With Fall in full swing and Winter quickly approaching, it's a good idea to be aware of some tree trimming basics. If you’ve got dead limbs, branches growing into power lines, branches overhanging your house, or tree growth that obstruct visibility for vehicles and pedestrians, it’s time to do some tree trimming.

Home insurer Allstate.com says there are three basic reasons for trimming your trees. In order of importance, they are:

1. Falling tree branches are dangerous for anyone on your property and can cause damage to your home.
2. Tree health. Dead or diseased branches harm the tree. Pruning helps the tree develop core strength.
3. Trimmed trees are more attractive and grow healthier fruit, flowers and leaves.

You can trim trees yourself with the proper tools, such as loppers, 12-14-and 16 foot tree pruners, hand pruners, etc., as long as you don’t need to get on a tall ladder, but trees taller than your extension pole are best left to professionals.

According to Homeserve.com, you can expect to pay an average of $460 but up to $1,500 for professional pruning of a tall tree such as an oak or pine. Tree removal begins at $750, but make sure that any quote you receive includes stump grinding, clean up and hauling away debris. 

If you choose to trim your trees by yourself, an excellent resource is the USDA

publication How to Prune Trees. It provides a safe-sized guide for cutting branches no larger than four inches in diameter. Anything larger, contact an arborist. A good rule is that if you wonder whether to cut a branch, don’t.

Housing Starts Data Shows Positive Signs for the Market

Last week, the U.S. Census Bureau reported that housing starts and building permits saw respective declines of 1.6% and 7.7% in September. Typically, this data would have negative connotations for buyers and builders alike. A slowdown in housing starts can suggest a slowdown in construction – which is the last thing the real estate industry would need right now. Home prices are already soaring, and if housing construction slows, this could put even more upward pressure on prices. Luckily, the month-over-month construction data is only telling a small part of the overall story. The long-term data shows a much more positive trend.

When the COVID pandemic broke out in early 2020, virtually everything shut down. Schools, offices, restaurants, and seemingly everything else was completely changed as the world tried to determine what to do next. As the world shut down, people began to shut in. The economy struggled. Housing experts predicted the industry would struggle due to decreased buyer demand. Lumber mills shut down, home builders slowed down, and housing starts took a sharp tumble. From February 2020 to April 2020, housing starts slipped 41%. Existing home sales, which make up the majority of total home sales, dropped 26.3% during that same time frame.

Then the unexpected happened. The demand for homes skyrocketed. Record-low mortgage rates sent eager buyers rushing into the market. Existing home sales soared at a record pace. Homes were flying off the market, and buyers were still hungry for more. By that time, housing construction was already behind due to COVID-related slowdowns, so it’s no surprise that home builders jumped into action. From April 2020 to March 2021, housing starts climbed by over 50%. Since March, housing starts have largely trended downward with varied monthly increases. Though many might interpret this data as a negative sign for the market, it’s quite the opposite.

If you’re looking at the data strictly from the month-over-month view, you’ll see a decline. Even compared to earlier this year, you’ll see a decline. That’s because in March 2021, housing starts spiked to a 15-year high. New home sales soared to a 15-year high in January, so it’s likely construction was starting to pick up. Since then, new home sales have generally declined, with a slight seasonal spike this summer.

This doesn’t mean that the market is crashing. In fact, it simply shows that the market is finally stabilizing. After the COVID-related drop in construction activity and the subsequent spike in make-up production levels, we are finally starting to see a moderation. Last week, the National Association of Home Builders (NAHB) released their October housing market sentiment index, which reached a level of 80 for the first time in three months. This was a pretty notable four-point jump from its level of 76 in September considering its minimal one-point increase the month before. From July to August, the index had fallen by five points. 

So, what does this mean and why is it good? The fact that the market is stabilizing moderately is a huge win. After a housing boom like we saw last year, many feared that a bust would follow. It reminded many people of the boom we saw prior to the Great Recession in 2007-2008. The housing market was thriving prior to that period. It seemed to pick up speed and success very fast. Unfortunately, it all came crashing down just as fast – sending the industry and the economy into one of the biggest economic slumps since the Great Depression. So gradual moderation in the pace of sales and construction is huge. “What that story is telling us is that we have enough demand to keep building homes in America,” writes Mohtashami. It may not seem like a big deal, but for those of us who remember 2008, it is. And hopefully, as the market continues to stabilize, so will home prices and availability.

If you’re interested in learning more about the current market trends, let me know.

To read more about market trends, click here.

Elevating Your Powder Room

A powder room is a perfect place to go big and bold with your design because it’s such a small space. As you design your powder bath, consider it your calling card and make it a room that will be memorable to guests long after they leave. A powder bath is a perfect space to take design risks you wouldn’t otherwise feel comfortable doing in larger areas. Read on to learn how you can create an enormous impact in a small space.

Envelop the Space in Wallpaper
A powder room isn’t complete without wallpaper. A bold print adds drama and won’t overpower the room since it’s a small enough space. Additionally, since powder bath’s don’t have the humidity that comes with a shower, they are the perfect location to hang wallpaper.

Select Oversized Art
Multiple, smaller pieces of art can make a small space appear even smaller. Scale up your art to fill the width of the wall to make a statement and prevent the wall from feeling cluttered.

Layer the Lighting
Consider your lighting as pieces of art that will further elevate the room’s design. Think about the lighting from a finish and sculptural standpoint as you select the fixtures. For example, oversized sconces are a typical selection for a powder room, as they lend a design statement and beautifully illuminate your face as you look in the mirror.

Last Minute Halloween Costumes

Did you happen to forget that Halloween was this weekend? No fret! The best last-minute costumes require minimal effort and still deliver maximum impact. Since we're in the "last-minute" category, you probably don't have time for extended shipping. You're in luck, there might still be time for Amazon Prime delivery, or some of these ideas you can throw together with items already available in your closet. 

1. Mia Wallace from Pulp Fiction

What you'll need: A white button-down shirt, black trousers, a wig (ideally, no worries if not) and some red lipstick (which can also double as fake blood). 

2. Krispy Kreme Halloween Costume

What you'll need: A red longsleeve shirt, white apron, and a Krispy Kreme hat. (Which you can ask for at your local store). 

 3. Where's Waldo

What you'll need: A red and white striped top, round framed glasses, socks and a beanie.

4. 80's Rock Band Costume

What you'll need: Some sort of leather (pants, jacket, leggings), bright & loud makeup, hairspray, and a fun t-shirt. 

5. A Beanie Baby Stuff Animal

What you'll need: Any animal ears/costume, ribbon, red paper cut into a heart with TY painted in white.

For more DIY Halloween costume ideas, click here.