Motivated Sellers Home Tour

On Sunday, November 13, Home Land Seattle offers a FREE tour of three-bedroom homes priced under $350,000 that have been on the market for over 120 days in the desirable North Seattle neighborhoods of Fremont, Crown Hill, Green Lake, Maple Leaf,Pinehurst and Wedgwood.

The median three-bedroom home sale in these neighborhoods in the past six months sold for $289,475 in 31 days on the market. This compares to similar sales south of downtown which sold for $237,975 in 49 days on the market. Neighborhoods north of downtown Seattle command a higher price and sell more quickly in general, than those south of downtown.

Come see what is still on the market during the winter doldrums for our tour on Sunday, November 13. For more details on the tour, please go to www.SundayBargainTour.com or call 888-621-4999 x4.

Motivated Sellers in Seattle

There are currently 495 single family homes in Seattle that have been on the market for more than 120 days. 219 of them are priced under $350,000. Of these, 140 have at least three bedrooms. 16 of these are located north of downtown. These are the properties we will feature in our Sunday Tour of Bargain Homes on Sunday, November 13.

Approximately 1/3 of these are short sales or bank-owned properties. Some of these properties are fixers. One or two may be diamonds in the rough that other buyers may have overlooked. But one thing is certain: if these properties are still listed on the market in November, it is because the Seller is highly motivated to sell!

Come and find out which are real bargains when we tour these properties on November 13.

For more information on our FREE Sunday Tour of Bargain Homes, go to:
www.SundayBargainTour.com

Best Emerging Housing Markets

Scanning the predictions for the top housing markets in the US from respected authorities such as CNN Money, Zillow, Forbes, Business Week, Housing Predictor, Business Insider and David Lindahl, shows cities that most consistently make the lists. The top ten cities in which to invest in real estate, according to this analysis, are as follows:
Pittsburgh
Austin
Memphis
Washington, DC
Rochester, NY
Oklahoma City, OK
Chattanooga, TN
Bethesda, MD
Dallas/Ft Worth
Boston

Several Washington state cities make various lists, as being great areas to invest in residential real estate. They include:
Tacoma
Seattle
Bremerton/Silverdale
Tri-Cities (Kennewick, Pasco, Richland)

Recent Home Sales in Seattle 98117

There have been 217 home sales in the last six months in the 98117 zip code of Seattle. This zip code includes communities such as Ballard, Crown Hill, Loyal Heights, Sunset Hill, Greenwood, North Beach, and Phinney Ridge.

The median sale in that time was for a 3bedroom, 1.75bath home with 1880 square feet that sold for $411,500 in 15 cumulative days on market! Things move FAST in this zipcode when priced correctly! 68% of the sales were for 100% of the asking price! The fastest sales were for homes priced under $395,000.

In 2010, there were a total of 409 sales in the 98117 zipcode for the entire year. The median home of roughly the same size sold for $420,000 in 35 days.

It appears that prices declined in the last year by approximately 2%, but that days on market and number of transactions are increasing in this area. Wendy's prediction: expect to see both prices and number of transactions pick up in this zipcode in the next year!

Historical Mortgage Rates

Take a look at the trend in mortgage rates:
http://www.mcimageserver.com/IR/2011_10_14_IR/282__.pdf

Finding Your Fire Pit

As the weather turns colder, the wanting to be outside inevitably diminishes. The grill goes into the garage, the tarp goes over the pool, and the jackets, mittens and hats come out. Still, for some the winter changes very little and if the Polar Bear Club isn’t exactly your speed (I am a proud member), a fire pit is one of the more relaxing and simple outdoor projects you can undertake to still enjoy the outdoors in the wintertime. Some people just like having a simple unit to sit around while others prefer to devote an entire section of their yard to create a solid mood for the activity. Here are some choices for everyone.

• ·         Copper: This is the most popular option, as copper’s melting point is quite high and the orange hue of the copper is eye grabbing. Copper fire pits also blend in nicely with a good, well-designed backyard garden. The problem is that the material is far more expensive than other options and to be honest, the design of most copper fire pits is a bit boring.  

