wilshire metro times - fall 2011

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Governor Brown SignsFarmers Field Billt the Clinton Global Initiative’s (CGI) recent annualmeeting, leading sports and entertainment presentersAEG were recognized by former President Bill Clinton

for their commitment to action to invest $1 billion to buildFarmers Field, a 72,000-seat, downtown Los Angeles footballstadium and event center. As part of AEG’s commitment, theLos Angeles-based organization is working with partners, includ-ing the U.S. Green Building Council and the Natural ResourcesDefense Council (NRDC), to ensure that Farmers Field will bethe most environmentally sustainable stadium in the world andthe first stadium in the NFL to be LEED certified.

Through this commitment to action, AEG pledges to work closely with CGI to monitor environmental results and reportback on progress. This comes on the heels of a bill passed by

an overwhelming 80 percent majority of the California StateSenate and Assembly that will require AEG to ensure thatFarmers Field is 100 percent carbon neutral for all emissionsgenerated from private automobile trips to and from the sta-dium, as well as for Farmers Field to have the best ratio of fansto automobiles in all of the NFL. The stadium will prioritizeon-site and local projects before purchasing carbon offsets tosupport local economic development, while ensuring positiveenvironmental and social impacts. In addition, as part of theircommitment to action, AEG will go beyond legal require-ments to achieve carbon neutrality for all emissions from ener-gy consumption and mechanical operations of the stadium.Combining these commitments with additional measures,such as water conservation and robust waste and recyclingprograms, including the donation of durable goods and an in-house composting program, will create the nation’s most com-prehensive environmental program for an NFL stadium.

“The Clinton Global Initiative is a forum for visionary com-panies and leaders who are committed to designing a sustain-able future for individuals, businesses and communities, byrepurposing business methods and culture to solve criticalglobal problems,” said former President Bill Clinton. “AEG hasproven to be the world’s most environmentally consciousvenue operators, and Farmers Field will be another true exam-ple of their mission to marry design, innovation, social respon-sibility and community engagement, resulting in a measurableimpact for future generations. I commend AEG as a modelsocially responsible company that is the hallmark of CGI.”

“Farmers Field will be an example of the next generation of sports and entertainment venues, where a world-class fanexperience goes hand in hand with social and environmentalresponsibility,” said Tim Leiweke, AEG president and CEO.“We have focused during the last four years on working withsome of the most respected environmental organizations inthe country to create a blueprint for the stadium and, throughthe AEG 1EARTH program, to create the most comprehen-sive environmental program in the sports and live entertain-

ment industry. Our CGI Commitment to Action underscoresAEG’s dedication and accountability for making this vision areality. We are honored to be recognized by President Clintonand this prestigious organization.”

“Through Farmers Field, AEG is making the most environ-mentally responsible choice possible, with commitmentbeginning at the point of development,” said S. RichardFedrizzi, president, CEO and founding chairman, U.S. GreenBuilding Council. “Investing in sustainable construction andweaving carbon and waste programs into the fabric of a venue,its operations and its surroundings create the lowest impact onour environment and the greatest return for the company.”

The commitment to action at CGI comes just weeks afterthe groundbreaking environmental components of the projecthelped garner the support of two of California’s most respect-ed environmental groups—the NRDC and the California

League of Conservation Voters.“NRDC applauds AEG’s commitment to operate the most

energy-efficient football stadium in the nation at FarmersField to develop a best-in-the-nation public transit infrastruc-ture for fans and to offset the carbon emissions associated withall fan travel by cars and busses,” said Allen Hershkowitz,PhD., senior scientist, Natural Resources Defense Council.“Given AEG’s proven record as the worlds’ greenest arenaoperators and their commitment to work with environmentaland community groups in developing their plan, I have everyconfidence that this goal will be achieved.”

“We are so proud to have a company in Los Angeles beinghonored by the Clinton Global Initiative for their proventrack record of providing the most innovative solutions toenvironmental issues, while also creating jobs and opportuni-ties for the community,” Mayor Villaraigosa said. “Their tire-less commitment to innovative, environmental programs suchAEG 1 EARTH has set the precedent for the sports and enter-tainment industry across the world to follow.”

“Members of organizations across the city have cometogether to make Farmers Field a reality,” said Los AngelesCity Councilwoman Jan Perry. “We know that the entirecity—even state—will benefit from the addition.”

“Our focus locally lies not only on the environmental goals,but on the tens of thousands of jobs and tens of millions of eco-nomic benefits to the state,” Speaker John A. Pérez said. “AEGhas been able to generate an opportunity for economic develop-ment without sacrificing our environmental standards.”

“The construction of a new sports arena and conventioncenter will create thousands of jobs and be an economic boostfor the City of Los Angeles, the region and the state,” SenatorAlex Padilla said. “Unlike other stadium projects, this one willbe built without any public funds and be built to unprece-dented environmental standards.”

AEG’s plan is both environmental and economic. It is esti-

mated that Farmers Field construction will create 23,000 jobs, including 12,000 full-time jobs during the construc-tion process and 11,000 more permanent jobs at the conven-tion center. The Los Angeles Convention Center moderniza-tion and expansion and Farmers Field project is projected togenerate more than $600 million in total economic activity,raising more than $40 million in new city, county and statetax revenues.

“With record unemployment above the national average,the creation of 23,000 middle-class jobs for construction andhotel workers, stage hands, grips and janitors is critical to LosAngeles,” said Maria Elena Durazo, executive secretary-treas-urer of the Los Angeles Federation of Labor, AFL-CIO. “Ourtop priority is to get men and women back to work in a good job.” ■

A

If your property is listed with another broker, this is not intended as a solicitation. The information available on this publication is not intended to be legal advice.

The reader is advised to consult with a qualified attorney on any legal matters. Information herein deemed realiable but not guaranteed.

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Is a Short Sale Worththe Knock on My Credit?by Gary M. Singer

Q: My townhouse has lost about 25 percent of its value. I’m barely managing the payments.Similar homes in my complex are renting at lessthan half of what I’m paying every month. Wesend our daughter to a private school because wedon’t care for the public school in the area. I havetried to talk to my lender, but because the houseis underwater, refinancing is not an option. Wehave an adjustable-rate mortgage, and both myspouse and I have excellent credit histories. I amthe only one on the mortgage, but my wife is onthe title with me. Is it worth going for a short saleand taking a hit on my credit?

A: Yes. I am a big believer that your house isyour home first and an investment second. Andwhile a good credit history is important, so is liv-ing in a house and in a neighborhood you like.Several weeks ago, I counseled another reader

that if the property is in a good location with agood school district, and the payments are afford-able, the reader should not be too concerned thatthe property was worth less than what he owedthe bank. Your situation is different in that youdon’t care for the home or where you live and areeven incurring additional expenses based on itslocation. Further, while your mortgage paymentmay be low now, you are sitting on a ticking timebomb in that interest rates are sure to rise sooneror later, and when they do, you will no longer beable to afford the payments. Because your wife isnot on the loan, her credit will not suffer whenyou complete a short sale, so you should be ableto find a home to live in that’s more appropriatefor your situation.

Q: My brother and I co-own a property inOcala, Fla., that has a dilapidated mobile homeon it. No one lives there, but I’m concernedabout liability because there’s no insurance on it.I’d like to do a quitclaim deed to my brother.Would this release me from any liability?

