As we head into Spring – so does the Real Estate Market. Time to get those homes ready for sale!
A new survey of home staging professionals reveals the most off-putting colors to home buyers.
Bold, bright colors may be trendy, but they also can be distracting to potential home buyers. The home remodeling site Fixr.com surveyed home staging and design professionals to uncover the most off-putting paint colors to home buyers in 2025.
And their findings are clear: Don’t go too wild when you’re trying to sell a home.
Photo by Sabrina Caton 2024
The Most Off-Putting Interior Colors for Home Buyers in 2025
Lime green: 73%
Bold pink: 42%
Red: 35%
Purple: 33%
Bold orange: 30%
Mustard yellow: 20%
Pinks, reds and purples have emerged as trendy colors lately for the home, and many of these hues comprise paint firms’ selections for the 2025 Colors of the Year. But home buyers may have a tough time looking past color schemes that are too bright. Instead of using these palettes in heavy doses, home stagers advise reserving them for home accessories or artwork—small doses that can attract but not overwhelm a space.
Written by Melissa Dittmann Tracey – contributing editor for REALTOR® Magazine and editor of the Styled, Staged & Sold blog.
My two cents – warm whites walls and crisp door/window frames are my preferred go-to color when prepping a home for sale. The photos come out warm opposed to cold and grey. Coupled with great staging – you’re sure to garnish online action that turns into feet in the door.
Got Questions? The Caton Team is here to help.
Cell| Sabrina 650.799.4333 |Susan 650.796.0654 | EMAIL | WEB| BLOG
We love what we do and would love to help you navigate your sale or purchase of Residential Real Estate. Please reach out for a personal consultation. Please enjoy our free resources below and get to know our team from our TESTIMONIALS.
Effective. Efficient. Responsive. The Caton Team 🏡
Got Real Estate Questions? The Caton Team is here to help.
We strive to be more than just Realtors – we are also your home resource. If you have any real estate questions, concerns, need a referral, or some guidance – we are here for you. Contact us at your convenience – we are but a call, text or click away!
The Caton Team believes, in order to be successful in the San Fransisco | Peninsula | Bay Area | Silicon Valley Real Estate Market we have to think and act differently. We do this by positioning our clients in the strongest light, representing them with the utmost integrity, while strategically maneuvering through negotiations and contracts. Together we make dreams come true.
A mother and daughter-in-law team with over 40+ years of combined, local Real Estate experience and knowledge – wouldn’t you like The Caton Team to represent you? Let us know how we can be of service. Contact us any time.
Cell | Sabrina 650.799.4333 | Susan 650.796.0654 | EMAIL | WEB| BLOG
The Caton Team – Susan & Sabrina A Family of Realtors Effective. Efficient. Responsive. What can we do for you?
Artificial intelligence is fast becoming a go-to technology for real estate agents coast-to-coast, helping to boost productivity. But AI has a darker side. Cybercriminals and scammers are using AI to create more sophisticated, harder-to-detect scams.
Trust and accuracy are required in real estate, making AI-generated fraud particularly dangerous. Today, criminals can use AI to produce fake real estate documents that look entirely legitimate, mimic buyers with disturbingly real personas, and craft emails with links that lead straight to chaos.
For every real estate agent, staying ahead of these threats is crucial to protect yourselves, your clients, and your transactions.
Here are three new AI-created security threats:
1. From seals to signatures: AI forgery grows
A real estate title is legal proof of property ownership, conveying a buyer’s legal rights to their new home or investment. Scammers, however, are now using AI to forge title documents to steal properties right under the noses of buyers and homeowners.
Advanced AI tools have become frighteningly accurate: they can clone the look of authentic titles, complete with official seals, signatures, and watermarks. This isn’t just about editing a few details in Photoshop; AI can analyze thousands of actual titles, learn patterns, and produce documents virtually indistinguishable from the real thing.
An increase in AI-powered real estate fraud represents a serious concern if you are trying to buy or sell a home. Imagine completing a transaction with a forged title, only to discover later that the property belongs to someone else. Such fraud can lead to disruptive consequences for everyone involved, from financial losses to tarnished reputations.
The use of AI means these forgeries can slip by even the most eagle-eyed. That’s why real estate agents must practice secure real estate processes, be diligent in looking for micro-errors, and, when available, turn to advanced verification software whenever possible.
Pro Tip: Always cross-reference any document you receive by contacting the vetted title company to confirm the document’s legitimacy.
2. Fake buyers
Another unsettling trend is the rise of AI-created fake buyers. Scammers can now generate realistic personas to impersonate potential buyers or sellers, complete with personalized backgrounds, social media profiles, and even websites. A common tactic is for cybercriminals to pose as international buyers, tech-savvy investors, or high-net-worth individuals who seem eager to engage but have ulterior motives.
AI that creates fake buyers makes them alarmingly convincing. By pulling information from public sources and constructing a “profile” tailored to appeal to a real estate agent, scammers can develop profiles that seem credible, complete with social media accounts.
Initially, a fake buyer may ask simple questions about the local market or pretend to be interested in a property, but eventually, they will try to convince an agent that they have an urgent need to buy. Accelerated sales are often a smokescreen to try to advance a transaction so that not all the normal due diligence boxes are checked.
