Think smarter, not harder, when it comes to keeping your living area tidy using these home organization hacks.
If your family spends a lot of quality time in the living room, it’s unlikely that it always—or ever—looks pristine. And that’s OK! This space is designed to be lived in and hold your favorite comfort items. But throw blankets, pillows, toys, games, remotes, and chargers don’t need to take over every visible surface, especially in between uses. This daily clutter can cause stress at the end of the day when all you want to do is relax and recharge.
The good news is that your living room has far more storage potential than you may realize. You just need to know where to look. Many of the best spots are hiding in plain sight, disguised as decor or embedded in furniture. These places should be attractive enough that guests hardly notice them, yet accessible enough so you can reach for anything you need without missing a second of your latest Netflix obsession.
Whether you’re working with a small space, a busy household, or simply want the space to look calmer and more intentional, these secret storage spots can help you reclaim your living room. These are five sneaky spaces you might not be utilizing yet, but definitely should.
1. Furniture With Hidden Storage
If you have furniture with hidden storage you haven’t been using, this is your sign to start. And if you’re in the market for new living room furniture, consider brands that design pieces like coffee tables, ottomans, benches, and even couches with storage in mind. After all, this is prime concealed real estate, especially in homes with limited space.
Start by deciding what not to store here, which should include anything heavy, fragile, or used multiple times per day. Instead, store things that you want accessible but not visible. Some examples include:
If none of your furniture doubles as storage, or you’re not looking to buy anything new at the moment, try an oversized decorative basket or two to hold many of the same items listed above. You may already have one that’s housing extra blankets or pillows. If you have enough floor space, designate another to what drives you the craziest to see out in the open, whether it be dog toys or workout gear.
Arrange baskets in a corner where they won’t be in anyone’s way, and aim for a style that matches your living room. If they’re tall enough, they can conceal their contents while making it easy to grab what you need when you need it. If items still poke out, layer a folded throw on top to help disguise what’s underneath. That way, you maintain the cozy aesthetic while sneakily doubling its function.
Many living rooms feature open shelving, whether in built-in bookcases, freestanding furniture, or floating shelves. This type of shelving offers plenty of room for creative styling, but it can look cluttered if you’re not careful. If your shelves tend to collect miscellaneous items alongside your books and decor accents, consider cute containers your secret weapon. Small to medium baskets (open or lidded) instantly turn open shelves into sneaky storage.
As with oversized baskets, look for ones that fit your living room’s aesthetic or color palette. Ensure they fit the depth and height of your shelves so they don’t appear out of place. Use them to corral odds and ends such as backup remotes, coasters, reading glasses, bookmarks, and electric lighters. You still get the curated ook, but with the added bonus of hidden storage.
Similar to under the bed, the space beneath your sofa may be underutilized. If you’re cramped for space, though, it’s a spot you might not have thought to use for storage. Measure the height, width, and depth beneath the couch, and use shallow under-bed containers (wheeled ones are smart if the area lacks carpeting, and lids prevent dust from piling up) to keep items neat and out of sight.
Not enough clearance to slide something under the furniture? Try adding a narrow console table behind it instead. Depending on where your couch is located in the living room, you may need to pull it forward a few inches and place the table between the back and the wall. Use decorative trays or lidded boxes to contain small essentials like remotes, glasses, coasters, or chargers so they don’t pile up on the coffee table.
Making use of available vertical space is an overlooked method to maximize storage and get clutter off surfaces in any area of your home. Shelving is one simple way to go about it, but it’s not the only. Lean a vintage ladder against a blank wall and fold blankets over each rung. For a more modern look, try mounting a handful of wall hooks and hanging a throw on each one.
You can also attach pretty baskets to a wall and designate each one to hold a category, such as magazines in one and gaming equipment in another. Stack books horizontally on a tall, floating bookcase. The options are endless when you think outside the box! And although some of these methods won’t necessarily hide the things you’re storing, they will at least look organized and make finding what you need a breeze at the end of a long day.
