jensentani, Author at CA REAL ESTATE GROUP

The simple answer is: yes, a porch can increase your home value. But not just any porch — the space must be well-designed, functional, and attractive.

Here are two great resources to consult on how to transform your porch into a warm and inviting entry way to your home sweet home!

30 Cozy And Beautiful Small Front Porch Ideas You Will Love
The Creatives Hour | Sep 3, 2024

A small front porch, despite its limited space, can significantly enhance the curb appeal and functionality of a home. These porches are typically compact entry areas or seating spots, making creative use of the available square footage. Design strategies for these spaces often focus on optimizing usability while maintaining aesthetic charm, from selecting appropriate furnishings to choosing the right color schemes.

Incorporating thoughtful details into a small front porch can transform it into a welcoming and stylish entrance. Whether it’s through the clever use of vertical gardening, multipurpose furniture, or vibrant accents, each choice is crucial in maximizing both the practicality and attractiveness of the area. These design ideas not only elevate the porch itself but also contribute to the overall ambiance of the home’s exterior.

56+ Aesthetic Small Front Porch Decor Ideas (2025)
Doctor Explains | Nov 9, 2024

Creating a beautiful front porch is one of my favorite ways to make a welcoming first impression. A well-designed porch not only enhances your home’s curb appeal but also sets the tone for the rest of your home. Whether you love bold colors, elegant decor, or a rustic feel, there’s something special about each design that can inspire you to create your dream front porch.

ALSO! Read about a Texas mom who turned her porch decorating abilities into a booming side hustle that earned her $100,000 in 2020!

For 2025, the Pantone Color Institute selects PANTONE 17-1230 Mocha Mousse, a warming, brown hue imbued with richness. It nurtures us with its suggestion of the delectable qualities of chocolate and coffee, answering our desire for comfort. PANTONE created five unique color palettes featuring PANTONE 17-1230 Mocha Mousse, each conveying its own distinctive feeling and mood — SCROLL DOWN TO SEE ALL 5️⃣!

ABOUT | The Pantone Color of the Year program engages the design community and color enthusiasts in a conversation around color, highlighting the relationship between color and culture. Pantone selects a color each year that captures the global zeitgeist—the Color of the Year express a global mood and an attitude, reflecting collective desire in the form of a single, distinct hue.

Want to help fire victims? The best way to support Los Angeles in the short and long term.

California Fire Foundation Wildfire & Disaster Relief Fund

The California Fire Foundation works with community-based organizations and local fire agencies to offer financial support for residents who are impacted by the fires.

Wildfire Recovery Fund

The California Community Foundation has worked to help Los Angeles County since 1915.

The agency’s Wildfire Recovery Fund targets hard to reach communities in the area with the intent of providing long-term recovery relief.

Los Angeles Regional Food Bank

The Los Angeles Regional Food Bank is working with government agencies, nonprofit and faith-based organizations to distribute food and other essentials to those displaced by the wildfires with meals.

Los Angeles Fire Department Foundation

The Los Angeles Fire Department Foundation is a nonprofit organization that provides vital equipment for firefighters and funds programs that are critical to help the agency continue to protect communities and save lives.

Mercy Chefs

Mercy Chefs is a nonprofit organization specializing in disaster relief to provide meals to victims, firefighters, first responders and volunteers.

The organization has provided more than 28 million restaurant-quality meals across the country and around the world.

American Red Cross

The American Red Cross has hundreds of volunteers deploying to Los Angeles to assist with emergent needs of those displaced by the fire.

The agency currently has four shelters in place and plans to add more as needed, according to Los Angeles regional executive director Joanne Nowlin.

“This is significant,” Nowlin told ABC News. “It’s not just the fire, but you’ve got wind damage, you’ve got power outages, you’ve got trees falling, deteriorating air quality. This is impacting thousands and thousands of folks in Los Angeles.”

The American Red Cross provides emergency relief to residents and families impacted by disasters, providing meals, medical care and a safe place to shower and sleep.

Wondering what’s in store for the housing market this year? And more specifically, what it all means for you if you plan to buy or sell a home? The best way to get that information is to lean on the pros.

Experts are constantly updating and revising their forecasts, so here’s the latest on two of the biggest factors expected to shape the year ahead: mortgage rates and home prices.

Will Mortgage Rates Come Down?

Everyone’s keeping an eye on mortgage rates and waiting for them to come down. So, the question is really: how far and how fast? The good news is they’re projected to ease a bit in 2025. But that doesn’t mean you should expect to see a return of 3-4% mortgage rates. As Lawrence Yun, Chief Economist at the National Association of Realtors (NAR), says:

“Are we going to go back to 4%? Per my forecast, unfortunately, we will not. It’s more likely that we’ll go back to 6%.”

