Get Some Space

Small spaces can be warm and intimate. But if a room in your home feels more cramped than cozy, there may be a simple way to improve it.

Odette Lueck, of Odette Lueck Interiors in Oakland, Md., says the best way to stretch the size of a room is to start from the ground up. "The thing I use most is diagonal lines on the floor," says Lueck, who suggests installing wood flooring or tiles in a diagonal line. "No matter which way you look, it's expanding the border."

If you're not ready for a major project, you'd be amazed at what you can accomplish with just a few decorating tricks. First and foremost is color. To make your room appear larger, stick with neutrals and keep backgrounds (wall, furniture, draperies) the same color, says Lueck. But neutral doesn't have to be boring. "Use your color in accessories," says Lueck. But beware of patterns. Too many patterns can make a space seem cluttered.

Furniture placement is also important. The number of pieces should be kept to minimum and positioned against a wall. "Use glass coffee tables," suggests Lueck. "It's one less thing to be a solid focus in the a room." Don't be afraid to use a little creativity. For example, a stack of coffee table books next to chair can serve as a unique end table.

Another option is to embrace the room's petite size. "More often than not clients

make the mistake of

thinking that room

always has to

be larger," says

Lueck. "Small is

not necessarily bad.

A lot of times, what

you're actually

striving for is a more

intimate space." To

warm up a small

room, include dark

colors, lots of wood

and plenty of cozy

fabrics.

If you caught CNN on April 25th, they were showing how bad the housing market was doing with a seven months supply in  housing. It is true home sales are the lowest per month in several years, BUT, a seven month supply is not a bad number. In fact, 6 months is considered balanced. Less than 6 is a sellers market and more than 6 is a buyers market. To determine the market absorption, divide the number of houses on the market by the number sold in the month under study. The ONLY problem in the housing industry is the attitude of the buying and selling public, we call it consumer confidence. Rates are great, supply is great, and interest rates are still great. If you don't believe that, talk to someone who was in the housing industry in the 80's with rates of 18%. I was there, and it was a REAL challenge! The message is......buy now! Spread the word.

Membership to our website continues to grow. It is hard to believe but we have now reached 468 members!  Please be sure to visit all portions of the website and if you want information on how to get the same website or even a custom site be sure to let me know. We are proud to say that the Realty Manager website has received the official national approval by the Council of Real Estate Specialists on January 26th, 2007.

I am finding that the absolute best way to determine the temperature of the market is with market absorption pricing. This method shows if there is an over supply or under supply of homes available. It is calculated by the Realtor to help the seller and the buyer determine the temperature of the market. If you need more information on how to do this, just drop me an email. This method has helped me in my real estate practice and I highly recommend it!

Hard to believe, but we are now at 399 members and growing. Thanks to everyone who has signed up on the site. Look for new information coming in the month of March that will be of interest to our readers. Signs of a healthy real estate market are evident and properly priced homes are still selling. Thanks again for being a member. We will keep you posted on changes.