A: Yes. If you do not want anything more to dowith the property, it’s best not to keep an owner-ship interest in it for liability reasons. As long asyou own part of the property, you are liable to the

tax collector and anyone who may be harmed onthe property. Further, if the property is not prop-erly maintained, you may be subject to fines from

the city or county. You should arrange with yourbrother to transfer ownership to him as soon aspossible.

Q: I own an investment property that I havestopped paying on. I have one mortgage on theproperty. Recently, the lender filed a lawsuitagainst me to collect on the note, but it’s not try-ing to take the property back in foreclosure. Ihave money in the bank and other assets. I calledthe lender, and it doesn’t really want the propertyback. I am afraid that the bank will come aftermy other assets. Can it?

A:Yes. This is getting to be a much more com-mon trend. First-mortgage lenders are starting todecide that they really don’t want the responsibil-ity of owning the property, especially if it has alow value or is in disrepair. Second-mortgagelenders realize that even if they foreclose theproperty, the first-mortgage lender is going to getall of the proceeds from the foreclosure sale, leav-ing the second-mortgage holder with little morethan a legal bill. The lenders know that a promis-sory note case is much easier—and cheaper—tobring than a foreclosure action and can be fin-ished much faster. After the lender wins the law-suit on the promissory note, it will get a judg-ment that it can execute against your other prop-erty, your bank accounts and even your wages.Plus, it still has the mortgage lien against theoriginal property, so it can go back and take thatat a later date if it decides to.

I have long advised my clients that this is oneof the real dangers in “strategic defaults,” and itlooks like the lenders are starting to catch on, atleast a little. Further, it is too late to try to trans-fer the assets, as most states have a two-yearlook-back period for fraudulent transfers madefor the purpose of hiding assets to creditors. Thebest thing you can do now is fight your lenderin court and try to come to some sort of settle-ment. ■

©2011 Distributed by Tribune Media Services Inc.

How To Prepare a Home ForSale, No Matter What the Priceby Ilyce Glink

’ve been hearing lately from home-owners who are preparing to listtheir homes for sale. They know the

market isn’t great, but they’ve beenwaiting for a year or two to move onwith their lives (this is known in theindustry as “pent-up demand”) andhave decided to go for it.

W hether your home is priced at$100,000 or $6 million, there area couple of basic truths to listing ahome in today’s market. Keep themin mind when preparing to list yourhome for sale.

The first truth is that today’s home-buyers are far less forgiving thanthey were in the past. There was atime when sellers ruled the market.And they didn’t have to do much inorder to sell. Cleaning, de-cluttering

and packing away unused itemswere optional. You didn’t have tostage your home so it looked HGTV-ready. And you might not have hadto negotiate with a buyer over itemsthat came up in a professionalhome inspection.

Today, homebuyers have thei rchoice of homes for sale. They canchoose a lower-priced foreclosure orshort sale over your more expensivehome, building in value by renovat-ing to their own standards and tastelevel. They can buy in a better neigh-borhood than they might’ve beenable to before. And they expect yourhome to be in perfect condition.

An extremely strong homebuyer’s

market means sellers have to be ontheir toes. They’ll expect you tosweat the small stuff along with thebig stuff. And if you decide not totoe the line, don’t be surprised whenthey move on to the next property.

The second reality of today’s mar-ket is that sellers must create a valueproposition for potential buyers. Asa seller, your job is to overcome

any obstacles to a sale. Dealingwith the buyer’s state of mindshould be a top priority.

Today’s buyers want to feel asthough they’re getting the deal ofthe century. You can help themalong the path by creating whatbusiness calls a “value proposi-tion.” Essentially, that means help-ing them feel as though their moneyis extremely well spent.

To that end, staging your homewill help make it feel more puttogether and have better flow.Renting a storage “ pod” to helpclear out closets, the attic, and yourgarage will help them feel that yourhome is bigger (and allow thebuyer to feel as though he is gettingmore for the money).

Hiring a professional home inspec-tor to take a look at your home

before you list it for sale (also knownas a prelisting inspection) to pointout potential problems with yourhome will allow you to fix thembefore a buyer even crosses yourthreshold. If you eliminate thoseissues in advance, your prospectivenervous buyers will see that yourhome is in excellent condition.

W hen your prospective buyerlooks at your home, it will lookgreat. And when the buyer under-takes a professional inspection ofyour home, it will pass easily.

W hat wi ll make your home standout from the competition? Visit otherhomes for sale in the neighborhoodto figure out where you can add

value for a buyer. If all the homesfor sale are identical, can you makeyours stand out by replacing yourcarpet and repainting the walls? Atthe end of the day, you just want thebuyer to believe your home is a bet-ter deal than the one next door. ■

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July Sales Up as Investors Turn to Real Estateby Brendan Lynch

Panicked investors are taking money out of the stock market and putting it into anotherrecently distressed investment—real estate.

“We’re seeing more all-cash offers frompeople who have money sitting in accounts,”said one real estate agent. “People are nerv-ous; they want to invest in something theycan feel and touch.”

Karl Case, a Wellesley College economicsprofessor and co-creator of the S&P/Case-Shiller home-price index, said he’s seen thesame phenomenon. “Foreign buyers aredoing that more than we are,” he said.“They’re seeing value in American real

estate.”July home sales snapped a five-month

slide, rising 7 percent compared to July 2010,according to real estate tracker the WarrenGroup. Last month, 3,847 homes changedhands, up from 3,590 in 2010.

In July 2010, the first-time homebuyer taxcredit had just expired, so home sales werelow, making a 7 percent increase not much tocrow about. Median home prices also weredown slightly in July.

“You’ve got to look at numbers over a longperiod of time,” said Barry Bluestone, directorof the Kitty and Michael Dukakis Center forUrban and Regional Policy at NortheasternUniversity. “If we do that, sales are still way

down and prices are near the bottom.”Case agreed, saying the jump in July sales

came before the debt ceiling debate and stock market volatility, which have shaken con-sumer confidence. “I’m not excited. I’m notdepressed,” Case said. “It’s kind of what Iexpected.”

On the bright side, Heaney said openhouses have been busier in August than July.“At the beginning of the summer, you’d see

one person,” Heaney said. “We’re finally see-ing more people.” Laurie Cadigan, presidentof the Massachusetts Association of Realtors,said low prices and interest rates are creatinga buyer’s market, and things could pick up inthe fall. “Typically, once Labor Day passes,people get back in the market and want to bein a new home by the holidays,” she said. ■

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s e l l e r ’ s c o r n e r

by Ilyce Glink

Q: We refinanced and took money out of our home in2005 with a Texas home equity loan at 7.5 percent. WheneverI have asked about refinancing with any of the numerousmortgage companies, I have been told that any refinance

would have to be a Texas home equity loan, and the interestrate would be higher than the lower rates advertised for mort-gages.

I talked to a representative from a big box lender, and shecalled it a consumer loan and told me that if we tried to paymoney toward the principal, it would not shorten the term.The payment would only be reduced. I paid $1,000 towardthe principal, and for the next three months, our paymentswent only to interest.

Please help me understand this situation and how I canchange it. We still have 15 years on the note, and we oweabout $100,000.

A: When you refinanced back in 2005, you took out ahome equity loan rather than obtaining a traditional mort-gage. Maybe it was easier for you to obtain the Texas homeequity loan at that time.

