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SALT LAKE CITY — There's a lot to like about Salt Lake City. So much, in fact, that a new report suggests it is the most likable place to live in the nation. According to the    blog titled "The Best State Capitals to Call Home," the Beehive State's capital ranks tops among all 50 capitals in the United States. The report delves into what might attract people to a prospective home city based on criteria such as economic factors, including the cost of living and median income, as well as professional considerations like the number of overall business opportunities and commuting time, explained Brian Carbury, senior managing editor with Rent.com. Researchers developed a formula that examined all of the country's 50 state capitals measuring them in terms of overall livability, then scored every state's capital city by rank from 1 to 50. While Salt Lake City scored well in some categories, it was rather midland in categories like income, cost of living and commuting. Still, overall Salt Lake City ranked best of the best. "People are going to want to be in a place that's desirable in terms of opportunity," he said. "(For instance), jobs and income and being able to raise a family, as well as just having things to do. There is the feeling of being welcomed by your neighbors, meeting friendly people and living in a city that is growing or an area that's growing, and Salt Lake City checks off all those boxes." He added that much happens in a state's capital city since it's where the local government is headquartered, but they are also activity hubs and centers of area culture. Most state capitals are typically more than just seats of government, many are also cities full of economic opportunity along with local history and culture, he said. In earning the distinction of the state capital with the most to offer, due in part to its reputation of acceptance, the report noted that Salt Lake City was chosen as the capital in 1896 when Utah was granted statehood because its espoused ideals closely aligned with much of the country at the time, which touted expansion, growth and religious freedom.   Today, Salt Lake City offers great potential for professional and business growth, Carbury said. Those are some of the attributes that helped it earn high marks for walkability, bikeability and business opportunity, he said. "Utah is the fastest-growing state in terms of percentage gain over the past 10 years, so it's an area that people are interested in," he said. "A lot of people from California are migrating away from the coast where it's very expensive to live and settling in places like Nevada, Utah, Idaho — moving a little bit east while still staying on the West Coast. That's contributing some of that growth as well. He noted that the urban center is buoyed by a vibrant tech sector, led by Silicon Slopes. The downtown area offers a variety of entertainment and dining options, including eclectic restaurants, craft beer establishments, and theater and cultural selections as well, he said. Outdoor recreation is one of the major amenities that draws people to the city, bringing winter and summer sports enthusiasts from all over to enjoy a rich array of activities, including world-class skiing, scores of hiking trails, rock climbing and golf, among others, he said. The report noted the city is also within driving distance of five national parks. Salt Lake City provides plenty of options for people indoors or outside, blending a combination of natural beauty and urban design, along with generally affordable apartment rates, Carbury said. A one-bedroom unit rents for an average of $1,233 per month, putting Salt Lake City near the middle of pack nationally, he said. "When you compare it to other cities of comparable size or much larger size, then factor in everything, Salt Lake City is going to be much more favorable," Carbury said. "It's a lot cheaper to live in Salt Lake City than it would be in like Austin, Texas, Denver, Boston or Honolulu — some of these other cities that are in the top 10." Following Salt Lake City on top of the rankings were Austin, Texas, at No. 2 with a $1,417 per month average for a one-bedroom rental. That was followed by Cheyenne, Wyoming, as No. 3, where one-bedroom apartments average $930 per month; Madison, Wisconsin, where renters can expect to pay an average of $1,223 per month for single bedroom unit, at No. 4; and nearby Boise at No. 5 with the average rent for a one-bedroom unit at about $1,340 per month.