• ·         Cast Iron: If copper will put a hurt on your wallet, cast iron is a good, cheap second option. They tend to come in black, which is dull but blends with nearly any backyard design or configuration. They also come in more varied designs. But with the noticeable difference in price comes a negligible difference in quality, as cast iron has a far lower melting point and therefore cast iron units wear out a lot quicker than Copper. So, if you’re looking to remodel your backyard and you have no plans to sell your home, it might be worth it to save and go with copper.

• ·         Chimenea: Now, here’s an interesting choice. The form of the unit is like a small chimney with a tiny hearth at the bottom and it looks absolutely beautiful. They’re also conducive to smaller areas, if you don’t have a big backyard. On top of this, the chimenea can be made not only out of copper or cast iron but can also be made out of terra corra, a clay-based ceramic. The only bad news is that for those who like to look at the fire, it is near impossible due to the design of the chimenea. It’s a matter of taste but I’m fond of this because of its beauty and longevity.

• ·         Gas-Powered: Full disclosure: I’m not fond of this choice. If you’re going to have a fire pit, I think part of the fun of it is building a fire and having the smell of wood. That being said, some areas restrict wood burning because of said smell and suddenly Gas looks like a good option. The good news is that they are easier to clean than wood-burning pits. If you are considering this option, talk to a plumber, handyman or home improvement specialist about connecting a propane tank or any natural gas connections to the pit. Be sure to notify your utility company about your pit installation as well.

• ·         Stone: Stone fire pits are the most aesthetically pleasing but they are also a bit more of a project and are better suited for bigger spaces. Still, it is wise for you to hire a contractor or call up a buddy to help you to put one together. Palletized stone is preferred but you can get pretty creative here. There is also the matter of need for regular cleaning but at the end of the day, stone fire pits convey an aged, naturalistic feel to the surrounding area. The price will run you around what a copper pit would cost you but, I think you will find that it is worth it, in my opinion.

The portable option is also up there but that can be handled largely by browsing through your local home improvement warehouse, though, in that case, I would still recommend the chimenea above anything else. Chimeneas and stone fire pits are my personal favorites, as I’m sure you’ve picked up by now, largely do to their classic yet unique designs.  But if it’s a matter of having a good reason to go outside and enjoy your back yard even in the winter, there is no such thing as a bad choice.

Understanding Commercial Properties

In commercial real estate, properties are ranked in terms of age and location as "A," "B," "C," or "D" properties.

"A" properties are the highest end, luxury properties, built in the last 10-15 years and in prime urban locations.

"B" properties are in mixed blue collar/white collar neighborhoods, and built 10-20 years ago.

"C" properties are in primarily blue collar neighborhoods, and built 20-30 years ago.

"D" properties are in more marginal or war zones, more than 30 years old and typically functionally obsolete. They generally need a good deal of work to rehab or upgrade.

Capitalization (Cap) rates typically increase from A to D properties, with A properties having the lowest cap rates and D properties the highest. Cap rates are a measure of risk.

The formula for determining Cap Rate is
Net Operating Income(NOI) divided by Purchase Price = Cap Rate

Net Operating Income is determined by subtracting all expenses other than financing costs (debt service) from Gross Annual Income, which is all revenue generated by the commercial property.

Debt service, or the financing in place on a commercial property, comes into play when calculating Cash-on-Cash Return. The formula for Cash-on-Cash Return is

(NOI minus Debt Service) divided by Acquisition Costs.

Acquisition Costs are all the money put down to purchase a property, including down payment, closing costs and acquisition fees. According to Dave Lindahl, multifamily acquisitions guru, the amount of acquisition costs an investor is willing to pay towards a commercial property will depend on the specific phase of that particular market cycle.

In a Buyer's Market One or a Seller's Market One, an investor might put down up to 15% in Acquisition Costs. In a Buyer's Market Two, with more negotiating power, an investor may be able to put down as little as 10% in Acquisition Costs. But in a Seller's Market Two, an investor might have to go as high as 20% in Acquisition Costs to acquire a good commercial deal.

Certainly, buyers will pay more for commercial properties, but Lindahl is a proponent of putting down as little money as possible. This will actually increase the Cash-on-Cash Return for an investor, which Lindahl likes to see at 12 percent or higher.

