Start 2017 off on the right foot with this list of January resolutions for your home.

Ah, the month of resolutions! Your personal honey do list is sure to be filled with ambitious goals for 2017: get back to the gym, take control of your diet, but what about your home? This month, we’ve rounded up a January to do list to make sure you start the year off on the right foot at home.

1.  Nix Indoor Condensation – Look for indoor condensation on windows and take corrective action. For 7 ways to reduce humidity in your home, check out this great video from Andersen Windows & Doors.

2.  Make a maintenance calendar – Review warranties and product material to check on recommended maintenance for furnace, equipment, appliances, and tools. Mark your calendar to track scheduled upkeep and service.

3.  Accessorize, Accessorize, Accessorize – After the holiday decorations come down, your walls can feel a bit dull and empty. January is a great time to add new home decor accessories, like fresh throw pillows or framed photos of the past year’s activities.

4.  Get ready for the big game – Now’s the time to get ready for the ultimate game day. Here are 5 winning football party ideas that will score big.

5.  Organize your files – While most paperwork is now maintained digitally, it’s still important to make sure you’re organized and backed up. Take an afternoon to sort through online statements, contacts and emails that piled up over the holidays. And after all of that hard work, be sure to back up to a hard drive or cloud service.

6.  Sort and toss – Take time to sort through your toiletry products in the bathroom and food items in the pantry. Toss anything that is old or expired and start fresh for the new year.

7.  Warm up your home – In many parts of the country, we’re dreaming of ways to add a little extra warmth around the house. Whether it’s adding weather stripping or a smart thermostat, these 6 easy ways to make your home warmer and cozier this winterare just the trick!

8.  Ready to Move? Do this first – If you’re thinking of selling your home in 2017, make it a resolution to collect these 10 pieces of valuable information well before the spring real estate rush.

The California Association of Realtors 2018 State of the California Consumer Survey found 44 percent of buyers bought a more expensive home than they wanted. Thirty-three percent purchased a smaller home than desired, 36 percent purchased a home farther from school/work than wished, and 30 percent purchased in an area where schools were of lesser quality.

“In a competitive housing market, if you are comfortable with your choice of home and financing, it is all right to settle for fewer preferences or amenities than you’d like. It is important to be flexible and willing to make some compromises to get into your new home,” said Alan Barbic, 2019 president of the Silicon Valley Association of Realtors.

Buyers typically spent eight weeks on their home search. In the hyper-competitive, supply-constrained San Francisco Bay Area, which had the highest incidence of multiple offers, buyers spent a median of 10 weeks in their home search. Buyers made a median of three offers on other homes before having an offer accepted, but nearly one-fourth made more than 10 offers. Those who purchased a home for more than $1 million made five offers on other homes.

“We are seeing some added inventory, but it is not enough to meet the demand for homes here due to the enormous job growth,” said Barbic, who will be officially installed as president of the local trade association on Jan. 17.

The survey found a typical first-time buyer purchased a three-bedroom, 1,500-square-foot, single-family home. Nearly half of those surveyed purchased a home in the suburbs. First-time buyers selected their neighborhood primarily based on their budget (53 percent), safety (51 percent), and proximity to jobs/school (38 percent).

Repeat buyers typically purchased a larger three-bedroom home with a median 1,700 square feet. Three in four purchased a single-family home.

Millennials tended to buy homes with a median of 1,500 square feet and a median price of $350,000. Most millennials were more likely to purchase a condominium or townhome in a suburb (43 percent) and selected the neighborhood on budget (52 percent), safety (49 percent), proximity to jobs/schools (40 percent) and family/friends (33 percent).

Most Gen Xers selected a home in the suburbs with a median of 300 square feet greater than their previous home. Most purchased a single-family home, and nearly 20 percent purchased a townhouse/condo.

Boomers purchased a single-family home in the suburbs without stairs, or a home in rural area, since many of them are approaching retirement age and planning to age in their home and seek a quieter lifestyle.

The online survey was conducted between May 9 and July 9, 2018, with 6,144 participants. For the buyers section, respondents were 1,441 buyers who purchased a California home within the previous 18 months.

Information provided in this column is presented by the Realtor members of the Silicon Valley Association of Realtors at www.silvar.org.

Your Home’s January Honey Do List

Start 2019 off on the right foot with this list of January resolutions for your home.
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Ah, the month of resolutions! Your personal honey do list is sure to be filled with ambitious goals for 2019: get back to the gym, take control of your diet, but what about your home? This month, we’ve rounded up a January to do list to make sure you start the year off on the right foot at home.

1.  Nix Indoor Condensation – Look for indoor condensation on windows and take corrective action. For 7 ways to reduce humidity in your home, check out this great video from Andersen Windows & Doors.

2.  Make a maintenance calendar – Review warranties and product material to check on recommended maintenance for furnace, equipment, appliances, and tools. Mark your calendar to track scheduled upkeep and service.

3.  Accessorize, Accessorize, Accessorize – After the holiday decorations come down, your walls can feel a bit dull and empty. January is a great time to add new home decor accessories, like fresh throw pillows or framed photos of the past year’s activities.

4.  Get ready for the big game – Now’s the time to get ready for the ultimate game day. Here are 5 winning football party ideas that will score big.

5.  Organize your files – While most paperwork is now maintained digitally, it’s still important to make sure you’re organized and backed up. Take an afternoon to sort through online statements, contacts and emails that piled up over the holidays. And after all of that hard work, be sure to back up to a hard drive or cloud service.

6.  Sort and toss – Take time to sort through your toiletry products in the bathroom and food items in the pantry. Toss anything that is old or expired and start fresh for the new year.

7.  Warm up your home – In many parts of the country, we’re dreaming of ways to add a little extra warmth around the house. Whether it’s adding weather stripping or a smart thermostat, these 6 easy ways to make your home warmer and cozier this winterare just the trick!

8.  Ready to Move? Do this first – If you’re thinking of selling your home in 2019, make it a resolution to collect these 10 pieces of valuable information well before the spring real estate rush.