Market - Page 40 of 47 - Home Decor Ideas

Green home decor market set to blossom

December 2, 2021

by Jerry Schmidt Home Decoration

Environmentally friendly furnitures are on display in Beijing on Sept 25, 2021. [Photo/IC]

Eco-friendly new buzzword in sector amid rising awareness by consumers

Zhang Yifeng, 32, has spent days finding environmentally friendly home decor items for his newly bought apartment.

“We are expecting a baby and we don’t expect newly-purchased home decor materials to harm the baby’s health. Our top picks were those environmentally friendly even though that means we have to pay a little bit more,” the Beijing-based accountant said.

For a long time, the home decor industry has been criticized due to potential pollution and high carbon emissions caused by product processing, and the use of materials that may compromise human health, like wooden products, painting supplies and cement.

With more green solutions being applied in the sector, however, the industry is becoming more eco-friendly, as more sustainable materials are being put on the shelves, propelled by the growing awareness among consumers on environmental protection and the country’s low-carbon pledges.

A report by Qianzhan Industrial Research Institute said green, environmentally friendly, energy-saving home decorations will be a major future development trend in the home decor market.

Data from research institute Zero Power Intelligence Group showed that the market size of China’s environmentally friendly home decor industry is growing rapidly and is likely to reach 259.66 billion yuan ($40.64 billion) in 2022.

The Qianzhan report said that with the improvement of people’s living standards and the increasing awareness of environmental protection, consumers have shown growing concern on how their lifestyles could impact the environment, and how the environment in turn could influence their health.

“Today more consumers are embracing the idea of environmentally friendly home decoration and willing to pay for such materials. The industry is also figuring out ways to lower the cost of developing eco-friendly materials, which in turn will reduce product prices and attract more consumers,” said Jae Li, founder and director of Circular China, a Shanghai-based environmental technology innovation company, during the recent Design China Beijing Expo.

A survey by news website 36Kr showed that 80 percent of consumers consider environmentally friendly the most important factor when deciding on wall painting supplies, wooden floors and furniture.

As a major consumer group for home decor, the post-80s and 90s generations are more willing to purchase non-formaldehyde home decor materials, which are considered less environmentally harmful, and are willing to pay more on those materials, the survey said.

Formaldehyde is a strong-smelling, colorless gas commonly used in painting materials and pressed-wood products like fiberboard. It can break down into harmful substances in the atmosphere and harm humans and animals alike.

Aside from formaldehyde, the home decor industry could impact the environment in various ways, Li said. “Home building and decorating create more carbon emissions than you could imagine－accounting for more than 40 percent in all industries’ total emission in China”.

Take the use of cement for instance. Production of one metric ton of cement could produce about 634 kilograms of carbon emissions, the Cement Big Data Research Institute said.

Production of cement in China reached 2.38 billion tons last year, allegedly emitting some 1.5 billion tons of carbon dioxide, which accounted for roughly 10 percent of total carbon emissions in the country, the institute said.

“There are tighter regulations on carbon-emissions of home decor concerning industries, such as construction materials. This has propelled innovations in eco-friendly products with lower costs,” Li said.

Bin Hui, deputy general manager of the Shanghai Environment and Energy Exchange, the designated platform of China’s carbon trading, said the construction materials industry is likely to be included into the carbon trading market next year.

“However, so far, the home decor industry is still confronted with many challenges, including the incomplete product varieties of environmentally friendly and energy-sufficient home decor materials. Going forward, more efforts are expected in related technology research and development,” Li said.

China’s real estate uncertainties persist, fueling market anxiety

November 26, 2021

by Jerry Schmidt Real Estate News

Listings of apartments for sale displayed at a real estate office in Shanghai, China, on Monday, Aug. 30, 2021.

Qilai Shen | Bloomberg | Getty Images

BEIJING — Wild swings in Chinese real estate stocks and bonds are keeping investors on edge — these news headlines could cause troubles in the sector to spill into the rest of the economy, says S&P Global Ratings.

