The Super Bowl Rule in Real Estate - Fact or Fiction?

One of the oldest axioms in real estate - besides location, location, location - is that the best time to list a home is just after the Super Bowl. The Super Bowl has gained popularity as a housing-market selling-season indicator. According to traditional real estate wisdom, that's when the busy spring home selling season gets underway.

With this Sunday's match between the New England Patriots and the Atlanta Falcons, I thought it was a good time to determine whether the Super Bowl as a selling-season indicator for the housing market is fact or fiction. The answer, as best as I've been able to determine, is that it's more myth than reality.

It's true that the Super Bowl just happens to fall at the time of year when the holidays are over and potential home sellers start thinking about their plans for the new year – including whether it's time to put their home on the market. Also with all the rain we've been having in the Bay Area, the weather hasn't exactly been conducive to getting a home ready for market and holding an open house.

But the fact is that there is nothing “magical” about the Super Bowl, for the real estate industry, as a point in time to kick off the selling season. In fact, after crunching all the sales data over the years, the economic team at Zillow says that for the nation as a whole the best time to sell is actually the last two weeks of March.

In an article in the Chicago Tribune, Zillow chief economist Stan Humphries said there's a strategy to it all. He acknowledged that the bulk of the listings will show up right after the Super Bowl sometime in February. But by late March, the new listings are dwindling and those listings that have been around since early February might be getting a bit stale.

By listing toward the end of March, a new listing might get to the top of the list in search engines and attract more buyer attention. The article did note that there are regional variations to all this. In milder parts of the country (i.e., the Bay Area) the right time may be slightly earlier, while in colder climates it could be later - possibly late April. Or, at the in certain price points it doesn’t really matter because everything is selling!

Whether the right time to list a home here in the Bay Area is February or later in March, one thing is clear: Now is the right time to start getting ready if you plan to sell this year.  Are you ready to kick-off the selling season???

Outlook for 2017: Will The Seller’s Housing Market Continue?

Over the past year, the Bay Area has seen a strong seller’s market for housing – thanks in large part to a shortage of homes on the market, strong demand by buyers and mortgage interest rates that hovered near historic lows. But as 2017 gets underway, the question is whether that seller’s market will continue, especially given a recent uptick in interest rates.

According to Freddie Mac, the average 30-year fixed-rate mortgage nationwide climbed to 4.16 percent in mid-December (the latest figures available), up more than a half a percentage point just since the November presidential election. Economists say the increase is due to more optimistic economic growth projections, higher-inflation expectations, and the Federal Reserve’s recent rate hike.

Although mortgage rates remain relatively low by historical standards, the sudden increase in rates is one of several factors that could impact the housing market in the coming year: Will low inventory levels begin to rise? Will the job market remain strong and continue to grow? What impact will the new Trump administration have on the housing market and the economy? All of those factors could play a role in how the housing market shapes up in the new year.

A panel of industry economists in a recent article in Inman News, the national real estate trade publication, said they generally expect 2017 will remain a seller’s market in much of the country. But they believe that trend could begin to give way to more favorable conditions for buyers in 2018 and 2019.

“2017 is probably going to skew more toward the seller’s market,” Svenja Gudell, chief economist at Zillow, told Inman. “Most markets will skew more toward seller’s markets, and even in the Midwest there are probably more seller’s markets than buyer’s markets compared to their own history.”

But Jonathan Smoke, chief economist at realtor.com, said the three laws of real estate – location, location, location – will be ever more important this year.

Markets in the western U.S. have seen the most significant price appreciation, making it difficult for first-time buyers to find success. Smoke expects that trend to continue, but sees great variations geographically – even from city to city and neighborhood to neighborhood in a particular market.

“We’re seeing some clear patterns emerge within markets — one might be slowing down and cooling off where another part is really heating up,” he told Inman. “Real estate is so local that I would argue that a neighborhood view is really where you can see the differences and disparities and changes that are occurring around the country.” 

The economists did project that inventory levels will likely rise in 2017 and new construction will pick up as well, giving frustrated buyers a bit more to choose from.

