Our September realtor of the month is Cesi Pagano, owner, and CEO of Cesi Pagano & Associates and our Real Estate Market Expert for Irvine, CA and Rancho Mission Viejo, CA.

Cesi Pagano works as a consultant in the new home industry with new home builders and is also a listing agent in the resale market. With over 30 years of experience in the real estate industry, Cesi has sold more than 3,000 homes and has had yearly multi-million dollar sales.

Cesi earned her degree in Architecture with a minor in Interior Design at Cal Poly Pomona in the pursuit of a career as an architect. Her career path veered in another direction when given the opportunity to work with a well-respected home builder which led her on the path of real estate.

Cesi has worked closely with top advertising and design staging companies where she obtained her extensive knowledge and experience. She was also trained in negation, marketing, and home-staging skills as well as superior customer service which helped her earn her a reputation of being one of the most respected members in the real estate community. 

A few of Cesi’s accreditations include Accredited Buyer’s Representative, Certified Sales Professional, Pre-Foreclosure Specialist Certification, Certified Luxury Home Marketing Specialist, and Certified International Property Specialist.

Cesi Pagano & Associates focus on their client’s needs and satisfaction. Contact Cesi Pagano for all of your real estate needs to ensure you receive the best possible service when purchasing your new Orange County home. 

There are many benefits to having indoor plants.  Plants can boost your mood, productivity, concentration, and creativity. They also can reduce stress, fatigue, and the common cold. Plants can clean indoor air by absorbing toxins increasing humidity and producing oxygen. Your indoor plants are also great for bringing in color and life to your living space. The best part of adding greenery to your home is that it’s an affordable way to decorate. If you’re looking to liven up your humble abode, we’ve created the perfect list of simple ways to decorate with the use of plants.

Place your plants on display with shelving

Place your prized leafy babies on display with simple shelving that is sure to catch the eye. Use a simple bookcase that you already have or install a few floating shelves on the walls.

Take advantage of your window seal

One of the most common places to put a plant in your home is the ledge of a window. There’s typically an ample amount of sunlight and a great way to view your new addition. 

Consider using potted paper plants

For those who don’t quite have that green thumb, paper plants are the perfect alternatives! No water needed. You can either purchase your paper plants online or make it a DIY project! Your guests will never know the difference.

Spice it up with some fun pots and planters

Make decorating with your plants less drab with fun pots that match your décor! Choose a few cool pots and planters with funky designs that will accentuate your gorgeous greenery. Another option is to pick up a few terracotta pots, grab some paint and have at it to give your pots a personal touch. Or get creative and try placing a few plans in a couple of soup cans. Of course, you might want to eat the soup first. 

Hang your plants in style!

For an extra touch of flair, consider using a macramé hanging plant holder. These can be purchased or made by hand. This is a great option to include greenery in a small space. Install a few hooks in your ceiling and hang away! You can also place your hanging plants in your entryways, patio and balcony areas. 

Fill in those empty spaces

Adding a simple plant or two or three is a great solution for those empty spaces in your home that you just can’t seem to fill. Throw in a nice Yucca plant or a Fiddle leaf fig or scale down a few sizes and place a few Ferns, Succulents, or Air Plants in your space.

Use a rolling cart

If you don’t already have one, grab a bar cart from your local thrift store or Target or Walmart and fill it with all of your favorite small house plants. The awesome part about this is that it’s on wheels. You can easily move your plants from room to room if you ever change your mind about their position in the home.

No matter how you decide to decorate your home, make sure to put your special touch on it and be creative. Choose plants and pottery that reflect your personality and style.

End your home search at the new master-planned development of Meridiana, a highly sought-after community just minutes from both Pearland and Sugar Land, TX.  Meridiana is located just off the 288 making your morning commute a breeze and offering easy access to downtown Houston and the Pearland Town Center where you’ll find plenty of dining, entertainment, and recreation. 

The incredible amenities offered at Meridiana’s Oasis Village are perfect for every member of the family and include learning labs, stunning lakes, walking trails, an attractive fitness center, a football stadium, and even an ambassador’s yacht.

Stay cool while relaxing at the crisp Family Pool under its shady cabanas. Your children will have the time of their lives at the Splash Pad and, for those with expert skills, the Lap Pool is perfect for burning a few calories underwater. 

Put down the electronics and pick up a game of football, cornhole, or table tennis in the Game Area during the day or even at night. Grab a quick bite to eat at Café Sol. Join an engaging book club at the conservatory where you’ll also find community events such as cooking classes and happy hours that give you a chance to connect with your new neighbors. 

Only Houston’s leading homebuilders are afforded the opportunity to craft the new single-family homes in the Meridiana development. These home builders include Perry Homes, Trendmaker Homes, Shea Homes, and David Weekley and deliver stylish, affordable designs with open-concept interiors and lavish finishes.

