Thank You for Joining Us at First Friday in Support of Gigi's Playhouse and ART INClusion!

Thank You for Joining Us at First Friday in Support of Gigi's Playhouse and ART INClusion!

With your help, we raised over $1000 dollars for Gigi’s Playhouse!

Learn more about Gigi’s Playhouse:

With over 57+ brick and mortar locations across the United States and Mexico and 200 inquiries to start new locations all over the world, GiGi’s Playhouse is the ONLY network of Down Syndrome Achievement Centers. Every day, we provide FREE, life-changing therapeutic, educational, and career training programs for 30,000+ individuals of all ages.  

Down syndrome is the largest chromosomal abnormality in our country and yet, it is the least funded. From a prenatal diagnosis to career skills, we make a lifetime commitment to remain by their side. Families are empowered with all the tools their child needs to succeed! 

Through free programs and through our Generation G Campaign for global acceptance, we EMPOWER families by maximizing opportunities for daily achievement and lasting acceptance. To ensure lasting acceptance, we must show the world what individuals with Down syndrome are truly capable of achieving as students, co-workers, volunteers, friends, and valued members of their communities. Our program outcomes help advance this vital social impact goal.

Learn more about Art INClusion:

“ART INClusion is an art collective providing space for youth of all abilities to bloom. This includes people with developmental disabilities, mental illness, physical limitations, or those who are traumatized or underserved by the traditional art world. We believe that everyone deserves access to the joy, self-expression, and thinking outside the box that comes with having space and tools to succeed,” said West + Main Agent and Founder of Art INClusion, Heidi Bricker.

Throughout the years, Heidi has used her passion for art to nurture her daughter’s creativity, and now is using those skills to enrich + impact her community, creating opportunities artistically.

“When we connect socially, and evolve creatively, we can propel ourselves forward to a happier state of mind. Colorado is rich in advocacy groups & non profit organizations, like Access Gallery, which seek to level the playing field because everyone belongs. In this new year, let’s remember that we can all make a difference in our community and have something to contribute,” said Bricker.

A special thank you to all those who made this event possible, including Heidi, the West + Main Staff, and our wonderful sponsor Streamline Home Loans. Thanks to these folks, ART INClusion’s first show, Volume 1, was a great success with proud Artists and Parents, live jazz music, and top notch food and drinks. Additionally, thank you to Access Gallery for filling our space with additional, beautiful art!

We can’t wait for our next ART INClusion event! Stay tuned on West + Main social channels to be the first to hear about our next event, and reach out if you’d like to learn more or get involved.

If you are a local artist/crafter/maker/indie business owner and would like to be featured on our blog, please fill out this form or contact Ashley at ashley@westandmainhomes.com with questions...we can't wait to learn all about you!

These Are the 8 Spots in Your Home Where You Never Thought to Hang Art

When you think of styling art in your home, it’s easy to get stuck in the conventional gallery wall mindset.

Don’t get me wrong: A gallery wall never goes out of style, and when done right, they truly reflect the personality their owners. Other configurations and places to style wall art around your home exist though, and even better, some of them don’t even require walls (!) and are extremely renter-friendly. Let’s take a look at some inspiration for out-of-the-box art hanging, because if there’s something that almost every home could use, it’s probably more art!

In the center of a window frame

Take a good look at the windows in your home. Some of them might have a great view — a garden, a terrace, a skyline — but other might not really be showcasing anything special. The latter scenario is when styling art in a window can really be fun and rewarding, as shown in this Charleston bungalow above. The key is to not obstruct a window that has a great view or brings in a lot of natural light.

Below a window

A general rule for hanging wall art is to place pieces at eye-level, which is about 57 inches from the floor. Like any other design “rule,” you can bend those parameters a bit for decorative impact, especially when your walls have windows that are unconventional in shape and size. Take advantage of forgotten real estate below a window, just as this Parisian apartment dweller did. The eye will be drawn to this unexpected area once they’ve found a fun piece of art residing there.

Above a doorway

Hanging art above a doorway creates a neat perspective trick that can make your room appear a little bit taller. Here, a colorful print gets its own museum spotlight, thanks to the rays that come in through a skylight. Even if you don’t have the kind of architecture this Toronto renter has, art above a doorway can still make an impact by drawing the eye upward.

Around the whole doorway

To help delineate spaces in a more open concept home, try hanging art around the perimeter of a doorway. If your home has a few doorless passages, you can emphasize the transition from one room into an other by hanging interesting pieces that will make guests stop, look, and linger as they move through space, as is the case in this Louisiana home. Keep the art similar in size — not necessarily shape — to make this look intentional.

On top of other art

An alternative approach to the gallery wall, layered art — or overlapping pieces and hanging some art effectively on top of other art — looks and feels cozy and creative. To nail this look, use smaller frames over larger ones, as this New Orleans dweller did, so you can still see most of the works that you’re hanging smaller pieces over.

