Keeping It REAL - by Bettsy Tyler

So how about the  new housing trends  in store of 2023? I love reading about the “color of the year”, the latest trend in homes and yards, and how to update your style without breaking the bank. Pantone has declared “Viva Magenta” as the color of 2023. It’s a cross between cranberry and pink although Pantone describes it as a “crimson red tone with a balance between warm and cool” – whatever! It’s a fun color and could be brought in with a throw or pillows or if you are adventurous a couch! In the past few years, we’ve seen the “biophilia” trend explode, and there are no signs that it will be any less popular in 2023. This trend is all about bringing the outside in by adding natural touches throughout your home.  Wooden kitchen cabinets and islands will become more common in 2023, with white oak and walnut among the most popular choices. Wood will also appear in bathroom vanities and shelving and furniture throughout the home.   Spending more time at home has s...

  Last year, one factor drove the real estate market more than any other: rising mortgage rates. In March 2022, the Federal Reserve began a series of interest rate hikes in an effort to pump the brakes on inflation. 1 And while some market sectors have been slow to respond, the housing market has reacted accordingly. Both demand and price appreciation have tapered, as the primary challenge for homebuyers has shifted from availability to affordability. And although this higher-mortgage rate environment has been a painful adjustment for many buyers and sellers, it should ultimately lead to a more stable and balanced real estate market. So, what can we expect in 2023? Will mortgage rates continue to climb? Could home prices come crashing down? While this is one of the more challenging real estate periods to forecast, here’s what several industry experts predict will happen to the U.S. housing market in the coming year.  MORTGAGE RATES WILL FLUCTUATE LESS   In 2022...