in Wainscott, N.Y.

Since the start of the pandemic, Schnitta’s firm has been fielding more calls from real estate professionals and homeowners about noisy plumbing, loud traffic, and household sounds amplified by open floor plans. During site visits, they’ll calculate precisely how sound reverberates in a space and offer a range of solutions, such as adding sound-absorbing fabric or foam behind wall hangings or underneath rugs. While these fixes aren’t cheap—consultation fees start at $900—many find the results are worth it.

Real estate professionals are getting help for listings with challenging acoustics. For one hard-to-sell home on a noisy street, Schnitta suggested adding a water feature in the front yard swimming pool, which, combined with a barrier, masked the road noise. The home sold two weeks later. “You can rarely completely erase road noise, but there are ways you can mitigate it,” she says.

Noise can impact resale. A 2017 realtor.com® study showed that sellers of homes within a 2-mile radius of an airport tended to see discounted prices of 13.2% compared to similar homes elsewhere in the same ZIP code. Sellers near train tracks saw average discounts of 12.3%, followed by 11.3% for nearby noisy highways.

The luxury Mozaic at Union Station Apartments in downtown Los Angeles addressed street noise issues by teaming with Veneklasen Associates, an acoustics firm, to work on soundproofing. Because 90% of outside noise entering an apartment comes through windows, behind the existing double-pane windows, they installed secondary, noise-mitigating windows that dampen sound vibrations and prevent sound leaks using recording studio-style soundproofing technology.

Window add-ons from Soundproof Windows Inc. cost $790 to $1,070 apiece, while a sliding glass door insert sells for about $1,600.

Noise reduction can be as simple as adding a $50 door seal or as complex as spending $10,000 or more for full-home soundproofing. Here’s a range of recommendations from acoustic consultants:

• Cover hard surfaces. Hard, highly reflective surfaces are among the worst sound offenders. Use softer materials, such as area rugs with a sound-absorbing pad underneath and fabric-covered furniture, suggests Audimute, an acoustic design consultation firm.


• Reduce echoes in open spaces. In open floor plans, sound can bounce everywhere. SoundSense and Audimute offer fabric-covered panels to add onto walls for sound absorption. Or try bookcases—even just half-full—against walls to help absorb sounds. Artwork can also be used as a sound barrier. SoundSense makes a Paradise Foam product, which can be tucked behind canvased art to mitigate noise.


• Seal doors and windows. Soundproofing companies offer acoustic door seal kits that fit snugly around doors or window edges to reduce sound coming through cracks.


• Add sound-absorbing shades or drapes. Roman shades, using heavy fabric, can help reduce noise, as can cellular shades and plantation shutters. Heavy drapes and curtains—think suede or velvet—are also effective at absorbing outside noise.


• Go green. In addition to improving air quality, houseplants can help reduce noise. (They’re most beneficial on hard-surface floors.) Consider a tall, potted Norfolk pine in room corners, Schnitta says. Sound will bounce from the wall onto the foliage instead of throughout the room.

“When [buyers] walk into a home and hear an echo, it can be a turnoff,” Schnitta says. In a listing, “there are several inexpensive things you can do: Put in an area rug with a specialized pad. Put a plant in the corner, even if it’s artificial. Add a bookcase. All of this can make a big difference when it comes to sound.”

Too Loud: How Noisy Is That Listing?

In 2020, realtor.com® began displaying noise levels near listings to help house hunters before a visit. The tool takes into account traffic, airports, and local sources, such as from restaurants, gas stations, sports stadiums, schools, and more. Noise levels are rated as high, medium, or low for the listed property, while a heat map displays noise levels in the immediate area. Also, the U.S. Bureau of Transportation Statistics offers a National Transportation Noise Map to learn about noise pollution in an area or via an address search. It gauges noise from nearby interstate highways and airports.

 

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House Affordability - 2 IN 3 BUYERS SURPRISED BY HOW MUCH HOUSE THEY CAN AFFORD

Study: 47% of first-time buyers found that their budget allowed them to afford a larger house than they thought they could afford – but 21% had to lower expectations.

