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3 Tips To Create The Perfect Backyard Space

January 30, 2023/in Blog, Lifestyle, Reno-Sparks Real Estate /by Shauna Morris

From flaming fire pits to that perfectly paved pool, backyards are often a homeowner’s secret haven and greatest ambition. However, between types of materials, plants, furniture, and decor, there’s a lot more to creating an outdoor space than commonly thought. Choosing the design of your backyard can be an overwhelming choice. Let’s dive into some modern backyard features and aesthetics to help inspire your exciting new backyard!

Open and Airy

While the concept of bringing the comfortability of our homes to the outdoors is a perfect way to enhance your backyard space, remember to embrace the best elements of the outdoors as well. Choose open and airy features such as a stunning pergola and highlight your favorite flowering plants and landscaped shrubbery.

Contrast In Materials

In modern outdoor designs, you’ll often find hard textured materials that somehow feel soft and inviting. Designers will create contrast between soft materials like lush grass, flowering plants, and low-growing greenery with harsher textures such as stone, geometric patterns, and even concrete. This creates a pleasing and exciting design that will attract the eye.

Make A Statement

Whether you’re a color fanatic looking to add that bright pop of orange to the earthy tones of the outdoors or a friend of nature wanting to grab your visitors’ attention with the splash from a trickling waterfall, making a statement is key. Once you’ve established the colors, materials, textures, and overall design of your outdoor space, break it up and break the rules!

Get the backyard of your dreams with these tips and more. Contact The David Morris Group or follow our blog to learn everything about becoming a homeowner, living in Reno, and exciting real estate market updates!

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Which Paint Colors Will Sell Your Home The Fastest?

January 6, 2023/in Blog, Lifestyle /by Shauna Morris

First impressions are critical during the home-selling process, and the paint color of the walls can make or break a buyer’s decision. Surprisingly, even the type of finish can impact the buyer as they consider your property. Are you looking to make affordable improvements to your home that will not only help speed up the selling process but also raise the value of your home? Then take a look at these paint colors that will make a property catch the eye of any buyer!

An Earthy Kitchen

The age of all-white kitchens is out, and soft green is in. Sustainable living has dramatically risen in popularity over the years, making it no surprise that earthy tones and shades of green are trending in home design. While it’s important to avoid bold shades of the color, a pale green or sage is just the color to illuminate the space. Remember to let the bold aspects of a kitchen – the countertops and cabinets – tell the story of the space. An enchanting but delicate green can add to the composition while still allowing a potential buyer to envision their dream home.

Dark And Dreamy

It may come as a surprise, but a dark wall color can do wonders for potential buyers. For some, a boldly accented wall in the living space is enough to add some personality. But for rooms that have little to no light or personality, embracing a darker hue can create a snug, comforting, and even intimate atmosphere. These darker colors are often best used in libraries, dens, office spaces, and some bedrooms.

A Pale And Peaceful Escape

Ever since the spa trend has taken bathroom interior design by storm, the trend of the traditional white bathroom has gone. Buyers want luxury and interest in their bathrooms. Too much color, however, can detract from the peaceful escape that buyers desire. Delicate cool tones are perfect for the space, with the winning color being a pale blue that lightens a room and creates a tranquil feeling.

Now armed with this insight into the buyer’s mind, it will be that much easier to make easy and affordable improvements to your home, as simple as a splash of new paint in the kitchen! For more information on how to sell your home for the best price, contact The Davis Morris Group!

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The Magic Of Nevada’s Holiday Light Displays

December 21, 2022/in Blog, Reno Events and Activities, Reno-Sparks Real Estate /by Shauna Morris

This year, make your season bright by visiting some of Nevada’s truly magical holiday light displays! Here are some of our favorites:

Lights of Tanea

Now through December 25th, 2022

These impressive lights are more than they appear. Throughout the week, this display will become a spectacular Christmas light show synchronized with festive music. So set your radios to 106.1 FM and head over to South Reno for the ultimate holiday light show!