The upshot is that sellers might find that it will take a little longer to sell their property this year than it did in 2016. However, the increase in listings and construction probably won’t be enough to offset pent-up demand from buyers as long as the job market remains strong.

The National Association of REALTORS®publication, realtor.com, said the days of multiple offers and bids well over the asking price probably won’t go away in 2017 – although they may not get much worse from a buyer’s standpoint.

Citing rising mortgage rates and a shortage of affordable homes for sale, realtor.com projected a smaller increase in sales in 2017 than last year and slightly slower price appreciation of about 4 percent on average nationally, down from 5 percent in 2016.

“2017 will be a year of growth in both sales and prices, but that growth will be slower than what we’ve seen over the last three years,” according to Smoke.

Much of what happens in the coming year could depend on how high mortgage interest rates go. Smoke projects 30-year fixed mortgage rates to rise to 4.5 percent in 2017, while Gudell of Zillow expects a peak rate of 4.75 percent following additional Fed rate hikes.

No one knows for sure what will happen to interest rates or the housing market. But if you have been thinking about buying or selling your home, now may be a good time to make your move before rates go higher and while demand for housing remains strong.

If you have any questions about the local housing market, please give me a call or send me an e-mail. I’m happy to help. Best wishes on a happy and healthy new year!

Local Northern California Housing Market Report

Silicon Valley – Open houses in the immediate Cupertino area were crazy busy last week, our local manager reports. It’s getting tougher and tougher to hold transactions together. In Los Altos, continued signs of seasonal adjustments are evident with low inventory. Although there has been a slight slowdown of homes coming on the market over the recent weeks, those that are coming on and priced to induced offers, are being absorbed quickly, according to our local manager. Our Los Gatos manager says inventory remains low as the market continues to be very competitive under $2,500,000. Sales have been steady in the San Jose Almaden area and we’re seeing more multiple offers.  The listing inventory is decreasing as we’re heading into the holiday season. Average sales price in the market seems to be “flattening” out.  The average sales prices for November in Almaden is $1,338,000, Blossom Valley is $697,000, Cambrian is $944,000 and Santa Teresa is $731,000.  All of these prices are +/- 3% from the previous month and November of 2015 except for Almaden, which is down 7.5% from last month. Our San Jose Main office manager reports that inventory continues to decline as sales stay steady. New listings are becoming rare as we enter the holiday season.  Single family homes in the county dipped below 1,000 for the first time this year, down from the peak of over 1,400 homes during the summer months.  The slowdown in new listings is common during this time of year. However less than 1,000 homes in November is rare and has only occurred a few times in the last 10 years.  The lack of inventory has buyers circling back to homes they previously looked at, and agents are seeing homes get multiple offers after being on the market for 2-3 weeks.  Interest rates saw a slight increase in the past couple weeks, so that too has some buyers making the move now and not risking additional rate hikes. The Willow Glen market sees active listing inventory staying steady and homes are selling. Our office had a surprisingly strong week of sales last past week.  Many agents are getting offers accepted on the buy side at or below asking list price. There were several offers in the lower end condo market, which has not been the trend the past few months.

East Bay – In Berkeley, there are currently 31 houses available for sale and 56 under contract which translates to a .55 month inventory supply, about the same as before the presidential election. In Albany there are currently 5 houses available with 11 under contract which is a .45 month inventory supply vs .73 months two weeks prior. El Cerrito currently shows 15 active houses and 15 under contract – a one month supply and again nearly identical to the .95 months of two weeks prior. Richmond reflects a supply of 111 houses with 107 under contract (1.04 months). The month’s supply is unchanged from two weeks ago. In Oakland we see 286 houses active with 340 under contract which is a .84 month supply – a slight decrease from .89 months two weeks ago. In summary, thus far the market is responding to the events of the past two weeks with the same intensity and pace it had between mid-October and the beginning of the month, our Berkeley manager says.

Monterey County – The Monterey Peninsula follows the Bay Area trends and It seems that the holiday season has set in early, our local manager notes. The number of new listings has slowed considerably along with ratified contracts this week. Our manager is anticipating a significant close of escrow on a Pebble Beach estate the last week of the month that will push the average price up considerably. Several agents have reported that they have new listings coming on the market after the New Year holiday. if Wall Street continues on this record setting pace, we could have a great start to 2017, our manager believes. The Monterey Peninsula continues to attract the vacation home buyer and we welcome you to come and take a look at all there is to offer in our beautiful area.