Grab your hot cocoa, your camera, and get ready to be wowed. Buena Park goes big for the holidays, and this self-guided tour gives you the brightest, boldest, and most festive stops in the city, no tickets, no rush, just pure Christmas magic on your own time.
Buena Park Christmas Tree at City Hall
Location: 6650 Beach Blvd
Start your night at the city’s iconic Christmas tree — tall, elegant, and glowing with classic holiday charm. It’s a clean, beautiful photo opportunity, especially with the city buildings lit behind it.
BONUS!
Take a quick walk through the courtyard for a peaceful moment before diving into the rest of the tour.
1st Place Winner – Stanton Ave Holiday Home
Location: 6351 Stanton Ave
This home took 1st place in Buena Park’s Holiday Home Decorating Contest last year — and it earned every bit of that win. The display is bright, detailed, and perfectly put together. It’s the photo opof the night, especially with Santa’s reindeer and sleigh set up right out front. Families love this stop, and honestly… adults do too.
Canterbury Way – Flower Tract
Area: Between Stanton Ave & Dale St, and the 91 FWY & La Palma Ave
This block brings the kind of holiday energy you can see from down the street. The highlight? A giant Santa and elf inflatable taller than the house itself. The neighbors in this tract take decorating seriously, and it shows. A slow roll through or a quick hop out for photos both work here.
Cyclamen Way – Flower Tract
Area: Between Stanton Ave & Dale St, and the 91 FWY & La Palma Ave
Turn your radio to 100.5 FM and watch the lights dance right in sync with the music. This street is a local favorite because of how interactive it is — kids lose their minds, adults suddenly become kids again. It’s one of the most entertaining stops of the whole tour.
Petunia Way – Flower Tract
Location: Between Holder & Valley View, and Crescent & Lincoln
Petunia Way delivers the kind of lights-and-installations combo you don’t want to miss. Expect big décor, detailed themes, and homes that truly commit. It’s a great “walk for a minute and take it all in” stop.
Next, head back to Orangethorpe and start your drive down Beach Blvd toward the E-Zone District, where Buena Park keeps the boulevard festive. The street glows with lights as you approach the heart of the city’s entertainment corridor — a fun transition on your way to the next landmark.
Knott’s Merry Farm — Marketplace & Walkways
Location: 8039 Beach Blvd
You don’t need a theme park ticket for this one. The outside of Knott’s is decked out with:
Festive walkways
Lit-up Calico front area
Holiday storefront displays
The Marketplace glowing with lights
It’s lively, cheerful, and one of the easiest places to get great holiday photos without stepping inside the gates.
San Francisco St – South San Tract
Location: Between Holder & Valley View, and Crescent & Lincoln
This neighborhood coordinates their displays with lighted sidewalk archways that get bigger every year. It’s a tradition that keeps growing, and walking underneath the arches feels like stepping into a holiday tunnel. Park nearby and stroll through — it’s worth it.
This house goes all out — roofline to walkway, every inch covered in glowing lights. It’s bold, bright, and completely unapologetic about its holiday spirit. Even better, it earned 2nd place in last year’s City of Buena Park Holiday Decorating Contest.
Expect fun photo ops and one of the most joyful displays in the area. It’s the perfect final stop to wrap up your night.
The City has not yet posted the 2025 nominees, but you can view last year’s nominees here.
We’ll update the list as soon as the new nominees are released.
2024 Nominees
Buena Park, Calif. – Over 15 homes and businesses around Buena Park were nominated for our holiday decoration contest.
The nominees have gone above and beyond to transform their home or business into a winter wonderland. The winner of the contest will be announced shortly. In the meantime, visit the nominated homes and businesses with your family to take a look at their festive decorations:
Wrap Up Your Night in Buena Park Magic
Buena Park shows up big for the holidays, and this self-guided tour is your ticket to the city’s brightest streets, award-winning homes, and hidden gems that make the season feel a little more magical. Whether you’re cruising with family, exploring with friends, or just chasing that spark of Christmas joy on your own, this route gives you everything from nostalgic classics to over-the-top displays.
