iTexas Realty Co. Blog: December 2009

One of my clients wrote me for a bit of flooring advice in her 3 bedroom/ 2 bath San Antonio area starter home.

After a water heater leak, she had installed a Carribean Cherry Laminate wood flooringin one of her guest bedrooms and was now ready to make some flooring decisions for the public spaces.  She was having a hard time deciding if she should put tile in the kitchen/living room/entrance way or go with more of the Caribbean Cherry (sounds so good that I had to say it again).  Re-sale is a concern since everyone usually moves sooner or later!

Although the cherry-flavored flooring sounds like a great choice for installing in the living room area, I would be hesitant to do it in a kitchen (or bath).  A subsequent Buyer might not be comfortable with the laminate in a wet area and some flooring manufacturers recommend against it.

I would opt to tile the kitchen in a 20" tile in a warm, neutral latte shade.  The "big box" stores like Lowes and Home Depot carry a nice selection of very economical, "promotional" tile and I would stick to that for a starter home. 

If tile worked with the entry layout, I would tile the entry in that same 20" tile and consider tiling the bathrooms as well.  Be aware that in those smaller spaces, a matching 12" tile (the store should carry a few), may be a better fit.  

All tile aside, I would definitely have the Caribbean Cherry laminate installed in the living room.  It is an upscale re-sale choice in a starter home and will really separate your home from the competition when you move.  Just don't over-spend on it!

It should look great!  I hope that she'll send photos when she's done.

Or they should be!  Although I am not necessarily a proponent of more government regulation, I think

some airline policies should be added...

My mother raised me to be polite and considerate of others and am grateful for her efforts. Try as I

might, I am far from a standard of Stepford-like perfection, so I have tremendous empathy for the

galoot next to me as he is, most obviously, an orphan. I can tell just by looking down.

I am in a row for two next to the exit door and this is the situation in the area next to me. What kind of

person would remove their shoes on the plane, when they have obviously forgotten their Odor

Eaters?

I'm just saying...

There is really nothing like the day after Christmas.

Not the first day of retirement

Not the first day of vacation

Not even the moment after 5 kids finally go to bed

Really, the Peace is Incomparable:

Exquisite in it's Simplicity,

Glorious in it's Silence,

Heavenly.

This is the only way I can illustrate it. 

Serenity, off the wing, while flying over the Sierras.

I hope that your days and hearts are full and that your Christmas memories last a lifetime.

--Sara

No Christmas Tree

No Christmas Cookies to decorate

No getting guest rooms ready for visitors

No Lights to string on the house

I admit, that we did have some shopping to do....

How did this (otherwise), Christmas miracle occur you may ask?

We aren't in San Antonio this week.  Instead we have braved the skies and flown to Sacramento to visit our grand-daughters, and 3 of our 4 kids (only one lives in San Antonio).

Although we have missed (not), some of the ritual, we have done all those things that make the holiday great

Seen The Nutcracker with our (grand-daughters performance)

Driven everywhere to enjoy time with relatives that we don't often havee a chance to visit

Eaten an indecent amount of homemade cake

Attended a wonderful Christmas Eve party at my Cousin Libby and her husband John's house

Enjoyed a family brunch at my sister Amy and her husband, Scott's house

Steve and I hope that your Holidays were every bit as glorious!

Sara

If you haven't had your sweet tooth fulfilled yet, and are in the Sacramento area, you have to stop at Rick's Dessert Diner.  It fits in conveniently after Christmas shopping as they are open every day for dessert sand coffee until at least 11pm.

Steve and I were there with our son Jon on Tuesday night.  Here's a shot of one of their three dessert cases.  They have an enticing, ever-changing and seasonal selection, so you can never be sure what they'll have, but it's always GOOD!

Rick's Dessert Diner

2322 K Street

Sacramento

(916) 444-0969

I don't know if your addiction is this out of control, but we are such food freaks that we drove to New Orleans last week, just for dinner.


We had the Oysters Bienville, the gumbo, delicious hush puppies, a redfish with buerre blanc and for dessert: Cappuccinos and cheesecake with a raspberry coulis!

The restaurant (name escapes me at the moment), had the most unusual yellow globe-shaped antique glass lighting. The photos don't do them justice.

It was a glorious feast! We certainly don't eat like that often, but rarely drive to New Orleans for dinner!

It's barely light outside and Steve and I are at the San Antonio Airport, waiting to board our flight to California, where we are going to be until Christmas.

The boarding area if full of excited kids wearing scarves and backpacks. They laugh and bounce around, parents sitting nearby, just trying to enjoy some quiet before the flight. Although ours are all grown up now, we well-remember being with them at the airport. It's always a long day travelling with kids.

We'll just be getting into Sacramento in time to jump into a rental car and head up the Hwy 49 to Grass Valley where our little grand-daughters, Emma and Hanna are performing in their school play.

We hope that your morning is full of anticipation of the day to come! Merry Christmas!

--Sara

New statistics are just out today (Dec 16, 2009) from the San Antonio Board of Realtors and our fair city is still showing it's strength, especially compared to the national market.

Year-over-year sales of single-family homes for November were 52% higher than last year (units sold).  The average sales price was $170,762.  Inventory of homes for sale is right above a 7 month supply. All in all, good numbers for the local market, where the economy continues to remain strong and housinhg affordability is great. 

Positive influences like BRAC (military base realignment), which is relocating ALL of the US military branches medical training here to San Antonio, Texas, makes for growth of local jobs in construction as well as civilian support positions on bases.

Inventory is at a good level, interest rates are still excellent, and tax credit funds are available for many Buyers, including those who have previously purchased.

This is a great time to get your home on the market or plan your home purchase.  Call or e-mail us to find out how you can get ready to optimize the early Spring home-buying season.