Reset, refresh, renew.

With Spring just a few days away (March 20th!), any real estate agent will tell you that now is the best time to list your home (according to Zillow, late Spring is the optimal time to list). On a practical level, this makes perfect sense -- nicer weather tends to highlight the better qualities of a property, and people are more likely to be out and about when it's sunny outside, birds are chirping, and flowers are blooming.

I would also like to think that there's a deeper, more intangible reason at work -- and that Spring is also about rebirth and renewal. It's the time when the muted grays and browns of winter are dotted with vibrant bursts of green and pink. It's the season when the things that seemed lifeless and dormant are suddenly awake and budding with new life. For many, it's a time to come out of hibernation, out of our cocoons to step into a season with a new sense of purpose and resolve. And often, those ready for new beginnings and fresh starts are the ones who shop for homes.

That's my theory, anyway :)

How about you? What are you doing to reset, refresh, and renew this Spring? I've started this new season by re-committing to my business' social media campaign (probably not a newsflash: learning new skills is hard!). Here's hoping we all embrace this new season with a new sense of purpose.

Helpful Home Tips: Tax Edition

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HOW LONG TO KEEP YOUR TAX RECORDS

Here’s a checklist to help you decide what tax and home records to keep

DON'T PANIC! YOU CAN DO YOUR TAXES ERROR FREE. hERE'S HOW

Experts list the tax deduction mistakes that homeowners often make.

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ARE YOU GETTING THE HOME TAX DEDUCTIONS YOU'RE ENTITLED TO?

Here are the tax tips you need to get a jump on your returns.

Visit houselogic.com for more articles like these. 

© 2016 NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF REALTORS®

Market Update

Solano County Trends - December 2016 & January 2017

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California Trends - December 2016 & January 2017

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One Last Thing

Not all home improvement projects are created equal. If you're looking to put your home on the market this Spring, here are some ways to get the most bang for your buck when investing in your home.

Happy Holidays from the Perez Family!

For the first time in what feels like forever, I decided to send out a Christmas card to my closest family and friends. I didn't realize how long it had been since we'd sent out a family update until I saw that the last "official" family portrait I had was from 5 years ago (and by portrait, I mean an impromptu picture in the kitchen where we all happened to be dressed in red :). Where does the time go?   

It really is hard to believe how much our lives have changed just in the past few years, especially now that we have a granddaughter. This year, John installed Santa and all his reindeer on our roof just for her to see. It's amazing what we're willing to do just to see her face light up. Gotta love being a grandparent! We truly feel so blessed to be able to play such a big part of her life. 

As 2016 draws to a close, a big THANK YOU to all of you for being part of our lives. We're so excited to find out what this next year holds for all of us. May you be surrounded by those you love in this holiday season. Happy holidays!

 

Helpful Home Tips

Homeowners

BUDGET KITCHEN REMODELING: 5 MONEY-SAVING STEPS

Can’t afford an entire kitchen remodel in one fell swoop? You can complete the work in 5 budget-saving stages (and still cook dinner during the down time).

Sellers

5 TIPS TO PREPARE YOUR HOME FOR SALE

Working to get your home ship-shape for showings will increase its value and shorten your sales time. 

Buyers

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NEGOTIATE YOUR BEST HOUSE BUY

Keep your emotions in check and your eyes on the goal, and you’ll pay less when purchasing a home. 

Visit houselogic.com for more articles like these. 

© 2016 NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF REALTORS®

Market Update

Solano County Trends - November 2016

California Trends - November 2016

One Last Thing...

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From our family to yours, blessings to you as we celebrate with loved ones during this holiday season and ring in 2017.  

- John & Michelle Perez

What matters most.

As we enter into this holiday season -- for many, a season of celebration and quality time with loved ones -- I am reminded of how easy it is for me to get so caught up in the busy-ness of the season that I lose sight of what matters to me the most. Now that John and I are settling into our empty-nesting phase (it's hard!), our faith in God and our time with our children and their families has been at the top of our "what matters" list. And so with Thanksgiving in just a few days, which begins a whirlwind of parties and crafts and activities, my hope is that we can all take a collective deep breath to name that thing that matters to us the most and do exactly what this holiday was meant for -- give thanks.

Thanks for taking the time to read this month -- I am so grateful to have each of you on this journey with me. For those of you who are in the throes of throwing together your Thanksgiving celebration, here are some articles that might help. Happy Thanksgiving!

Helpful Home Tips for Thanksgiving

5 HOLIDAY HOSTING DISASTERS & HOW TO AVOID THEM

Take a look at the most common things that can go wrong when you have guests and learn how to prevent them. 

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HOW TO ORGANIZE YOUR REFRIGERATOR

Leftovers gobbling up space in your refrigerator? Here are some tips for keeping things organized, efficient, and tasty. 