The fallout can be catastrophic, as an agent, since you may invest your time and resources while unknowingly engaging with a fictional entity who wants to defraud you. To guard against fraud, you must verify buyer identities early on in your conversations with prospective clients and rely on transparent communication channels and background-checking software like Forewarn to identify suspicious behavior before it’s too late.
Pro Tip: Be sure to dig deep into social media profiles, as most buyer profiles typically have a longer, more detailed digital history than fake ones.
3. AI phishing schemes
AI-powered phishing emails are becoming practically a daily occurrence. AI is turning phishing emails from obvious scams to near-flawless imitations of legitimate ones. AI has access to an unprecedented amount of data, giving it the ability to craft phishing emails that seem highly personalized, often including real phone numbers or addresses and details that align with a legitimate business.
Emails might look like an official notification to approve a login attempt, verify a recent charge, or confirm a password change. It could appear as a notice from a bank about a trust deposit or a message from a well-known title company about confirming a wire transfer.
These emails are particularly dangerous for real estate agents, who often field countless emails each day. You can no longer identify fraudulent emails by looking for poor grammar or fuzzy logos. These AI-generated emails can contain highly convincing content, making it easy to dupe the recipient.
Phone calls from real numbers in the email can be part of these scams and add another layer of deception. The links in the email are the real threat. These digital fraudsters aim to have you click links that infect your computers, compromise client information, or gain access to your computer or internal systems.
Even initial multi-factor authentication may not be enough, as cybercriminals are finding ways to use AI to bypass MFA solutions.
Remaining aware is critical. Real estate agents must look carefully at every email, especially those that prompt you to click on a link or download an attachment. Verification is vital: whenever you have the slightest doubt, don’t click. It’s better to be cautious and reach out to the source directly, preferably by phone, and avoid clicking any embedded links.
Pro tip: Hover your cursor – or right mouse click – over any link in an email to see where it leads. If the URL looks suspicious or doesn’t match the official domain of the supposed sender, do not click.
Staying vigilant
AI-driven scams are becoming more common, increasing the need for real estate agents to remain vigilant. Fake titles, AI-generated buyers, and convincing phishing emails aren’t just hypothetical threats; they’re here now and becoming more sophisticated and believable. Staying informed, implementing rigorous verification processes, and trusting in secure systems are the best defenses real estate agents can use to battle against complex scams.
More waves of cyber threats in real estate are coming. Well-prepared real estate agents will ask the hard questions, trust their instincts, and continue educating themselves about emerging risks.
AI will continue to be used by bad actors, but an informed and vigilant real estate community can slow down or stop many threats. The good news is that real estate agents have an ally to help. If you need advice on spotting AI threats, learning how to make your systems more secure, or better understanding the pluses and minuses of AI, Tech Helpline is here to help, and an analyst is available with a click, call, or text – and ready to assist you.
Cell| Sabrina 650.799.4333 |Susan 650.796.0654 | EMAIL | WEB| BLOG
We love what we do and would love to help you navigate your sale or purchase of Residential Real Estate. Please reach out for a personal consultation. Please enjoy our free resources below and get to know our team from our TESTIMONIALS.
Effective. Efficient. Responsive. The Caton Team 🏡
Got Real Estate Questions? The Caton Team is here to help.
We strive to be more than just Realtors – we are also your home resource. If you have any real estate questions, concerns, need a referral, or some guidance – we are here for you. Contact us at your convenience – we are but a call, text or click away!
The Caton Team believes, in order to be successful in the San Fransisco | Peninsula | Bay Area | Silicon Valley Real Estate Market we have to think and act differently. We do this by positioning our clients in the strongest light, representing them with the utmost integrity, while strategically maneuvering through negotiations and contracts. Together we make dreams come true.
A mother and daughter-in-law team with over 35 years of combined, local Real Estate experience and knowledge – wouldn’t you like The Caton Team to represent you? Let us know how we can be of service. Contact us any time.
Cell | Sabrina 650.799.4333 | Susan 650.796.0654 | EMAIL | WEB| BLOG
The Caton Team – Susan & Sabrina A Family of Realtors Effective. Efficient. Responsive. What can we do for you?
CalHFA offers a variety of loan programs to help you purchase a home in California.
First Mortgage Programs
Government Loans
CalHFA FHA Loan Program The CalHFA FHA Program is an FHA-insured loan featuring a CalHFA 30 year fixed interest rate first mortgage.
CalPLUS FHA Loan Program The CalPLUS FHA program is an FHA-insured first mortgage with a slightly higher 30 year fixed interest rate than our standard FHA program and is combined with the CalHFA Zero Interest Program (ZIP) for closing costs.
CalHFA VA Loan Program The CalHFA VA program is a VA-insured loan featuring a CalHFA fixed interest rate first mortgage. This loan is a 30-year fixed interest rate first mortgage.
CalHFA USDA Program The CalHFA USDA Program is a USDA Guaranteed first mortgage loan program, which can be combined with the MyHome Assistance Program (MyHome). This loan is a 30-year fixed interest rate first mortgage.
Conventional Loans
CalHFA Conventional Loan Program The CalHFA Conventional program is a first mortgage loan insured through private mortgage insurance on the conventional market. The interest rate on the CalHFA Conventional is fixed throughout the 30-year term.
CalPLUS Conventional Loan Program The CalPLUS Conventional program is a conventional first mortgage with a slightly higher 30 year fixed interest rate than our standard conventional program and is combined with the CalHFA Zero Interest Program (ZIP) for closing costs.
