Greetings,
The trend of turning outdoor areas into an extension of daily living space is still going strong, and no one's complaining! Boosting your home's functionality in this way increases its appeal, and ultimately its value too.

Here are some popular ideas for outdoor spaces of all sizes.
Brooks Beaupain
206-778-4663 Direct
July Outdoor Living Ideas

Colorful Plants that Attract Wildlife


Why not spice up your surroundings with appealing plants that attract interesting visitors such as hummingbirds and butterflies? It's quite easy to do even on a small patio or balcony, and some varieties give off appealing fragrances as well. Here's a good list of flower options:


Long-Blooming Flowers for Attracting Butterflies and Hummingbirds

And here's a link to the official USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map.

Tip: Apparently single flowers (those with just one ring of petals) provide more nectar and pollen than double flowers. Bees tend to prefer blooms with blue, purple, or yellow petals, according to this "Attracting Beneficial Bees" article.

Mood Lighting that Makes Magic


Soft exterior lighting creates a relaxed and intimate feel that enhances quiet evenings and festive occasions alike. You can use this to your home's advantage in a number of ways.

- Solar-powered stair lights and post cap lights

Lighting incorporated into a deck, walkway, or stairs makes for an elegant evening look that's useful as well. Solar power means this decor is eco-friendly and cost-efficient.

- Fire pit table

Nothing beats gathering around a real fire, and a fire pit table allows you to do this almost anywhere.



An outdoor fireplace feature was the most popular design element in a 2017 survey of landscape architects.

- Decorative string lights

String lights come in many styles and create an inviting atmosphere for evening gatherings. (This is partly why it's not uncommon for lights that were hung for a party to end up staying permanently.)

- Battery-powered flameless candles

Flameless candles provide surprisingly realistic and attractive light, with most models flickering like a real candle. Many come with a timer and remote control, like these weatherproof versions for sale on Frontgate.


Shade Sails that Give Shelter




Shade sails are an attractive and versatile way to expand your outdoor living options by creating shelter from sun, rain, and wind. (Not all varieties are water-resistant, so be sure to check.) These can be a great temporary solution for condo balconies, where homeowners may not be allowed to put up permanent structures.

The BackyardCity website has a variety of nice shade sail styles.


A Grill that Makes BBQs Great


There are so many types of gas, charcoal, smoker, and other grills on the market that shopping around can start to feel overwhelming fast! Fortunately, some people live and breathe grill-talk. Here's a useful Grill Buyer's Guide from the passionate people at the Amazing Ribs website:

"How to Buy a Grill" - The Grill Buyer's Guide from Amazing Ribs


Electric grills are often a good choice for condo owners who may not be allowed to have an open flame on their deck or balcony.


A Sport Court that Gathers Friends and Family


Did you know that a growing trend is for homeowners to trade water-dependent lawn areas for... a bocce ball court? It's no joke, according to landscape experts who have seen increasing demand for backyard sport courts over the last few years.



Popular in Europe for centuries, bocce is catching on in the U.S. due in part to its "come as you are" appeal. (It can be played by people of all ages and skill levels.) A typical backyard court size is 10 by 60 feet and costs around $7 per square foot for a do-it-yourself install, according to Frank McNutt, owner of Bocceman.

If that sounds like too much space, consider a cornhole court, horseshoe pit, petanque court, or croquet course - all part of the growing "backyard sport court" trend. Here's a helpful guide to court sizing:

The Basics of Backyard Bocce, Cornhole and Croquet Setups

Recent Market Highlights

- U.S. home prices rose 5.5 percent year-to-year in April, according to a recent S&P/Case-Shiller report. They rose 6.6 percent year-to-year in May, according to CoreLogic, a data and analytics company.

- The national average 30-year fixed mortgage rate is in the low 4-percent range.

The May Pending Home Sales Index dropped 1.7 percent year-to-year, according to the National Association of Realtors®.
Note:  Housing statistics based on closed sales typically reflect market conditions of two or three months ago.  To find out what's going on right now in your local market, please contact me directly.


Contact Me for Market Information
Are you curious about your home's current market value, or do you have a question about home buying? Just reply to this email, or call me at 206-778-4663.
Links that Make Life Easier

Sometimes real estate-related, sometimes not... these are assorted links that come in handy:

The BIG List of Plants that Attract Pollinators
Scroll to the bottom of the article to see lists of plants that attract bees, hummingbirds, butterflies, and butterfly larvae.

2017 Trends in Garden Design
Noteworthy popular trends in landscaping design.

Coconut Hummingbird Cake
Rest assured, hummingbirds are not an ingredient. :) This cake looks great and appears relatively easy to make.



The Lighter Side



With wedding season in high gear, here's a little reminder of a few things to not do on the big day! Click here or on the image above to watch the video on the America's Funniest Videos YouTube channel.


Your Resource for Real Estate
I welcome the opportunity to serve you, your friends and associates. Please give me a call today or simply reply to this email if I can be of assistance!

Brooks Beaupain, REALTOR®, ASP, GRI, CNE
Windermere Real Estate/East, Inc.
Brooks@windermere.com | 206-778-4663
www.BrooksBeaupain.com


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