renovations

Mind Your Millennial Manors

Highlight Homes Luxury Renovations
Mind Your Millennial Manors

The Latest Craze in Housing from the Trendiest Generation to Ever Wield a Sledgehammer

Millennials are on the move. This generation represents roughly 75 million people – making it the largest generation currently living in the U.S., which is why they command so much attention from marketers, small business owners, large corporations and home builders. Defined by Pew Research as the generation born between 1981 and 1996, that puts them at 23 to 38-years-old in 2019 – prime renting and first-time homebuying ages. According to REthority – the Authority on all Things Real Estate, the median age of a first-time homebuyer is 32. While production builders continue to build “cookie cutter” homes at price points that millennials may find attractive, more and more millennials are seeking homes that are customized to their unique tastes and needs in some of the trendiest neighborhoods they can afford. And with the average age of first-time moms being 26 and first-time dads being 27, family-friendly floor plans also rank high on their wish lists. Some millennials may look at a new home as a future investment opportunity – one they can rent out at a later time for some added income. With that investment in mind, they also consider factors like walkability, convenience to mass transit and desirable school systems.

The National Association of Realtors (NAR) indicates that millennials accounted for 36 percent of all home purchases nationwide in 2017 – with 65% of them being first-time homes. The 2018 Home Buyer and Seller Generational Trends study also illustrates that only 15% of millennials bought in urban areas, with the majority seeking homes in the suburbs. Niche lists Decatur, Johns Creek, Alpharetta, Berkeley Lake, Vinings, Peachtree Corners, Milton, Suwanee, Druid Hills, Roswell, Smyrna, Duluth and Tyrone among the best suburbs in Metro Atlanta to live. According to The Balance, popular styles and ages of resale homes for millennials include: Pre-WWII – featuring everything from Arts & Crafts bungalows and colonials to English Tudors and Victorian-inspired homes; Mid-Century – built between 1945 and 1965, these homes tend to weigh heavily on the Frank Lloyd Wright influences; and Mediterranean – enjoying an earlier rein in the late 1920’s, this style of home boasts stucco exteriors, tile roofs, Spanish or Italian details and grand entrances.

Bear in mind that this generation also grew up on reality TV, which may explain a growing trend towards finding a great deal on a home and renovating it – either by going it alone or by enlisting the aid of a professional. Since that first option could lead to some costly mistakes, it’s the wise choice for millennials to partner with a company that will listen to their ideas and may even let them swing a sledgehammer and aid in the demolition. At Highlight Homes, we’ve had a great deal of success reimagining the exterior and interior of older resale homes by adding many of the on-trend additions today’s homebuyers are seeking. Included among them are open concepts, eat-in kitchens with large islands, farmhouse influences like shiplap walls and sliding barn doors, and so much more. If you’re a millennial seeking a resale home with the intention of renovating it to fit your vision, you may want to partner with the Highlight Homes team to help you find the ideal home in one of Atlanta’s up-and-coming neighborhoods. We can even help you find the right financing to include the price of the home and any renovations you have planned.

To learn more about Highlight Homes and take a peek at our gallery of past projects, please visit www.highlighthomesga.com. Once you’re ready to get started, contact us at 678-874-9234 or info@highlighthomesga.com. We welcome the opportunity to help you create a home that is uniquely YOU – your very own “Millennial Manor”!

Sources: https://rethority.com/2019-real-estate-statistics/

https://www.census.gov/housing/hvs/files/currenthvspress.pdf

https://www.niche.com/places-to-live/search/best-suburbs/m/atlanta-metro-area/

https://www.thebalance.com/trends-for-home-buyers-1798348

https://www.nar.realtor/research-and-statistics/research-reports/home-buyer-and-seller-generational-trends

Things are Looking Up: Pop-the-Top Renovations

Highlight Homes Luxury Renovations
Things are Looking Up: Pop-the-Top Renovations

We’re sure you’ve heard the phrase: “We’ve got nowhere to go but up!” That concept certainly rings true with homeowners who own structures that don’t allow for expansion beyond their home’s existing footprint. To grow the current size of their home, there truly is no other option but to go UP. Therein lies the inspiration behind a growing trend in pop-the-top-renovations, which – in the simplest terms – involve the removal of the roof on a one- or two-story home and the incorporation of an additional floor.

Three Great Reasons to Consider a Pop-the-Top Renovation:

  1. Add Square Footage to Your Existing Home: Are the kids getting too old to share a bedroom? Tired of hearing family members fight over who gets to take the next shower? Not enough room to comfortably entertain guests? Just imagine what adding an extra floor could do! You could add a couple of bedrooms with dedicated bathrooms, flanking a large central media room where everyone can gather together to watch movies or play video games. If the master bedroom is on the first floor, moving the kids to an upper floor may provide you with the privacy you didn’t know you were missing. Giving everyone a dedicated space and more room to spread out can do wonders for family harmony.
  2. Reimagine Your Home’s Interior: Not only can a pop-the-top renovation add some much-needed square footage to a home, but it can also provide an opportunity for the complete reimagining of your home’s interior layout. In certain areas of Metro Atlanta that are experiencing a resurgence in popularity – such as Chamblee, Brookhaven and Decatur, just to name a few – there are more than their fair share of mid-century ranch-style homes. What was a popular layout in the 1950s and 1960s may not work as well for modern families. You can turn cramped spaces on the main level into an open concept design, convert a galley kitchen into a gourmet showplace with large kitchen island, combine two existing bedrooms for a sprawling master on main and so much more!
  3. Transform Your Home’s Exterior: With the addition of an entirely new floor to your home, it goes without saying that the look of your home’s exterior is going to change. Take advantage of this opportunity and change the façade to something that not only appeals to you, but that will add major curb appeal when and if you ever decide to sell. Add elements of a craftsman home, infuse some European components, jump on the farmhouse craze or take it in a more traditional direction – just to name a few. The possibilities are virtually endless – giving you a rare chance to completely transform the home you know into something that you LOVE!