The Elf House

Now through December 31st, 2022

A highly popular Nevada destination during the holidays, The Elf House (otherwise known as The Alvarado House) takes holiday decorations and lights to a whole new level. Visitors can come every day from 5pm to 11pm to watch the lights in awe!

The Electric Holiday Train O’ Lights

Now through December 31st, 2022 (limited tickets)

This truly magical experience has families from all over the state come for their chance to ride the Holiday Train O’ Lights. Traveling down a 150-year-old rail line, visitors can enjoy the stunning Virginia City landscape that has transformed into a winter wonderland.

40th Annual Hidden Valley Parade of Lights

Now through January 1st, 2023

Beginning in early December, right as the season officially shifts to winter, Hidden Valley joins together for its annual Parade of Lights. This cherished tradition is a long-standing one and is beloved by the community. While the light contest commenced on December 10th, displays will be up through the New Year, so come on out and take your guesses of the winners!

Let It Glow, Reno

Now through January 8th, 2023

While this thrilling event might not be a drive-thru light display in a favorite neighborhood, it is a holiday necessity that we can’t wait to enjoy each year! Join the Reno community for its annual celebration of the holidays by filling the beautifully lit streets of the local business districts. Sip your favorite warm drink, shop for holiday gifts, and vote on the best and brightest storefronts.

Did you see one of your favorite displays on our list? Reach out and let us know your favorite holiday destinations in Nevada!

Home Improvement And Design Trends For 2023

December 16, 2022/in Blog, Reality of Real Estate, Reno-Sparks Real Estate /by Shauna Morris

As we near the end of the year, talk of home improvement projects is skyrocketing. Whether you’re a homeowner wanting to jump on 2023 home design trends or an interested buyer searching for a renovated property to invest in, there are certain home upgrades every buyer, seller, and current homeowner should consider going into the new year.

Allot A Distinct Space To The Kitchen

One of the biggest trends of the new year lies in the home’s heartiest room. In 2023, interior design experts are looking at the kitchen to become an expression of a homeowner’s personality and style. No longer are kitchens primarily focused on utilitarian functionality but instead on wellness and creative expression. Homeowners should consider warm neutral colors, earth tones, textured woods, and matte finishes as they plan their upcoming kitchen upgrades. Hosting has also become a huge trend, with attention being drawn to kitchen islands and home bars.

Relaxation And Rejuvenation In The Bathroom

Pristine, white bathrooms are staying behind in 2022 as homeowners instead look ahead to a burst of color in the new year. Nature-inspired themes have become especially popular in upcoming bathroom trends. Consider tactile stone and wood textures, leafy green hues, and a calming atmosphere to accent these themes. Spa-like bathrooms have also jumped to the forefront of design trends, with homeowners adding monochromatic metallic gradients and color light displays in showers.

A Comforting Blend Of Indoors And Outdoors

The pandemic initially ignited the trend of mixing indoor and outdoor spaces. Many homeowners itched to bring the comfort of the indoors to their outdoor areas and integrated natural outside elements into their home spaces. Homeowners can blur these lines with large-scale windows, double doors, natural light, large patios, and oversized plush patio furniture.

Consider these 2023 home design trends as you make your new year’s resolutions! And, as always, contact The David Morris Group for more homeowner tips.

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The Best Spots In Reno For Holiday Shopping And Christmas Gifts

December 6, 2022/in Blog, Reno Events and Activities /by Shauna Morris

Whether you’re knee-deep in holiday shopping or searching for the perfectly unique Christmas gift, there’s plenty of untapped local shopping opportunities right here in Reno! From vintage boutiques to local craft fairs to specialty holiday stores, the city is brimming with holiday shopping options this year.

Discover the ultimate list of Reno’s best holiday shopping destinations below.

Natural Selection

39 St Lawrence Ave, Reno, NV 89509

If your friends, family, and neighbors are lovers of the natural world, look no further than Natural Selection! This unique store celebrates the outdoors like never seen before. So head over and enjoy this curated selection of rare plants, vintage natural elements, and hand-selected oddities. Read more about Natural Selection.

