The popular “grandmillennial” style draws design inspiration from trends past, and millennials, who love vintage, are reviving wallpaper. Welcome back to your grandmother’s living room. Floral wallpaper is the central focus of this trend, though a tad updated with larger prints. Just think how pink peonies against a black backdrop can give that floral wallpaper a more modern edge. Floral wallpaper also is being used in smaller doses: You may only spot it in the powder room or as an accent wall in an otherwise neutral room. See the bathroom picture included here - see how the floral wallpaper is dressing up this space!

Texas’ housing market slowed in August after a surge of pent-up demand inflated sales numbers the previous month.

"Sales activity is no longer catching up from the economic shutdown that hindered the showing of homes and closings at the beginning of the spring buying season," said Real Estate Center Chief Economist Dr. James Gaines. "Existing homes sold through Texas Multiple Listing Services peaked in July as the economic consequences of the ongoing pandemic continued to develop."

 "Low mortgage rates supported the year-over-year increase, but the effect of that stimulus may dwindle if persistent unemployment shrinks the number of qualified homebuyers," Gaines said.

According to the National Association of Realtors, existing-home sales at the national level increased for the third consecutive month on a seasonally adjusted basis and maintained double-digit year-over-year growth. They attribute the gains to robust demand but note rising supply-side constraints. Center Research Economist Dr. Luis Torres highlighted the supply-demand imbalances that will challenge the housing market over the next year.

"While sales surged during the summer, the number of new listings hitting the market has not matched that recovery, worsening the state's housing shortages, particularly for homes priced less than $300,000," said Torres. "This mismatch has pulled the months of inventory for homes priced less than $300,000 to record lows of fewer than 2.5 months."

Diverging trends across price ranges have led to increases in the median sale price for existing homes, which increased by more than 10 percent year over year for the second consecutive month, according to Center research.

Kitchens can be expensive to renovate, so make sure to choose upgrades that will stand the test of time—and outlast trends that come and go.

Engineered quartz will continue to be a popular countertop option for a long time. It’s less prone to damage than other countertop materials and doesn’t stain from acidic substances, making it an increasingly long-lasting choice.

The all-white kitchen will likely stay popular for years to come,” Life Rejoice notes. Still, some of us will appreciate a dash of color, if only to accentuate the squeaky clean impression all those white walls and cabinets give. For example, blue on larger surfaces against mostly white backdrops can add elegance. Keep the pallet sparse, with only one or two other colors used for touches on fixtures and hardware.

Texture can help break up the monotony of an all-white space. For example, consider beadboard, shiplap, brass, strap hinges, latches, various wood essences, and combined with gray paint to “give your kitchen a lively, but at the same time restrained look. “Expressing through texture is considered to be an all-around safer bet than doing so with pure colors if a timeless look is what you’re after.”

Bright kitchens offer cleanliness and warmth. But to balance out predominantly light colors on walls and cabinetry, use darker floors. Hardwood or wood-look tile would be great choices.

A neighbor of mine in our 41 patio home community sent a message to each of us asking if we could consider donating to a special service project she had undertaken: a friend of hers would be filling a 38 foot trailer next week to deliver to Lake Charles and a neighborhood there  that desperately needed donations!  My neighbors told their friends and they told friends….and Thursday a full load will be on its way! Kindness shines through even in the darkest moments.

The pandemic and the quarantine in place have give me a lot of time to reflect on what is important in my everyday Life. I believe in Kindness.

Kindness gives us hope that better days are ahead. But, like many positive traits, kindness must be consistent in order to be authentic. You can’t be compassionate and caring every other day. It’s an all-in, all-the-time proposition!

So be kind. Be fair. Honest. Ethical. And do it consistently, so it becomes a habit and part of who you are. The best part: Kindness spreads, creating a ripple effect that can touch many lives beyond the initial act. Kindness also sows optimism, and optimism is exactly what we need right now. Because if we give in to the gloom and allow fear to drive our behavior, each day will move us another step further away from where we all need to be.

 At its core, real estate is a people business, and being kind to people is a business approach that never goes wrong.

Throughout this ordeal, kindness has won the day over and over again.

No one knows what the next chapter in the story of COVID will be. What we do know is that people still want to buy and sell homes, and our role is to help them do that. With the right mindset, a sense of empathy, the courage to press forward, the help of each other, and the resolve to be kind, we can continue to thrive—no matter what else is happening around us.