A pop-the-top renovation is next level remodeling and involves many structural engineering elements. It must first be determined that your home is a good candidate for a pop-the-top renovation. It must have a solid foundation and strong “bones” upon which to build an entirely new level. If new load-bearing walls must be incorporated for additional support, it’s vital that you’re working with a renovation company that specializes in both structural engineering and architecture. Atlanta’s premier custom home builder and award-winning renovation company – Highlight Homes – is proud to offer both of these specialties in our extensive list of services.

We’ve seen a number of pop-the-top renovations from concept to completion – always with stunning results. We welcome the opportunity to add your home to our list of gorgeous pop-the-top renovations. If your existing home is located in Metro Atlanta and you’d like to schedule a no-obligation consultation with one of our team members to determine whether or not a pop-the-top renovation is a viable option for you, please contact us at 678-874-9234 or info@highlighthomesga.com. To learn more about Highlight Homes and view our gallery of custom homes and luxury renovations, visit www.highlighthomesga.com.

 

 

Make Self-Improvement the Foundation of Your Home Design

Highlight Homes Atlanta Custom Homes, Luxury Renovations
Make Self-Improvement the Foundation of Your Home Design

September marks Self-Improvement Month, but that doesn’t mean you only have one month to evolve into a better version of the person you are today. Instead, take the time remaining in this month to make a list of the areas of your life where you would like to improve and start taking those first all-important steps towards the new you. At Highlight Homes, we specialize in custom homes and luxury renovations that are designed around our clients’ personal tastes, interests, wants and needs. If self-improvement is a personal goal for you, here are a number of ways that you can build or renovate your home to fit that goal…

Work Towards Wellness

According to CooleFitness.com, 15% of Americans hold gym memberships – that’s about $2.6 billion spent on fitness at the gym each year! And let’s not forget the hassle of getting dressed for the gym, driving there, leaving your valuables in a locker, waiting for your favorite equipment, driving home and showering before the rest of your day can begin. For adults aged 18-64, the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) recommends 2 hours and 30 minutes of moderate-intensity aerobic activity (i.e., brisk walking) OR an hour and 15 minutes of vigorous aerobic activity (i.e., jogging) every week and muscle-strengthening activities on 2 or more days a week that work all major muscle groups (legs, hips, back, abdomen, chest, shoulders, and arms). If you have a dedicated gym in your home – complete with inspiring views of the outdoors and energizing natural lights through a wall of windows, staying fit becomes a great deal easier… and more cost-effective!  Highlight Homes can incorporate a fitness space into a renovation of your existing home (by reimagining an existing room, creating a room addition or finishing your basement) or can make it an important element of your custom home design.

Find Time for Me-Time

Ask any mother of small children and she’ll tell you, the bathroom is often her place of solitude… but it’s never guaranteed. Still, it’s important for each member of the household to have a space that is dedicated to their own “me-time.” For kids, that’s often their bedrooms, but for adults who share a bedroom – you may want to have another space that’s ALL (mostly) yours. If you have that, you’re more likely to FIND TIME for that all-important me-time. If you’re an avid reader, a library with French doors or even a book nook with cozy seating may be all you need. There’s also the possibility of including a man cave inside and a “she shed” outside for the privacy we all crave to help us clear our heads and improve our moods.

Spend More Time with Family

Parents who travel for visit may crave more time with their family. The creation of spaces intended for family gatherings are essential to inspiring that together time that helps us stay connected. A home theater for the family who loves to watch movies together, a game room for board game buffs or an outdoor living space centered around a swimming pool and open-air kitchen for the family who loves the Great Outdoors are just a few ways you can go. The possibilities are truly endless and can be customized to fit your family’s collective interests.

Set Your Sights on Being the Host and Hostess with the Mostest

If it’s always been your dream to host dinner parties to die for or tailgate-themed gatherings for football season, your home design should reflect that fact. From an expansive island in the kitchen where you can set out the appetizers and a dining room where the real magic happens to a sprawling outdoor living space with bar, comfy seating, hearth and HUGE flat screen TV, if you hope to become a better host/hostess, there are any number of ways you can make your home work to your advantage. An open concept layout in the main living areas is a MUST so your home never feels cramped, even with 20 guests at any one gathering. For overnight guests, you want to make sure your guest rooms and guest bathrooms are luxurious and welcoming. Highlight Homes can help you have the home your friends, family, co-workers and neighbors would LOVE to visit – no matter the occasion!

Get in Touch with Nature

If you love the Great Outdoors and hope to work towards self-improvement through that passion, there are a number of ways that Highlight Homes can help you do just that. A sunroom or screened in porch can serve as an extension of your home, offering exquisite views even when the weather is anything but warm and sunny. Some imaginative landscape planning and a gardening shed are other wonderful ways to pursue your love of the outdoors. And – of course – dedicated outdoor living spaces are a must, whether dining al fresco, enjoying a cocktail under the stars or telling stories in the glow of your outdoor fire pit.

If you are seeking ways to pursue self-improvement through your home design, Highlight Homes would love to help you! To learn more about Highlight Homes and our process of building a custom home or pursuing a luxury renovation, please visit www.highlighthomesga.com. Once you’re ready to get started, contact us at 678-874-9234 or info@highlighthomesga.com.