Down Payment Assistance Programs
The money you put “down” or the down payment on your home loan can be one of the largest hurdles for many first-time homebuyers. That’s why CalHFA offers several options for down payment and closing cost assistance. This type of assistance is often called a second or subordinate loan. CalHFA’s subordinate loans are “silent seconds”, meaning payments on this loan are deferred so you do not have to make a payment on this assistance until your home is sold, refinanced or paid in full. This helps to keep your monthly mortgage payment affordable.
California Dream For All Shared Appreciation Loan The California Dream For All Shared Appreciation Loan is a down payment assistance program for first-time homebuyers to be used in conjunction with the Dream For All Conventional first mortgage for down payment and/or closing costs.
MyHome Assistance Program CalHFA Government Loans (FHA): MyHome offers a deferred-payment junior loan of an amount up to the lesser of 3.5% of the purchase price or appraised value to assist with down payment and/or closing costs.
CalHFA Conventional Loans: MyHome offers a deferred-payment junior loan of an amount up to the lesser of 3% of the purchase price or appraised value to assist with down payment and/or closing costs.
The Caton Team loves working with buyers – learn what a Buyer’s Agent and The Caton Team does for our clients >>> Read more HERE.
Got Questions? The Caton Team is here to help.
Cell| Sabrina 650.799.4333 |Susan 650.796.0654 | EMAIL | WEB| BLOG
We love what we do and would love to help you navigate your sale or purchase of Residential Real Estate. Please reach out for a personal consultation. Please enjoy our free resources below and get to know our team from our TESTIMONIALS.
Effective. Efficient. Responsive. The Caton Team 🏡
Got Real Estate Questions? The Caton Team is here to help.
We strive to be more than just Realtors – we are also your home resource. If you have any real estate questions, concerns, need a referral, or some guidance – we are here for you. Contact us at your convenience – we are but a call, text or click away!
The Caton Team believes, in order to be successful in the San Fransisco | Peninsula | Bay Area | Silicon Valley Real Estate Market we have to think and act differently. We do this by positioning our clients in the strongest light, representing them with the utmost integrity, while strategically maneuvering through negotiations and contracts. Together we make dreams come true.
A mother and daughter-in-law team with over 35 years of combined, local Real Estate experience and knowledge – wouldn’t you like The Caton Team to represent you? Let us know how we can be of service. Contact us any time.
Cell | Sabrina 650.799.4333 | Susan 650.796.0654 | EMAIL | WEB| BLOG
The Caton Team – Susan & Sabrina A Family of Realtors Effective. Efficient. Responsive. What can we do for you?
Hello – thank you for tuning into today’s blog post. I am sharing excerpts from the San Francisco Chronicle Article about the condo naughty list.
As if getting a home in the Bay Area wasn’t hard enough, now we have another layer to add to it – a condo naughty list.
Due to the condo collapse in Florida and balcony failure in Berkeley, lenders are taking a step back in caution regarding how these condo complex and their Home Owners Associations are handling the maintenance of their buildings. Some are not handling it well. As a result, some complexes have been red-flagged and deemed unlendable until reports come in stating the opposite.
“More than 700 California condominium complexes are flagged in Fannie Mae’s database as being ‘unavailable,’ meaning the company won’t purchase loans for units there, according to data provided by condo law firm Alcock Marcus. The number of affected condos has skyrocketed in the past few years.
The impact of being on the list could be severe. A bank often won’t lend money for a condo that’s on that list, said Kevin Casey, a Bay Area loan officer with Guarantee Mortgage. That means the buyer has to either get a non-qualified mortgage, which is a riskier type of loan that comes with higher interest rates, or back out of the deal entirely.”
This is terrible news for first-time buyers or price-sensitive clients, where condo or townhome purchases are the first step into getting into the Real Estate market. Especially here in the Bay Area.
“Exactly which condo buildings are blacklisted is unclear — Allcock Marcus declined to provide the list itself. Only lenders are able to access the database, and both buyers and sellers may not know that a condo is flagged until they’ve already made a deal. But the Mercury News reported that about 168 Bay Area complexes are on the list, including 21 in San Francisco. ” Thankfully, knowing this information now, we’ll have our lenders take a look at that list before we proceed.
“Condo owners and sellers were already struggling to find insurance, with providers either leaving the state or significantly raising rates. Those insurance woes have also resulted in the Bay Area having some of the highest HOA fees in the country. And in the Walnut Creek retirement community of Rossmoor, most buyers have to pay in cash after Fannie and Freddie announced they would no longer back mortgages there unless it was funded for a complete loss. Rossmoor is one of 35 flagged condo complexes in Walnut Creek, according to the Mercury News.
Casey, the Guarantee Mortgage agent, said buyers who are considering bidding on a condo should make sure it’s in a well-run association, as that can determine how much time they spend navigating issues later in the deal.
“You’re buying two things,” Casey said. “You’re buying what’s between the walls, and you’re buying the management company. So you have to spend … a good amount of time looking at that HOA.””
That is so well said, and why it is so important that buyers take the time to actually read the Home Owners Association Documents but even that isn’t enough to know the structural integrity of the building. This will require each complex to do its due diligence, employ the correct inspectors to clear any red flags if a complex is flagged. This will require the members of the association to approve these expenses, and I hope they do – and sooner rather than later – as this list will impact the value and desirability of these units. Which in turn will impact the current owners there and affect their ability to sell should the time come to move.