 

For first-time homebuyers looking to buy in 2021, a new survey conducted by HarrisX on behalf of realtor.com indicates a critical starting point for first-time buyers is getting their finances in order. Almost half (47%) of 2020 first-time buyers say they turned to their finances before they did anything else.

More than two out of three (68%) of the first-time buyers who checked their finances said they were surprised at the amount of house they could afford – 47% were surprised because their budget was larger than they thought, and 21% were surprised because it was less.

“The dramatic decline of mortgage rates in 2020 was a pleasant surprise for many buyers,” says realtor.com Senior Economist George Ratiu. “For first-time buyers, especially, the drop in the 30-year mortgage rate from 3.65% in March 2020 to a record-low of 2.65% in January has provided unexpected leverage. Lower rates allowed many buyers to stretch and buy more expensive homes while keeping their monthly budget the same.”

To get what they wanted in their first home, many recent buyers had to compromise: 21% expanded their search into less expensive neighborhoods, 20% had to increase their budget, and 18% eliminated some wish-list features – namely a garage, large backyard, finished basement or pool – to stay in budget.

Even with shortened wish lists or expanded budgets, nearly half (49%) of recent first-time homebuyers and more than a third (39%) of prospective first-time homebuyers said they fell in love with a home last year – but they were outbid or later learned they couldn’t afford it. For many, it happened more than once: 20% were outbid on at least one home, and 20% made five or more offers before finally succeeding.

“You have to know what you can afford before you head too far down the homebuying road,” says realtor.com Home and Lifestyle Expert Lexie Holbert. “Putting pen to paper and getting a real sense of your current monthly expenses and what you’re saving each month is a good place to start when thinking about your mortgage. Especially as a first timer, it’s really important to stick to your budget when searching online so you don’t fall in love with something you can’t afford.”

For the 44% of Americans who plan to buy but don’t think they have enough saved for a down payment, their first home might be closer than they think. Half of recent first-time home buyers were able to save for a home in less than three years, mostly by setting aside a portion of their paycheck each month (50%), cutting out discretionary spending (33%), and saving lump sum money like tax refunds (32%).

Plus, help from family could get them there: 52% of Americans who bought their first home in 2020 said they got help with their down payment from friends or family. The number one lender? Their parents.

 

Source: Florida Realtors®

NATIONAL PIZZA DAY

National Pizza Day on February 9th celebrates one of America’s all-time favorite foods. Whether it is thin crust, Chicago-style, deep dish, or anything in between, pizza is an American favorite.

We love our pizzas, and they come in so many varieties, too. As we nosh on our favorite, explore a few pizza facts:

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    • Pepperoni is the most popular pizza at 36% of all pies ordered.
    
    
    • Over 3 billion pizzas are sold in the USA each year.  Add another 1 billion on frozen pizzas
    
    
    • In the United States, 17% of all restaurants are pizzerias.
    
    
    •  Antica Pizzeria, the first Pizzeria, opened in Naples, Italy, in 1738.
    
    
    •  Gennaro Lombardi, the first Pizzeria in the United States, opened in 1895 in New York City.
    
    
    • Americans consume on average 23 pounds of pizza per person each year.
    
    
  
  

 

HOW TO OBSERVE #NationalPizzaDay

You know what to do. Have your favorite pizza! Whether you visit your local pizza place or make your own, you’ll be celebrating National Pizza Day your way! Try something new. Mix up your toppings. Try a new sauce or get some crazy crust. Be sure to give a shout out to the local staple that’s always filled the pizza need. You know who we’re talking about. The ones with the secret ingredients we make classic movies about. Yeah, that’s the one. And don’t forget to check out the Celebration Deals for all the best offers and discounts.

Click here for a list of all the Pizza Deals being offered across the USA today.

Throw a pizza party and give the following recipes a try:

Perfect Pepperoni Pizzas
Beer Bread Pizza
Bacon & Artichoke Pizza
Margherita Flatbread Pizza
Peanut Butter BBQ Chicken Pizza

Use #NationalPizzaDay to post on social media.