The Lark

538 W Plumb Ln Ste.C, Reno, NV 89509

Locally owned and operated, The Lark is beloved in Reno for its unique gifts ranging from hand-picked home decor to your favorite pair of sunglasses. Read more about The Lark.

The Buy Nevada First Gift Shop & Visitors Center

4001 S Virginia St, Reno, NV 89502

Arts, crafts, specialty foods – Oh My! The Buy Nevada First Gift Shop & Visitors Center features items from over 200 local vendors and is one of Reno’s most popular spots for local gifts. Read more about The Buy Nevada First Gift Shop & Visitors Center.

GJ Rhodes Gift & Home

35 Foothill Rd #1, Reno, NV 89511

Find rare home decor gifts at this local specialty store! With great prices, quality products, and an overall great aesthetic and eye for home decor, home goods, and unique pieces, this Reno shop is the place to be this holiday season.

Home Design Tips To Attract Buyers During The Winter Season

November 17, 2022/in Blog, Reno-Sparks Real Estate /by Shauna Morris

Despite many homeowners putting off housework until after the holidays, winter is the perfect time to show off your property and find potential buyers. While the buying and selling season may slow significantly during the holidays, serious buyers are still on the move during this time – often eager to make a purchase before the end of the year.

So let’s take a look at some tips to keep your home in its prime for the holiday season!

Find Ways To Introduce Contrast

Visual interest is a key element in enticing window-shopping homebuyers. Having a striking exterior and stunning curb appeal will make your property stand out to interested parties. Consider contrasting colors and bold components, like three-story windows.

Be Playful With Your Home’s Design

While home renovations are a much bigger task to undertake during the holidays, it can never hurt to start planning ahead. Playfulness is essential in home design. It creates intrigue, excitement, and personality, making an otherwise traditional home more eye-catching to the public. One of our favorite designs is a low-pitched roof dormer!

Enhance What’s Already There

Restore the beauty of older homes with simple but impactful upgrades. For example, a limewash brick exterior is easy to apply yourself, inexpensive, safe for the home, and has the potential to transform a more dated property into a charming residence.

Have Fun With Walkways

Driveways, entryways, and property-wrapping walkways are often placed on the back burner when it comes to home improvements, but these relatively simple projects could do wonders for your property value and overall curb appeal. Try installing artificial turf walkways that will add sophistication and character!

The winter season is an exciting time to be a homeowner! Contact us if you’re interested in more home improvement projects or curious about becoming a Nevada homeowner today.

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Get Ahead Of The Holiday Shopping Season With These Unique Nevada Gifts

November 9, 2022/in Blog, Lifestyle, Reno Events, Reno Events and Activities /by Shauna Morris

November is a wonderful time of year in Nevada, with dropping temperatures, a newly snow-covered horizon, and exciting seasonal events. But with the holidays right around the corner, it can be a daunting season of gift shopping for Nevadans. Luckily, there’s no shortage of local goodies, Nevada knickknacks, and unique gifts sprinkled throughout the state, just waiting for you to find them!

Hand-Crafted Gifts

When looking for that perfect gift, there’s nothing better than a beautiful hand-crafted gift. Show your loved ones how much you care with a one-of-a-kind gift from one of these local businesses:

Pretty Little Paper Co.

This unique craft store will send you home with the cutest hoodies, t-shirts, and stickers for your friends and family.

Neon Cactus Vintage

This stunning vintage store holds stunning stained glass suncatchers, earrings, necklaces, and more!

Meridian Press

Take Nevada home with you at the Meridian Press with beautiful, hand-painted prints of the Truckee River, Sand Harbor, and our stunning local nature.

Sweets And Treats

Reno Food Tours

Savor every last bite of Reno’s local culinary scene with this guiding tour. Explore six delicious tastings from local favorites as you learn the secrets of Reno’s culinary past.

Black Rabbit Mead Co.

With choices of cucumber mint, pineapple jalapeno, and strawberry oak, any delicious glass from this first-in-Nevada meadery will be a gift to remember!

Sierra Nevada Chocolate Co.

