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Since the calendar turned to 2024, the internet has been abuzz with trend reports and home decor predictions that offer a glimpse into what lies ahead in the world of interior design.
For many, these lists may seem overwhelming, especially if you’re not planning to embark on a full-scale renovation this year. But fret not; there are simpler ways to elevate your home by getting creative with a DIY project or two.
Below, we’ll introduce you to 7 home trends experts predict will be big in 2024 and the DIY projects that can help you breathe new life into your living spaces.
DIY Projects That Will Elevate Your Home
Get your toolbox ready. From textured walls to living walls, home renovation experts predict these DIY projects are exactly what you need to elevate your home in 2024.
1. Using reclaimed materials
As more and more of us aspire to make eco-friendly home improvements in 2024, it’s no surprise that using reclaimed and recycled materials is gaining popularity among DIY enthusiasts.
Beyond their environmental benefits, reclaimed and salvaged materials bring a distinctive ‘well-loved’ quality that enriches interior designs with texture and depth. The weathered patina of reclaimed wood, for instance, can seamlessly enhance a home with a modern rustic style, while salvaged fireplaces and reclaimed bricks effortlessly complement modern farmhouse aesthetics. These materials possess a timeless charm, making them an ideal choice for elevating your home’s overall look.
If you’re seeking a quick and manageable DIY project that can be completed in an afternoon, consider exploring your local antique market for a set of vintage drawers and transform them into a unique plant display. Alternatively, give rustic scaffolding boards a fresh lease on life as distinctive kitchen shelves, or reimagine tin ceiling tiles as a one-of-a-kind kitchen backsplash.
For those willing to take on a slightly larger project, a salvaged barn door can be flipped into a statement headboard, and ordinary internal doors and windows can be replaced with antique shutters to achieve a truly bespoke finish.
2. Adding texture to walls
While the memories of popcorn ceilings and orange peel walls might remind you of outdated interior design trends from yesteryears, wall texture is poised to make a stylish comeback in 2024.
Embrace the classic elegance of a knockdown finish or the rustic charm of limewash paint to infuse subtle drama into your walls. For a touch of warmth, consider decorative plasters like stucco or tadelakt. The beauty of these unique finishes is that they can be applied to your walls through a DIY approach using a trowel or roller, making it a cost-effective way to enhance your home’s ambiance.
And remember, texture doesn’t have to be just tactile. There are plenty of ways to introduce visual texture to your walls. Leading industry names like Benjamin Moore are bringing color-washed walls back into the spotlight this year, and even famous figures like Blake Lively are embracing this trend in their own homes.
3. Biophilic home improvements
‘In 2024, biophilic design and creating healthier living spaces are poised to be prominent trends,’ predicts Christine Marvin, Vice President of Strategy & Design at Marvin. To fully embrace this trend, consider decorating with plants, choosing natural color palettes and materials, or increasing natural light in your living areas.
Kriss Swint, design lead at Westlake Royal Building Products, emphasizes the importance of a closer connection with nature and its elements, citing potential benefits like increased well-being and productivity. ‘Growing concerns about wellness and the environment are driving demand for backyard improvements and the integration of nature into design. This includes features like green roofs, large windows, and living walls.’
wooden kitchen cabinetry is predicted to dominate kitchen trends this year.
However, before you jump into a full-scale kitchen remodel, consider that you can revamp this space without breaking the bank by resurfacing or refinishing your existing cabinet fronts.
Rather than reaching for your hammer right away, consider stripping paint from wood cabinets you already have to reveal the material beneath. Alternatively, you can replace your current kitchen cabinet fronts with custom-made ones that perfectly fit your space. Consult a local woodworker for bespoke cabinetry tailored to your kitchen’s dimensions or explore options like preloved wooden cabinet fronts available in salvage yards or online marketplaces.
‘A great DIY hack for achieving premium quality without overspending is using Ikea cabinets combined with custom fronts,’ says Archie Tkachoff, Founder of Arteum.design. ‘This approach is not only cost-effective but also versatile, allowing for the application of custom doors on new and existing cabinets.’
walk-in pantry?
‘In 2024, we expect to see pantries being upgraded with intelligent organization solutions, providing more space and functionality,’ predicts Laurel Vernazza, Home Design Expert at The Plan Collection. ‘When designed with floor-to-ceiling storage, the walk-in pantry can be used to conceal air fryers, coffeemakers, and larger appliances such as dishwashers, with plenty of room for pots and pans, spices, and dry goods’.
Simply clear the kitchen closet and assess its layout. Install adjustable shelving for better storage, add hooks or racks for spices and dried goods, and improve visibility with an overhead light.
2-Tier Stainless Steel Lazy Susan
Butterfly Ginkgo K-Cup Carousel
Royal Check Large Enamel Canister
7. DIY built-in bookshelves
The classic built-in bookshelf remains a popular choice for 2024, and it’s easy to see why. With just a modest amount of DIY expertise, you can easily turn an ordinary bookshelf into a faux built-in feature that instantly elevates your home.
Start by measuring your space and acquiring the right number of standalone bookcases for the job. We recommend options such as Ikea’s Billy bookcase or Wayfair’s Lagner bookcase, as they are well-suited to this task. Securely anchor these bookcases to the wall, ensuring they are level and perfectly aligned.
To achieve that coveted built-in appearance, add a plywood surround, crown molding, or decorative trim that complements your room’s style. After carefully caulking and sanding any rough edges, apply paint or stain to the bookshelves, allowing them to seamlessly blend into their surroundings.
Home renovation trends are typically less transient than paint trends, such as the color of the year, and can significantly improve the aesthetic and functionality of your home.
Source: homesandgardens.com
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During the tenant screening process, landlords often need to sift through tons of applications from potential renters. With so much competition, how do you make yours stand out?
One way is by knowing exactly what essential information to fill out so you can complete the application quickly and correctly. You don’t want to leave anything out and risk your application being delayed or rejected. There are only a few pages to give the landlord a complete picture of you and what you bring to the table as a tenant. You need to show them that you’re a responsible and honest tenant who won’t cause property damage or fall behind on rent. Knowing how to fill out an apartment application to rent an apartment lets you prepare ahead of time. The faster you get your completed, well-rounded application in, the faster you may be in your new home.
Everything you need to include on a rental application
All rental applications are going to look slightly different, from the formatting to how the different sections are organized. But all rental applications should cover the following complete information.
1. Personal and contact information
Typically, the first section on a rental application will be for personal and contact information from the prospective tenant. It’s also an easy section to complete before diving into the rest of the application.
There will likely be a section for the day’s date for you to fill in. Then you can move on the rest of the personal information about the applicant: you.
- Your full name
- Current address
- Phone numbers (include both your home and cell phone number)
- Email address
- Date of birth
- Social Security number
- Driver’s license number
If you don’t have a driver’s license, any kind of official, government-issued ID will do.
Other occupants
Most applications give you a section to add the name, age, and contact info for the other people you’ll be living with. But each person who is going on the apartment’s lease needs to fill out their own separate application with their own personal information. If you’re signing the lease with roommates or a partner, you’ll be submitting multiple applications.
This also helps the landlord follow proper health and safety laws and regulations in your area. They can’t have five people living in a one-bedroom apartment. It’s unsafe and against the law.
Know your rights
It’s also important to know what sensitive information a potential landlord legally cannot ask you. During the rental application process and listed on the rental application itself, you cannot be asked about:
- Race
- National origin
- Sex or sexual orientation
- Religion
- Disabilities
2. Apartment information
Some landlords may include sections or lines for information about the specific rental property or unit. This could include the address, unit number, size of apartment or square footage. But it also may cover monthly rent, upfront costs and pet fees (if applicable).
Oftentimes, the landlord can or will fill in this section themselves to avoid mistakes or errors. After all, they’re the landlord and know all the essential information about the unit. If you do have to fill out this section yourself, just be sure to double-check that all the details are correct. You can also ask the landlord to look it over for verification.
This way, both you and the landlord or property manager are on the same page about exactly which rental property or unit you’re interested in leasing.
3. Employment history
One of the most important sections of how to fill out an apartment application focuses on your employment history. After all, your prospective landlord wants to make sure you can pay the rent on time and in full each month.
In this section, add details about your current employer or work situation. Include information like your job title, work address and how long you’ve worked there. You’ll also want to provide contact information for your employer. Landlords and property managers typically contact employers to verify the employment of a potential applicant.
This section also includes one of the most essential pieces of info for landlords: your income. After all, you need to prove that you have a steady stream of income from some source so you can afford rent. Depending on the application, it may ask for your hourly rate, annual salary or monthly income. It may also ask if you’re part time or full time. As proof of income, you’ll need to provide recent pay stubs or bank statements as part of your application. Requesting two to three months of pay stubs or bank statements is the norm.
