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WM and Okaloosa County School District offer back-to-school safety tips

**As the new school year approaches**, Waste Management (WM) and the Okaloosa County School District are reminding the public about the importance of road safety, particularly around school buses and waste collection trucks.

WM, emphasizing that safety is their top priority, has issued a set of truck safety tips for the community. Mark Noel, WM Gulf Coast Area Director Environmental, Health and Safety, stated, “At WM, our professional drivers approach each and every day with a safety-first mindset. Let’s work together to all do our part to help maintain a safe environment for students traveling to and from school.”

The company advises maintaining a safe distance of at least 15 feet from their trucks and being alert to back-up alarms and white back-up lights. They caution that service vehicles can take twice as long to stop as passenger cars and make frequent stops, often backing up.

Meanwhile, the Okaloosa County School District, preparing for the start of school on August 12th, has alerted residents to expect increased traffic around schools during intake and release times.

The district is asking drivers to allow extra time for their commutes and to be cautious around students at bus stops or walking and biking to school.

“We appreciate your patience as bus routes will also take longer than normal,” the district wrote. “It usually takes a week or so for everything to become routine.”

In addition to road safety, WM is encouraging environmental stewardship as the school year begins. They suggest using reusable lunch containers and beverage bottles, opting for whole fruits and vegetables as snacks, and considering eco-friendly school supplies made from recycled materials.

Both organizations stress the importance of community cooperation in ensuring a safe start to the school year. As WM puts it, “Working together, we can make it a safe and green school year.”

5 Paint Colors That Will Take Over in 2025, According to Interior Designers

By Sarah Lyon

Now that 2024 is more than halfway over, we’re starting to look ahead toward some of the design trends that experts predict will reign supreme in 2025. Not to mention that major paint brands are already announcing their colors of the year! So if you’re considering a paint refresh and looking for a little bit of inspo, then now’s the best time to do some research.

Below, interior designers share five shades and color families that they anticipate we’ll see everywhere next year. Plus, they offer tips on how to design a space with said hues, too.

Deep, Moody Greens

Margie Kaercher, the founder of Hearth & Honey Homes, anticipates that deep, moody greens will be in vogue in 2025. “Post-pandemic, there’s been a growing emphasis on creating cozy, nature-inspired spaces that exude comfort, calm, and a sense of well-being, and deep, moody greens do exactly that,” she says. “As people become more brave in their design choices, hues that were once considered risky are now redefined as stylish statements that symbolize sophistication and flair.”

Kaercher imagines color-drenching an entire room in a deep, moody green hue for “a luxurious feel that creates a cocoon effect.” To add dimension to the space, opt for natural wood tones as well as a variety of textures, she instructs.

Browns, Rusty Reds, and Terracottas

Callie Blanks has witnessed these shades emerging already and believes that they will only continue to make their presence known. “These hues are being used in unusual and bold applications,” says the founder of Callie Blanks Interiors, who cites color-drenching as one example.

When designing a color-drenched space, Blanks recommends weaving in light, natural linen when selecting drapery and/or bedding. “This helps to soften the space and feels a little less stark or modern,” she says.

As it pertains to accessories and furniture, she will also veer toward neutrals “but add interest with unexpected shapes and textures.” That said, one could also choose to embrace a tonal look if they wish; Blanks finds that doing so makes a room appear more dramatic or romantic. “I love the idea of dark walls accompanied with a similar color bedding or furniture,” she says. “I would change up the shade slightly to keep the space from feeling too flat.”

Yellow

Lately, Meghan Jay’s clients have been just as eager as she is to use yellow in their homes. According to Jay, the founder of Meghan Jay Design, Farrow & Ball’s Dorset Cream is “the perfect hue.” Adds the designer, “It’s not too saturated, not too citrus. It feels subdued and brings so much warmth to a room.”

Jay understands that not everyone is necessarily willing to go all in with yellow, and therefore, incorporating small doses of the color is just fine, too. “A yellow table lamp brings vibrancy and playfulness to a space,” she says. “A goldenrod throw blanket placed at the end of the bed brings that touch of warmth and feels a bit unexpected.”

Bright Reds

Jay expects to see a greater use of bright red in 2025. “Adding that pop of red makes a space feel fun and alive,” she says. In a recent powder room project proposal, Jay suggested painting the trim in the space red. “Doing so would bring out the details in the crown molding and make the little bathroom feel playful and unexpected,” she says. “To me, it’s like wearing a classic black and white outfit and incorporating a red shoe. It makes your head turn and take notice.

Limewash Greens

Taylor Fusco, the founder of Tay Fusco Design, says that she is already “getting an influx of requests for more organic looking paint colors,” and many clients are eager to embrace green limewash and Roman clay in particular. “We believe 2025 will continue to be a year of lots of variations of gorgeous green tones,” she says, citing Sherwin-Williams’ Evergreen Fog and Benjamin Moore’s Scenic Drive as top contenders.

