Color combos you can't mess up!

I know I post about color a lot, but it's a GREAT and affordable way to transform and update your home.  Houzz.com has a great article about color palettes that you can't go wrong with.  Click on the link to read the whole thing, but here is a list of the colors and a few pictures that I found on pinterest (by the way, the article has different pictures):

1.  Yellow and Blue

2.  Black and White

3.  Pink and Green

4.  Navy and White

5.  Red and Beige

6.  Orange and Blue

7.  Chocolate and Lavender

8.  Yellow and Gray

Lafayette's September 2012 Real Estate Report!

Closed Residential Sale Lafayette Parish Only

Lafayette Parish home sales growth is continuing in an upward direction as compared
to last year.  Current market indicators show an increase in homes sold in the month
of September is up +27.93% (179 homes in 2011 to 229 homes in 2012).

Cumulative total, January – September is up +20.53% (1,646 homes in 2011 to 1,984
homes in 2012).

Average days on the market has dropped from 136 days in 2011 to 103 days in 2012.
Also indicating a stronger market. 

This representation is based in whole or in part on data supplied by the REALTOR Association of Acadiana Multiple Listing Service. Neither the Board nor its MLS guarantees or is in any way responsible for its accuracy. Data maintained by the Board may not reflect all real estate activity in the marketplace.

Check out this awesome blog I found!

I found this awesome blog called Favorite Paint Colors!  If you are building, buying, or remodeling it can be so helpful and useful!

She lists her favorite exterior and interior colors with loads of pictures for a visual.  She also has several ideas for spray painting and has the color suggestions to go with it.

She even has a color combinations link where she suggests several color combinations that she likes.  Here are just a FEW examples!  It was fun to see the colors that she likes because I have several of them in my own house!

If you want to paint a room a certain color, you can browse her blog by color and see several pictures with examples.  I like that she she doesn't just say, "red,"she gives specific examples of an exact color red!  You can also browse by room (i.e. bathroom, kitchen, bedroom, etc) and see how certain colors work in those spaces.  If you already have a color in mind you can search for that specific color to see if she has examples of those.  

Really, can you tell that I just LOVE this blog idea!  She's genius!

What is PMI?

When looking for a home and deciding on a budget, lots of homebuyers use those mortgage calculators and come up with a budget.  However, lots of times, people don't consider the extra things that are added to mortgages.  PMI is sometimes one of those things!

PMI stands for Private Mortgage Insurance.  PMI is usually added to a mortgage if the borrower doesn't put 20% down.  It helps to protect the lender if the borrower is not able to pay off the loan and the lender is not able to recover those losses after a forclosure and sale of the mortgaged property.

Paying PMI is a good option for those that can't pay 20% down on a home.  However, it is an extra cost.  It usually cost between .5%-1% of the loan amount annually.  So based on the 1% figure, a person with a $100,000 loan will pay $1000 a year, or $83.33 a month.  Here is a link to a PMI calculator to help give you an idea of the cost for your particular situation!

Typically, once your home equity reaches 20%, you no longer have to pay PMI.

I read a very informative article about PMI at Realtor.com.  Check out the article for more details about PMI

Pumpkin Decorating!

Need some simple pumpkin decorating ideas!?

I liked these a lot because they looked simple!  Click on the name and it will bring you to the directions!

Glitter pumpkins

Mummy pumpkin

Wanna know about HGTV's October color of the month?!

HGTV's October 2012 Color of the Month is Scarlett Red!!!  

I, personally, love a room with a touch of red!  What do you think!?!

Here is HGTV's board on pinterest with lots of pictures of Scarlett Red!  If you want a sneak peak, here are a couple pictures of my favorites on their board.

Black, white and red can always make any room pop!!

 I love how this pale blue looks with the red!  I hadn't thought of that combination before!

I looked up "scarlet red rooms" on pinterest on my own and found a whole bunch of pictures of Scarlett Johansson!  Obviously, that wasn't what I wanted, so I just looked up "red rooms" and here are some other favorites!

I love how the chandelier and the drapes in the other room bring all the red together!

I just love the look of this living room!  Red can pop with these awesome accent pieces!  

 Love this red accent wall and I LOVE LOVE LOVE that chair in the bottom corner!

 What's not to love about this bedroom!  Red can be very classy!!!

Benjamin Moore Announces it's Color of the Year!

Benjamin Moore has announced their 2013 color of the year!

LEMON SORBET

Benjamin Moore's site says, "Uplifting without being overpowering, lemon sorbet complements almost any color palette and provides a unifying element for diverse spaces."