Home Paint Colors: Most Popular Paint Colors of 2023

Sherwin-Williams color of the year.

Is it time to bring warm colors back into your home? So what are the colors of 2023? Well, Sherwin-Williams color of the year is called Resend Point, which has blush tones that create a cozy and calm environment. Sherwin-Williams says this color “celebrates restorative energy, well-being, and kindness.” We can all agree that walking into a home that promotes restorative energy, well-being, and kindness is a home we all want to be in!

Warm pink shades, such as blush or peach, can add a touch of warmth and coziness to a room. These color pallets are often associated with nature and can help create a sense of harmony and balance in a space. A good contrast is deep blue greens, such as teal or navy. These can add depth and richness to a room and make it feel more sophisticated! We all know how much we love teal and blue-greens! According to Southern Living, these soft reds will be everywhere in 2023!

Benjamin Moore color of the year.

Benjamin Moore’s color of 2023 is Raspberry Blush. I love this fun choice! Which is also a shade of warm coral pink. Other colors of the year include Savannah Green, North Sea Green (love it), New Age, Starry Night Blue, Wenge, Tofino Sunset (peachy pink), and Cinnamon. I enjoy how these stone-tone colors are creative and am excited to see how these colors are used. I also cannot help but think these colors yell out, “live here at the gulf coast!” What fun beach colors.

Is painting my home a trendy color a good choice?

You may be asking yourself; I would like to change the colors in my home to try North Sea Green or Starry Night Blue, but I am too nervous! What if it does not match my décor? Sherwin-Williams and Benjamin Moore have peel-and-stick paint samples. I love this option as you only need to spend a little time painting the wall sample and then painting it back if you do not like it.

In addition, think about the natural light in the room and how it will affect the color. This step should not be overlooked. The same color can look very different in other rooms. Therefore, we recommend always testing the paint on your walls before committing to a final color.

It is also essential to remember that color trends come and go! What’s popular this year may not be popular when you are ready to list your home for sale or rent. Therefore, sometimes it is better to use a trendy color as an accent. This allows you to easily change the color scheme of your area as trends change without having to repaint the entire room.

Another option is to choose a neutral color for the walls and use color trends in accessories such as throw pillows, blankets, rugs, and artwork. This allows you to change the color scheme of your space with minimal effort and expense.

We can help you!

Even though trends change, we do not want you to be afraid of using a color other than white or grey. We love envisioning different colors on walls when touring homes! A fresh coat of paint makes such a difference and lifts your spirits! In addition, buyers and renters may be looking for specific color styles when searching listings on the internet.

In summary, using color trends to paint your home can be a great way to renew your space, but it’s also important to consider your style, the overall ambiance, and what will attract buyers or renters. We know choosing a color for your home or specific rooms can be tricky, and we would love to help you! So give us a call today; we would be happy to help!

850.492.1148 susancarletonteam@pointesouth.com

How to Create an Inviting Atmosphere for Your Photo Shoot

Are You getting ready to list your home for sale or for rent? Here are some important steps you can take to ensure beautiful pictures during your photo shoot.

Clean and Declutter

Cleaning and decluttering is 100% the most important step. Make sure your home is clean and free of clutter. Organizing will make the space look larger and more attractive to potential buyers. When a home appears to look messy, it sets the tone that the property is not well-maintained, which can be a turn-off for potential buyers.

On the other hand, a clean and organized home can make a good impression and help potential buyers envision themselves living there. Nicely made beds, fresh matching bathroom towels, and sheer neutral curtains help create a warm and cozy look. Fans will be turned off for photos, so try to have those cleaned. We want to do everything we can to attract the most offers or potential renters. We can recommend some incredible cleaning vendors who can help you!  

Stage the Space for your Photo Shoot

In addition to decluttering and cleaning, it may also be helpful to stage the interior of the home. This involves rearranging the furniture and décor to create a cohesive and welcoming look. Staging can help showcase the full potential of a home and make it more appealing to buyers. Anything that could potentially prevent someone from envisioning themselves in the home should be stored away.  If there’s going to be a room off-limits for storage, let the photographer know. Sometimes it is a good idea to get a storage unit to store the items you do not need. This comes in handy when it is time to move!

