Real Living Suburban Lifestyle Real Estate
258 Main Street Unit F, Medfield, MA 02052
508-944-1967 | [email protected]
258 Main Street Unit F, Medfield, MA 02052
508-944-1967 | [email protected]
Once meant only for elegant Victorian boudoirs, the slipper chair has come to its own as a design element for side chairs, cozy reading areas, even as a more stylish desk chair. So just what is a slipper chair?
Historic versus modern
In 18th-century European homes, the wide, low, armless chairs graced the rooms of ladies wearing heavy layers of petticoats, tightly laced corsets, and other constricting clothing. For a handmaid to reach their lady’s feet to put on a shoe or slipper became nearly impossible. So, the invention of the slipper chair was one of necessity, allowing ladies’ maids to help them don footwear.
In the 20th century, American designer Billy Baldwin brought the chair from the bedroom to the living room and now, variations on this iconic style appear in designs from the bedroom to the boardroom. Different from elaborately carved legs and tufted back, the modern versions are simple, unadorned pieces that play well with other furniture or work on their own to fill a quiet nook.
These days, slipper chairs come in all designs from tufted and buttoned to gusseted with bright piping to elaborately embroidered peplums. And, with a more masculine take on the modern look, some come with massive wooden platform bases or sleek metal legs.
Popular Versions
Whatever your version of the slipper chair, know its design is for modern living. Pair it with a comfy sofa or line up three sleek current versions instead of a couch for flexible seating. And if you have the ideal slipper chair but don't have the perfect place for it, maybe it's time that you find a new place, so check with your real estate professional to see that perfect home for your perfect chair.
Owning a second home or vacation home is the dream of many Americans hoping to retire in style. However, owning a second home can also be a huge financial asset and even an added form of income if you’re savvy with the rental process.
What stops most of us from buying a vacation home in our ideal getaway? The funding, of course. But, there are ways to plan ahead to ensure you’ll be ready to take the plunge and purchase a second home when the time comes.
In today’s blog post, we’re going to be talking about the steps to buying a home away from home and give you some tip on how to accomplish this goal in the most financially-sensible way possible.
When you buy a second home, you take on all the responsibilities of homeownership a second time. Since you won’t be around every day to tend to maintenance tasks and troubleshoot problems, you risk discovering costly repairs that could otherwise be avoided.
The most common issues to be concerned with are frozen pipes in northern climates, flooding in coastal areas, and problems like pests that can be found just about anywhere.
Depending on your budget, you might want a home you can drive out to on the weekends, meaning somewhere close by to your primary home. This option also makes it easier to stay up-to-date on home maintenance tasks before they become an issue.
If your ideal vacation home is in an area you’re not totally familiar with, it’s a good idea to visit the neighborhood, talk to the locals, and gain their perspective on the area before buying.
This trip will also give you a sense of what you can expect to spend each time you visit the home. And, if you plan on renting out the property when you aren’t using it, you’ll be able to gauge what a reasonable rent price is for the location.
Making extra cash from a home that you get to use pretty much whenever you want. Sounds like a dream, right? It can be if done properly, but you’ll need to ensure a few things before you can start earning income from your vacation property.
First, be aware that investment properties often require a larger down payment (typically 30%). Lenders also charge extra interest on homes that will be rented out.
Finally, there are local and state-level laws you’ll need to adhere to. These laws are designed to protect your interests as well as the people who rent out your property, so make sure you use a standard rental agreement for your area.
You’ve been here before. Once you’ve decided on a home, it’s time to start crafting your offer and negotiating with the seller’s agent.
However, before you pick a number, do some research on all of the expenses you’ll be paying on the house in question. Property taxes, homeowners association dues, utilities, and any other costs should be on your radar before determining if it’s the right home for your budget.
You’ll also want to be aware of the stipulations of renting out a property you own. This includes reporting income from renting your home to the IRS.
Now that you know the steps you’ll need to take to move toward your goal of buying a vacation home, you’ll be better equipped to make decisions that are best for you and your family’s future.
Believe it or not, today may be the perfect day to kick off the home selling journey. If you list your residence, you may find dozens of potential buyers want to acquire your home. As a result, you could earn a significant profit from your house sale.
For those who are debating whether to embark on the house selling journey, there is no need to stress. In fact, there are several things you can do to evaluate your options and determine if now is the best time to list your home. These include:
1. Conduct a Home Inspection and Appraisal
A home inspection allows you to understand the current condition of your house. During an inspection, a property expert will examine your residence both inside and out. Then, he or she will provide you with an inspection report that outlines any underlying home issues.
Meanwhile, a home appraisal allows you to receive a valuation for your residence based on its current condition and the present state of the housing market. Once you have a property valuation, you may be better equipped than ever before to determine how to approach the home selling cycle.
2. Analyze the Local Housing Market
The local housing market may favor buyers or sellers. If you assess the local housing sector, you can differentiate a buyer's market from a seller's market and plan accordingly.
In a buyer's market, there usually is an abundance of available homes and a shortage of buyers. Thus, if you decide to list your house in a buyer's market, you'll want to do everything possible to differentiate it from the competition.
On the other hand, a seller's market generally features a shortage of quality houses and an abundance of buyers. If you list your residence in a seller's market, you may receive lots of interest in your house as soon as it becomes available.
To distinguish a buyer's market from a seller's market, analyze the prices of recently sold houses in your city or town and find out how long these residences were available before they sold. If homes often are selling at or above their initial asking prices and stay available for just days, a seller's market may be in place. Or, if homes sell at prices below their initial listing prices or linger on the real estate market for many weeks or months, the current housing market likely favors buyers.
3. Get in Touch with a Real Estate Agent
A real estate agent can help you evaluate your home and determine if now is a good time to list your residence. He or she is happy to provide insights into the housing market and ensure you can make an informed home selling decision. Also, if you have any concerns or questions about selling your residence, a real estate agent is ready to respond to them.
Allocate time and resources to decide whether to list your home today. And if you ultimately decide to add your residence to the housing market, you may want to hire a real estate agent too.
