If your income has fallen or been cut off completely, we’re here to help. This guide will connect you to the basic information you’ll need to get through this, including on government benefits, free services and financial strategies.
For the latest news updates, read The New York Times’s live coronavirus coverage here.
What you need to know:
- How unemployment insurance works
- Who and what the new paid leave law covers
- How to pause your federal student loans
- You have three more months to file your federal taxes
- Help for homeowners and renters
- Ways to keep the lights on and the phones working
- More advice that will help
How unemployment insurance works
A lot depends on where you live.
One important note: You might not have to lose your job to qualify. If you’re quarantined or have been furloughed — and you’re not being paid but expect to return to your job eventually — you may be able to get unemployment benefits.
States set their own rules for eligibility and benefits, which are generally calculated as a percentage of your income over the past year, up to a certain maximum.
Some states are more generous than others, but unemployment typically replaces about 45 percent of your lost income. Most states pay benefits for 26 weeks, but some have pared that back to as little as 14 weeks.
Many states cover only full-time workers, and some have made it more difficult for temporary workers to get coverage. Gig workers are also unlikely to qualify because they’re largely considered self-employed.
There is $1 billion earmarked for unemployment insurance in the coronavirus relief package. Half of that money can be used to immediately bolster staffing, technology and other administrative functions that have struggled to meet demand. States can collect the second half after experiencing a 10 percent rise in unemployment, as long as they take certain steps to temporarily make it easier for applicants to qualify.
Who and what the new paid leave law covers
The coronavirus emergency relief package gives many American workers paid leave if they need to take time off because of the outbreak, but there are lots of exceptions.
Most workers at small and midsize companies, as well as government employees, can get paid leave as long as they’ve been employed at least 30 days.
Qualified workers can get two weeks of paid sick leave if they are ill, quarantined or seeking diagnosis or preventive care for coronavirus, or if they are caring for sick family members. They can get 12 weeks of paid leave to care for children whose schools are closed, or whose child care provider is unavailable because of outbreak.
Part-time workers will be paid the amount they typically earn in a two-week period. People who are self-employed — including gig workers like Uber drivers and Instacart shoppers — can also receive paid leave, but they must calculate their average daily income and claim it as a tax credit.
There are gaps, though. Businesses with fewer than 50 workers can apply for an exemption, and companies with more than 500 employees are excluded from the rules entirely. Many workers at big businesses already have paid sick leave, but their low-wage workers are the least likely to be covered. The New America Foundation has published a detailed list of large employers (mostly consumer-facing companies like retailers, restaurant chains and hotels) and their policies.
These changes aren’t permanent, though — the leave law expires Dec. 31.
You can find out more from the Department of Labor, which has posted a fact sheet for workers and a Q&A.
How to pause your federal student loans
The U.S. Department of Education has granted a payment waiver of at least 60 days to many people, according to a news release. But it’s not necessarily automatic.
In general, you have to call your loan servicer to request a waiver and to make sure that your loan is eligible. If you are already more than 31 days late, your loan servicer will suspend your payments automatically. Your servicer will not charge interest during this time, and the waiver is not supposed to hurt your credit score.
The waiver does not apply to private student loans. One big private lender, Sallie Mae, said it is offering suspension of payment for up to three months, with no damage to a borrower’s credit. Another one, Navient, made an identical offer for “qualified” borrowers; a spokesman said that you just need to contact the company and explain how your financial situation has changed.
A third big private lender, Wells Fargo, says it will offer help, but a spokesman said the bank would not commit to a set number of months or any other specifics.
Using the waiver to pause your federal student loan payments may not be the best move for people in distress. If your income has fallen dramatically, it may be better to enter an income-driven repayment program. Low-income borrowers enrolled in those programs often end up with no monthly payments for as long as their income stays low.
If you do make any changes to what you’re paying, don’t forget to adjust any automatic payments you have set up, said Bonnie Latreille of the Student Borrower Protection Center.
Last week, the federal government announced an automatic student loan interest waiver for federally-held loans. That remains in effect if you don’t request the new payment waiver. But the interest waiver alone doesn’t lower your monthly payment: Instead, you’d pay what you normally do, and the full amount will go toward the loan’s principal. Ron’s column explains the details.
You have three more months to file your federal taxes
The federal government has moved the tax filing deadline to July 15. You don’t have to file your return or make payments until then, Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin wrote on Twitter.
The I.R.S. had already said there will be no interest or penalties for those who wait to pay until July. If you are owed a refund, you’ll still receive it as you normally would if you file your tax return, no matter when you submit it.