In any case, it appears that Texas has quite a number of spe-

cific rules relating to how and when you can take out a homeequity loan. The maximum amount you can take out in aTexas home equity loan is 80 percent of the home’s value.

You may have taken less than 80 percent when you refi-nanced in 2005, and the key for you now is to find out whatthe rules are for you to refinance out of the Texas home equi-ty loan into a traditional mortgage.

It may be that your loan balance has to go down by a cer-tain percentage before you qualify to refinance your equityloan. You may also need quite a bit of home equity (the dif-ference between what you owe and what your home isworth).

If the ratio of the loan amount to your home value is low,you should be able to find a lender to assist you. However, if your loan value is quite high relative to your home’s value,you might have to offer to pay down some of the debt inorder to refinance the loan into a traditional mortgage at

today’s low rates.The big box lender was telling you that you might be able

to get a mortgage with them if you came up with cash to refi-nance. If you owe $100,000 on your Texas home equity loan,

you might have to pay $20,000 to get an $80,000 mortgage.The numbers will depend on what you owe on your equityloan, the value of the home and the amount you want for anew loan.

If you refinanced in 2005 when your home value had goneup substantially, and if now your home’s value has gone

down, it might not be possible to refinance out of your cur-rent loan.

Talk to a lender you trust. If you trust the person at the bigbox lender, talk to that person again and ask more questionsso that you understand what the lender will require toapprove a new primary loan for your home.

From what we can tell from your letter, the informationyou’ve received about your Texas home equity loan appears tobe accurate. Equity loans are frequently treated differentlythan mortgage loans—in particular, the manner in whichinterest is processed. Texas has stringent lending rules, whichhas allowed it to escape some of the damage caused by therecent housing crisis.

We haven’t looked at your documents, so we can’t know forsure. If you have questions about the legality of your loan, orif you need someone to explain what your documents meanand what limitations you face with regard to refinancing your

loan, please consult a real estate attorney or a trusted mort-gage loan officer. ■


REAL ESTATE MATTERS: Ask the Lawyer

by Kimberly Palmer

ere’s the dirty little secret abouthome renovations: Most of themdon’t pay off.

According to an annual survey in Remodeling Magazine, only steel entry door

replacements can be counted on to boosthome value enough to recoup 100 percentof costs. Of course, the value of a renovationdoesn’t depend on the resale price alone,which makes deciding whether to do onemore complicated than just crunchingnumbers.

For anyone trying to decide whether totake on a home renovation, consider thesetips:

Think about what you, the current home-owner, want from your home.

Homeowners can get a lot of value out of renovations before they even put the homeon the market.

“If you have a dated kitchen or the stovedoesn’t work, you can invest money now toglean some enjoyment as well as make thehome more appealing when you sell it,” saysKit H ale, one real estate professional.

That’s what Erin Schaff and her boyfrienddid when they decided to upgrade theirtwo-bedroom condo several years ago. “Itwasn’t in horrible shape, but we wanted toupgrade,” she says. So they spent about$10,000 replacing the baseboards, windowtrim and floors. They also remodeled thebathrooms and upgraded the hardware. Inaddition, they put new cabinets, appliancesand granite countertops in the kitchen.

Schaff and her boyfriend enjoyed all thoseupgrades before deciding to sell their homeearlier this year. She believes the renovationspaid off, too. “Had we not renovated, we

probably would have lost money, as we hadpurchased the condo at the peak of the realestate boom. Instead, we turned a profit andcovered most of the costs of purchasing thehouse we now live in,” she says.

Consider maintenance costs separatelyfrom renovations. If a roof needs to be fixed

and the owner replaces it, sellers look at thatas routine maintenance rather than a reno-vation. That means it might just help thehome sell for its existing market value asopposed to adding extra value. Similarly, if parts of the home are in disrepair and inneed of maintenance, sellers can subtractthe cost of those upgrades from what theyconsider the home to be worth.

Don’t forget about cheaper upgrades,from landscaping to staging. Realtors don’tslip apple pies into the oven before an openhouse just in case they get hungry; invitingsmells, sights and sounds are known to putbuyers in a home-purchasing mood. If potential buyers see weeds, broken side-walks and unkempt shrubbery, then theymight not even want to go inside. But if they see a well-cared-for exterior, they mightget excited about the property before theyeven see the kitchen or master bedroom.

That’s why renovations that affect “curbappeal” can have the most impact.According to Remodeling Magazine,replacing a home’s siding recoups 80 per-cent of its costs, on average, and windowreplacements replace just more than 70 per-cent of costs. Those renovations are usuallyvisible from the road.

Meanwhile, the average major kitchenremodel recouped just 60 percent of its cost,and the average cost was a hefty $113,000.Similarly, master suite additions, bathroomrenovations and deck additions also

recouped less than 60 percent of their costs.Cleaning up can help as much as building

bigger closets. Buyers like to see clear spaces.Hale says that some buyers make the mis-take of trying to make bedroom closets look bigger by moving clothes into the basement.But that just shows buyers that the closetsaren’t sufficient, he says. He urges sellers toget rid of clothes and other items they nolonger use to make their homes seem bigger,without doing a single dollar’s worth of ren-ovating.

Foremost, focus on the kitchen, appli-ances and curb appeal. Today’s buyers areespecially interested in common spaces for

the family to gather, such as screened porch-es and family rooms, as well as open-floor-plan kitchens. That way, parents who arepreparing meals can keep an eye on theirchildren as they play or do homework.Buyers also care less about formal spacestoday, which means a formal dining roomcould offer more value as a study or play-room.

The bottom line: Home renovationsaren’t just about the numbers, but a fewbasic guidelines can help buyers decidewhere to put their cash. ■


H

Will This Home Renovation Pay Off?

3

Introduction to Short Salesby Evan Fujii DRE #01370718

ith the assistance of an excellent third-partynegotiator, W ilshire Metro Realty has a highsuccess rate with short-sales—helping numerous

homeowners avoid foreclosure, and in one short saletransaction, obtaining approval for short sale in lessthan two weeks. The California Association of Realtorsestimates that only 20% of short sales were successful.

In comparison, Wilshire Metro Realty has a 95% short-sale success rate.

What is a short sale?Short sales are becoming more common throughout

the country, due to lower home prices. Homeownerswho wish to sell their properties, but owe more onthem than they are worth on the market may chooseto negotiate with their lenders in a short sale—sellingtheir property for less than market value in order toavoid forclosure and damaging their credit. Lendersmay benefit by avoiding a long foreclosure andresale process. However, short sales are not alwayseasy or successful.

What if I am a seller interested in selling a short-saleproperty?

Please note that not all lenders will offer a short-saleoption, and not all sellers will qualify for one. If you’rea seller thinking about a short sale, our third-party nego-

tiator can contact your lender, find out if a short sale isright for you, and help negotiate the selling price anddeficiency judgement. Wilshire Metro Realty can listyour property and help find you a buyer. Contact ustoday for more information.

What if I am a buyer interested in purchasing a short-sale property?

Buyers need to be careful, too, since getting a dealon a short sale is not as easy as it may sound. Shortsales may require doing some additional homeworkand assembling the right paperwork. W ilshire MetroRealty can help you successfully complete the purchaseof a short-sale property.