NATIONAL PIZZA DAY HISTORY

While no one knows when National Pizza Day was created – what we do know is when pizza itself was created. The original pizza was a dish created by the Romans out of placenta bread that was covered in various layers of herbs, sauce and cheese.

However, while those early dishes were technically pizzas, what people would recognize as the modern pizza wouldn’t become invented until around the 18th century. This is when some of the citizens of Naples, Italy began to create flat bread dishes covered in garlic, basil, cheese and eventually tomatoes.

During the nineteenth century, Italian immigrants began to bring this dish home to the United States. However, it really wouldn’t become popular until the service men returning from World War II returned home after developing a taste for it in Italy. This is when the pizza market in the U.S exploded and made pizza one of the most popular foods in America.

Just how popular is pizza in the United States, you ask? Well, all you have to do is look at these numbers to see how popular pizza is in this country. Every year, four billion pizzas are sold in the U.S. The majority of these are from restaurants, pizza chains and pizzerias, but about a billion of those are grocery bought frozen pizzas. For every man, woman and child in the U.S., over 23 pounds of pizza is consumed. That is a lot of pizza.

Customs, Traditions And Celebrations

There is only one way to celebrate National Pizza Day, and that is by enjoying it in one of its many forms. Go out to your local pizzeria and grab a slice, throw an office pizza party or simply take home a frozen pizza.

Enjoy !!!

Kenyan Woman’s Startup - Recycled Plastic Waste made into Bricks That Are 5x Stronger Than Concrete

An absolutely brilliant young woman in Kenya has started a company manufacturing bricks from recycled plastic waste.

zambi Matee says she was “tired of being on the sidelines” while civil servants struggled against plastic waste in the capital city of Nairobi, so the materials engineer created a product that is 5 to 7 times stronger than concrete.

Founder of Gjenge Makers, which transforms plastic waste into durable building materials, Matee also designed the machines that manufacture the bricks in her factory.

Getting dumps of plastic low and high-density polyethylene and polypropylene from local packaging plants for free, Gjenge Makers produces a variety of different paving stones after the plastic polymer is heated and mixed with sand.

“There is waste they cannot process anymore; they cannot recycle. That is what we get,” Matee told Reuters.

The result is a line of versatile building materials pressed via hydraulic machine into different thicknesses, that sell in a variety of colors that cost an average of $7.70 per square meter.

So far, she has employed more than 110 people, helping to churn out about 1,500 bricks every day. She told Reuters that they have recycled about 20 metric tons of plastic waste since the company was founded in 2018.

She hopes to very soon add a much bigger manufacturing line that will triple her production capacity.

WATCH a video of this recycling hero in action…

 

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Help Pandemic-Weary Homeowners Create Kid-Friendly Spaces

Many families are struggling to find room for their children to attend remote school, play, and sleep peacefully. That has some parents seeking new layouts and furnishings to help keep home life humming smoothly.

 

Years ago, children’s bedrooms were the focus of the younger generation’s home life. That’s where they slept, played, and did homework.

But at some point, kids’ toys started spreading out to the living room and their homework ended up on the kitchen or dining room table. Now, the pandemic has exacerbated these trends and made houses seem much smaller.

The result is more parents looking to experts on how to reorganize existing rooms, especially for young children who may not be able to verbalize their needs and anxieties. Many buyers are seeking different types of room arrangements since they don’t know when the pandemic will end, or if another will arise. Many also represent a variety of family compositions, including single parents, adult children, or three-generational households.

“We need greater flexibility to adapt,” says architect Marissa Kasdan, director of design at KTGY Architecture + Planning’s R+D Studio’s Tyson, Va., office.

Designers, architects, real estate salespeople, and child psychologists are sharing advice on how to furnish children’s bedrooms and a home’s communal spaces to meet everybody’s needs. But Chicago-area designer Paula Winter of Paula Winter Design offers one important caveat: “It’s helpful to consider your child’s personality,” she says. “Some want to be more alone, and others like being around others.”

Bedrooms

Most experts on children believe the prime purpose of a bedroom should be sleeping. Screens should be kept out of the bedroom so that sleep is not disturbed.