North Bay – All price ranges are experienced the traditional holiday Thanksgiving slowdown, our Greenbrae manager reports.  New listing inventory slowed down immeasurably.  However offers continue to be ratified on what little new inventory there is. Our San Rafael manager says the market is experiencing the typical holiday slowdown. However there are still many sales going on in the San Rafael office under the $2,000,000 range.  Buyers are anxious to buy and smart sellers pricing their homes just below the last comp sales are receiving multiple offers.  Agents believe the new year will bring a flurry of new inventory to the market with lots of buyer activity. Buyers want to buy before the  mortgage rates increase again. The overall Southern Marin market is strong with over 40% of listings under contract and multiple offers under $1 million. Under $2 million remains a seller’s market. The Previews market continues to sell at a slower pace; With 15% of homes listed above $2 million under contract it’s clearly a buyer’s market.

Placer County – Our Auburn manager reports that there is only a couple of months of inventory in the overall market.  Agents continue to see cancellations due to appraisals and/or sellers/buyers not getting what they think they should as a result of investigations.  Agents are also seeing a few short sales.  In reviewing stats for the areas the average active price can be $667K but the average sales price may be $465K. Land seems to be selling and our office has closed several lots this month.  Listings are up about 3%. Sales and closings are also up considerably on lot purchases. In the Previews luxury market, there is more than a year of inventory in the homes priced over $750,000 in Auburn and surrounding areas.  Sales are down as much as 14%. Our Sierra Oaks manager notes that there has been increasing qualified buyer interest in past two weeks.

Sacramento County – Still increasing inventory as we head into the holiday season, reports our Sacramento Fair Oaks manager. Some sellers are even taking their homes off the market for the month of December to begin marketing again in January. There Previews market continues to see price resistance. Most of the multiple offers in the market are for homes under $450,000.

San Francisco – Sales have been steady after the election, but listings have virtually dried up, our Lakeside office manager reports.  Inventory has dropped correspondingly, signaling yet another year where listing scarcity is likely to make finding a home exceedingly difficult over the next few months at least. The market is slowing for the holidays, according to our Lombard manager. Listing count is dropping. No cancellations yet due to the election results or rate increase, he adds.

San Francisco Peninsula – Our Palo Alto manager notes that the election is still having rippling effects. Overall, activity is good. It’s a quiet time in the Redwood City-San Carlos area, our local manager says. There is very little new inventory. Most agents are working with their buyers with a limited amount of inventory. Some areas are beginning to see properties stay on the market longer, usually caused by incorrect list prices.

South County – Most real estate professionals will agree that markets can only be analyzed on a local basis.  The South County market (Morgan Hill and Gilroy), compared with our neighbors to the North (San Jose, Santa Clara, Sunnyvale) has slowed considerably, our local manager says.  Traditionally, the South County market takes about two to three months to reflect the same activity as in the more northern cities.  Presently inventory is increasing and supply is certainly keeping up (or in some cases) exceeding demand.  In addition, sales activity has traditionally slowed due to the holiday season but should be back on track as we enter 2017.

Tahoe & Truckee – Among all brokerages in the North Lake Tahoe and Truckee, Coldwell Banker ranks #1 in units sold with 662 total sales with total sales volume of $367 million.  Coldwell Banker is #2 in luxury sales with 64 units sold and $100 million in sales volume. Luxury sales for properties priced above $1,000,000 are up a staggering 63% from 2015 luxury sales.  For 2016, there have been 267 luxury properties sold as compared to 163 sold last year for the same period.  The median sales price for luxury properties in 2016 thus far is $1,560,000 which is down almost (3%) from the median sales price of $1,600,000 in 2015.  The average sale price of luxury homes in 2016 stands at $2,334,453 as compared to $2,301,202 in 2015 and is up almost 2%.

