B4 • Friday, September 15, 2023
thegardenisland.com
THE GARDEN ISLAND
5 outdoor projects to boost your home’s value Pergolas are a popular option because homeowners can choose various materials, styles and colors to fit their layout. A well-designed pergola can boost property values and increase the usability of the backyard. Decorate your pergola with sun-blocking curtains and hanging plants to create the perfect private getaway in your backyard. For a more cost-effective option, a trellis with plants or greenery can provide both privacy and shade.
BRANDPOINT Are you looking for eye-catching and practical ways to upgrade your home? Consider investing in an outdoor renovation project. From installing or remodeling a patio to adding an outdoor fireplace, these outdoor projects can make your home an inviting space in which you and others will want to spend time. To inspire and help you along your outdoor design journey, Belgard — a leading provider of outdoor home products like pavers, retaining walls and other landscape features — offers five outdoor design inspirations you can implement in your next home improvement project.
Note: Ensure the kitchen is functional within your space and has shelter from rain or intense sun, so you have optimal time to utilize it throughout the year. Incorporate a fire feature
Whether you choose a fireplace or pit, an outdoor fire feature will add value to your home and allow you to make memories with friends and family in a cozy environment huddled around whichever feature you choose. Fire features also add 32 Install an outdoor percent better functionalkitchen ity, livability and personalOutdoor kitchens are be- ity to your home and make your outdoor space more coming increasingly popuusable, so you can enjoy lar with homeowners and your outdoor space during potential buyers. They ala brisk summer evening or low people to spend as COURTESY OF BRANDPOINT Invest in landscaping much time outdoors as pos- in colder climates. Consider your budget, If you want to improve Whether you choose a fireplace or pit, an outdoor fire feature will add value to sible while entertaining and space layout and function the appearance of your feeding guests. It also your home and allow you to make memories with friends and family in a cozy for fire features to ensure home and get an instant re- environment huddled around whichever feature you choose. means that you don’t heat you choose the right one up your house during the turn on investment, upfor your backyard and famsummer months. adding flowering shrubs, a patio or upgrade your ex- in with the existing layout grade your landscape. Not Compared to other outonly does investing in land- shading trees or mulching because they complement isting one, doing so also ily. A do-it-yourself fire pit is are easy, cost-effective various design styles. adds value to your home. a great inexpensive option scaping enhance your door home improvement ways to revive your yard. They’re also a great invest- projects, outdoor kitchens with versatile use and style. According to the NAR rehome’s curb appeal, but it also extends a warm invitaport, a new patio typically ment and have a life span of offer a substantial return on Opt for an outdoor fireplace if you’re looking for a more investment. The NAR recosts $10,000-$10,500. How- 30 to 100 years to withtion into your home for visi- Upgrade your patio A patio or deck can be a premium option. It can doutors. ever, homeowners that instand extreme weather and port found that homeownA National Association of wonderful addition to your stalled a patio recovered 95 bear heavy weight. ers recovered 100 percent ble as a privacy wall and home. It acts as an extenRealtors (NAR) Research percent of the value from of the cost of building an takes up less space than a Add shade structures Group 2023 Remodeling Im- sion of your home and pro- the project. outdoor kitchen. typical fireplace. During the warmer When designing your paThe report also found Let these five outdoor pact Report found that linvides another livable space that 99 percent of homerenovation projects inspire ing your walkway of pavers to relax and socialize with tio, consider using concrete months, you’ll want shade structures so you can get you to upgrade add value family and friends. You can pavers to incorporate texwith plants, or adding in owners who added an outthe most out of your outto your property and make raised beds and shrubs, al- even incorporate an outtures and colors. Concrete door kitchen felt a greater your home a place you and desire to be home and 71 lowed homeowners to redoor dining area and work- pavers are a great way to door space, no matter the others want to spend their complete the feel of your percent felt an increased temperature. Escape the cover 104 percent of the space to create a time. For more inspiration, outdoor space and seamheat by installing a pergola sense of enjoyment with project’s cost. However, if multi-purpose patio. visit Belgard.com. their home. you want to start small, Whether you want to add lessly blend the hardscapes on your patio.
Long-term mortgage rate increases to 7.18 percent this week ASSOCIATED PRESS LOS ANGELES — The average long-term U.S. mortgage rate edged up this week, pushing higher the borrowing costs for prospective homebuyers already facing a housing market limited by a dearth of homes for sale and rising prices. The average rate on the benchmark 30-year home loan rose to 7.18 percent from 7.12 percent last week, according to Mortgage buyer Freddie Mac on Thursday. A year ago, the rate averaged 6.02 percent. The average rate on 15-year fixed-rate mortgages, popular with those refinancing their homes, fell to 6.51 percent from 6.52 percent last week. A year ago, it averaged 5.21 percent, Freddie Mac said. High rates can add hundreds of dollars a month in costs for borrowers, limiting how much they can afford in a market already unaffordable to many Americans. They also discourage homeowners who locked in low rates two years ago from selling. Mortgage rates have been climbing in recent weeks, echoing moves in the 10-year Treasury yield, which lenders use as a guide to pricing loans. The yield, which three weeks ago neared its highest level since 2007, has been hovering above 4 percent since August as bond traders weigh whether recent economic data increase the likelihood that the Federal Reserve will decide it needs to keep interest rates higher for longer to lower inflation.
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