Clean Air, Don’t Care
These days we are hopefully paying more attention to our health, nutrition, and social distancing, but have you considered the air quality in your home? While we are spending most of our time in our homes, it’s important we know what pollutes the home and how we can take steps to better the air quality we are living in now. “A small increase in long-term exposure to PM2.5 (fine particulate matter) leads to a large increase in COVID-19 death rate.” - As concluded in a recent Harvard University study on the long-term effects of air pollution exposure and COVID-19. *See sourced link at the bottom of this article.
Although we are doing our part by staying safe at home, our homes were never intended to be lived in 100% of the time. Bad air quality can trigger headaches, sore throat, watery or itchy eyes, tightness in the chest, coughing, bronchitis or even asthma. Pollutants can come from a variety of things such as: pet dander, mold, gas-fired appliances, dust mites, ovens, ranges over the stove, fireplaces, and space heaters.
The good news is pollutants are easy to control and remove! Let’s take a look at a few things you can do to start improving the air quality in your home today. The first and easiest step you can do is to remove your shoes when entering your home. By removing your shoes, you are not tracking dirt and pollutants throughout the rest of the house. Increasing ventilation is another great step to improving air quality , but it takes more than just opening the windows. Dust mites love when it’s humid, so reduce humidity but leaving the air conditioning running and slightly cracking windows or doors. If you want to take it a step further, consider installing high efficiency particle air filters. If you have a range, or are cooking with a gas stove, leave the hood fan on or crack a window.
Regular cleaning helps to keep dust and allergens low. Remember when vacuuming to move large pieces of furniture, vacuum under rugs or mats, and even drapery and upholstery. When dusting, use a damp (not dry) cloth, and even wipe down lightbulbs, fan blades, and baseboards. The type of cleaning supplies you use can unfortunately sometimes do more harm than good. Try to stay as natural as possible when purchasing household sprays, and consider beeswax candles as they produce as they produce ions that help to neutralize air pollutants.
Interested in an easy homemade all purpose essential oil cleanser recipe? Give the below a try!
1 & 3/4 cup water + 1/4 cup white vinegar + 30 drops of either peppermint, lemon, or orange essential oil
Combine all ingredients in spray bottle (glass preferred)
Wishing everyone health & happiness!
Until next time,- Laura Grace
COVID-19 and Real Estate
Volatility is our new normal……. for now.
There’s no doubt that COVID-19 has been devastating and heartbreaking for us all. Many have lost lives, loved ones, jobs, businesses, money, and sleep over the current pandemic. Little knowledge on the virus creates fear in the eyes of many. Can you even remember the last time you went a day without talking or hearing about coronavirus? Now focusing on the positive has almost become a chore rather than something that just comes naturally throughout the day. One thing important to remember is that as a global economy, we went into 2020 very strong. You may be surprised to learn that I am actually hopeful about real estate in the Nashville market, and I’ll tell you why.
Now may be the perfect storm for buyers. Let me explain in three points:
Low interest rates
Buyer competition has slowed
Nerves from sellers
Let’s take a look at interest rates. In early March we saw mortgage rates hit an all time low at an average of 3.29% for 30 year fixed loan and even lower on a 15 year. Lack of knowledge on the virus, keeps our market volatile. If history has taught us anything on past outbreaks, (specifically swine flu, avian flu, or SARS) we can expect to see the market start to bounce back anywhere between 3-6 months. That means we can expect the second half of 2020 to be much stronger than the first. When the market does start to bounce back, anticipate a rise in mortgage rates.
Secondly, if you have cash or the ability to get financing, now may be a great opportunity for you to buy. Instability creates hesitation, especially when it revolves around large purchases, such as a home. On the flip-side, fewer buyers equals less competition, and less competition means the opportunity to negotiate a better deal! In some markets, (example - New York) homes have recently sold less than their asking price, some as much as 25% less!
This brings me to my last point - sellers may become a little nervous. Homes that were in the process of being listed, or homes that don’t have to sell right now, may have backed out for the time being. On the contrary, sellers that must sell, may start to feel pressure and nerves as their home potentially sits on the market longer than they had planned. Open houses and showings have slowed down dramatically, and listings are getting less attention than they would in a healthy market. As a buyer, this can be a positive opportunity for you! Let your agent help you find opportunities for negotiations. Sellers may be willing to accept an offer that they would not have considered previously.
Ending on a positive note, remember that the US economy is the largest in the world, and the most resilient. We will get through this. Even in negative situations, there’s room for great opportunity! Stay safe, healthy, and inside.
Laura Grace
Life in Nashville
Ever wonder what it’s like to live in in Music City?
The capital of Tennessee has something for everyone. With 13 counties, Nashville is both the largest and fastest growing city in the state. The city grows around 2%/year - that’s roughly 30,000 people every year! Break that down, and that’s about 82 people every day! Whether you’re looking for high class dinning, outdoor activities, sporting events, or live music 24/7, there is always something happening in the area. Voted as arena of the year by the IEBA, and named #1 franchise in all sports by ESPN, a Nashville Predators game is a sports lovers dream! Foodies call Nashville a paradise. If you are looking for an unparalleled dinner by a Michelin star chef, then make a reservation at Bourbon Steak. Bourbon Steak is located on the 34th floor of the new JW Marriott. Would you rather just experience famous Nashville Hot Chicken? Take your pick between Hattie B’s, Harold, Bolton’s, or Prince’s. Appreciate local and national artists by strolling through The Frist Art Museum or make new friends at the Downtown Art Crawl. The Art Crawl happens on the first Saturday of every month and draws a large crowd from surrounding counties. The neat thing about Nashville is that different areas offer their own unique communities and lifestyles. East Nashville is trendy and constantly developing, whereas Belle Meade is historic and peaceful. The Gulch draws young professionals because of it’s close location to downtown and walk ability to restaurants and rooftop bars. Let a professional listen to your needs, wants, and dreams and find you the perfect future home at the best price!
- Laura Grace