Valley Hills Realty

It’s no secret that books can serve as a useful tool when you want to learn about something or brush up on some knowledge. And that extends to home decor as well! Here are some great, informative books to add to your reading list. These are especially perfect for new homeowners, or if you just moved and you’re working with a blank slate. Do you have any other recommendations? Leave them in the comments below!

Here’s a handy gift list in case you’re stuck on what to get your real estate agent this Valentine’s Day: Listings More listings Referrals... Coffee And yes, in that order.

When searching for a new home, what is the aspect of the home you focus on most: The interior or exterior? Why is that?

January is often called the longest month of the year but it doesn’t have to be with a trusted #realestateagent! Get in touch today and watch January fly by before you know it, you’ll be in your dream home!

This quote couldn’t be truer. Where is your dream home? Is it the same place that you live in right now?

Happy #NewYearsDay! Some people say New Year’s resolutions are cliché, but they can still be a great way to get your head in the right mindset. Especially for setting your intentions for the new year. What are some of your goals for this year?

Since it’s the month of love, nothing says I love you more than some sweet, delicious, and cute thumbprint cookies! Best of all, they don’t take a lot of effort but taste like you slaved away in the kitchen. Ingredients: 2 cups all-purpose flour tsp. Baking powder... 2 tbs. Almond milk tsp. Salt cup margarine, softened cup sugar, or sweetener of your choice 1 tsp. pure vanilla extract cup assorted jams for the filling Optional: Powdered sugar Directions: 1. Preheat the oven to 350 F/177 C and line a large baking sheet with parchment paper. 2. In a medium bowl, whisk flour and salt together. Set aside. 3. Add softened margarine, sugar, vanilla extract, and almond milk to another bowl and mix. 4. Slowly add in the flour/salt mix and combine until a dough is formed. Be careful not to over-mix. 5. Scoop out a half tablespoons worth of dough and roll into a smooth ball. Place all dough balls about 1 inch apart. 6. Make the indent by using your finger (the thumbprint mark). Fill each indent with jam, but be careful not to overfill. 7. Bake for about 13-15 minutes or until barely lightly golden. 8. Remove from the oven and let them cool for 5-10 minutes before transferring to a cooling rack. Optional: Dust with powdered sugar. (Recipe adapted from veganhuggs.com)

In #RealEstate talk, a party is a sold house. The truth is, there’s nothing quite like seeing the delight on new homeowners’ faces as they receive the keys to their new home! It’s a real gift.

This just in: The #DesignTrend of the year is shiplap! What is #shiplap? The style of shiplap got its name and inspiration from ships. The overlapping joints are what made shiplap so great for boats it was tight and waterproof. This is why it also became popular in regions with harsh climates. Even if you’re not constantly battling with the elements, shiplap can add a charming look and feel to your home.... Vertical shiplap can make any room look taller, and the bold lines and handcrafted look makes it incredibly versatile. Have you installed shiplap in your home?

Definition time! Today’s lexicon is down payment. A #DownPayment is a portion of the house purchase price that you pay out of pocket. This is a way to finalize the transaction, and it comes before any loans are taken out to finance remainder payments.

Tell us below with one of these emojis --- how many homes you looked at before you said I do!

Design tip of the day: take some time to curate the corners and shelves of your home with a few small accessories. Some excellent pieces of #decor that can act as a simple yet chic statement are succulents, photos, candles, trinkets from your travels, your favorite books, small vases, and unique art. Do you have any other suggestions?

It’s #DaylightSavingsTime! Don't fall back into old habits but do use that ONE extra hour to search for your next home.

Happy Halloween everyone! What are your plans for this year’s Halloween? Staying inside to hand out candy, hosting a Halloween party in your own home, or turning off the lights and pretending like no one’s home?

Definition time! Today’s lexicon is escrow Escrow is a super common word in real estate because it’s essential. An escrow is a legal arrangement where a third party temporarily holds the property or deposit until a specific condition has been met of the home-buying process.... The reason why escrow is important is that it: 1 Protects the homeowner’s home until all conditions are met on the buyer’s side 2 Protects the buyer’s deposit until all conditions are completed

Is there anything more true than this statement? Well, okay your dog comes in a VERY close second. Who’s dreaming about this statement to be true one day?... Why wait any longer? Let’s find your dream home.

Earth tones are far from drab or boring. In fact, they can be quite the opposite. Smart use of the color palette roots you back to nature which creates a soothing environment that's also very versatile. To keep things interesting, add pops of vibrant tones orange is an amazing choice and interesting textures wood or velvets are great selections to create bold eye-catching statements.

Here’s a fun, but quite challenging game: In ONE emoji, comment below how you feel about fall.

"Fun" fact of the day: did you know that home values in the U.S. have increased 7.2% since 2018 according to Clear Capital? And though we’ve been seeing a slow down in 2020 the beginning of this year marking the slowest growth rate (2.5%) since 2013 according to daveramsey.com the National Association of Realtors suggests taking advantage of the time right now. The housing market is a temporary softening with an expected strong rebound.

Here’s a nutritious recipe for a #PumpkinSpiceLatte so that you can celebrate fall the right way, every day! Recipe adapted from Abbey’s Kitchen. Ingredients: 2 shots espresso (or decaf, if desired) 1.5 tbsp pumpkin puree... 2 tsp vanilla extract 1/2 tsp pumpkin pie spice Maple syrup to taste 1 1/2 cups unsweetened vanilla almond milk Directions: In a mug, mix the espresso with pumpkin puree, vanilla, pumpkin spice, and maple syrup Steam vanilla almond milk and mix it in Top with crushed graham crackers, pumpkin pie spice, or cinnamon

What can a #RealEstateAgent bring to the table that a #ForSaleByOwner (#FSBO) can’t? Besides basically being a therapist (how did real estate agents get roped into that by the way?), they are trained to be... Experts at marketing... Excellent negotiators Have a trained background and experience working in the field So, while tempting to be your own seller to mitigate lost commission costs, you run the risk of not getting the maximum profit out of your home, or worse missing the mark completely and not being able to make the sale.

Halloween is just around the corner what has been your best Halloween costume so far?

Everyone could always use more spice and everything nice. Do something nice for your local businesses and share your favorite place to get a PSL or apple cider so everyone can get some of that spice!