Hope Leitner, Realtor®, CRS

 

  Information is brought to you by Hope Leitner Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices California Properties Creating a Rustic Vibe With Wood Decor If you’re a fan of that rustic look, or just love to feature beautiful wood in your space, then your home may already be covered with hardwood floors below, exposed beams above and wood furniture throughout. But if you’re looking to add even more wood to your interior scheme, consider a few of the following. Countertops.  While real wood countertops may be more difficult to maintain, their gorgeous look in your space may make them worth it. Shop around with your local counter conveyor, or hire someone to create a custom job. Ceilings.  Wood ceiling panels or planks can be a great way to add a rustic, farmhouse touch from above. Art.  From wall hangings to sculptures, there is no shortage of wood art. Hit up Google to find a few pieces, or for more original work, call up your local gallery. Accents.  Wood lighting fixtures, wood coasters, wood vase

  Information is brought to you by Hope Leitner Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices California Properties Warning Signs Your Identity Has Been Stolen Identity theft affects millions of Americans every year, with thieves draining people’s bank accounts, destroying credit scores and even ruining reputations. Unfortunately, many victims aren’t aware of an issue until significant damage is done, but by learning the telltale signs of identity theft, you have a much better chance of detecting any problems before it’s too late. LifeLock, a part of credit reporting agency TransUnion, suggests watching out for the following red flags: Personal Banking You receive a call, email or letter from your bank notifying you of possible fraud on your account. You see withdrawals you can’t explain on your bank statement, or charges you didn’t make on your credit card statement. Your interest rates go up due to unknown credit activity. Your credit report shows accounts you didn’t open or credit checks by compa

  Information is brought to you by Hope Leitner Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices California Properties 10 Tips for Dealing with Bed Bugs The familiar bedtime saying, “Good night, sleep tight, don’t let the bed bugs bite,” might be a cute little rhyme from our childhood. But when a home actually has bed bugs, there’s nothing cute about it. Bed bugs feed on blood and cause irritating bites. It’s also a myth that these pests only live in dirty places; in fact, they can be transferred into a spotless home by humans or bug-infested items, such as second-hand furniture. Here are 10 tips to keep in mind in the unfortunate event that your home gets bed bugs: Make sure they’re bed bugs.  If you think you have bed bugs, ensure the insects aren’t fleas, ticks or other bugs. Adult bed bugs are about the size of an apple seed and look balloon-like and reddish-brown if fed recently. They also have antennae and produce a “musty-sweetish” odor. Compare your insects to pictures of bed bugs on reputable

Whether you own a home or looking to buy or sell one, here are the latest Good To Know articles for when you’re ready to take the next step in finding your Forever Home. I am here to support you whatever your real estate needs might be.   When you are ready to make the decision to buy or sell, give me a call.   It’s Spring Cleaning Time. Have you considered cleaning up the portfolio a little by simplifying your assets? Now might be a good time to let go of some investment properties. Turn that equity into something fresh and new. Give me a call!    As always, I am here for you, your family, and friends.   Hope Leitner, CalDRE #01874321  Your Trusted Real Estate Agent Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices, California Properties   Christie D. Horn and Associates  3790 Via de la Valle, Suite 201, Del Mar, CA 92014   Cell: (858) 382-3763  Website: HopeLeitner.com  HOMEBUYERS, HOMEOWNERS, HOME SELLERS, TRENDS    Outlook for Housing 2022        Housing was one of the strongest sectors of the ec

Information is brought to you by Hope Leitner Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices California Properties Smart Home Technology You Can Easily Integrate Into Your Home Smart home technology is advancing beyond telling your phone or internet-enabled device to play music and look up sports scores. Smart thermostats, lightbulbs, plugs, locks and doorbells are available to homeowners, and the list of things technology can connect to within a home is growing every year. Here are some smart devices you may want to consider integrating into your home: Thermostat With a variety of options to choose from, one of the most popular smart thermostats among today’s homeowners is the Nest Learning Thermostat, which is owned by Google. The Nest thermostat uses an algorithm to adapt to your preferences, as well as when you leave and arrive home. When you’re away at work, it uses your phone’s location to determine that you’ve left and enters eco mode to save money and energy, reducing bills by up to 1