If you’ve already filed a return and scheduled a payment for April 15, you can call the I.R.S. at 888-353-4537 and cancel it, according to a reader who did this himself. We tried the number, too, and the cancellation option appeared to be working as he described.
Have a quarterly payment due June 15? An I.R.S. spokesman said that it will still be due then and has not been postponed until July 15. That may change, and we’ll update if it does.
Don’t forget about your state income taxes. The American Institute of Certified Public Accountants is tracking state changes on its website.
Help for homeowners and renters
There’s a good chance you can delay your mortgage payment if the outbreak has left you short of money.
The Federal Housing Finance Agency has instructed mortgage servicers to allow borrowers whose mortgages are owned by Fannie Mae or Freddie Mac to delay payments. This forbearance program allows for a mortgage payment to be suspended for up to 12 months due to hardship caused by the coronavirus.
Federal housing officials have also announced a nationwide eviction and foreclosure moratorium for borrowers of Fannie or Freddie mortgages, or borrowers whose loans are backed by the Federal Housing Administration — so-called F.H.A. loans. This includes foreclosures that are already in progress.
To find out if Fannie or Freddie own your mortgage, you can search your address on this federal government site.
A coalition of mortgage industry groups representing banks, finance companies and others has said it will also grant payment suspensions of at least three months — and up to 12 months — to homeowners whose loans are not owned by Fannie or Freddie, but they have said their effort requires a federal backstop.
If you rent, the best national resource we’ve found so far is the search-by-state function on Justshelter.org. This offers information on local organizations that can provide advice to renters in distress. Just Shelter’s founders are Matthew Desmond, the author of the book “Evicted,” and Tessa Lowinske Desmond. Mr. Desmond is also the founder of Eviction Lab; it is publishing a list of local and regional actions to pause evictions of renters.
The emergency stimulus bill put a temporary, nationwide eviction moratorium in place for any renters whose landlords have mortgages backed or owned by Fannie, Freddie or the F.H.A. This will last through the end of July, and landlords can’t charge any fees or penalties for nonpayment of rent either.
Regulators have also told landlords whose own mortgages are owned by Fannie or Freddie that they too can use forbearance, just as long as they do not evict tenants after they pause their mortgage payments. The challenge for renters is figuring out whether their landlord has such a mortgage.
If the landlord’s mortgage is not in forbearance, renters who skip payments could be risking eviction if there has not been a local prohibition. (New York, for example, has suspended eviction actions until further notice.)
Ways to keep the lights on and the phones working
Some utility providers are offering to stop cutting people off for nonpayment.
A number of large internet companies have agreed not to terminate residential or small business customers who can’t pay their bills: AT&T, Comcast, Cox, RCN, Sprint, T-Mobile and Verizon. A full list of companies is available on the Federal Communications Commission site.
It is not yet clear whether companies want customers to call to invoke this relief and provide proof or whether they will offer it automatically to everyone. People who need help should call and ask.
A number of water service providers have either suspended shut-offs for nonpayment or don’t shut service off for late payments generally, according to a ProPublica roundup. They include Atlanta; Birmingham, Ala.; Long Beach, Calif.; Los Angeles; Newark; New York City and St. Louis.
In Washington state, the main Seattle area utilities are suspending cutoffs as well. In addition, the provider of electric and water service in Seattle is allowing people to self-certify their recent income reductions in order to qualify for at least half off their bills.
In California, Pacific Gas and Electric has, until further notice, stopped shutting off its services to consumers and businesses who have not paid.
In New York, Con Edison also has temporarily suspended any electric and gas service shut-offs.
If utilities in other areas follow suit, they are likely to publish alerts somewhere on the top of their websites or in the news release section of their pages.
More advice that will help
Many people who have lost jobs can get subsidized health insurance. Eleven states, including some hit hard by the coronavirus — like California, New York and Washington — have opened enrollment under the Affordable Care Act to allow laid-off workers to get subsidized health insurance. And here is a more general guide to getting or keeping insurance, with updates on very recent rule changes.
Should you stop 401(k) contributions if you still have a job? Maybe not. Yes, market crashes are nauseating, especially if you have not experienced one. No one can say for sure when the market will stabilize, but time is in your favor: You have years — decades, even — to reap returns when the market rises again.
Consumer lenders have offered to help. But some have been more generous than others. Here’s a long list from the banking trade association, and here’s Ron’s column on which lenders stepped up early to let people skip payments, with and without interest accruing. Since he wrote it, both Ally Bank and Bank of America have offered to allow borrowers to defer loan payments. Many credit unions, meanwhile, are offering assistance with loans, debt consolidation and other services.
Building an emergency fund in an emergency. It’s not easy, but even a cushion of $250 can help stave off disaster.