So bundle up, turn up the holiday playlist, and enjoy the glow.
And check back soon — we’ll update the City of Buena Park Holiday Decorating Contest winners as soon as the 2025 list is released.
Here’s to a season full of wonder, warm drinks, and twinkling lights. 🎄✨
WANT TO FOLLOW THE FULL ROUTE TURN-BY-TURN?
Use this interactive map here!
Save it, share it, or pull it up on your phone during your drive — it makes the entire tour effortless.
Nov 10, 2025 BUENA PARK The real estate scene in Buena Park is here! Here’s what went down in October 👇
🏡 90620: • 22 Active | 16 Pending | 13 Sold • Avg Sold Price: $975K • Homes sat for ~28 days
🏘️ 90621: • 10 Active | 7 Pending | 5 Sold • Avg Sold Price: $1.08M • Homes sold in ~28 days
Condos and townhomes are also moving fast, with days on market dropping and prices holding strong 💪
Thinking about buying, selling, or just curious about your home’s current value? 📲 Let’s connect and create a game plan that fits you.
I’m Christine Almarines, Team Lead at the CA Real Estate Group, where we put CARE in every transaction. 💛
#BuenaParkRealEstate #MarketUpdate #BuenaParkHomes #CARealEstateGroup #ChristineAlmarines #SoCalHomes #HomeValues #BuenaParkLiving #RealEstateUpdate #HomeSelling #BuyAHome — Christine Almarines CA Real Estate Group ✨ DRE #01412944 powered by Caliber Real Estate “Where we put CARE in every transaction”
Cerritos Update
Nov 10, 2025 #DreamHome #RealEstateMarket #RealtorLife
Here’s your quick October snapshot:
🏡 Single Detached Homes — 17 active | 13 pending | 12 sold
💰 Avg Sold Price: $1.16M | Avg Days on Market: 28
🏘️ Townhomes & Condos — 6 active | 4 pending | 4 sold
💰 Avg Sold Price: $555K | Avg Days on Market: 97
The market’s moving — are you? Whether you’re buying, selling, or just curious, having the right strategy makes all the difference.
📞 I’m Christine Almarines with the CA Real Estate Group, where we put CARE in every transaction.
When the holidays roll around, travel plans, family gatherings, and all the chaos of the season may make you think it’s better to pull your listing off the market or to wait until 2026 to sell your house. But here’s the thing.
Waiting could mean missing out on a great window of opportunity. Because while other sellers are stepping away, you can lean in – and that might actually give you the edge. Here are 4 reasons selling now may be the better bet.
1. Buyers This Time of Year Are Serious
Don’t let the season fool you. While casual browsers tend to step back around the holidays, serious buyers stay in the game. The people looking for homes right now usually aren’t just browsing. They’re ready to make a move and they usually want to close before the new year. As Zillow says:
“While more buyers have tended to shop in the spring and summer months, those shopping in the winter are likely to be motivated — often moving because of a job relocation, change in financial situation, or change in family needs.”
Their timelines are real and missing them would create a hassle for the buyer, so they’re eager to get the deal done. And that’s exactly the kind of buyer you want to work with.
2. You Have Control Over Your Schedule (and Showings)
Some homeowners decide not to sell this time of year because they don’t want to juggle showings during the holiday rush. They’re anticipating traveling to see family and thinking about buyers in their home only adds another layer of complexity.
But here’s what no one’s reminded them. You can control your showings and can set times that work for your schedule. You don’t have to stop your plans to keep your sale on track. The right agent can help you manage your calendar, your showings, and your stress level.
3. Other Sellers May Step Back, Which Means Less Competition
Because fewer sellers tend to list this time of year, the number of homes for sale usually falls a bit. Lisa Sturtevant, Chief Economist at Bright MLS, explains:
“As we approach the end of the year, listing activity tends to slow and would-be sellers decide to wait until after the new year to list . . .”
