How You Can Help Save Local Restaurants

What I Wish People Knew… — founder and owner of Secret Sauce Food & BeverageJosh Wolkon

Folks have shown an amazing amount of support for local restaurants over the past nine months, as we pivoted our way through the COVID-19 crisis. I’m regularly asked, “How can we help?” Thank you for asking that question, and for doing what you can to support local restaurants and bars, which are the fabric of our community.

The restaurant business has never been easy; industry pros generally thrive when challenged, but a global pandemic has no playbook and the rules have been changing daily. Restaurants and bars have the daunting task of keeping their guests safe, smiling, and fed—and our teams equally safe and employed. Do you want to know how you can help? Really help? Here’s how:

Dine out(doors) during off hours. For example, visit your favorite patio or pick up lunch at 11 a.m. or 1:30 p.m., and grab dinner to go at 4 p.m. With a mandatory 8 p.m. last call, we have fewer hours during which to serve you so it helps our staff immensely when we can spread out our busy times.

Dress warmly. If you’re eating outside, it’s winter—and it’s going to be chilly. Bundle up. Bring your own blanket, wear a warm hat, and settle in for a dining adventure. Embrace this unusual winter of outdoor dining, please! The other night at Ace [Eat Serve], it warmed my heart to see a family with young children, bundled up and happily huddled around a fire pit eating steaming bowls of ramen. I’m sure the kids will never forget that unique experience.

Order take out directly from the restaurant’s website or over the phone. We know the third-party delivery services are convenient, but they really do hurt our business. By ordering directly from the restaurant, you’ll save money by not paying delivery and packaging fees and you’re letting the restaurant keep the 15 percent commission they typically have to pay to the delivery services. Once a delivery leaves the restaurant, we have no control over how long it takes to get to you or in what shape it’s in when it arrives. You’re simply more likely to receive hot food, the way it was intended to be served, when getting delivery direct.

Order wisely. French fries or “crispy” Brussels sprouts might not be so crispy by the time you get them home. Order items you are confident will travel or reheat well. Also, your favorite menu item might not be available for take-out if the restaurant is attempting to prevent complaint calls.

Order late night takeout. Anything ordered after 9:00 p.m. is a huge help, as in-house dining has slowed without the ability to serve or purchase alcohol past 8:00 p.m.

Order additional takeout meals for tomorrow or frozen meals to stock your freezer or give to neighbors. At Steuben’s, we started selling frozen pot pies to-go and at Ace we’re selling frozen curries. Think about throwing on a salad or soup for tomorrow’s lunch. If you’ve saved any money this year in the absence of regular dining out, travel, and entertainment, please consider doubling down on your next restaurant meal.

Add cocktails to go, the way you might have ordered drinks when you were dining inside. And please keep in mind that to-go cocktails are often not iced, so the volume perception might be misleading; we are 100 percent using the same recipes that we use in-house.

Respect reservation time limits. Most local restaurants have instituted dining time limits—usually around 90 minutes—in order to maximize already limited seating. Please help us out by showing up on time, ordering quickly, and freeing up the table once you’re done.

Buy gift cards to use in the spring or summer and consider buying retail items, too. Shirts, hats, glasses, etc. make great gifts any time of year!

Stay in touch with your favorite restaurants by joining e-mail lists, checking out their websites, or following them on social channels. They’re probably doing some very cool, creative, innovative, and delicious things that you’ll learn about through their guest communication channels.

Be kind on Yelp and other online review platforms…or better yet, just hold off reviewing at all during these unusual times. Nothing we’re doing is normal right now. As always, the most appreciated feedback is the feedback we receive in person, on the spot, or via a direct phone call or e-mail through our website.

Book 2021 events now. Consider putting down deposits for summer and early fall 2021 parties and events, which will help restaurants’ cash flow over the tough winter months ahead.

Leave big tips, if you can. Your generosity goes a very long way.

Head over to 5280 to hear what a restaurant server would like everyone to know!

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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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Townhouse vs. single-family house, factors to consider

Comparing single-family houses vs. townhouses can be difficult. What is the right fit for your home purchase? That depends on a whole host of factors — things like your budget, your need for space and privacy, and your penchant for home maintenance.

Are you trying to decide whether a townhome or a detached, single-family house is the best use of your money? Here’s what you should consider:

1. Cost — both upfront and long-term. 

Townhouses generally come with a lower sales price vs. single-family houses, meaning you can become a homeowner more easily, more affordably and maybe even sooner, too. With a lower sales price, you’ll also need a smaller down payment — another nice perk. 

You’ll likely have lower ongoing costs, too. In townhome communities, you’ll usually have lower maintenance expenses than you would on a single-family home. This is due to two factors: 1) your property is typically smaller and 2) your community association may handle some of those tasks. 

2. Upkeep and maintenance requirements.

When you own a single-family home, all the maintenance and upkeep falls on your shoulders. That means you’ll need to mow the lawn, change out the air filters and smoke detector batteries, unclog the gutters, and do all those regular maintenance tasks to keep your home in good condition. 