Financial planners offer free advice to distressed individuals. Dozens of members of the XY Planning Network have offered to help people through phone consultations. The Financial Planning Association has its own list of volunteer certified financial planners as well.
Where to get Social Security help. The Social Security Administration is mostly closing its 1,200 offices for routine requests like help with benefit claims. Those requests should go through the agency’s toll-free phone line, (800) 772-1213, and its website. In-person assistance is still available for crucial services, like reinstatement of benefits and assistant for those with severe disabilities. Those seeking in-person help must call in advance. Mark Miller has details here.
How to prep for refinancing your mortgage. Mortgage rates are low right now, and refinancing is a good way to free up cash. But that means everyone else is trying to do it, too. Here’s a guide to making sure you don’t get kicked to the end of the line.
What a shady sales pitch looks like. Sometimes you can tell by the exclamation marks. But one financial planner says to beware if you can’t explain the math of how an investment or debt relief pitch works on the back of a cocktail napkin.
Link to Article
Thursday, March 26, 2020
How To Home-School Your Kids and Work at Home - Realtor.com - March 24, 2020
Households with two working parents, or a single working parent, have long struggled to balance careers and family time, but at least one thing hasn't been on those parents' plates: school.
Now, because of the coronavirus, many parents across the country (and the world) are doing a whole new juggling act: working from home and supervising their kids' education.
They've taken to social media platforms to share their struggles with schooling—in contrast with far more organized parents (who typically don't have jobs) posting meticulously color-coded schedules of their kids' day.
I know it seems like it can’t be done. However, I’m here to tell you that if you're a working parent, it is possible to do both without going crazy.
I have two boys. I’ve home-schooled my 12-year-old since first grade (he’s now in sixth grade) and my 7-year-old for two years now (he’s in first grade). I also work from home full time as a freelance writer, which affords me a flexible schedule. The past two years, my work has increased to well beyond 40 hours a week, but I haven't stopped home-schooling my sons. (My husband is also now working from home due to the pandemic.)
And you know what? I’m not ultraorganized, my kids aren’t always cooperative, and I don't have an extraordinary amount of patience. So, I've been asked a lot, but especially over the past couple of weeks, how the heck do I get it all done?
In fact, I’m not unique. I know many parents who run small businesses or work full time plus home-school their kids. Here’s how we make it work.
Allow adjustment time
Don’t expect things to go smoothly right from the jump. Keep in mind that your children recently went from having nearly every hour of their day mapped out to a bit of a free-for-all.
“This is difficult for everyone —home-school families included—because many things ... are closed down and [we have] limited social interactions,” says Carly Nicole, home-school mother of two and small-business owner.
Nicole's advice is to cut yourself some slack.
“Don't compare yourself to the pictures you've seen in the past of home-schooling friends,” she says.
If you're worried your kids may fall behind, stop yourself. Missing a few days or even weeks of schoolwork won't be the end of the world.
Kids are resilient, and you’ll be surprised by how fast they can catch up. If you need a week or two to figure out how to get your work done and teach your kids, then take the time. Your kids will need time to get used to a new learning environment as well.
Be a parent first, teacher second
I’ll let you in on a little secret: Your kids will probably never see you as a “real teacher.”
Nope. To them, you are Mom and Dad first and foremost. They're not going to raise their hand before they ask you a question, they may pitch a fit over a worksheet, or they might refuse to redo a math problem.
“Don't try to teach them a concept or have them do an assignment at the expense of your relationship with them,” says Nicole. “If you need to take a step back and find a way to connect with your child, do that. Then attack the worksheet later.”
Remember, you've always been their first teacher. Who taught them to talk and sing the alphabet? You did.
Even if you can’t remember how to do the quadratic equation, it won't loosen the bond you have with your child. You're in this together now, so learn how to work with each other first, then Google how to solve a quadratic equation later.
Set your own schedule
Here’s another secret about homeschooling: It won’t take all day, and it doesn't require a rigid schedule. Right now, you may actually have hours added back to your day thanks to a lack of commute as well as a lack of before- and after-school commitments for your kids.
That may give you some flexibility in your schedule. If your job requires you to be available from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., then schedule learning time that can work with your needs.
“Just remember it doesn’t have to look the same as a classroom at school,” says Rachel Denning, mom of four and director of a home-school community.
Learning at home
“Have fun. Relax. Make memories,” suggests Denning. “When it’s not a classroom full of kids, school takes tons less time. Don’t overschedule.”
While we watch the clock in the office to time our meetings, meals, and departures, time becomes more abstract when stuck at home. I recommend using the elasticity to your advantage, and home-school parents agree.