On a Mirror

As a kid, I remember going over to my grandmother’s house for family dinners and sitting at a dining room table staring back at myself awkwardly as I chewed the Sunday roast. She had a floor-to-ceiling mirrored dining room, a design choice that was popular in the ’70s. You can still find them in homes today, but before you rip them out (or if you’re renting and you can’t), try hanging art over a mirrored wall. You’ll reap the benefits of the mirror’s room-expanding effect, and you still get to admire a beautiful piece of art. That’s what I’d call a win-win.

On closet doors

Any closet door could benefit from some styling, right? That’s why I love the idea of treating a closet like it’s an extension of a wall, as this Philadelphia renter did here with photos and a mini shelf. Just make sure your art is securely fastened so it doesn’t jostle with opening and closing.

On a refrigerator

Meet the distinguished older cousin of the “magnets on the fridge” phenomenon: framed art on the fridge, first spotted in this Philadelphia rental. Accessorizing a kitchen can be tough, but one single piece of art, or a small triptych of three small little prints in this unexpected spot makes a kitchen’s decor feel intentional but not overpowering. Choose art that pulls together your kitchen colors, and mount it using strong peel-and-stick magnets.

Check out Apartment Therapy for more tips like these.

Related Links

• 2023 Home and Design Trends to Watch

• Why Purchasing New Construction Can Be a Smart Move for First-Time Homebuyers

• Mortgage rates have peaked along with inflation

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.

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Wood vs. Gas Fireplaces: Pros and Cons of Each

Whether you're in the market for a fireplace or are just looking to upgrade your existing one, it's important to consider all your options.

Two of the most popular choices are wood and gas fireplaces—but which is right for you? Let's explore the differences between wood and gas fireplaces to help you make an informed decision. 

Ease of Use 
One obvious difference between wood and gas fireplaces is ease of use. Gas fireplaces are much easier to light than their wood-burning counterparts; all it takes is the push of a button or flip of a switch, and you have instant heat. On the other hand, lighting a wood-burning fireplace requires more effort—you must gather kindling, create a proper airflow and make sure that the logs remain lit. If you're looking for convenience, then gas is certainly the way to go. 

Maintenance Considerations 
Gas fireplaces require much less maintenance than traditional wood-burning ones; there's no need to constantly clean up ash or chop wood. However, gas fireplaces do require occasional maintenance such as cleaning out creosote buildup in the chimney or inspecting pipes for any potential problems. For those who don't want to deal with regular upkeep efforts, a gas fireplace may be the better choice.

Installation
When it comes to installation, gas fireplaces are typically easier to install than wood-burning versions. Gas insert installation requires less manual labor, as they don't need to be built up from the ground or have a chimney installed. But if you don't already have gas lines in your home, then you'll need to hire an expert who can install the necessary pipes and venting to make sure your gas fireplace is safe. On the other hand, wood-burning fireplaces require more manual labor and usually need a chimney for proper ventilation. So if you're looking for an easier installation process, consider opting for a gas fireplace instead of a wood-burning one.

Environmental Impact
When comparing wood and gas fireplaces, it's important to consider which option is better for our environment. The EPA has deemed that both types can produce hazardous air pollutants when used incorrectly; however, some studies suggest that properly venting a natural gas appliance could reduce certain pollutants by approximately 70%. If preserving our environment is important to you, then investing in a quality venting system might be worth considering if you decide on a natural gas fireplace. 

Making an informed decision about what type of fireplace to install can seem overwhelming—especially when considering all factors like cost, convenience, maintenance needs and environmental impact—but this comparison should provide some helpful insight into whether a wood or gas fireplace would be best suited for your home. Ultimately it comes down to personal preference; weigh your options carefully before making your final decision! Whatever option you choose will bring warmth and beauty into your home while providing hours of cozy enjoyment during chilly days and nights!

Keep reading here.

Related Links

• 2023 Home and Design Trends to Watch

• Why Purchasing New Construction Can Be a Smart Move for First-Time Homebuyers

• Mortgage rates have peaked along with inflation

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.

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Mortgage rates have peaked along with inflation

The CPI data cooled even though shelter inflation is lagging

Today’s inflation data has shown that the peak growth rate of inflation is behind us. This should also mean mortgage rates hit their highs. The key phrase I have stressed since I wrote about the case for mortgage rates to go lower on Oct. 27 is thinking 12 months out. The trend is your friend, and the month-to-month data has cooled off noticeably.

That cooling happened even with the biggest inflation component — shelter inflation — still rising in the lagged modeled CPI data. This means shelter inflation isn’t being properly accounted for versus the real-time data.

The Consumer Price Index month-to-month readings show that inflation has peaked, as seen below.

If it weren’t for the lagging CPI shelter index, the biggest component, the headline core print, would be lower today on a year-over-year basis. It’s a positive thing that most people have gotten the memo on this reality about shelter inflation because it shows how the headline year-over-year prints are lower as we speak.

While still hot, the year-over-year inflation growth rate is falling, see below. All this is happening with the labor market still very tight, which means the Fed doesn’t need to create a job-loss recession to bring inflation down. The best way to fight inflation is to add more supply, demand destruction is not the most effective way, and it will impact future production.

The jobless claims data on Thursday, as you can see below, was still solid and running at 205,000 for the headline, with a four-week moving average of 212,500.

