, , , , , , ,

As Featured in West + Main Home Magazine: Welcome to the Farm

, , , , , , ,
 
 

West + Main agent Doug Yetman and his wife Amy purchased a dilapidated horse property in Lakewood with the goal of making it their dream urban farm—Yetman Farms!

The Journey of Yetman Farm

 
 
 
 

"The kitchen and dining area are our favorite! This multi-purpose room is where we gather with friends, sit by the fireplace, entertain gaggles of kids and do prep work for items grown on our farm. We vaulted the ceilings in the kitchen and dining area and added skylights to give it a more modern/open feel. The room now offers wonderful, 180-degree views of our property. We love sitting at our huge farm table in front of our big bay window and viewing our property in any season!"

 
 
 
 

"We always lean towards classic traditional designs that allow art and furniture to shine. Plus, we love adding vintage and thrift store finds to any project. Though this was not as old as our previous houses, we also like to respect the era that the house was built in--late 1960s in this case--so we made choices that would fit the existing house. We also have a good friend, Kate Bendewald, who is also a talented designer and helped us design the kitchen."

 
 
 
 
“... we have always been big gardeners and for years talked about moving to some wide open spaces”
 
 

"We wanted it to be a place where we could embrace and commune with nature, welcome community and even do some entrepreneurial things," explained Doug. "Since then, we have added a grain-bin/studio/office, chickens, three goats, barn kitties, a mini-horse, a retired show-horse and planted a flower farm where we host events including 'pick your own' days."

 
 

"At the outset, we knew we had two major expenses that were not sexy—a full roof replacement AND replacing the crumbing septic system by tapping into a city sewer line that was over 100 yards away," remembers Doug. "These were high-ticket items but we knew they would bring long-term peace of mind and value to the home. We saved money by keeping the footprints of many rooms the same--for example, the we didn’t change the footprint of any of the bathrooms--we just modernized and updated!"

 
 

"We have always been big gardeners, loved animals and for years talked about moving to some 'wide open spaces,' and in the fall of 2020, during the heart of the pandemic, we both were longing for more nature, and a place where we could raise our three daughters with more access to the outdoors. The property had been neglected for years, and Amy led the charge on design choices, and thankfully our design aesthetics generally match," said Doug. 

 
 

For more info on the farm visit

yetmanfarms.com

Wallpaper: Rifle Paper Company “Menagerie”

Paint: White Dove

Tile: Casablanca White Zellige  by Zia Tile + Chloe in White from Bedrosians

Wide-plank White Oak: Revive Flooring

Stove: Ilve

Aged Brass Rail: deVOL kitchens

One-of-a-kind Light Fixtures: Chairish and Etsy

Related Links

If there is a home that you would like more information about, if you are considering selling a property, or if you have questions about the housing market in your neighborhood, please reach out. We’re here to help.

Search Homes in Colorado

Search Homes in Oklahoma

Search Homes in Oregon

This Weekend: Minnesota Open Houses for August 25th to 27th

 
 

Our agents are hosting Open Houses this weekend in the the Minnesota Area.

You can find all of these listings on our website. Please reach out to the listing agent for information on times and more information on the listing!

If there is a home that you would like more information about, if you are considering selling a property, or if you have questions about the housing market in your neighborhood, please reach out. We’re here to help.

Search Homes in Minnesota

, , , , , , ,

Here’s why rates can vary so much from place to place, plus 5 cities with the highest rates

, , , , , , ,
 
 

Property taxes can be a major expense for households, and several factors may affect the size of the bill, research shows.

These levies, which typically fund public services, such as K-12 education, police and firefighters, can be tough to compare across jurisdictions.

But there are four key reasons for differences: property tax reliance, property values, local spending and classification, according to a new report from the Lincoln Institute of Land Policy and Minnesota Center for Fiscal Excellence.

“In some communities, local residents are willing to pay higher taxes but expect higher spending on things like public parks and a robust public transportation network,” said Katherine Loughead, a senior policy analyst with the Center for State Tax Policy at the Tax Foundation. “In other communities, residents are less interested in the expense of public amenities but instead want to pay lower taxes.”

Property tax is “really instrumental” as a local revenue source, but Loughead stressed that every community has different priorities and budgeting goals.