Not the news I want to hear as a Realtor – but also the news I want to hear because the safety of my clients and friends matters.
Thank you for reading today’s post, and know The Caton Team is here to help – reach out with your Real Estate questions or concerns.
Got Questions? The Caton Team is here to help.
Cell| Sabrina 650.799.4333 |Susan 650.796.0654 | EMAIL | WEB| BLOG
We love what we do and would love to help you navigate your sale or purchase of Residential Real Estate. Please reach out for a personal consultation. Please enjoy our free resources below and get to know our team from our TESTIMONIALS.
Effective. Efficient. Responsive. The Caton Team 🏡
Got Real Estate Questions? The Caton Team is here to help.
We strive to be more than just Realtors – we are also your home resource. If you have any real estate questions, concerns, need a referral, or some guidance – we are here for you. Contact us at your convenience – we are but a call, text, or click away!
The Caton Team believes, in order to be successful in the San Francisco | Peninsula | Bay Area | Silicon Valley Real Estate Market, we have to think and act differently. We do this by positioning our clients in the strongest light, representing them with the utmost integrity, while strategically maneuvering through negotiations and contracts. Together we make dreams come true.
A mother and daughter-in-law team with over 35 years of combined local Real Estate experience and knowledge – wouldn’t you like The Caton Team to represent you? Let us know how we can be of service. Contact us any time.
Cell | Sabrina 650.799.4333 | Susan 650.796.0654 | EMAIL | WEB| BLOG
The Caton Team – Susan & Sabrina A Family of Realtors Effective. Efficient. Responsive. What can we do for you?
A malicious app claiming to be a financial management tool has been downloaded 100,000 times from the Google Play Store. The app— known as “Finance Simplified”—belongs to the SpyLoan family which specializes in predatory lending.
Sometimes malware creators manage to get their apps listed in the official app store. This is a great benefit for them since it lends a sense of legitimacy to the app, and they don’t have to convince users to sideload the app from an unofficial site.
So, it gives them a much larger audience, they can lean on the trust we invest in the official app stores and users don’t have to do anything they might perceive as suspicious.
While Google has enhanced security measures in place—including AI-powered threat detection and real-time scanning— that are designed to detect and block malicious apps more effectively, the cat-and-mouse game between cybercriminals and security measures continues, with each side trying to outsmart the other.
In this case, the loan app evaded detection on Google Play, by loading a WebView to redirect users to an external website from where they could download the app hosted on an Amazon EC2 server.
Predatory lending is any lending practice where the borrower is taken advantage of by the lender. Predatory lenders impose lending terms that are unfair or abusive.
The apps in the SpyLoan family offer attractive loan terms with virtually no background checks. But when the apps are installed, they steal information from the victim’s device that can be used to blackmail the victim. Especially when they miss any payments on the loan.
Among the stolen information are listed contacts, call logs, text messages, photos, and the device’s location.
Although the app has now been removed from Google Play, it may continue to run on affected devices, collecting sensitive information in the background.
The researchers found that the app only targets users in India with the recommended loan applications and the redirect to an external website.
The information stolen from users could well be used for malicious purposes or sold to other cybercriminals.
Losing data related to a financial account can have severe consequences. If you find an app from this family or another information stealer on your device, there are a few guidelines to follow to limit the damage:
Set up identity monitoring.Identity monitoring alerts you if your personal information is found being traded illegally online, and helps you recover after.
Change your password. You can make a stolen password useless to thieves by changing it. Choose a strong password that you don’t use for anything else. Better yet, let a password manager choose one for you.
Enable two-factor authentication (2FA). If you can, use a FIDO2-compliant hardware key, laptop or phone as your second factor. Some forms of two-factor authentication (2FA) can be phished just as easily as a password. 2FA that relies on a FIDO2 device can’t be phished.
Consider not storing your card details. It’s definitely more convenient to get sites to remember your card details for you, but we highly recommend not storing that information on websites.
Cell| Sabrina 650.799.4333 |Susan 650.796.0654 | EMAIL | WEB| BLOG
We love what we do and would love to help you navigate your sale or purchase of Residential Real Estate. Please reach out for a personal consultation. Please enjoy our free resources below and get to know our team from our TESTIMONIALS.
Effective. Efficient. Responsive. The Caton Team 🏡
Got Real Estate Questions? The Caton Team is here to help.
We strive to be more than just Realtors – we are also your home resource. If you have any real estate questions, concerns, need a referral, or some guidance – we are here for you. Contact us at your convenience – we are but a call, text or click away!
The Caton Team believes, in order to be successful in the San Fransisco | Peninsula | Bay Area | Silicon Valley Real Estate Market we have to think and act differently. We do this by positioning our clients in the strongest light, representing them with the utmost integrity, while strategically maneuvering through negotiations and contracts. Together we make dreams come true.
A mother and daughter-in-law team with over 35 years of combined, local Real Estate experience and knowledge – wouldn’t you like The Caton Team to represent you? Let us know how we can be of service. Contact us any time.
Cell | Sabrina 650.799.4333 | Susan 650.796.0654 | EMAIL | WEB| BLOG
The Caton Team – Susan & Sabrina A Family of Realtors Effective. Efficient. Responsive. What can we do for you?