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how to clean up after thanksgiving in half the time

The Pilgrims were on to something when they planned a Thanksgiving potluck; here are other good ideas that’ll simplify your T-Day kitchen cleanup. 

Visit houselogic.com for more articles like these. 

© 2016 NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF REALTORS®

Market Update

Solano County Trends - October 2016

California Trends - October 2016

One Last Thing...

from michelle's kitchen: recipes from thanksgivings past

Looking for a non-traditional yet absolutely delicious dish to serve for the holidays? I used both these recipes last year, and they were a HIT: Garlic Noodles & Roasted Crab

Making space to celebrate

I don't know about any of you, but the dining room at my house tends to double as a home office. Papers pile up on the dining table, mail gets set down as I rush out the door, and it functions as the second home for my laptop and other electronics. With the air getting crisper and the official start of the holiday season (Halloween!) just around the corner, I decided it was time to take back the dining room. And so I did. (And by "I," I mean, I asked John for help, because he's pretty much the best partner anyone could ask for :)

And wouldn't you know, once the table was clear of all that clutter, I ended up making space for so much more. The empty table prompted me to put together my Fall centerpieces. Then, with the table looking so festive, I decided to invite all my kids and their families over to celebrate the harvest season. The tablecloths came out, along with the rest of my Fall decor, and we celebrated the harvest with a home-cooked family meal in our newly-claimed dining room. All of this because of a decision to make space.

As the holiday season approaches, what are you doing to make space in your home? You never know what possibilities lie ahead -- even something as simple as a clear table can be the jumpstart you need to move forward and take things to the next level.

Helpful Home Tips

Homeowners

The 7 Most-Needed Repair Tips Every Homeowner Should Know

Relax. Here’s how to make short work of every common repair annoyance. 

Sellers

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11 Ways to Create a Welcoming Front Entrance for Under $100

Wouldn’t it be nice to approach your home’s entrance with a grin instead of a grimace? Take our tips for beating a clear, safe, and stylish path to your front door. 

Buyers

Keep Your Home Purchase on Track

You’ve found your dream home. Make sure missteps don’t prevent a successful closing. 

Visit houselogic.com for more articles like these. 

© 2016 NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF REALTORS®

Market Update

Solano County Trends - September 2016

California Trends - September 2016

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One Last Thing...

From Michelle's Kitchen: Lemon-Rosemary Chicken

Dinner for 6:

Ingredients

  • 1/2 package rosemary, chopped
  • 12 chicken thighs, rolled in seasoned flour
  • 2-3 lbs. mushrooms, sliced
  • 2 cups white wine
  • 2 cups chicken broth
  • 1 onion, chopped
  • 6 cloves garlic
  • capers
  • 3-4 lemons, squeezed
  • 1/2 stick butter

Directions:

In frying pan, brown chicken. Set aside. Drain oil and broth. Add butter. Saute garlic and onions, then add mushrooms until clear. Add wine and boil down, then add chicken broth, lemon juice, capers and simmer (medium heat) for 30 mins.

Can serve over rice, with roasted potatoes or oven-mashed potatoes.

All the leaves are brown...

Is anyone else as excited about Fall as I am? I used to think I was more of a Spring person, but anyone who's seen my house knows that I love reds, oranges and browns -- the color of leaves turning in the Fall. I can't wait until the weather gets cold enough for me to start taking out all my cozy blankets and throws, but in the meantime, I already have some of my favorite comfort foods cued up and ready to go -- mashed potatoes and gravy, bean soup, chicken noodle soup...any soup or stew, really. I LOVE this season.

Thanks so much to those of you who've signed on for my monthly newsletter. This month, I've curated some helpful articles for those of you in any phase of the homeownership process. I've also included some market statistics for the Solano County area, as well as for the state of California.

If you're interested in hearing more about a particular city or region, please feel free to call or text me at 707.208.2557 or shoot me an email at michelleperezteam@gmail.com. I am here to help, no matter how long (or recently!) I've worked with you :) 

Helpful Home Tips

Homeowners

Fall Maintenance Checklist

You'll be ready for winter's worst and head off pricey repairs with these simple preventative tasks.

Sellers

Open House Timeline: Countdown to a Successful Sale

An inviting open house can put your home on buyers' short lists. 

Buyers

7 Tips for Improving Your Credit

Here's how to clean up your credit so you get the least-expensive home loan possible.

Visit houselogic.com for more articles like these. 

© 2016 NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF REALTORS®

Market Update

Solano County Trends - August 2016

California Trends - August 2016

One Last Thing...

(because these videos are both informative and hilarious :)

The Home-Buying Process. In Plain English. With Elizabeth Banks. #learnwithliz