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M E L V I N ’ S M O N T H L Y M O M E N T S
JUNE 2021
205-223-6192 WWW.MELVIN.LISTBIRMINGHAM.COM
HOUSING BUBBLE?
Housing prices are up more than 17% over last year, leading many to conclude we are headed to a housing bubble similar to the one that occurred in 2007–2008. Are we? If we are, when will it pop?
What exactly is a bubble?
Simply put, a bubble implies an overvaluation driven by speculation. People gamble over and over that prices will continue to rise, but that is a house of cards destined to eventually fall.
What were the conditions in 2004–2007?
Lending policies were lowered to stimulate homeownership, and there were low down payments or no down payments, FICO scores below 620, and creative interest-only loans. Also, 35% of all mortgages were adjustable-rate (ARMs) compared to 2% today. Renters were becoming homeowners in record numbers, and people were snapping up investment properties who never should have been allowed to. Buyers had little to no equity in their homes. What we saw during this time frame was pure greed driven by cheap money.
and other factors have led to baby boomers holding their homes longer. Once boomers start to sell, experts predict the “Silver Tsunami” of houses coming on the market. Today’s rise in prices is driven simply by supply and demand not artificial drivers like cheap money and wild speculation. The supply shortage is real and it will take time to correct. Could there be a coming correction that bites today’s buyers? Sure, but the fundamentals would indicate a low risk of this happening. If you or anyone of your friends have any questions about buying or selling a home, do not hesitate to contact me on my cell at 205-223-6182.
How are we different today?
Today, an inventory shortage is driving the rise in home values. Why do we have this shortage? There are two reasons: (1) New construction has not kept pace with demand; and (2) in the early 2000s, we moved on average every four years — today, it is every eight years.
What will reverse the current trend:
New construction catching up and baby boomers starting to sell can help reverse the current trend. The theory is that COVID-19
-Melvin Upchurch
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THE TOP 3 WEEKEND REMODEL PROJECTS FOR SUMMER 2021
Want to add a little pizazz to your home without spending a lot of time on it? Then this article is for you! There are several small projects you can easily do over a weekend that can refresh the look and feel of your home, inside and out. Take a look! Go with the flow. When was the last time you changed out your kitchen faucet? What about your showerheads? Refreshing the faucets around the home, whether in the kitchen or bathroom, can make a big difference. Not only do newer faucets look great, but you may also find one that improves upon the functionality of your old one. The same with showerheads — improve the flow of water and improve your next shower. What about touch-sensitive faucets? That’s a thing! You have lots of options to consider. Light it up. It’s easy to overlook outdoor lighting. You might have a floodlight or maybe some simple overhead lighting if you have a covered porch or patio, but why not take it up a notch? String lights are hot this year, and they come in outdoor varieties. You can make your favorite outdoor space — whether a porch, patio, or deck — more inviting with string lights. Drape them in creative ways to enhance the space and design. It’ll be Instagram-ready in no time! Create a fabulous front entrance. Every home should have a welcoming front entrance — it’s usually the first impression people have of your residence! Spruce up your home with a freshly painted door (or if you’re feeling really bold, an entirely new door ). Don’t forget about the foliage — it might be a good time to trim or sculpt the foliage around the front entrance. Or, if it’s looking particularly drab, find some interesting pots and plant some new flowers or shrubs to enliven the space. One more thing: Don’t forget the lighting, either. Installing new lighting fixtures can go a long way in giving your front entrance a fresh, welcoming look.
Composting is an excellent way to cut down on landfill waste while making your garden and yard look even better. However, it can often require a little TLC, and it’s easy to throw off the “balance” of the compost, potentially leading to disaster. Here are a few common mistakes people make with their compost and how you can avoid (or fix) them! 3 Composting Mistakes That Are Easy to Make And Easy to Fix!
Food Scraps on Top of the Pile
Accessible food waste is a fast way to attract animals and insects. If left on the top of the pile, it also generates a very unpleasant odor as it breaks down. That makes tending to the compost an unwelcome chore. The best way to avoid this is to have enough other material (preexisting compost, leaves, grass, or a mix of all) to layer on top of the pile. As Good Housekeeping points out, this is a great way to avoid critters and smells — and it keeps the compost healthier!
Too Much of Any One Thing
A big part of a successful compost pile is diversity. Excess grass, for example, can inhibit healthy compositing. It may limit airflow to lower parts of the pile, choking the microbes below. It can also introduce too much nitrogen to the mix, which can elevate certain bacteria levels and make the pile smell awful. If you notice too much of one type of material like grass, food waste, or leaves, hold back on that material for a few weeks.
