As we saw in our 2023 Trends to Watch report, classic style is always in. When we asked homeowners across the country what their preferred home style is, they made one thing clear: when it comes to designing their homes, classic style is the way to go.

What home personality are you? Read on to learn more about each style, and peep a few of our favorite Opendoor homes available.

The TraditionalistFTLU: Familiarity, Timelessness, Loyalty, UniquenessLike a scented candle

As we saw in our 2023 Trends to Watch report, classic style is always in. When we asked homeowners across the country what their preferred home style is, they made one thing clear: when it comes to designing their homes, classic style is the way to go.

What home personality are you? Read on to learn more about each style, and peep a few of our favorite Opendoor homes available.

The TraditionalistFTLU: Familiarity, Timelessness, Loyalty, UniquenessLike a scented candle burning on a fall day, you want your home to evoke a sense of warmth and comfort from the moment you arrive. You firmly believe in “making a house a home.” Natural lighting, glistening hardwoods and oversized furniture come to mind when you think of your dream home. You know the versatility of Greige. Cue the dreamy earth tones.→ Find a home for you

The DIY-ERENCV: Expression, Newness, Variety, CommonalityYou see beyond first impressions and aren’t afraid to put your own stamp on things. You relish in the creative process and enjoy infusing your personal style into your projects. You’re a visionary driven by passion, enthusiasm and newness (and the prospect of major curb-appeal). Once you decide to take on a new project, there’s no stopping you.→ Find a home for you

The LoyalistFTLC: Familiarity, Timelessness, Loyalty, CommonalityYou’re a lover of the classics. You’re not swayed by what’s trending. Rather, you know what you like and you stick to it. You love clean lines, simple design, and classic color palettes. You’re loyal to your design aesthetic, even if it’s not for everyone. You’re completely comfortable in your own skin. Why mess with a good thing?→ Find a home for you

The Anti-Marie KondoENVU: Expression, Newness, Variety, UniquenessYou’re an unapologetically bold rule breaker. You’re all about catching eyes and catching compliments. Forget about “less is more.” To you, more is never enough. Why fade in the background when you can stand out? Maximalism is your comfort zone.→ Find a home for you

DefinitionsFamiliarity vs. ExpressionFamiliarity – You find comfort in the classics and the constants over the latest trends.Expression – Those who like to push the envelope. You’re always on the lookout for the next big thing.

Timelessness vs. NewnessTimelessness – You know that styles become timeless for a reason (re: they’re the best). You prefer to indulge in what’s already beloved by the masses.Newness – You’re always on the cusp of what’s cutting edge. Out with the old, in with whatever’s trending this week.

Loyalty vs. VarietyLoyalty – You know what you like and you stand by it. There’s no shame in more of the same.Variety – You like to shake things up. Uniformity was never your thing. A little mixing and matching never hurt anyone.

Commonality vs. UniquenessCommonality – There’s power in popularity. You like that so many others share your same taste.Uniqueness – You find beauty in what’s different. Your style might not be for everyone, but it’s definitely for you.

As an Opendoor home designer my job is to turn a blank living space into one that reflects a potential home buyer’s personal style and embodies what home means to them. It’s so rewarding to turn an otherwise impersonal space into one that expresses what is truly unique to each new homeowner. That’s why I love to see people display their own design sense during the holidays, when decorating is a nationwide pastime.

We’ve learned that Americans like getting an early start on decorating their

As an Opendoor home designer my job is to turn a blank living space into one that reflects a potential home buyer’s personal style and embodies what home means to them. It’s so rewarding to turn an otherwise impersonal space into one that expresses what is truly unique to each new homeowner. That’s why I love to see people display their own design sense during the holidays, when decorating is a nationwide pastime.

We’ve learned that Americans like getting an early start on decorating their homes for the holiday season. According to our survey, many begin decorating either right after Halloween (20%) or right after Thanksgiving, but before December 1 (40%). As we head into the season this year, here are the trends we should expect to see, plus my tips for incorporating design into your holiday decor.

2022 holiday decor trends to keep an eye on

This fall and winter, I expect we’ll see a lot of these trends: 

Switching from one holiday decor set to another with ease

The last few months of the year can feel like a blur, and moving from one holiday theme to another takes a bit of work. I recommend decor that evokes your favorite holiday feelings and can last all season. Use colors and textures to evoke festivities without referencing a specific holiday. For example, get throw pillows and cushions with dark green, charcoal, and sienna tones that broadly encompass fall and winter, and skip more specific holiday pillows (pumpkin, turkey, snowmen). 