If you have a big savings account, you can also provide evidence of this. If you’re between jobs, just started somewhere new or are self-employed with a variable monthly income, having a good nest egg assures landlords. You can also provide more employment history by attaching your work resume. This is only a good idea if your previous work history reflects well on you. If you tend to leave jobs quickly or aren’t on good terms with former employers, it can hurt your case.
It’s also OK if you don’t have a previous employer or just started a new job. There are other ways you can prove you’d be a reliable, trustworthy tenant.
Other sources of income
If you have other sources of income apart from a routine job, you can also give that information to the landlord. Other sources of income can include:
- Inheritance
- Annuity
- Severance payment
- Unemployment
- Disability
- Social security
This can help bolster your claim that you make enough money each month to cover rent.
4. Rental history
Landlords want to ensure that a potential tenant is responsible and reliable. As such, nearly every rental application will have a section where you can fill out your residence history.
You usually only need to provide information about your last one or two rentals, including your current one. Add details about the address, the cost of rent and your move-in and move-out dates.
You’ll also need to list the contact information for current and previous landlords. References from past landlords are one of the best ways landlords vet potential tenants. For that reason, it’s always a good idea to stay on good terms with your previous landlord, because they become potential references once you move out. A good recommendation from a property manager or current landlord who liked you can go a long way. It shows you paid rent on time, took good care of the property and are an upstanding tenant.
If you don’t have any rental history, don’t worry. You can ask a family member or someone you trust to act as co-signer. Some applications may have a brief section where you can indicate if you’re having a co-signer or who they are. Otherwise, mention it to the landlord so they can loop the co-signer in and send them any relevant documents.
5. References
Along with the landlord references, some applications let you provide character references to vouch for you as a person. Professional and personal references from colleagues, friends or co-workers help verify that you’re a reliable person and help the landlord get a good sense of your character. Most landlords won’t accept references from family members. This section should ask for reference names and contact information.
Not every landlord requires or adds this. If they don’t, you can sometimes attach signed letters of reference directly to the application. You can also attach a rental cover letter or renter resume to add a little more depth.
6. Extra details
Not all rental applications will need these extra bits of information, as it depends on the rental property and landlord.
Emergency contact
Just in case, some landlords ask for emergency contact information upfront. If you’re approved, they’ll add it to your file later. It also comes in handy if they can’t get in touch with you during the rental application process.
List an emergency contact’s name, phone number and their relationship to you.
Pets
Lots of renters these days have pets, so you’re likely to see at least one reference to whether or not you have pets on a rental application.
If you do, the landlord usually asks for more background information about the animal such as breed and weight. That way, if they don’t allow the particular animal, they’ll let you know sooner and save you and themselves the trouble.
In addition to knowing how to fill out an apartment application, having a pet resume is a good idea for these situations. Similar to a work resume, it covers all the essential information a landlord would need to know about your pet. Add details like the pet’s name, species, breed, weight and gender. Make sure to include updated vaccine information as well.
Vehicles
If the apartment has on-site parking available and the rental unit has a parking space, you can provide your vehicle information upfront. List the make, model, color and year of each car, in addition to the license plate numbers.
Smoking
Many landlords have strict rules regarding smoking on their properties. If they do, they’ll likely have a small section asking if you smoke or not.
7. Credit and background check permission request
As part of how to fill out an apartment application, landlords need to run a background check and credit check on prospective tenants. There should be a specific section for you to sign, giving the landlord permission to run these checks.
Prior to the credit and background check section, you may also be asked if:
- You’ve ever been convicted of a crime
- Broken a lease
- Declared bankruptcy
- Been evicted
These are all potential red flags for renting, but don’t always mean an immediate “no.” Having a heads-up they’ll appear on the background check is helpful. It also shows the landlord that you’re honest about your past.
8. Bank information for the application fee
To cover the costs of running background checks and getting a credit report, most landlords and property managers charge application fees. These fees also cover any administrative costs incurred while processing the application. Within this section, list relevant information such as:
- Bank name
- Bank address and phone
- Bank account number
- Credit obligations (loans) with a monthly payment
Some applications will have a list of these fees. That way, you know what to expect.
9. Sign on the dotted line
Rounding out how to fill out an apartment application form is the signature section. Both you and the landlord should sign and date it. The signatures validate the document and serve as proof of payment.
This section wraps up the application. Congratulations, you’re done and have officially applied to a new apartment! Now comes the waiting to see if you beat out the other applicants and are the right tenant the landlord is looking for.
Completing the rental application process
After you’ve filled out rental applications with all the requested information, it’s time for you to sit back and wait to hear if your application has been accepted. During this time, the landlord does their screening reports. The tenant screening can take anywhere from two to three days. Sometimes it takes longer if it’s taking the landlord a while to verify some of your information.
Being accepted to your new apartment
Once you hear the good news that you’ve been accepted, you have a few final steps to follow before hiring movers.
Pay the security deposit and the first month of rent payments
As you finalize the rental process, you’ll need to pay for the security deposit, first month’s rent and any move-in fees.
Generally, writing personal checks is the easiest way to handle this transfer. But increasingly, modern-day renters prefer the ease and convenience of online portals. That way, they can pay rent, review the lease agreement, request maintenance repairs and more in one place.
Sign the lease
Once you’ve reviewed the lease and everything is in order, officially sign the lease to make the apartment yours (temporarily).
A rental application form template
To give you an example of what some apartment applications may look like, check out our sample template. You can also download this PDF or Word document template if you want to practice or get all the information in one place.
Know what to expect when filling out a rental application
Renting a new apartment can be a hassle. But by knowing how to fill out an apartment application, you can prepare in advance to help the process go smoothly and efficiently.
The information contained in this article is for educational purposes only and does not, and is not intended to, constitute legal or financial advice. Readers are encouraged to seek professional legal or financial advice as they may deem it necessary.
Source: rent.com
Apache is functioning normally
SANTA CRUZ —
You can sense it in the ubiquitous “Help Wanted” posters in artsy shops and restaurants, in the ranks of university students living out of their cars and in the outsize percentage of locals camping on the streets.
This seaside county known for its windswept beauty and easy living is in the midst of one of the most serious housing crises anywhere in home-starved California. Santa Cruz County, home to a beloved surf break and a bohemian University of California campus, also claims the state’s highest rate of homelessness and, by one measure based on local incomes, its least affordable housing.
Leaders in the city of Santa Cruz have responded to this hardship in a land of plenty — and to new state laws demanding construction of more affordable housing — with a plan to build up rather than out.
A downtown long centered on quaint sycamore-lined Pacific Avenue has boomed with new construction in recent years. Shining glass and metal apartment complexes sprout in multiple locations, across a streetscape once dominated by 20th century classics like the Art Deco-inspired Palomar Inn apartments.
And the City Council and planning department envision building even bigger and higher, with high-rise apartments of up to 12 stories in the southern section of downtown that comes closest to the city’s boardwalk and the landmark wooden roller coaster known as the Giant Dipper.
“It’s on everybody’s lips now, this talk about our housing challenge,” said Don Lane, a former mayor and an activist for homeless people. “The old resistance to development is breaking down, at least among a lot of people.”
Said current Mayor Fred Keeley, a former state assemblyman: “It’s not a question of ‘no growth’ anymore. It’s a question of where are you going to do this. You can spread it all over the city, or you can make the urban core more dense.”
But not everyone in famously tolerant Santa Cruz is going along. The high-rise push has spawned a backlash, exposing sharp divisions over growth and underscoring the complexities, even in a city known for its progressive politics, of trying to keep desirable communities affordable for the teachers, waiters, firefighters and store clerks who provide the bulk of services.
A group originally called Stop the Skyscrapers — now Housing for People — protests that a proposed city “housing element” needlessly clears the way for more apartments than state housing officials demand, while providing too few truly affordable units.
City officials say the plan they hope to finalize in the coming weeks, with its greater height limits, only creates a path for new construction. The intentions of individual property owners and the vicissitudes of the market will continue to make it challenging to build the 3,736 additional units the state has mandated for the city.
“We’ve talked to a lot of people, going door to door, and the feeling is it’s just too much, too fast,” said Frank Barron, a retired county planner and Housing for People co-founder. “The six- and seven-story buildings that they’re building now are already freaking people out. When they hear what [the city is] proposing now could go twice as high, they’re completely aghast.”
Susan Monheit, a former state water official and another Housing for People co-founder, calls 12-story buildings “completely out of the human scale,” adding: “It’s out of scale with Santa Cruz’s branding.”