Wilshire Metro Realty represents buyers and sellersfor short sales, new home sales, resales and bank-owned properties. Contact us today for all of your new-home and investment property needs at (213) 629-253 0, or visit www.wi lshiremetro.com ■

W

W ilshire Metro Realty, Inc. is not associated w ith the government, and our service is not approved by the government or your lender. You may stop doing business with us at any time. You may accept or reject the offer of mortgage assistance we obtain from your lender. If you reject the offer, you do not have to pay us. If you accept the offer, you will have to pay us for our services. Even if you accept this offer and use our service, your lender may not agree to change your loan.



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How To Find The Best Locations ForBuying Rental Property Real Estate

by Todd Brittingham

You’ve heard it before. The first three rules of real estate areLocation, Location, Location. It’s no different when buying

rental property. If you’re in the market to purchase rental prop-erty real estate, you need to know your market. Below is a series

of steps you can take to determine the best areas in which to pur-chase your buy and hold properties.

Establish the Rental Market Locations

Have a Realtor put together a list of properties that have soldin your area. You’re going to want to find sales data on “bread

and butter” rental properties, or properties with three bedrooms,one bathroom, 800 sq. ft. to 1,200 sq. ft., with a basement and

a garage.Take the list of properties and sort them by sales price. Once

you have the properties sorted, break them up into threegroups—the lower third by price, the middle third by price, and

the upper third by price.

Next, take a map and start to plot out the three groups of prop-erties. For each group, use a different color pushpin on the map.

Once you have the map populated, you should start to seetrends. The properties priced in the lower third will likely have

the potential to generate the highest return. These are the areasyou’ll want to investigate further. If you’ve lived in the area, you

probably have a general idea about these areas.

Drive the Targeted Market

Once you’ve established a few areas, get in your car and drive

through the neighborhoods. Keep in mind that you should belooking for trends in the area. You may see one house that is par-

ticularly good or bad, but you’re ultimately looking at the big

picture.Assess the condition of the homes. Do you see solid roofing

with freshly painted trim? Or do you see dilapidated homes withbroken windows?

Landscaping also provides insight into neighborhoods. Have

residents mowed lawns and planted flowers? Or do you see longgrass and overgrown weeds?

Look at the streets and assess whether they’re clean or if

there’s trash strewn around. Children playing and neighbors

talking both provide a sense that the area is safe and friendly.You’re ultimately looking to answer whether or not your tenants

would want to live there.

Talk to People in the Neighborhood

If you see someone walking down the street, stop and letthem know you’re looking to buy real estate in the area, then ask

them about the neighborhood. Or, you can stop in a local busi-

ness and do the same.Once you have established your target markets, and driven

the areas, you should be able to determine which markets youwant to invest in, along with which markets you don’t.

Determine the Returns

Speak with a local property management company about the

rental rates for a three-bedroom, one-bath home, with a garage

and a basement in the area you’ve selected. The property man-agement company should be able to give you a good idea of the

rental rates and also give you some more feedback about the areain general. You should also inquire about their rates for proper-

ty management.Next, look up the taxes on a few properties to establish what

you can expect to pay. You should also speak to an insurance

agent about the cost of insurance for a property in your targetmarket.

Your next order of business is to calculate your net income.To do this, simply take your rental income expected for the year

and subtract the taxes, insurance and property managementexpenses.

Finally, calculate your return. To do this, simply divide the

net income by the price you you’d be paying for the property.An interesting exercise to perform is to calculate your return

on areas where homes are selling at a higher price. What you’llfind is that the neighborhoods may be a bit nicer, but your

returns are going to drop quickly. ■

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b u y e r ’ s c o r n e r

by Cris Anderson

. Paul Getty famously said, “Buy when everyone else isselling, and hold when everyone else is buying.”

Many commercial brokers believe that present market

conditions provide an unprecedented buying opportunity tolock in significant real estate investment returns. However,

many investors remain on the fence. While each investor mustcarefully consider their own financial objectives and risk toler-

ance before jumping back into the market, here are a fewaspects investors should consider when assess-

ing today’s real estate purchase opportunities:1031 Exchange Opportunity. Investors

with low-basis properties may utilize Internal

Revenue Code 1031 to defer tax on the sale of one underperforming asset to acquire one or

more discounted replacement properties thatmay enhance cash flow and provide higher

long-term investment returns.Attractive Purchase Prices. Many distressed

sellers (and some banks) are selling investment

properties at deep discounts and acceptingoffers that are below current replacement costs.

Recent reports indicate that lenders are sellingforeclosed properties (often referred to as real

estate owned or REO property) at an averagediscount of 28 percent below prices being paid

for comparable non-distressed properties in the

same market.Historically Low Financing Costs. The

Fed’s stimulus efforts, such as QE2(Quantitative Easing 2), have resulted in his-

torically low interest rates, making the cost of debt service exceptionally attractive. Qualified

real estate investors can take advantage of today’s low interest rates to bolster cash flow

and lock in better long-term investment

returns.Inflation Hedge. With many economists

predicting that inflation will increase at somepoint in the future, hard assets, like investment

real estate, can provide a hedge against thedeclining value of money in an inflationary

environment. Additionally, ownership of

leased real estate can provide an investor withincreased income, as rent rates also tend to rise

in inflationary periods.

Yield. Financial institutions are paying very low yields onmoney market accounts and other conservative investments.In contrast, many investment properties are generating returns

in the 7 to 9 percent range, providing considerably better

yields than many other competing investments.Less Competition. Foreign ownership of U.S. investment

real estate is increasing. Foreign investors see U.S. real estate asa solid investment in a stable economy, and the lower value of

the dollar has made U.S. real estate an even more attractive

bargain. These two trends will increase demand, which will

drive up prices on certain types of investment property. Bybuying now, investors can stay ahead of the competition.

Desirable Product Classes. Some classes of investment

property are experiencing considerably more demand than

supply. For example, in the multi-family segment, demand forrentals has increased as foreclosures have mounted, and there

is little new multi-family construction in the pipeline to meetsuch increased demand. As a result, multi-family rents are

increasing, and many experts project this trend to accelerate.Worst Price Declines are Over. Property

values nationally have declined by 30 percentor more since the market peak in 2006. Many

economists believe we are at an important

pivot point where prices will stabilize andbegin to increase (albeit at lower appreciation

rates than in the past). If investors wait toolong, they may find they are facing competing

bids and higher prices to close. Buying beforedemand picks up in the nearly inevitable

recovery locks in today’s bargain prices.Real Estate is Local. Despite national sta-

tistics about real estate prices, most investors

are aware that real estate is local, andsupply/demand and investment returns are

determined by local market conditions. Manyinvestors are using 1031 exchanges to

exchange out of areas that are not projected to

perform well and into areas where the localeconomy is more robust, and investment

returns are more favorable.Financial professionals tell their customers

it’s almost impossible to time the market andpurchase investments at the very lowest point

and later sell these same assets at near marketpeaks. The concept is fraught with many

problems, and, as a result, most financial

advisors caution customers not to pursue thisapproach. Despite this advice, investors often

wait until it’s too late to purchase and missopportunities. Don’t be left out. ■

Cris Anderson, Esq. is the Northwest Division

Manager of Asset Preservation. ©2011

Distributed by BiggerPockets

J

Nine Reasons To Buy Investment Property Now

by Kathryn Weber

When we turn on our faucets, rarely dowe stop to ask whether the water coming outis safe to drink. We simply assume it is, andthat it’ll always be there, even though thenews is full of stories about shortages, con-tamination and other problems with drink-ing water. If you’re interested in doing yourpart to conserve this resource, follow thesetips:

Waste Not, Want NotAn important step every homeowner

should take is minimizing water waste.Water-saving toilets and low-flow shower-heads are easy to install, and they increasesavings on your water bill. If you have anold, water-guzzling toilet, consider replacingit or using a water dam in the tank to mini-mize the amount of water used with eachflush. Replacing a toilet is a relatively simpleprocedure that any handy homeowner cando. Some communities will even give rebatesto homeowners who replace water-wastingtoilets.