And the other experts agree. They’re forecasting rates could settle in the mid-to-low 6% range by the end of the year (see chart below):

But you should remember, this will continue to change as new information becomes available. Expert forecasts are based on what they know right now. And since everything from inflation to economic drivers have an impact on where rates go from here, some ups and downs are still very likely. So, don’t get caught up in the exact numbers here and try to time the market. Instead, focus on the overall trend and on what you can actually control.

A trusted lender and an agent partner will make sure you’ve always got the latest data and the context on what it really means for you and your bottom line. With their help, you’ll see even a small decline can help bring down your future mortgage payment.

Will Home Prices Fall?

The short answer? Not likely. While mortgage rates are expected to ease, home prices are projected to keep climbing in most areas – just at a slower, more normal pace. If you average the expert forecasts together, you’ll see prices are expected to go up roughly 3% next year, with most of them hitting somewhere in the 3 to 4% range. And that’s a much more typical and sustainable rise in prices (see graph below):

So don’t expect a sudden drop that’ll score you a big deal if you’re thinking of buying this year. While that may sound disappointing if you’re hoping prices will come down, refocus on this. It means you won’t have to deal with the steep increases we saw in recent years, and you’ll also likely see any home you do buy go up in value after you get the keys in hand. And that’s actually a good thing.

And if you’re wondering how it’s even possible prices are still rising, here’s your answer. It all comes down to supply and demand. Even though there are more homes for sale now than there were a year ago, it’s still not enough to keep up with all the buyers out there. As Redfin explains:

“Prices will rise at a pace similar to that of the second half of 2024 because we don’t expect there to be enough new inventory to meet demand.”

Keep in mind, though, the housing market is hyper-local. So, this will vary by area. Some markets will see even higher prices. And some may see prices level off or even dip a little if inventory is up in that area. In most places though, prices will continue to rise (as they usually do).

If you want to find out what’s happening where you live, you need to lean on an agent who can explain the latest trends and what they mean for your plans.

Bottom Line

The housing market is always shifting, and 2025 will be no different. With rates likely to ease a bit and prices rising at a more normal and sustainable pace, it’s all about staying informed and making a plan that works for you.

Reach out to a local real estate pro to get the scoop on what’s happening in your area and advice on how to make your next move a smart one.

*** Please look up the most current info and any restrictions before you head out! ***

LOS ANGELES

ORANGE COUNTY

Sources:
https://www.timeout.com/los-angeles/free-things-to-do-in-la
https://www.timeout.com/los-angeles/things-to-do/los-angeles-life-hacks
https://www.timeout.com/los-angeles/things-to-do/free-museums-in-la-best-art-history-and-more-for-free
https://www.timeout.com/los-angeles/blog/you-can-visit-these-socal-museums-for-free-using-your-l-a-library-card-071217

New Year’s Eve traditions can be exciting for people across the globe. Below are some of the most common, organized by country of origin.

If you’re ringing in the New Year with loved ones, you may find it interesting to discover how traditions are carried out across the world. You might also become inspired to incorporate one of these customs into your own New Year’s Eve celebration.

From eating 12 grapes at midnight to jumping in the ocean, these traditions signify the beliefs and cultures of different people that are often tied to similar intentions. The many NYE traditions celebrated worldwide help unite people to promote hope and prosperity.

ARGETINA

Put Your Right Foot Forward
Take the first step into the new year with your right foot forward—literally. In Argentina, it’s believed that taking your first step with your right foot at midnight brings good luck.

BOLIVIA

Wear Red (or Yellow) Underwear
In Bolivia, the color of the underwear you’re donning as you enter the new year has a direct correlation to how it will go. Wearing red is supposed to bring love and passion into your life, while yellow or gold attracts money.

BRAZIL

Jump Seven Waves
In Brazil, it’s considered good luck to start the new year by jumping over seven waves. You get one wish for each wave, so be ready with your list for 2025!

Wear White
Some folks in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, are used to wearing white on New Year’s Eve. The practice is rooted in the belief that wearing the color will attract peace for the coming year.

Tossing White Flowers in the Ocean
Brazilians have a custom of throwing white flowers into the sea each new year. Doesn’t that sound so romantic? Residents will toss flowers and candles into the Atlantic Ocean as offerings to Yemoja, a god of water who can pass along good things in the upcoming year.

CANADA

Take a Polar Bear Plunge
All around the world, people will be kicking off 2025 by running into freezing cold lakes and oceans. The tradition was started in Vancouver, Canada in 1920 by a group of swimmers who called themselves the Polar Bear Club. In the U.S., these events are usually held to raise money for charity.