Housing for People has gathered enough signatures to put a measure on the March 2024 ballot that, if approved, would require a vote of the people for development anywhere in the city that would exceed the zoning restrictions codified in the current general plan, which include a cap of roughly seven or eight stories downtown.
The activists say that they are trying to restore the voices of everyday Santa Cruzans and that city leaders are giving in to out-of-town builders and “developer overreach laws.”
The nascent campaign has generated spirited debate. Opponents contend the slow-growth measure would slam on the brakes, just as the city is overcoming decades of construction inertia. They say Santa Cruz should be a proud outlier in a long string of wealthy coastal cities that have defied the state’s push to add housing and bring down exorbitant home prices and rental costs.
Diana Alfaro, who works for a Santa Cruz development company, said many of the complaints about high-rise construction sound like veiled NIMBYism.
“We always hear, ‘I support affordable housing, but just not next to me. Not here. Not there. Not really anywhere,’ ” said Alfaro, an activist with the national political group YIMBY [Yes In My Back Yard] Action. “Is that really being inclusive?”
The dispute has divided Santa Cruz’s progressive political universe. What does it mean to be a “good liberal” on land-use issues in an era when UC Santa Cruz students commonly triple up in small rooms and Zillow reports a median rent of $3,425 that is higher than San Francisco’s?
Beginning in the 1970s, left-leaning students at the new UC campus helped power a slow-growth movement that limited construction across broad swaths of Santa Cruz County. Over the decades, the need for affordable housing was a recurring discussion. The county was a leader in requiring that builders who put up five units of housing or more set aside 15% of the units at below-market rates.
But Mayor Keeley said local officials gave only a “head nod” to the issue when it came to approving specific projects. “Well, here we are, 30 or 40 years later,” Keeley said, “and these communities are not affordable.”
Today, with 265,000 residents, the county is substantially wealthy and white.
An annual survey this year found Santa Cruz County pushed past San Francisco to be the least affordable rental market in the country, given income levels in both places. And many observers say UC Santa Cruz students contend with the toughest housing market of any college town in the state.
State legislators have crafted dozens of laws in recent years to encourage construction of more homes, particularly apartments. While California has long required local governments to draft “housing elements” to demonstrate their commitment to affordable housing, state officials only recently passed other measures to actually push cities to put the plans into practice.
Regional government associations draw up a Regional Housing Needs Assessment, designating how many housing units — including affordable ones — should be built during an eight-year cycle. The state Department of Housing and Community Development can reject plans it deems inadequate.
For years 2024 to 2031, Santa Cruz was told it should build at least 3,736 units, on top of its existing 24,036.
Santa Cruz and other cities have been motivated, at least in part, by a heavy “stick”: In cases when cities fail to produce adequate housing plans, the state’s so-called “builder’s remedy” essentially allows developers to propose building whatever they want, provided some of the housing is set aside for low- or middle-income families. In cities like Santa Monica and La Cañada-Flintridge, builders have invoked the builder’s remedy to push ahead with large housing projects, over the objections of city leaders.
The Santa Cruz City Council resolved to avoid losing control of planning decisions. A key part of their plan envisions putting up to 1,800 units in a sleepy downtown neighborhood of auto shops, stores and low-rise apartments south of Laurel Street. Initial concepts suggested one block could go as high as 175 feet (roughly 16 stories), but council members later proposed a 12-story height limit, substantially taller than the stately eight-story Palomar, which remains the city’s tallest building.
City planners say focusing growth in the downtown neighborhood makes sense, because bus lines converge there at a transit center and residents can walk to shops and services.
“The demand for housing is not going away,” said Lee Butler, the city’s director of planning and community development, “and this means we will have less development pressure in other areas of the city and county, where it is less sustainable to grow.”
A public survey found support for a variety of other proposed improvements to make the downtown more attractive to walkers, bikers and tourists. Among other features, the plan would concentrate new restaurants and shops around the San Lorenzo River Walk; replace the fabric-topped 2,400-seat Kaiser Permanente Arena, which hosts the Santa Cruz Warriors (the G-league affiliate of the NBA’s Golden State Warriors), with a bigger entertainment and sports venue; and better connect downtown with the beach and boardwalk.
Business owners say they favor the housing plan for a couple of reasons: They hope new residents will bring new commerce, and they want some of the affordable apartments to go to their workers, who frequently commute well over an hour from places such as Gilroy and Salinas.
Restaurateur Zach Davis called the high cost of housing “the No. 1 factor” that led to the 2018 closure of Assembly, a popular farm-to-table restaurant he co-owned.
“How do we keep our community intact, if the people who make it all happen, the workers who make Santa Cruz what it is, can’t afford to live here anymore?” Davis asked.
The city’s plan indicates that 859 of the units built over the next eight years will be for “very low income” families. But the term is relative, tied to a community’s median income, which in Santa Cruz is $132,800 for a family of four. Families bringing home between $58,000 and $82,000 would qualify as very low income. Tenants in that bracket would pay $1,800 a month for a three-bedroom apartment in one recently completed complex, built under the city’s requirement that 20% of units be rented for below-market rents.
The people pushing for high-rise development say expanding the housing supply will stem ever-rising rents. Opponents counter that the continued growth of UC Santa Cruz, which hopes to add 8,500 students by 2040, and a new surge of highly paid Silicon Valley “tech bros” looking to put down roots in beachy Santa Cruz would quickly gobble up whatever number of new units are built.
“They say that if you just build more housing, the prices will come down. Which is, of course, not true,” said Gary Patton, a former county supervisor and an original leader in the slow-growth movement. “So we’ll have lots more housing, with lots more traffic, less parking, more neighborhood impacts and more rich people moving into Santa Cruz.”
Leaders on Santa Cruz’s political left say new construction only touches one aspect of the housing crisis. Some of the leaders of Tenant Sanctuary, a renters’ rights group, would like to see Santa Cruz tamp down rents by creating complexes owned by the state or cooperatives and enacting a rent control law capping annual increases.
“No matter what they build, we need housing where the price is not tied to market swings and how much money can be squeezed out of a given area of land,” said Zav Hershfield, a board member for the group.
The up-zoning of downtown parcels has won the support of much of the city’s establishment, including the county Chamber of Commerce, whose chief executive said exorbitant housing prices are excluding blue-collar workers and even some well-paid professionals. “The question is, do you want a lively, vital, economically thriving community?” said Casey Beyer, CEO of the business group. “Or do you want to be a sleepy retirement community?”
Just days after the anti-high-rise measure qualified for the March ballot, the two sides began bickering over what impact it would have.
Lane, the former mayor, and two affordable housing developers wrote an op-ed for the Lookout Santa Cruz news site that said the ballot measure is crafted so broadly it would apply to all “development projects.” They contend that could trigger the need for citywide votes for projects as modest as raising a fence from 6 feet to 7 feet, adding an ADU to a residential property or building a shelter for the homeless, if the projects exceed current practices in a given neighborhood.
The authors accused ballot measure proponents of faux environmentalism. “If we don’t go up,” they wrote, “we have less housing near jobs — and more people driving longer distances to get to work.”
The ballot measure proponents countered that their critics were misrepresenting facts. They said the measure would not necessitate voter approval for mundane improvements and would come into play in relatively few circumstances, for projects that require amendments to the city’s General Plan.
While not staking out a formal position on the ballot measure, the city’s planning staff has concluded the measure could force citizen votes for relatively modest construction projects.
The two sides also can’t agree on the impact of a second provision of the ballot measure. It would increase from 20% to 25% the percentage of “inclusionary” (below-market-rate) units that developers would have to include in complexes of 30 units or more.
The ballot measure writers say such an increase signals their intent to assure that as much new housing as possible goes to the less affluent. But their opponents say that when cities try to force developers to include too many sub-market apartments, the builders end up walking away.
Santa Cruz’s housing inventory shows that the city has the potential to add as many as 8,364 units in the next eight years, when factoring in proposals such as the downtown high-rises and UC Santa Cruz’s plan to add about 1,200 units of student housing. That’s more than double the number required by the state. But the Department of Housing and Community Development requires this sort of “buffer,” because the reality is that many properties zoned for denser housing won’t get developed during the eight-year cycle.
As with many aspects of the downtown up-zoning, the two sides are at odds over whether incorporating the potential for extra development amounts to judicious planning or developer-friendly overkill.
The city’s voters have rejected housing-related measures three times in recent years. In 2018, they decisively turned down a rent control proposal. Last year, they said no to taxing owners who leave homes in the community sitting empty. But they also rejected a measure that would have blocked a plan to relocate the city’s central library while also building 124 below-market-rate apartment units.