Which capital city is best to call home? Here's a hint: It's in Utah

SALT LAKE CITY — A recent report rates two Utah cities among the best in the nation for working from home. After the coronavirus pandemic forced scores of workers around the country to transition working from the comfort of their own homes, an analysis from    found some of the most suitable places to do that include a couple of small towns in the Beehive State. They may lack the urban bustle of a big city, but they more than make up for it with the amenities that allow for a nearly idyllic work-from-home environment. Among the local towns that made the cut were Kaysville at No. 4 and Carbon County seat Price coming at No. 22. "Because of the pandemic, a lot of people have been either leaving high-cost metro areas for lower-cost metro areas, or at the very least fantasizing about remote work has become more and more common," said Sascha Segan, a lead analyst for New York-based pcmag.com and co-author of "  ." For those looking to abandon small, expensive living situations in order to work from home for good, numerous American and Canadian cities offer affordability, livability and connectivity that their large metro counterparts have a tough time matching, he said.   Topping the list was Chattanooga, Tennessee, followed by Bear River Valley, California, in second, Pawlet, Vermont, third, Kaysville in fourth, and then Jonesborough, Tennessee, coming in fifth. "We started with the frequent usage of gigabit broadband. Because in my mind, the No. 1 thing you need for a good work-from-home lifestyle is fast broadband. Without that, you're not going anywhere," he said. "I was looking for mostly smaller communities all around America that have broadband access and have some potential opportunity for people working at home." Researchers gathered data from Ookla Speedtest, BestPlaces.net, and BroadbandNow to locate 50 American and Canadian cities and towns that have a combination of affordable housing, gigabit internet capability and reasonably priced internet connections, along with remote, work-friendly lifestyles. All Utah agencies will be required to review which jobs could be conducted remotely or be relocated to rural parts of the state, according to a pair of executive orders issued by Gov. Spencer Cox Monday morning. The list includes large cities, suburbs and small towns that all have median house prices below $500,000, he said. "The second thing I thought people would be looking for is a decently sized affordable house to work in, so we threw some real estate prices in there (and) we went through the average size of homes," Segan said. One of the big advantages that helped Utah score well other than the obvious natural beauty was that houses "tend to be really big," he said. "Since one of our criteria was large affordable homes — because if you're working from home, you may want a separate office, you may want spaces to work in," Segan said. "This was all kind of from a pandemic perspective, so those big Utah houses really pushed the area up." Also, there needed to be some nice spots to take a break nearby. "We worked with BestPlaces.net to throw in a couple of amenities like parks and coffee shops on the principle that if a person working from home is going to be working out of their home, they are pretty frequently going to be working at a coffee shop," he said. Scenery was an important factor as well. "It's a very quirky list of a lot of unexpected places and that's on purpose," he explained. "What we're trying to do here is expand people's imagination about where in America they can find their fortune." The U.S. Census has reported a rise in people working from home each year since 2010, increasing from 4.3% to 5.7% by 2019, with the pandemic accelerating that growth, Segan said. A June 2020 report from Statista showed that up to 11.2% of workers in a range of industries elected to stay home to work, with 22% of workers saying they would be open to working from home on a permanent basis. "There's a whole bunch of places on our list where you may look at them and say, 'These places don't seem very upscale,'" Segan said. "That's because low real estate prices with gigabit broadband were a major factor in our calculation, because we were looking for potential value."   Regarding methodology, half the score was based on affordability, with the other half based on livability — broken up into various subsets. Thirty percent of the rating went to a median home value index, with lower values getting a better rating. Twenty percent went to the minimum price for gigabit broadband, with lower prices pulling a higher rating. For livability, 10% of the rating went to median home size, while 10% also went to the percentage of home-based workers in the community, he said. "Towns that already have strong work-at-home communities will have the amenities to support them," he said. Another 10% of the rating went to the scenery that boasted natural beauty such as coastlines, mountains or numerous parks. Lastly, 20% of the rating went to the presence of coffee shops, the percentage of local nonchain restaurants, the percentage of residents in arts and education, along with the percentage of residents in health care diagnostic and treatment professions. Each of the four categories received 5% consideration. "The list is very much a whole bunch of balanced factors trying to come up with something in there for everyone," Segan said.

2 Utah towns among 'best to work from home,' report says

LEHI — With the price of lumber skyrocketing, real estate experts are warning homebuyers to pay close attention to contracts with builders and understand who is responsible for rising construction costs. "Does the builder have the right to cancel? Does the builder have a right to increase the purchase price? Those are things that a buyer should be aware of and understand prior to even going under contract," said Kreg Wagner, legal counsel for the Utah Association of Realtors. Wagner said sections of contracts that buyers possibly glossed over in the past are suddenly very important because of the intense competition for available housing in the state. "It varies from builder to builder to builder," he said about the language in the contracts. In February,  the National Association of Home Builders calculated that    to the price of a new, single-family home since April of 2020. The executive director of the Salt Lake Home Builders Association said the entire housing industry is under immense pressure right now because all aspects of homebuilding are going up in price. "We do everything we can to keep housing affordable and we're just passing along what's occurring in our everyday life," said Jaren Davis. "So, it's land. It's labor. It's materials. I can't even think of something that isn't difficult right now in that process of being able to build." Davis said he agrees with homebuilders being able to pass along increases in building materials to the buyer but doesn't agree with contracts that allow builders to back out for any reason — saying such one-sided agreements are completely unfair. "What if you've sold your home?" Davis said. "What if you've met the maximum of your financing capabilities, and they come back and they say, 'I'm sorry. I'm canceling my contract and, oh, by the way, if you want to buy it back from me it's $35,000 more.'" Homebuyers in the Beehive State are facing intense competition and bidding wars due to strong demand and a lack of available homes for sale, according to real estate experts. Davis said some builders are waiting to put a home on the market until it's nearly complete so that they can accurately account for the increases in building materials. Various housing groups, along with the National Home Builders Association, have asked the U.S. Department of Commerce to find ways to increase lumber production, writing in a March 12 letter that the price increases have placed a huge financial burden on homebuilders. "Homebuilders and construction firms that have signed fixed-price contracts are forced to absorb these crippling increases in materials prices and costly delays in deliveries; there is a significant risk that many of these firms will be forced out of business," read the letter. Bottom line, the contract will determine what the builder is allowed to do, which is why Wagner encourages potential buyers take extra time to fully understand the agreement. "Don't let emotion dictate the terms of the contract," Wagner said. "If you feel overextended or you're uncomfortable with certain terms, really take a minute to take a look at it."

