May Wants Us to Feel Most Alive

Even when they don’t buy a fixer-upper, most people will end up doing some amount of repairs on a new home. About 95% of homeowners said they plan to take on a major home improvement project in the next five years, according to a recent report by Real Estate Witch. However, only 50% said they can afford it at the moment. –Courtesy of CNBC

• Backyards Are The Must-Have Home Feature for 2023

A new report from Zillow names the backyard a must-have feature in the eyes of home-buyers. –Courtesy of Better Homes & Gardens

• 25 Top Interior Design Trends for 2023

If you’ve been searching for the right opportunity to add more style, vigor and comfort to your space, you’ll appreciate this list. –Courtesy of Good Housekeeping

• What Is A Starter Home?

For many buyers, that first home—the starter home—marks a turning point in their lives where they stop paying rent and start investing in a property that can help build generational wealth over time. –Courtesy of Better Homes & Gardens

• If you install a security camera, your home is 300% safer from break-ins than a home without a camera. Criminals don’t want to be watched or recorded-this is one of the major reasons they are so effective. Ring has partnered with over 2,000 police departments across the US allowing police to request access to customers’ video footage to help in investigations. (ADT)

• Here are the nine priciest U.S. states for starting a small business, according to SimplifyLLC’s ranking: Minnesota, New York, Louisiana, Alabama, Alaska, Wisconsin, West Virginia, Nebraska, and Kansas. It’s not all bad news for Minnesota: The state has a large labor force from which business owners hire, ranking first among all states with a labor force participation rate of 81.6%, based on U.S. Census Bureau data. seven best large U.S. cities for starting a small business in 2023, according to WalletHub’s rankings:

• Here are the nine priciest U.S. states for starting a small business, according to SimplifyLLC’s ranking: Orlando, Florida; Jacksonville, Florida; Miami, Florida; Tampa, Florida; Durham, North Carolina; Boise, Idaho; Atlanta, Georgia (CNBC)

• The average contract interest rate for 30-year fixed-rate mortgages with conforming loan balances increased to 6.55% from 6.43%. Mortgage applications to buy a home, which had dropped the week before, rose 5% last week. Applications to refinance a home loan increased 2% last week from the previous week and were 51% lower than the same week a year ago. (CNBC)

• The matrix of fees based on credit score and down payment has been updated: With a top credit score, the fees are still notably less than if you have a low credit score, but the penalty now for a lower credit score will be smaller than it was before May 1. Someone with a 659 credit score borrowing 75% of the home’s value, will pay a fee equal to 1.5% of the loan balance (before you’d pay a 2.75% fee). With a high score of 740 or higher, you’d have paid a 0.25% fee on a loan for 75% of your home value before May 1. After May 1 you could pay as much as 0.375%, a notable increase yet still significantly (4X) lower than lower score buyers. (Yahoo Finance)

Sunrise to Sunset, this penthouse boasts two balconies to enjoy downtown city lights and serene water views. Modern living meets the standard of design. A celebration of luxury, cutting-edge in an amenity building in South Beach.

4 Bed | 4 Bath | 2 Half Bath | $20,000,000 | Joe Belz

This iconic French Colonial-inspired estate is built on an oversized homesite, with an exterior covered with imported Italian marble. This architectural masterpiece includes an oversized gourmet kitchen with three islands and a large living room designed for entertaining. The covered outdoor living area includes a kitchen, fireplace, and roll-down shutters which open to a lap pool surrounded by a large lawn and lush landscaping. Enjoy the rooftop terrace providing gulf views and the stunning sunsets that Naples is famous for.

263 Kamalei Circle, Kahului, HI

5 Bed | 5 Bath | $2,100,000 | Leslie-Ann Yokouchi

This beautiful home sits gracefully on an expansive lot. Creatively designed and constructed with four spacious en suites and plenty of room for entertaining, work, play, study, and lounging. Find unparalleled attention to detail in this residential masterpiece with a spacious eat-in kitchen and plentiful storage.

5 BD | 5.5 BA | 6112 SF | 0.37 AC | 6142massarast.com

6 BD | 5.5 BA | 6342 SF | 0.84 AC | 201sridgect.com

MAIN HOUSE – 5 BD | 4.5 BA | 5,423 SF

4 BD | 4 Full + 2 Half BA | 5,141 SF | 0.39 AC | 8mapleglenct.com

9 bd | 8.5 ba | 8903 sf | 7.81 ac

5 bd | 4.5 ba | 4059 sf | 0.60 ac | 176diabloranch.com