“Setting a school schedule isn't always the best way to go,” says Nina Goss, a full-time pediatric nurse and single home-school parent of eight.
“Sleeping in for certain kids helps tremendously with their concentration, while others prefer to get up early to finish early,” Goss says.
If you're busy with conference calls or have a tight deadline one day, feel free to push back learning until the evening or even the weekend. There is no school bell mandating when your kids can learn, and you’ll eventually fall into a routine that works for your family.
“Don't expect things to run smoothly,” says John Grimes, real estate agent and home-school dad of two. “Get back on track without beating yourself up.”
Ask for help
Don’t be afraid to ask for help from your community. Ask your boss for a deadline extension. Reach out to a friend or family member to help with explaining a concept you don’t fully understand. Use technology to your advantage.
I use FaceTime with my sister to help with grammar or math lessons for my nieces and nephews. Online educational tools like PBSLearning, Discovery Education, and Education.com are now offering services free or at a reduced rate.
And even if you can’t get your kids to understand a concept, you're not failing them. Trust me, I'm no expert on everything I teach. I take advantage of available tools and do my best.
“Do the things that are most important for your child, find some things that you can do together, and don't worry about trying to do all of it," says Denning.
Take a break
We all hit a wall at some point. Even though I home-school, my kids had weekly extracurricular activities they can no longer attend. Yet I still have deadlines to hit, and they still have lessons to complete.
Sometimes my kids get distracted and aren't able to pay attention to the task at hand. But it isn't just the kids who get distracted. Given the daily onslaught of alarming news, it's understandable if you can't focus on teaching math or completing your own work.
Trust me: Kids know what’s going on in the world. They sense the anxiety and stress. So what I'm saying is: Take as many breaks as you (all) need.
Even with social distancing, you can still step outside for a breath of fresh air. Take several walks a day. Eat lunch outdoors. Walk your dog. Heck, take a nap. This may be what saves your sanity.
“Have dance breaks when it gets too stressful,” suggests Denning. “When you or they hit a wall ... stop. Step back. Refocus. Get some exercise.”
A little break here and there will make everyone a little happier—and I'm sure your boss won't mind.
Get creative
With many of these remote learning solutions taking place on a computer or other device, it would be ideal if kids could discover "after-school" activities other than Netflix or video games. After all, this work-from-home/home-school situation may be the reality for months, and for them to spend all their time in front of a screen would be a waste.
Try something new. From my personal experience, I recommend learning a new language together, starting a garden, scheduling daily walks together, or having virtual playdates with friends.
This is also a great time to have kids help with household chores and put them on the path of pitching in. And give yourself a gold star: You're teaching them valuable life skills!
4 things to keep in mind if you're buying a home during the coronavirus pandemic - Businessinsider.com - March 26, 2020
The coronavirus is affecting nearly every aspect of American life. If you used to work in an office, you probably work from home now. If you had been planning a trip, you might find ways to grow your vacation fund until you can travel again.
If you had been looking for a house to buy — well, what are you supposed to do in response to coronavirus? There haven't been many clear answers.
The process of buying a house changed drastically over just a few days. Volatile interest rates, canceled open houses, and longer wait times have left people scratching their heads. Whether it's your first time buying a home or your fifth time, you probably haven't faced this type of situation before.
You may decide to put off buying a home until the pandemic settles down. But if you want to continue with the process, professionals recommend you do four things to adjust to changes caused by the coronavirus.
1. Remember that mortgage rates are volatile right now
You might be surprised that mortgage interest rates are changing so frequently in response to the coronavirus. The Federal Reserve has lowered its rate twice in 2020, which has caused interest rates to decrease on everything from credit cards to savings accounts. Shouldn't mortgage rates be lower, too?
The federal funds rate affects short-term loan rates more than anything else. Mortgages are long-term loans, usually ranging from 15 to 30 years. There's often a correlation, but the federal funds rate's effects on mortgages aren't as cut and dried as its impact on other types of loans.
Instead, mortgage rates heavily rely on demand. For example, when rates were low in early March, lenders were flooded by refinancing applications. Raising mortgage rates helps slow down the stream of applications.
"Generally speaking, when the economy is struggling, mortgage rates fall," says Beatrice de Jong, consumer trends expert at Opendoor. "However, the situation we're in now is unprecedented and rates are constantly changing due to the volatile market. Though rates are increasing today, they could decrease tomorrow."
De Jong recommends buyers prepare for rates to change and try to remain flexible.
2. Start the process as early as possible
"I recommend working with your lender early, even before the offer is accepted," says de Jong. The home buying process is taking longer than usual, and you could end up waiting around if you don't get a jump start.