With prices rising, Utah homebuyers warned to watch for details in building contracts

NEW YORK (Reuters) — Over the last few years, if you were trying to buy a home in the United States, you were typically up against one other bidder for sales that closed. Last fall, that average rose to two other bidders, according to data from the National Association of Realtors. Last winter, that number rose to three. In April? Try four. Welcome to the   . You do not have to tell John Colantoni. The law firm partner from Jersey City, New Jersey, was recently looking for a property in Pinehurst, North Carolina, frequent site of the U.S. Open golf championship. Unfortunately, so were a lot of other people – which is why he and his investment partners got outbid three different times, usually by around $50,000. Finally, when they spotted an attractive four-bedroom for $300,000, they had enough of losing – and had to go $40,000 over the asking price to win the bid. "It's a gold rush," Colantoni says. Bidding wars are the natural outcome of a   . With economic growth and wages rebounding smartly from our pandemic year,    pushing many families toward more spacious homes in the suburbs, huge investors getting into residential real estate and interest rates still relatively low, housing has found itself as a very attractive asset class. In fact, the S&P CoreLogic Case-Shiller Index saw national home prices advance at a 13.2% annual clip in March, up from 12% the previous month. That is the 10th consecutive month of accelerating gains, and the fastest rise since December 2005. "The share of homes that sell above their list price, which usually indicates a bidding war, is more than twice what we were seeing a year earlier," says Dan Handy, economic data analyst for popular real estate site Zillow. Upping your bidding game might require more due diligence on how your local market has been faring; knowing how long homes are staying on the market, and what they are tending to go for; and selecting the right terms to nudge sellers to pick your offer over others. It might also require flexibility – to adjust your bid if need be, or to revise your expectations. And, as with any negotiations, it might require you to walk away. Here are a few tips from experts: Do not fall in love If homes are getting five bidders apiece, it is very likely you are going to get outbid, perhaps multiple times. But you cannot lose focus. "Don't get emotionally attached to any home, and start imagining your lives there," says Ryan Serhant, head of brokerage Serhant, star of Bravo's "Million Dollar Listing New York," and author of "Big Money Energy." "It's hard to do, but if you don't get a particular home, try not to be devastated about it." Run the numbers The obvious temptation in any bidding war is to offer the moon. But if that locks you into long-term debt that you cannot truly afford, then that's no solution. Instead, revise expectations about what your budget will get you: "Look for homes with list prices below your max budget, to provide some breathing room to make an above-list offer," advises Zillow's Handy. Be realistic In a more typical housing market, there are any number of terms where you can haggle with the seller – from the timing of the closing date, to contingencies, to needed repairs. But in the current market sellers hold most of the leverage. That's the situation Colantoni faced when the sellers wanted to rent their place back for a while until their new home was ready. "Anything we pushed back on, they had all the power," he says. Have an agent in your corner Especially in this hyper-competitive environment, it helps to tap the resources of an agent. They have relationships with other brokers, knowledge of properties that may not be officially on the market yet, and can steer you to the price point that will actually get you the property. Says Serhant: "Work with a strong agent and don't go into battle buck naked all by yourself." The good news is that buyers can still come out on top in the long run. Like Colantoni, who looks to make a tidy sum from golf fanatics for years to come with his new Pinehurst purchase. "Within the first few days, we were booked solid for two months," Colantoni says. "I don't think I'll ever sell that house." (Editing by Lauren Young and Lisa Shumaker; Follow us @ReutersMoney or at   ) © Copyright Thomson Reuters 2021