23 Improving Housing Markets

The National Association of Homebuilders/First American Improving Market Index has identified 23 improving housing markets nationwide. This index measures improvement in housing permits, employment and housing prices for the past six months or more.

These markets include:
--Alexandria, LA
--Amarillo, TX
--Anchorage, AK
--Bismark, ND
--Caspar, WY
--Fairbanks, AK
--Fayetteville, NC
--Houma, LA
--Iowa City, IA
--Jonesboro, AR
--Kankakee, IL
--McAllen, TX
--Midland, TX
--New Orleans, LA
--Odessa, TX
--Pine Bluff, AR
--Pittsburgh, PA
--Sherman, TX
--Sumter, SC
--Waco, TX
--Waterloo, IA
--Wichita Falls, TX
--Winston-Salem, NC

How to Find Motivated Sellers in Seattle

Perhaps the easiest way to find a motivated seller in Seattle is to search the NWMLS for residential listings that have been on the market for more than six months. Especially now, as the rains and cold dampen the house-buying activity in our region.

There are over 70 such listings of 3-bedroom single family homes priced under $600,000 listed right now in the most desirable neighborhoods of Seattle!

You may do your own search on my www.HomeLandSeattle.com website, or sign up for my VIP Buyer Program for automatic email updates of these listings as they pass that 180 days-on-market milestone. I will help you set up a customized list in the size, neighborhood, and price range that matches your home-buying criteria.

And keep tabs on this blog for information on upcoming Second Sunday Home Tours in Seattle, where we will be focusing on motivated sellers of properties that appeal to investors, first-time homebuyers, and cash buyers.

Ballard Multifamily Tour

Approximately 15 people showed up today to tour several small income properties in and around Ballard; and to learn more about how to value multifamily real estate.

We were able to tour three properties, two in Ballard and one in Green Lake. There was one bank-owned duplex, two short-sale multifamily properties, and one or two properties with possible seller financing.

I would love to blog more about the specific properties we saw; unfortunately, most of the sellers elected to prohibit blogging, so I can't.

If you are interested in getting a list of small multifamily properties currently listed for sale in great neighborhoods in Seattle, like Ballard, Wallingford, Fremont and Green Lake, please contact me directly at HomeLandInvestment@gmail.com or at 206-355-1706. Or search on my website for Seattle properties that match your buying criteria at http://homelandseattle.com/listingssearch.asp.

Find a Ballard Duplex for as little as $280,000!

Pictured here is the least expensive income property on our FREE tour of multifamily homes tomorrow. It is a duplex currently listed at $280,000.

The most expensive property on our tour tomorrow is a newly-constructed 6-plex listed for $2,700,000.

Our FREE tour begins at 1 pm at the duplex pictured above, 927 NW 57th St. No reservations are necessary; you will be driving your own car. But we will discuss, analyze, and/or visit up to ten properties between 1 and 3 pm this Sunday, October 9.

You do not want to be late, if you are interested in learning more about how to buy small multifamily properties in Seattle!

For more information, see www.SundayBargainTour.com

Meet Here for FREE Sunday Tour of Income Properties!

Meet here at 927 NW 57th Street at 1pm, Sunday, October 9 for a FREE tour of income properties in Ballard, Wallingford, Fremont, and Green Lake areas of Seattle! No reservations are necessary, but check back at this blog for any last minute changes.

Up to ten different multifamily properties will be included in the tour discussion and/or visit.

Come to learn more about how to invest in small multifamily properties in Seattle!

More info:
www.SundayBargainTour.com

Optimizing Your Garage Space

As we start getting into fall, the anticipation for the winter season is already starting to grip homeowners. One of the more favored home improvement projects in the colder months is organizing your home and opening up some space. This even extends to areas like the shed, the terrace and, finally, the garage, which is an area rife with possibilities for space saving. Of course, the central question when thinking about this is what you use (or rather WANT to use) your garage for. Is it simply a depository for your car(s) and a snow shovel? Is it a space used for your tools? Knick-knacks? A second refrigerator? Bikes and sports equipment? Considering the ideas below, you might very well be able to fit all of these things into your garage…oh, and maybe your car.

