The Bartel Group Blog

You go to the paint store, pick out a nice hue of your favorite color from a tiny paint strip, and order a few gallons of paint. You set aside a weekend, prep your room, and get the job done. But something's wrong, the color looks different from what you picked out, and it doesn't even compliment your sofa and rug. Now you have to start the process all over again to turn the results around. We get it; choosing a paint color can be surprisingly tricky, but learning the basic rules of color selection is the best way to avoid painter's remorse. The right paint color is especially critical if you're planning to list your home among Victoria homes for sale or White Bear homes for sale. Follow these tips for painting success.

• Create a Color Scheme
  Mapping out the room before you head to the hardware store is a great place to start. Consider what will be in each room in terms of furniture, fabrics, flooring, décor accessories, and finishes. You can then get a color wheel to see how colors might relate to each other and how you can mix them to create a balanced color scheme.

  Click Here to Read More...

Housing Needs

A new analysis by housing giant Freddie Mac suggests that the U.S. housing market needs 3.8 million more single-family homes nationwide to meet demand. Sam Khater, Freddie Mac's chief economist, noted "we should have almost four million more housing units if we had kept up with demand the last few years." While new construction activity has increased in recent years, it has never fully recovered to its previous peak more than fifteen years ago.  

Provided by the Minneapolis Area Association of Realtors.

Mortgage Rates

In light of the rising COVID caseloads globally, U.S. Treasury yields stopped moving up a month ago and have remained within a narrow range as the market digests incoming economic data. The good news is that with rates under three percent, refinancing continues to be attractive for many borrowers who financed before 2020. But, for eager buyers, especially first-time homebuyers, inventory continues to be extremely tight and competition for available homes to purchase remains high.

~Provided by www.freddiemac.com 04-29-21

Your house is an asset that will appreciate in value as time goes by. Of course, a quick glance at Alexandria homes for sale highlights that your home is is more than a financial investment; it's also a home you want to enjoy with family and friends. As you ponder the renovations that will give you the most joy and deliver the greatest return on your investment, the kitchen and bathrooms are where you want to start. 

Kitchen Renovations

Kitchen renovations are common in Arden Hills homes for sale and throughout the region. It is often said that the kitchen is the heart of the home, and indeed throughout history, the home has been built around the kitchen space. Thus, it's no surprise that like a good diet and a little exercise, renovating the kitchen keeps the heart of the home beating strong.

Click Here to Read More...

Settling into the home you chose from  Bemidji homes for sale or Brainerd homes for sale? If your home has a deck, it can be the center of attention for your outdoor parties or for your daily relaxation throughout a good part of the year. But a deck is also a responsibility. Plan to inspect the deck each year to make sure it's safe. A good maintenance regimen can preserve your deck and ensure those who use it are safe.

• Check Your Deck Every Spring
  Now's the time to give your deck a thorough once-over. The North American Deck and Railing Association encourages deck owners to check out the following:
  
  
  • Possible rust on metal sections such as connectors and bolts
  • Possible wood rot, including telltale signs of mold
  • Attachments of decking floor

    Click Here to Read More...

Have you decided that it's time to move? You may have been looking at some beautiful Glenwood homes for sale or perhaps the Maple Grove homes for sale and are getting ready to take the leap into a new place. Looking around at your current home, you may decide to hire movers to help. Before you do, there are a few important steps you need to take. 

1. Purge 
   Now is the time to get rid of all of the things you might have a use for someday but can't remember what that is. Organize into toss, donate, sell, and keep. Movers can't make these personal decisions for you. If you don't do it, you'll find yourself taking that collection of fast food cups to your new place.

   Click Here to Read More...