“We recommend that studying and playing are kept outside the bedroom, if possible,” says Lisa Medalie, PsyD, DBSM, founder of DrLullaby, Digital Sleep Solutions for Sleep Problems in Children in Chicago. “When kids are doing homework or playing in the bedroom, these are competing cues and triggers. Kids are likely to be tempted to play, resistant to bedtime, or think about school when such activities persist in the bedroom,” she says.

But not every family has separate rooms where children can pursue non-sleep tasks. Lisa Cini, a senior living and multigenerational expert and author of Hive: The Simple Guide to Multigenerational Living (iUniverse), advocates for setting up zones. “Parents can think of the bedroom almost like a kindergarten room with spaces for naps and sleep, play, and learning, so all are distinct,” she says.

Winter agrees on the benefit of zones, which may repeat certain functions. For example, in some bedrooms, she includes several places to sit—to work at a desk, read in a chair, congregate with friends on the floor or at a window seat.

Areas can be visually and physically separated with a different floor surface such as tile and an area rug, standing screen, movable wall, pocket door, curtain, low bookcase, or even pretend teepee. A desk or table can be positioned to minimize distractions, says Alessandra Wood, vice president of style at San Francisco-based Modsy, an online design service, which surveyed parents to learn the effects of how COVID-19 influences ways families use their homes.

If the square footage in a bedroom doesn’t permit different zones, sometimes an extra or oversized closet can be converted into a homework center. It can be an easy DIY project with lumber planks for a desk and bookshelves, a child-sized adjustable chair that “grows” as the child does, good task and recessed lighting, and a file cabinet or rolling cart to organize supplies.

The good news is that most children’s furniture is on the small scale, so rooms don’t have to be large to accommodate multiple functions. Some furnishings can also be concealed, such as a Murphy or trundle bed.

Living Spaces

Even before the pandemic began, parents with children have looked for homes with a variety of shared spaces that better fit their individual needs.

The death of the open floor plan: One casualty of buyers’ current needs may be the open plan because it fails to mitigate noise and distractions. “Open layouts are not for all anymore. Many want to go back to a separate dining and living room or a small family room off the kitchen,” says Sandra Cuba with Premier Sotheby’s International Realty in Winter Park, Fla.

Instead, there’s increased interest in having a “flex” room that can function differently for each family’s needs.

Separate different child areas: Chicago-based Lexington Homes designed one townhouse model for its Lexington Trace development in Warrenville, Ill., with a finished lower level with natural light that could work as a children’s e-learning area or playroom. An optional half-bathroom can be added. When the pandemic ends or children are grown, it can be converted into a movie theater, home gym, or home office, says principal Jeff Benach.

Other parents and design professionals are looking to attics and spaces above a garage or in a basement, if available, for the same learning purposes, especially when children are older and can be left alone, says Usha Subramaniam, a real estate salesperson with Compass in suburban Westchester, N.Y.

The trend has even given rise to a new professional niche. Orlando-based designer Lauren Nolan focuses on installing at-home classrooms through her business, Childhood & Home. She likes to create cheerful, calm, and eco-conscious study spaces with designated areas for technology, play, and arts and crafts.

Working together: Not all parents want to have their children out of sight, says Chicago real estate salesperson Jennifer Ames of Engel & Volkers. “They want the capacity to supervise and keep an eye on them while they’re on Zoom,” she says. Designing a multipurpose shared space for school, work, and leisure is no small design task! says Winter.

The Chicago-based Belgravia Group has developed one layout in its new condos at Triangle Square in East Bucktown that places a flex space adjacent to and within view of other rooms, says Elizabeth Brooks, executive vice president of sales and marketing.

Some parents also favor layouts with multiple rooms where kids can pursue different activities—some messy, some quiet. Architect Eddie Maestri of Maestri Studio in Dallas went this route in remodeling his own family’s new house. “The boys usually want to be where we are,” he says. Now his 8-year-old twins have several rooms to choose from, including some designated for screen time which is off limits in their bedrooms, Maestri says.