• ·         Clear Out: If it were summer or spring, it would be easy enough to put all the stuff in your garage in your driveway or your front lawn. Alas, in the colder months, you’d be better off putting it in a mudroom or any room that has some extra space for this stuff. Regardless, put all the clutter in a separate space and then clean your garage. A good sweep and mopping should do the job but also consider washing the walls, just to be thorough.

• ·         Inventory: What do you have? It’s important to see what you already store in your garage before deciding how to store it and what else you’d like to put in there.  If you’re a handyman, it’s likely that you have a lot of tools that need to be at the quick and ready. If you have recreational and sports equipment, it could range from a kayak to hockey pads to fishing gear. Know what you have and know what is more important to have at the quick and ready. 

• ·         Shelves: A major key to organizing is using every inch of space you have and in this, adding shelves to your walls is a major advantage. As for a DIY project, this is a mildly difficult task but not an enormous undertaking, though I still suggest hiring a home improvement professional to help with the planning and get an estimate, at the very least. Make sure that the shelves are properly supported and out enough to hold some containers, which you can use to store anything from sports balls to emergency supplies to beach games to loose washers and lug nuts.

• ·         Pegs and Racks: It sounds like such a small thing but they make a huge difference. Sure, they’re perfect for hanging up coats and a pegboard is still one of the best things a tool hound can invest in and properly label but think bigger. You can hang a mesh bag for sports equipment from two pegs for easy access or place a latter on the wall. If you do it right, you can also use a system of pegs to hang your bikes on the wall. Racks serve a similar purpose and are perfect for shovels, skis and oars, amongst other things.

• ·         Work Station: If you’re more mechanic-minded, you’ll want a good countertop, one that’s easy to clean and resistant to easy cuts, to work and properly clean parts. It’s essentially the same for a home-improvement enthusiast, though you would assumedly want a bigger countertop or table for any woodworking or remodeling project. Hang two or three medium-size cabinets above the station and two or three utility drawers underneath and you should have the perfect area to handle any job. Some of these can be bought largely pre-made but otherwise, I implore you to seek out a contractor or home improvement expert to help you with this project, as it involves a sizable amount of work and time.

There are other options, such as using your ceiling to house your kayaks or canoes, that are more specific but it’s enough to say that every blank wall should be seen as an opportunity for storage. At a recent job, I helped a musician turn his garage into a supply space for his instruments and his record collection, not to mention his wife’s and his bicycles. Nothing is impossible or too ambitious when it comes to these types of projects. It’s all a matter of whether you care enough about the use of your available space.    

Ten Multifamily Homes in Seattle on Sunday Tour

In honor of apartment guru David Lindahl’s presentation to the Real Estate Association of Puget Sound this month, this Sunday's Tour on October 9th will focus on small multifamily properties for sale in the Ballard/Greenlake area of Seattle. Ten income properties will be featured on the tour.

Home Land Seattle’s Sunday Tours of Homes feature properties of special interest to investors, cash-buyers, and first-time homebuyers. The tours are free, and no reservations are necessary. You will be driving your own car and decide which properties you wish to visit. Just show up at 1pm sharp at the first property on the tour to pick up maps, directions, and more detailed information.

Please meet the tour at 1 pm sharp at 927 NW 57th St. This is a bank-owned duplex built in 1905 in a great Ballard location.

Because we will be considering income properties that may be occupied by tenants, or that may receive an offer before the date of our tour, we cannot visit every property. We will discuss and analyze approximately ten different properties currently for sale in the popular Ballard neighborhood of Seattle. Tour participants will be encouraged to drive by those we cannot visit inside.

Properties tentatively scheduled for the tour include:
927 NW 57th St (duplex)
657 NW 83rd St (duplex)
7314 15th Ave NW (4-plex)
7056 15th Ave NW (triplex)
7001 24th Ave NW (5-plex)
6041 6th Ave NW (duplex)
5008 Green Lake Wy N (duplex)
3640 Woodland Park Ave N (triplex)
202 N 36th Ave (9-plex)

There are 32 multifamily properties currently listed for sale on the NW Multiple Listing Service in the 705 area of Ballard and Greenlake. This area has reported the most multifamily transactions in Seattle in the past six months. The median price for duplexes sold in this area during that time was $430,000; for triplexes $599,500; and for 4-plexes $875,000.