Enjoy over 40 flavors of hand-made chocolate, caramel apples, and more with this locally loved chocolate store. You can even gift an edible version of The Reno Arch!

The Radish Hotel

Looking to go green with this season’s collection of gifts? The Radish Hotel offers sustainable and environmentally friendly holiday baskets filled to the brim with tasty honey, jams, granola, and locally-sourced produce.

Pampering Gifts

With our steaming hot mineral-rich springs, Nevada is one of the best places to kick your feet up and embrace a self-care day.

Steamboat Hot Springs Healing Center & Spa

Soak up a beautiful holiday getaway or even a staycation at Nevada’s oldest and most treasured spring resort.

Sage House Soapworks

Locally made in Sparks, these gorgeous soaps will have you buying in bulk! These soaps boast shining colors woven into unique designs that smell like a dream.

Whether you’re getting ahead of the holidays or looking for a unique gift for that special someone, local Nevada businesses have you covered! Contact us if you’d like to learn more about what makes Nevada so wonderful during the holiday season!

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Best Hiking Trails in Reno to See the Fall Colors

October 31, 2022/in Blog, Lifestyle, Reno Events and Activities /by Shauna Morris

Tis’ the season for fantastic fall views of the Reno-Tahoe area! With crisp orange leaves, crystal blue lakes, and snowy white mountaintops, the fall season never fails to bring a kaleidoscope of stunning colors. Whether you’re one of many visitors traveling from all over the country to enjoy the incredible sights Nevada has to offer or a local lover of nature, here are some of the most picturesque hikes in the area. Get your cameras ready!

Mayberry Park

Perfect for families, this beautiful park lies alongside the Truckee River, making for some incredible fall views. With paved trails and nature walks, Mayberry Park allows families a calming walk along the river.

Kings Canyon Waterfall Trail

For even more scenic trails, Carson City has plenty of sights to see. At the base of the Eastern Sierra mountains, the Kings Canyon Waterfall Trail has easily accessible trails that offer one-of-a-kind views. And don’t forget the year-round waterfalls that are nestled within Kings Canyon.

Galena Creek Trail

Bring your furry friends for a calm morning or afternoon stroll along the banks of Galena Creek! Inside the Humboldt-Toiyabe National Forest, this trail is the perfect escape from the hustle and bustle of the city.

Marlette Lake Trail

For the more avid and adventurous hikers, the Marlette Lake trail offers miles of beautiful golden aspen trees. While the trail is more challenging than most, hikers can break while listening to melodic birdsong and trickling streams.

Reno Riverwalk District

While the Riverwalk District differs from the normal idea of a “nature trail,” there are still plenty of unique fall colors to enjoy at one of America’s most memorable riverwalks. Take in the burnt oranges and golden hues of a Nevada fall while enjoying an elegant meal out at the famous Reno Riverwalk.

There’s nothing quite like fall in Nevada. So come join us to celebrate the stunning change of season, experience fall like never before, and maybe even learn how you can call this irresistible place your home. Contact The David Morris Group to find your dream Nevada home!

What Does “Good Bones” Mean?

September 30, 2022/in Blog /by Shauna Morris

Buying a home is stressful and can feel overwhelming if it’s your first home. Then throw in terms like “load bearing,” “roof truss,” and “subfloor,” and you’re not sure what you’re even looking at anymore! We’ve heard the term “good bones” used to describe a house, but what does “good bones” mean? How can you determine if the house you fall in love with has them?

Materials and Foundation

The main thing people refer to when they say “a house has good bones” is that its structure is sound and its foundation is solid. A house has a skeleton that gives it shape and supports the outer coverings. That support is called the frame, which is considered the house’s bones. The bones consist of wooden beams, floor joists, wall studs, roof rafters, and related components.

Wood frame houses built in the first half of the 20th century were made of higher quality wood than those built today. The lumber in an old house may be more robust and better able to withstand the elements. Other home materials generally considered to be “good bones” are brick and concrete.

Doors

Interior doors can be a good indicator of the quality of construction or whether or not the house has settled. While it’s not uncommon for homes to settle a little, if none of the interior doors stay open or close completely, that is a structural problem – bad bones.