CHINA

Red for Good Luck
Red is a color that denotes good fortune and happiness, and in China, it’s a hue that’s often attached to New Year’s. You’ll spot decorations, fans, gift packets, and lanterns in shades of red.

CHILE

Dine on Lentils
The Chilean superstition of consuming lentils at midnight stems from the round legumes’ resemblance to coins. Eating a good serving of lentils is believed to bring more money into your life.

Sleeping in the cemetery to be with deceased loved ones
In Talca, Chile, residents gather in local graveyards on the last night of the year. However, their New Year’s Eve traditions are not considered sad or negative occasions. Instead, people sleep in these graveyards to welcome the New Year with their departed loved ones. Families gather at the gravesites, often with food and drinks, to stay overnight right beside the graves of family members. Some people reflect quietly, while others celebrate with loved ones, sharing meals and making toasts to honor those no longer with them.

COLOMBIA

Carry an Empty Suitcase
Want to go places in 2025? Take a cue from the Colombians, who walk around the block carrying empty suitcases on New Year’s Eve to bring a year filled with travel.

Three Potatoes
On New Year’s Eve, Columbians place one peeled, one unpeeled, and one half-peeled potato under their beds. When the clock strikes midnight, they pull out the first potato their hand touches, and the potatoes symbolize different things: a peeled potato means financial ruin. An unpeeled potato promises a good year all around. And a half-peeled potato is a mix of good and bad for the year.

CZECH REPUBLIC

Cutting Apples
While we might be used to cutting up apples for a pie, in the Czech Republic, cut-up apples hold unique significance when it comes to New Year’s. On New Year’s Eve, residents will cut apples in half and the shape inside denotes what one can expect in the coming year. For instance, while a star is good, a cross can foretell a future illness.

DENMARK

Leap Into the New Year
Have you ever seen someone standing on a chair at your New Year’s Eve celebration? Chances are, they’re celebration with a particular Danish tradition in mind where you literally leap into the new year at midnight for good luck. Why not give it a whirl?

Smash Dishes
This Danish tradition is a great way to take out any pent-up anger you don’t want to bring into the year. Smashing old or unwanted dishes outside your loved ones’ doors on New Year’s Eve is supposed to bring them luck—the bigger the pile of broken dishes, the luckier they’ll be.

ECUADOR

Burn Some Photographs
Everyone who has gone through a nasty break-up is familiar with this ritual. In Ecuador, it’s common to find photos of things or old memories you don’t want to bring into the new year and burn them before midnight to avoid carrying them along with you.

Burning scarecrow effigies
In Ecuador, people build and burn scarecrows that signify the past year. Ecuadorians start by constructing scarecrow-like figures with old clothes, paper, wood, or other materials. As the clock strikes midnight, Ecuadorians come together and set the scarecrows on fire. This activity is meant to symbolize the end of the past year, with the figures often resembling disliked public figures or the past year’s events.

ESTONIA

Feast All Day
For those of you with stomachs that never feel full, this Estonian New Year’s superstition will be the one to follow. In Estonia, there’s a tradition of eating either seven, nine, or 12 meals on the last day of the year in order to begin the next one with the strength of the same number of men as meals you’ve eaten. The more you eat, the stronger you’ll be.

GERMANY

Pouring lead to predict the future
One of the most common classic New Year’s traditions in Germany is Bleigießen. It involves pouring molten metal to forecast the coming year’s fortunes. While historically lead was used, today, safer materials like tin or wax are used instead because of health concerns. People may melt these metals in a spoon over a flame and quickly pour them into cold water. The solidified metal forms random shapes, which people interpret in different ways to predict future events. Commonly seen shapes and their meanings include, for example, a ship for travel, a ball for good fortune, and a tree for growth.

Lucky Pig
Pigs? And New Year’s? There’s actually a connection between the two, at least in Germany. Germans call this custom “Glücksschwein,” which translates to “lucky pig.” Pigs appear as marzipan treats, and noshing on them can foster good fortune in the new year.

Eat Herring
Whether you like your herring pickled or fresh, eating it in some form at midnight is considered good luck in Germany and Sweden.

GREECE

Hang an Onion on Your Door
It might not look or smell the best, but in Greece, hanging an onion on your door on New Year’s Eve symbolizes rebirth heading into the new year. As for January 1, parents are said to tap the onion on their children’s foreheads to usher in prosperity for the 365 days ahead.

Baking a Coin into a Cake
On January 1st, people from Greece celebrate St. Basil’s Day with a special cake known as “Vasilopita,” which contains a single coin. The person who finds the coin is believed to be blessed with good luck for the new year.