Price points at Meridiana range between the $200,000’s up to the $600,000’s making your next move affordable without skimping out on the details. Meridiana isn’t known as the Houston area’s Community of the Year for nothing. Join a neighborhood of satisfied residents and take advantage of all that the community has to offer. Take the first step to purchasing your new Houston home and begin creating a lifetime of memories at Meridiana. If you purchase by Labor Day you'll be entered to win $5,000 towards your ultimate dream backyard!

Our August realtor of the month is Denise Feeney, real estate agent for Wagner Realty and our Real Estate Market Expert for Ellenton, FL, and Parrish, FL.

If you’ve got questions, Denise has the answers! Denise Feeney has been an active licensed agent for over two decades. With an amazing referral network, Denise goes above and beyond providing real estate services using her negotiating and marketing to get her clients the best deal.

Denise is dedicated to ensuring that you have the greatest Real Estate experience possible. She is extremely detail-oriented, dependable, honest, and a great listener! Whether you are experienced in the buying and selling process or this is your first time stepping foot in the water, Denise will walk you all the way through to signing on the dotted line. 

Contact Denise Feeney of Wagner Realty as you search for your ideal home for sale in Tampa Bay.

Foremost Companies has recently released the exciting news of the grand opening of its first neighborhood in Phase 2 and second all-age neighborhood at Terramor by Richmond American Homes. Terramor is an award-winning master-planned community that offers 1,443 single-family homes that span across 16 neighborhoods. Homebuilder Richmond American Homes will celebrate its new neighborhood Fieldcress on August 10, 2019, from 11 a. m. to 2 p.m.

Fieldcress neighbors Terramor Commons Park and the community garden. This new home neighborhood will offer 93 two-story residences that range from about 2,800 to 3,000 square feet and include between four to six bedrooms. Future homeowners will have the option to choose from three customizable open floor plans that include gourmet kitchens, covered patios, as well as two to three-car garages. Luxurious master-planned community amenities are also available. Prices at this community range from the low $500,000’s.

You’ll find there is always something to do at Fieldcress with its immense amenities meant to suit all ages. The Veranda, which is the resident clubhouse, provides indoor and outdoor spaces for the entire family to host small gatherings or private parties. No need for a cleanup crew or overcrowding at your home when celebrating those special events. Enjoy a mini “stay-cation” in your own neighborhood at the Veranda. It offers an outdoor pool with sundecks, restrooms, a changing area; and a toddler pool with beach entrance. There is also a fire pit; and outdoor seating areas.

Take a morning hike or walk on the more than five miles of trails and paseos within the community and discover the fabulous views close to home. The numerous amenities featured in the Fieldcress neighborhood also include dog parks for your furry friends, a community garden for those with a green thumb, ball fields, basketball courts and tot lots perfect for the little ones.

Foremost Companies is a premier land and investment firm that acquires property in strategic locations to entitle and sell high-quality developments to homebuilders and commercial developers. They have owned more than 12,000 residential lots in across California and specifically focused on the Los Angeles and Orange County communities where there are underutilized commercial properties. The senior management team at Foremost Companies is especially experienced in master-planned communities and single-family detached and attached products. They also specialize in multifamily, retail, office, and mixed-use.

Richmond American Homes, also known as M. D. C. Holdings, Inc. has had experience in building over 200,000 well-crafted new homes since 1977. They are among the nation’s largest homebuilders and have operations in Arizona, California, Colorado, Florida, Maryland, Nevada, Oregon, Virginia, and Washington.

Be sure to visit the grand opening of the new Fieldcress neighborhood located at 24602 Terramor Dr., Corona, CA 92883.  Can't make it to the grand opening? That's no problem! You can stop by anytime to see what all of the buzz is about. Terramor offers model home tours of all neighborhoods daily from 10 a. m. to 6 p.m. With all of its many amenities and luxury features; you won’t need to look any further. Find out more about these amazing new homes in Orange County by joining the interest list.

Most of the homes we tend to come across these days in the average neighborhoods are pretty cookie cutter. They’re the same color, size, and shape, with very similar features, but not every homeowner quite fits the mold. There are some creative architects that have made their designs come to life. So, we’ve created a shortlist of some of the most out of the ordinary home designs that might be worth the peek. 

Flintstones Inspired home in Malibu, CA

“Yabba-Dabba-Do!” This single-story Flintstones inspired home is located in Malibu, California and was the product of Dick Clark’s brainchild to duplicate the fictional residence of Fred and Wilma. This rocky home sits on 23 acres of land and consists of one bedroom and two bathrooms with a fireplace and several glass windows offering views of the Boney Mountains. This unique home was listed for sale in 2012 for a whopping $3.5 million but only sold for $1.778 million in 2014.