While the plunge in Evergrande’s shares has abated, the volatility in other Chinese real estate companies has continued this month.

On Thursday, Kaisa shares briefly popped 20{d4d1dfc03659490934346f23c59135b993ced5bc8cc26281e129c43fe68630c9} after news it could stave off default. On the same day, a Shanghai-traded bond from developer Shimao plunged 30{d4d1dfc03659490934346f23c59135b993ced5bc8cc26281e129c43fe68630c9}, reminiscent of a sharp sell-off in the company’s bonds earlier this month.

“Headlines can hit sentiment and drive contagion,” Charles Chang, senior director and Greater China country lead for corporate ratings at S&P Global Ratings, said in a report earlier this month.

The risk Chang laid out is that news reports about defaults, or even the potential for default, could scare away Chinese homebuyers. And that drying up of demand would put developers out of business, along with the construction companies and other suppliers that work with them.

The consensus among economists is that the real estate slump is contained, since it’s driven by a top-down government decision to limit reliance on debt in the property industry. The People’s Bank of China summed up this view in mid-October, calling Evergrande a unique case, and affirming the overall health of the property sector.

But investors have grown increasingly worried about how Beijing’s crackdown would actually play out. News of the default of a far smaller developer, Fantasia, and growing financing troubles among other developers, began to exacerbate a sharp sell-off.

I’m not quite certain the regulators and authorities understand the damage this does to the offshore market, because a lot of investors won’t return.

Jennifer James

Janus Henderson Investors

The Markit iBoxx index for China high yield real estate bonds is clinging to monthly gains after a volatile few weeks — including a drop of nearly 18{d4d1dfc03659490934346f23c59135b993ced5bc8cc26281e129c43fe68630c9} in October and an almost 11{d4d1dfc03659490934346f23c59135b993ced5bc8cc26281e129c43fe68630c9} fall in September.

“It’s a really trying time for investors right now, probably more for bond investors than equity investors, because what we’re really watching is a policy transition unfolding in real time,” Jennifer James, portfolio manager and lead emerging markets analyst of Janus Henderson Investors, told CNBC earlier this month.

Even worse for foreign institutional investors, typically more comfortable with detailed messaging from companies and policymakers, China’s system tends to rely more on broad government statements and cautious corporate disclosures.

This lack of clarity has been a longstanding issue with investing in China-related assets.

Investors left in the dark

Rather than companies making announcements during the worst of the sell-off earlier this month, James said she often learned about how they were doing through news reports, days or weeks later. These include meetings with the government.

“I’m not quite certain the regulators and authorities understand the damage this does to the offshore market, because a lot of investors won’t return,” said James.

The lack of clarity exacerbated the situation, research institute Rhodium Group pointed out in a note on Tuesday.

“The most significant policy signal was a non-signal: the absence of a clear decision on what concrete action to take to resolve Evergrande’s situation and stem contagion in the property sector,” said analysts at Rhodium Group.

“Officials underestimated the severity of contagion and systemic concern, made confusing pledges to prevent a full reckoning, and ultimately claimed that the initial policy disciplines that precipitated the property stress had been misinterpreted,” it said.

“If the government intended to build confidence in the direction of financial reform, the outcome has been the exact opposite,” they said.

For investors left in the dark, the ensuing anxiety meant they’d rather sell than stay invested.

“The problem is when you have a market impact that has gone far beyond what anyone would have reasonably expected at the beginning of October, you have to start asking, ‘What is the macro impact?'” Jim Veneau, head of fixed income, Asia at AXA Investment Managers, told CNBC earlier this month.

The potential macroeconomic consequences can be significant.

Real estate and industries related to it account for about a quarter of China’s economy.

Property accounts for the bulk of household wealth.

According to S&P, residential land accounts for 85{d4d1dfc03659490934346f23c59135b993ced5bc8cc26281e129c43fe68630c9} of local governments’ revenue from selling land.

Land sales to developers provide critical revenue for local governments since they can’t generate enough revenue from taxes to pay for all their expenses, according to Rhodium Group.