How to handle a bidding war in a hot housing market

Utah County will soon house what's believed to be the first large affordable housing project specifically for adults with autism in the country, leaders announced Thursday. "Something that I've realized is that there are a lot of students and just people on the autism spectrum who just don't have as many opportunities or availability to housing that a lot of people do," said Harrison Peterson, a student at ScenicView Academy, a Provo school for those between 18 and 32 with autism spectrum disorders and other neurodiversities. "It's not classified as a disability, so this is just going to be such a big improvement toward general public awareness and just increase the ability for people on the autism spectrum to be able to kind of find independence and be self-sustaining while also being part of the community," Harrison said after he took up a shovel with community leaders for a groundbreaking at the future location of the building at 85 N. 100 East in Provo. 85 North Apartments will include seven stories and 74 one-bedroom units — 44 of which will be rented to senior citizens ages 62 and older, and 30 of which will be dedicated to adults on the autism spectrum. Utah Regional Housing and the Provo City Housing Authority will own and manage the estimated $20 million building, while ScenicView will provide on-site services to the clients it refers to the apartment complex. Robert Vernon, CEO of Utah Regional Housing and the Provo City Housing Authority, said the project will be one of the largest affordable housing projects ever constructed in the county, and the first of its size to be built specifically for those with autism in the U.S. Those in the autism resources community "are struggling to find a model to build large-scale housing with wraparound services, so this has been a good deal," Vernon said. The building will be completed in 18 months, and will start leasing in September 2022. While federal law requires at least 5% of an apartment's units to be Americans with Disabilities Act-accessible, the 85 North Apartments will have seven or eight ADA units, which is around 10%, Vernon said.   ScenicView Academy students Harrison Peterson, left, and Dax Porter attend a groundbreaking ceremony for the 85 North Apartments in Provo on Thursday, March 18, 2021. The seven-story, 74-unit building aims to address the shortage of affordable units for senior citizens, the disabled and adults with autism. Both Peterson and Porter hope to move into the apartment building after its completion. (Photo: Laura Seitz, Deseret News)  The apartments will get leased at current low-income tax credit rates, which are set by the state. "But generally, we're looking at somewhere in the $750-850 range for a one-bedroom unit, and market rate on those would be $950-$1,000," Vernon said. Funding for the project is coming from two allocations of state and federal tax credits. American Express is the equity investor, putting close to $15 million into the building in return for tax credits, according to Vernon. About 15 other cities have reached out to the community organizers working on the project "and have an interest in what we're doing and how we did it," he said. "So we do expect to help other communities do this same thing as we try to fill that need," Vernon said. Doug Gale, chairman of Utah Regional Housing and the Provo City Housing Authority, noted that Brigham Young University and Utah Valley University — both seated in Utah County — already provide support for senior citizens and adults with autism. He described the new housing effort as "arms coming together" to help those community members. "These adults are wonderful people, and they need and deserve a place to stay," Gale said. Utah County is also a "hot box" for adults with autism, he said, and about 25% of adults with autism in the U.S. live on their own. "This program, I think, will be a model in the U.S. They're looking for models of programs for adults living on their own independently," according to Gale.   People attend a groundbreaking ceremony for the 85 North Apartments in Provo on Thursday, March 18, 2021. The seven-story, 74-unit building aims to address the shortage of affordable units for senior citizens, the disabled and adults with autism. (Photo: Laura Seitz, Deseret News)  The development is close to bus lines, grocery stores and the library, he noted. Sen. Jake Anderegg, R-Lehi, said that in his co-chairman positions on both the Utah Housing Affordability Commission and the Social Services Appropriations Subcommittee, he's "seen firsthand that intersection of this needing population. Not needy — needing population." "These people are incredible people that I have the privilege of associating with," he said. Before the beginning of this year's legislative session, business leaders including   . Ultimately,   , and philanthropic leaders matched it with $740 million, Anderegg noted. He emphasized his hope for resources to go to the quickly growing county. Within five to 10 years,   , giving it a "first class" county classification like Salt Lake County. "So I think that we're going to continue to see the need increase here, and quite literally I'm going to call out not just only Provo but also the Utah County Commission. We've got to do better in planning, in putting transitional housing, permanent assisted housing, affordable housing units together for the lower area median income," Anderegg said. "And we've got to be able to do it in a cohesive, systemic way that doesn't upend or harm our communities." In visiting other cities for research, Anderegg said he's seen that such projects can be built in a way that they don't negatively impact an area, but can enhance it. He promised to work to ensure leaders are "aggressively" meeting needs of residents "and that we're doing it in a sustainable way." Provo Mayor Michelle Kaufusi said "this project is an impressive example of how a thriving community takes care of the most vulnerable citizens. While this project will make a significant difference, there is still a great need for affordable housing for seniors and disabled individuals."    

First-of-its-kind affordable apartment project for autistic adults planned in Provo