If you’re ready to sell your home, you should feel empowered to find and work with the agent who is the best fit for your needs. Here are ten questions you should consider when selecting an agent – with answers by TheCaton Team. I read this article HERE.
1. Are you a REALTOR®?
When you work with an agent who is a REALTOR®, you are working with a professional guided by ethical duties under the REALTOR® Code of Ethics, including the pledge to protect and promote the interests of their clients.
The Caton Team are proud Realtors and uphold the Code of Ethics.
2. What types of services can you provide me?
Your agent can help you with marketing your property, interfacing with buyer’s agents, handling showings and open houses, negotiating the purchase agreement on your behalf, assisting throughout the closing process, and more.
The Caton Team shared some info here & here.Please reach out for password.
3. Are you familiar with the market where I am selling my home?
Your agent must be licensed where you are selling your home. But they should also have the market knowledge to facilitate a successful transaction. While prior experience with the market where your property is located is not a requirement, local knowledge could help your agent develop a strategy that resonates with local buyers.
The Caton Team was born and raised in the San Francisco Peninsula, aka Silicon Valley, and has over 40+ years of combined local Real Estate experience. Our clients’ journey has taken us to San Francisco County, Santa Clara County, Alameda County, and, of course, our home county of San Mateo.
4. What will be included in our listing contract?
At the outset of your relationship, you and your agent will sign a listing agreement that says the agent can represent you and market your property to potential buyers and their agents and establishes the sale price for your home. It will also lay out the type of professional representation your agent will provide and what they will be paid for those services. Remember that agent compensation is fully negotiable and not set by law.
Each client is unique as is the contract between us. We will review it with you directly.
5. How did you arrive at your suggested list price for my home?
Setting a strong initial asking price based on your agent’s knowledge of the market is important for capturing buyer interest and securing the best possible offer. Your agent should conduct market research to determine an appropriate price that both attracts prospective buyers and ensures you receive a fair market value for your home.
The Caton Team believes in transparency, we provide a market analysis and the raw data we used to arrive at the suggested price. Ultimately – you will decide your price once reviewing the data.
6. How will you market my home?
Agents may use a variety of marketing methods to reach potential buyers, and they should walk you through the pros and cons of each option. For example, one tool agents use to market properties is a Multiple Listing Service (MLS), an online platform that compiles home listings from brokerages in a given market, to reach the largest possible pool of buyers and potentially attract the best offer.
The Caton Team is happy to review our marketing plan with our clients directly and do not post our plan online. Please contact us at 650.799.4333 | Info@TheCatonTeam.com
7. How do I attract potential buyers?
There are many strategies that may help attract potential buyers. For example, offers of compensation—when you or your agent compensate another agent for bringing a buyer to successfully close the transaction—and seller concessions—when you cover certain costs associated with purchasing a home for the buyer—may lead to a better or faster offer by reducing out-of-pocket and upfront expenses for prospective buyers.
The Caton Team is happy to review our marketing plan and how we attract potential buyers with our clients directly and do not post our plan online. Please contact us at 650.799.4333 | Info@TheCatonTeam.com
8. What do I need to do to get my house ready?
To prepare your home for listing, your agent may suggest investing in necessary repairs or other upgrades that may help enhance buyer interest for the property.
The Caton Team loves this question – let’s take a look at your home and help you figure this out. Please contact us at 650.799.4333 | Info@TheCatonTeam.com
9. How will you vet potential buyers?
An important part of selling your home is ensuring that prospective buyers are financially prepared to follow through with their offer. Discuss with your agent how they plan to evaluate prospective buyers, which may include requiring a pre-approval letter to be submitted alongside the offer.
10. Do you have references I can speak with?
Many agents will be happy to connect you with satisfied clients they have worked with in the past who can speak to their experience.
YES – please read our TESTIMONIALS and read one of our favorite experiences here.
Got Questions? The Caton Team is here to help.
Cell| Sabrina 650.799.4333 |Susan 650.796.0654 | EMAIL | WEB| BLOG
We love what we do and would love to help you navigate your sale or purchase of Residential Real Estate. Please reach out for a personal consultation. Please enjoy our free resources below and get to know our team from our TESTIMONIALS.
Effective. Efficient. Responsive. The Caton Team 🏡
Got Real Estate Questions? The Caton Team is here to help.
We strive to be more than just Realtors – we are also your home resource. If you have any real estate questions, concerns, need a referral, or some guidance – we are here for you. Contact us at your convenience – we are but a call, text or click away!
The Caton Team believes, in order to be successful in the San Fransisco | Peninsula | Bay Area | Silicon Valley Real Estate Market we have to think and act differently. We do this by positioning our clients in the strongest light, representing them with the utmost integrity, while strategically maneuvering through negotiations and contracts. Together we make dreams come true.
A mother and daughter-in-law team with over 35 years of combined, local Real Estate experience and knowledge – wouldn’t you like The Caton Team to represent you? Let us know how we can be of service. Contact us any time.
Cell | Sabrina 650.799.4333 | Susan 650.796.0654 | EMAIL | WEB| BLOG
The Caton Team – Susan & Sabrina A Family of Realtors Effective. Efficient. Responsive. What can we do for you?
Kitchen remodelers are prioritizing some of these latest trends.
Nearly half of homes in the U.S. are more than 40 years old and likely have kitchens reflecting styles of a past era. That’s helping to lead to an increase in kitchen remodels, and homeowners are shelling out more money for an upgrade.