But developers will not want to buy as much land now, since negative investor sentiment makes it harder for the real estate companies to get financing. The business cycle for Chinese real estate companies relies heavily on sufficient financing for making sure consumers get the apartments they paid for ahead of completion.

Developers struggle to get financing

In contrast with other industries, Chinese developers relied far more on the offshore bond market that gave them access to foreign investors.

But that channel of financing began to dry up as negative sentiment around the real estate companies increased on the back of concerns that Evergrande — which owes more than $300 billion — might default.

The number of Chinese real estate high-yield bond deals plummeted in October to just two deals, worth a total of $352 million, according to Dealogic. That’s down from $1.62 billion for 9 deals in September, and a high of 29 deals worth $8.5 billion in January, the data showed.

Those tight financing conditions reflect a relatively challenging environment for property developers to get capital on the mainland as well.

Which Christmas decoration storage is best?

When you dig into your garage, attic or closet to pull out your festive Christmas decorations, sometimes the most challenging part is finding where you put things. If you’re limited on space or don’t have an efficient way to store your decor, the process can be more frustrating than jolly, Heal Me Healthy.

If you are looking for Christmas decoration storage ideas, check out the Santa’s Bags Ornament Storage Box.

What to know before you buy Christmas decoration storage

Material

Storage systems are available in plastic, canvas and cardboard. Likely, the item you choose will mix materials to provide both flexibility and durability. When you think about the tree trimmings you are planning to store, you’ll want something that will protect your precious heirloom ornaments and keep your glass items secure.

Structure

A sturdy storage carrier will have a framework that supports all of your accessories and keeps them upright. Putting things away in their own designated spaces reduces the likelihood of anything getting crushed or ruined. A container that has designated slots for individual items will keep them from rubbing together, helping glitter and adornments stay intact.

Versatility

When it comes to Christmas decorations, it’s not just ornaments that need to be stored. Lights, wall hangings and yard art will also need to be put away. The amount and type of items you have will determine which storage system works best to fit your needs.

There are designs with dividers and makeshift drawers that are optimal for ornaments. Some containers have additional compartments to accommodate other types of trimmings. You’ll want something that can hold all of your special items, season after season.

What to look for in Christmas decoration storage

Protective

If you are storing your decorations outside in a garage or shed, you’ll want to keep them in something that is weather-resistant through rain, snow, dust storms or summer heat. If you are storing them in your house, you’ll want to make sure the fabric is resistant to spills and animals. If there’s an unfortunate encounter with rodents indoors or outdoors, you’ll want to feel confident that they can’t get into the container and ruin your precious possessions.

Capacity

How much you have will determine the size of the storage system you need. Even though it may seem labor-intensive, count the number of ornaments you have. It’s easy to underestimate, and the last thing you want to do is select a storage box that can’t accommodate all of your things.

You’ll also want to take an inventory of your items’ sizes. If you have more small things, you might be able to double them up when putting them away. You also want to give yourself a bit of extra space, in case you get more items by the end of the season.

Easy to move

A container that will properly store your holiday decor will likely have handles. Because these items will be stored for a year, it’s not unusual for them to make their way to the back of a closet or the top of a shelf. You’ll want something that is easy to grab and convenient to carry. Be sure not to overfill it or place items in it that are too heavy, which will make it difficult to lift.

How much you can expect to spend on a Christmas decoration storage

The price can vary depending on the capacity allowance and size, but on average, expect to spend $16-$48.

Christmas decoration storage FAQ

What shape is best for Christmas decoration storage?

A. For the most part, Christmas decoration storage containers are square, rectangular or cubed. Any shape has the potential to work, but selecting a storage container in one of these shapes will fit better into most spaces and stack well.

Why do you need dedicated Christmas decoration storage instead of a standard storage box?

A. While any box could work, something designed for holding decorations will be superior. Christmas decoration storage boxes are designed with durability in mind so your keepsakes stay safe. Most have sections to keep items separate so that they are insulated from one another, instead of just simply being thrown loosely into a box.

What’s the best Christmas decoration storage to buy?