M-Velope Transformer House

The M-Velope home was created by designer Michael Jantzen and there are only 10 of these houses that exist. This 230 square foot home is a mobile living space that increases in size with slatted wood panels that bend and angle. The walls fold to expose work surfaces, sleeping platforms, and interior benches for sitting. Who needs furniture when you’ve got moving walls?

The Caterpillar House

Shipping containers aren’t just for traveling across the world on eighteen-wheelers or on boats. They can be upcycled into beautiful houses, complexes, and even functional office spaces. Save a few dollars while having fun with unique home designs. Shipping containers are flood and fireproof, which make for great building material. The average container ranges from 20 to 30 feet in length. The Caterpillar House was built with the use of 12 containers on a rocky landscape and designed by Santiago Irarrazaval Architects and Erick Caro back in 2012.

Airplane house in the village of Miziara, Lebanon

This replica of an Airbus A380 which is the world’s largest passenger craft was built by a Lebanese couple that now lives in Australia. The airplane house is comprised of two stories with 41 portholes on each side revealing an amazing view of the mountains. The plane includes elegant features and luxury living room space, bedrooms, and a spiral staircase. Now that is unique!

The Slide House-Japan

This home was designed by Level Architects who specialize in playhouse like home designs and was completed in 2009. This home with a giant slide spans three floors and runs the entire perimeter of the building and also has rounded corners. This is the perfect home the kid in you or actual children that love a good time.

The Keret House- Poland

Located in Warsaw, Poland, this home is known as the world’s skinniest house. It measures only 122 centimeters at its widest point. This structure serves as a temporary home for traveling writers. It has white interiors to give the feel of a more open living space and no windows, but it is semitransparent.

We all fantasize about upgrading our home - but, the thought of overspending almost always turns our dream into a nightmare. According to today’s home improvement shows, the only way around spending a small fortune on DIY home upgrades is to dedicate a minimum of 40 hours a week to DIY projects. Most of us have been scared into thinking that we simply don’t have the time or the money to take on meaningful home improvement projects. However, there are many easy ways to upgrade your home when you’re on a budget! The following five tips will help you turn your house into your dream home and save money and time while doing it.

Add a tile backsplash to your bathroom or kitchen.  

A tile backsplash makes for a gorgeous statement piece - but they’re expensive and require professional installation, right? Nope! Thanks to products like Smart Tile, you can add a professional-looking tile backsplash to your kitchen or bathroom in minutes. Smart Tiles are adhesive sheets that come in many colors and designs and feature an adhesive backing that allows you to quickly install a jaw-dropping tile backsplash without any experience or expertise. 

Give your kitchen cabinets a makeover.

Cabinets define the look and feel of a kitchen, so a simple cabinet makeover will completely transform your kitchen and make it look brand new. Instead of replacing your cabinets, here are a few cheap and easy cabinet upgrades to give your kitchen a custom look:

• Add task lighting or up-lighting with light strips

• Add etched glass door inserts

• Replace the old hardware with modern (or vintage) pulls and handles

• Install crown molding to the top of the cabinets

• Remove the cabinet doors completely

• Apply a fresh coat of paint

Apply fresh caulk in the bathroom.

Facing old, deteriorating caulk in a bathroom is a terrible experience for homeowners everywhere. Over time, your floor begins to look grimy, as the once-white caulk becomes brown and flakes away to leave space for mold and mildew. Thankfully, it is cheap and simple to apply a fresh layer of caulk in order to refresh the look of your bathroom.  

Add texture to your walls with 3D peel-and-stick wall panels. 

Instead of hanging a painting, use adhesive 3D wall panels to add a unique statement to any wall. The trendy panels come in various designs and will breathe life into any room. Plus, the simple peel-and-stick design allows you to apply them or remove them in a single afternoon without damaging your walls.

Renew worn-out floors with paint. 

An easy way to bring personality back into a room is to paint your wood and vinyl floors. Use your favorite paint colors to create a large checkered pattern or keep it simple with a single color that will balance out your walls - either way, using floor paint is a great way to refresh dull floorboards and impress guests.

Your home holds a great deal of value in your life - aside from an investment, your home acts as a sanctuary for you and your loved ones to live, love, laugh, cry, and grow. With the significance of your home as both an asset and as the place you and your family lay your heads, it is important that you continuously make upgrades to your house. Many people believe that money is what stands in the way of upgrading to their dream home, however, there are numerous ways to renovate your home on a budget. So, if you want to make some serious home renovations, but don’t want to spend a fortune, use this list of the best ways to upgrade your home on a budget.

The newly established neighborhood of Magnolia Walk is reasonably priced and comprised of only 94 homes located in Los Angeles, CA. Here you will find a quaint gated community with amenities that can’t be beaten as well as upgraded features and is easy accessibility to nearby shopping, dining, entertainment, and exceptional schools.