Improve Your Water QualityThe second step many homeowners

should consider is improving water qualitywith filters. Many communities have old

water lines that bring sediment and discol-oration. A whole house water filter is a ter-rific, budget-friendly investment.Depending on the quality of water in yourarea, it may only need a filter replacementonce or twice a year. For even higher-qualitywater, consider adding a filtered water line atthe sink and a filter on the icemaker. Bothwill keep water extra clean and clear; theywill remove smells and sediment from yourwater.

Get Your House in OrderThe right water can also help you keep

your house cleaner. Installing a water soften-er keeps mildew from growing so your bath-room stays cleaner longer. Softened wateralso allows you to clean using less soap anddetergent. You can use as little as one-quar-ter or half the recommended amount of cleaner when doing laundry or running aload of dishes in the dishwasher.

Another source of waste is leaking water.Keep pipes and taps in good working order,and keep leaks in check. It saves money andis more environmentally friendly. Keepingyour water clean and using it responsibly isan important goal for your living space. ■


Services Inc.

G r e e n R e p o r t

Conserving and Improving H2O at Home

5



6

h o m e s p a c e

Today’s Top 10 Decorating Mistakes

by Janna Farley

ack-to-school shopping doesn’t justmean shopping for books, pencils,notebooks and binders. When

you’re heading to campus, you’re faced withthe challenge of what to buy to decorate adorm room that’s the size of a shoebox—and, quite frankly, just a little depressing.Tile floors, cinderblock walls and tiny win-dows don’t suggest warm and welcoming.

That doesn’t mean, however, that a smallroom on campus can’t be filled with person-ality. From futons and lava lamps to pictureframes and message boards, the right furni-ture and accessories can make an ordinarydorm room feel like home sweet home.

“All it takes,” says Ashley Maturan, “is alittle attention to detail.” She should know.The University of Sioux Falls senior was aresident assistant last year. “Carpet is amust,” she says. “So is an entertainmentcenter. Add a bit of art on the walls, stringsome lights around the room and sprinkle afew vases of flowers here and there, and thatboring room is transformed.

“It just makes it seem more like homewhen you have all your own personal stuff in there,” Maturan says. “You spend a lot of time in your room. If you don’t like it, you’llnever want to be there.”

According to the National RetailFederation, college students and their parentswill spend about $800 on average this year,down about $30 from last year. That figureincludes bedding, chairs and other decor.

The way you decorate your dorm room

says a lot about your personality, says KileeKading, who’s at Augustana College.“Everyone has their own unique touch to it,”she says. “It represents who you are in a way.”

Women usually decorate more than men,says Alex Heinert, a former residence halldirector at the University of Sioux Falls.

“For them, it’s a big deal to have theirrooms aesthetically pleasing. Their roomsare kind of an extension of how they dress,”he says. “For guys, it’s where they sleep andwhere they watch TV. It’s not as big a deal.They are more concerned about making itcomfortable than making it look good.”Here’s a look at some dorm room essentials:

Comfortable styleLive the dorm life in style with function-

al furniture and trendy decor, such as but-terfly chairs that fold away easily and multi-surface memo boards.

“Some students even bring in La-Z-Boychairs; it depends on how seriously theytake relaxation,” Heinert says.

A place for everythingWith small living quarters, maximizing

space is essential. From sweater shelves tohampers, storage is just as essential as aes-thetics. “Some sort of built-in dressers anddesks usually are provided,” Heinert says.“But it never hurts to be more organized.”

“You have to have totes for sure,” Maturansays. “Shoe organizers are amazing. Someorganizer drawers even come on carts.”

Storage containers don’t have to be

extremely utilitarian, either. “We used lotsof wicker baskets,” Kading says. “Thosewere the cutest things to put things in.”

Sleep in styleMake a dorm room your own by decorat-

ing with trendy and colorful dorm beddingto match your personality.

“[One] year, my roommate and I met upand decided to decorate together so every-thing matched,” Kading says. “We dideverything brown, and then we addedbright colors—bunches of pinks, aquas andyellows—for pillows and accessories.”

Clutter-free desksCreate less chaos while studying with

desk organizers and shelving sets that will

keep work areas neat. “I have a filing systemon top of my desk along with trays,”Maturan says.

Wash, rinse and repeatMake showering convenient and stylish

with handy organizers, towels and vibrantbath accessories.

Dorm-room diningMake living away from home easy by eat-

ing in with dorm-friendly dinnerware, flat-ware and storage sets. ■

©2011 McClatchy-Tribune Information Services

B

by Kathryn Weber

Everyone makes mistakes, and that old sawis never truer than when it comes to decoratingour homes. Because trends come and go, eachbrings with it a new set of decorating mistakes.Here are some of the trends that need to berevised or done away with altogether:

1. Over-fauxWhether it’s a faux scene or faux texture,

it’s just a nice way of saying fake. A little fauxtexture or paint treatment can go a long way.This is a case of less-is-not-just-more, it’sbest. If your wall treatment looks like cake

frosting, it’s over-fauxed.

2. Pillow plethoraA little comfort is a good thing. A lot of it

makes it impossible to sit on the sofa or getinto bed. Worse still? The karate-choppedpillow.

3. Themed accessoriesIt only takes one nice seashell to make a

nod to the beach. A whole wall of shells isoverkill. Pull accessories together with color,being sure to include a variety of type, sizeand shape.

4. Tone deafnessIn the era of Zen decorating, it’s easy to

bathe a room in a single shade of beige andcall it done. But the room looks devoid of lifeand lacks interest. Don’t forget to add asplash of color to bring a room to life.

5. Headless bedsBeds are still being allowed to remain in

bedrooms without headboards. This is worsethan the so-called sin of matching furniture.Nothing, repeat, nothing is worse than a bed

without a headboard.

6. Forgotten foyersWalking into an empty foyer is like driving

a car without a front grill. Sure, it’ll get youwhere you’re going, but you’ll arrive there ugly.

7. Vertical blindnessIf you’re living with vertical blinds, it’s like

living in an ’80s apartment complex … for-

ever. Replace those old standbys with morecontemporary options, such as panel track window coverings.

8. Good greenWhile good fake plants exist, nothing says

tacky like cheap artificial ones. Invest in qual-ity silk trees that look real. If the artificialplant you’re looking at doesn’t exist in nature,pass it by. And don’t forget to wash and dustyour silk plants.

9. Big, dirty panesWhile they may not exactly constitute deco-

rating elements, big windows are common

now, as are large expanses of mirror. Just makesure you keep up with their big cleaning needs.

10. Big on size, small on comfortReach for a balance of size and comfort

when selecting furniture. Bigger isn’t alwaysbetter—and it certainly isn’t always comfort-able. Sofas and chairs with long seats mightbe comfortable if you play professional bas-ketball, but they can pull up a sitter’s legs,making grown adults look like kids, not tomention the fact that they’re difficult to getin and out of. Before you buy, always test fur-niture thoroughly, and make sure guests willbe comfortable, too. ■

©2011 McClatchy-Tribune Information Services

Little Touches Turna Dorm into a Home

Transform a small, boring dorm room with accents like butterfly chairs, colorful pillows and the ever-popular college staple, the lava lamp.



