Hope Leitner, Realtor®, CRS

There are a number of   reasons   you may be thinking about   selling   your house. And as you weigh your options, you may find you’re unsure how you’re going to deal with one thing about today’s   housing market   – and that’s   affordability . If that’s your biggest concern, understanding how much equity you have in your house could help make your   decision   that much easier. Here are two key factors that have a big impact on your equity. How Long You’ve Been in Your Home First up is homeowner tenure. That’s how long homeowners live in a house, on average, before  selling  or choosing to move. From 1985 to 2009, the average length of time homeowners stayed put was roughly six years.  But  according  to the  National Association of Realtors  (NAR), that number has been climbing. Now, the average tenure is 10 years ( see graph below ): Here’s why that’s such a big deal. You gain  equity  as you pay down your home loan and as home prices climb. And when you combine all of your mortgag

  The news about fire insurance in California sounds bad, in light of record-breaking fires these past few years, but there are still options out there. Make sure you're covered! The one sheet below, from the California Association of Realtors, has all the accurate details, and possible solutions should you need them.    If you have any questions about this article, please give me a call! (858) 382-3763   Your forever agent,   Hope Leitner   Realtor, Hope Opens Doors Chairman’s Circle – Top 1/2 of 1% Nationally   Christie D. Horn and Associates Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices, California Properties 3790 Via de la Valle, Suite 201 Del Mar, CA 92014 CalDRE #01874321   Website: HopeLeitner.com Email:  hope@cdhorn.com

Managing an asset worth hundreds of thousands of dollars is a responsibility that requires attention to details such as timely payment of the mortgage, home repairs and maintenance, upkeep, and oversight on financial issues including taxes, insurance, and other things. Depending on how long you've been a homeowner, you may have faced some of the decisions common to homeownership.   Occasionally, there could be something new that you haven't had to deal with in the past.   This is where having resource you can rely on becomes valuable. During the buying or selling process, it is natural to turn to your agent for information and advice but during those periods in between where do you go for counsel?   Sure, you can turn to the Internet but that may not be the best place to get advice for your situation. We encourage you to think of us as your "source of real estate information"; someone you're comfortable to ask a question and confident that you'l

  Information is brought to you by Hope Leitner Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices California Properties Signs That Your House Has an HVAC Problem You rely on the HVAC system to keep your house at a comfortable temperature year-round. It can be easy to take it for granted until a problem arises, and you come home to a freezing house in the winter or a sweltering house in the summer. Knowing common signs of an HVAC problem and when to call a professional can help you avoid extreme temperatures and astronomical utility bills. Strange Smells You might notice an unusual odor. If you turned on the heat or air conditioning after it had been off for several months, there could be a slight burning smell. That is normal and should disappear within a day. If the odor lingers longer than that, there could be a problem with the system that needs to be diagnosed and repaired by an HVAC technician. If your home has gas heat and you smell rotten eggs, there could be a natural gas leak. Turn off the HVAC

   Information is brought to you by Hope Leitner Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices California Properties Studies have shown that looking at certain colors can impact your mood, so if you’re looking to brighten your days, look at the walls. Orange This color boosts social connection, so paint a wall in your living room or kitchen a vivid orange and enjoy deeper, longer, joyous conversations. Yellow This sunny color is one of the most obvious mood brighteners, and there are many shades of yellow soft enough for an entire room. Green This earthy tone is a stress reliever. Roll it onto the wall across from your bed and smile your way into sleep. Violet This royal hue fosters creativity and intuition. Add it to your home office for more satisfaction in your work life. Fuchsia While this color is a tad bright for most rooms, fuchsia accent walls can still splash around enough of the color to make an impact.

  brought to you by Hope Leitner Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices California Properties Few household maintenance routines pay off better than checking out your central air conditioning unit before the hot weather sets in. Preparing the unit for heavy duty now will not only save on energy costs, but will up your chances of staying cool all summer and avoiding an emergency service call. Air conditioning experts suggest these routine tips for ensuring trouble-free performance: Turn off power to the unit . Turn off the switch and unplug the unit to allow for safe handling. Clean or replace the filter . Most likely located behind the air return grille on the wall or ceiling in a central part of the house, the air filter can accumulate dirt, dust and allergen particles over the winter months. This makes the system work harder than it needs to, and costs in terms of efficiency and utility dollars. If the filter is disposable, replace it, and keep a couple more on hand for replacement every tw

  Information is brought to you by Hope Leitner Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices California Properties Curtain Alternatives to Dress Your Windows Looking to dress your windows with something other than curtains? The following ideas are fun, great for creative expression and relatively inexpensive. Screens.  These thin, partially transparent screens can be pulled down when you need them and still let some light through. Bright frames.  Don’t want any type of coverage but looking for a color pop? Paint bright wooden frames (think pictures frames) and fit them around your window for flare. Canopies.  Instead of hanging curtains on a rod, fix two long sheaths of fabric from a bed crown hung above the window and then draw them back like curtains. This looks particularly lovely behind a bed. Beads.  Grab a funky beaded curtain, available in all shapes and sizes—a great addition to a kid’s bedroom or playroom. Frosted glass.  If you’re looking at a room with windows that always need covering—l

  Information is brought to you by Hope Leitner Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices California Properties 5 Ways to Pick the Perfect Color Scheme If you’re revamping your interior design scheme, you may be considering a new color palette. Should you go with earthy hues? Vibrant jewel tones? Cool blues and grays? Below are five ways to pick a color scheme that will work for you. Choose from what you have.  If you’re not revamping with an entirely new furniture set, then you may want to pick a color from what you already have. A boldly patterned sofa or floor rug can serve as a jumping off point. Start with three . If you’re feeling overwhelmed with options, choose three colors you love and keep it to there, with one as your main color, another as your secondary and a third for accents. (Four if you count white, which is more of a neutral). Base with black . If you can tie black into your color scheme, you’ll always have something easy (and versatile) to return to. No need to get macabre—thi