While the kitchen is often a focal point of the home, a renovation can be costly. Homeowners tend to recover about 75% of the cost of a kitchen overhaul at resale, one of the highest ROIs for home remodeling projects, according to the National Association of REALTORS®’ Remodeling Impact report.
The amount homeowners are spending on a kitchen renovation continues to grow, with the median spend rising to $60,000 over the past year, according to the 2025 U.S. Houzz Kitchen Trends Study, a survey based on more than 1,600 renovating homeowners. What’s more, the number of homeowners taking on a “premium kitchen renovation”—spending a minimum of $180,000—has grown by 20% over the past year, the survey shows.
“As kitchens take on a more centralized role in daily activities, homeowners are choosing to surrender neighboring rooms and exterior spaces for additional kitchen square footage to meet their needs,” says Marine Sargsyan, staff economist for the home remodeling site Houzz. Indeed, more than a third of renovating homeowners say they increased the square footage of their kitchens by sacrificing other spaces—typically, the dining room or living room, the survey shows.
So how are these renovating homeowners allocating their money to pay for kitchen makeovers? The Houzz survey uncovers some of the following priorities.
Backsplashes are reaching for the ceiling.
Full backsplash coverage, stretching to the cabinets, range hood or even the ceiling, is becoming more appealing to consumers. Also, while the majority of homeowners choose tile for their backsplash (76%), about a quarter are opting for larger, bold backsplashes, according to the Houzz survey.
Photo credit: Joe Hendrickson / Getty Images
Countertops go dark.
White remains the top choice for kitchen countertops—favored by 41% of consumers—but black is gaining popularity. Nearly one in five homeowners chose black for a contrasting island countertop, the Houzz survey finds.
Photo credit: Joe Hendrickson / Getty Images
Some touches of glass.
Glass-front accent cabinets are adding display spaces into the kitchen, like a more modern form of the china cabinet. For example, homeowners are mixing in glass-front accent cabinets with shaker cabinets, which are the most common style. They’re using these accent cabinets to show off glassware, decorative items or dishware.
Photo credit: PC Photography / Getty Images
Hardwood flooring loses some appeal.
Hardwood flooring for the kitchen is declining slightly in popularity, with only 24% of renovating homeowners selecting it for their remodels. Meanwhile, vinyl or resilient flooring and ceramic or porcelain tile are increasing in popularity, at 22% and 20%, respectively.
Photo credit: Artem Perevozchikov / Getty Images
Smart cooking device upgrades.
More smart home tech is entering the kitchen, and a smart oven is a bigger priority for renovators, the Houzz survey finds. Nearly two-thirds of homeowners chose ovens with specialty features, like phone monitor controls, remote timer activation, control locks, precise temperature control and automated cooking, according to the Houzz survey.
Traditional styles make a comeback.
Transitional style—a blend of traditional and modern elements—is the most popular for kitchen design, but the number of renovating homeowners opting for a more traditional look is gaining attention. In fact, traditional now ranks as the number two most popular kitchen style, nudging out modern and contemporary kitchen designs, the Houzz survey shows.
Cell| Sabrina 650.799.4333 |Susan 650.796.0654 | EMAIL | WEB| BLOG
We love what we do and would love to help you navigate your sale or purchase of Residential Real Estate. Please reach out for a personal consultation. Please enjoy our free resources below and get to know our team from our TESTIMONIALS.
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Got Real Estate Questions? The Caton Team is here to help.
We strive to be more than just Realtors – we are also your home resource. If you have any real estate questions, concerns, need a referral, or some guidance – we are here for you. Contact us at your convenience – we are but a call, text or click away!
The Caton Team believes, in order to be successful in the San Fransisco | Peninsula | Bay Area | Silicon Valley Real Estate Market we have to think and act differently. We do this by positioning our clients in the strongest light, representing them with the utmost integrity, while strategically maneuvering through negotiations and contracts. Together we make dreams come true.
A mother and daughter-in-law team with over 35 years of combined, local Real Estate experience and knowledge – wouldn’t you like The Caton Team to represent you? Let us know how we can be of service. Contact us any time.
Cell | Sabrina 650.799.4333 | Susan 650.796.0654 | EMAIL | WEB| BLOG
The Caton Team – Susan & Sabrina A Family of Realtors Effective. Efficient. Responsive. What can we do for you?
Cell| Sabrina 650.799.4333 |Susan 650.796.0654 | EMAIL | WEB| BLOG
We love what we do and would love to help you navigate your sale or purchase of Residential Real Estate. Please reach out for a personal consultation. Please enjoy our free resources below and get to know our team from our TESTIMONIALS.
Effective. Efficient. Responsive. The Caton Team 🏡
Got Real Estate Questions? The Caton Team is here to help.
We strive to be more than just Realtors – we are also your home resource. If you have any real estate questions, concerns, need a referral, or some guidance – we are here for you. Contact us at your convenience – we are but a call, text or click away!
The Caton Team believes, in order to be successful in the San Fransisco | Peninsula | Bay Area | Silicon Valley Real Estate Market we have to think and act differently. We do this by positioning our clients in the strongest light, representing them with the utmost integrity, while strategically maneuvering through negotiations and contracts. Together we make dreams come true.
A mother and daughter-in-law team with over 35 years of combined, local Real Estate experience and knowledge – wouldn’t you like The Caton Team to represent you? Let us know how we can be of service. Contact us any time.