No reservations are necessary for the tour; no sales pressure, no obligation. You drive your own vehicle, so you may visit whichever properties you most wish to see. As a part of a larger group, you will have opportunities to learn from the constructive comments of your fellow tour members. Check this website for any changes to the tour schedule on Sunday.

The Sunday Tours of Homes are led by Wendy Ceccherelli, Designated Broker for Home Land Investment Properties, Inc. She is an experienced real estate investor, and the tour provides valuable guidance for first time home buyers, real estate investors and other bargain house-hunters.

To be notified of upcoming Sunday Tours of Homes, call our free 24/7 recorded real estate hotline at 888-621-4999 x4.

Multifamily Income Properties in Seattle

Wendy Ceccherelli | (888) 621-4999 419 NE 43rd St, Seattle, WA Just one of the 32 multifamily residences listed in the Ballard/Green Lake/Wallingford neighborhoods of Seattle! 4BR/3BA Multi-Family, 2 units offered at $469,950 Year Built 1953 Sq Footage 3,180 Bedrooms 4 Bathrooms 3 full, 0 partial Floors Unspecified Parking None Lot Size 5,227 sqft HOA/Maint $0 per month DESCRIPTION FREE Tour of Multifamily Properties in North Seattle this Sunday! 1-3pm. www.SundayBargainTour.com Here is one of the 32 multifamily properties currently listed in the desirable neighborhoods of Ballard/Green Lake/Phinney Ridge/Fremont and Wallingford: SOLID Duplex in good area. Hardwood floors, nice backyard, lots of storage. Very close to John Stanford Elementary School. Brick exterior, newer roof, gas heat. Close to UW and Downtown. Advertised courtesy of Coldwell Banker Bain and Home Land Seattle. see additional photos below ADDITIONAL PHOTOS Photo 1 Contact info: Wendy Ceccherelli (888) 621-4999 For sale by agent/broker Equal Opportunity Housing Posted: Oct 4, 2011, 3:25pm PDT

Prepping Your Paint Job

No matter how easy or hard the task, preparation is the key to a successful remodeling job or outdoor project, which is why I try to encourage consultation with and hiring of home improvement professionals while also embracing DIY. In the future, we’ll discuss plenty of jobs that need to be well thought out but let’s start with an easy one: Painting your interior walls.

There is the temptation to just hire a crew and have it done during the day when you’re at work, but then there’s that nostalgic image of you and your partner in your own home, painting the walls together. In the latter case, you should take the steps suggested below as a way to ensure your paint job, certainly the most aesthetically noticeable facet of your interior, is done in a professional manner.

• ·      Strip, Scrape, Remove: Any and all left over wallpaper and/or peeling and cracked paint should be removed. Use a scraper gently to get rid of the old paint, wallpaper and adhesive resin. If you’re dealing with old woodwork with bad finish, you’ll have to get some paint-stripping gel to remove paint and other debris.

• ·      Repair and Patch: Unless your home is brand new, you will likely have a few cracks and holes that should be rectified. It’s worth it to get a quick consultation from a contractor to see if there are any foundation problems or if you’ll need professional help dealing with a bigger crack. Otherwise, clean and dampen the spot before using a putty knife to fill in any holes and cracks; if working with wood, use wood filler instead of joint compound. On bigger holes, cover the hole with two small pieces of joint tape before covering it with joint compound.  

• ·      Sandpaper: Get yourself some fine-grade sandpaper and sand the entire area that you will be painting. This not only helps smooth down rough, incongruous areas but also boosts adherence for the overall paint job. For glossy areas, use a light-duty liquid de-glosser or TSP powder mixed into some hot/warm water. Rinse the wall and let it sit for a day before moving forward.  

• ·      Clear Out: Take any easily moveable objects (lamps, end tables, coffee tables, small chairs, etc.) and put them in another room. Anything too big or too inconvenient to move, gather into a huddled mass in the middle of the room and cover with a tarp or an ample length of plastic sheathing. Tape it down. Finally, cover the floors as best as possible with plastic sheathing or plenty of newspaper.