Market Watch is a bi-weekly column by Coldwell Banker San Francisco Bay Area and Sacramento-Tahoe president Mike James exploring the local Northern California housing markets.

Investment and Vacation Home Sales Going Strong

According to the National Association REALTORS® (NAR), sales of investment homes increased 7 percent to nearly 1.1 million in 2015, the first time in four years.  And while vacation home sales cooled off slightly in 2015, they remained at the second highest amount in nearly a decade, NAR reported.

“Steadily increasing home prices and strong rental demand appear to be giving more individual investors assurance that purchasing real estate will diversify their portfolios and generate additional income if they decide to rent out the home.” said Lawrence Yun, NAR’s chief economist.  “Baby boomers at or near retirement continue to propel the demand for second homes….” Yun added.

If you have been considering buying an investment property or that vacation home you’ve been dreaming about, my relocation group is ready to help you make your move.  To assist buyers, I have access to an unsurpassed network of real estate professionals. This allows me to help get my clients where they need to go—around and beyond our local marketplace. This network includes a team of professionals that specializes in providing expert service to clients who are purchasing outside of our local area. Because I personally coordinate this process, my buyers can rest assured that they will receive the service and results they have come to expect from Coldwell Banker.

While no one can predict the future, homes in popular destinations have historically been good, long-term investments while providing rental income along the way. An added bonus, there is always the possibility of retiring in your vacation or investment property someday.

There are lots of options for vacation or investment homes. Besides beach or mountain resorts, a rental house near a college campus may be a good choice, especially if you have college bound children. Investors may earn good yields on single-family rental houses in cities with many college-aged residents, according to RealtyTrac. High rents and still affordable purchase prices may make buying a college home an attractive option for investor parents.

The next time you or someone you know needs real estate service in or out of the area, remember that you have connections that can help take you there.

Bay Area Home Prices Hit Record High as Inventory Shortage Continues

Bay Area Home Prices Hit Record High as Inventory Shortage Continues

Bay Area single-family home prices hit a record high last month, reaching $750,000 for the nine-county region, according to CoreLogic, the Irvine-based real estate information services firm. That marked a 7.1 percent increase from a year ago and surpassed the Bay Area’s previous record of $738,500, set nearly nine years ago.

“Job growth and low mortgage rates are continuing to fuel a healthy demand” for homes, said Andrew LePage, a research analyst for CoreLogic, in a report in the San Jose Mercury. “But with the tight supply, you get this pressure cooker effect that drives up prices.”

According to the Mercury, the region’s largest percentage gains in prices were in the more affordable inland counties, including Contra Costa, where the median price in May jumped 11.3 percent year-over-year to $545,000 — though that figure was still considerably below the $654,000 peak reached in May 2007, before the recession.

In Alameda County, the May median price rose to a record $778,750, up 7.6 percent from a year earlier. The median price in Santa Clara County matched April’s peak of $1 million. And in San Mateo County, the median was $1.2 million, slightly below April’s record high of $1,211,500.

For the overall market, both new and existing single-family homes and condos included, the median price paid in the Bay Area reached a record for the second straight month in May, hitting $700,000, according to the San Francisco Chronicle. That was up 1.4 percent from April and 6.3 percent from May of last year, according to CoreLogic.

Although inventory of homes for sale remains extremely low by historical standards, there are reports from some of our offices that things may be changing – ever so gradually. Inventory seems to be inching up in several local markets. Buyers are still out there, and hopefully they’ll have a little more to look at in the weeks ahead.

Below is a market-by-market report from our local San Francisco Bay Area offices:

North Bay – The talk is the market is in transition, says our Greenbrae manager.  There are more homes on the market, and open houses are drawing fewer agents.  There aren’t as many multiple offers as we saw earlier in the year, but the A+ properties are still seeing multiple offers.   In the absence of multiple offers on a property, buyers are not even coming in at full price.  Definitely experiencing a slowdown, but along with that a lack of understanding on sellers’ part that the market is changing.  We’ve seen some high end properties receive excellent offers, while unrealistic sellers are being firm on price.  Ultimately buyers are moving on.  There are also many high end properties receiving no offers. Our Santa Rosa Bicentennial office manager says the degree to which we have a seller’s market has ebbed. Many properties are getting just one offer even if they have delayed looking at offers for 5-7 days. Overall activity has picked up and buyers seem to be responding well to having a bit more room to negotiate. Some homes that have received positive agent and client feedback on condition and price are not getting offers. In the luxury segment, buyers are active but cautious and value conscious. Most buyers are 2nd home buyers so the urgency to buy is not paramount. Our Santa Rosa Mission office manager reports that in the higher end of Previews market the growth in inventory has stayed fairly even with the rate of sales. For example, in January there were 4 closings, 8 pending sales vs. 75 available listings (11% pending). In May there were 10 closings, 15 pending sales vs. 167 available listings (9% pending). In the lower end of the Previews market, the pending sales vs. inventory were 45% in January and 35% in May. School is out and buyers in the Sebastopol area have disappeared for the short term. Open houses are quiet with 10 parties or less attending. River properties have quieted down and are sitting with offer dates coming and going. Aggressively priced homes are still selling quickly and receive multiple offers. Our Southern Marin manager notes that the general market is still hot, particularly under $1 million. However, we are seeing less properties listed under a million. $1 to $3 million depends on desirability and pricing. Again, top agents know how to price and market for success. The recurring theme here is to list your home with a savvy agent. 33% of the homes listed above $3 million are under contract. The norm is this price point is 10-12%. So the luxury market is good. However, only the best priced, well located and turnkey properties are getting offers. Top luxury agents know how to price and prepare these properties for success (offers)! We expect to see more luxury properties hit the market throughout the summer. This will give buyers more options.

San Francisco – There are fewer homes in multiple offer situations, our Lakeside office manager says, and some properties are left unsold after the short initial exposure time we’ve come to expect to see offers in.  Properties that go exceedingly higher than the asking price are fewer.  However, it appears to be a healthy and still Seller centric market. Our Lombard manager reports that the cooling trend has not been consistent. While it is very evident on homes over $2m, we still have a relative shortage of SFH’s, and multiple offers and over-asking remain the norm. Just fewer offers and most closed prices closer to asking. The cooling in the condo and new development market is more apparent with price reductions and closings closer to asking and often below. Most listing agents are not posting offer dates, but waiting for definite indications of offer(s) forthcoming. The Previews luxury market is slower with numerous price reductions. As the July 4th holiday approaches, so do the usual SF summer doldrums, according to our Market Street office manager.   Open Houses and Broker Tours are being held, and some are very well attended while others see scant traffic.   With both clients’ and agents’ attention focused elsewhere, most (but not all) deals during this period were ratified with a single offer.   We anticipate more of the same (fewer listings, fewer ratified deals) through Labor Day.   Sellers need to be very thoughtful when deciding on listing prices to avoid being passed over.   And fatigued buyers should take advantage of the opportunity to purchase without the frenzy of multiple offers.

SF Peninsula – The Burlingame area market has stabilized and some of the properties that are currently for sale are on the market for a longer period of time and not receiving as many offers if any, according to our local manager. Our Menlo Park manager says the local market is still full of buyers but the pace is slower and buyers are more conscientious.  Days on market are beginning to build and buyers are very aware of this. We still have pockets of multiple offers however, but these are becoming far less common. Not much change in the Redwood City-San Carlos market. Gradually there seems to be more inventory but still many more buyers who are not able to purchase, causing a lot of frustration. List prices seem to be leveling off and there still are quite a few multiple offers but numbers are smaller. Our San Mateo manager says there has been a slowdown in the local market. Homes are taking a bit longer. They were taking 1 week and now they are taking 2 to 3 weeks. Our Woodside-Portola Valley manager says it has been a slow week in the country. People are out of town and graduation trips drift into the Fourth of July.

East Bay – After a brief lull, sales activity in the Danville area has picked up again.  Inventory had been increasing, but seems to have hit another plateau.  It’s hard to predict what the rest of summer will be like. The Lamorinda market overall has been steady, our local manager says.