Cell | Sabrina 650.799.4333 | Susan 650.796.0654 | EMAIL | WEB| BLOG
The Caton Team – Susan & Sabrina A Family of Realtors Effective. Efficient. Responsive. What can we do for you?
Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices – Drysdale Properties, Redwood City Ca.
DRE # | Sabrina 01413526 | Susan 01238225 | Team 70000218 | Office 01499008
The Caton Team does not receive compensation for any posts. Information is deemed reliable but not guaranteed. Third-party information not verified.
I read this article HERE.
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Cell| Sabrina 650.799.4333 |Susan 650.796.0654 | EMAIL | WEB| BLOG
We love what we do and would love to help you navigate your sale or purchase of Residential Real Estate. Please reach out for a personal consultation. Please enjoy our free resources below and get to know our team from our TESTIMONIALS.
Effective. Efficient. Responsive. The Caton Team 🏡
Got Real Estate Questions? The Caton Team is here to help.
We strive to be more than just Realtors – we are also your home resource. If you have any real estate questions, concerns, need a referral, or some guidance – we are here for you. Contact us at your convenience – we are but a call, text or click away!
The Caton Team believes, in order to be successful in the San Fransisco | Peninsula | Bay Area | Silicon Valley Real Estate Market we have to think and act differently. We do this by positioning our clients in the strongest light, representing them with the utmost integrity, while strategically maneuvering through negotiations and contracts. Together we make dreams come true.
A mother and daughter-in-law team with over 35 years of combined, local Real Estate experience and knowledge – wouldn’t you like The Caton Team to represent you? Let us know how we can be of service. Contact us any time.
Cell | Sabrina 650.799.4333 | Susan 650.796.0654 | EMAIL | WEB| BLOG
The Caton Team – Susan & Sabrina A Family of Realtors Effective. Efficient. Responsive. What can we do for you?
Paint industry pros predict diffused colors will take the place of last year’s bright shades.
Photo: Haneen Matt
Paint manufacturers have released their much-anticipated predictions for colors that are expected to trend in the year ahead. From “quietly colorful” hues to contrasting shades of charcoal to rich jewel tones, there’s an inspiring paint color for every design style. Here are the top paint color trends forecasted for 2025.
According to paint manufacturers, the biggest color story of 2025 is an expected consumer shift from popular neutrals to hues that are ‘‘quietly colorful.” These diffused, mellow shades are a fantastic way to introduce and layer color into a space. Not only can they bring harmony to a room, but they also complement any design style.
Earth tones are forecasted to play a strong role in color selection in 2025, especially when it comes to neutrals. Instead of the cooler undertones of the past five years, warmer neutrals with stronger earth-toned hues—the same mellow undertones that will make quietly colorful shades popular—are expected to resonate with consumers in the year ahead.
Earth tones vary in saturation from pale hues like beige and clay to bold shades like deep, chocolatey browns. When mixed with creamy whites, the complex undertones in earthy paint colors instantly stand out and make a beautiful statement on walls and cabinetry alike. Other earthy neutrals to consider are Sherwin-Williams Thunderous, Benjamin Moore Ashwood Moss, and BEHR Wild Truffle.
Mixing contrasting colors in home design continues to be popular with designers and color forecasters. Layering an almost-black shade of charcoal with white or a lighter color is a beautiful way to make a statement and create a moody conversation area.
The beauty of charcoal paint colors is that they vary in coloration, with warm or cool undertones to complement other hues in the space. If you’re looking for the perfect shade of charcoal, consider these favorites featured in 2025 color forecasts: Sherwin-Williams Sealskin and BEHR Cracked Pepper.
Paint manufacturers expect greens to continue to play a big role in consumer color selection in the year ahead. Forecasted for 2025 are organic, nurturing shades of green reminiscent of the forest. These fresh green colors contain the same mellow, muddied, earthy undertones as the quietly colorful hues. The restorative shades of green also have a calming effect when used on walls and cabinetry as they help bring the outdoors inside. Look to shades of green like sage, moss, and juniper for a tranquil connection with nature.
In 2020, global color forecasters predicted that blue would be the color of the decade and blue continues to be popular in design and with consumers. However, expect to see some shifts in the trending undertones of blue paint colors.
This year, paint manufacturers anticipate that deeper, more complex blues, such as cerulean and Prussian blue, will trend. Forecasted blues to consider are Sherwin-Williams Outerspace and BEHR Black Sapphire.
Dark, moody colors continue to be popular with consumers and color forecasters again this year. Experts believe this trend will continue but expect to see a shift toward warmed-up jewel-tone hues. Think deep plums with muddy undertones, like BEHR’s 2025 Color of the Year, Rumors. Complex shades of dark green-blue and rich chestnut will also be top picks.
Cell| Sabrina 650.799.4333 |Susan 650.796.0654 | EMAIL | WEB| BLOG
We love what we do and would love to help you navigate your sale or purchase of Residential Real Estate. Please reach out for a personal consultation. Please enjoy our free resources below and get to know our team from our TESTIMONIALS.
Effective. Efficient. Responsive. The Caton Team 🏡
Got Real Estate Questions? The Caton Team is here to help.
We strive to be more than just Realtors – we are also your home resource. If you have any real estate questions, concerns, need a referral, or some guidance – we are here for you. Contact us at your convenience – we are but a call, text or click away!
