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There’s nothing better than being outdoors with friends and family during the summertime. Maximize your enjoyment of nature at home by building a fabulous outdoor patio to spend your summer outside. Use these design ideas to create comfort and functionality.

Protect the Area from Rain and Sun
A patio cover will protect you and your guests from the harsh elements. If you can, have your patio cover built to look as if it has always been a part of your home. Attach it to your house with construction that matches your home’s roof. Wood is an excellent choice for a gorgeous, natural patio cover that will hold up for many years.

Keep Cool with Fans
Installing one or more outdoor ceiling fans under your patio cover will help you stay cool during the hot summer months. Fans are also fantastic if you have pets that spend a lot of time outside—they will feel much cooler under a fan.

Add Some Fire
Having an outdoor fireplace means you can spend even more time on your patio when the sun goes down and the temperature drops, or you can feel comfy in front of the fire on days when it merely doesn’t get as warm. If you do not want a full fireplace, consider a fire pit.

Make Space for an Outdoor Kitchen
It’s enjoyable to cook outdoors in the summertime, so you’ll max out your patio usage over the summer months if it has options for cooking. This could be as basic as a grill for cooking meat and vegetables or as elaborate as a built-in pizza oven. Design a stone countertop with an outdoor sink for extra workspace. You can also add waterproof cabinets that are designed to withstand the elements so you can organize all the items you want to store outside.

Dine Alfresco
Add a table with ample seating for your family to eat and entertain outdoors. Cushioned chairs or other furniture set around your fireplace or fire pit will create a cozy conversation space. Sprinkle a few accent tables near seating for guests to set their drinks and snacks on.

Create a Cozy Atmosphere
String pretty lights above your patio or add tiki torches for evening lighting. Music is essential to set the mood, so install a sound system or buy portable speakers to stream your favorite playlist for a relaxing summer dinner party. Add lively greenery and color with hanging baskets and flower planters around your patio area.

Homeowners can make their dream outdoor space a reality. Get a refinance cash out. Call me at (650)796-5565 to find out more.

​A home warranty provides homebuyers with financial protection and peace of mind. It can be especially beneficial for someone investing in an older home. If an appliance or system covered under the warranty malfunctions or fails, then it will be repaired or replaced at no cost?except for the cost of service.

While some sellers include home warranties in the sale, others do not; in which case, you may want to consider buying a home warranty on your own.

What Does It Cover?
A basic home warranty will typically provide coverage for the home’s plumbing system, electrical system, heating system, water heater, ceiling fans, garbage disposal, exhaust fans, and some of the kitchen appliances. Enhanced home warranties will often provide additional coverage for washing machines, dryers, garage door openers, air conditioners, and other kitchen appliances. You can also add on individual components such as pools, septic systems, and more for additional fees.

How Much Does a Home Warranty Cost?
A basic home warranty will typically cost between $300 and $600 per year. This means that when a seller includes a home warranty with the house, it’s actually a nice perk, especially if it’s an enhanced home warranty that provides even more coverage. Keep in mind that even though you may receive a free warranty, you’ll still have to pay a service fee for every repair or replacement you request.

What Are the Cons?
If the seller isn’t including a home warranty in the sale, then you’ll need to buy a home warranty on your own. If you’re buying a newly built home, it’s unlikely you’ll benefit from the home warranty, simply because the systems and appliances are nearly new. It’s also worth noting that home warranties will not cover appliances or systems that were already broken when you purchased the house. Additionally, you won’t be able to choose your own repair person and are limited to the repair person selected by the warranty company. You also won’t be given the option to repair or replace. If repair is possible, that is the course they will typically take even if replacing it makes more sense.

Home prices are soaring to new heights. In March, the median existing-home sales price climbed year over year by 17.2%, creating a new record. Every sales region in the country posted price increases in the double digits. According to Lawrence Yun, chief economist for the National Association of Realtors (NAR), "Consumers are facing much higher home prices, rising mortgage rates, and falling affordability; however, buyers are still actively in the market." This fact is reflected in home sales figures. While existing-home sales dipped for the second month in a row, sales were up overall year over year. Yun believes that March's home sales could have been stronger had there been more inventory on the market. "Days-on-market are swift, multiple offers are prevalent, and buyer confidence is rising." That confidence might continue to increase over the coming year. While mortgage rates have risen, the overall rates are still favorable, and the country's economic outlook is encouraging. "At least half of the adult population has received a COVID-19 vaccination, according to reports," says Yun, "and recent housing starts and job creation data show encouraging dynamics of more supply and strong demand in the housing sector."

Housing Inventory at Record Lows
At the end of March, there were 1.07 million units available for sale, up a slight 3.9% from a month earlier but down a staggering 28.2% from a year earlier. At the current sales pace, the housing stock would supply the market for 2.1 months, up from a two-month supply in February but a decline from the 3.3-month supply recorded in March 2020. Since NAR began tracking the single-family home supply in 1982, inventory levels have rarely dropped so low. According to Yun, "Without an increase in supply, the society wealth division will widen with homeowners enjoying sizable equity gains while renters will struggle to become homeowners."

Time on Market
As a result of this lack of inventory, homes sold quickly in March. Of all the homes sold in March, 83% were under offer in less than 30 days. The average property remained available for sale for just 18 days, down from 20 days a month ago and 29 days a year ago.

Who's Buying?
Undeterred by the lack of supply, first-time buyers still managed to gain a foothold in the housing market; this group accounted for 32% of all purchases in March. Individual investors and second-home buyers—a group that typically accounts for most all-cash sales—made up 15% of all buyers. Twenty-three percent of all sales in March were all-cash transactions.

Regional Sales Breakdown
Northeast - Existing-home sales annual rate of 760,000; a decrease of 1.3% from February 2021, but an increase of 16.9% from March 2020. At $364,800, the median sales price increased 21.4% from March 2020.
Midwest - Existing-home sales annual rate of 1.28 million; a decrease of 2.3% from February 2021, but an increase of 0.8% from March 2020. At $248,200, the median sales price increased 13.5% from March 2020.
South - Existing-home sales annual rate of 2.7 million; a decrease of 2.9% from February 2021, but an increase of 15.9% from March 2020. At $283,900, the median sales price increased 15.6% from March 2020.
West - Existing-home sales annual rate of 1.27 million; a decrease of 8% from February 2021, but a increase of 15.5% from March 2020. At $493,300, the median sales price increased 16.8% from March 2020.