Silicon Valley – Good properties are sitting on the market and getting very little attention, our Cupertino manager reports. Are all the buyers on vacation? Our Los Altos manager sees signs of seasonal adjustments in the inventory. Although there has been a slight slowing of market activity, our manager would still categorize the market as robust.  There’s strong activity on properties in move in condition and priced to sell, resulting in multiple offers that typically achieve a sale price over asking sale.  That being said, some sellers are testing the market by bringing their homes to the market at higher prices than previous sales and pendings.  As a result, there are more price adjustments of late. But these still only make up a smaller percentage of the market. The luxury market (homes priced over $3.5M) is steady but flat with days on market increasing and frenzy bidding or multiple offers being the exception as opposed to the rule. The Los Gatos area market under $2,000,000 is still very competitive while the market over $2,000,000 seems to be softening a bit, our local manager notes. Sales were stronger the last couple of weeks for San Jose Almaden area.  Average sale price for Almaden is $1,414,000, up 9% over last month and 5.5% over June 2015.  Blossom Valley is the only area that is currently down in average sales price over last month and last year.  The average price is $630,000, down 12.5% from last month and 2.5% from June 2015.  Cambrian has an average sales price of $1,044,000, up 2.5% over last month and up 12% over June of last year.  Santa Teresa has an average sales price of $783,000, up 4.5% from last month and up 12% from June 2015.  We’re still seeing some multiple offers although homes aren’t going into contract as quickly and don’t have a crazy amount of multiple offers. Willow Glen’s active listing inventory has been steady at and around the 90-unit mark for the past few weeks. The weekly sales have been at a 3-year average at 16 sales with several high end $ 2 million plus properties going into contract at or over the asking list price. With the upcoming 4th of July holiday weekend upon us this might be a little push before the long holiday weekend. The average sales price in Saratoga is up 13% from the same time last year. The average sales price in Saratoga for June 2016 is $2,432,000 compared to June of 2015, which was $2,153,000.  Active inventory in Saratoga is up 16% from the same time last year.  There are 85 homes for sale in Saratoga compared to the 73 homes for sale in June of 2015.

South County – Our local manager says it seems that all of the components are in place for a great real estate market:  low interest rates, better than average listing inventory and an abundance of qualified buyers.  The realty in the South County, however, is that the market is somewhat sluggish.  Listings are staying on the market longer and more and more homes are settling for less than asking price when an offer is actually accepted.  Buyer interest remains high, but many buyers are reluctant to sell their homes because of the high price of securing a replacement property.   It is apparent, however, that Morgan Hill and Gilroy remain viable alternatives for buyers who are priced out of the market in Silicon Valley.

Santa Cruz County – In recent months the number of homes going into contract has exceeded the number of new listings coming onto the market. However, there has been an increasing number of transactions that have canceled. As a result of this, the inventory of homes active on the market has been slowly increasing and is currently at 365. The number of homes active on the market with a list price of $1 million or higher has increased quickly through the months of April and May. March finished with approximately 119 and currently there are 196. In May the number of active days on market increased to 65 from the high 30’s with prior months.

Monterey Peninsula – The last two weeks the local market has experienced a 15% increase in new listings over the period last year. Sellers are realizing that the market has rebounded and if they are considering selling, now is the time. Prices in the upper end have softened somewhat in the Pebble Beach and Carmel markets with supply exceeding demand. There are still enough buyers in the market but they are being selective and recognize a good value when it hits the market. The Pacific Grove market continues to be the hottest market followed by the City of Salinas. The months of available inventory is at a four-month level, the lowest in the last three years, beating pre-recession levels. Summer and the out of area visitors have arrived on the Monterey Peninsula and agents look forward to a busy summer season.

Market Watch is a bi-weekly column by Coldwell Banker San Francisco Bay Area president Mike James.  Click here to view past issues.

By Mike James @ Coldwell Banker's california.me | June 24, 2016

White after Labor Day: Ode to the White Kitchen

White after Labor Day: Ode to the White Kitchen

Well, Labor Day has come and gone, and you know what that means—time to put away your white duds until spring (If you abide by that old rule of etiquette, we mean.). One thing you won’t have to change up any time soon: that sparkling white kitchen.