The last time locals got this worked up about their downtown may have been at the start of the new millennium, when the City Council considered cracking down on street performers. That prompted the owner of Bookshop Santa Cruz, another local landmark, to print T-shirts and bumper stickers entreating fellow residents to “Keep Santa Cruz Weird.”
Santa Cruzans once again are being asked to consider the look and feel of their downtown and whether its future should be left to the City Council, or voters themselves. The measure provokes myriad questions, including these: Can funky, earnest, compassionate Santa Cruz remain that way, even with high-rise apartments? And, with so little housing for students and working folks, has it already lost its charm?
Source: latimes.com
Apache is functioning normally
Inside: Ever wondered how much rent you can afford on a particular hourly wage? Use the rent calculator to see what you can afford on $22 an hour. Find out from the experts in this guide.
Honestly, this is something most people don’t think about until after they get themselves in a troubling situation.
Determining rent affordability is paramount in your financial planning. It’s important to strike a balance between comfortable accommodation and fiscal responsibility to avoid financial strains down the road.
There exists a direct correlation between your income and the rent you can afford to pay. Higher income opens doors to pricier accommodations while lower wages might enforce budget constraints. Understanding this relationship is crucial.
It guides your housing decisions and helps maintain a stable financial footing.
By calculating your rent affordability, you can set a clear budget, establish your housing needs, and navigate the real estate market with ease.
How much rent can I afford making $22 an hour?
If you make $22 an hour, based on a standard 40-hour work week, your gross income would come up to approximately $3,813 per month.
If you follow the 30% rule, this means you should allocate a maximum of $1144 each month for rent.
$3813 x 30% = $1144
However, remember this is a rough estimate and your specific expenses and financial obligations should also be taken into consideration before deciding on a rent budget.
What Percentage of My Income Should Go to Rent?
This is a good question to consider.
Even better when you are trying to figure out how much to save before moving out.
The 30% Rule Explained
The 30% rule is a simple guideline suggesting that one should allocate no more than 30% of their gross (before taxes) monthly income toward rent.1
This rule of thumb has been widely adopted as a measure of rent affordability. The beauty of the 30% rule lies in its simplicity and ease of use, allowing for quick budgeting while maintaining room for other essential expenses.
Be Conservative and Stick with 20%
According to Money Bliss budgeting percentages, adopting a more conservative approach to budgeting by allocating only 20% of your income towards housing costs can be more beneficial.
If you follow the 20% rule, this means you should allocate a maximum of $762 each month for rent.
$3813 x 20% = $762
This strategy helps to account for additional expenses such as utilities, unexpected repairs, and other costs that often accompany home ownership or renting.
This reduced allocation promotes being smart with your money to avoid unnecessary financial stress.
When to Consider Stretching the 30% Rule
At times, it might be necessary to stretch the 30% rule particularly in high-cost areas or during short-term situations. It’s crucial, however, to understand the potential ramifications and adjust other spending habits to compensate.
A temporary overshoot could be justifiable if it leads to significant future benefits, like proximity to a well-paying job. Always remember, that this should be an exception rather than the norm.
How Does the Rent Calculator Work?
A rent calculator is a practical tool that aids in estimating the rent you can afford. You don’t want to be forced to live on a shoestring budget.
This simple calculator is based on your hourly income and spending either 20-30% of your gross income on rent.
Fine-tuning your budget is possible by adjusting the percentage you wish to spend on housing. Remember, the final number serves as a guide and may require adjustments based on your financial situation.
Breaking Down Your Monthly Budget
For savvy budgeters, adhering to the 50/30/20 rule can provide a clear framework for managing your expenses and growing your savings. While at Money Bliss, we went a step further to define it as the 20-50-10-20-0 budget rule. (save-basic expenses-give-fun spending-debt).
This approach gives a precise breakdown of your monthly budget, ensuring that you are living within your means while also setting funds aside for future financial security.
Housing Costs
The basic 50/30/20 rule suggests dividing your monthly net income into 50% for necessities such as rent and groceries, 30% for personal wants like clothing or travel, and designating the remaining 20% for savings goals or debt repayment.
By adding these to your housing budget, you get a realistic picture of your monthly accommodation costs.
When budgeting for rent, one must account for other housing costs. These may include utilities like gas, electricity, and water, as well as internet, cable TV, and trash collection. You might also need to factor in the renter’s insurance and potential parking fees.
Essential Living Expenses
In addition to housing, remember to consider essential living expenses in your budget. These include food, transportation, health insurance, and childcare.
In addition, we advise our readers to put aside about 15-25% of their net income for savings. Accounting for these factors ensures you don’t stretch your budget to the limit solely on rent.
Discretionary spending
While you need to cover essential living expenses, it’s also important to allocate funds for discretionary spending – we call it FUN spending.
This category involves non-essential purchases like eating out, entertainment, vacations, and shopping. Using the 50/30/20 rule as a guideline, 30% of your net income can be put towards these wants, allowing you to enjoy your income while staying financially sound.
Factors Influencing Rent Affordability
Many factors impact how much you can spend on rent. As such, this will vary from person to person as situations vary. While these numbers are gross income, you need to realize the amount of money coming out for taxes. Many people don’t understand gross income vs net income.
Furthermore, the cost of living and rental prices in your chosen location can greatly impact how much you can afford. So, use the rent affordability calculator!
Location and Rent Prices
The location of a home greatly influences its rent prices. HCOL vs LCOL is a real thing!
Proximity to the city center, schools, parks, and shopping centers typically equate to higher costs. For example, renting trends in 2023 indicated an increase in prices the closer you get to these amenities.2
By choosing to live a bit further out, you may be able to find more affordable rent payments.
Areas with higher crime rates will have lower rents but these tend to come with more issues.
Size and Type of Housing
The size and type of your dwelling can also significantly affect your rent. Large houses with multiple rooms naturally cost more, whereas smaller apartments or studios are less expensive.
The type of housing also plays a role; for instance, a modern, furnished apartment might cost more than an unfurnished one. Tailoring your choice to your needs and budget allows for comfortable living without overspending.
If you have a pet, don’t forget it may cost more plus you have a pet deposit.
Lease Length Considerations
Lease length can directly impact your rent. Longer leases often equate to lower monthly rents, offering landlords a sense of security. On the contrary, short-term or month-to-month leases typically come with a higher price tag due to their inherent flexibility.
Assess your personal situation and potential need for flexibility before deciding on the lease term.
Also, the amount you need to put down as a security deposit can be negotiated.
Tips to Maximize Your Rent Budget
Plan your budget carefully taking into account factors like income, potential expenses, and the cost of living in your chosen location. So, if you are thinking $5000 is enough to move out, you may be surprised.
Use the 30% rule as a guide but be aware that in high cost of living areas, you may need to adjust this percentage. When searching for a rental, compare the cost and amenities of different apartments in your preferred areas and see if there are nearby neighborhoods with cheaper rental costs.
Also, you may need to embrace cost-saving measures such as cooking at home and shopping frugally to free up more income for rent.
You can learn more about those areas on our site.
Tip #1 – Reducing Costs and Saving
There are several ways to reduce housing costs and save more in this tough rental market.
- Consider downgrading to a smaller place or moving to a less expensive area.
- Negotiate a longer lease term for a reduced monthly rent.
- Maybe even consider becoming a permanent housesitter to free up your budget.
Small changes can lead to substantial savings over time.
Learn how to budget on a low income.
Tip #2 -Planning for Future Rent Increases
Each year when your lease is about to renew, always factor in the possibility of future rent increases, which could be influenced by trends in the real estate market and inflation.
Ensuring your income can keep up with these increases is necessary for maintaining affordability. Continually reassess your rent affordability, especially during annual lease renewals or job changes.
Tip #3 – Get Roommates
Sharing your space with a roommate is a practical way to cut down on your living expenses substantially. By having one or more people to share the rental costs, utilities, and even groceries in some instances, you are likely to free up a considerable portion of your budget.
However, it’s important to clearly set boundaries and expectations to maintain a smooth living arrangement.
FAQ on Rent Affordability
Is $22 an hour a livable wage?
Given the average rent in the United States is $1702, $22 an hour is not a livable wage, especially in San Francisco or New York. As such, the maximum you should be spending on rent is $1144.
If workers are unable to afford to live in the communities they work in, it puts the whole system under stress. While there have been movements to create low-income housing, it is slow to happen and for many, difficult to apply.
Ultimately, whether this wage allows for a comfortable lifestyle depends largely on your financial habits, commitments, and where you live.
With good financial planning, including a solidly crafted budget that factors in rent, savings, and living expenses, a $22 hourly wage can indeed cater to a decent lifestyle.
Remember to reassess your budget regularly and adjust as necessary to meet changing financial landscapes.