An explosion of new high-density housing across Salt Lake County over the past decade didn't result in reduced property values of single-family homes; in fact, it even resulted in a slight increase in value, according to a report released Monday. The findings were the result of    that sought to find how massive high-density housing projects impacted home values during the 2010s. Higher-density development was seen as "a politically controversial topic" at city councils due to fears of how they may negatively impact existing housing values. "Based on our analysis, what we find, in particular, is that apartments have had a positive impact on single-family home values," said Dejan Eskic, a senior research fellow at the Gardner Policy Institute and lead author of the study. The development effect Among the key findings of the report is that Salt Lake County homes located within a half-mile of new apartment complexes experienced a 10% average annual increase in median value compared to 8.6% of homes farther away from projects. The report also stated that homes within a half-mile of new apartments also had an average 8.8% higher median value per square foot. That's despite the fact that homes in that category were, on average, 11.1% smaller and seven years older than those more than a half-mile away. "This implies an additional 1.4 percentage points in annual price appreciation for homes closer to new apartment buildings," the report states. "Similar results are seen in most of the county, with the likely driver being that new apartment construction brings new demand and new dollars to a community and redevelops an older piece of property, thus bringing more vibrancy and 'buzz' to the area."   This graph, provided by University of Utah's Kem C. Gardner Policy Institute, shows the square foot median market value for single-family homes in Salt Lake County from 2010 through 2019 based on proximity to high-density apartments. (Photo: Kem C. Gardner Policy Institute)  Researchers also found that the only real dip in housing near apartments built at the start of the decade; however, researchers determined the housing crisis that developed at the end of the previous decade was to blame for that. Eskic explained the project began by looking into price acceleration because countywide home values have continued to move upward since about 2012. Since housing trends were similar across the county during this time, it allowed the research team to look at what caused some rates to perform better than others. The team compared single-family home values in Salt Lake County from 2010 to 2019 with data on new apartments constructed between 2010 and 2018. This allowed a look at both short- and long-term impacts. The data omitted downtown Salt Lake City and a swath of land near the University of Utah; Eskic said this was due to looking more at suburban parts of the county. It left the team with 9,600 apartments to analyze even when removing those sections.   This map shows the various apartments constructed among the four quadrants of Salt Lake County between 2010 and 2018. (Photo: Kem C. Gardner Policy Institute)  They also broke the research down into four quadrants. Of the four, the highest value happened in "West" Salt Lake County. That includes places like Rose Park, West Valley City, Kearns, Taylorsville and Magna. Researchers found that values rose 13.7% annually for homes within a half-mile of new apartments in those communities as compared to 10.5% for homes farther away. The highest discrepancy was reported in the northeastern portion of the county, which was referred to as "Early Suburbs." That's an area that includes Sugar House, South Salt Lake, Millcreek, Holladay and Murray. The paper stated that was likely due to "some of the most expensive and largest homes are located in the areas of Sugar House and Holladay." Still, homes in the region closer to new apartments experienced larger value increases on average. Southeast Salt Lake County — including places like Midvale, Cottonwood Heights, Sandy and Draper — was the only region where homes more than half a mile from apartments experienced higher annual property value increases. The difference was 7.3% for homes more than half a mile away compared to 6.8% for homes within a half-mile of new high-density development. Eskic explained one section of single-family homes near State Street and I-215 in the area that include some of the outliers in the data. He said it's unclear why that was although it's possibly due to its proximity to major traffic. "It's the one thing that stood out," he said, "whereas throughout the rest of the county, you didn't have as many single-family homes located near major arterials." What the findings mean for future growth Researchers wrote that their findings almost mirrored previous academic literature on the issue in different places of the country over the past few decades. That is, there's no substantial adverse impact as a result of high-density housing projects. "The public perception about high-density housing continues to be a point of conflict in growing communities across Utah and the country. While many stereotypes and generalizations about negative impacts are brought up in public settings, high-density development does not actually appear to depress home values," the researchers wrote. In looking at development today, Salt Lake County Mayor Jenny Wilson described most of the county as almost "wall-to-wall" in development, with the exception of canyons and the county's western bench, the latter of which is the site of current and future housing. It's left county officials searching for new ways to add housing as the demand of people looking to move into the county still heavily outweighs the supply of homes. "I think we've had to refine our practices and become more evidence-based," she said, adding that it provides community leaders harder evidence about one aspect of high-density housing that they can provide constituents. "Again, times have changed. With so little land, we have to be thoughtful about these choices," she continued. "I am happy that the data helps us kind of weed out — this is perhaps a nonissue."     Wilson spoke at a virtual roundtable hosted by the Gardner Policy Institute following the release of the report Monday afternoon. It was a small event where a few of the county's top leaders and leading housing and development experts discussed the findings of the report. She said the results also show that people want a wider range of housing styles than the previous stereotypical home with a white picket fence. That doesn't mean that newer houses like that won't be constructed in the future, but even more higher-density projects could be on the way. Dan Lofgren, the president CEO of the developer Cowboy Partners, agreed with Wilson in that regard. He said the study could also move the needle for more development in the future. "This doesn't end the discussion, it doesn't end the concern, but it is a great bit of information to help move the conversation in a very constructive way," he said. "I'm grateful to have this information as a part of the conversation." He added that he believes while it won't completely solve affordable housing concerns, it would "accommodate affordability." Whereas, a lack of housing density could make housing less affordable. Some experts say the study provides evidence toward one concern but doesn't address the entire issue completely. Matt Dahl, assistant city manager for Midvale City, said there are still major conversations that need to happen when it comes to future development. That starts with the other impacts that residents near new apartments might see. "Our challenges are that it's hard for residents to feel their home value is appreciating 1.4 (percentage points) faster than people who live in a different neighborhood, but they do feel it when there is more traffic or parking on the road, even if that parking and traffic is well below the capacity of the affected street," he said. "The experience of change in these neighborhoods is important and needs to be considered as we look to develop our policy." It's why he said it's important that cities and developers are able to show residents the benefits of new development early on. Meanwhile, some view the study as a game-changer for future housing development, especially as the state's population is expected to double in the coming decades. Michael Gallegos, the director of Salt Lake County Housing & Community Development, said that study helps potentially end one argument over higher-density housing; that could clear one hurdle in a monumental housing task. "With the cost of housing, the shortings of 35,000 units statewide, that's a lot for us to respond to," Gallegos said. "It's going to take some period of time, so I think (the study) takes the argument off the table and we can start moving forward." Correction:  A previous version of this story indicated downtown Salt Lake City was included in the study. Researchers later clarified that downtown Salt Lake City data was not included in the study.    

