In today’s real estate market, the desire for a cozy home is not just a passing trend, it’s a growing phenomenon. According to the real estate site Zillow, the word “cozy” in home descriptions has surged by an impressive 35% since last year. This statistic reveals a clear shift in what homeowners and homebuyers seek- living spaces offering warmth and comfort.
Welcome Home
In a world that often feels overwhelming, making a cozy home has become a top priority for many. More than just a buzzword, a cozy home reflects a yearning for homes that are comforting retreats from the stress of daily life. This is just one of the many reasons that families move to Creekshaw, a dynamic master-planned community located in Royse City. While still close enough to enjoy all that Dallas has to offer, Royse City is a town known for its commitment to the preservation of its historic buildings and its quaint, inviting atmosphere.
In a shift that speaks to both practical considerations and a renewed appreciation for intimate living, home buyers are increasingly embracing smaller, cozier spaces. The premier builders at Creekshaw work with potential homeowners to design home layouts that have a distinct charm and character.
The Art of Cozy Living
A movement away from expansive, multi-functional great rooms towards more defined, cozy spaces is already reshaping modern home design. Cozy home layouts contain color-saturated rooms that serve specific functions, like dens where families gather for movie nights, and dining rooms that encourage intimate meals and conversations. These smaller, well-defined spaces offer a sense of comfort and personalization that larger, impersonal open areas can’t always match.
If you’re wishing for that cozy vibe but already own a home with an open floor plan, don’t be dismayed! According to the experts at HGTV open floor plans can still be cozy with the right design elements. The key is to create defined areas within the open space that feel inviting and intimate.
Here are some ways to achieve a cozy atmosphere in an open floor plan:
Define Zones – Define a focal point and then use furniture to create distinct areas. For example, use a sofa and chairs to create a sitting area and a dining table to define dining space. Rugs also help to delineate functional zones within an open floor plan.
Layered Lighting – Select ambient lighting for overhead illumination and add targeted lighting such as table lamps, floor lamps, or under-cabinet lights, to specific areas. Think about including wall sconces and candles to create a warm, cozy setting.
Color and Texture – Cozy is a warm color palette. Soft neutrals, earth tones, and pops of warm hues like rust or mustard work well. A variety of textures can be incorporated – like throws, rugs, pillows, and curtains – to add depth and a feeling of comfort.
Built for Comfort – Furniture like overstuffed sofas, cozy armchairs, and cushioned dining chairs are great choices to create a cozy vibe.
Natural Elements – Wood, stone, and other natural materials lend themselves well to a cozy design, giving the space a grounded feel.
A Personal Touch – Photos, artwork, and decorative items reflect a person’s personality and make a home feel “homey.” Use bookshelves to define spaces and indoor plants to add life and character. Fill empty walls.
Decorative Items – Choose items that are beautiful and functional. Think decorative bowls, trays, and baskets.
Integrating these design elements will allow you to achieve a cozy, open floor plan that feels warm, inviting, and functional.
Purpose-Driven Spaces
Cozy home layouts include purpose-driven spaces designed for functional comfort, such as a home office or a cozy reading nook, that make daily routines enjoyable. Purpose-driven spaces designed for socializing, like a cozy living room or a welcoming dining area, encourage connection and create a sense of community within the home. These areas are the perfect place for spending quality time with family and friends.
Outdoor spaces can also be reimagined into inviting, purpose-driven areas that elevate the backyard experience, blending comfort with functionality. Adding outdoor living areas such as patios, decks, or garden rooms, extends usable living space, providing more room for dining, lounging, or even working from home.
Purpose-Driven Communities
Purpose-driven spaces not only meet practical needs, but also provide a sense of comfort. The residents of Creekshaw share purpose-driven living spaces designed with their comfort in mind. They enjoyamenities like parks, playgrounds, a swimming complex, hiking and biking trails, and a community center that are well-maintained and foster connection. This type of purpose-driven living offers Creekshaw families the comfort that a sense of belonging can provide.
A Cozy Home
There’s a quote by that great author, “Anonymous,” that reflects on “a cozy home, a good book, and the comfort of knowing you are exactly where you need to be at this moment.” If you prefer homes that feel warm, inviting, and purposefully designed, come visit Creekshaw and experience the comfort that knowing exactly where you’re meant to be can bring! Call to schedule a visit today!