Too Much or Too Little Moisture
Related to the second point, too much water can also limit proper airflow and end up killing essential bacteria. If the moisture is because of rain, you can cover the compost for short periods of time. Using a tarp is a great option, and you can divert sprinklers away from the compost to avoid other water sources. However, during the summer heat, it’s possible for the compost to dry out. The material will then decompose at a very slow rate, as many of the microbes either die out or can’t function properly. Fixing this is as simple as watering it. Just keep a close eye out!
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LIGHT UP YOUR LIFE Get the Most Out of Each Lightbulb
We’ve all stood in front of the lightbulb section at the home improvement store. There are so many to choose from. But most of the time, we just grab the one we know will fit in any given spot. We don’t always consider things like color temperature, brightness, wattage (outside of compatibility with lamps or sockets). However, the bulb you choose does matter. The type of light it puts out can dramatically change a room — and not just in appearance, but functionality, too. Consider the following: Working Spaces (Kitchen and Bathrooms) These rooms, more or less, are utility rooms. They serve specific functions. In the kitchen, you prepare meals and cook. Kids may do homework in the kitchen. In the bathroom, you get ready for work. You may choose outfits, put on makeup, groom yourself, and so on. In these rooms, you need to see detail. As such, brighter lightbulbs are essential. These bulbs give off 5,000–10,000 lumens and have a bright or cool white color temperature (the packaging may say 4,100 kelvins). Day lightbulbs are a good option as well (5,000–6,000 kelvins). The type of bulb (incandescent, compact fluorescent, LED, halogen, etc.) isn’t as important as the first two features. A bright bulb that emits cool light will open up the room, allowing you to clearly see the job at hand. Living Spaces (Dining Rooms, Home Offices, Bedrooms, Reading Areas) These rooms are more casual than the utility spaces and don’t require as much light as in the kitchen or bathroom. These are rooms where you may be relaxing
or need to be less energetic. Bright, white light is more of an “awake” light, but it’s not ideal when you’re just chilling out (or even working behind a computer screen in a home office). You want bulbs in the 2,000–6,000 lumen range that give off softer, warmer light around 2,700 kelvins. This type of light is just as the naming suggests — warmer. It gives the room a more inviting feeling. It’s easier on the eyes and looks more natural in these types of rooms. In the home office, warmer light helps balance the light emitted by monitors, which can be harder on the eyes. Softer, warmer light reduces eye strain. This is also why it’s ideal for reading areas!
GRILLED CHICKEN SHAWARMA
TAKE A BREAK
Inspired by FeastingAtHome.com
Ingredients
Directions
• 2 tbsp ground cumin • 2 tbsp ground coriander • 2 tsp kosher salt • 1/4 tsp cayenne pepper • 2 tsp turmeric • 1 tsp ground ginger • 1 tsp ground black pepper • 2 tsp allspice • 8 garlic cloves, minced • 6 tbsp olive oil • 2 lbs boneless, skinless chicken thighs
1. To create marinade, whisk all spices with the garlic and olive oil in a medium bowl. 2. Add chicken to the bowl, coat well with marinade, cover, and let sit in the fridge for at least 20 minutes — or up to 48 hours. Strain off excess marinade before cooking. 3. Preheat grill to medium-high heat. Grill thighs for 10–12 minutes on each side, or until a meat thermometer reads 165 F. 4. Serve with rice, vegetables, or pita bread with tzatziki.
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205-223-6192 WWW.MELVIN.LISTBIRMINGHAM.COM 300 UNION HILL DR., STE. 200 BIRMINGHAM, AL 35209
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INSIDE
1
Housing Bubble?
2
These Mistakes Can Ruin Your Compost!
Short Weekend Home Projects Perfect for Summer!
3
Lightbulb Primer: Choosing the Right Bulb for the Right Job
Grilled Chicken Shawarma
4
Don’t Let the Sun Get Your Garden Down
3 QUICK WAYS TO PROTECT YOUR PLANTS FROM THE SUN
When you’re growing a vegetable garden, protecting your plants is your No. 1 priority. So, what are the simplest ways to protect your veggies from sun and heat?
Lay down a layer of grass mulch.
After mowing the yard, save some grass clippings and put down a layer around your garden plants. This keeps the soil cooler and reduces ground evaporation, which helps keep plants extra hydrated on hot days.
Give plants a little shade.
Using wood stakes or dowels, put together a makeshift tent using bedsheets, towels, or any other covering. The shade shouldn’t be extensive — just enough to reduce the harshness of the sunlight a few hours a day.
Water in the mornings/evenings.
This also helps keep plants extra hydrated when they need it most. Plus, it reduces evaporation before the plants can make the most of the water.
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