High density housing in Salt Lake County didn't harm single-family home values, report finds

Your home is at the center of how you go about your daily life, a safe place for loved ones, and a way to show off your personal style. It's where you bring family and friends together, create memories that will be cherished forever, and where you should feel happy and content. When designing each room in your home, separating decorative elements into layers helps the process of creation and allows you to build a harmonious, relaxing place. In order to help you design your space successfully we have broken down the five layers of a well-designed home. Layer 1: The paint and architectural embellishments Paint is one of the most important layers of a home and an affordable way to transform any space. The right paint colors provide feeling in a home, adding warmth and richness while visually tying together everything you own to create a cohesive design. Paint can be used to bring attention to certain areas of the home or disguise unsightly items by blending them into the background. Color can make a room feel taller, shorter, more intimate or more spacious depending on the goal of the chosen color. Consider   , this is a great way to incorporate your personal style without painting your entire home. When designing your dream home consider the different spaces that take paint, not just the trim and wall colors but the ceiling color as well.    Also included in this layer of the home are architectural embellishments. These are the moldings that add value to homes, but also a ton of charm and substance to any space. Consider the openings in your home's walls: doorways, windows, fireplaces, and niches of all sizes. You can quickly and easily enhance the look of these features by simply adding architectural elements. Don't forget the ceiling in your home, this space is often overlooked when it comes to designing a welcoming and inspiring home interior. The incorporation of decorative elements such as crown molding trim and ceiling medallions can make the difference between a room and a room that feels complete. Layer 2: The flooring Flooring is one of the most significant layers that can have an impact on the aesthetic of your home. The right flooring can instantly change the look and feel of a room, whether you want the room to feel larger, cozier, warmer or cooler. The flooring you choose will not only affect the look of your home, but it can also affect the way you feel. Those who suffer from allergies or are acutely sensitive to indoor air quality should spend time   , as certain flooring is better at resisting the buildup of common allergens, like dust and dander.    When it comes to choosing the right flooring for your home it's important to examine every aspect of flooring, not just what looks good. The type of flooring you choose can directly impact how you behave in your home from the acoustics in a family room or home office to comfort levels being able to walk around barefoot. Flooring can make your home safer for young children, and even help you save on heating bills by making your feet warmer and more comfortable. Take your time when deciding on this layer of your home to get the most out of your flooring choices! Layer 3: The furniture Now that the shell of your home is decided upon, the paint and flooring, it's time to get down to layer three of the essentials: the furniture. The furniture you choose for your home can make or break the design, feel, and most importantly, the livability of your space. The layout and size of each room will dictate what furniture best fits inside of it. From your dream sofa and that trendy side table to the farm-style king-sized bed you have been wanting, it's best to think in terms of placement, functionality, and cohesive design.    Before buying any furniture,   , whether that's bringing warm or cool tones into the home, a vibrant color scheme or sticking with neutral colors. Once you have decided on your vision for each room, start with your main pieces, the items you anticipate splurging on like the dining table, couches, media center, and bed. These are the items you will want to invest in. Smaller ticket items can be worked in around your focal point pieces to tie the room together as well as provide surface space and designed storage. Layer 4: The accents Decorative accents can turn any simple room into a unique and stylish space with minimal effort. Accents are a great way to inject personal items like photos, art, books, mirrors and fun decor that has sentimental meaning to you. The key to home accents is restraint, too much can make your home feel tacky but too little it may leave it feeling bare. Depending on your personal style you may have a theme for your accents like farmhouse decor or modern while some opt for art deco or bohemian. Themed decor can add structure to your home accents while creating the atmosphere you desire. Lacking inspiration? We have put together some for you on our    page.    Along with creating a space that feels like home you can add life to your space by incorporating plants, fun fabrics, or even wallpapers. Plants have become a popular trend not only to add greenery but it brightens up any space almost instantly. You can add real or faux plants into the room; it doesn't matter which one you choose because both will have the same effect when paired with decorative planters. Colorful or textured fabrics can compliment neutral furniture or you can opt for a rug with color to liven up a space while creating dimension. Layer 5: The lighting Nothing can make or break a room quite like lighting. This brings us to the last layer of designing your dream home. Lighting changes the mood, sets the ambiance and can help define spaces like living and dining rooms or nooks and kitchens, particularly in the popular open-concept layouts. When it comes to the lighting, you can have both fun and functional, the options are endless. Whether you are designing recessed lighting or shopping for the perfect lighting fixtures there are certain elements that can be applied for each room in your home. It's best to include three sources of light for each room: general light (overhead or pendant), ambient lighting (sconces, candles, or decorative), and specific lighting (task or table).    Natural lighting can be a great way to light up your space without flipping a switch! Maximize the sunshine by keeping your windows clean and choosing lighter shades for window fixtures. Reflective surfaces such as mirrors, glossy floors, and metallic finishes allow lights to bounce around the room making it feel bright and spacious. Whether shopping through a    for lighting options or shopping around for decorative lighting, the options you choose will determine the look and the feeling of each space.    A Visionary Home At Visionary Homes we understand what a home means to you, so we have teamed up with the most talented design consultants in Utah to bring your visions to life. Step into our brand new state-of-the-art design studios to see, touch and feel the products that will transform your future house into your dream home with personalized elements each layer at a time. And come visit our Northern Utah Design Studio which won a national award for best design studio by the National Association of Home Builders for 2021. Ready to be inspired? Stop by one of our    today!

