How to Hide Your AC Unit In Plain Sight

 
 

It’s no secret that air conditioning units are an essential part of our homes, especially during sweltering weather.

However, some homeowners are hesitant to install or purchase AC units that might spoil the look and feel of their houses. They are essential to keeping your home comfortable to live in, however, they can also be an eyesore for your home’s décor. Nobody wants an ugly window air conditioning unit or bulky outdoor HVAC unit that spoils the ambiance of their well-decorated interior. Fortunately, there are many ways to hide an AC unit while still keeping it accessible.

In this blog post, we’ll share some great ideas and easy-to-follow techniques on how to conceal your AC unit and blend it into your home decor without going through a major renovation. Whether your AC unit is outdoors or indoors, we’ve got you covered!

Landscaping Around Your AC Unit
One of the easiest and most effective ways to hide your AC unit is to blend it into your surrounding landscape. You can hide it naturally amidst shrubs, and flowers, or even create a garden around it. You can plant trees like alder, maple, or fir that can grow tall enough to mask the AC unit. For shrubs, you can use boxwoods, holly, or euonymus. However, it's essential to make sure you leave enough clearance space between the plants and the unit for proper airflow. Add rocks or stones around the AC unit and you’ll have a visually appealing and functional feature.

Fencing
Depending on where the unit is situated, another great way to hide your AC unit is by installing a fence around it. You could use a lattice, wood, or wrought-iron fence, depending on the style of your house. To create a more stylish look, you can paint or stain the fence to match the exterior of your home. You can also plant ivy or vines around the fence to make it look like a natural part of your landscape.

Build a Screen or Enclosure
If you want complete coverage, consider building a custom screen or enclosure for your air conditioning unit. You can use wood panels or cinder blocks to construct a wall around the unit that can double as a seating area. You could even have a contractor build an attractive seating area or enclosure that perfectly hides the AC unit.

Make it Blend
If your AC unit is on the inside, there are some great and creative ways to make it blend into the overall look of your home. You can use wallpapers and decals to decorate the walls around the unit or get creative with furniture pieces. Using accessories like wooden boxes, decorative baskets, or ornamental shelves helps camouflage your air conditioning system in plain sight!

Cover When Not In Use
Another great option is to build a custom cabinet that surrounds the unit or even hang an art piece in front of it. This way, you’ll still have access to your AC, but nobody will notice it’s there. Alternatively, you can use removable panels or curtains to cover up the unit when not in use. If space allows, you might even install a sliding door so that you can open and shut it whenever needed.

The beauty of hiding your AC unit is that there are so many unique ways to do it. These ideas range from the exotic and artistic to the traditional and natural. No matter which idea meets your needs best, concealing your AC unit and blending it into your home décor not only makes for great aesthetics but also provides functional protection. Also, it’s important to remember that despite its attractiveness, the system should always have plenty of clearance for proper airflow and easy maintenance. You might want some extra help when it comes to air conditioner installation as professionals will be able to provide guidance and assistance with selecting the best AC unit for your home and ensure that it is securely installed and functioning optimally. This way, you can enjoy all the benefits of air conditioning without compromising on style or décor!

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

Owning Your Home Helps You Build Wealth

 
 

You may have heard some people say it’s better to rent than buy a home right now.

But, even today, there are lots of good reasons to become a homeowner. One of them is that owning a home is typically viewed as a good long-term investment that helps your net worth grow over time.

Homeownership Builds Wealth Regardless of Income Level

You may be surprised to learn homeowners across various income levels have a much higher net worth than renters who make the same amount. Data from First American helps illustrate this point (see graph below):

 
 

What makes wealth so much higher for homeowners? A recent article from Realtor.com says:

“Homeownership has long been tied to building wealth—and for good reason. Instead of throwing rent money out the window each month, owning a home allows you to build home equity. And over time, equity can turn your mortgage debt into a sizeable asset.”

Basically, the wealth you accumulate when you own a home has a lot to do with equity. As a homeowner, equity is built up as you pay down your loan and as home prices appreciate over time. Mark Fleming, Chief Economist at First American, explains how this same benefit isn’t true for renters in a recent podcast:

“Renters as non-homeowners gain no wealth benefit as home prices rise. That wealth actually accrues to the landlord.”

Before you decide to sign another rental agreement, now is a good time to think about whether it would be better for you to buy a home instead. The best way to figure out what makes sense for you is to have a conversation with a real estate expert you trust. That professional can talk you through the benefits that come with owning to determine if that’s the right next step for you. 

Bottom Line

If you're not sure whether to keep renting or to buy a home, know that owning a home, no matter how much money you make, can help build your wealth. Connect with a local real estate agent to get started on the path to homeownership.

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

The 8 Mortgage Mistakes You Can’t Afford to Make

 
 

Picking out the perfect home can be a challenging task. But that’s only the first step. You still need to be an attractive loan candidate, navigate the mortgage process and plan well for the future.

Since all that can get a little tricky, many home buyers made mortgage mistakes that cost them dearly.

In order to avoid some of the biggest missteps, you should first know what they are.

1. Picking any old mortgage

You don’t want to be saddled for even a short period of time with the wrong mortgage.

Investigate all of your options, and then you need to lay your choices side-by-side and do the math—making sure you have an emergency savings for worst-case scenarios.