Making wise financial decisions now can lead to a financially secure future. Now, do you have the habits needed to be financially stable?
Source
- FiftyThirtyTwenty. “About.” http://fiftythirtytwenty.com/about.html. Accessed January 3, 2024.
- Rent. “Rent Growth in Half of Suburbs Outpacing Metro’s Core City.” https://www.rent.com/research/suburban-growth-outpacing-core-city/. Accessed January 3, 2024.
- Rent Cafe. “Average Rent in the U.S.” https://www.rentcafe.com/average-rent-market-trends/us/. Accessed January 3, 2024.
Did the post resonate with you?
More importantly, did I answer the questions you have about this topic? Let me know in the comments if I can help in some other way!
Your comments are not just welcomed; they’re an integral part of our community. Let’s continue the conversation and explore how these ideas align with your journey towards Money Bliss.
Source: moneybliss.org
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There’s no need for the Super Bowl LVII headliner to travel to Sin City for his hyped halftime show.
Usher has been calling Las Vegas home since mid-2022 when the eight-time Grammy Award-winner started his “My Way” residency and moved his family here.
I began to curate my own little world here, so much so that I’ve actually put a flag in the ground. I’ve actually moved here.”
Usher told The Hollywood Reporter
“For one year I’ve been here. I’m not saying that this is the end-all-be-all, but I have a place here so I can accommodate my family,” the R&B star added in a lengthy interview with the Hollywood Reporter at the beginning of 2023.
And while he’s managed to keep all the deets about his Las Vegas house under wraps, the Confessions singer did let it slip that he lives in a sprawling apartment or penthouse in one of the city’s luxury residential buildings — calling it his “really cool mansion in the sky”.
We kind of live in this really cool mansion in the sky down here, so it’s pretty fun to be in the middle of all the action and then come right home and you’re with your kids.”
Usher
The artist wrapped up his Las Vegas show in early December 2023, in an emotional show that saw the 45-year-old overcome with gratitude and tears.
And that’s because Usher has long been planning his “phenomenal show” if he ever landed a Las Vegas residency, as this 2004 clip would indicate:
I saw it then…look at me now. 🙏🏾 https://t.co/hz0Ustrkao
— Usher Raymond IV (@Usher) December 3, 2023
Now whether or not Usher will continue to live in Las Vegas after his Super Bowl performance, that remains to be seen.
But so far, it would seem that both he and his family — Usher shares daughter Sovereign Bo and son Sire Castrello with current girlfriend, Jenn Goicoechea, and also has two boys, Usher V and Naviyd Ely, with his ex-wife, Tameka Foster — are loving life in the desert oasis.
Usher’s houses throughout the years
And while we’ve already answered the most pressing question (where does Usher live now), we’d be remiss if we didn’t take a look at the R&B artist’s previous homes — especially since they’re a refreshing change from the sprawling, ultra-modern Cali mansions other A-listers call home.
That’s not because he lacks the funds.
A defining figure in the music industry for over two decades, Usher has amassed an impressive net worth estimated at a whopping $180 million. He just doesn’t need to flaunt it or splurge on eight-figure houses.
Looking at the houses he’s bought — and sold — over the years, we see a pattern: the man knows how much space he needs, and settles on beautiful homes that meet his family’s wants without going for “status purchases” that would consolidate him as a ‘baller’, real estate-wise. Don’t believe us? See for yourself:
His Atlanta homes
Born on October 14, 1978, in Dallas, Texas, and raised in Chattanooga, Tennessee, Usher’s journey to stardom began at an early age.
His mother, recognizing his natural talent, moved the family to Atlanta, Georgia, a move that proved pivotal in launching his career.
See also: The Biggest Celebrities that Live in Atlanta & their Million-Dollar Mansions
It was in Atlanta where Usher’s velvety voice and charismatic presence caught the attention of LaFace Records’ co-founder, L.A. Reid, leading to the release of his self-titled debut album in 1994.
And the rest is, as they say, history.
Usher went on to become one of the most influential figures in contemporary R&B and pop music. But despite his impressive net worth of $180 million, the Yeah singer kept it fairly down to earth with his home purchases.
#1 A three-bedroom house he sold for $775k
He owned a three-bedroom, three-bath house not far from Mercedes-Benz Stadium, that he bought in June 2007 for $970,000.
Right before filing for divorce from his second wife, Grace Miguel, he listed the 2,908-square-foot home for sale, with a buyer paying him $775,000 for the Atlanta house in 2019.
#2 The Alpharetta house he fell in love with at age 13
Early in his career, Usher (whose full name is Usher Raymond IV) stayed true to a promise he made to his younger self: when he’d make it big in the music industry, he’d buy his music producer L.A. Reid’s house, which left an impression on him at the tender age of 13.
I came into this house … and I remember walking through it, just being mesmerized by everything I saw, and it was like, ‘One day, I want to own a house like this.’”
Usher recalled in a 2003 episode of “How I’m Living“
An 8,000-square-foot home with 7 bedrooms, 8.5 bathrooms, a climate-controlled treehouse, a yoga studio and a private dance studio, L.A. Reid’s house is impressive — but pales in comparison to some of suburban Atlanta’s megamansions.
Luckily, he didn’t see Evander Holyfield’s former home in the nearby Atlanta suburb of Fayetteville, a 109-room behemont which later became rapper Rick Ross’s mansion.
“I ended up buying this house. There’s history in it. My history lies in this house.”
But despite the history, the U Remind Me hitmaker (who’s not one to hoard properties, it would seem), sold the Alpharetta house formerly owned by L.A. Reid for $1.5 million back in 2018.
His former villa in Los Angeles
Usher also owned a Spanish-style estate in West Hollywood set on the same block as the landmark Chateau Marmont Hotel.
The property, which he first listed for sale in early 2018 for $4.2 million (it ended up selling for only $3.3 million), was originally built in 1926 and has been “artfully restored” to accommodate the artist and his growing family, retaining original details like stenciled beams and handcrafted ironwork.
But the artist sold that 5-bedroom house too in 2018, one of three homes he offloaded in the span of a single year.
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Now, with his Las Vegas residency over and his net worth balooned by his Sin City shows plus his Super Bowl performance, Usher might be in the lookout for a new place to call home. Looking forward to seeing where he settles next.
More stories
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Nicki Minaj’s house, the glam $19.5M present she got after turning 40
Michael Jordan’s house is still on the market, 12 years after it was first listed for sale
Source: fancypantshomes.com
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Home decor is a manifestation of personal style, and 2024’s interior design trends provide even more ways to express your point of view—boldly.
The accent walls and mid-century modern furniture that ruled 2023’s interior design trends aren’t disappearing entirely. But in the upcoming year, we can say goodbye to standard design rules and all-minimal-everything. Embrace clashing patterns, chrome counters, ultra-luxurious materials, and maximalism. Whether that means trading in beige soft sheets for a Barbiecore pink bedding set, or adding bow-adorned wallpaper to your kitchen a lá Sandy Liang, nothing is off-limits in 2024.
Like a fun pair of heels or sparkly party dress, 2024’s home trends are all about embracing creativity and fun. With expert input from interior designers and trend predictors, explore the five most popular interior design trends of 2024 that will help you express your individuality through your space.
2024 Interior Design Trend: Kitschy Kitchens
Gone are the days of clean marble and white walls in the kitchen. In 2024, we can expect to see more personality, color, and spunk in this essential area.
“We’re going to say goodbye to farmhouse kitchens, and hello to Kitschy Kitchens, or what we like to call ‘Kitschens,’” says Pinterest global trends and insight lead Sydney Stanback. “A way that people can tap into this trend is through incorporating thrifted finds, vintage appliances and eye-jarring pops of paint into their kitchen designs and cooking areas.”
2024 Interior Design Trend: Plenty of Patterns
Clean white walls are on their way out. “Having languished in the realm of neutrality for what feels like an eternity, we’ve witnessed the rise and subsequent demise of farmhouse, mid-century modern, and the all-encompassing minimalism craze. The universal aesthetic is teetering on the edge of ‘been there, done that,’” says Danielle Walish, Havely’s VP of merchandising and product design. “People are craving homes with character, personality, and a bit of oomph–a bold departure from the subdued styling that has held sway for too long.” Now, it’s time for a pattern on pattern (on pattern) renaissance.
“We’re not just talking about a small print here and there,” Walish elaborates. “It’s all about mixing it up–upholstery, textiles, wallpaper and beyond. From classic stripes to whimsical florals, modern motifs to organic botanicals. It’s all about making a statement.”
2024 Interior Design Trend: Master Metals
First chrome metallics came for statement earrings, then they came for home interiors. In 2024, metallic hues will enter living spaces in a new, big way.