No matter the shade of green she is working with, Fusco will “layer in some beautiful complementary pieces to make the shades of green pop even more.” For example, she enjoys bringing in light oak furniture for contrast. “Blush or pink is always another go-to complementary color,” she says. “The colors together are usually always a slam dunk.”

US Home Price Insights – August 2024

Through June 2024 With Forecasts Through June 2025

Home prices nationwide, including distressed sales, increased year over year by 4.7% in June 2024 compared with June 2023. On a month-over-month basis, home prices grew by 0.3% in June 2024 compared with May 2024 (revisions with public records data are standard, and to ensure accuracy, CoreLogic incorporates the newly released public data to provide updated results).

Forecast Prices Nationally

The CoreLogic HPI Forecast indicates that home prices will rise by 0.3% from June 2024 to July 2024 and increase by 2.3% on a year-over-year basis from June 2024 to June 2025.

Anticipated Rate Cuts May Not be Enough to Rekindle Cooling Home Price Growth

Although this is the 149^th consecutive month that the U.S. has seen year-over-year home price gains, the pace of growth is continuing to cool. Price growth increased nationally by 4.7% in June when compared with a year prior, and only one state posted double-digit gains this month. Next summer, prices are projected to slow further, only growing by 2.3% on a year-over-year basis.

The continued decline in the pace of appreciation can be linked to elevated mortgage rates. Although the Federal Reserve Board is anticipated to cut rates in September, high interest rates continue to affect affordability, and several markets in the South continue to see inventory increases that are pulling prices below last year’s numbers.

“Housing market activity essentially froze at the end of the spring homebuying season as high mortgage rates continued to compress affordability and dissuade potential homebuyers. The 0.3% gain in prices from the month before was less than half the increase seen between May and June prior to the pandemic, when the gains averaged 0.8%. In addition, cooling home prices continued to spread across more markets, and nine states reported a monthly decline, up from three states last month. The April surge in mortgage rates notably weighed on consumer sentiment, and consumers increasingly chose to respond to the anticipation of a lower mortgage rate environment later this year.”

Dr. Selma Hepp – Chief Economist for CoreLogic

Okaloosa School District maintains top 10 ranking in Florida

The Okaloosa County School District has once again secured a spot among the top 10 school districts in Florida, according to recently released state assessment results.

The Florida Department of Education published the results of the Florida Assessment of Student Thinking (FAST) and End of Course Exams on Monday, July 1, 2024.

A combined analysis of all test results placed Okaloosa Schools 10th overall out of 67 districts in the state for the 2023-24 school year.

The district excelled in several areas, ranking in the top six statewide for 5th, 7th, and 8th grade Reading, as well as 7th and 8th grade Mathematics, and 8th grade Science. Middle school performance was particularly strong, with Okaloosa students ranking 3rd in Math, 4th in Science, and 6th in English Language Arts (ELA) at the middle school level.

Superintendent Marcus Chambers praised the efforts of students, teachers, staff, and administrators.

“Our students and schools have overcome obstacles, met challenges head-on, and persevered to achieve academic success and for that, I am extremely proud,” Chambers said. He added that while the consistent top ranking is a source of pride, plans are already in place to address areas needing improvement at both school and district levels.

The assessments cover ELA for grades 3-10, Mathematics for grades 3-8, Algebra, Geometry, Science for grades 5 and 8, Biology, Civics, and US History. These results, along with other academic indicators, will be used to determine school grades, which are expected to be released in August.

For more detailed information on the assessment results, the Florida Department of Education has made them available on their website.

5 Pieces of Real Estate Advice for Sellers

By Dawn Whalen

Realtors can provide essential information when preparing a home for a sale since they know what buyers are seeking. Consider the following tips for successfully listing a home.

Realtors® have walked through hundreds, if not thousands, of homes. They understand what buyers want and the current trends in the housing market. This expertise and knowledge of the industry is exactly what a home seller needs in order to find the right buyer at the right price. Listing a home can be stressful, but getting a head start and knowing what to expect may make the process less burdensome.

Here are five tips sellers should do to prepare for listing a home:

Remove the clutter

The longer someone lives in a home, the more stuff seems to accumulate and multiply if children live there too. Preparing to list a home is an excellent time to start decluttering and packing items that may be sentimental, seasonal, or not frequently used. Begin the process of clearing out closets, cabinets, and drawers, picking up floors, clearing off counters, and simply removing the “stuff.” Decluttering helps buyers see the potential and space in the property. Cleaning up closets shows there’s ample room for shoes, clothes, accessories and other items. Clearing off counters allows kitchens and bathrooms to appear larger. Small appliances should be put away when not being used.