• ·      Tape Up: Buy yourself two rolls of painter’s tape from a local handyman or home improvement store – trust me, it comes in handy. Cover up your light switches, doorknobs, handles, locks, and any other minor thing that would be a pain to remove and you don’t want to have splatter marks on. The tape will also be needed when you paint the trim.

• ·      Last Clean: Do one more full clean before getting to the fun (and exhausting) part. Vacuum the entire room and dust off every area that will be painted. If your room happens to be a kitchen or bathroom, you should do one more wash with TSP mix. If you encounter mildewed areas, mix the TSP (about three ounces) with hot water (no less than three quarts), chlorine (one quart) and detergent (one ounce). Let it all dry for at least 12 hours or, to be double sure, a full 24.

Sit down and think about exactly what you want out of the look of your room. Consult with your partner and/or family and talk with the employees at your local home improvement supplies store about what brand of paint and/or primer to purchase. For my nephew’s room, for instance, I recently used forest green and had a close artist friend come in and paint a mural over it about a month afterwards. As tiresome as it can be, these are the jobs that I have the most fun with, usually enlisting at least one close friend, a good radio station and a few refreshments for the day. Not all of these projects have to feel like work. 

Multifamily Properties in Ballard

There are 32 multifamily properties in the hot 705 NWMLS area of Seattle that includes neighborhoods such as Ballard, Wallingford, Green Lake, Fremont and Phinney Ridge. They range in size from 2 units (duplex) to 9 units; and in price from a $280,000 duplex to a $2,700,000 newly-constructed 6-plex.

The smallest building is about 1100sf, and the largest, a 7-unit, at 8742sf (for $990,000, in case you are interested).

A couple of these units are new on the market today, but one of them has been on the market for THREE YEARS (at the same unchanged price from three years ago). This is a 9-plex condo conversion, with apparently bad market timing....

I will be leading a FREE tour of several of these properties this Sunday, from 1-3pm. We will discuss how to analyze value on multifamily properties, and we will visit as many as we can. Tour participants drive their own cars and may drive by any properties that are of interest.

Detailed lists with photos and analysis, maps and driving directions will be distributed at the first property. No reservations are necessary. Just meet the tour at 1 pm sharp at 927 NW 57th St. This is a bank-owned duplex built in 1905 in a great Ballard location.

Seattle Housing Recovery?

Dave Lindahl, the commercial apartment guru, came to Seattle this past weekend to present a seminar for the Real Estate Association of Puget Sound. Lindahl is known for his research on housing market cycles and his work on emerging markets. As one of the benefits of attending this workshop, he promised to share his market research on the Seattle housing market.

According to Lindahl,there are four market cycles for housing: Buyers Market I, Buyers Market II, Seller Market I, and Seller Market II. Most areas of the country have been in a Buyers Market II cycle. Characteristics of a Buyer Market II cycle are: increased demand as more buyers are qualified to buy at low prices; market slowly absorbing oversupply of houses; virtually no new construction, and very few properties coming on the market; rents at their lowest level, but slowly increasing; and unemployment drops.

When the market turns into a Seller Market I, construction will be in full swing, with a 1-3 year spike in building permits, rents begin rising, as do demand and property values. The housing inventory begins to dwindle, and properties sit on the market for shorter periods of time.

According to Lindahl, the apartment sector leads the way in a market turnaround, with single family home prices lagging the furthest behind.

Seattle has a tightening vacancy rate of 5-7% in apartment rentals; rents are projected to rise by more than 4% this year. Job growth has been steadily increasing since 2008; and supply is becoming more limited. Hence, Dave Lindahl believes that Seattle has rounded the corner, and is about 1 1/2years into a market recovery.

Best markets in Seattle are in the high-demand areas of Capitol Hill, Queen Anne, Ballard, and other areas close to the center of jobs and employment.

In this type of market, it is time to buy everything that one can afford to buy, while prices are still on sale!