7

h o m e s p a c e

by Kathryn Weber

It’s easy to let a tough economymake you feel uninspired about yourhouse, but don’t get too discouraged.Making an effort to keep your homeattractive takes the edge off a difficultsituation and could help preserveyour home’s value. In just 48 hours,you can give your house an updatedlook and refresh its energy and vitali-ty—along with your own.

HousescapingHousescaping is the act of manicur-

ing and polishing the appearance ofyour home. Start by editing your land-scape. Removing ugly shrubs and trim-ming trees can make a huge improve-

ment. Pull out bushes blocking windowsor those growing too close to walk-ways.

Once the overgrowth has beenremoved, add new, smaller plants. Takea photo of the exterior of your home toa local nursery, and let staff recommendreplacement plants. Reseed or re-sodbare spots in the lawn. If planting bedsaren’t edged, this change will makeyour yard appear better groomed. Thefinal touch is fresh, thick mulch in plantbeds and around trees.

A Good ScrubMany homes don’t need re-paint-

ing as much as they need a good

scrub. Rent or borrow a pressurewasher and spray siding and win-dows. Give the windows a quick pol-ish to make them shine. Wash downwalkways, porches and the drive-

way. A hose with a high-pressurenozzle is a cost-effective tool.

A stained roof detracts significant-ly from your home’s appearance.Shingled roofs with dark algae canbe cleaned with a solution of water,bleach and TSP (trisodium phos-phate). If safety or heavy stains worryyou, hire a cleaning contractor for the

job at a later date. A green roof washis available at wash-safe.com/ roof-wash and is safe to use around plantsif you’re willing to tackle this projectyourself.

Extra TouchesOnce cleaning and trimming is fin-

ished, it’s time to add some polish.Repaint or replace your front door,

and add some new hardware andlight fixtures. Don’t overlook a newmailbox and house number. Add aplanting bed at the base if the mail-box is by the street. Add a homeytouch with high-quality planters flank-ing the front door. Fill them with flow-ers you can change with the seasons.Finally, let there be light! Outdoorlighting is often completely over-looked. Instead of a set of six lightson a run of electrical cord, opt forspots instead. They’ll give you moreaesthetic bang for the buck, andinstallation is an easy DIY project.Place spots to highlight trees andunique architectural or landscaping

features.■


Services Inc.

Countdown to Curb Appeal:Reviving Your Home in a Weekend

by Kathryn Weber

The open-house concept has been a trend forthe past two decades. Open-concept homesoften have big, beautiful views and feel spa-cious. But can there be too much of a goodthing? While beautiful, the openness canmorph into overexposure and a discomfortinglack of privacy. This fishbowl effect can makeliving in an open-concept home uncomfort-able. The key is to balance the open conceptwith the need for privacy and security.

Common ComplaintsOwners’ enjoyment of an open-concept

home is often dampened by complaints of “liv-ing on exhibit.”

“The open-concept problem isn’t as apparentduring the day,” says Leslie Plas, senior designconsultant with Austin Window Fashions,Austin, Texas. “It’s the nighttime when you’recompletely backlit and living on display.” Plas’clients frequently ask her to bring some privacyinto their homes, and that often begins at thefront door.

“Security and privacy are a concern for manyhomeowners with glass front doors and side-lights. You want to be able to see who’s at thedoor before they see you,” she notes. Shutterscan be used on both sidelights and glass doors,also providing good light control.

High Density Reduces Privacy

While it’s clear that the open concept inhome design is not going away, the trend ismoving away from large lots with natural priva-cy toward open-concept homes in dense hous-ing developments.

“There’s a big desire for expansive views, butwith higher-density housing, the need for pri-vacy is also enhanced,” Plas explains. She rec-ommends shades that can be raised and low-ered at the touch of a button as lightingchanges, and the need for privacy is enhanced.

Plas says her clients are seeking privacy fromthe front door to the shower. Big glass show-ers look wonderful but offer nothing to shieldthe modest bather. Customers can installfrosted film to boost privacy but preservelight. A fresh idea is a single frosted sectionthat obscures the torso but preserves the beau-tiful clear glass.

Open RoomsAnother frustration in open-concept living is

“big room syndrome.” Someone can be watch-ing TV in one part of a large livingroom, mak-ing it difficult to carry on a conversation inanother area. Or maybe you can look throughthe front door and see all the way to the back yard in one visual sweep. While beautiful forvisitors, living in this type of home can be dis-concerting.

Easy fixes that add privacy to a dining or liv-ing area, or block the view from front to theback, include hanging a curtain, adding a roomdivider or installing a patterned glass panel.These help create a visual stop, introducingsome coziness, while retaining the room’s open,spacious feeling. Another option is to installshutters on a track system that can be pushed to

the side walls, opening up a room or providingprivacy. Bookshelves offer another option forcreating a distinct area. ■


Introducing Privacy to

Open-Concept Living

DTLA SOLD FROM 09/ 01/ 2011 TO 10/ 01/ 2011

849 S Broadway 0 1 $310,000

510 S Hewitt 1 1 $475,000

849 S Broadway 1 1 $300,000

849 S Broadway 2 2 $475,000

312 West 5th Street 1 1 $210,800

500 Molino Street 0 2 $555,000

108 W 2nd Street 0 1 $229,000

1130 S Flower 1 2 $370,500

267 S San Pedro Street 1 1 $265,000

1111 S Grand Avenue 1 1 $350,000

1100 S Hope 1 1 $350,000

849 S Broadway 1 2 $600,000

880 W 1st Street 2 3 $275,000

253 S Broadway 1 1 $200,000

645 W 9th Street 1 1 $331,000

100 S Alameda Street 1 1 $233,000

1100 S Hope Street 1 1 $344,000

738 S Los Angeles Street 2 1 $155,000




629 Traction Avenue 1 1 $240,000

1111 S Grand Avenue 2 2 $535,000

222 S Central Avenue 2 2 $355,000

629 Traction Avenue 2 2 $575,000

800 W 1st Street 2 2 $347,000

420 S San Pedro 0 1 $153,900

1130 S Flower Street 0 2 $367,000

108 W 2nd Street 0 1 $125,000

900 W Olympic BLVD 3 3 $5,225,000

© 2011 by Combined L.A./ Westside MLS, Inc. Information deemed reliable but not guaranteed. Salesinf ormation for 90012, 90015 Zip Code Areasbetween Sept 1, 2011 to Oct. 1, 2011. Broker/ Agent doesnot guarantee the accuracy of the square footage, lot size or other infor mation concerning the conditionsor featuresofthe property provided by the seller or obtained from Public Recordsor other sources. Buyer is advised to independently verify the accuracy of all information thr ough personal inspection and with appropriate pr ofessionals. © 2011 by Combined L.A./ Westside MLS, Inc. Informati on deemed reliable but not guaranteed.

ADDRESS BR BA SOLD PRICE ADDRESS BR BA SOLD PRICE



8

by Kathryn Weber

Is the economy taking a toll on your home decoratingbudget? Furniture is a big investment, and hiring an inte-rior designer might be too costly. But if you have a yen fora new look in your livingroom, and if you have $50 and alittle t ime, you can refresh your look.