Realtors are excellent at pointing out which areas a potential buyer may question if there’s too much clutter in the room or space. Consider renting a storage unit while the home is listed in order to keep certain items safe and out of the way during this short time.

Clean up the yard

While decluttering the inside, take some time to straighten up the exterior too. This means freshening the flower beds, trimming shrubs, adding new mulch around trees, and edging around the driveway and sidewalks. Remove any obvious debris and weeds. These simple chores can add a lot of curb appeal. Remember, the front of the house and yard are the first elements a potential buyer sees. An experienced Realtor can offer suggestions on which areas a homebuyer is most likely to examine and where to spend the most effort.

Personal effects

For some buyers, seeing personal pictures and items may distract from the space. This can include family pictures, diplomas, certificates, awards, artwork, etc. While these items are important and special, the goal of listing the property is to sell it, and personal effects may sometimes hinder a buyer’s ability to see the home’s potential.

Protecting the seller’s privacy is another great reason to remove personal effects. For example, if small children or seniors live in the home, it’s a good idea to remove their pictures and special belongings while the home is listed. Diplomas often include middle names or maiden names, which are sometimes used for security purposes. Although it’s impossible to completely protect the identity of the seller and their family, removing personal items makes it more difficult for strangers to see who lives there. Ask a Realtor to walk through the home and identify any personal effects that may have been missed while cleaning and decluttering.

Clean, clean, clean

Dust loves every surface. Grab some cleaning supplies and old towels and prepare to wipe down every possible surface including behind the toilets, along the baseboards, above the doors, behind all the furniture, etc. Don’t forget to clean the appliances too. The microwave should be free of stains and food debris, the oven and dishwasher should be clean and free of slime and burn marks, and the sink and faucet need a good wipe down. If possible, enlist the help of a professional cleaning company before the home is on the market.

Staging

Staging a home means different things to different people and Realtors. For some, it may mean rearranging the existing furniture, while others may choose to bring in furniture and décor. The purpose of staging is to show how a room can look or be used. For example, while a family may use the existing dining room as a playroom, staging it with a table and chairs instead of toys can give potential buyers a different view of the space. Talk to an experienced Realtor about whether or not some areas may need staged and if so, what that means. It could be as simple as adding a tablecloth and centerpiece or moving a few chairs.

Once the decision is made to list a property and move, start cleaning, decluttering and removing personal items. This will make the process easier in the long run. Working with an experienced Realtor can also bring insight and advice about buyer behavior and what someone may question, love, or want to change within the home. Take time to walk through the property with a Realtor before listing to make sure the property’s best features are highlighted.

Housing Market Expected to Heat Up!

Key Findings

The Market Outlook from the REALTORS® Confidence Index for buyers and sellers continued to gain positive steam in December 2023:

33% of respondents expect a year-over-year increase in buyer traffic in the next three months, up from 16% one month ago and up from 12% one year ago.
25% of respondents expect a year-over-year increase in seller traffic in the next three months, up from 12% last month and from 9% one year ago.

With supply still limited relative to demand, 16% of homes sold above list price, down from 19% last month and flat from 16% a year ago:

56% of respondents reported that properties sold in less than one month. Down from 62% a month ago and flat from 57% in December 2022.
Homes listed received an average of 2.4 offers, down slightly from 2.6 offers last month and up slightly from 2.2 offers in December 2022.
Due to the lack of housing inventory, the pace of the market, and the use of technology, 9% of buyers purchased a home based only on a virtual tour, showing, or open house without physically seeing the home. Up from 6% one month ago and one year ago.

Contracts typically closed in 30 days, the same as last month and one year ago. But some faced delays or termination:

5% of contracts were terminated in the last three months, about the same as one month and flat from one year ago.
16% of contracts had delayed settlements in the past three months, the same as last month and down slightly from 17% a year ago.
6% of contracts had delayed settlement due to appraisal issues, down slightly from 7% last month and flat from one year ago.

First-time buyers represented 29% of buyers, down from 31% in November 2023 and December 2022. Among all buyers:

16% purchased for non-primary residence use, down from 18% last month and flat from last year.
5% were purchased for vacation use, unchanged from one month ago and one year ago.
1% of sellers sold to an iBuyer, down slightly from one month and one year ago.
2% of sales were distressed, up slightly from one month and one year ago.

Contract activity remains competitive:

29% of buyers had all-cash sales, up from 27% last month and up slightly from 28% in last year.
24% of buyers waived the inspection contingency, up from 18% one month ago and flat from one year ago.
15% of buyers waived the appraisal contingency, down from 19% one month and 18% one year ago.

Buyers continue to look outside of city centers for the majority of their activity at 85%.