Top Christmas decoration storage

Santa’s Bags Ornament Storage Box

What you need to know: It holds up to 72 ornaments and has zippered pockets for extra storage.

What you’ll love: It has an acid-free lining to keep your ornaments from losing color.

What you should consider: The cardboard dividers are not covered with cloth, so you may want to wrap delicate adornments in tissue paper.

Where to buy: Sold by Amazon

Top Christmas decoration storage for the money

Joiedomi Christmas Ornament Storage Box

What you need to know: It’s constructed out of high-quality oxford fabric and strong cardboard to keep ornaments scratch-free.

What you’ll love: The cardboard dividers are removable and adjustable.

What you should consider: It only comes in blue, so if you’re storing it in plain sight, make sure it doesn’t clash with the existing home decor.

Where to buy: Sold by Amazon

Worth checking out

Holdn’ Storage Christmas Ornament Storage Container Box

What you need to know: Designed to be dust-proof, this Christmas decoration storage box has three stackable trays that slide in and out.

What you’ll love: The lid has a snug fit and it’s easy to carry, with a rope handle on each side.

What you should consider: You’ll want to even out the weight distribution among the three trays.

Where to buy: Sold by Amazon

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Kandi Neal writes for BestReviews. BestReviews has helped millions of consumers simplify their purchasing decisions, saving them time and money.

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Real estate market will continue to move in ‘fast direction’ amid pent-up demand: Century 21 CEO

November 23, 2021

by Jerry Schmidt Real Estate News

Century 21 President and CEO Michael Miedler argues the real estate market is still hot right now likely because ‘a lot of buyers are trying to rush in and beat any more increases in the mortgage rate.’

Century 21 President and CEO Michael Miedler argued on Monday that the real estate market is not “ready to taper right now” and will continue to move in a “fast direction” amid pent-up demand.

Miedler told “Mornings with Maria” that the market is still currently hot because “a lot of buyers are trying to rush in and beat any more increases in the mortgage rate.”

He made the comments on “Mornings with Maria” shortly before it was revealed that existing-home sales rose 0.8{d4d1dfc03659490934346f23c59135b993ced5bc8cc26281e129c43fe68630c9} in October from the month before to a seasonally adjusted annual rate of 6.34 million, marking two straight months of growth, according to the National Association of realtors.

The association also noted that the median existing-home sales price increased 13.1{d4d1dfc03659490934346f23c59135b993ced5bc8cc26281e129c43fe68630c9} compared to the same time last year to $353,900 and that inventory of unsold homes decreased 12{d4d1dfc03659490934346f23c59135b993ced5bc8cc26281e129c43fe68630c9} to 1.25 million, which is equivalent to nearly 2 and a half months of the monthly sales pace.

NAR’s chief economist Lawrence Yun said in a news release that Monday’s data proves that “home sales remain resilient, despite low inventory and increasing affordability challenges.”

Miedler agreed with that sentiment on Monday telling host Maria Bartiromo that he continues “to see the market moving in a very kind of fast direction as folks have a lot of pent-up demand in trying to buy homes here in this country.”

Macro Trends Advisors founding partner Mitch Roschelle says he expected existing home sales would ‘slow down’ amid ‘uneasiness in the market,’ however ‘the fact that interest rates could be going up is getting people to race to the goal line.’

Lawrence also noted in Monday’s news release that “inflationary pressures, such as fast-rising rents and increasing consumer prices, may have some prospective buyers seeking the protection of a fixed, consistent mortgage payment.”

Earlier this month it was revealed, U.S. consumer prices accelerated at the fastest annual pace in more than 30 years as supply chain bottlenecks and materials shortages persisted.

The consumer price index climbed 6.2{d4d1dfc03659490934346f23c59135b993ced5bc8cc26281e129c43fe68630c9} year over year in October, the Labor Department said. The increase marked the largest annual gain since November 1990. Prices rose 0.9{d4d1dfc03659490934346f23c59135b993ced5bc8cc26281e129c43fe68630c9} month over month.

