Investment Properties

Being aware of the major interior design trends for 2021 can be helpful for property managers and real estate investors who are planning to update their Boston properties. Since many people are spending most of their time at home, this year’s interior design trends focus on making interior spaces tranquil, comfortable, and functional. 

Elements of Nature Are Everywhere

Due to the emphasis on creating calming spaces, making links to nature has become the biggest trend in interior design today. Furniture, light fixtures, and home accessories made of natural materials like rattan have exploded in popularity. Translucent window treatments have gained favor as a way of increasing natural light. When possible, this year’s renovations will include adding windows and doors to boost natural light and views to the outdoors.

Also, houseplants are back in style as a component of home decor. In 2021, there will be more wall planters, open shelving, and living walls to give people a place to display their houseplants.

Rich Color Is Back

The neutral tones that have dominated interior design in recent years will take a backseat to nature-inspired colors.  Prevailing colors will be ocean blue, forest green, burnt orange, sunny yellow, and jewel tones like sapphire, emerald, and ruby.

Multi-Functional Rooms Are the Norm

Given the rise of working and learning from home, rooms have to do double duty. Workers and students will appreciate built-in storage options that make it easy to stay organized when your living room, dining room, or bedroom is also your office or classroom.

Yet Dedicated Home Offices Are Prized

Remote workers yearn for dedicated home office space. Terms like cloffice are trending on social media as desperate teleworkers seek to turn closets into home offices. Properties with dedicated home office space will be sought after.

Maximalism Is Here to Stay

The influence of minimalism is waning. Maximalist trends are on the rise. In particular, grand-millennial style is the millennial generation’s nod to the comfortable interiors of their grandparent’s generation. The style features antiques, wood furniture, ruffles, tassels, pleated lampshades, toile, chintz, and floral wallpaper.

R.H. Blanchard Contract & Design helps Boston area property managers and real estate investors keep their properties in step with the times. Contact us to discuss your next project.

If it were possible, we would all make the jump to 2021 and get rid of 2020 as quickly as we can. 2020 is not without merit, though, as it is an essential cog in mapping industry trends. Lockdowns and restrictions have forced many to spend more time in their homes, leading to people channeling their funds to home improvement and an industry change in the direction of in-home painting trends. Predicting the color forecast 2021 will highlight gives us all something to look forward to!

One fine example is how color has come back strong into the interior design space. Industry trends point to ocean blues, forest greens, and earth tones, perhaps to compensate for the lack of outside action. We all need some cheering up, and it shows in the warm and bright colors people are choosing. Follow us as we unveil the interior paint color forecast for 2021.

Yellows

Nothing reminds us of the outside other than a nice splash of sunny hue. Use soft yellows to complement different hues to create a mood of optimism and strength.

Urbane Bronze

It is a warm, calming color that stabilizes the mind by anchoring it to the natural world, recreating the ultimate retreat.

Aegean Teal

With a bright teal, recreate natural harmony that leads to a profoundly soothing environment for reflection and finding inner warmth and wellbeing.

Rich, Saturated Tones

Choosing these colors will make any room pop, creating an energetic and cozy environment perfect for meeting and conversing. Rich shades include red, orange, and pink.

Nature Tones

Continuing in the warm colors trend, painting a room in nature colors promotes a feeling of comfort and safety and makes the space cozy. Bring nature to the living space with shades of chocolate browns, ocean blues, and moss green.

Jewel Tones

Transform any dull room with a jewel tone, such as sultry purples and ruby, to give it a reinvigorating and refreshing vibe of visual stimulation.

Contact RH Blanchard today if you need any information about the color forecast 2021 will highlight. They will give you expert advice on the paint you should choose for your investment home in the Greater Boston area.

Commercial real estate investing offers some of the highest income streams available, so it’s no wonder that individuals would be interested in an investment opportunity that likely offers a lower turnover of tenants, thus translating into a steadier monthly cash flow. Nevertheless, it’s important to review at least some of the basics of a commercial property investment to ensure that investing in a warehouse, office, mixed-use, retail, industrial or apartment building in the Boston area truly aligns with one’s overall investment strategy.

The Basics of Commercial Investment

Some might assume that the highest monthly cash flow investment would be the best opportunity, however, that is not necessarily the case. It’s also important to consider how much one might need to add value to an investment. Examples of value-added items include interior renovation and/or improvements such as landscaping or remodeling a building’s exterior.

Other considerations include the anticipated appreciation of business property (it should look promising), within the timeframe an investor plans to hold onto the property.