The Caton Team believes, in order to be successful in the San Fransisco | Peninsula | Bay Area | Silicon Valley Real Estate Market we have to think and act differently. We do this by positioning our clients in the strongest light, representing them with the utmost integrity, while strategically maneuvering through negotiations and contracts. Together we make dreams come true.
A mother and daughter-in-law team with over 35 years of combined, local Real Estate experience and knowledge – wouldn’t you like The Caton Team to represent you? Let us know how we can be of service. Contact us any time.
Cell | Sabrina 650.799.4333 | Susan 650.796.0654 | EMAIL | WEB| BLOG
The Caton Team – Susan & Sabrina A Family of Realtors Effective. Efficient. Responsive. What can we do for you?
I heard that if your home was in your trust and one hadn’t updated their home owners insurance policy to reflect that change – there could be issue. So I combed the web for a good article to share with you. Please note, I have no affiliation with this company nor the author. I simply thought it was concise and I wanted to share. I read this article HERE, by Judd Matsunaga.
Do You Have a Home that has been Titled into your Trust?
If you’ve transferred your home’s title or deed into your trust’s name, it’s crucial to inform your insurance agent to maintain proper coverage. Some insurance companies require notification of such changes to recognize the trust as an insured entity under your policy. Without this, your trust might not be covered, leading to potential coverage issues. Typically, if the named insured is also the trustee, there shouldn’t be a problem, but it’s always better to be safe than sorry.
The Importance of Updating Your Policy
When your home is owned by a trust, your homeowners insurance policy should reflect this ownership to ensure comprehensive protection.This often involves adding the trust as an “additional insured” on your policy. By doing so, both you and the trust are covered for property damage and liability claims. Failing to update your policy can result in significant coverage gaps, leaving the trust exposed to potential risks.
Recent Los Angeles Wildfires Highlight the Need for Proper Coverage
The recent Palisades and Eaton wildfires in Los Angeles County have been devastating, resulting in the loss of life and the loss of numerous homes highlighting the importance of adequate insurance coverage. The Palisades Fire alone has burned over 23,000 acres and destroyed at least 10,000 structures in Pacific Palisades, Malibu, and areas of the Santa Monica Mountains.1
Similarly, the Eaton Fire in the Altadena area has caused extensive damage, destroying over 7,000 structures and leading to significant loss of life.2
These tragic events underscore the necessity of ensuring your homeowners insurance policy accurately reflects your home’s ownership status, especially when it’s held in a trust.
Risks of Not Informing Your Insurer
If you fail to notify your insurance company that your home is titled in a trust, several issues may arise:
Coverage Denial: In the event of a claim, your insurer might deny coverage if the policy doesn’t list the trust as an insured party.
Liability Exposure: Without proper policy updates, the trust may not be protected against liability claims arising from incidents on the property.
Personal Property Gaps: The trust’s personal property within the home might not be covered if the policy isn’t correctly adjusted.
Expert Recommendations
To ensure your home and trust are adequately protected, consider the following steps:
Review Your Policy: Examine your current homeowners insurance policy to understand existing coverage.
Consult Your Insurance Agent: Discuss the change in property ownership to a trust and determine the necessary policy adjustments.
Add the Trust as an Additional Insured: Ensure the trust is listed appropriately on your policy to cover its insurable interests.
Confirm Coverage Details: Verify that both the structure and personal property are covered under the updated policy.
By proactively updating your homeowners insurance policy to reflect your home’s ownership by a trust, you can safeguard against potential coverage issues and ensure comprehensive protection for your property and assets.
Need help ensuring your trust and homeowners insurance align? The expert Estate Planning attorneys at Elder Services of California are here to assist. Our team can review and amend your trust to ensure it’s up to date and fully protects your assets. Don’t wait until it’s too late—schedule a consultation today to gain peace of mind for you and your loved ones.
I read this article HERE. Please note, I searched for this article, I have NO affiliation with this insurance company, nor have I done any work with them. I simply thought the article was well written and covered the issue I was looking into.
Got Questions? The Caton Team is here to help.
Cell| Sabrina 650.799.4333 |Susan 650.796.0654 | EMAIL | WEB| BLOG
We love what we do and would love to help you navigate your sale or purchase of Residential Real Estate. Please reach out for a personal consultation. Please enjoy our free resources below and get to know our team from our TESTIMONIALS.
Effective. Efficient. Responsive. The Caton Team 🏡
Got Real Estate Questions? The Caton Team is here to help.
We strive to be more than just Realtors – we are also your home resource. If you have any real estate questions, concerns, need a referral, or some guidance – we are here for you. Contact us at your convenience – we are but a call, text or click away!
The Caton Team believes, in order to be successful in the San Fransisco | Peninsula | Bay Area | Silicon Valley Real Estate Market we have to think and act differently. We do this by positioning our clients in the strongest light, representing them with the utmost integrity, while strategically maneuvering through negotiations and contracts. Together we make dreams come true.
A mother and daughter-in-law team with over 35 years of combined, local Real Estate experience and knowledge – wouldn’t you like The Caton Team to represent you? Let us know how we can be of service. Contact us any time.
Cell | Sabrina 650.799.4333 | Susan 650.796.0654 | EMAIL | WEB| BLOG
The Caton Team – Susan & Sabrina A Family of Realtors Effective. Efficient. Responsive. What can we do for you?
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