Yes, the influx of refinancing applications has overwhelmed lenders — but that's not the only reason the process is slowing down. Many companies' employees are now working from home, which sometimes hinders them from working as quickly.
The coronavirus affects more than just lenders, though. There are slowdowns practically every step of they way. "Take, for example, an appraisal," says Andy Taylor, General Manager of Credit Karma Home. "The appraiser physically has to go out to the house ... Many of them are actually asking to have quarantine clauses built in. They want to know that the home they're going to isn't under quarantine because someone there is sick from this virus that's going around."
"The average appraiser is 55 years old," continues Taylor, "so they're 100% in the strike zone of people who might be affected by this."
If you're hoping to buy and move into a home by a certain date, you probably want to contact a real estate broker and lender earlier rather than later, just to get the ball rolling.
3. Ask for video and virtual tours
Many companies have canceled open houses and tours to prevent the spread of germs. Thankfully, you don't have to just rely on online pictures. You can take a digital tour.
"You can essentially live chat with that agent to have them walk you through it," says Taylor. "You can say, 'Hey, I'd love it if we could check out the kitchen now. What kind of countertops does it have? Does the cabinetry have soft-close hinges on it?'"
Some companies also have access to technology that provides virtual tours.
"They'll come into a house and they'll essentially scan it, and it produces a 3-D model that you can walk through the home — almost like a video game," explains Taylor.
Remote buyers have already used this technology in recent years, but it is becoming more widely used as people practice social distancing. The technology is already well-developed and reliable, which might make you feel better about using it in lieu of visiting a home.
4. Find a real estate broker who takes the coronavirus seriously
Taylor recommends choosing a broker who is willing to go above and beyond to help you choose a home during this unique time. "You're certainly not going to go buy a house you've only seen pictures of," he says.
Tours aren't the only part of the process that should be virtual. Normally, closing on a house is done in person with a notary present. If the state you're living in allows it, Taylor also recommends finding a provider that lets you close on a home digitally.
Link to Article
If you had been looking for a house to buy — well, what are you supposed to do in response to coronavirus? There haven't been many clear answers.
The process of buying a house changed drastically over just a few days. Volatile interest rates, canceled open houses, and longer wait times have left people scratching their heads. Whether it's your first time buying a home or your fifth time, you probably haven't faced this type of situation before.
You may decide to put off buying a home until the pandemic settles down. But if you want to continue with the process, professionals recommend you do four things to adjust to changes caused by the coronavirus.
1. Remember that mortgage rates are volatile right now
You might be surprised that mortgage interest rates are changing so frequently in response to the coronavirus. The Federal Reserve has lowered its rate twice in 2020, which has caused interest rates to decrease on everything from credit cards to savings accounts. Shouldn't mortgage rates be lower, too?
The federal funds rate affects short-term loan rates more than anything else. Mortgages are long-term loans, usually ranging from 15 to 30 years. There's often a correlation, but the federal funds rate's effects on mortgages aren't as cut and dried as its impact on other types of loans.
Instead, mortgage rates heavily rely on demand. For example, when rates were low in early March, lenders were flooded by refinancing applications. Raising mortgage rates helps slow down the stream of applications.
"Generally speaking, when the economy is struggling, mortgage rates fall," says Beatrice de Jong, consumer trends expert at Opendoor. "However, the situation we're in now is unprecedented and rates are constantly changing due to the volatile market. Though rates are increasing today, they could decrease tomorrow."
De Jong recommends buyers prepare for rates to change and try to remain flexible.
2. Start the process as early as possible
"I recommend working with your lender early, even before the offer is accepted," says de Jong. The home buying process is taking longer than usual, and you could end up waiting around if you don't get a jump start.
Yes, the influx of refinancing applications has overwhelmed lenders — but that's not the only reason the process is slowing down. Many companies' employees are now working from home, which sometimes hinders them from working as quickly.
The coronavirus affects more than just lenders, though. There are slowdowns practically every step of they way. "Take, for example, an appraisal," says Andy Taylor, General Manager of Credit Karma Home. "The appraiser physically has to go out to the house ... Many of them are actually asking to have quarantine clauses built in. They want to know that the home they're going to isn't under quarantine because someone there is sick from this virus that's going around."
"The average appraiser is 55 years old," continues Taylor, "so they're 100% in the strike zone of people who might be affected by this."
If you're hoping to buy and move into a home by a certain date, you probably want to contact a real estate broker and lender earlier rather than later, just to get the ball rolling.
3. Ask for video and virtual tours
Many companies have canceled open houses and tours to prevent the spread of germs. Thankfully, you don't have to just rely on online pictures. You can take a digital tour.