Professional photographers recommend removing towels and toiletry from the bathroom countertops and showers. Removing robes from behind the bathroom door in case it’s closed. Your should put personal family photos away; a few are okay. Make sure anything with your personal information is put away, like baby name plates. These usually contain a child’s full name and birthday, which is unsuitable for internet display. Finally, consider things you don’t want in the pictures, like gun safes, extra TVs, and excessive clothing.

Make the Necessary Repairs Before Your Photo Shoot

Fix any broken or damaged items in the home. This will show buyers and renters that the house has been well-maintained and is in good condition. Ensure your front door has a fresh coat of paint and is free of any debris. This is the first impression of walking into the home. We want the front door to “pop” in the pictures.

Improve Curb Appeal

Make sure the outside of the home looks as good as the inside. This includes mowing the lawn, trimming shrubs, fresh mulch, and planting flowers. In addition, if you have a large camper or an RV, consider moving it for the day to prevent shadows and make the space look bigger.

Make sure the pool is clean and free of leaves. A sparkling blue pool draws in buyers and renters! Your photographer can typically add green grass to exterior photos, but only if the home typically has green grass; we need to be truthful for the buyers. One uncommon idea that usually looks good is adding a couple of fake flowers to the hedges! No one can tell in the pictures!

Add Lighting

Make sure there is enough light in the home before your photo shoot. Turn on all the lights, open curtains and blinds, and consider adding additional lighting if necessary. Photographers recommend trying to have bright lighting that matches in hue (red/blue/yellow). We can help determine if more lighting is needed before picture day.

Timing of Photos

Morning or “golden hour” is the best time in general; it’s best to take photos when the sun is not directly shining on the front of the house. By doing so can create harsh shadows and make the colors look washed out. If the property faces east or west, it’s best to take photos in the morning or late afternoon when the sun is not directly in front of the house. If the property faces north or south, the best time to take photos is around midday when the lighting is more even. It’s also a good idea to refrain from taking pictures on overcast or cloudy days, as the lighting can be flat and unappealing. We will work with the photographer to ensure we have the perfect timing.

Oversaturating or Over Sharpening Pictures

We want to make sure the photographer doesn’t over-edit the photos. Too heavily edited pictures make the home look unrealistic and misleading to potential buyers and renters.

Do Not Stress!!!

This list may seem like a lot, but we are 100% here to help! So please turn on the music and make it fun! Photo shoots can be fun and it is exciting to see professional pictures of your home.

Getting ready to list your home for sale or to rent? Give us a call, and we can help guide you through the process. We have trusted and talented professional photographers that we love to work with. susancarletonteam@pointesouth.com ~ 850.492.1148

 

 

 

POINTE SOUTH ACHIEVEMENTS OF 2022 

WOW! We could not be prouder of our amazing Pointe South Team!

Our Pointe South professional Agents and Property Managers have surpassed their goals and expectations for 2022 ‼️

Check out these terrific stats:

Real Estate Achievements:

  • $145 Million
  • 270 Transactions

Property Management Achievements:

  • 108 NEW Properties added to our Property Management

We have been covering our Gulf Coast – From Alabama to Florida – From condos to homes and more. Our team sets out to find your perfect piece of land or sand. Above all, we have loved celebrating you this year, our amazing clients. We value your continued support and business, as none of this would be possible without YOU! We put in the work – a lot of work and even more heart. We exceeded professional goals, and our brokerage sales volume for the year at $145 million!

NOW WE CELEBRATE THE POINTE SOUTH DIFFERENCE $145M IN SALES, 270 TRANSACTIONS & 108 PROPERTIES ON OUR LONG-TERM LEASING PROGRAM!!!

achievements, pointe south

CHEERS to our hardworking, dedicated Team and the relationships they have made along the way.  Undoubtedly, we could not have done this without our unstoppable vendors.