Which Type is Best for You?

Investors who may have owned a small business in the past may be more comfortable beginning their investment career in a warehouse, office, or retail property. Others may be more comfortable making the switch from a single-family landlord to investing in an apartment building. Having at least some practical knowledge about the various types of commercial investments available may also be an advantage when it comes to accurately comparing the current market value of a property against the location, style, and size of nearby competitors.

More Stringent Financing

Be prepared to meet or exceed the financing requirements for commercial investments, which is typically higher than for residential investments. Most lending institutions require that commercial investors meet higher income or net worth standards, in addition to making a larger financial commitment.

Contact R.H. Blanchard

It’s important to weigh the pros (higher income stream, lower vacancy risk) of investing in commercial properties vs the cons (rigorous financing, more complex planning), especially for those most comfortable with residential properties. If you would like more tips on how to become a successful commercial investor in the Boston area, please contact us at R.H. Blanchard.

The market you are investing in plays a critical role in determining the value of your investment now and in the future. For example, if you want to buy a property in Boston, say in the neighborhoods of Back Bay or Newton, you should first assess the economic outlook, cost of living, the sale price of comparable luxury home rentals, etc., before making a decision. Also, make sure to check out the surrounding areas as they can influence the dynamicity of the market.

Pay attention to economic indicators

Take advantage of economic indicators to gauge the current and future state of the market before investing your money. Besides the location, be keen on indicators that predict economic cycles, particularly in regard to demographic change and economic growth.

The takeaway

Real estate investments can turn out to be quite profitable; it all depends on the market you invest in, the resources at hand, and your shrewdness as an investor. Remember that for you to see a return on investment in luxury home rentals, you need to work closely with a professional, especially when it comes to design and renovation as it helps to create more value for your property.

R.H Blanchard has the experience and expertise to help you navigate the luxury home rentals market to ensure you acquire the rental home that you are looking for. Contact us to learn more.

It’s not always necessary to spend large amounts to improve the look and function of an investment property. Oftentimes, even small improvements can have a big impact when it comes to impressing potential buyers or renters. This article outlines 5 curb appeal ideas ranging from simple and inexpensive, to more substantial improvements that may cost more, but are sure to increase the value of an investment property. 

1. Make a Good First Impression

When looking at an investment property, consider the area where potential buyers or renters are likely to look first. In most cases, the area is the front entrance, a porch, or a front yard. If the front yard landscaping is overgrown, often a simple clean up and trim will go a long way to improving a home’s curb appeal. 

A home’s front entrance or porch can easily be spruced up, often with a simple cleaning, and a few additions such as a new doormat, a safe handrail, a fresh new paint color on the door, or updated door hardware. Replacing the house numbers and/or mailbox if they have a worn, tired look is a good idea as well. 

2. Add Accents

Once the basics are taken care of, it’s time to add a layer of visual interest. If a home has a porch or front entrance, consider adding some potted flowers or plants near the entrance, or add some flower boxes on the windows. Some homes may have shutters that can be painted to complement the newly painted front door. 

3. Install New Lighting

Residents of a home always appreciate lighting fixtures that are functional, provide sufficient illumination, and look well-maintained and attractive. Adding attractive, updated light fixtures to the front entrance is a great way to enhance the curb appeal of a home and only takes minor DIY skills to get the job done.

4. Freshen the Exterior

Sometimes all it takes is some clean up and a small improvement in landscaping to add curb appeal to a home’s exterior. Other properties require more of a financial investment. Some homes may need a new garage door, new stairs leading to the front entrance, driveway repairs, or a new sidewalk in order to function as a safe, well-maintained home.   

5. Big Ticket Essentials

Since a home’s exterior is the first thing people will notice, items such as the roof, the siding, and/or the exterior wall paint must give the impression of being well-maintained. Sometimes all a home needs is a good power washing. Other homes may require an investor to make repairs or replace exterior components of the home altogether.

If you are interested in beginning a project featuring any of these curb appeal ideas for an investment property, please contact us at R.H. Blanchard today.

Ready to renovate? Join the plethora of investors who are snapping up Boston townhouses. The sweat equity of a townhouse renovation makes this type of rental property an attractive and affordable option for supplemental income.

Finding the Right Townhouse

When you are looking for a fixer upper, your first priority is price. Taking time to renovate existing housing benefits the community by keeping buildings vibrant and well cared for. Investors are breathing new life into city neighborhoods with renovation schemes.