"You can essentially live chat with that agent to have them walk you through it," says Taylor. "You can say, 'Hey, I'd love it if we could check out the kitchen now. What kind of countertops does it have? Does the cabinetry have soft-close hinges on it?'"
Some companies also have access to technology that provides virtual tours.
"They'll come into a house and they'll essentially scan it, and it produces a 3-D model that you can walk through the home — almost like a video game," explains Taylor.
Remote buyers have already used this technology in recent years, but it is becoming more widely used as people practice social distancing. The technology is already well-developed and reliable, which might make you feel better about using it in lieu of visiting a home.
4. Find a real estate broker who takes the coronavirus seriously
Taylor recommends choosing a broker who is willing to go above and beyond to help you choose a home during this unique time. "You're certainly not going to go buy a house you've only seen pictures of," he says.
Tours aren't the only part of the process that should be virtual. Normally, closing on a house is done in person with a notary present. If the state you're living in allows it, Taylor also recommends finding a provider that lets you close on a home digitally.
Link to Article
Unique Property of the Month: You'll Be Climbing the Walls of This Tiny Home - Zillow.com - February 2020
This month's unique property lets you climb the walls, literally. This tiny home packs a bouldering wall, a roll-up garage door and a full-sized soaking tub into just 250 square feet.
There’s no need to park in the mountains when the rock climbing is right at your doorstep.
At least that’s what the team at Tiny Heirloom figured when they set out to design a tiny home for an intrepid couple looking to take adventure on the road.
The Portland, OR-based company combined two of the things its clients enjoyed most — fitness and being outside — into a 250-square-foot, custom-built home, said Jason Francis, creative director and co-founder at Tiny Heirloom.
The idea for a tiny home with a bouldering wall came from organic brainstorming, Francis said.
“The rock wall really started as a long-shot idea, but the more we thought about it, the more excited we got,” Francis said. “So we figured out a way to make it happen!”
“We’ve built many custom homes,” Francis added, “but this was definitely one of our most unique.”
His team added some rich design elements, including a roll-up garage-style glass door, to bring the outdoors inside. The couple intends to use the place as their primary residence.
The home cost about $145,000, but $35,000 of that went to building the custom climbing wall.
The home is 24 feet long and 13 feet tall, providing plenty of room for outdoor climbing. The bouldering wall is on one side of the home, and the handholds can be reconfigured to change up the climbing route.
One side has a traditional entryway, while the other has the roll-up door to provide expansive views of wherever the home is parked.
The living space contains two lofts: one with an office and the other with a bedroom. Designers hung a chandelier made of Edison bulbs between the two.
The kitchen features a farmhouse sink and full-sized oven. The cabinets are a rich blue color with brass accents. There are two open shelves above the countertops.
The home also contains a dining space with bench-style seating that doubles as storage.
An arched blue-tile doorway leads to the bathroom, which has a full-sized soaking tub, white subway tiles and a rainfall showerhead.
After completing the tiny home and sharing it on social media, Francis said they’ve had a number of inquiries about building similar spaces for clients.
“Ideas have spread from it quite a bit, but no one else has bought the exact same thing,” Francis said. “We have had a client request a rock wall system in the house as a way up to the lofts for his two young boys.”
Link to Article
Thursday, February 27, 2020
Unique Property of the Month: Boise fallout shelter on the market for $2.1 million - 9News.com - February 2020
In 1961, President John F. Kennedy announced the U.S. was going to start building fallout shelters. Boise's was the first. That shelter is now for sale.
Video of History on Fallout Shelter
BOISE, Idaho — In 1960, the height of the Cold War, Boise decided to go somewhat underground, carving the country's first community fallout shelter out of the hills near a new housing development known as The Highlands.
The Federal Civil Defense Administration kicked in $122,000 for its construction, a prototype that would spawn thousands of others coast to coast.
Called "The Highlands Community Shelter," Governor Robert Smylie cut the ribbon in 1961 with Boise families helping to stock it and take a tour of the dormitories and decontamination showers.
It was built to save a thousand people. But not just anyone. If needed, you and your family could gain access for $100.
For 11 years it waited for an attack that never came. Then in 1972 it was sold to the Boise School District which used it for office and storage space.
Jump ahead to 2003, as we jump back to a story we did nearly 17 years ago, with the school district looking to unload it.
"It served many, many years, it still has a lot of life left in it," school district spokesman Dan Hollar said at the time. "And it's up for sale for $125,000."
It sold for $150,000 in 2003 to Boise businessman Jon Farren.
The 14,000 square-feet left Farren with a lot of room to spare, which he's been lending to local bands looking for a place to practice.