“A trend that we’ve been seeing pop up recently, specifically within the fashion space–thanks to a certain very iconic artist who was on tour this summer–is cool silver tones. And cool silver tones and bold chrome will continue to grow in 2024, but will also evolve into the home category,” Pinterest’s Stanbuck says. “People trade in their trusty neutrals for something a bit more hardcore. We especially see that Gen Z and Millennials on Pinterest are driving this heavy metal aesthetic.” Aluminum accents are a shortcut to bring the shiny trend into home decor.
2024 Interior Design Trend: Saturated Spaces
Whether you want a pop of pink or a moody sitting room, 2024 is all about accessorizing with color. “From rich blacks and sultry navies to more lively hues of blues, greens, and even pinks, the color trends of 2024 advocate for a daring approach,” says Havenly design editor Heather Goerzen. “Excitingly, we’re observing a refreshing pushback against the ubiquitous all-white aesthetic. Whether through the application of monochromatic paints or the embrace of deep, saturated color schemes, color in all its glorious shades is reclaiming the spotlight.”
The expert notes that the trend manifests everywhere from painted alcoves and striking wallpapers to deep wood tones and evocative upholstery. “If ever there was a moment to unleash your color perspective,” Goerzen says, “it’s now.”
2024 Interior Design Trend: Updated Luxe Materials
Quiet luxury was never just about fashion; it also crept into the home. “A year ago, everything, everywhere, was light-washed oak, calacutta marble, and matte accents,” Havenly VP of creative and design Shelby Girard reflects. “At first, this felt like such a refreshing scene–it was simultaneously calm and inspiring, collected and effortless. However, with such widespread adoption, particularly with new builds, the aesthetic began to feel a little…expected.” That’s why, in 2024, we’re seeing a return to luxurious materials of yore.
“As traditional design is once again taking center stage, we’ve seen a backlash against the usual materials and a desire to seek out elements that in and of themselves are more unique, dramatic, and notable,” Girard explains. “Think richly veined marbles in a range of striking colors, lush velvets with added dimension, crystal chandeliers for a hint of glamour, dark wood tones that speak to heritage, and un-lacquered hardware for a lovely patina.”
Why trust Harper’s Bazaar?
For more than 150 years, Harper’s Bazaar has been the preeminent fashion, beauty, and lifestyle resource for women at every age. We cover what’s new and what’s next in home by working with the world’s leading authorities in interior and architectural design, textiles, and more. Every story we publish has been thoroughly researched and vetted by our team of editors and industry experts.
Tatjana Freund is Hearst’s Fashion & Luxury Commerce Editor, covering beauty, fashion and more across multiple brands. Previously, she worked at ELLE.com and Marie Claire. She’s a fan of whiskey neat, podcasts that give her nightmares, and one time Zoë Kravitz laughed at a joke she made.
Source: harpersbazaar.com
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SoMa San Francisco, which stands for South of Market San Francisco, represents the most central part of the city. The area is home to techies, Michelin-starred restaurants and high-rise apartment buildings. The location and close proximity to downtown, public transportation, entertainment and restaurants make SoMa a highly walkable and convenient place to live.
Where is SoMa in San Francisco?
As its name suggests, SoMa is nestled south of San Francisco’s main street, also known as Market Street. The area includes a few smaller neighborhoods as well, including South Beach, Yerba Buena and Rincon Hill.
SoMa stretches all the way down to 11th Street, and along the way, you can find plenty of shopping, dining, museums and San Francisco’s famous Moscone Center. The neighborhood is also adjacent to Embarcadero, which is the city’s famous waterfront that faces the Bay Bridge and further down, the city’s tourist attraction, Fisherman’s Wharf.
Source: Rent.
Like many neighborhoods in San Francisco, SoMa has withstood earthquakes, financial fallout and now a pandemic. It has survived and thrived and is now a destination for both techies and tourists.
SOMA has about 12,000 residents, compared to the general San Francisco population of 881,549.
- Studio average rent: $3,040
- One-bedroom average rent: $3,635
- Two-bedroom average rent: $4,692
- Walk score: 97
- Bike score: 83
- Transit score: 85
Living in SoMa San Francisco
SoMa represents a complete spectrum of San Francisco, with accessibility and comforts of the city just a short walk away. Here are a few things to know about living in SoMa San Francisco.
Crime and safety in SoMa
Like parts of any big city, SoMa is perfectly safe to walk around during the day. Because the area is always bustling with lots of people and activity, it’s considered safe. There are, however, parts of Market Street that can get dicey, including going past 6th Street.
You may encounter some of San Francisco’s homeless population, which tends to gather in this area. If you need to go through this area at night, the best thing to do would be to either avoid Market Street or take public transportation if you need to go beyond 6th Street.
Entertainment and shopping in SoMa
If you’re in search of shopping or entertainment, SoMa is trendy and has plenty to offer. The most popular destination is Union Square and San Francisco’s Westfield Centre. At this mall you’ll find high-end brands like Bloomingdales and Nordstrom. The shopping continues in the outdoor part of Union Square, with the famous cable trolley available to ride, right outside of The Gap.
For more of a local shopping experience, there’s also the city’s beloved Alexander Book Company, Foto-Grafix Books and The Green Arcade.
Like the rest of the city, SoMa has its fair share of parks and places to relax. Locals enjoy the lawn outside of the Metreon, Salesforce Park and — just a short walk away — the Embarcadero.
Dining and restaurants
Although the pandemic has caused a shift in the way restaurants serve their food, there’s still plenty of ways to enjoy a nice takeout meal and beverage from local eateries and artisan coffee shops. The neighborhood’s dining scene offers delicious food at every price point, craft cocktail bars and incredible bakeries.
Here’s a glimpse into SoMa’s food and drink scene:
- The Bird: There’s often a line out the door for this hotspot that offers fried chicken and slaw. Top it off with a beer and curly fries.
- Dottie’s True Blue Cafe: If brunch is more your thing, Dottie’s is a staple in SoMa. Get a ginormous order of pancakes and settle in at this San Francisco institution.
- Birdsong: For some fine dining and a look at an open kitchen, check out Birdsong. The chefs prepare delicious chicken-based meals in front of you. Try any of the perfectly crispy fried chicken sandwiches and don’t forget to eat the huge flakes of batter that fall out of the sandwich with each bite.
- The View Lounge: For one of the best hotel rooftops in the U.S., make your way to the 39th floor of the Marriott Marquis Hotel in SoMa. It’s a fantastic way to soak up the city’s stunning views with a delicious cocktail and light meal.
Transportation
Fact: The trolley is definitely not the best way to get around San Francisco but is a blast to ride.
One of the best things about being in SoMa is that you have any number of public transportation options to get to your destination. From jumping on the ferry from Embarcadero to get across the bay to Marin or taking BART to shuttle down to the East Bay, SoMa offers it all.
If you have a car, you can easily hop on the 101 Freeway or take Interstate 80 to get to the East Bay or Sacramento.
The main forms of transportation include:
- Bus: 14, 14R, 5, KBUS, LBUS, NBUS
- MUNI: To get anywhere within the city, including Ocean Beach and Dogpatch
- BART: Subway that goes south to SFO or to the East Bay
- Ferry: East Bay or north of San Francisco, such as Sausalito or Marin
- Scooters and public bikes: They’re everywhere!
Education
Although for the moment, many schools are offering online courses only, there are a number of continued educational institutions housed in the heart of SoMa.
The SoMa area offers a number of universities, art schools, and trade colleges that are conveniently located for people living in the area. These include:
- The California Institute of Studies (CIIS)
- San Francisco State University Downtown
- Golden Gate University
- City College of San Francisco – Downtown Center
- Academy of Art University
- Wharton School – University of Pennsylvania
Weather in SoMa
SoMa has arguably the best weather in San Francisco — which is known for its micro-climates. Generally speaking, SoMa is slightly warmer and has more sun than other parts of the city, such as Ingleside or Oceanview, which both get an average of 12 hours of fog, daily! The fog is such a prominent force in the city, it’s called Karl and has its own Twitter account, @KarlTheFog.
San Francisco weather is mild, with moist winters, dry summers and an average temperature around 60 degrees. If you’re not familiar with San Francisco weather, prepare for foggy, chilly summers. The summer doesn’t really start until September, also known as San Francisco’s Indian Summer.
10 things to do in SoMa
From shopping, checking out local eateries, and soaking in the picturesque waterfront, there is so much to do and see in SoMa.
- SFMOMA: Spend a day browsing through 30,000 pieces of modern artwork across seven gallery floors and 45,000 square feet of free, art-filled public space open to all.
- Press Club: In the mood for a full-bodied glass of wine with dinner? Count on Press Club to offer an incredible selection of tastings and wines.