That said, some people do love going all out for each holiday, and we respect that. When switching from one holiday theme to another, consider decorating with items that are simple to change but still reflect the season. I love using botanicals for this. In a signature vase, place dark, looming branches with cobwebs for Halloween. Swap them out for a dried bouquet of fall florals in November. In December, switch to a beautiful arrangement of dark greenery. The same idea works for your holiday table: use different colored napkins for each celebration. 

According to our survey, many people (38%) enjoy having a decorated mantel. Include a mix of natural elements, candles, and sentimental items. Consider a grouping of different elements, like a garland, several mismatched candle holders and custom stockings from a local business hung beneath.

Taking down and storing decor (without the stress)

Almost all respondents (84%) from our survey said that decorations come down in January, with 51% aiming for New Year’s Day or soon after. To make this process as easy as possible, I suggest: 

If you’re interested in selling your home, request an offer or check out our current homes for sale. Don’t forget to check out our open roles, too.

Yasmine El Sanyoura is a Home Designer at Opendoor.

Methodology: The Opendoor Survey was conducted online by Qualtrics among 800 nationally representative U.S. homebuyers ages 28+ between September-October 2021 who are interested in either decorating or remodeling their home (or have remodeled in the past two years). The data has been weighted to ensure reliable and accurate demographic representation of the U.S. homebuyer population ages 28+. For the purposes of this report, Millennials are defined as ages of 29-39, Generation X is defined as ages 40 to 55 and Baby Boomers are defined as ages 56 to 74.

Real estate has always been about location, location, location. But today, all I hear is recession, economy, inflation — terms that definitely have less appeal.

For the past three decades, I’ve been helping people move in and out and onto their next chapter(s). I’ve seen and navigated a lot within the real estate industry. Here’s my take on where we are today.

Current state

Over the years, I’ve seen a wide range of real estate conditions, but unlike big market turns of the

Real estate has always been about location, location, location. But today, all I hear is recession, economy, inflation — terms that definitely have less appeal.

For the past three decades, I’ve been helping people move in and out and onto their next chapter(s). I’ve seen and navigated a lot within the real estate industry. Here’s my take on where we are today.

Current state

Over the years, I’ve seen a wide range of real estate conditions, but unlike big market turns of the past, this time we’ve swayed quickly from one extreme to the other. In just two short years, we’ve seen outsized home price appreciation in most U.S. markets, followed by a swift decline in housing demand. The whiplash of these fluctuations, and the uncertainty about what happens next, can be hard to wrap your head around.

That initial upswing in home prices was exciting, and many homeowners made plans for their next move. But now, selling your home might mean you’ll fetch a lower price than you would have a year ago. Even though your home may have appreciated far more than expected over the last couple of years, seeing a price drop in just a few days can feel a bit shocking — like you missed out on a bigger return. But unless your home has depreciated to less than when you bought it, you’re not in the red — and that’s important to remember.

If you’re a buyer, only months ago the biggest obstacle was dealing with bidding wars and the potential heartache of losing out on what you thought was the perfect home. Today, the focus has shifted to uncertainty around mortgage rates, and whether now is the best time to buy. Indeed,  the state of the economy is top of mind for everyone. Even though none of us can predict what will happen next, that’s okay. The truth is, markets are cyclical, and today’s market is trying to find out where it will land (albeit a bit dramatically).

Making your move 

If you’re a seller or a buyer (or both!) currently stuck in the loop of dreaming, hoping, anticipating, and dreading, here are some tips to help you get past the worries and move on to your next chapter. 

Tip #1: Don’t worry about finding the “perfect” time to sell or buy; it doesn’t exist. The perfect time is what works best for you and your life. Some factors, like a growing family or a new job in another state, are an easy call. But other reasons require you to dig deep. Will a move improve your day-to-day life? Will you gain more time, be closer to friends and family, or be nearer to activities that bring you joy?

Tip #2: Research your financing options. Whether you’re getting a new loan, refinancing, or looking to lower your payment, there are many different mortgage options. A mortgage calculator can help you figure out how much you can afford in just a few minutes. There are also rate buydowns, which can help you lower your rate. Talk to a lender about what your options may be.