Smashing Pomegranates
No matter what time of year it is, pomegranates are very important in Greece. In Greek mythology, the fruit represents abundance and life, things that are tied to New Year’s there. Just after midnight, Greeks will crush pomegranates against their doors—the number of seeds that fall to the ground symbolize how much good luck you can expect in the new year.

IRISH

Put Mistletoe Under Your Pillow
Mistletoe isn’t just a Christmas tradition. The Irish believe that if you put a sprig of mistletoe, holly, or ivy under your pillow on New Year’s Eve, you’ll dream of your future love.

Bang Some Bread
You’ve heard of breaking bread, but how about banging it? Families in Ireland have a New Year’s tradition of banging loaves of Christmas bread against the walls and doors to ward off evil spirits and pave the way for a healthy and prosperous new year.

ITALY

Tossing old items out of windows
Like South Africa, Italy also literally casts off the old to make room for the new. Italians might dispose of old items by throwing them out of windows. This act symbolizes saying goodbye to negative experiences and making resolutions for the coming year. While not as commonly practiced as it once was, the tradition remains in some areas. It’s especially done in southern parts of Italy, where anything from pots and pans to clothes may find its way onto the streets.

Lucky Lentils
Italy is almost always known for dishes like spaghetti and linguini, but during New Year’s celebrations, it’s all about the lentils. Italians see lentils as mini, edible “coins,” and if you include them in your New Year’s Eve dinner, they’ll bring some luck into your life.

JAPAN

Clean Your House Before Midnight
In Japan, there’s a New Year’s tradition called “osoji” or “o-souji,” which involves giving the house a thorough cleaning before midnight. This practice stems from the belief that a clean home helps purify the space and prepare it for a fresh start in the new year. We could all use that!

Eat Soba Noodles
People in Japan traditionally eat soba noodles on New Year’s Eve. According to the superstition, the meal will melt away the pain and difficulties of the previous year.

Ringing bells 108 times
In Japan, the New Year’s Eve tradition, Joya no Kane, involves striking temple bells 108 times as midnight approaches. This ritual is a symbolic way to get rid of 108 earthly temptations or evil spirits that, according to Buddhist beliefs, cause human suffering. Temples nationwide participate in this ceremony, often attracting locals and visitors to collect lucky charms and experience the ringing that is said to purify the soul for the coming year.

Watch the Sunrise
Watching the first sunrise of the new year is called “hatsuhinode” in Japan. This practice is thought to bring good fortune for the year ahead, and many people rise early to find a picturesque spot, such as a beach or hill, to enjoy the view.

LATIN AMERICA

Throw Water Out of a Window
In Latin America, one New Year’s tradition involves throwing a bucket of water out the window to signify cleansing and renewal. What better way to prepare for a new year than by leaving the past behind you?

MEXICO

Eating a grape with each bell strike and making a wish
In Mexico, as the clock nears midnight on New Year’s Eve, families and friends prepare a cup or bowl of 12 grapes. With each of the twelve strikes of the clock at midnight, individuals consume one grape for each chime. This custom, known as “Las Doce Uvas de la Suerte,” translates to “The Twelve Grapes of Luck,” and it’s more than a festive activity. As the clock’s bell rings, people make a wish for every grape eaten, which represents each of the 12 months.

NETHERLANDS

Eating desserts for good luck
In many cultures, eating round foods or ring-shaped foods is a common way to commemorate the end of the old year. In the Netherlands, it’s traditional to eat oliebollen, a dessert similar to a doughnut made of fried dough. The tradition, which started as a way to protect oneself from evil spirits during Yule, continues to this day, and oliebollen are now a staple New Year’s food for many Dutch people.

PHILIPPINES

Wear Polka Dots
Here’s a New Year’s clothing tradition that doesn’t involve sparkles! In the Philippines, wearing polka dot-patterned dresses, shirts, or pants on New Year’s Eve is a tradition that’s believed to bring good fortune in the new year.

Find Round Objects
Round items are all the rage on New Year’s Eve, especially in the Philippines! Because the circular shape symbolizes money and wealth, it’s the more the merrier! According to this tradition, you can wear polka dots, carry coins, and eat round foods like donuts, bagels and cookies to boost your funds for the next 12 months.

POLAND

Wake Up Early
As the old adage goes, the early bird gets the worm. And if you’re up and at ’em on January 1, Polish tradition suggests that you’ll easily rise on the early side every day for the rest of year.

PUERTO RICO

Cleaning Streets, Cars, and More
At the start of the new year, Puerto Rico just might be the cleanest country around, since their tradition is to clean their homes and cities top to bottom, from indoor spaces to cars to streets. It’s a way to start out with fresh energy in the new year.

