The days are getting warmer and, if you're lucky enough to have a tiny square of patio to call your own, you're probably spending a good bit of time outside.

But even our outdoor spaces can start to wear thin after a while.  Here are some patio projects you can do yourself in a weekend's time.

Build your own flower boxes

Porch railing planters are a great way to get in a bit of extra garden space—even when you don’t have a full garden to begin with.

 Install new porch lights

You won’t need to spend a whole day on this project, but that doesn’t make the payoff any less impressive.  A new porch light can perk up an entryway in as little as an afternoon, as long as you know how to wire the fixture safely.

 Add a porch swing or bed

Swings aren’t just for the kids; in fact these very-adult nostalgic decor pieces are just about guaranteed to breathe fresh life into your tired porch scheme.

Repaint the front door

There’s nothing quite like a fresh coat of paint to refresh your front porch, especially if that means adding color to a main focal point—like the front door.

source: realtor.com

From a financial perspective, there are certainly some advantages to buying a home right now. For one, mortgage interest rates are historically low, which means your monthly housing payments will be lower, too. And putting a property under contract now and locking in a low interest rate gives buyers more control than living in a rental where rents might go up.

Another big consideration on the financial side of the home-buying equation comes down to competition. The coronavirus has dissuaded some home buyers from home shopping for the time being. So buyers who do venture out face less competition, which could put them in a stronger position to negotiate with sellers.

In addition to surveying the housing market and mortgage rates in your area, you should also take a good, hard look at your personal financial situation. You'll want to gauge whether now is a good time to buy for you. Are your job and income stable, or are you worried about layoffs or the stock market?

If your own financial future is uncertain, you might want to take more of a wait-and-see approach to home buying. Or consider buying a home well under what you can afford just in case the coming months throw you a curveball.

source: realtor.com