Corners

A good indication of structural problems is diagonal cracking in the corners of windows, stairs, doors, and other openings.

Sizeable Rooms

While you can add square footage to a home, increasing the size of interior rooms may be more challenging. For this reason, a house that feels “roomy” with nicely sized spaces and high ceilings can be referred to as having “good bones.”

Sturdy Roof

A home needs to have a durable roof that’s in good shape. It is safe to assume that a house with a properly aligned, intact roof with minor if not zero, wear and tear has good bones.

Windows

Well-constructed windows with ample natural lighting are a significant plus when buying a home. If the home has sturdy double-hung windows that easily open and close, you can say that the house has good bones.

Floors

While damaged or low-quality floors aren’t necessarily a deal-breaker, they are considered to be part of the “bones” of the home. If you can restore a home’s floors to their former glory, you can consider the house to have good bones.

Knowing when a home has good bones (or not!) can mean the difference between a smart purchase and a money pit. Regardless of how great a house looks, have a licensed home inspector thoroughly check it before you invest. An inspector will dig beneath the surface and make sure those “bones” really are as good as you were hoping.

If you have questions about the Reno real estate market or are ready to find your home with good bones, contact the David Morris Group or call (775) 828-3292. We’re happy to be your helpful guide.

Interest Rates vs. APR

September 26, 2022/in Blog /by Shauna Morris

There is a difference between the interest rate of a mortgage loan and the annual percentage rate (APR). What is an APR? How does it differ from the interest rate? Which is the most important? Let’s discuss interest rates vs. APR. Knowing the difference will help guide your decision as you choose a mortgage lender and potentially save some money.

Interest Rates

The interest rate commonly referred to as a “mortgage rate,” reflects the cost of borrowing money to purchase a home. It shows how much folks will pay to borrow money and is expressed as a percentage of the total loan amount. As the balance or principal of the loan is repaid, the less interest the borrower owes on their mortgage. The interest rate does not reflect fees or any other charges the borrower may be responsible for throughout the life of the loan.

How Interest Rates are Calculated

Factors that are entirely out of our control, such as inflation, and the ups and downs of the economy, are the primary influencers of interest rates. However, borrowers have some say over their interest rates based on the lender they choose and their overall financial picture. Credit history, debt-to-income ratio, down payment, and other pieces of one’s life are also determining factors in setting an interest rate. The rule of thumb with mortgage rates: The better your financial picture looks, the lower your interest rate will be. The greater your risk to the lender, the higher your interest rate will be.

Annual Percentage Rate (APR)

The APR reflects the annual rate of a loan and is expressed as a percentage, like an interest rate. This percentage does reflect fees and any other charges the borrower may be responsible for throughout the life of the loan. The charges and fees include the interest rate, lender fees, mortgage insurance, most closing costs, discount points, and loan origination fees. Because of the additional costs added to the interest rate, the APR will be higher than the interest rate. The Federal Truth in Lending Act requires mortgage lenders to disclose the APR because it gives the borrower a better picture of the true cost of borrowing and what they are actually paying. While monthly payments are not based on APR, it does give borrowers insight into how much they’ll pay in total for the mortgage. APRs will vary from lender to lender and loan to loan, so it’s essential to compare several options before deciding which mortgage to accept.

How APR is Calculated

Three factors determine the APR: the interest rate, fees, and points paid upfront. Like the interest rate, the APR is influenced by credit score, debt-to-income ratio, down payment, and the lender.

While there is so much talk of interest rates, borrowers also want to pay close attention to the APR before signing loan papers. Comparing simple interest rates is the way to go if the goal is to have the lowest possible monthly payments. However, if borrowers know they’ll be in their home for 15-30 years and want to save in total long-term costs, the APR is the best way to gauge those savings.

If you have questions about the Reno-Sparks real estate market, contact the David Morris Group or give us a call at (775) 828-3292. We are happy to be your helpful guide. If you’d like to stay updated on what’s happening around Reno, follow our blog.

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