Step Backwards into the Sea
In Puerto Rico, some greet the stroke of midnight—and keep evils spirits at bay—with a quick fall backwards into the waves of the ocean. If you’ll be beachside for New Year’s, it certainly can’t hurt to do the same.

ROMANIA

Toss a Coin
Similar to throwing change and making a wish, many Romanians believe that tossing a coin in the river on New Year’s Eve will provide good luck for the whole year. So, gather your pennies and bring on the good fortune!

RUSSIA

Drink Your Wishes
Across the pond in Russia, it’s a tradition to drink your New Year’s wish! Over there, people write their New Year’s wish on a piece of paper, burn it, put the ashes into a glass of champagne, then drink it. Cheers!

SCANDINAVIAN COUNTRIES

Serve Herring
Consuming this silver fish at midnight is very common in Scandinavian countries. The shiny color is supposed to represent money, and it’s believed that eating it will bring luck and prosperity.

SCOTLAND

Carefully Choose Your First Guest
In Scotland, a tradition known as first-footing will supposedly determine whether your household has good luck or misfortune for the rest of the year. For prosperity in 2025, superstition says the first person to enter your home at midnight should be a tall, dark-haired male. He should also bring symbolic gifts like coins or black buns. It’s worth a shot, right?

SOUTH AFRICA

Throwing furniture out of windows
One common New Year’s Eve custom in South Africa is tossing furniture from windows. Johannesburg’s Hillbrow district is particularly known for this unconventional New Year’s tradition. The act symbolizes discarding old, unwanted items from the past year, making room for new opportunities and a fresh start. However, it’s not a chaotic free-for-all; the police have outlined safety and legal concerns while providing increased monitoring during the festivities.

SPAIN

Eat 12 Grapes at the Stroke of Midnight
Eating 12 grapes at the stroke of midnight is customary in Spain. With each chime of the clock at midnight, you have to pop another grape in your mouth—it’s no easy feat! Each grape symbolizes a month, and successfully eating all 12 promises a lucky year ahead.

SWITZERLAND

Throw Some Ice Cream
On December 31, instead of toasting with a glass of champagne, ring in the new year the Swiss way and throw a scoop of ice cream on the ground. Doing so is supposed to bring luck and prosperity.

Ringing the bells
While you may be familiar with setting off fireworks as the clock strikes midnight on New Year’s, Switzerland, a country that is home to many Christian churches, takes a different approach. In both villages and cities, it’s traditional for the church bells to start ringing just before midnight, with many people going outside or opening their windows to listen and welcome in new year’s day.

TURKEY

Smash Pomegranates
Take a cue from Turkey and smash a pomegranate outside your front door to bring good luck in the year to come! The ruby red fruit is seen as a symbol of abundance, health, and prosperity.

Sprinkling Salt
In the United States, spilling the salt can represent bad luck, but in Turkey, sprinkling salt is encouraged. Turks will sprinkle salt on their doorsteps at midnight, something that can generate success in the new year.

OTHER TRADITION – COUNTRY NOT MENTIONED

Bang Pots and Pans
Before there were noisemakers, people made their own joyful ruckus by banging pots and pans at the stroke of midnight. This tradition was once thought of as a way to drive away evil spirits.

Want to help fire victims? The best way to support Los Angeles in the short and long term.

California Fire Foundation Wildfire & Disaster Relief Fund

Wildfire Recovery Fund

Los Angeles Regional Food Bank

Los Angeles Fire Department Foundation

Mercy Chefs

American Red Cross

Will Mortgage Rates Come Down?

Will Home Prices Fall?

Bottom Line

Know What Not to Flush

Regular Maintenance is Key

The Right Toilet Paper Matters

Use Water Efficiently

Educate and Enforce Good Habits

Stay Ahead of Toilet Troubles with Expert Care

LOS ANGELES

ORANGE COUNTY

ARGETINA

BOLIVIA

BRAZIL

CANADA

CHINA

CHILE

COLOMBIA

CZECH REPUBLIC

DENMARK

ECUADOR

ESTONIA

GERMANY

GREECE

IRISH

ITALY

JAPAN

LATIN AMERICA

MEXICO

NETHERLANDS

PHILIPPINES

POLAND

PUERTO RICO

ROMANIA

RUSSIA

SCANDINAVIAN COUNTRIES

SCOTLAND

SOUTH AFRICA

SPAIN

SWITZERLAND

TURKEY

OTHER TRADITION – COUNTRY NOT MENTIONED

Link → The Best SoCal New Years Eve 2025 Events

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