For a peek at multifamily properties in Seattle that are on the market now, go to www.SundayBargainTour.com or call 888-621-4999 x4.

Looking into Lady Caves

The term “mom cave” is an unfortunate bit of vernacular. Let’s forget, for the time being, that not all female homeowners are moms and focus rather on the innumerable interests that women indulge in when they want some time alone away from their job, their partner, their everyday struggles and, yes, their children. As much as most men need their man caves, most women are in dire need of a similar lady caves that speaks to their unique identity and their loves. And men, take note: This is the sort of project that could earn you major points and, depending on your home, can be a DIY affair. Whether you’re putting together a space for yourself or for your partner, you should consider the ideas below when looking into the home improvement concerns that often surround the building of a lady cave.

•    Finding Your Space: A garage is often the best space for caves. If you want to conserve space, you can put up a simple divider and have spaces for both you and your partner to enjoy some alone time. The garage door is also an easy entrance.  If you don’t have space in your garage (or don’t have one), consider utilizing a guest bedroom, the basement, or the attic and transforming part of or the entire space into a lady cave.  You could also hire or consult with a contractor to build a small cabin or shed in your backyard or put on an addition. In which case, be sure to call your local municipality and check about any permits needed.

•   Practical Concerns: You will want electricity in this lady cave, if only for lighting. In the home, this is simple but if you do have a separate structure, consider purchasing a small generator or running an extension cord from your home and disguising it tastefully. There’s also the natural light option, enacted simply by putting in a window. Think about color schemes and furniture. Do you want to be a place where you could take a nap or is it all activity? Consider putting a futon in the space or if you want to be more stylish, a chaise lounge. If you are doing this for your partner, it’d be best to spoil the surprise at this point and see what they’d like the space to look like. 

•   Get Together Your Theme: Here’s where things get fun and, just maybe, a bit pricey. What do you want this space to be fitted for? Are you a nut for a mind-clearing run on the treadmill or do you want a quiet space to dig into the latest New York Times best seller? Take a look at some of these popular ideas.

a.     Reading/Writing/Sewing – First, put in a large bookshelf. Maybe put a few pictures of loved ones and sentimental knick-knacks on the shelves that haven’t been filled with books. Also, find a nice, modest desk, a lamp and a comfortable chair if you’d like to write in your diary or take some quicknotes. Throw up a few framed photos of your favorite quotations or inspirational figures for character. For an accomplished sewer, have a ready basket of yarn, replacement needles and other needed utensils.

b.     Exercising – This would ideally be in the house but if it is in a separate structure, be sure to consult a contractor about how much energy you will require. An elliptical bike or treadmill facing a small television is a great first step, but you may also think about adding a set of weights or some space for a yoga mat and inflatable abdominal ball. Throw in a scale and a dry-erase board to track progress or set schedules and you should be ready to go.

c.      Sports/Entertainment: One would think this would be something for a living room but tastes clash. This option tends to be a bit pricier, considering you’ll want a nice television and an extra cable box. Put in a small shelving unit for your favorite DVDs and Blu-rays, and maybe hang a vintage movie poster or a cast photo. For sports fans, cover the place with your team colors, banners and other fanfare. You’d do well to have a micro-fridge in there for snacks and drinks too.  

d.     Gardening: This one is a bit more complicated but doesn’t require as much space and is well worth it for the seasoned gardening enthusiast. Talk to a plumber or contractor about setting up a pair of deep sinks with some counter space and cabinets to hold any chemicals or seeds. Put up racks on the wall for your gloves, hats, coats and various utensils. Stock the place with extra pots and a small bookshelf for any gardening books you regularly use. Hang a few plants for mood and you should be ready to start growing.   

The materials for building a small cabin on your own or shed usually comes in between $1200 and $1600. The option of hiring a contractor is always favorable, if you can spare the funds, and this also insures that any issues with energy or water will be hassle-free. Regardless, this tends to be a favored project amongst my close friends and customers.

Most people look for something closer to the Reading/Writing/Sewing option but having recently seen one, I can attest that a gardening cave can be a lively and comforting space to call your own. But think outside the box about what you would really like to do with your free time. Your personal corner of the world should speak directly to you, your wants and your needs.