The cost of shelter ticked up 0.5{d4d1dfc03659490934346f23c59135b993ced5bc8cc26281e129c43fe68630c9} last month and was 3.5{d4d1dfc03659490934346f23c59135b993ced5bc8cc26281e129c43fe68630c9} above year-ago levels.

Miedler also pointed out on Monday that “on the building front, we are way behind.”

LITTLE ROCK, ARKANSAS REAL ESTATE: WHAT YOU CAN GET FOR $1.2 MILLION

“From the downturn that happened in 2008 to where we are at now, we are at historic lows on where folks are building,” he told Bartiromo.

“Here is the truth of the matter; Between 2012 and 2021 there were close to 12 million new household formations and we only put 7 million homes built in this country so we have to double the pace in the next five years to catch up with the demand that’s out there,” he argued.

However, that may prove to be difficult if supply chain disruptions linger. Earlier this month, the National Association of Home Builders CEO Jerry Howard noted that those bottlenecks are creating unprecedented issues, telling “Varney & Co.” they are causing “unusual circumstances” as it pertains to new homes.

National Association of Home Builders CEO Jerry Howard describes how supply chain issues are affecting consumers who are building new homes.

Howard acknowledged that the issues are not impacting sentiment, but did stress that the “supply chain is still a headwind.”

He also told host Stuart Varney that “demand is so strong and the supply is so low” for new homes and argued if the supply chain can get “fixed” some “real good years” for the market are ahead.

Howard offered insight into the industry on the same day it was revealed homebuilder confidence rose in November as low inventories and strong buyer demand helped boost confidence despite the ongoing supply chain disruptions.

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The National Association of Home Builders/Wells Fargo Housing Market Index this month rose three points to 83. Analysts surveyed by Refinitiv were expecting homebuilder sentiment to hold at 80.

The index can range between 0 and 100 with any print over 50 indicating positive sentiment. Any reading above 80 signals strong demand.

Miedler told Bartiromo that currently “all the regions across the marketplace” are seeing an increase in new construction, but noted that there is “a hot market in the south” where there is “a little bit more building” taking place in cities including Raleigh and Wilmington, North Carolina as well as Jacksonville, Florida and parts of Texas.

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FOX Business’ Jonathan Garber contributed to this report.

Luxury real estate experts offer market insight

November 23, 2021

by Jerry Schmidt Luxury Real Estate

If there’s one thing the past year has taught us, Dallas-Fort Worth has far too many checks in the “pro” column for rising home prices to deter new residents.

“Real estate prices in Dallas are still surprisingly affordable, the job market is booming, cost of living is low and there’s amazing culture here,” said Allie Beth Allman & Associates real estate agent Emily Rogers. “All that combined with the fact that Texas has no state income tax makes it easy to understand why so many people and businesses are moving to Dallas.”

The agents with Allie Beth Allman & Associates say their connections and deep market knowledge have led to success in helping buyers and sellers in today’s unprecedented market. The agents have sold more homes priced at $2 million and above year to date than any other firm, according to Multiple Listing Service statistics.

In neighborhoods where the inventory of homes for sale is lagging behind demand, agents are getting creative when helping their clients find a home. For Jackie Converse, that means working closely with colleagues in her office, as well as those in other brokerages.

“Although inventory remains tight, it’s a great time to buy before sales tick up again,” she said.

In Highland Park, University Park and the adjacent pocket neighborhoods, record-low inventory continues to support a seller’s market, said agent Alexis Collard.

“Here in my neighborhood, we are still seeing record sales with multiple offers,” she said.

“One of my recent listings had multiple offers within the first 72 hours of being on the market.”

She reiterated that working with a well-connected agent who knows what’s coming to market and what’s being offered off market often is critical to finding a home.

In East Dallas, out-of-state buyers’ desire for new construction is fueling home sales, said agent Cliff Kessler.

“We feel this market will sustain its growth for a while, as there are still buyers ready to jump on the next active property,” he said. “Lots of renovations are taking place and land value has risen as well. What a great market to be a part of.”