He is now hoping to sell the former fallout shelter.
"It's structurally sound, very solid," Hollar adds from the story we did in September 2003. "Light, airy, you can walk on your roof, you can mountain bike on your roof."
And according to Farren, this four large bedroom, three bath (with individual stalls), two-story, mid-century, almost-modern "home" can now be yours for $2.1 million.
The real estate listing also says the property on West Curling Drive is very energy efficient. I mean, if it can keep out radiation it should be able to keep in the heat!
Everyone calls it a bomb shelter because it's fun to say. But it's actually a fallout shelter, meant to protect people from nuclear fallout and not necessarily survive an actual blast from a bomb.
Farren says he is currently adding a fire sprinkler system and other upgrades to the building. But If he sells it, it will be quite the return on investment.
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Video of History on Fallout Shelter
BOISE, Idaho — In 1960, the height of the Cold War, Boise decided to go somewhat underground, carving the country's first community fallout shelter out of the hills near a new housing development known as The Highlands.
The Federal Civil Defense Administration kicked in $122,000 for its construction, a prototype that would spawn thousands of others coast to coast.
Called "The Highlands Community Shelter," Governor Robert Smylie cut the ribbon in 1961 with Boise families helping to stock it and take a tour of the dormitories and decontamination showers.
It was built to save a thousand people. But not just anyone. If needed, you and your family could gain access for $100.
For 11 years it waited for an attack that never came. Then in 1972 it was sold to the Boise School District which used it for office and storage space.
Jump ahead to 2003, as we jump back to a story we did nearly 17 years ago, with the school district looking to unload it.
"It served many, many years, it still has a lot of life left in it," school district spokesman Dan Hollar said at the time. "And it's up for sale for $125,000."
It sold for $150,000 in 2003 to Boise businessman Jon Farren.
The 14,000 square-feet left Farren with a lot of room to spare, which he's been lending to local bands looking for a place to practice.
He is now hoping to sell the former fallout shelter.
"It's structurally sound, very solid," Hollar adds from the story we did in September 2003. "Light, airy, you can walk on your roof, you can mountain bike on your roof."
And according to Farren, this four large bedroom, three bath (with individual stalls), two-story, mid-century, almost-modern "home" can now be yours for $2.1 million.
The real estate listing also says the property on West Curling Drive is very energy efficient. I mean, if it can keep out radiation it should be able to keep in the heat!
Everyone calls it a bomb shelter because it's fun to say. But it's actually a fallout shelter, meant to protect people from nuclear fallout and not necessarily survive an actual blast from a bomb.
Farren says he is currently adding a fire sprinkler system and other upgrades to the building. But If he sells it, it will be quite the return on investment.
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7 Architectural Elements You Should Never Touch During a Renovation - Realtor.com - February 2020
Older homes have plenty of charm, but they also have their inconveniences: drafts, slanting floors, closed-in kitchens, and tiny bathrooms. The way we live now is just different. So if you're considering updating an older home to incorporate modern comforts, there's something appealing about just doing a gut renovation and starting with a clean slate. Then you can finally create your dream home exactly as you see it in your mind.
But while in general you want to get rid of outdated, inefficient features, you should hold off when it comes to certain unique architectural details.
“Architectural features that give homes distinct character should be left intact," advises Patrick Garrett, a broker and owner at H&H Realty in Trussville, AL. "There are home buyers looking for homes with unique features and older homes with character and charm.”
If you're lucky enough to own a home with historic flair, here are some of the elements that you should endeavor to preserve.
1. Molding
The traditional look of molding is so popular that it’s even found in most newly built homes. If your older home already has these original elements, rejoice!
“On the inside of the home, the first things we salvage are the staircase, window trim, and crown molding,” says Thomas Kenny, co-founder of Scott Simpson Design + Build in Northbrook, IL. “The original molding, in particular, gives the home character and is usually crafted from high-quality materials that will stand the test of time.”
2. Exposed brick
Before you take a sledgehammer to your exposed brick walls, consider this: Many homeowners are actually stripping away their bland drywall to expose the beautiful brick behind it.
“You should not remove exposed brick, because it lends a unique architectural element that brings texture and a rustic vibe to a space,” says Laurie DiGiacomo, principal designer at Laurie DiGiacomo Interiors in Ho-Ho-Kus, NJ. In many homes, the exposed brick serves as a focal point in the room.
3. Columns, exterior trim, and siding
There’s a lot of character in the exterior of an older home.
“When working on historic renovations, we always try to maintain the structural integrity, which means keeping a few elements like columns, exterior trim, and siding intact, because those are impossible to replicate,” says Kenny.