KTGY Architecture + Planning has also followed this approach with its new “City Home” model. Designed for urban areas, the plan offers two spaces that might be used for work or school at home, but are flexible for alternative long-term functions, says Kasdan. “We are finding that flexibility is key with all of our designs as residents use their homes in new and varied ways,” she says.

Since having adequate storage can be a problem, the City Home also includes extra storage within the unit and more in a nearby corridor on each building level.

Choose proper materials and designs: Parents and designers are wise to select child-proof furnishings that hold up to wear and tear, dirty hands and feet, rough play, and spills. For example, Winter suggests sturdy fabrics, upholstery treated with stain repellent treatments (safe for children and pets and for busy families) or built-in stain-resistant upholstery, sectional sofas that can be separated, tables that can be easily cleaned or worked on (solid surface materials or laminates), and ones with no sharp corners.

It’s also helpful to have extra seating, which should be selected based on age-appropriate designs and their function, Winter says. This might include benches or poufs, coffee tables that raise to dining height, as well as bins, containers, see-through bags, and recycled packing boxes to organize toys, games, books, and more.

Converted Garages and Sheds

Cuba has clients who bought a smaller house and converted the garage with air conditioning into a virtual office for one parent who now teaches from home. “It has allowed her to have a quiet, organized place to focus on her students and her own two kids to use their bedrooms,” Cuba says. Subramaniam has clients in her Westchester, N.Y. market who have added sheds to their property so they could have a quiet space away from the kids, she says.

Outdoor Areas

Though not all climates permit use of an outdoor space all year, many families can install an awning or bring in a patio heater to extend use of the area. And they can outfit a space for active play with simple additions, such as a jump rope, zipline, tree swing, hopscotch board, and kid-sized table and chairs. Last summer, Cuba found that more buyers clamored for a bigger addition—a swimming pool.

Remodeling expert and speaker Dan DiClerico installed a NanaWall to open the back of his Brooklyn house to the outdoors. During the first wave of the pandemic, their backyard became his kids’ refuge to do homework, enjoy open-air playdates, have family meals, play sports, and store favorite toys and sports equipment.

Once the pandemic is over, many experts predict homeowners will continue to want their homes more flexible as needs keep changing. Plus, many predict remote work is here to stay for a significant percentage of the American workforce. “These ideas aren’t likely to go out of style,” Subramaniam says.

 

Barbara Ballinger

Barbara Ballinger is a freelance writer and the author of several books on real estate, architecture, and remodeling, including The Kitchen Bible: Designing the Perfect Culinary Space (Images Publishing, 2014). Barbara’s most recent book is The Garden Bible: Designing Your Perfect Outdoor Space, co-authored with Michael Glassman.

Article Link: https://magazine.realtor/home-and-design/feature/article/2021/01/help-pandemic-weary-homeowners-create-kid-friendly-spaces

 

Where To Retire? WalletHub Ranks Florida No. 1

To determine the best state for retirement, WalletHub weighed 45 variables, such as affordability and quality of life – and Florida was, and is, No. 1.

 

For many people, a Florida retirement means warm year-round weather and no shoveling snow. But retirement living is a big decision. It’s not paradise if you run out of money. A state with good healthcare might have a high cost of living and high taxes. A state with affordable housing may have limited access to hospitals.

To determine which U.S. state was best overall for retirees, WalletHub weighed 45 variables, including affordability, quality of life and healthcare. Florida wasn’t the No. 1 state in all categories, but the study determined that Florida, overall, was the No. 1 U.S. state for retirees considering a move.

According to WalletHub, cost is a major concern for many retirees, and “Even in the most affordable areas of the U.S., most retirees cannot rely on Social Security or pension checks alone to cover all of their living expenses.”

WalletHub’s advice: “If retirement is still a big question mark for you because of finances, consider relocating to a state that lets you keep more money in your pocket without requiring a drastic lifestyle change.”

To determine the best places where to retire, WalletHub compared the 50 U.S. states based on those 45 key indicators and came up with a score for retirement-friendliness.

In the analysis, No. 1 Florida had a total score of 61.09. For affordability, Florida ranked fourth and for quality of life it ranked sixth.

 

Source: Florida Realtors®