Property taxes have ‘so many variables’

“With property taxes, it’s pretty simple stuff,” said Richard Auxier, senior policy associate at the Urban-Brookings Tax Policy Center. “But there are just so many variables.”

For example, there may be state restrictions on property tax growth or relief programs for certain residents, such as elderly, disabled or veteran homeowners.

This is why your next-door neighbor’s property tax bill can be so different from yours, Auxier explained. “When you turn the knobs to different points, you get different outcomes.”

Generally, cities tend to have more expensive property tax rates if there’s high property tax reliance, low property values or more robust local government spending, the report concludes.

The report analyzed the effective tax rate, or taxes as a percentage of a property’s market value, for more than 100 cities to better understand these variances. The calculation also included factors such as exemptions and credits.

5 highest effective property tax rates in 2022

These are the five highest effective property tax rates on a median-value home in 2022:

  1. Detroit: 3.21%

  2. Newark, New Jersey: 3.20%

  3. Aurora, Illinois: 3.04%

  4. Bridgeport, Connecticut: 3.04%

  5. Portland, Oregon: 2.59%

The average effective tax rate for median-value homes was 1.32% in 2022, based on the report’s analysis of the largest city in each state.

Of course, cities with high effective tax rates can still have relatively low property tax bills, based on home values.

For example, Los Angeles and Wichita, Kansas, have a similar effective tax rate of around 1.16%. But Los Angeles homeowners have significantly higher property tax bills due to much higher median home values.

Learn more on CNBC.

Related Links

If there is a home that you would like more information about, if you are considering selling a property, or if you have questions about the housing market in your neighborhood, please reach out. We’re here to help.

Search Homes in Colorado
Search Homes in Oklahoma
Search Homes in Oregon
Search homes in Minnesota

, , , , , , ,

3 Reasons Your Roller Paint Job Looks Bad (and How to Fix It)

, , , , , , ,
 
 

Picture this: You’re sitting in a newly refreshed room, basking in the wonder that is your DIY handiwork.

You’ve painted the walls, the cabinets, or the built-ins, and you’re admiring the color, when you spot it: a little ridge of dried paint left over from your roller. When you take a closer look, you suddenly notice inconsistent coats throughout the space. And even though you’re still proud of the room’s transformation, you just can’t stop nitpicking at this flaw. 

“We often hear of consumers doing DIY painting jobs, but before you tackle a project, you’ll want to make sure you have the time, tools, and talent to do the job well,” says Angie Hicks, chief customer officer at Angi and co-founder of Angie’s List. The key with DIY paint jobs, as with anything, is practice. “I recommend applying a fresh coat of the same color in a small bedroom before tackling changing a room’s color or painting rooms with walls that have more items to work around, like kitchens and bathrooms,” Hicks says.

Jenna Pilant, polychromatic designer of Room Bloom Design, agrees. She’s also noticed how spaces don’t quite get the professional finish DIYers are looking for because of one thing: technique. She’s seen a surge in projects using paint sprayers recently, but Pilant is still a roller devotee (her go-to tool is a trusty 3- to 4-inch roller).

“It might take longer to paint, but rolling is much more manageable if you’re pursuing paint perfection,” Pilant says. Why is that? Well, for one, there’s a learning curve for paint sprayers if you’re not used to using them. And secondly, using a paint sprayer for something like your kitchen cabinets makes it tough to do touch-ups down the line and have the finish match exactly. If you roll on your paint, you’ll also be able to roll on your touch-ups.

Of course, rollers aren’t infallible. Here, you’ll find three reasons why your roller paint job looks bad, according to Hicks and Pilant. And good news: After reading their tips below, you’ll know exactly how to fix it. 

You need to prep your walls — seriously. 

While there are so many high-quality paints out there advertising the possibility of skipping a few hours of prep, don’t fall for it. Create a playlist and commit to this part of the project, because your future self may thank you.

“Prep” in this case means smoothing out any dings, removing any lingering grime, and protecting areas that you don’t want to paint. “Be sure to patch up any holes or cracks, wash the surface with warm water and soap to remove any debris, and mask off any areas you don’t want to paint,” Hicks says. Doing this will ensure that your paint rolls onto your walls easily, and there won’t be anything getting in the way of a smooth finish.

Yes, you most likely need a primer.