The wall you see first when you walk into the roomshould be your starting point. This is the stage your restylewill revolve around. Paint that wall in a standout hue. Agallon of paint will run you around $25. If you havebookshelves and some leftover paint, consider paintingthe back of the shelves the same color as the accent wall.

For an adventurous change, apply some anaglypta wallcovering to the back of the bookshelves, then paint themwith your accent color. Anaglypta is paint-able texturedwallpaper that costs about $25 a roll.

Next, look for accents you already have that feature thenew wall color—throw pillows, artwork or an area rug.

Place these around the room. By pulling the color into thespace, you create a unified look.

If the room has mismatched lamps, borrow somefrom another room with a matching pair. We all havetwo eyes, two legs, two arms, two ears. We feel mostcomfortable and balanced when we see things in pairs.Pairs of matching chairs or end tables will also help bal-ance the room.

After you’ve painted your accent wall, take the largestpiece of furniture in the room, such as the sofa, and placeit in front of this wall to anchor the room. If possible, pullthe sofa away from the wall and out into the space. Placea cocktail table in front of it and two chairs in front of thetable to create a conversation zone. Find a large piece of artwork to hang over the sofa.

Sometimes it’s not a huge change that makes a differ-ence but small details that shift the way a room feels and

looks. Look around your livingroom for spots to addsmall touches borrowed from other parts of the house.These could be as small as tassels you hang from the knobsof a dresser, armoire door, lamp switch or chair.

Using some inexpensive gold craft paint, gild a lamp,the details on a piece of furniture, or mismatched pictureframes. A large bottle or can only runs about $3. Don’tlike the way your books look on the shelves? Wrap themin brown or ivory craft paper, or leftover anaglypta, andstencil on designs with gold paint. If you’re feeling adven-turous, try adding nail head trim to a sofa or chair.

A bold coat of paint, a new arrangement of decorativeelements and a few small decorative touches can add up toa refreshed feeling in your livingroom without emptyingyour wallet. ■


The $50 LivingRoom Makeover

“… look for accent

s you alread

y

have that featur

e the new wall

color—throw pillows, artwork or

an area ru

g.”

THE TOP CHOICE FOR DOWNTOWNREAL ESTATE W ILSHIRE METRO REALTY, INC.

DRE 01090146IF YOU ARE LOOKING FOR SALES OR

LEASING SERVICES, CONTACT US TODAY!



9

by Sean Conway

It’s cooling down, and the days are

shortening. Those of us who have been

at it for a while know that this is the

time to start sowing seeds for cool-

weather crops.

Vegetables that grow best in cool tem-

peratures, such as broccoli, kale and let-

tuce, can be sown now so that they’ll be

ready to transplant into the garden in a

few weeks. Many gardeners fail to take

advantage of a second season in the gar-

den, and that’s a shame. Many cool-

weather crops can be harvested right up

until a hard frost.

To condition my soil, I add compost

and well-rotted manure. I usually check

DIY stores and garden centers for sales

on bagged manure, which is a conven-

ient and cost-effective way to add nutri-

ents back into your soil.

I find some cool-loving vegetable

crops are best sown directly into the

ground. On ce I have prepared the soil, I

sow crops like spinach, beets, radishes

and some varieties of lettuce directly into

the soil. Larger vegetables, such as broc-

coli and kale, are sown in flats and trans-

planted with adequate spacing into rows

once they’ve achieved some size.

Vegetables are not the only plants that

should be sown now. Biannual plants

should be started from seed now too.

Biannual plants, unlike annuals, stay

alive through their first winter, bloom

the following spring, set seed then die.

Seed germinating now allows the plants

plenty of time to grow before winter

arrives, and ensures large, healthy plants

for next spring.

Several years ago, I purchased seed in

England of a pure white, unspotted fox-

glove with exceptionally tall flower

stalks. Foxgloves are perfect examples of

biennials, and this variety is a showstop-

per each spring in my woodland garden.

After the flowers fade, the plants set seed

in August. I collect it, germinate it and

plant out several dozen plants by mid-

fall. The plants go dormant over the

winter, and I almost forget they’re there

until the following spring when the

white spires return to light up the gar-

den.

Biannual plants often aren’t available

in garden centers because of their growth

cycles; there are fewer customers around

in the fall to purchase them, so they’re

seldom grown. So these plants are best

ordered as seed from catalogs, and their

minimal maintenance requirements are

well worth the effort. ■


Services Inc.

by Sean Conway

ardening and horticulture are aboutplanning ahead. Once I see pump-kins showing up on doorsteps, I

know it’s time to start planting paperwhitebulbs. If planted now, these sweetly fra-

grant, easy-to-grow bulbs will be in bloomin t ime for Thanksgiving.

Native to the Mediterranean, paperwhiteNarcissus ( Narcissus papyraceus) bulbs are

closely related to daffodils but cannot toler-ate freezing temperatures. Although not

hardy for growing outdoors in colderregions of the country, paperwhites are pop-

ular as both cut flowers and seasonal house-plants.

One of the easiest bulbs to force into

bloom, paperwhites don’t require a periodof cooling while their roots form the way

spring-blooming bulbs do. And they’re notfussy about where they spread their roots.

They can be grown in a shallow bowl of pebbles as easily as in potting soil.

The bulb contains all the energy it needsto flower, so there’s no need to fertilize

while it’s growing. Its only requirements arewater and light.

In the early fall, paperwhites will bloomabout four to six weeks after planting. As

the season progresses, the time from plant-ing to blooming will decrease because the

flowers within the bulbs are continually

developing as the bulb ages. Bulbs plantedin December will, on average, take only two

to three weeks to come into flower.Bulbs can be purchased at most garden

centers or can be ordered online. Be sure tostore them in a cool, dark space until you’re

ready to plant them.Begin by choosing your container. I pre-

fer to use shallow pots with holes in the bot-tom since I pot my bulbs in potting soil,

but you can use containers without holes just as successfully by substituting pebbles

for soil.If you decide to use potting soil for your

bulbs, begin by filling your container two-thirds from the top with soil. Place the

bulbs flat side down on top of the soil, withtheir tips up. Don’t worry if the tips are

curving downward or outward, they willself-correct when the bulb begins to grow.

Pack the bulbs into the pot tightly so thatthe sides of the bulbs are touching.

Next, cover the bulbs up to the growing

tip with gravel, stones, marble chips or tum-bled glass. This helps hold the bulbs in place,

keeps soil from spilling when watering andhelps retain necessary moisture around the

roots. The material you use on top of the soilcan be whatever you like, but be sure it’s

clean and free from contaminants. I use grav-el from my driveway, but I have also used

colored marbles for holiday pots.Now water your pots well and set them in

a cool but sunny location. Check periodi-

cally to make sure the soil does not dry out.The bulbs should show signs of growth in a

few weeks.If you choose not to use a container with

drainage holes, fill your container almost tothe top with crushed stones, pebbles or

marbles, and bury the bulbs flat side down,leaving two-thirds of the bulb above the

surface. Put water in the container, but besure the bulbs stay above the water or they

will rot. Once roots begin to form on thebulbs, they will grow down into the moist

stones.Once in bloom, paperwhites grown

indoors will stay in flower for about a week to 10 days, depending on the temperature

of the room. A warm room will shorten the

bloom time, and a cool room will extend it.If you plant bulbs in one to two week inter-

vals, you can enjoy them in your home formonths. ■

©Distributed by Tribune Media Services

Planting for Fall

PAPERWHITE NARCISSUS:

Indoor Blooms for the Cold Season

G

h o m e a n d g a r d e n



1 0

egardless of the economy, we stillwant our living spaces to be com-

fortable and beautiful. Butbecause of the economy, we’ve seen a def-inite impact on interior design.