Pointe South’s experience and passion bring great achievements! You can trust Pointe South to help you list your home and/or find your new perfect place to call home. Our Residential Leasing team is the best on the Gulf Coast! They can help you with all your rental needs and goals! Contact us today at susancarletonteam@pointesouth.com or visit us online at www.FORSALEONTHEGULFCOAST.com. We look forward to working with you!

Who Loves to Save Money?!?! How to Remove PMI Payments!

Who else LOVES to SAVE MONEY? You’ll love this real estate hack if you don’t already know.

No matter when you bought your house, if you did so with less than 20% down, your mortgage lender tacked on the extra cost of private mortgage insurance (PMI) as a standard precaution. ​​​​​​​​Removing PMI payments can be a significant way to save money in the long run. PMI is usually required when a homebuyer makes a down payment of less than 20% on their home purchase. Once the homeowner reaches 20% equity in their home through mortgage payments or home value appreciation, they can request the cancellation of PMI.

By eliminating PMI, homeowners can potentially save hundreds or even thousands of dollars annually. This extra money can be put towards paying off the mortgage faster, saving for future goals, or investing in other financial endeavors. It’s essential to stay updated on the value of your home and the amount you owe on your mortgage to determine when you’re eligible to remove PMI and start enjoying the financial benefits of doing so.

PMI, Remove pmi, mortgage

In addition, PMI typically only protects the lender in the event of a default. According to NerdWallet, PMI rates usually range from .58% to 1.86% of the original loan amount. So, for example, a $400,000 loan with 7.5% down would mean your PMI payment would be $305/month (with a 700-credit score).

Let’s Talk PMI

✔️ Confident that your house is worth more today than when you purchased it? ​​​​​​​​

✔️ Can I cancel PMI if my home value increases? ​​​​​​​​

✔️ When does PMI go away?​​​​​​​​

📝 Whether your individual mortgage qualifies for PMI removal will depend on factors like the current value of your home, the loan type, how much you still owe on the loan, and your payment history.​​​​​​​​ With the example above, it would take 8.66 years for the lender to remove this $300 monthly payment. So, you would be paying over $31,000! However, do not stress because there are ways to remove this sooner.  

How Can We Remove the PMI?

💰 In all honesty, the hot real estate market of 2021-2022 meant many homeowners saw their equity rise. Even though a market shift is underway as of late due to higher interest rates, many homeowners with mortgages will most likely be sitting on significant equity due to still-high home values. In Q2 2022, a report from CoreLogic shows that homeowners with mortgages saw an equity increase of nearly 27.8% year-over-year. CoreLogic forecasts an average rise in home prices of 4.3% between June 2022 and June 2023.​​​​​​​​

💼 As a result of this trend, NOW would be a good time for many borrowers to see if they qualify for private mortgage insurance cancellation. A higher equity stake in your home can lower the perceived risk of your mortgage and, in some cases, speed up the path to PMI removal.​​​​​​​​ See! We told you not to stress!

In addition, because PMI can add tens of thousands of dollars in housing costs over the life of a loan, it’s essential to consider taking steps to remove PMI as soon as you’re eligible.​​​​​​​​

Long story short… 😉… reach out to me anytime for a CMA! Our team would love to have coffee (or a margarita) with you to discuss it further.  Pointe South is always looking for ways to save our customers money!

At Pointe South Rentals and Real Estate, our mission is to be the ultimate resource for all your real estate needs. Whether you’re looking to buy, sell, or rent a property in the beautiful Pensacola area, we are dedicated to providing exceptional service and helping you navigate the real estate market with ease. With our team of experienced professionals, extensive knowledge of the local market, and a commitment to client satisfaction, we strive to exceed your expectations.

We understand that buying or renting a property is a significant decision, and we are here to guide you every step of the way, offering personalized attention and expert advice. Trust Pointe South Rentals and Real Estate to be your trusted partner in achieving your real estate goals.

Here is to saving money in 2023!!!

susancarletonteam@pointesouth.com ~ 850.492.1148

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New Construction, Existing Home, Condo, Investment or 2nd Home – that’s the question

New Construction, Existing Home, Condo, Investment, or Family Vacation Home: Some questions need answers

When you move or invest in NW Florida or Coastal Alabama, you have some decisions to make. Some questions need answers.  

