Zillow: Five Home Trends To Follow in 2025
Zillow's research reveals that in 2025, homes are increasingly incorporating both nostalgic and high-tech features. "Cozy" has become a popular term in listings, reflecting a shift towards smaller, segmented rooms and nature-inspired colors like earth tones. Sustainability is another rising trend, with more homes featuring solar panels, whole-home batteries, and electric vehicle chargers. Nostalgic touches like floral patterns, antique furnishings, and sculleries are also gaining attention. Additionally, climate-resilient features like drought-resistant lawns and flood barriers, along with luxurious bathrooms, are becoming more sought after by buyers. --- JRL
8 Essential Tips to Get Your Home Winter-Ready
Want more money out of your home? Maintain it. Want practical, actionable steps to protect your property or improve energy efficiency through the winter months? Here are eight essential tips to get your home winter-ready... 1 | Inspect & Clean the Gutters Remove leaves and debris to prevent water buildup and ice dams that can damage the roof and exterior walls. 2 | Seal Gaps / Add Weatherstripping Check around windows and doors for drafts, and add weatherstripping or caulking to seal any leaks. This can improve energy efficiency and lower heating costs. 3 | Service the HVAC System Have the furnace inspected and cleaned to ensure it’s running efficiently. Replace air filters to improve air quality and heating efficiency. 4 | Protect Pipes from Freezing Insulate exposed pipes, especially in unheated areas like basements, garages, and crawl spaces. This helps prevent pipe bursts during extreme cold snaps. 5 | Reverse Ceiling Fans Switch ceiling fans to run clockwise at a low speed. This pushes warm air down and can help distribute heat more evenly throughout rooms. 6 | Test Smoke, Carbon Monoxide Detectors Ensure all detectors are working and have fresh batteries. This is crucial during winter when heaters and fireplaces are used more frequently. 7 | Clean & Inspect the Fireplace (and Chimney) For those with wood-burning fireplaces, have the chimney cleaned and inspected by a professional to prevent creosote buildup, which can cause fires. 8 | Prepare Outdoor Faucets (and Sprinkler Systems) Drain outdoor hoses, faucets, and sprinkler systems to prevent them from freezing. If possible, shut off water supply lines to outdoor spigots.
Carmel Leads Hamilton County in Home Value Growth (Noblesville is a close 2nd though!)
According to current Market Activity Reports by Realtor Property Resource, Carmel has shown the strongest growth in median estimated home values among the four largest cities in Hamilton County. Here’s a snapshot of the 12-month and 24-month changes in median estimated home values: Carmel 12-Month Change: 12.46% 24-Month Change: 31.01% Fishers 12-Month Change: 2.84% 24-Month Change: 29.21% Noblesville 12-Month Change: 3.23% 24-Month Change: 32.54% Westfield 12-Month Change: 3.72% 24-Month Change: 29.53% While Noblesville slightly edges out Carmel in 24-month growth, Carmel’s year-over-year increase of 12.46% stands out as the highest, highlighting a sharper and more recent appreciation trend. It's important to note these figures are based on median estimated values from valuation models, not formal appraisals. Individual property values may vary depending on unique features, market conditions, and other factors. --- JRL
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