Information is brought to you by Hope Leitner Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices California Properties Trend Alert: Retro Kitchens Are Today's Big Thing For some of us, retro is just another term. But for those who recall Grandma’s aqua-blue fridge, it brings to mind a simpler way of life, even if it meant that some poor soul had to run out for blocks of ice. The bright color brought the space alive and made you happy to be in the kitchen. Now, as a trip to some of the larger home stores will attest, appliances are going back to the ’50s, and it’s one of the hottest trends around. It may have started with Big Chill, a Colorado company that got off the ground when a man named Thom Vernon wanted a retro-style fridge for a vintage house he was building. Vernon approached his nephew, Orion Creamer, a recent graduate of product design school with a passion for old-school style. Orion and his uncle built a prototype on the front porch of Creamer’s home. The rest, as they say, is histo

Information is brought to you by Hope Leitner Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices California Properties Warning Signs Your Identity Has Been Stolen Identity theft affects millions of Americans every year, with thieves draining people’s bank accounts, destroying credit scores and even ruining reputations. Unfortunately, many victims aren’t aware of an issue until significant damage is done, but by learning the telltale signs of identity theft, you have a much better chance of detecting any problems before it’s too late. LifeLock, a part of credit reporting agency TransUnion, suggests watching out for the following red flags: Personal Banking You receive a call, email or letter from your bank notifying you of possible fraud on your account. You see withdrawals you can’t explain on your bank statement, or charges you didn’t make on your credit card statement. Your interest rates go up due to unknown credit activity. Your credit report shows accounts you didn’t open or credit checks by co

Real estate has been described as the basis of all wealth.   Without considering income or investment property, buying a home to live in is an incredibly powerful way to build wealth or financial net worth. A home is an asset measured by the size of the equity.   Equity is simply the difference between the value of the home and the amount owed.   There are two powerful dynamics at work to increase the equity which include appreciation and amortization. Appreciation occurs when the fair market of the home increases.   The shortage of available inventory coupled with high demand has contributed to an 18% increase in value in the past year on average for homeowners in the U.S. Most mortgage loans are amortized with monthly payments that include the interest that is owed for the previous month and an increasing amount that is paid toward the principal loan amount so that if all the payments are made, the loan would be repaid by the end of the term. A 30-year mortgage at 3.5% intere

This information is brought to you by Hope Leitner Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices California Properties Eco-Friendly Tips With Low Costs and High Savings Most homeowners have weather-stripped their doors to maximize climate control, and have switched out traditional incandescent light bulbs with eco-friendly CFL models. Short of installing double paned windows or making other costly home improvements, what more can you do to make your home “greener” without emptying your wallet? Change filters often. Change air conditioning filters monthly to keep the system running at peak performance. Dry bigger loads. Your dryer has more capacity than you think. Dry two or more loads at once so the dryer cools down and heats up less frequently. And clean out the lint filter often. Check the fridge seal. Feel for cold air around your closed refrigerator door to be sure the seal is in good condition. Adjust stove top cooking. Avoid wasting heat by matching up your pot/pan size to the correct

We are well on our way! 2022 is nothing if not exciting! Both in the real estate world and in the real world. In San Diego we are putting our environment first with the Audubon Society hosting not one, but TWO events this month. Also, it is officially MUSEUM MONTH! Vist www.sandiegomuseumcouncil.org to get your discounted to tickets to dozens of local museums. Happy Lunar New Year! At the end of the month Mardi Gras kicks off in the Gaslamp Quarter - and it gets better every year! If you know anyone who might be interested in receiving this event calendar every month, please have them sign up at this link. Is your home working for you? Do you need more or less of a home? Let me help you evaluate your options. Remember, I am always here for my clients and their friends and family. Your trusted real estate agent, Hope Leitner