5 layers of a well-designed home

This story is sponsored by   . Today's local real estate market couldn't get much hotter. The COVID-19 pandemic has inspired thousands of people looking for jobs or remote work to move to Utah where they can benefit from its fast-paced job growth, low mortgage rates, relatively low cost of living and low tax rates. With an already low inventory of houses on the market, competition for home purchases has become fierce. According to   , Utah home values rose by 15.39% in 2020, putting average home prices around $400,000. Dealing with this housing market along with the coronavirus pandemic has made it more important than ever for homeowners to keep their homes up to date, whether they plan on selling soon or know they'll be living in their current homes for the foreseeable future. By keeping up-to-date on home maintenance projects, you can identify potential problems before they turn into bigger issues, saving you money in the long run. Being up-to-date on your maintenance can also help sell your home, Haley Hodges, a broker for Utah Homes Network, told   . Here are some reasons now is a great time to work on those long-term home updates you've been putting off for far too long. Love where you live Utah's extraordinarily tight housing market makes it challenging to trade up to a new home. But remaining in a home you don't love doesn't have to feel like a prison sentence. Tackling overdue renovation projects can improve your enjoyment of your home, and add to its value. A newly remodeled kitchen, bathroom or finished space in an empty basement can give your home a completely new feel. And in addition to making your home more convenient and liveable, a professional upgrade from Quality Home Construction of Utah can add significantly to your home's overall value. Get ready to sell (eventually) You might not want to sell right now but know the day might be fast approaching. If you think you might sell your home in the next several years, staying caught up with home reno projects will only help speed the process when you are ready to move. It also helps reduce the amount of money you're investing in your home just when you need it for appraisal and inspector reports. To give you an idea of how much you might need to save,    calculated approximate ranges for remodeling costs based on the room of the house. The ranges are as follows:       Note that some of the ranges are quite large, as they are taking into account the fact that home renovations can include low, mid or high-end labor and material costs. Some homeowners will attempt to DIY certain home renovation projects that are better left to   , like Quality Construction of Utah. Do-it-yourselfers can incur additional charges when things go wrong or a building contractor has to fix or change a homeowner's attempts at the work. Sell your home faster With the speed the market is moving right now, the question isn't really if your home will sell, but when and for how much. Prospective home buyers know they have to move quickly to offer a purchase price on a home. If the interior is updated with new counters and appliances, updated floors and fresh paint, buyers are more likely to come in ready with an above-asking price offer. Homes that are not updated will still sell, but probably for less money. According to   , in December 2020 in Salt Lake County, the median days on the market for a home listing was just 26 days, a 40% drop compared to last year. Many homes will sell much faster depending on location and the home's particular charms. Take advantage of current rates on labor and materials Unfortunately, over time, the costs of labor and materials are likely to continue to rise as the minimum wage increases, inflation advances and contractors grapple with a shortage of necessary laborers and materials. Doing the work now means getting it done for a discounted price compared with what it might cost even a year or two from now. A February    from the National Association of Home Builders showed a 180% increase in lumber prices from the prior spring. Since then the spike has steepened. The association noted the increase in lumber prices alone increased the average home cost by $24,000. For Utah, that number is undoubtedly higher. Those who wait on projects in the hope that prices will return to prior rates are likely to be disappointed. Choosing a professional like Quality Home Construction of Utah can actually save homeowners money on materials. Homebuilders often get better prices because of professional discounts and established connections. They also know which suppliers have the best rates at any given time. Identify and address issues in advance "Many homeowners are in the market to live in a specific area or neighborhood," Hodges said when asked what the most common must-haves were on home buyers' purchasing lists. "After that, the structural elements of the home are top priority. . . . Second to the layout are the guts of the house—your foundational structural elements that are costly to redo." Hodges listed other elements a potential home buyer will look for, including, "Good plumbing, updated electric, vinyl windows and a fenced yard with a strong, vinyl fence." The people at    truly care about their clients and the quality of their custom renovation work. The company prides itself on its communication and transparency with clients, making it their goal to be sure Quality Construction of Utah provides the highest level of customer service. Call or visit    today to find out more about their current services and prices.

5 reasons keeping your house up-to-date adds value even in Utah's hot housing market