Will you move downtown, Pensacola, neighborhood, beach home or condo? Will you choose Pensacola, Perdido Key, Gulf Breeze, Orange Beach or Gulf Shores, Alabama?

And, of course, budget, HOA fees, taxes, and if an investment property, what’s the rental potential or projection?

Each of these decisions comes down to personal preferences and Southern Real Estate Sales Agents listen to your needs and wants. But, one step further, Southern Rentals & Real Estate is a custom boutique brokerage that allows you one stop shopping. Something like a big box department store where you can have all your needs taken care of under one umbrella providing the best customer service and a seamless transition and support to you.

Our team understands the process of real estate and will advise you the best route for your needs, working with our Vacation Rental department or Residential Leasing team; Southern’s extensive knowledge of each industry gives you, our customer, the edge and the best service.

So, now what!

Once you identify and answer the initial questions or if you need assistance of a team to work through those questions, we are always available to you.

START HERE !  Click below to connect with us.

Southern Real Estate Sales | susancarletonteam@pointesouth.com | call  850.492.1148

Inquire or Preview Available Properties at  ForSaleontheGulfCoast.com

Coming or Going – It’s Time to Plan for Coastal Fun

Whether you are selling a property or buying/investing in the area, your 2 most valuable assets are FAMILY and HOME and we serve them both.

The Southern Team helps buyers and sellers every day and we are always available to assist you, but first before we hit the road looking and planning, we need to plan some time to enjoy the plethora of local events along the Gulf Coast.

NW Florida and Coastal Alabama is Chuck full of event line-ups! The area brings people together to enjoy being together. We welcome you and know it’s time to plan some fun with live music, festivals, sports – celebrations that all folks enjoy make this area even more special from Destin, Pensacola Beach, to Perdido Key and Gulf Shores and Orange Beach. These areas have beach front properties that are affordable and exclusive to the Million Dollar Penthouses, Executive Homes, Pool Homes, Condos, Town Homes or Single Family Homes to raise the family, Farm Life, Beach Life, quaint downtown Life; we call it HOME LIFE.

From live music and night life events in Pensacola Beach, major head line music tours singing loud and proud in Pensacola Arena or The Wharf Amphitheatre in Orange Beach, sports fun with the Blue Wahoos Baseball team, organized races and family races, paddle boarding and bike fun. If that isn’t your thing, how about all the exquisite food and drink flavors from Greek, Smokin BBQ in the Square, Emerald Coast Beer and Seafood Festivals your belly is full with home town hospitality and good eats.

For the Art enthusiast, the Gulf Coast has tremendously talented artists on display at local markets, shows, and even exceptional performing arts shows at the theatre, designers, and Broadway events, comedy fun, and local rising artists playing at Vinyl downtown venue and fun street bands. Having fun here is easy. No Exceptions! Ladies nights, Street Parades, Good Eats, Sports, Fishing, did I mention Sugar Sand Beaches and U.S. Navy Blue Angels Air Shows and that is just a few of the tops.

It’s always fun to visit, even better to play, stay and invest. Southern draws upon decades of real estate expertise in the area, in the events, in it all and we offer an asset-based approach to your NW Florida or Coastal Alabama real estate options – licensed in Florida and Alabama because we know your most 2 valuable assets are YOUR FAMILY and YOUR HOME – We Serve them both.
Destination – HOME!

Real Estate in Bloom

SPRING FLING is happening and the Panhandle is in BLOOM!

With miles of sugar white sand beaches and emerald green waters, the Gulf Coast of Florida and Alabama are popular destinations for vacations, investing and permanent residence.

Before you jump in and start looking at properties, ask yourself a few questions to prepare this exciting phase. It’s a big decision and our real estate team can help.

1. Rank what’s important to you.

We have condos, single family homes, apartments, duplexes and lots of options, but only you can answer what makes sense for you.

2. What’s it all going to cost?

With a little planning and talking with a lender, we can answer this question, configure a budget, itemize down payment, calculate the expenses and suggest options. Working with an expert who knows, will eliminate a lot of stress and that is exactly why our team is here to assist. Even if you have just started browsing or thinking of the purchase in the future, planning and working together is paramount. For both the agent and you.

