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DIY Garage Edition: Turn It Into a Gym, Office or Studio

June 17, 2013

tags: black sheep, climbing wall, concrete floors, eye of the tiger, gym office, home, home gym, Home improvement, minor drawback, music studio, pegboard, portable ac units, recording studio, space heaters, square footage, wall panels, wall space

by Articleguy

The garage is the black sheep of your home. Its concrete floors, lack of insulation and abundance of crates and boxes make it the perfect place to ditch the stuff that’s too useless for the house and just useful enough not to throw out.

Add a car or two to this picture, and it makes sense why it doesn’t receive the love and affection that many other rooms in your home do.

A garage does not have to be a cold, cluttered place, however. With a little time and effort, even a small garage can be converted into a gym, a home office or even a studio.

Gym

Converting your garage into a home gym makes a lot of sense: It can be well-ventilated and open, and you can pump “Eye of the Tiger” as loud as you want without seriously disturbing anyone. You’ll get a solid workout without having to drive to the gym or dealing with the equipment lines and people.

You’ll be able to keep a lot of the space for storage, as a gym does not require that much wall space. Make the most of the walls by building shelving or using slatted wall panels or a pegboard.

When considering what you should have in your gym, think about the types of workouts you’ll be doing. You can go small and get a treadmill and some weights, or go as fancy as building a personal climbing wall.

Home Office

The garage is a natural place for a home office; it’s quiet and solitary, away from the rest of the house. You’ll most likely want to look into space heaters and portable ac units for sale, especially if the garage is poorly insulated, but this is a minor drawback when you consider just how much freedom you have to design, decorate and make the space your own.

Similar to turning the garage into a gym, a home office does not require that much space. Consequently, you don’t have to sacrifice a lot of square footage of storage.

Studio

Converting your garage into an art or music studio is a fairly easy project. Turning it into a recording studio, on the other hand, is a major production.

Furthermore, you’ll need to invest in materials such as egg boxes and Rockwool, which improve the room’s acoustics but also take up most if not all of the wall space.

An art studio, on the other hand, is an affordable project that will leave you with plenty of storage. If you’re a sculptor who works with clay, all you need is a place to keep your materials, your wheel and your kiln. If you are a painter, you only need room for your supplies and easel.

The garage is a blank canvas. With a little time, money and imagination, it can be converted into just about anything your heart desires.

Rising Home Prices: Coming Soon to Your Town?

June 17, 2013

by Susanne Writer

The housing market is on the road to recovery and you know what that means: There is more good news to be shared and celebrated in the industry. According to reports from Kiplinger, 12 metropolitan areas fared the best in 2012, thanks to below-average unemployment rates, an improving economy and increased buyer confidence. All of these factors and more are helping transform these cities into seller’s markets:

• Phoenix, Ariz.
• Provo, Utah
• Cape Coral-Ft. Myers, Fla.
• Minneapolis, Minn.
• Akron, Ohio
• Youngstown, Ohio
• Seattle, Wash.
• Salt Lake City, Utah
• Boise, Idaho
• San Jose, Calif.
• Washington, D.C.
• Tucson, Ariz.

This upturn is without question positive news. According to Pat Esswein, associate editor for Kiplinger’s Personal Finance magazine, there are many positive and healthy drivers aiding in these cities’ turnaround.

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2013 Mid-Year Outlook: Economic Growth on the Road to ‘Normal’

June 17, 2013

by Susanne Writer

The U.S. may be well into a prolonged period of steady economic growth, but it hasn’t yet reached its full potential, according to Fannie Mae’s (FNMA/OTC) Economic & Strategic Research Group. Fiscal headwinds are expected to keep growth to below 2.0 percent for the first half of the year, with gradual strengthening in the second half of 2013 and into 2014. However, as fiscal drags wane, growth should continue to move in the positive direction amid an ongoing recovery in housing, rising household wealth, and expanded energy production.

“At the outset of the year, we forecasted that 2013 would witness sustainable but below-par growth as the economy begins its transition to more normal levels. Halfway through the year, our view is little changed,” says Fannie Mae Chief Economist Doug Duncan. “We expect approximately 2.1 percent growth over the course of 2013, up from the anemic pace of 1.7 percent in 2012. This is consistent with the incremental improvement seen over the past few years but still below the economy’s potential. Our forecast calls for growth to push past 2.5 percent in 2014, boosted largely by tailwinds from the strengthening housing market.”

Housing was largely positive entering the spring/summer season, with various indicators such as home prices, home sales, and homebuilding activity showing signs of long-term improvement toward normal levels. Despite rising mortgage rates during the past month, which have affected refinance originations, affordability conditions remain high and should not present a significant obstacle to potential homebuyers.

For an audio synopsis of the June 2013 Economic Outlook, listen to the podcast on the Economic & Strategic Research.

For more information, visit www.fanniemae.com.

Tom Hanks Lists ‘Legendary Villa’ in Pacific Palisades

June 17, 2013

tags: Celebrity Homes, Tom Hanks

by Zillow

Filed under: Celebrity Homes

By Erika Riggs

At first glance, the Pacific Palisades home is classic — a comfortable mansion appropriately priced for the area, but it doesn’t look like the home belonging to an actor like Tom Hanks.

That’s because the home at 956 Corsica Drive in Pacific Palisades, Calif., is just one of three properties the veteran actor owns in the area with wife Rita Wilson. The couple bought a more spectacular (and star-worthy) contemporary home three years ago for $26 million. They also own another property that they picked up in 2010 for $1.45 million, and a prime Malibu Colony home that they bought in 1991.

The couple bought this home earlier in their acting careers in 1988, right on the heels of Hanks’ Oscar nomination for “Big.” Hanks was just coming into his own as a Hollywood star, after his roles in “Splash,” “The Money Pit” and “Dragnet.” Today, a string of popular movies include his name on the credits. Hanks and Wilson appeared in “Sleepless in Seattle” together in 1993.

Hanks’ Pacific Palisades home is described as a “legendary villa” hidden behind privacy walls and hedges. Built in 1929, the classic house has decorated archways and frescoed ceilings with chandeliers. The highlight of the home is the many loggias and patios — each surrounded by lush greenery and gardens.

The Spanish-style home measures 6,289 square feet with four bedrooms and 5.5 baths. The master suite includes a fireplace, private beauty salon and opens up to a terrace with ocean views.

See more on Zillow:
Kristen Stewart Buys New Place in Los Feliz
The One-Time Hideaway of Kristen Stewart and Robert Pattinson for Sale
Report: Ellen and Portia Buy in Montecito

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