With townhomes, you’re usually a part of a larger community association, which will handle a lot of those larger tasks — particularly the exterior ones — for you. They might keep up the yard and garden, tend to the roof and gutters, and maintain other shared areas of the community, too.

3. Space and flexibility.

Single-family homes are typically larger than townhomes. You’ll likely have more square footage, more bedrooms and more privacy for members of your household. 

Another nice perk? You can do what you want with the property. Install a pool, paint the shutters or add a second master bedroom (unless you have an HOA, that is.)

Townhomes are usually on the smaller side, and there are often limitations imposed by the community association regarding both the interior and exterior of your home. You may not be able to paint, renovate or make any changes to the property, even once the home is yours.

4. Proximity to neighbors.

If you’re looking for insulation from the neighbors — not to mention their noise — then a townhome may not be the right choice. In a townhome, you share walls with one, or sometimes several, neighbors at once. You may be able to hear their music, parties or babies crying, or you could even smell what they’re cooking for dinner. 

Single-family properties offer a lot more space between you and your neighbors. That means more privacy and, in most cases, more quiet, too.

The bottom line

There’s no right or wrong choice when it comes to buying a home. Take a look at your budget, consider your needs and preferences, and consider talking to a real estate agent for more guidance. They can help you decide if a townhome or single-family property is a better fit for your situation.

Subscribe to Housing Wire for more info like this!

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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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W+M x Guest House Gift Guide, As Featured in the West + Main Home Magazine

In the second issue of our West + Main Homes Magazine, we collaborated with Guest House on this gift guide of goods made by local artists and creators.

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Find more home ideas and inspiration, check out the second issue of West + Main Homes Magazine.

The average millennial will spend over $200,000 on rent before buying a house — but Gen Z will spend even more

• Generation Z renters will spend more money on rent before they buy a home than any previous generation, according to a report from HotPads.

• Gen Z will spend an average of 11 years renting before becoming a homeowner, one year less than millennials.

• The top four cities where Gen Z renters are projected to spend the most money on rent are all in California.

It's no surprise that rent is more expensive for millennials than it was for baby boomers.

But soaring rent costs will hit Generation Z the hardest, those born between 1998 and 2016, according to new analysis from HotPads, a Zillow Group site.

Even when adjusted for inflation, today's youngest adults will spend more on rent in their lifetime than their predecessors, according to the report. Members of Gen Z will spend an average of $226,000 on rent before ever owning a home.

That tops older generations, surpassing the $202,000 millennials will end up spending on rent, and the average $148,900 baby boomers spent on rent before becoming homeowners after adjusting for inflation.

But while Gen Z will spend more money on rent in their lifetime — paying a median of $1,710 a month — HotPads estimates the younger generation will be quicker to buy homes than millennials. Baby boomers spent an average of 10 years renting before buying, Gen Z will spend 11 years, and millennials will spend 12 years renting.

"While there are a lot of unknowns about how the American economy will evolve over the coming decades as Generation Z grows into adulthood, if historical trends hold, the long-term forecast right now suggests that Generation Z is likely to benefit from a stronger job market than millennials," said HotPads economist Joshua Clark.

Clark also said that "while rising rents and home values mean that it won't be as easy for Generation Z to become homeowners as it was for baby boomers, they should get there sooner than millennials did."

HotPads analyzed government data and its own rental data to determine how much total rent each generation paid or will pay in their lifetime before becoming homeowners, as well as how many years they spent or will spend renting. HotPads based their projections on data for the average person in the median birth year of each generation — 1954 for baby boomers, 1987 for millennials, and 2002 for Gen Z. They also assumed renters begin paying rent at age 20. 

Below, see the 10 cities expected to be most expensive for Gen Z renters, plus how much the average millennial and baby boomer renter spent or will spend there before buying a home.

10. Miami, Florida

Generation Z total rent paid: $305,100

Millennials total rent paid: $258,400

Baby boomers total rent paid: $180,700

9. Denver, Colorado

Generation Z total rent paid: $320,300

Millennials total rent paid: $251,200

Baby boomers total rent paid: $169,500

8. New York, New York

Generation Z total rent paid: $323,800

Millennials total rent paid: $318,700

Baby boomers total rent paid: $194,700

7. Washington, DC

Generation Z total rent paid: $328,400

Millennials total rent paid: $311,100

Baby boomers total rent paid: $232,800

6. Seattle, Washington

Generation Z total rent paid: $358,200

Millennials total rent paid: $265,900

Baby boomers total rent paid: $162,210

5. Boston, Massachusetts

Generation Z total rent paid: $367,100

Millennials total rent paid: $311,000

Baby boomers total rent paid: $192,200

4. San Diego, California

Generation Z total rent paid: $405,700

Millennials total rent paid: $333,500

Baby boomers total rent paid: $236,300

3. Los Angeles, California

Generation Z total rent paid: $470,400

Millennials total rent paid: $359,600

Baby boomers total rent paid: $225,200

2. San Jose, California

Generation Z total rent paid: $560,300

Millennials total rent paid: $429,200

Baby boomers total rent paid: $281,700

1. San Francisco, California

Generation Z total rent paid: $570,900

Millennials total rent paid: $399,400

Baby boomers total rent paid: $230,000

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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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Highlights From NAR's Profile of Home Buyers + Sellers

For most home buyers, the purchase of real estate is one of the largest financial transactions they will make.