SALT LAKE CITY — It's a classic debate about private property rights and local control — and at what point, if any, should the state step in to play referee. At the center of it all?   , more common called mother-in-law apartments. A Utah bill seeking to remove barriers for these units has the weight of legislative leaders behind it, but it may be watered down before it can clear its first hurdle. In its current form, Rep. Ray Ward's    would prohibit Utah cities and towns from setting what Ward called too many "roadblocks" in the way of Utahns wanting to rent out their own basements. It's an issue that Ward and other lawmakers argue is overcomplicating less-expensive living options while the state's housing crunch continues to blast home prices sky high. The bill is only looking to deal with internal accessory dwelling units, or apartments that would exist inside the existing footprint of a single-family home, such as a basement. It wouldn't touch cities' regulations on detached dwellings or home additions. The bill would permit these internal accessory dwelling units anywhere cities currently allow them. It would require cities and counties to classify certain units as a permitted land use and would prohibit municipalities from establishing restrictions or requirements for the construction of the internal apartments.   Additionally, Ward's bill would require the state's Olene Walker Housing Loan Fund to start a program to provide low-interest loans to help finance construction or rental of the internal units. The Bountiful Republican's bill has caught the attention of House Speaker Brad Wilson, R-Kaysville, and House Majority Whip Mike Schultz, R-Hooper, who have thrown their support behind the bill's concept as a "free-market" approach to tackling at least part of Utah's affordable housing crisis. But the bill was held in a House committee Friday after Schultz, who is also a homebuilder, sought more time to work through some    that would allow cities to regulate certain aspects of these basement apartments, such as limiting the number of bedrooms to two, a parking space requirement and more. "This is one of the most important things and biggest things I think we can do to help address the (housing crisis)," Schultz said after about an hourlong public hearing on the bill, which drew proponents and critics to testify in front of the House Business and Labor Committee on Friday. With housing prices along the Wasatch Front skyrocketing, civic leaders and housing advocates are considering numerous alternatives to mitigate the issue of housing affordability. Affordable housing advocates support the bill as one that would help expand housing options and act as a step toward addressing housing affordability in Utah. But detractors, including some local mayors and city council members, worried it would strip cities of their regulatory powers to protect neighborhoods from negative impacts. Victoria Ashby, director of government relations for the Utah League of Cities and Towns, said it's a "difficult bill" because her organization representing Utah's 248 cities and towns agrees on the need to expand affordable housing options but disagrees "on the course and solutions to take." "Our biggest issue with this bill is the one size fits all," Ashby said. "Different communities are different. ... Think about communities that have universities or historic districts. How are those cities going to handle the extra capacity brought to them?" Ashby said the Utah League of Cities and Towns isn't "opposed to internal (accessory dwelling units)," pointing out that over 60 cities have recently adopted ordinances for them on top of the cities that already had them. The issue, she said, is local control. "I really think the bottom line is to understand the mandate in this bill is treating all those cities the same," she said. "And when our mayors and city councils ... sit down and look at these policies, they're trying to balance the interests of everyone living in these communities and the issues that they're facing when they're bringing in more capacity."   Provo City Councilwoman Shannon Ellsworth said she wasn't opposed to renters or accessory dwelling units, but she urged lawmakers not to pass the bill, saying it would "sink Provo city." She said more than 80% of her constituents told her along the campaign trail they had issues with parking or rentals. Even today, Ellsworth said, city officials aren't "keeping up with code complaints." "I support (accessory dwelling units) in Provo and have been working proactively to loosen our restrictions and reduce barriers," she said. "We'll do this on our own because it's the right thing to do, but we need to do it at the local level to be successful." Ward, who discussed his bill with reporters in a media availability with the House speaker earlier Friday, acknowledged city officials usually balk when the state tries to "meddle" in their local affairs. But he argued in some situations the state needs to step in. "Letting cities be the only ones to do it brings up a very fundamental unfairness," Ward said. "And that is cities respond to the needs and complaints of the people who already live there. So the ones who are already in the neighborhood, who don't want any change, they get all voice and all the vote." For the people who currently don't have a place to live, Ward said, "they don't know which city council to go beg for help from. They don't get any vote." "Look, we're not trying to stomp all over what the cities do, but there needs to be somebody who considers both of those two groups ... and sets a basic ground rule," Ward said. Ward said current local regulations — some of which place caps on square footage — make it too difficult for the average Utahn to navigate rules to build a mother-in-law apartment in their basement legally. And, he said, many are already being built, just illegally. According to a summer survey conducted by the Utah League of Cities and Towns, Ward said only 10 of Utah's cities and towns responded they have permitted more than 25 accessory dwelling units. Wilson, a powerful lawmaker on Utah's Capitol Hill, backed Ward, saying in some circumstances it's appropriate for the state to step in on local issues like accessory apartments. "Local control and allowing cities to manage issue at a local level makes sense almost all of the time," Wilson said. "You do have rare circumstances, though, when there is a statewide interest. And our housing crisis, which, let's not kid ourselves, is becoming that if it's not that already, is a statewide interest and we need a statewide solution." Tara Rollins, executive director of the Utah Housing Coalition, said she was glad when Ward brought his bill forward. "We're very excited to see somebody really taking a chance," she said. "We would like to bring it to the finish line. We realize there's maybe some tweaking that needs to be done, but we think it's a good bill. It's not the solution for all affordable housing that's needed, but it's a portion of it. So we need to have as many solutions on the table to address this need." Calling for the bill to be held in committee to work through a substitute bill, Schultz said lawmakers will work with Ward — who welcomed the extra time in committee — to find a solution. To calls that the state put more resources into affordable housing, including more money for rental assistance, Schultz said it's an argument he's heard "time and time again" but one that simply pumps more money into housing and "compounds the problem." "This is a free market approach," Schultz said of Ward's bill. "This is something that I think we can do that makes a significant difference in the problem we have. It's not going to solve the problem, but it really is the single biggest thing we can do to truly make a difference." Correction:  In an earlier version, a quote from Shannon Ellsworth said she's been working to loosen Provo's accessory dwelling unit barriers, but should have said reduce the barriers.

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