Many people are getting away from theelaborate and ornate, opting instead for amore simplified, traditional look, saysBeverly J. Thompson, an interior design-er in Simpsonville, S.C. “They are look-ing at what’s important to them.”

The current trends are reflecting a bal-ance of comfort, style and simplicity,both indoors and outdoors.

Multi-FunctionalNow more than ever, multi-functional

furniture is a staple in home décor. Pieceslike coffee tables with drawers, ottomans

with concealed storage and side tableswith built-in shelving offer stylish versa-tility and practical design solutions.

“Some side tables can become coffeetables, depending on what they look like,” Thompson says. “And consoletables can go next to a sofa, behind a sofa,in-between chairs or against a wall to helpanchor a piece of art.”

Natural Materials“People are still going green, so to

speak, and that trend will continue,”Thompson says. “You’ll see sustainablefabrics, such as linen and cotton, on sofas,window treatments and pillows. Alsolook for wool rugs, bamboo flooring—

even bamboo tabletops. These materialsprovide a relaxed neutral background,while allowing you to accent with anycolor you want,” she says.

In particular, hardwood floors add tothat feel, according to Margi Kyle, presi-dent of the Interior Design Society inHigh Point, N.C. “We’re doing a lot of hardwood floors. When people go withthe good hardwood floors, they just haveto sand them down, re-stain them or justlet them age beautifully.”

Ambient LightingThe goal here is to improve mood

lighting in the kitchen or any other roomof the house. Pendants and torch lamps,for instance, can achieve that effect whileadding a level of elegance.

“I think we got so into overhead lightingand track lighting that now it’s given us avery harsh look. So we’re trying to work more with different types of lighting for awonderful feel,” Kyle says. “You knowwhen you think of lighting, it’s energy.”

When you lower your lighting, even inthe kitchen where you’re cooking, it low-ers your stress level, Kyle says. “A lot of torch lamps that will fit in the corner willpush light up to the ceiling, but then itgracefully comes back down into theroom, so it’s not just lighting from above.It’s very subtle and soft.”

Say it with ColorThe current color palette aims to ele-

vate and inspire with sophisticated shadesof purple, along with nature-inspiredblues and greens. Even punchy accentcolors like magenta, muted orange andlime green are making a statement.

“Personally, I’m seeing a lot of limegreen in kitchens where black is theaccent, and it’s a really striking combina-tion,” Kyle says.

Accent walls are ideal spaces to usebright pops of color to showcase yourpersonality and individual style, saysJaclyn Pardini, a spokeswoman forLowe’s. “Experiment with bold hues in akitchen or bathroom where there is limit-ed wall space, so a bold color won’t over-whelm the room.”

Whether it’s a bedroom dressed in softlavender or an accent wall in deep plum,purple is stylishly daring. “Purple givesyou the ability to see new possibilities andideas,” Kyle says. “When you know thecolor language, you understand whysome of the colors are popular right now.”

Earthy brown hues are also strong.Cream can be cool, while brown adds awarm and rustic appeal, whether in thekitchen or the family room.

“Brown gives you the ability to live inthe moment and accept things the waythey are now, very practical,” Kyle says.

Backyard RetreatsWith outdoor living, even with cooling

temperatures, the “stay-cation” idea is stillin full swing. While big-ticket items suchas outdoor kitchens and fireplaces are noton the front burner for many due to theeconomy, people are still accessorizingand updating with outdoor rugs, decora-tive pillows and fire pits.

Homeowners will always revel in hav-ing their own personal retreats, and out-door living space provides that, whethercozy or elaborate, says Donnie Owens,store manager at The Fire House CasualLiving Store in Greenville.

Interior design continues to spill over inback yards with pieces like decorative cof-fee tables and outdoor crescent sofas, giv-ing outdoor spaces the feel of a livingroom.

Crescent sofas are particularly good foroutdoors. “There are a lot of roundporches that fit into play with this,”Owens says. “A lot of porches just aren’tsquare. It allows you to have more of aconversational setting. I personally think they sit better. You sit a lit tle bit deeper.”

As far as outdoor fabrics, brands such asSunbrella and Crypton are constantlyevolving to make fabrics more durableand weather- and stain-resistant, whileoffering even more pattern variety, Kylesays. Many of the fabrics can be used forboth indoor and outdoor furnishings. ■

©2011 Distributed by McClatchy-Tribune Information Services

R

Interior Designis a Balancing Act

by Cheryl P. Allen



j u s t f o r f u n

1 1

CROSSWORD

PUZZLE

P U Z Z L E

tÇáãxÜá

created by Crosswords Ltd.

ACROSS1 People person

6 Throw for a loop

10 Crew cut’s opposite

14 Good on one’s feet

15 In __ of: as a substitute for

16 Ring out

17 Woods has often been atop it

20 Mass. hours

21 Food with a VeterinaryFormula

22 Ungentle giants

23 Cilantro, e.g.

24 Word on some euros

26 Hold one’s nose, perhaps

31 Power strip inserts

32 It may be promised

33 Dedicated work

35 Justice appointed after

Clarence

36 Religiously devoted

38 Go up the creek without a

paddle?

39 Doggy bag item

40 She had a big hit with

“Thank You” in 2001

41 Prepares, as a hook

42 They’re fun to jump in

46 Ben-Gurion airline

47 Toll-road toll unit

48 Talk Like a Pirate Day cry

51 Thrift store stipulation

52 Counterterrorism org.

55 Pet owner’s bane, and a

hint to what’s hidden in

17-, 26- and 42-Across

59 Case the joint, say

60 Plant used for first aid

61 Blair’s predecessor

62 Tool used to create 42-

Across

63 “__ of Steel”: '80s workout

video

64 Sudden increase

DOWN

1 H amster’s home

2 Prima donnas have big ones

3 Happy tune

4 Will Ferrell holiday comedy

5 Personal theology elements

6 Burn a dessert on purpose?

7 Helps out

8 End of a common list

9 It’s W of the Urals

10 Orbital high point

11 More than just butterflies

12 “Still mooing,” at a

steakhouse

13 Bygone automaker

18 Banjoist Scruggs

19 Watching the clock,

perhaps

23 Above the strike zone

24 Biblical birthright seller

25 Getaway spots

26 Suck down

27 __-frutti

28 Hard to get close to

29 “Yikes!”

30 Puts in a good word?31 Debate side

34 Miami couple?

36 City on the Arno

37 1-Across, usually

38 Word processing command

40 Indian metropolis

41 Aromatic firs

43 Emissary

44 Misses

45 Escape hatch, e.g.

48 Way, way off

49 Jessica of “Fantastic Four”

50 Stink to high heaven

51 Long, long time

52 Pacific archipelago

53 Volume

54 Memo header

56 Catch red-handed

57 Fever cause

58 Suds source

© 2011 Tribune Media Services, Inc.

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Utilities Included

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1 + 1

2

+ 2

3 + 2. 5

2

+ 2

wilshire metro times - fall 2011

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