Once you’ve purchased your new home, let’s face it – you’re going to want to show it off! And since you live in Southern California, your out-of-state friends and family will be lining up at the airport to arrive. If your home has a bedroom not earmarked for someone in your household, what better way to welcome your guests but in their own home away from home sanctuary. Done correctly, they may not want to go home! These four indulgences will have your guests boasting about your SoCal hospitality for years to come. Read More >
The amenities, features, number of bedrooms and floorplan you want in your home are important. But maybe even more important is where your home is situated. After all, location location location is the age-old answer to the question, “What is the most important factor to purchasing real estate.” In fact the best way to shop for a house is to start with the location and then create your house’s must have list. And your ideal location will directly reflect where you are in your life from a single person living alone to a family with young children to empty nesters. These factors are just a few to consider when looking for your perfect community. Read More >
Sweet and sunny summer is nearly here! The kids will be home, vacation days are on the horizon and outdoor activities dominate. From grilling to pool parties to lounging on the patio, here are some fun things you can do to summerize your outside space:
BBQ. If you sent your grill into hibernation for the winter and spring, it’s going to need a little TLC to get ready for its summer season workout. Do a thorough cleaning on the inside (check out your manufacture’s suggestions on the best way to clean) and give the outside a good polish. If your BBQ utensils are looking weary, upgrade to a new set. For more fun, purchase some new outdoor serving platters and dishes for an extra summery treat. Next step, find some fun recipes to try! Read More >
At the end of a long day there is nothing more relaxing than retiring to your beautifully and thoughtfully decorated master suite. Fluffy pillows, cozy comforters and peaceful surroundings invite calm. If your master bedroom is more like a catchall for random kids’ toys, paperwork and mismatched furniture we’re here to help! Follow some of these guidelines to find your zzzzz’s and your Zen.
Textures are everything! Soften your space with pillows, extra blankets, an upholstered headboard and area rugs on hard floors. Upon entering you’ll immediately feel the comfort that surrounds you. Read More >
If you’re young, single and interested in owning your own home, the thought can be very daunting. Home ownership can be a difficult pursuit for couples and families…but for singles it can be even more complex. You don’t have the benefit of two salaries to cover expenses, and your down payment might not be as high as you’d like. One workaround is to consider getting a roommate or two. Some of our homes have dual masters or good-sized bedrooms with additional private spaces, which can be the perfect set up for sharing. So once you’ve decided to go this route, you’re going to need to find someone to share with. We have four tips to finding the perfect roommate: Read More >
From castles to tiny homes to everything in between lies the perfect-sized home for you and your family. But how do you know how much you need? Some people want a bedroom and a bathroom for everyone living there with lots of space to spread out, while others prefer the coziness of a smaller house adorned with less stuff. But maybe this is your first or last home and you just don’t know? Consider these four ideas to determine what your perfect amount of space is.
To Share or Not to Share – If you have children, determine how you’d like them to spend their time. There are parents who swear their close relationship they have today is directly related to sharing bedroom space with their siblings as children. Or you may want to encourage individuality by giving each of your kids his/her own room. It’s a very personal choice. Read More >
If you’re renting an apartment or living with your parents to save for a house, time may seem to be ticking painfully slowly until you’re ready to take that first step of moving into your very own home. But there are lots of little steps along the way you can take to, hopefully, speed up the process.
1. Determine how much money you need. This amount doesn’t just apply to the down payment. You also need to consider the closing costs and the new monthly costs you’re about to incur. You’ll likely have larger utility bills and extra expenses you didn’t have as a renter, like HOA fees and property insurance.
2. Set up a monthly, or even weekly, automatic bank transfer into a dedicated savings account and don’t touch it!
3. Get a second job. Although this can seem like an exhausting option, in reality it’s only temporary and can send your savings into hyper speed.
4. Lower your expenses by honestly determining the difference between want and need. Maybe you can ease off the Starbucks or cut the cable cord and stream your TV channels.
5. Skip one year’s vacation. Yes…you likely need it too…especially if you’re working two jobs with no daily lattes, but consider all that money, often thousands of dollars for a holiday, going toward your new house goal. Again, this is temporary, and Hawaii will always be there!
6. Pay off any debt you have as soon as you can and don’t incur more. It’s hard to save a good monthly amount when you’re also paying towards a maxed credit card bill or high auto loan.
With some temporary lifestyle adjustments and financial discipline, you may be able to be in your first home in no time at all! Brandywine Homes has options that cover many different price ranges throughout Southern California. Visit our neighborhoods page to see which community could be perfect for you!
Our new homes typically feature expansive ‘great rooms’ which function as spaces for family and friends to gather without feeling the constriction of walls and closed areas. The benefits of open floor plans are many which is why we love them. Here are few of the perks to this design style:
1. Open floor plans give the illusion of more space. Smaller homes tend to look and feel bigger when there are no boundaries to cut the room in half. High or vaulted ceilings help with this look too. Read More >
Moving your family into a new home can be an exciting and fun time for everyone! Depending on the neighborhood you choose, you’re likely to see kids running up and down the street and parents milling about watching them. If you are one of these new families, this is the perfect time to consider hosting a block party. A party is a wonderful way to mingle and meet neighbors in a festive atmosphere.
If you’ve never hosted a party like this before, we’re here to help. Following are some ideas and tips to throwing the best block party on the block! Read More >
Decorating a new house can be both exciting and daunting, so we’ve curated a list of the top design trends happening right now!
1. Fully tiled walls. There are some gorgeous tiles appearing on the scene, so why just relegate them to a small space above your stove. Considering tiling an entire feature wall to show off their pattern, colors and design.
2. Lots of wood. Wood floors meet wood cabinets meet wood countertops. Balance it with metal, steel or polished concrete to achieve a modern and sleek look. Read More >