Using a primer on your walls is also one of those details that perhaps can be skipped if the change is straightforward (repainting a bedroom in the same color, like Hicks noted, for instance). But most pros won’t shrug this step off when it comes to big transformations, and neither should you.

“While it’s not required, priming your walls can add protection and help your paint job last longer,” Hicks says. “Most pros use primers and strongly recommend them, so it’s a great way to make your DIY paint job look more professional.”

Using a primer is especially important when it comes to painting built-ins and cabinets, as well as areas of your home subject to moisture (hello, bathrooms). Taking that additional step will keep your paint from chipping or peeling.

It matters how you roll on your paint. 

You’re probably used to rolling your paint in both an upward and downward motion. And while that paint can look even as you’re still working, the alternating directions of your application may show up after the paint has dried — especially when light shines on it. The fix? While the paint is still wet, make sure to backroll the area all in the same direction with a top-down motion.

“If you alternate your roller strokes, you will see your roll marks,” Pilant says. “By rolling from top down with your application you will get a paint sprayer finish with the ability to actually touch up the paint later. This is especially key with cabinets and furniture that gets used and abused.”

Read the full article on Realtor.com

Related Links

If there is a home that you would like more information about, if you are considering selling a property, or if you have questions about the housing market in your neighborhood, please reach out. We’re here to help.

Search Homes in Colorado
Search Homes in Oklahoma
Search Homes in Oregon
Search homes in Minnesota

, , , , , , ,

Why You Don’t Need To Fear the Return of Adjustable-Rate Mortgages

, , , , , , ,
 
 

If you remember the housing crash back in 2008, you may recall just how popular adjustable-rate mortgages (ARMs) were back then.

And after years of being virtually nonexistent, more people are once again using ARMs when buying a home. Let’s break down why that’s happening and why this isn’t cause for concern.

Why ARMs Have Gained Popularity More Recently

This graph uses data from the Mortgage Bankers Association (MBA) to show how the percentage of adjustable-rate mortgages has increased over the past few years:

 
 

As the graph conveys, after hovering around 3% of all mortgages in 2021, many more homeowners turned to adjustable-rate mortgages again last year. There’s a simple explanation for that increase. Last year is when mortgage rates climbed dramatically. With higher borrowing costs, some homeowners decided to take out this type of loan because traditional borrowing costs were high, and an ARM gave them a lower rate. 

Why Today’s ARMs Aren’t Like the Ones in 2008

To put things into perspective, let’s remember these aren’t like the ARMs that became popular leading up to 2008. Part of what caused the housing crash was loose lending standards. Back then, when a buyer got an ARM, banks and lenders didn’t require proof of their employment, assets, income, etc. Basically, people were getting loans that they shouldn’t have been awarded. This set many homeowners up for trouble because they couldn’t pay back the loans that they never had to qualify for in the first place.

This time around, lending standards are different. Banks and lenders learned from the crash, and now they verify income, assets, employment, and more. This means today’s buyers actually have to qualify for their loans and show they’ll be able to repay them.

Archana Pradhan, Economist at CoreLogic, explains the difference between then and now:

“Around 60% of Adjustable-Rate Mortgages (ARM) that were originated in 2007 were low- or no-documentation loans . . . Similarly, in 2005, 29% of ARM borrowers had credit scores below 640 . . . Currently, almost all conventional loans, including both ARMs and Fixed-Rate Mortgages, require full documentation, are amortized, and are made to borrowers with credit scores above 640.”

In simple terms, Laurie Goodman at Urban Institute helps drive this point home by saying:

“Today’s Adjustable-Rate Mortgages are no riskier than other mortgage products and their lower monthly payments could increase access to homeownership for more potential buyers.”

Bottom Line

If you’re worried today’s adjustable-rate mortgages are like the ones from the housing crash, rest assured, things are different this time.

And, if you’re a first-time homebuyer and you’d like to learn more about lending options that could help you overcome today’s affordability challenges, reach out to a trusted lender.

Read on.

Related Links

If there is a home that you would like more information about, if you are considering selling a property, or if you have questions about the housing market in your neighborhood, please reach out. We’re here to help.

Search Homes in Colorado
Search Homes in Oklahoma
Search Homes in Oregon
Search homes in Minnesota

 
W+M_Logo (1).jpg
 
Cart (0)