Blog News August 8, 2014

Amazing Decks and Patios

Decks and patios are a great way to expand the living area of your home while being able to enjoy the outdoors. The design of the deck or patio is completely up to you, leaving space to add all of the comforts of the indoors, such as a lounge area complete with a TV to watch the games or to have a simple relaxing area with just a hammock and table for your ice tea. The most important part of the deck or patio is always the view. Here are a few examples of spectacular decks and patios to keep in mind when looking for inspiration for your new outdoor space.

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This deck in La Quinta, California offers unobstructed views of the beautiful desert landscape. As one of the top vacation destinations in California, La Quinta has something to offer for everyone. Having a deck as beautiful and simple as this one will allow you to enjoy all of the beautiful landscape that the area has to offer.

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This patio in Park City, Utah allows you to get up close and personal with nature. The fire pit is the perfect accessory to keep you warm after enjoying the many ski resorts in the area.  A patio is the best place to relax after a long day and enjoy the sunset given the mild temperatures in the summer.

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The glass wall around this deck in Penticton, Canada allows for all encompassing views of the surrounding lakes. With seasonal temperatures most of the year, this deck offers a beautiful spot to enjoy the scenery with your friends and loved ones.

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There is no better way to enjoy the gorgeous weather in Cabo San Lucas, Mexico than sitting on an open deck such as this one. This deck offers a grill and plenty of seating to entertain all of your friends and family.

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This spacious deck in Los Angeles, California features a beautiful skyline of the city. The warm temperatures and low humidity make this the perfect balcony to enjoy all year long!   The glass wall makes this deck the perfect entertaining area for any gatherings.

For all of your luxury real estate needs from Beverly Hills to Calabasas, contact Betsy Dittman. As a luxury real estate agent, I can help you successfully sell or purchase your home.
All images of the perfect decks and patios were provided by HGTV.

Blog News July 30, 2014

Foreign Buyers are Scooping up U.S. Real Estate

During the past year, more and more overseas buyers have invested in the United States housing market. They accounted for $92 billion worth of home purchases, which is up 35 percent over last year .It is also the most amount ever that foreign buyers have spent in the U.S. real estate market.

While people from all over the world are buying property in America, Chinese buyers are leading the trend with almost one-fourth of all home purchases. They are focusing their real estate buying in Southern California with Los Angeles being the top destination for real estate searches coming from China, followed by San Francisco and Irvine. According to the National Association of Realtors, more than half of the $22 billion Chinese buyers spent on U.S. homes during the 12 months ended in March was spent in California, Washington and New York.

Many of the Chinese families that are purchasing real estate in the United States are doing so to enable their children to attend California universities and even high schools that are in some of the top districts. Another reason is that Chinese buyers see it as a smarter investment as opposed to the inflated values of  real estate in China.  California is particularly attractive because it is so close to the homeland and many cities have significant Chinese-American populations in addition to the attractive climate.

This huge influx of Chinese buyers is helping to drive the cost of real estate in California to pre-recession levels.

For all of your real estate needs, contact Betsy Dittman. I can help make sure that you find the best real estate property that fits all of the needs and your lifestyle.  From Beverly Hills to Calabasas to the Conejo Valley, Betsy has your real estate needs covered.