Meanwhile, homes in Westlake and the neighboring communities in northeast Tarrant County are often under contract in a matter of hours or, at most, days.

“Westlake is still in an inventory shortage,” said neighborhood expert Susan Mathews, who is based in the luxury brokerage’s Southlake office. “Buyers relocating to the area are in search of amazing schools and golf course communities.”

To connect with a luxury real estate expert with deep market knowledge, visit alliebeth.com.

New normal? Seattle housing market shows signs of seasonal cooldown although inventory remains tight

November 22, 2021

by Jerry Schmidt Real Estate News

Seattle’s booming housing market continued to show minuscule signs of a seasonal slowdown last month, providing little, if any, relief to buyers according to Zillow’s latest market report which examined nationwide housing trends in October.

The seasonal reprieve in the hot housing market began in September as prices began to stabilize from last year’s record gains. For the Seattle metro, the new report found the typical home value was $695,058 in October, up 21.8{d4d1dfc03659490934346f23c59135b993ced5bc8cc26281e129c43fe68630c9} — or $124,712 — compared to the same time last year. The report also showed that home value appreciation has slowed since September and continued to slightly ease last month.

However, for-sale inventory remains historically low, and buyers have fewer options. Seattle experienced a 4.5{d4d1dfc03659490934346f23c59135b993ced5bc8cc26281e129c43fe68630c9} drop in inventory from September to October. Compared to this time last year, inventory is down 13.6{d4d1dfc03659490934346f23c59135b993ced5bc8cc26281e129c43fe68630c9} and many experts don’t see it rising to pre-pandemic levels soon.

“Home buyers shopping this fall shouldn’t expect the same frenzied demand that triggered bidding wars on listings this spring and summer,” said Zillow senior economist Jeff Tucker in a news release Thursday. “The normal seasonal slowdown of autumn has returned, when many families are busy with back-to-school activities and planning for the holidays. Buyers can expect less competition, meaning more time to decide on a house and the potential for prices to fall on listings.”

Homes also remained on the market for slightly longer in October than previous months, showing a slight easing in competition that could continue into the winter months. The median time on the market for home listings in Seattle last month was seven days, up from six days in September. Nationwide, listings spent an average of 10 days on the market.

Zillow also noted that rent growth was slowing down across the country with only a 0.8{d4d1dfc03659490934346f23c59135b993ced5bc8cc26281e129c43fe68630c9} increase in price from September to October. In Seattle, typical rent reached $2,181 a month, up 13.9{d4d1dfc03659490934346f23c59135b993ced5bc8cc26281e129c43fe68630c9} from October 2020 but only a 0.2{d4d1dfc03659490934346f23c59135b993ced5bc8cc26281e129c43fe68630c9} increase from the previous month. While growth for rent appears to be decelerating, it is still “cooling off from an exceptionally hot starting temperature,” according to the report.

While the housing market is showing signs of a fall slowdown, other experts predict that inventory in the Puget Sound region will remain limited through the spring of next year. New listings in Western Washington shrunk by 19{d4d1dfc03659490934346f23c59135b993ced5bc8cc26281e129c43fe68630c9} in October compared to the previous month, and the region only had 0.66 months of inventory. The region has not seen over a one-month supply of inventory since July 2020.

Along with seasonal changes, brokers with the Northwest Multiple Listing Service (NWMLS) reported sensing indecisiveness in buyers last month as many regional employers waver on a return date for in-person work.

“We are approaching our seasonal low in inventory. Each year, as the year closes out, potential home sellers wait until the new year to put their homes on the market,” said Frank Wilson, branch managing broker at John L. Scott Real Estate. “In reality, a home listed now will have higher viewership since the buyer pool has not gone down.”

Home Decor Ideas

Posts tagged: Market

Green home decor market set to blossom

China’s real estate uncertainties persist, fueling market anxiety

Investors left in the dark

Developers struggle to get financing

Read more about China from CNBC Pro

Best Christmas decoration storage | WGN-TV

Which Christmas decoration storage is best?