The two-story floor plans offered at Magnolia Walk are between 3-4 bedrooms with up to 3 bathrooms and span up to a vast 2,004 square feet of living space. The open concept living spaces offer plenty of natural lighting and incorporate a modern kitchen with an optional island and an upstairs loft that offers flexibility for a spare bedroom, playroom, or even a home office. The master suite in most floor plans provides a spacious walk-in closet, dual sinks, and upscale finishes that will give you a spa-like feel after a long day’s work. The secondary bathrooms include cultured marble countertops, contemporary white thermofoil cabinetry with concealed hinges and chrome knobs, and a chrome centerset faucet. 

These single-family dwellings are also energy efficient and healthy offering several features that will assist in saving money as well as saving the planet. All of the homes at Magnolia Walk either meet or exceed California’s energy-saving Title 24 requirements and include a carbon monoxide detector and automatic fire sprinklers. Auto shut-off motion sensors in all bathrooms, air conditioning with a programmable digital thermostat, water-efficient faucets, and even an Energy Star dishwasher are all available in your new energy-efficient home.

You’ll appreciate the abundance of shopping available at establishments such as the Del Amo Fashion Center, South Bay Galleria, and the Southbay Pavilion. Create lasting memories with family as you explore the ample entertainment Los Angeles has to offer right in your own backyard such as The Natural History Museum of LA, Mulligan Family Fun Center, the LA Zoo, Dodger Stadium, and the Griffith Observatory.

The homebuilder Olson Homes was founded in 1988 to help cities solve the problem of a shortage of affordable housing within urban areas. They have been recognized as the leader in providing urban housing throughout California. This has allowed many families the ability to take advantage of living out the American dream of owning a home while being close to employments, local transportation, and an urban lifestyle. The commitment of Olson Homes is to “improve the local neighborhood experience by capturing the best that exists in each neighborhood socially and architecturally.”

Olson Homes has partnered with the Community Development Commission of Los Angeles County in order to offer an opportunity for low and moderate-income families the chance of owning a new home below market purchase price. Out of the 94 homes constructed at Magnolia Walk, 30 of those homes have been designated as affordable housing with prices ranging from around $358,000 to $373,000 compared to its normal rates within the mid $500,000's. 11 of them will be designated for low-income buyers and 19 will be solely for moderate home buyers. Down payment assistance will also available.

If you’re on the hunt for an affordable new home in Los Angeles, your search stops here. No matter where you are in your new home journey, you’ll find everything you need and so much more at Magnolia Walk by Olson Homes.  

Meridiana, located 10 minutes from Pearland Town Center right off the 288, features Houston's top builders with unsurpassed amenities. This magnificent master-planned community presents affordable new homes, a terrific location, and an array of enriching activity centers that your family will love.

Prices start in the low 200,000’s and feature open concept living. You’ll find all the fine details and contemporary flair that you’d expect from builders of such renown. David Weekley Homes, Highland Homes, Trendmaker, Taylor Morrison Homes, Plantation Homes, Lennar, Chesmar Homes, Drees Homes, Shea Homes, and Perry Homes are all represented here and they can’t wait for you to take a tour to decide which one is the ideal forever home for you. Builder incentives and summertime discounts are available—be sure and inquire. Helpful Meridiana staff can narrow your search and help match your needs and desires with the perfect new Houston home. 

Master-planned communities are expected to offer parks, pools, and fitness centers, but Meridiana goes above and beyond! Your family can take advantage of all of that and an on-site café, learning labs, top-notch schools, a community yacht, a conservatory, sports fields, a dedicated gaming area, plus much more! Expansion plans include additional schools and even more recreational offerings. This is why Meridiana has been named the Houston area’s “Community of the Year.”

Real Estate experts are saying now is the time to lock in your mortgage rate so get out to Meridiana, choose your new home, and begin your happily ever after.

Our July realtor of the month is DJ Arsenault, real estate broker for Diamond Homes Realty and our Real Estate Market Expert for Spring, TX and The Woodlands, TX.

DJ Arsenault has been in the Real Estate and Mortgage industry since 2002. He is the Premier Listing Agent for the Diamond Homes Realty Team and eats, sleeps, and breathes real estate. DJ puts his client’s needs first and provides a high level of customer service to guarantee that the client experience is satisfactory. DJ possesses unique marketing skills and strives to ensure that his clients get the best deal, leaving them with more money in their pockets whether they are buying or selling their home.  

“This isn’t a job. It’s not something you wake up dreading. This is a career choice and I take pleasure in helping folks meet their goals of becoming homeowners and financially free.” 

-DJ Arsenault

If you’re on the quest to find a new Dallas home or looking to list your current home for sale, contact DJ Arsenault with Diamond Homes Realty to receive proven results and satisfactory customer service!