- Yerba Buena Gardens: Take advantage of San Francisco’s fantastic weather by spending an afternoon on the lush green grass.
- Salesforce Park: Stroll along a 5.4-acre elevated park, four stories above the streets on top of the Salesforce Transit Tower. Enjoy the view and check out the botanical gardens and public art.
- Oracle Park: This is where the Giants play! Even if you’re not into baseball games, you’ll still appreciate the beautiful view of the bay and can take a behind-the-scenes tour of the stadium.
- Alice Street Community Gardens: This is a small but surprisingly serene urban garden that is kept and manicured by seniors and younger disabled people from the neighborhood. Each person gets a plot for creative expression.
- California Historical Society: This organization has galleries that showcase the history of California through photography, manuscripts, posters and artwork.
- Walk the Barbary Coast: This is a four-mile walking tour connecting 20 historic sites and local history museums. There are approximately 180 bronze medallions and arrows embedded in the sidewalk mark the trail.
- Deli Board: This SoMa staple will satisfy your sandwich cravings with plenty of surprises to boot. The menu changes daily and includes piles of delicious meats spilling out of fluffy, hot rolls.
- Ice skate or bowl: Near the Yerba Buena Center for the Arts, there’s a year-round ice skating rink and bowling center.
Finding an apartment in SoMa
Finding an apartment in SoMa starts with your budget for rent and what kind of building you want to live in. On smaller side streets you’ll occasionally find a Victorian or a modern condominium. Brick walk-ups are common, as are high-rises—these are more common the further west you go.
SoMa isn’t the most car-friendly part of San Francisco, but the newer high rises offer parking, usually with a monthly fee.
Convenience is the main theme when living in SoMa, but if a balcony overlooking a beautiful, innovative city appeals to you, then it may just be your next place to live.
Rent prices are based on a rolling weighted average from Apartment Guide and Rent.’s multifamily rental property inventory of one-bedroom apartments. We pulled our data in May 2021, and it goes back for one year. Our team uses a weighted average formula that more accurately represents price availability for each individual unit type and reduces the influence of seasonality on rent prices in specific markets.
The rent information included in this article is used for illustrative purposes only. The data contained herein do not constitute financial advice or a pricing guarantee for any apartment.
Source: rent.com
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We’ve ridden the waves of 1970s revivals, wall-to-wall carpeting, the rise and fall of the Ultrafragola, and bouclé upholstery. When we type “interior design trends 2024” into our crystal balls (or indeed, into Google) what are we likely to find? AD PRO consulted the experts, and 2024 promises to be a year of thoughtfully chosen offbeat colors, a mix-and-match approach to the designs of different time periods, and a return to romanticism, with jewel tones and florals offering a flirty, old-fashioned respite from the onward march of technology.
Stone Fruit Chic: Peach and Apricot
Soft, sweet, and just a bit tart, peach and apricot are the dominant hues in the home trends color forecasts for 2024. Pantone declared Peach Fuzz its color of the year, and Leatrice Eiseman, executive director of the Pantone Color Institute describes it as “a color radiant with warmth and modern elegance.” Gemma Riberti, head of interiors at trend forecasting agency WGSN, notes that her team has had its eyes on orange. In particular, they note its emergence as “a recharging near-bright in the wellness sector” and as a vivacious alternative to traditional pastels. WGSN’s color of 2024, Apricot Crush, “can be easily paired with neutrals and naturals, and is suitable for textiles, glass, bath, and bedroom products” Riberti says, “but you can also work it to create intriguing narratives: offset it with greens, purples, and blues for vibrant contrast.”
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The classic technique of selecting chromatic bedfellows from opposite sides of the color wheel is also in Champalimaud Design’s toolkit. Principal Courtney Brannan tells AD PRO that when it comes to interior design trends in 2024, “we are seeing all the possibilities of peach and turquoise tones.” Though these shades have a tropical feel to them, they “can also feel neutral,” she says. Case in point: “At the Ritz-Carlton, Grand Cayman, turquoise creates an amplifying, formal statement surrounding the Silver Palm Bar.” Meanwhile, in New York City’s West Village, an apartment’s peach plaster wall “has a much more understated presence, calmly backgrounding the artful living space around it.”
That’s So Metal
It’s back to the essential elements (literally) for home decor trends in 2024: chrome, steel, and aluminum are suddenly everywhere. Pinterest Predicts 2024 includes a “Hot Metals” board with a distinctly surrealist aesthetic—gleaming surfaces that resemble the shiny sinew of liquid mercury.
David Michon, author of the Substack newsletter For Scale, thinks this is a natural consequence of the early-2020s overload of earth tones. “The desperate search for some kind of warmth in this cold world has exhausted ‘earthy’ browns and ‘meditative’ grays,” he notes. But don’t be too quick to write off these metallic finishes as industrial: “The many stainless-steel explorations of Milan’s Concorde, Harry Nuriev, or Tejumola Butler Adenuga show us that, in fact, steel simply reflects.” In general, says Michon, these metals amplify whatever vibe a room is already giving. With one notable exception: “stainless-steel appliances, which remain overrated.”
House of Hunt founder Holly Hunt concurs, but with a slightly more muted finish: “I foresee bright aluminums and silver gaining popularity in 2024 after years of gold and black dominating metal hardware and accessories,” she tells AD PRO. “However, I tend to avoid metals that are too shiny and prefer the richness of a brushed chrome or nickel, as they give a more polished and sophisticated look.” Adding to the evidence: Earlier this month, Nifembi Marcus Bello presented an eye-catching suite of cast-aluminum furniture at Design Miami.
Dark and Deep: Jewel Tones
The saturated hues of precious gems are giving the palette of 2024 design trends a sense of velvety mystery. According to Rob Natale, chief of design at Sixpenny, this is thanks in part to the recent dominance of neutrals across interiors. “People are rediscovering color in their homes, which is a welcome shift from the all-neutral palette we’ve seen for several years, and jewel tones are at the forefront of that shift,” he says. “It’s a perfect way to incorporate richness, whether as an accent or as the centerpiece for a space since they create such a strong counterpoint to almost any look.” (Heeding their own wisdom, Sixpenny is currently selling furnishings in an array of gem-inspired hues.)
Source: architecturaldigest.com
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Winter is a season that transforms the world into a glistening wonderland, and what better way to embrace the chilly charm than by turning your home into a winter oasis? In this exploration of unique winter home features, we’ll delve into the extraordinary, from the exhilaration of having your own private ice rink to the relaxation of soaking in a hot tub beneath the winter sky.
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Skating Under Your Own Sky: Private Ice Rinks
To transform your backyard, you’ll need to first choose a level area and remove any debris, rocks or uneven elements. Pile up snow around the perimeter of the rink to form a natural border – this will help contain the water as it freezes. Then, using a hose or bucket, flood the cleared area with a thin layer of water. Allow it to freeze before adding more layers and repeat this process until the thickness of the ice is satisfactory. Now you’ve got your very own private ice rink to enjoy!
A Winter Retreat: Outdoor Hot Tubs
While winter may bring a chill to the air, there’s nothing quite like the contrast of soaking in a steaming hot tub amid the frosty surroundings. Ensure privacy by incorporating natural elements like tall plants or screens around your hot tub, and place serene lighting around the area for ambiance. Having an outdoor tub isn’t just beneficial for relaxation, but it also has several health benefits, can be used as a social gathering spot, and potentially enhances your property value!
Fireside Bliss: Indoor Fireplaces with a Twist
Some homeowners are elevating the coziness of winter by incorporating innovative indoor fireplaces. These include a double-sided fireplace, which makes for a great focal point in an open layout, or a sunken fire pit which creates an intimate and cozy vibe. Floating fireplaces are also gaining popularity for those who want an elevated and modern approach to staying warm.
Indoor Sauna: A Home Spa Experience
Counter the cold weather with an indoor sauna, providing a rejuvenating escape and promoting relaxation during the winter season. A traditional Finnish sauna incorporates natural wood, typically cedar or hemlock, while contemporary saunas opt for a sleek and minimalist design using materials like glass, stone, and metal. If you don’t have much space, compact saunas are ideal and can fit into just a small corner of your home.
Heated Floors: Step Into Warmth
Infuse warmth into every step by installing heated flooring, a practical and luxurious feature that adds comfort to chilly winter mornings. While initial costs to install heated floors can be significant, many homeowners find the comfort, energy efficiency, and long-term benefits well worth the investment. Since there are various systems for heated floors, typically electric and hydronic, you’ll need to consult with a professional to ensure compatibility with your home.