There is good news for families in the market for a new home. Mortgage rates are trending downward, with many considering the advantages of small-town living.
Royse City, home to the Creekshaw a master-planned community is a fast-growing northeastern suburb of Dallas. Moving to this ideal location is perfect for homeowners who prefer suburban living, but still want to maintain access to all the extras that Dallas can offer. In addition to miles of curated landscape and many resort-style, upscale amenities Creekshaw’s premium builders offer residents home designs that meet every style and satisfy every budget.
Rates Are Going Down?
Every generation of home buyers contends with the financial costs when purchasing a home, but recently the tide has turned, and mortgage rates are coming down. According to a recent article by CBS news, average mortgage rates have fallen by half a percentage point, and the Federal Reserve is poised to cut rates even further this fall.
What does this mean to prospective buyers? Lower mortgage rates are beneficial for all home buyers. Here’s why:
Affordability: Homeownership is more accessible when mortgage payments are lowered. This is especially true for first-time home buyers who may have a tighter budget or for older homeowners who are looking to downsize because of a fixed income.
Increased Purchasing Power: When interest rates are lower, homebuyers can buy a more expensive home with more features in a better location for the same monthly payment amount.
Downsizing Opportunities: Older couples looking to downsize from a traditional family home can benefit from lower interest rates when securing a new, smaller home.
Qualifying with Ease: It can be easier to qualify for a mortgage when the rates are lower.
Refinancing Options: Lower rates give homeowners the option of refinancing, decreasing the cost of monthly payments, and freeing up capital for other expenses.
Building Equity
Building equity is the difference between what a home sells for and what is still owed. Equity grows as the homeowner pays down the mortgage.
Over time, more of what is paid each month goes to the balance on the loan rather than the interest, building more equity. Owning a home provides a greater degree of economic stability – even in an unstable economy!
Buying and Selling
According to real estate platform Redfin, “a late summer decline in mortgage rates has edged mortgage payments downward for the first time in four years.” Most market analysts expect this downward trend to continue into the fall. This means that potential homeowners will now pay less and dropping rates could also stimulate the market as it becomes advantageous for sellers as well.
For many, life changes precipitate a new home. For example, a move might come because a family is expanding, an empty nest couple is downsizing, or a family is relocating because of a new job. All these important life changes can influence homebuying decisions.
Buying a home, particularly when mortgage rates drop, is a solid financial decision. Historically, the biggest advantage to owning a home is long-term financial security.
Once a homebuyer is pre-approved for a mortgage, it’s time to start looking. The real estate platform Zillow surveyed potential home buyers to find out what they most looked for when purchasing a new home. Some of the top features to consider are the following:
Safety: 83% said a feeling of safety was very important
Proximity to shopping, services, and leisure activities: 58% of buyers said they wanted conveniences and easy access to recreational activities
Optimal commute to work or school: rated very important to 53% of buyers
A sense of community or belonging is rated very important to 51% of buyers
Close to family and friends: rated very important to 50% of buyers
In a preferred school district: rated very important to 50% of buyers
All-in-One Destination
Creekshaw checks off every one of the top feature requirements for potential homebuyers. The community is safe, as well as close to shopping and services.
Recreational activities are walkable, built right into the community design. Royse City ISD is a preferred school district, ranked among the best in Texas. Commuting to work in Dallas is a snap. At Creekshaw, neighbors become your friends.Extended families may even decide to live in the same neighborhood, thanks to a wide variety of available homes and floor plans that serve the needs of every homebuyer.
Seeing is Believing
When mortgage rates drop, it’s time to shop! If you’re in the market for a new home, why not seize the day? At Creekshaw, premium builders have constructed various model homes for prospective buyers to tour.
Everyone knows that seeing is believing. Tour model homes by Highland Homes, David Weekley Homes, K. Hovnanian Homes, and Impression Homes. Schedule to tour one of the new townhomes by Impression Homes that will be coming soon. A New Phase is coming to Creekshaw! There will be plenty of home designs that can work with any kind of budget.
Purchasing Power
Whether you’re a first-time buyer looking for a forever home or an empty-nester ready to downsize, lower mortgage rates mean greater purchasing power! Come to Creekshaw and find the home that you’ve been looking for. Call to schedule an appointment today!