• Budget
• Purpose
• Location

First it is important to decide on a budget. Think about what your maximum price point is. How much sweat equity (doing jobs yourself) can you feasibly complete? Have an objective third party help you evaluate your home renovation skills. Decide which jobs you can complete at a high level of competence. Hire out jobs that are beyond your capabilities. Once you know what your threshold is, you can start looking for a townhouse.

Secondly, what is your purpose for renovation? Do you plan on renovating the entire home, or just a basement that you intend to rent out? Deciding clearly on your purpose will streamline the renovation.

Purpose will direct where the majority of your renovation budget will go. Investors have many options when it comes to renovation. Whether a property will be entirely for rental, or if it will be both a residence and a rental, are things that must be decided upfront.

Location and primary purpose of the townhouse go together. These are important criteria to consider when deciding which fixer-upper to buy. Once your purpose is clear, location will naturally become more important. Commuters will want a place near work, and short term rentals will be more profitable if they’re near city landmarks and transportation hubs.

Beware of Renovation Pitfalls

First-time investors and renovation veterans alike are susceptible to certain pitfalls. Details like forgetting to account for state and federal taxes on profits if the property is renovated and then sold can affect your budget. If the property is rented, know which category it will fall under when registering with the city of Boston. Contact us for more information on successfully completing a Boston townhouse renovation.

A lot of the homes from the 1950s, 1960s and 1970s in the Boston area and its suburbs are split-level properties. Upgrading these properties is a challenge with its traditional layout as well as limited and divided spaces between two or three floors. If you have an investment property and are considering remodeling it, these five split level remodel ideas are highly recommended by the experts:

Facade and Front Entry

Strategic landscaping helps to balance the look of the home from the front. Consider constructing raised garden beds to hide the slope of the property.  Add decorative elements like siding, tiles, and stones to enhance its appeal.

To divert the attention from the garage in the front, add an eye-catching front door entry. Painting the home in neutral and earthy colors is a single most strategy to spruce up the exterior of your home.

Adding Spaces Or Open Up Spaces

You can add more space to the entry by extending the front roof. Consider removing the closet in the entryway to another place as another option.  Get rid of some existing walls, arrange furniture and plants strategically for an open and functional feel.

Some split-level homes have multiple small rooms. Merging them can create a more open and bigger space.

If it fits your budget, construct a new garage as a backyard extension and convert the existing garage into a living space with proper permitting and code. With more space in these homes in the backyard, consider building a deck or patio for outdoor entertaining.

Adding Storage

Extra bedroom in the house can be converted into an office space with cabinets for storage.

Small hallways connecting living space to the garage can be made into mudrooms with shelves for storage.

Relocate the closet or coat hanger from the front entry to the top of the stairs to make space in the entryway.

Improve Lighting

Some homes are quite dark with smaller windows. Adding extra LED lighting (energy efficient) will brighten up the space significantly. Skylights are a great way to bring the natural light in. If you are able to add extra windows on the sides, those are awesome investments. 

Improve Air Circulation and Temperature

Even out the temperature in the house by installing furnace fans all around the house and running them at low speed. Having multiple thermostats allows you to control the temperature in the surrounding spaces as needed. Remodeling a split-level rental is difficult, but not impossible. Extensive projects has to be permitted and planned so the functionality is not compromised between the floors.

If your investment home is a split-level structure and needs updating, it is recommended that you consult with the professionals right from planning to execution. Please contact us at R.H. Blanchard for more split level remodel ideas and so we can guide you step by step in this process.

Whether you’ve taken the leap into real estate investing, or are still shopping for your first Boston-area investment property, you’ve likely come across a listing or two that would be an ideal investment “If only.” If only it had an updated bathroom, if only it had a more efficient kitchen layout, if only it had more natural light…etc.

Luckily, turning an investment property from “almost ideal” to “practically perfect” is possible if you keep these apartment remodeling tips top of mind:

Have you given any thought to investing in rental properties? Real estate has historically been a sound and stable investment. If done right, investors can make extra income and gain an investment that requires little oversight. Below, we tackle the good, the bad and the ugly of real estate property investments.

Why invest in real estate?

Real estate investing for beginners is usually a safe road to future financial security. Beginners investing in real estate will notice that real estate is a less volatile market than other forms of investing. Rental properties provide additional income with few day-to-day requirements. Investors can qualify for many tax breaks making their investment more lucrative. In the long run, real estate investments tend to bring positive returns.