And in a year when inventory has been steadily rising, that seasonal slowdown works in your favor. With the potential for fewer sellers on the market, your house will stand out. So, a seasonal dip in listings could help you get noticed, especially if your home is priced right and presented well.
4. Homes Decorated for the Holidays Can Feel More Inviting
You may not realize it, but seasonal decor can actually help you appeal to buyers. Maybe it’s that they have an easier time picturing themselves making memories in the home. Maybe it just feels cozier and more inviting. Whatever the reason, it works. Sometimes tasteful seasonal touches can make it easier to sell your house.
But don’t go overboard. Keep your choices simple to let your home’s charm shine through.
Bottom Line
There are plenty of good reasons to put (or keep) your house on the market during this time of year.
If you want to talk strategy for how to make the most of this season in your market, connect with a local agent.
Enjoy dinner and tackle stains later with this helpful guide to removing common Thanksgiving Day stains.
Whether you’re in the kitchen preparing a feast, or you’re lounging on the couch watching football enjoying a plate of appetizers, stains are inevitable on Thanksgiving. Once the pie has been eaten, plates have been cleared, and thanks have been given, it’s time to survey the damage to your table linens.
Red wine, chocolate, candle wax, and gravy are all common holiday culprits. But don’t fret just yet if one of them takes a tumble. A holiday full of good times with friends and family and delicious food shouldn’t lead to clothes or a favorite table cloth being ruined by a small stain.
The following Thanksgiving stains can be fixed with a little effort and on-hand ingredients. So feel free to gobble down all your favorite Thanksgiving foods—sweet potatoes, pumpkin pie, cranberry sauce, and more. This easy stain guide will keep you and your home stain-free.
Put dish soap on the stain and let it sit for 10 minutes before laundering with cold water. Repeat if there are still traces of the stain. Remember: You should always confirm a stain is completely gone before using the dryer.
Scrape off any excess with a dull knife and run the fabric inside out under cold water to flush out as much of the stain as possible. Pretreat with a laundry stain remover, then wash the fabric on hot.
3. Cranberry Sauce
Rinse the stain with cool water. Add 1 Tbsp. white vinegar and 1/2 tsp. liquid laundry detergent to 1-quart cool water. Blot the mixture on the stain with a clean cloth until the spot has disappeared.
Red wine stains can be tricky to get out. Saturate the area in white vinegar, then rub in liquid detergent. Next, run under hot water to lift the stain. Remember to have your water very hot, not just warm, for the optimal stain-removing power.
Scrape off what you can with a dull knife, then use a hairdryer to melt the remaining wax. This will leave an oily residue you can dab away with a cotton ball soaked in rubbing alcohol. Launder the item as usual.
Add 1/4 tsp. dishwashing liquid and 3 drops ammonia to 1/2 cup warm water. Using a clean cloth, press the solution into the stain; do not rub. If the spill is on wool or silk, use club soda instead of ammonia.
7. Chocolate
Remove any crumbs or hardened chocolate with a dry, clean toothbrush. Add 1 tablespoon dish soap to 2 cups warm water and apply the mixture using a microfiber cloth, gently dabbing the stain. Do not rub, which can work the stain deeper into the fabric. Repeat a few times before soaking up the solution with a clean towel.
8. Butter and Oil
Much like treating a grease stain, spilled butter or oil can be treated with plain dish soap. Pour several drops of dish soap directly on the stain, making sure it’s completely covered. Let it sit for a few minutes, then use a clean, wet cloth to wipe away the detergent. Wash the garment as normal on cold, making sure the stain is gone before putting the item in the dryer.
9. Mashed Potatoes
The best mashed potatoes are loaded with butter and cream, which can leave stains if you’ve dropped a forkful in your lap. To treat the stain, wipe away any potato residue and then spot treat the area with dish soap. Rinse with cold water (hot water will set the stain) and repeat if necessary before tossing the item in the washing machine.