Buyers purchase a home not only for the desire to own a home of their own, but also because of changes in jobs, family situations, and the need for a smaller or larger living area. This annual survey conducted by the NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF REALTORS® of recent home buyers.

Characteristics of Home Buyers

• First-time buyers made up 31% of all home buyers, a dip from last year’s 33%.

• The typical buyer was 47 years old this year, and the median household income for 2019 rose again this year to $96,500.

• 12% of home buyers purchased a multi-generational home, to take care of aging parents, because of children over the age of 18 moving back home, and for cost-saving.

• 18% of recent home buyers were veterans and 2% were active-duty service members.

Characteristics of Homes Purchased

• Most recent buyers who purchased new homes were looking to avoid renovations and problems with plumbing or electricity at 44%. Buyers who purchased previously-owned homes were most often considering a better overall value at 35%.

• Home prices increased slightly this year to a median of $272,500 among all buyers. Buyers typically purchased their homes for 99% of the asking price.

• The typical home that was recently purchased was 1,900 square feet, had three bedrooms and two bathrooms, and was built in 1993.

• Heating and cooling costs were the most important environmental features for recent home buyers, with 83% finding these features at least somewhat important.

The Home Search Process

• For 43% of recent buyers, the first step that they took in the home buying process was to look online at properties for sale, while 18% of buyers first contacted a real estate agent.

• Buyers typically searched for eight weeks and looked at a median of 9 homes and viewed 5 of these homes only online.

• The share of home buyers who used the internet to search for a home increased to an all-time high of 97%.

• 64% of recent buyers were very satisfied with their recent home buying process.

Home Buying and Real Estate Professionals

• 88% of buyers recently purchased their home through a real estate agent or broker, and 6% purchased directly from a builder or builder’s agent.

• Having an agent to help them find the right home was what buyers wanted most when choosing an agent at 51%.

• 73% of buyers interviewed only one real estate agent during their home search.

• 91% of buyers would use their agent again or recommend their agent to others.

Financing the Home Purchase

• 87% of recent buyers financed their home purchase. Those who financed their home purchase typically financed 88%.

• First-time buyers who financed their home typically financed 93% of their home compared to repeat buyers at 84%.

• For 58% of buyers, the source of the downpayment came from their savings. 38% percent of buyers cited using the proceeds from the sale of a primary residence, which was the next most commonly reported way of securing a downpayment.

Home Sellers and Their Selling Experience

• For all sellers, the most commonly cited reason for selling their home was the desire to move closer to friends and family (15%), that it was too small (14%), and a change in family situation (12%).

• 89% of home sellers worked with a real estate agent to sell their home.

• For recently sold homes, the final sales price was a median of 99% of the final listing price.

• 46% of all sellers offered incentives to attract buyers.

Home Selling and Real Estate Professionals

• 77% of recent sellers contacted only one agent before finding the right agent they worked with to sell their home.

• 91% of sellers listed their homes on the Multiple Listing Service (MLS), which is the number one source for sellers to list their home.

• 77% of sellers reported that they provided the agent’s compensation.

For-Sale-by-Owner (FSBO) Sellers

• The median age for FSBO sellers is 57 years. 64% of FSBO sales were by married couples that have a median household income of $96,700.

• FSBOs typically sell for less than the selling price of other homes; FSBO homes sold at a median of $217,900 last year (up from last year), and significantly lower than the median of agent-assisted homes at $242,300.

• FSBO homes sold more quickly on the market than agent-assisted homes. 77% of FSBO homes sold in less than two weeks—often because homes were sold to someone the seller knows.

Home Buyers Before and During COVID-19

• Buyers who purchased after March were more likely to purchase a multi-generational home at 15% compared to 11% who purchased before April.

• Buyers who purchased after March have a shorter expected tenure in the home they purchased, just 10 years compared to those who purchased before the pandemic who expect to own their home for 15 years.

• 57% of buyers who purchased during the pandemic purchased in a suburban location, compared with 50% of pre-pandemic buyers.

• Buyers who purchased during the pandemic purchased a home that typically was $339,400 compared to pre-pandemic buyers who purchased a home that was $270,000. 23% of buyers who purchased after March purchased a home that was $500,000 or more.

Home Sellers Before and During COVID-19

• The top reason for sellers before April to sell their home was because they wanted to be closer to friends and family. Home sellers who sold their home after March were more likely to report the main reason for selling was because their home was too small.

• Home sellers who sold after March were more likely to say they were somewhat urgent in their need to sell their home – 46% compared to 39% of those who sold before April.

• Sellers who sold after March were more likely to use technology as a marketing tool. The biggest difference seen is among those using virtual tours. 27% used virtual tours after March compared to 16% of those pre-April.

• Home sellers who sold after March sold their home for $300,000 while those who sold before April sold it for $270,000.

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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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