Tip #3: You have more control than you think. While supply is still constrained, it’s much different than it was a year ago. As more housing inventory enters the market you may have more options if you’re buying. Use this time to take a breath and set your own pace. In the absence of bidding wars, you have time to get to know the neighborhood, look at different housing options, and weigh your trade-offs like monthly expenses, commute time, and schools.

Lastly, don’t get discouraged. Know what’s important to you – it’s your biggest superpower right now, and it will help unlock your ideal scenario. 

While you can’t always count on a hot housing market, you can count on the certainty of a cash offer from Opendoor. We look at your home details, recent listings in your area, and current market conditions to make an offer. The ability to sell your home without the stress of staging, short-notice home visits, and fretting over contingencies is real. And if you’re buying, you can visit homes on your own schedule and get help buying any home on the market. 

When it comes to finding your home, the old saying “it’s the journey, not the destination” is only partly true. Your home is the all-important destination, and your journey there can be seamless and stress-free. 

This content is meant for informational purposes only and is not intended to be construed as financial, tax, legal, or insurance advice. Opendoor always encourages you to reach out to an advisor regarding your own situation.

Providing customers with a simple, certain, fast and trusted moving experience is at the heart of what we do at Opendoor. Opendoor Complete combines selling, buying and closing into one seamless transaction. Paired with Opendoor Backed Offers, we’re helping everyone win their dream home. 

Continuing with this effort, we’re pleased to announce our partnership with Lower.com, a financial technology platform that offers our customers a broader suite of products and services within home lending. Lower.com

Providing customers with a simple, certain, fast and trusted moving experience is at the heart of what we do at Opendoor. Opendoor Complete combines selling, buying and closing into one seamless transaction. Paired with Opendoor Backed Offers, we’re helping everyone win their dream home. 

Continuing with this effort, we’re pleased to announce our partnership with Lower.com, a financial technology platform that offers our customers a broader suite of products and services within home lending. Lower.com enables Opendoor customers with direct support from Lower’s sales and operations teams to make home lending, a historically complicated and cumbersome transaction, a much more pleasant experience.Why we are choosing to partner with Lower: 

“Our goal at Lower is to make homeownership more accessible, and to help more people buy homes, which aligns with what Opendoor has been doing since its founding,” said Lower.com co-founder and CEO Dan Snyder. “We strive to make it easy for companies to offer home lending to their customers, and we believe this partnership with Opendoor is an innovative solution to many customer pain points within the real estate transaction process.”  

How can Opendoor customers utilize this partnership?We’ve made this partnership as seamless as possible for our customers to utilize. If you are looking to finance a home, simply go to Opendoor.com and through your buying or selling journey, your dedicated Opendoor representative can provide more information on the partnership process.

With this partnership, we are proud to continue offering Opendoor customers more flexibility with how they choose to move, including the way they choose to finance. Our partnership with Lower.com is one more step in the right direction to making the real estate transaction simpler and more certain for everyone. 

Heather Harmon is the Co-Head of OD Homes Brokerage

Like every generation, Millennials do things a little differently than their parent’s generation. This is the generation that gave us influencers, dating apps, and bottomless brunch; they’re getting married later (if at all), and they may or may not have kids. But there’s one life milestone that has stood the test of time, even for this open-minded generation: they definitely still want to become homeowners. 

Millennials, now the largest population group in the US, are currently between the

Like every generation, Millennials do things a little differently than their parent’s generation. This is the generation that gave us influencers, dating apps, and bottomless brunch; they’re getting married later (if at all), and they may or may not have kids. But there’s one life milestone that has stood the test of time, even for this open-minded generation: they definitely still want to become homeowners. 

Millennials, now the largest population group in the US, are currently between the ages of 26 and 41 – historically, the age at which many have made the ceremonial transition to adulthood via homeownership. However, between the pandemic, inflation, and the wildest housing market in years, this generation hasn’t seen the most ideal conditions for purchasing their first home. And so we meet the Unmortgaged Millennials, or members of this generation who have never owned a home. Despite notoriously rejecting their parents’ version of “adulting,” Millennials still desperately want a place to call their own. And they’re not just casually manifesting. These Millennials would make serious sacrifices to be homeowners: most would give up TikTok and Instagram in order to own their dream home (73%), and even more (78%) would give up alcohol (so much for bottomless brunch).

What else would Millennials do to own a home, and why? Our latest report set out to understand the Unmortgaged Millennials’ desires, finances, struggles, and what they’re willing to do to make homeownership possible.