Additionally, a lender can also share with you different types of loans available, help work on credit to buy your dream home and advise your real estate agent programs that support you! Your loan officer and agent will work to help you prepare and when the time is right, pre-approve your loan so when you start to look at homes with your agent and see the perfect home, you are ready. No stress! You are ready to make an offer. And as your real estate team continues to communicate through the process, all are prepared and this is where your real estate agent is most valuable to you. To help guide, research homes and different properties and how long they have been on the market. As your agent, we negotiate the very best for you, prepare the offer and negotiate the deal so you walk away with keys in hand excited on the best deal and the future memories you will make!

Pensacola and surrounding area market to include Orange Beach and Gulf Shores, Alabama has properties for investing, second home purchase, relocating, and retirement and all on the prettiest beaches with plenty of activities, entertainment, lower cost of living and inviting weather.

At Southern, we can answer your questions with confidence, with knowledge and start your property search today of all budgets. Buying and Selling a property can be overwhelming, but not with us. YOU are our TOP PRIORITY. Feel free to contact us.

Call | Text 850.492.1148 or Email | susancarletonteam@pointesouth.com

Acres of Beachfront Development in Orange Beach, Alabama!

Welcome to the beautiful coastline of Gulf Shores and Orange Beach, Alabama. Many families have been building lifelong memories along the Gulf for years combining the pleasure of beach life and the quality of life. We are now seeing and exploring more growth opportunities for others to call this gorgeous place home or their home away from home and a developers dream!

As Alabama’s fastest growing county, it’s destined to warmly welcome communities, companies and new development to the heart of the Gulf Coast. The Orange Beach market continues to grow and expand. The tourist business attracts over 5 million visitors per year and the city has continued to upgrade its transportation and infrastructure for even more families, residence, businesses and visitors to enjoy all the beach life has to offer. One incredible development opportunity was just recently listed by Southern Real Estate Sales Broker/Owner, Susan Carleton. https://tinyurl.com/y7njfkhu

This rare and exceptional parcel is in the heart of Orange Beach! Where it all happens! The 690’ of Gulf Front property and over 13.5 acres along the pristine beaches of Orange Beach is situated between the Island House Hotel and Turquoise Place which is considered the perfect location. Currently zoned RS-1, but surrounded by BR-2 zoning allowing 42 units per acre and 84 units per acre for hotel rooms. Acres like this are an opportunity like no other!

This unique beach town of more than 32 miles of gorgeous coast line has amazing entertainment for all ages and world-class seafood caught fresh from the Gulf of Mexico. It’s tremendous natural wildlife resources surrounding sugar sand beaches, Tanger Outlets for shopping, The Wharf for boutique shops and entertainment venue which hosts world renowned artists makes this town unique. But, what makes it exceptionally unique is the array of beautiful trails, award winning fishing, boating, ziplines to zoos and the relaxation that is found on the mesmerizing beaches! There is truly something perfect for everyone. Now is the time for you to discover your perfect piece of Alabama!

For more information on this development opportunity, contact Susan Carleton today! 850.492.1148| susancarletonteam@pointesouth.com | SusanCarleton.com http://www.susancarleton.com

Easy Home Improvements that boost home values

It is common knowledge that a great number of homes sell during the SPRING buying season, for that reason many home owners will be making that decision now and wanting to bump their value with some easy home improvements. But, where do you begin and what improvements really boost the return on your investment into your pocket? Well, here you go.

Some easy ways to boost the value of homes by 12% or more according to FloridaRealtor.org is to invest in a few pre-listing repairs. For example, based on a median home price at $205,000. the potential gain is $24,500. Now, that seems worth your time and attention.

Not that we are all listening, let’s see what all this entails in order to gain the most return on investment that you desire.
Some of the fixes that are ranked as most important are also encouraged by our expert Southern Real Estate Sales Agents. Our agents share their expert advise and this is why we schedule listing appointments at your home. Our Agents will advise you with specific details to help your selling process in order to expedite the sale of property.

