The Perks of Buying over Renting

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  The Perks of Buying over Renting Thinking about buying a home? While today’s  mortgage rates  might seem a bit intimidating, here are two solid reasons why, if you’re ready and able, it could still be a smart move to get  your own place . 1. Home Values Typically Go Up Over Time There’s been some confusion over the past year or so about which way  home prices  are headed. Make no mistake, nationally they’re still going up. In fact, over the long-term,  home prices  almost always go up ( see graph below ): Using  data  from the  Federal Reserve  (the Fed), you can see the overall trend is home prices have climbed steadily for the past 60 years. There was an exception during the 2008 housing crash when prices didn't follow the normal pattern, but generally, home values kept rising. This is a big reason why  buying a home  can be better than  renting . As prices go up and you pay down your mortgage, you build  equity . Over time, this growing equity can really increase your net wort
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Summer House Backyard Retreat

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1. Add architectural interest to the exterior.
"It's important to take design cues from the main house," says Norman. Keep elements consistent with your home and its surrounding features.
2. Use an unexpected material on the floor.
Marble is used for outdoor fountains and planters, so why not a covered-porch floor? A graphic black-and-white check is striking and sophisticated.
3. Bring the comfort of the indoors outside.
"Outdoor rooms can be just as stylish as indoor rooms," says Craig. Give your covered porch the feel of a true living room with upholstered furniture. Choose woods that hold up to the elements, such as teak and mahogany, and use outdoor-grade batting and foam.
4. Get bold with a signature color.
You can never go wrong with lots of white on a porch, but add punch with accents of a strong color. A coat of marine varnish over brightly painted furniture increases its durability.
5. Pay attention to the details.
Trims such as box-pleated grosgrain, gimp, and fringe upgrade plain outdoor pillows to star status.
Get the Look:
Lantern | Nantucket Lantern (9130 3c), $875; solaria-home.com
Bench | Chippendale Garden Bench in Dark Red (46931), $299; grandinroad.com
Ottoman fabric | Bolton in Putty (W8452); thibautdesign.com
Furniture paint | Mai Tai (RLIB228); ralphlaurenhome.com
Stool | Diamond-Pattern Stool (W5398), $275; wisteria.com
Mirror | Observatory Mirror in White, $299; potterybarn.com
Architect: Norman Askins, Norman Davenport Askins Architect, Atlanta; normanaskins.com or 404/233-6565. Builder: Rex Friedlein, Pupshire Builders, Atlanta; 404/876-1598. Interior designer: Craig Duncan, C.W. Duncan Designs, Atlanta; cwduncan@gmail.com or 404/374-1641. Hanging lantern: Boxwoods Gardens & Gifts Inc., Atlanta; boxwoodsonline.com. Bergère chairs: custom by C.W. Duncan Designs, Atlanta; cwduncan@gmail.com or 404/374-1641. Pillow trims: Lewis & Sheron Textiles; lsfabrics.com. Stool: Drum Garden Stool in White (1254WT) by Emissary (emissaryusa.com), available through decor-decor.com. Side table paint: Hearty Orange (SW 6622); sherwin-williams.com. Table lamps: custom-made from antique ginger jars, available through Lamp Arts, Inc., Atlanta; lampartsinc.com.
Original Article via Southern Living

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