Millennials say homeownership is worth the sacrifice

Unmortgaged Millennials know it will take sacrifices to afford a home, and – besides TikTok and tequila – they’re ready to give up the trip to Tulum that everyone’s talking about to do so: 47% say they would delay vacations for five years if it meant they could buy a home, and 41% would even delay a wedding for five years.

And the list goes on: 44% would say goodbye to their morning coffee runs and eliminate coffee altogether, and 35% would miss out on their favorite shows and eliminate all TV. Now that’s dedication.

Not even a year off work will distract the Unmortgaged Millennial: 65% would advise a friend who has enough money for either a down payment or a year-long sabbatical to invest in a home. And while they’re at it, forget the destination wedding, or forget the wedding altogether: 70% would advise a friend who has enough money for either a down payment or a wedding to invest in the home.

“Adulting” drives the urgency for homeownership

As we emerge from a pandemic that forced many to hunker down – some in their parents’ basements – 52% say their urgency to own a home has increased in the past year. Nearly half of Unmortgaged Millennials (49%) call out “adulting” as a key driver of their urgency for homeownership. 

Whether or not they’re ready to settle down just yet, these Unmortgaged Millennials are ready to take steps toward investing in a home, with 69% saying they’d prefer homeownership to renting, and 54% saying they have a high desire to own a home. Among respondents with a strong desire, most say this is driven by wanting to raise a family (54%), hope for better living conditions (51%), and – perhaps unsurprisingly – being tired of paying rent to a landlord (50%). 

Affordability is the #1 obstacle

The financial stretch ultimately keeps Unmortgaged Millennials from realizing their dreams of homeownership. Rising home prices are the most commonly reported challenge to homeownership (45%), and compounded with low income (42%), nearly half of respondents aren’t sure they’ll ever be a homeowner (49%). However, they still rank a down payment as the number one most important financial milestone, even when compared to saving money for a new car (21%), travel (22%), and paying off student loans (29%). 

Still, current savings levels among this group are typically far from what is needed for a down payment. Only 20% of respondents have saved enough for a down payment, and only 12% say they can actually afford to buy a home right now. 56% have less than $25,000 in total savings, and half say they’ll need at least $25,000 more to make a down payment where they live (51%). 

Finding a dream home takes priority over finding a partner 

Forget Hinge and Tinder, because Unmortgaged Millennials are home-search obsessed, and would rather swipe through interiors of homes than swipe right (or left…) on romantic prospects. Of those surveyed, two-thirds use real estate apps, and a majority browse homes online. In fact, Unmortgaged Millennials value their real estate apps ahead of dating apps, travel apps, and sports betting apps. 

And speaking of romantic prospects, unpartnered and Unmortgaged Millennials see no issue in buying solo, as one-third say they’d buy a home on their own. 

It’s Complicated

While many surveyed described their life stage in varying terms – raising a family (29%), early career professionals (25%), and world explorers (25%) – the overwhelming consensus (46%) from Unmortgaged Millennials is that they are just “trying to get [their] life together.” While it’s clear that this generation’s priorities have shifted, those that have not yet checked the “homeowner” box are eager to make the transition – whether it’s complicated or not – from Unmortgaged Millennial to First-time Homebuyer.

__

Are you searching for your dream home? Download the Opendoor app to begin searching for homes and see how we can help you save time and money in finding the home of your dreams. 

Beatrice de Jong is the Consumer Trends Expert at Opendoor

Methodology: This sample of 1002 U.S. adults was surveyed between April 7, 2022 and April 10, 2022. All respondents are Millennials (aged between 25 to 40, as confirmed by consumer data) and report that they have never owned a home. DKC Analytics conducted and analyzed this survey with a sample procured using the Pollfish survey delivery platform, which delivers online surveys globally through mobile apps and the mobile web along with the desktop web. No post-stratification has been applied to the results.

Every day we hear from customers that the traditional real estate model is stressful, confusing, and time-consuming. At Opendoor, we provide a more seamless, transparent solution to homebuyers and sellers across the nation. Following our big move into the Northeast last month, our 2022 market momentum continues, allowing us to free sellers from the complexities […]

The post Opendoor

Every day we hear from customers that the traditional real estate model is stressful, confusing, and time-consuming. At Opendoor, we provide a more seamless, transparent solution to homebuyers and sellers across the nation. Following our big move into the Northeast last month, our 2022 market momentum continues, allowing us to free sellers from the complexities […]

The post Opendoor Launches in Detroit area and Southwest Florida appeared first on Opendoor.