“Crisp, clean white kitchens with gleaming marble counters and backsplashes are everywhere you look these days,” said Houzz. “It’s easy to see why: White…enhances other design elements. Wood floors look richer against white, pendant lights stand out as sculptural elements, and stainless steel appliances sparkle.”

Another benefit to an all-white kitchen: The color naturally makes things look larger. And, white kitchens can work in nearly any design style, from modern to traditional to French country, depending on the materials and details.

Looking to go white in your kitchen? Here are a few tips to help you create a dazzling space.

Don’t scrimp on materials 

Not only are all-white kitchens hot now, they also offer a classic look that never really goes out of style, especially when paired with classic materials like marble.

The popularity of gray as a wall and décor color has helped Carrara and Calacatta surge in desirability. The swirly patterns and natural veining take a kitchen’s glam factor up a few notches. Architectural Digest says marble countertops “are about as classic and luxurious as it gets,” and we have to agree. Want an especially luxe look? Use the marbleeverywhere, slathering it over counters and up the walls.

Or, (and?) choose a waterfall edge for your island, a trend that’s grown over the past several years and one that invites a “sleek, minimal look,” said Dwell.

Remember though, that marble is “not a perfect product,” said Architectural Digest. “While good-quality marbles, such as the world-famous products from Carrara, Italy, are dense and relatively nonporous—which makes them durable and stain-resistant—they also have weaknesses. A nonfoliated metamorphic rock, marble is generally composed of calcium carbonate (the same ingredient used in antacids such as Tums) or magnesium carbonate, which react to acids. An acidic kitchen liquid like lemon juice or vinegar will etch marble, leaving a dull, whitish mark where it has slightly eaten away the surface, even after the marble has been sealed.”

Want the look of marble without the potential for red wine rings? Check out some of the new quartz options, some of which look so much like marble they may fool even the most knowing eye. All the pretty without the pain, and the stain? Sounds good to us.

Go for contrast…or not

There was a time when kitchen designers cautioned against all-white kitchens because they could look cold and clinical. Today, some of the freshest kitchens out there are devoid of any other color, save for the fixtures.

But if all that white makes you want to run right for the paint store, or the asylum, a look with more contrast might work better for you. The good news is, there are several ways to add in a little—or a lot—of contrast and still keep your kitchen looking clean and fresh.

Black and white is always classic, whether you opt for a graphic floor, dual-color cabinetry, or a unique backsplash choice. According to Forbes, there are several other color options that can contrast beautifully with bright white, including “neutral pastels like pale blue, pale green gray and tinted whites.”

One of the newest ways to bring in those colors, along with a unique pattern that pops, is with concrete tiles on the backsplash. “These colorful looks have actually been around since medieval times and are coming back in a big way (pattern love forever!),” said BRIT + CO, with “intricate, Moroccan-inspired designs or modern geometric shapes.”

Get lacquered up

For an especially chic look, eschew the more typical paint finishes and go glossy on your cabinets. They capture a unique, high-end look, but a word of caution for families seeking a low-maintenance option from the National Kitchen and Bath Association (NKBA): “These high-gloss kitchen cabinet surfaces aren’t recommended if you have young children in your household; toy automobiles, tricycles, and other mobile items can easily chip the cabinetry. Breaks are less visible on a grained, softer-gloss finish.”

This Manhattan townhouse shows how it’s done, with “custom-made lacquer cabinetry (that) lines a wall of the kitchen,” said Elle Décor. “The barstools are by Philippe Starck, the vintage light fixture is by Stilnovo, and Saarinen Tulip chairs by Knoll surround a table designed by John Meeks.”

Get decorative

Fixtures are one of the easiest ways to add interest, and one of the newest and oldest trends can give your white kitchen some gilded flair.

Confused? It’s the return of brass, which reemerged from its ‘80s hiatus a few years back and is now showing up in some of the most stylish kitchens around. Gold-toned hardware and finishes look more current than ever when paired with sleek white counters and cabinets.

Have some more great ideas for how to create a standout white kitchen? We’d love to hear about them in the comments.

By Alyson @ Coldwell Banker's californiahome.me | September 6, 2016