#1 DECLUTTER will be at the top of the list. The cost is 0 if you do it and have the entire family chip in. This activity alone will produce a 3-5% return and it is a must do! When potential buyers preview your home that you are SELLING, they truly want to be able to see themselves living there. You have to allow them to visualize themselves there. You can help achieve that by storing some of the family pics and personal items that you cherish in Tupperware. This also helps you start the process of moving. Two birds with one stone as they say!

#2 KITCHEN is King! The kitchen was rated as the most important to have in top shape before selling. Focus on the minor repairs that center on the kitchens function should be first. Fix leaky faucets, loose light fixtures and counter top cleanliness. Not only washed up, but putting away the large kitchen

appliances that hide all the counter space. Put those away or store those in a Tupperware in the garage. Then, enhancements are next. Painting walls, updating cabinet hardware and adding new curtains or light fixtures and an organized pantry shows care and all the space that is available.

#3 BATHROOM freshness is next! This 2-3% return is simple and an easy improvement with fresh caulking of the shower and tub and floor seams. Updating fixtures and fresh paint will brighten the space. Updating the mirror and lighting can also give a bigger return.

#4 PAINT makes a big impact as the buyer thinks of it as one less step that they would have to do and it shows good overall maintenance of the home. Interior painting is an important part of bringing about a sale of the home. But, as the seller, you likely don’t need to paint the entire home – a refresh of the main rooms curbs big costs in painting the entire interior. Three prime rooms are the kitchen, living room and bathrooms. Be sure to select a neutral tones. Paint with whites or off-whites, grays or beiges as studies show that this helps the buyer focus on the home’s features. Bright colors tend to distract buyers and prompt in immediate cost to them to update.

#5 Lastly, CURB APPEAL and the WELCOMING feeling. With a 2-5% return, concentrate on basic maintenance with lawn care, trimming of shrubs and adding fresh mulch. A good way to see the home with different eyes, is to go stand across the street and look at the home from your neighbors perspective. This always shows you things that you may not have seen before and see if the change is cost effective to you. Additionally, a good pressure washing will instantly brighten your home and increase the “welcome home” feeling. A new mat at the front door with a fresh flower invites your new guests or buyers and this has the lasting effect on them as they are more then likely looking at several homes in one day. Be the stand out – in a good way! This helps you go from FOR SALE to UNDER CONTRACT to CLOSED! If you are thinking of selling, Southern Real Estate Sales would love to help you get it done.

CALL | TEXT | EMAIL to find out what your home is worth today! 850.492.1148 FORSALEONTHEGULFCOAST.COM    susancarletonteam@pointesouth.com.

The Land of the Free

The Southern Rentals and Real Estate Team salutes and honors those that lost their lives on 9.11 – 16 years ago.

We are the land of the free and the home of the brave!  Our hearts were unimaginably broken which forced us to be in great unity from that moment we will all never forget.  In that same spirit of unity, we remember those that we lost, pray for their families, support the ones who constantly run into harms way to seek and to save those in need of help.

On that day, more than 3000 lives were lost – and so many more affected in ways only they can express.  We also remember those in Houston, affected by Hurricane Harvey and the people in the path of Hurricane Irma.

May we always remember what brings us together – our relationships, our family, our love for one another and our love for our country! Our endurance and power will strengthen us, even if it takes some time at first – we will never forget.  But, our strength together is all we need.  We need each other!

The tribute light that beams through the NY sky on 9.11 beams through each and every day from our hearts.  We know their names, we know their children, we remember that day, just as we recall where we were on that September morning.  We also remember how the storms approach that attempt to destroy and are destructive to our surroundings. But, we endure together.

We all know the time continues to tick, so love one another deeply. Laugh often. Work hard and enjoy the simple things in life.  Sing loudly. Smile – you are loved.  Take time to listen. Be there when asked and stay their when your not asked.  Be one another’s best advocate and encourage those in your circle.  Get the flowers.  Smell the roses. Eat the cake. Don’t be so hard on yourself. Do your very best and don’t wait-do it!

Find your place at the beach and dip your toes in the sand.