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Source: zoocasa.com
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Inside: Ever wondered how much rent you can afford on a particular hourly wage? Use the rent calculator to see what you can afford on $17 an hour. Find out from the experts in this guide.
Honestly, this is something most people don’t think about until after they get themselves in a troubling situation.
Determining rent affordability is paramount in your financial planning. It’s important to strike a balance between comfortable accommodation and fiscal responsibility to avoid financial strains down the road.
There exists a direct correlation between your income and the rent you can afford to pay. Higher income opens doors to pricier accommodations while lower wages might enforce budget constraints. Understanding this relationship is crucial.
It guides your housing decisions and helps maintain a stable financial footing.
By calculating your rent affordability, you can set a clear budget, establish your housing needs, and navigate the real estate market with ease.
How much rent can I afford making $17 an hour?
If you make $17 an hour, based on a standard 40-hour work week, your gross income would come up to approximately $2,946 per month.
If you follow the 30% rule, this means you should allocate a maximum of $883 each month for rent.
$2946 x 30% = $883.80
However, remember this is a rough estimate and your specific expenses and financial obligations should also be taken into consideration before deciding on a rent budget.
What Percentage of My Income Should Go to Rent?
This is a good question to consider.
Even better when you are trying to figure out how much to save before moving out.
The 30% Rule Explained
The 30% rule is a simple guideline suggesting that one should allocate no more than 30% of their gross (before taxes) monthly income toward rent.1
This rule of thumb has been widely adopted as a measure of rent affordability. The beauty of the 30% rule lies in its simplicity and ease of use, allowing for quick budgeting while maintaining room for other essential expenses.
Be Conservative and Stick with 20%
According to Money Bliss budgeting percentages, adopting a more conservative approach to budgeting by allocating only 20% of your income towards housing costs can be more beneficial.
If you follow the 20% rule, this means you should allocate a maximum of $499 each month for rent.
$2946 x 20% = $499.20
This strategy helps to account for additional expenses such as utilities, unexpected repairs, and other costs that often accompany home ownership or renting.
This reduced allocation promotes being smart with your money to avoid unnecessary financial stress.
When to Consider Stretching the 30% Rule
At times, it might be necessary to stretch the 30% rule particularly in high-cost areas or during short-term situations. It’s crucial, however, to understand the potential ramifications and adjust other spending habits to compensate.
A temporary overshoot could be justifiable if it leads to significant future benefits, like proximity to a well-paying job. Always remember, that this should be an exception rather than the norm.
How Does the Rent Calculator Work?
A rent calculator is a practical tool that aids in estimating the rent you can afford. You don’t want to be forced to live on a shoestring budget.
This simple calculator is based on your hourly income and spending either 20-30% of your gross income on rent.
Fine-tuning your budget is possible by adjusting the percentage you wish to spend on housing. Remember, the final number serves as a guide and may require adjustments based on your financial situation.
Breaking Down Your Monthly Budget
For savvy budgeters, adhering to the 50/30/20 rule can provide a clear framework for managing your expenses and growing your savings. While at Money Bliss, we went a step further to define it as the 20-50-10-20-0 budget rule. (save-basic expenses-give-fun spending-debt).
This approach gives a precise breakdown of your monthly budget, ensuring that you are living within your means while also setting funds aside for future financial security.
Housing Costs
The basic 50/30/20 rule suggests dividing your monthly net income into 50% for necessities such as rent and groceries, 30% for personal wants like clothing or travel, and designating the remaining 20% for savings goals or debt repayment.
By adding these to your housing budget, you get a realistic picture of your monthly accommodation costs.
When budgeting for rent, one must account for other housing costs. These may include utilities like gas, electricity, and water, as well as internet, cable TV, and trash collection. You might also need to factor in the renter’s insurance and potential parking fees.
Essential Living Expenses
In addition to housing, remember to consider essential living expenses in your budget. These include food, transportation, health insurance, and childcare.
In addition, we advise our readers to put aside about 15-25% of their net income for savings. Accounting for these factors ensures you don’t stretch your budget to the limit solely on rent.
Discretionary spending
While you need to cover essential living expenses, it’s also important to allocate funds for discretionary spending – we call it FUN spending.
This category involves non-essential purchases like eating out, entertainment, vacations, and shopping. Using the 50/30/20 rule as a guideline, 30% of your net income can be put towards these wants, allowing you to enjoy your income while staying financially sound.
Factors Influencing Rent Affordability
There are many factors that impact how much you can spend on rent. As such, this will vary from person to person as situations vary. While these numbers are gross income, you need to realize the amount of money coming out for taxes. Many people don’t understand gross income vs net income.
Furthermore, the cost of living and rental prices in your chosen location can greatly impact how much you can afford. So, use the rent affordability calculator!
Location and Rent Prices
The location of a home greatly influences its rent prices. HCOL vs LCOL is a real thing!
Proximity to the city center, schools, parks, and shopping centers typically equate to higher costs. For example, renting trends in 2023 indicated an increase in prices the closer you get to these amenities.2
By choosing to live a bit further out, you may be able to find more affordable rent payments.
Areas with higher crime rates will have lower rents but these tend to come with more issues.
Size and Type of Housing
The size and type of your dwelling can also significantly affect your rent. Large houses with multiple rooms naturally cost more, whereas smaller apartments or studios are less expensive.
The type of housing also plays a role; for instance, a modern, furnished apartment might cost more than an unfurnished one. Tailoring your choice to your needs and budget allows for comfortable living without overspending.
If you have a pet, don’t forget it may cost more plus you have a pet deposit.
Lease Length Considerations
Lease length can directly impact your rent. Longer leases often equate to lower monthly rents, offering landlords a sense of security. On the contrary, short-term or month-to-month leases typically come with a higher price tag due to their inherent flexibility.
Assess your personal situation and potential need for flexibility before deciding on the lease term.
Also, the amount you need to put down as a security deposit can be negotiated.
Tips to Maximize Your Rent Budget
Plan your budget carefully taking into account factors like income, potential expenses, and the cost of living in your chosen location. So, if you are thinking $5000 is enough to move out, you may be surprised.
Use the 30% rule as a guide but be aware that in high cost of living areas, you may need to adjust this percentage. When searching for a rental, compare the cost and amenities of different apartments in your preferred areas and see if there are nearby neighborhoods with cheaper rental costs.
Also, you may need to embrace cost-saving measures such as cooking at home and shopping frugally to free up more income for rent.
You can learn more about those areas on our site.
Tip #1 – Reducing Costs and Saving
There are several ways to reduce housing costs and save more in this tough rental market.
- Consider downgrading to a smaller place or moving to a less expensive area.
- Negotiate a longer lease term for a reduced monthly rent.
- Maybe even consider becoming a permanent housesitter to free up your budget.
Small changes can lead to substantial savings over time.
Learn how to budget on a low income.
Tip #2 -Planning for Future Rent Increases
Each year when your lease is about to renew, always factor in the possibility of future rent increases, which could be influenced by trends in the real estate market and inflation.
Ensuring your income can keep up with these increases is necessary for maintaining affordability. Continually reassess your rent affordability, especially during annual lease renewals or job changes.
Tip #3 – Get Roommates
Sharing your space with a roommate is a practical way to cut down on your living expenses substantially. By having one or more people to share the rental costs, utilities, and even groceries in some instances, you are likely to free up a considerable portion of your budget.
However, it’s important to clearly set boundaries and expectations to maintain a smooth living arrangement.
FAQ on Rent Affordability
Is $17 an hour a livable wage?
Given the average rent in the United States is $1702, $17 an hour is not a livable wage, especially in San Francisco or New York. As such, the maximum you should be spending on rent is $883.
If workers are unable to afford to live in the communities they work in, it puts the whole system under stress. While there have been movements to create low-income housing, it is slow to happen and for many, difficult to apply.
Ultimately, whether this wage allows for a comfortable lifestyle depends largely on your financial habits, commitments, and where you live.
With good financial planning, including a solidly crafted budget that factors in rent, savings, and living expenses, a $17 hourly wage can indeed cater to a decent lifestyle.
Remember to reassess your budget regularly and adjust as necessary to meet changing financial landscapes.
Making wise financial decisions now can lead to a financially secure future. Now, do you have the habits needed to be financially stable?
Source
- FiftyThirtyTwenty. “About.” http://fiftythirtytwenty.com/about.html. Accessed December 23, 2023.
- Rent. “Rent Growth in Half of Suburbs Outpacing Metro’s Core City.” https://www.rent.com/research/suburban-growth-outpacing-core-city/. Accessed December 23, 2023.
- Rent Cafe. “Average Rent in the U.S.” https://www.rentcafe.com/average-rent-market-trends/us/. Accessed December 23, 2023.
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Source: moneybliss.org