Loan shop with several different lenders and use a mortgage calculator to fine-tune your estimates.

2. Confusing pre-approval or pre-qualification with commitment

When you’re pre-qualified, the lender is simply giving you an estimate about how much you can borrow based on information you’ve provided.

When you’re pre-approved, the lender has verified everything you’ve provided and is offering to lend you up to a given amount at current interest rates—under certain conditions.

It’s much better to be pre-approved when shopping for a home, but it’s still not a guarantee: the lender’s final clearance and a loan commitment are subject to an appraisal satisfactory to the lender, good title, a last-minute credit check and other verifications.

3. Having too much debt

Even if you pay your bills on time, lenders tend to focus just as much on how much credit you have available to you—that is, your debt-to-income ratio—as they do on timeliness.

Being up to your ears in debt is a sure way to be turned down for a mortgage. Postpone any big-ticket purchases until after you buy your house.

4. Forgetting about your credit

Before you apply for a loan, you should know your credit score and credit report inside and out.

Thoroughly check your credit report for any possible mistakes. You can order a free credit report from each of the big three credit report agencies—Equifax, TransUnion and Experian—once a year.

If you see a mistake, dispute it. If your credit is bad, that’s okay: just work on repairing it before you apply for a mortgage.

5. Lying on your loan application

Exaggerating your income on a mortgage application or putting down other untruths can be a federal offense.

If a lender finds out, they can make your loan due and payable. And while bad loan officers may stretch the truth to get a client approved, it’s the borrowers who end up paying the price.

6. Hiding from payments

The worst thing you can do is ignore phone calls and letters from your lender when you are behind on your payments.

Lenders have many options at their disposal to help keep borrowers from losing their homes to foreclosure, but they can’t do anything for you unless they can talk to you about your difficulties.

7. Skipping a home inspection

Failing to make your purchase contingent on a satisfactory home inspection could be a costly mistake.

Good home inspectors examine houses from stem to stern. They’ll be able to tell you whether the roof or basement leaks, whether the mechanical systems are in good shape and how long the appliances should last.

Don’t get caught off guard by needed repairs, or it will mean more money for your mortgage payments.

If you’re unsure of where to find a good home inspector, ask your agent for a referral. 

8. Making big life changes

Lenders like stability.

It’s a good idea to have kept your job for at least a year or two before applying for a mortgage, and it’s even more important to keep your job throughout the mortgage process.

If you’re looking to switch jobs, wait until after you’ve closed the deal.

Get more like this 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

Central Oregon Real Estate Market Report from June 2023

 
 

High-End Sales Drive Bend Market; Redmond Holds Steady

The Bend SFR market, with a median sale price of $785k, saw a significant 24% of transactions in the $1M+ range, demonstrating consistent growth in this high-end segment compared to 5% back in July 2019. New building permits reached a peak since June 2022, reflecting increased interest in new construction. However, while monthly shifts are evident, the long-term trend remains key in assessing market direction.

Redmond's market has been stable, maintaining around a two-month inventory supply, with most sales and listings occurring in the $450k-$600k price range. Smaller market areas are seeing inventory increases, notably La Pine with a five-month supply.

Freddie Mac reports, "As inflation slows, mortgage rates decreased this week. Still, the ongoing shortage of previously owned homes for sale has been a detriment to homebuyers looking to take advantage of declining rates. On the other hand, homebuilders have an edge in today’s market, and incoming data shows that homebuilder sentiment continues to rise."

Mike Simonsen of Altos Research adds, "Will home prices hold up for the rest of 2023? The data points to Yes. 33.1% of the market has had price reductions. Very normal. Homes that take a price cut now, get offers in Aug, close in Sept & Oct. So we see price support for most of the rest of the year. We're looking at finishing 2023 with lower inventory and higher sales…”

Download the Full Report


 

BEND AREA
$785,000
Median Price
13 Days on Market

REDMOND AREA
$473,000
Median Price
16 Days on Market

JEFFERSON COUNTY
$369,000
Median Price
6 Days on Market

SUNRIVER
$1,125,000
Median Price
6 Days on Market

LA PINE
$429,000
Median Price
27 Days on Market

SISTERS
$773,000
Median Price
14 Days on Market

CROOK COUNTY
$400,000
Median Price
21 Days on Market

 

Thank you to Beacon Appraisal Group for compiling this report. Prepared by Donnie Montagner with information from the MLS of Central Oregon with permission from COAR.

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 Oregon

Just Listed: This adorable stick built single level home sits on over 1/3 acre in Bend!

 
 
 

This adorable stick built single level home sits on over 1/3 acre in Bend

Home is 3 bedrooms, 2 full bathrooms and a 2 car attached garage. Some updates have been done to this cute 1973 built home, but still has room for your personalization. The large yard is a blank canvas for your garden or landscaping ideas. Home is near shops, restaurants, parkway access and less than 2 miles to the new Alpenglow Community Park.

Listed by Rhianna Basye for West + Main Homes. Please contact Rhianna for current pricing + availability.

 
 
 

Have questions?
West + Main Homes
(405) 652-6635
hello@westandmain.com

Presented by:
Rhianna Basye
503-318-8452
rhianna@homesbyrhianna.com


Search homes in Oregon