A historical porch with columns may be the home’s most notable exterior feature.
4. Built-in bookcases and window seats
These space-saving features add charm and functionality to a home's interior.
“Built-in bookcases are highly functional, but they also allow one to artfully arrange objects and books,” says DiGiacomo.
And she considers window seats an amenity that could tug at future buyers' heartstrings.
“They are one of those features in a home that instantly forces you to imagine living in that home,” she says. “The minute someone sees a window seat, they immediately fantasize about relaxing and curling up there with a good book.”
5. Stained glass
Upgrading windows is a usual part of any reno—but think twice if those windows are made of stained glass. Original stained glass is pretty rare, and that increases the desirability factor, according to Jonathan Self, a real estate agent at Center Coast Realty in Chicago.
“Once you come across [stained-glass windows], you will remember them for a lifetime,” says Anastasios Gliatis, CEO at Anastasios Interiors in New York City. “They also provide a spiritual, peaceful feeling, since they are identified with churches.”
6. Fireplaces
A fireplace used to be necessary to generate heat, but now it can help generate interest in your home.
“Fireplaces are always a great addition to your home, and older fireplaces come with rich details and rare stones," Gliatis says. As a result, they create a focal point when walking into the room.
7. Solid core/paneled doors
The doors in your older home are nothing like the variety at the big-box store down the street.
“Old solid-core doors, and often their metal elements like doorplates, are real gems,” says Self. “You can't buy these with any amount of money, because the craftsmanship it takes to make them doesn't exist anymore.”
Paneled doors with brass knobs and hinges are definitely worth keeping, Gliatis adds, because this type of hardware can be hard to find and is quite expensive.
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Investors Find Pet-Friendly Properties More Profitable - Realtor Magazine - February 2020
Today, American households are more likely to include pets than children under the age of 18, according to the U.S. Census Bureau’s American Housing Survey. The share of households with kids stands at 27%, while the share of households with pets is at 68%. As a result, investors in residential real estate are targeting this large demographic of pet owners by making their rental properties more appealing and pet-friendly.
Pet-friendly rentals can also increase investors’ profits, suggests a study conducted by FIREPAW Inc., an animal welfare nonprofit research firm. Also, vacancy rates for rentals that allow pets tend to be lower than those that don’t allow pets. Furthermore, landlords spent less than half as much money on advertising their pet-friendly units, and were able to increase their profit by charging separate pet deposits.
This has made more investors want to make their properties appeal to pet-owning tenants. So, they’re taking on a variety of upgrades, such as swapping out carpet for ceramic tile, using pet-safe lawn products, and adding features like cat and dog doors or adjustable shower heads to bathe pets.
Pets also appear to be heavily on the minds of home shoppers. A survey by realtor.com® showed that 87% of home buyers with pets say they take their pets’ needs into account when searching for a home.
“To target the pet parents themselves, investors can provide information about local services such as pet sitters and dog walkers, plus leave pet-centric gifts such as toys and treats upon move-in,” Christopher Long, founder and chief executive at Radius Realty, wrote in a column for Forbes.com.
Certainly, damage to a property from pets is a chief concern among landlords. The FIREPAW study, however, found that tenants with pets tended to cause less damage than tenants with children. Further, even the worst of damages caused by pets tended to be “far less than the average rent or the average pet deposit,” the report notes.
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Pet-friendly rentals can also increase investors’ profits, suggests a study conducted by FIREPAW Inc., an animal welfare nonprofit research firm. Also, vacancy rates for rentals that allow pets tend to be lower than those that don’t allow pets. Furthermore, landlords spent less than half as much money on advertising their pet-friendly units, and were able to increase their profit by charging separate pet deposits.
This has made more investors want to make their properties appeal to pet-owning tenants. So, they’re taking on a variety of upgrades, such as swapping out carpet for ceramic tile, using pet-safe lawn products, and adding features like cat and dog doors or adjustable shower heads to bathe pets.
Pets also appear to be heavily on the minds of home shoppers. A survey by realtor.com® showed that 87% of home buyers with pets say they take their pets’ needs into account when searching for a home.
“To target the pet parents themselves, investors can provide information about local services such as pet sitters and dog walkers, plus leave pet-centric gifts such as toys and treats upon move-in,” Christopher Long, founder and chief executive at Radius Realty, wrote in a column for Forbes.com.
Certainly, damage to a property from pets is a chief concern among landlords. The FIREPAW study, however, found that tenants with pets tended to cause less damage than tenants with children. Further, even the worst of damages caused by pets tended to be “far less than the average rent or the average pet deposit,” the report notes.
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