For those who were saying we needed an unemployment rate above 6% to bring down inflation, you must feel sick to your stomach as that advice would have meant millions of Americans would have lost their job for no reason.

How did the bond market react to this inflation data? It was a mild day compared to what we saw back in November of 2022. However, as I am writing this, the 10-year yield is at 3.45%, which is the third time we are trying to lower this area.

This does mean mortgage rates should be getting better today. We are getting closer to a five-handle in mortgage rates and farther away from the 8%-10% mortgage rates people were talking about late last year when rates peaked at 7.37%.

Digging into the inflation data

From BLS: 
The Consumer Price Index for All Urban Consumers (CPI-U) declined 0.1 percent in December on a seasonally adjusted basis, after increasing 0.1 percent in November, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reported today. Over the last 12 months, the all items index increased 6.5 percent before seasonal adjustment. The index for gasoline was by far the largest contributor to the monthly all items decrease, more than offsetting increases in shelter indexes. The food index increased 0.3 percent over the month with the food at home index rising 0.2 percent. The energy index decreased 4.5 percent over the month as the gasoline index declined; other major energy component indexes increased over the month.

Breaking down some of the internals is key to understanding the CPI data. Of course, the biggest component of inflation is housing. I stressed in late 2020 that shelter inflation was going to take off, but the opposite is the reality now. However, the CPI data lags badly here.

Thankfully, the Federal Reserve understood this and created its own index in December to account for the lag. Back in September, on CPI inflation day, I talked about how this would be a positive story in 2023. I said by January or February, it would be evident that the growth rate of shelter inflation was falling, and people have gotten the memo. I could not have asked for a better outcome than where we are today.

Read the full article on Housing Wire.

Related Links

• 2023 Home and Design Trends to Watch

• Why Purchasing New Construction Can Be a Smart Move for First-Time Homebuyers

• What Are Your Goals in the Housing Market This Year?

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.

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Why Purchasing New Construction Can Be a Smart Move for First-Time Homebuyers

Many first-time homebuyers might presume they’re better off going used rather than new—in other words, purchasing a pre-existing property rather than pricey new construction.

While it’s true that brand-new homes often come with a heftier price tag upfront, these properties can actually end up being a good—even great—deal for first-time buyers.

“It is true that new-construction homes, on average, are 10% to 15% higher in sales price than resale homes, but that doesn’t mean that they are less affordable,” says Bob Seeman, vice president of sales for New Homes at Realtor.com. “Simply put, total homeownership costs are more than a monthly mortgage payment alone.”

Here’s why first-time homebuyers shouldn’t rule out new construction, and how these opportunities can be a better deal than many might think.

Low inventory means first-time buyers should explore all options

In a housing market that’s still dealing with extremely limited inventory, the reality is first-time homebuyers can’t afford to dismiss this option.

According to the National Association of Realtors®, the inventory of existing homes on the market in December 2022 was at an all-time low of 910,000. That was a year-over-year decrease of 18%, and marks 31 straight months of declines in available homes.

“The housing shortage will get worse over the next year—we simply don’t have enough supply,” says John Hunt, chief analyst for MarketNsight.

For example, Hunt says, to get back to “normal” and meet demand, Atlanta alone would need 66,000 additional homes on the market over the next 12 months.

Compounding the problem is that homeowners who might normally sell aren’t doing so because they’re reluctant to buy a new home—and get a new mortgage—when interest rates are so high.

Translation: Unless you want to be waiting a long time to buy your first home, you should consider new-construction homes because there just aren’t enough homes of any kind to satisfy the current demand.

Builders can help first-time buyers with better financing

Let’s face it, price matters. That’s true whether you’re buying your first home or third luxury vacation property. The difference with a new-construction purchase, however, is you might be able to save money through builder incentives.

These promotions—meant to attract buyers to a certain development project—frequently come in the form of financing help, and this is what can make a new-construction home purchase workable for a first-time buyer.

“What many first-time buyers most need are cash to close and monthly payments that they can afford,” says Seeman. “Because many builders can offer financing through their company’s mortgage arm or through a lender affiliate, they have programs to help reduce the amount of cash a buyer needs to close on a home.”

A reduction in the initial cash outlay can make all the difference for a first-time homebuyer. Many builders are also currently offering much lower mortgage rates through their lenders as well in order to attract first-time buyers who would otherwise be priced out of the market.

“We’re seeing builders get creative with financing—offering rates as low as 4.99% to 5.99% right now, which is lower than what you’ll see for existing homes,” says Alex Toth, director of homebuilder partnerships at Opendoor.

Since mortgage rates spiked in October to over 7% for a 30-year fixed-rate loan for the first time in 20 years, this could indeed determine if a first-time buyer can qualify for a home or not.

Another benefit of working with a builder’s lender is that the lender is usually well-versed in FHA and VA loan options. These low or no-down payment loans might also be a huge benefit to first-time homebuyers trying to secure a mortgage if they qualify.

Learn more on Realtor.com

Related Links

• 2023 Home and Design Trends to Watch

• The First Thing to Do to Get Your Finances in Order in the New Year, According to Money Experts

• What Are Your Goals in the Housing Market This Year?

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.

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