10. Coffee
An after-dinner coffee spill is easy to treat. Mix one part white vinegar with two parts cold water and use the mixture to rinse out the garment over the sink. Repeat several times until you can no longer see the stain, then wash the item on cold in the washing machine.
Pretreat with liquid laundry detergent, working it in with a toothbrush. Allow the detergent to sit for at least 15 minutes, then wash the fabric on hot. If necessary, repeat before drying.
For some people, cleaning can be a satisfying and productive way to wrap up their day. However, not all household chores are appropriate for nighttime. Tasks like wiping down counters or folding laundry can be done quietly and efficiently, while others may pose risks, disrupt sleep, or annoy nearby neighbors. The time of day you choose to clean can affect effectiveness, safety, and even the lifespan of some appliances.
Cleaning after dark can also lead to minor, albeit annoying, issues, like streaky windows and splotchy surfaces. What’s worse, chemical fumes can pose health risks and linger longer if your home is kept tightly locked at night. To ensure you’re keeping your home and its inhabitants healthy, here are the cleaning chores you should avoid doing at night, along with why it’s better to wait until morning.
1. Cleaning with Chemicals
Many cleaning products contain strong chemicals that require proper ventilation. Ingredients like bleach and ammonia can release fumes that may cause headaches, dizziness, or respiratory irritation. Unless you leave windows open overnight, it can be challenging to air out the rooms you clean. If doing a bit of light cleaning at night, aim to use natural cleaning products to reduce health risks. And if you need to use heavy-duty cleaners, wait to do so during the day when you can open windows or doors to allow for proper air circulation.
2. Washing Windows
Cleaning windows works best in good lighting to achieve a streak-free finish, making nighttime an unsuitable time for the task. Artificial lighting can create shadows and make it challenging to spot smudges, meaning you could wake up to less-than-ideal results. Additionally, wet windows can accumulate condensation overnight, potentially ruining your hard work.
3. Vacuuming
Even if you have one of the latest vacuum cleaners to hit the market or use a robot vacuum, the sound of it running at night will likely disturb your household. If you live in an apartment complex or other type of community where the homes sit close to one another (such as a duplex or townhouse), you also risk being a bother to neighbors. Many local noise ordinances restrict loud activities during designated “quiet hours”, so vacuuming at night could actually land you in trouble. If you need to clean up a mess quickly, try using a broom and dustpan or a handheld vacuum for a quieter solution.
4. Mopping
Mopping the floors after hours can pose an unexpected danger. Wet spots can pose a slipping hazard, especially if someone gets up in the middle of the night, unaware that the floor has just been mopped. It’s also easy to overlook dust, dirt, and stains, resulting in an incomplete clean. If you need to wipe up a late-night spill, consider using a dry mop or spot-cleaning the affected areas instead of attempting to clean the entire floor.
5. Decluttering or Rearranging
If you were the kind of kid who loved to rearrange your bedroom in the middle of the night, you might get the occasional urge to do it as an adult. But, that doesn’t mean you should! Late-night decluttering or moving furniture around can be dangerous, especially in dimly lit spaces. You risk tripping over objects, stubbing toes, or dropping things, leading to injuries or waking others up. Consider these projects to work on when the sun is shining.
6. Deep-Cleaning the Kitchen
Performing late-night light cleaning of kitchen surfaces, like wiping down the counter from leftover dinner spills, is usually no big deal. But scrubbing the oven, tossing expired food from the fridge, and even running the dishwasher can be disruptive. Dishwashers, in particular, tend to be quite loud, which might disturb light sleepers and—in rare cases—can cause a fire, which takes longer to react to if you’re asleep. Moreover, deep cleaning tasks that involve scrubbing or reorganizing cabinets can take longer than anticipated, leaving you feeling exhausted before bed.
7. Doing Laundry
Washers and dryers can be overly noisy, particularly in smaller homes where sound travels easily, and depending on the location of the appliances. The sounds of running water, hard objects (like buttons on a pair of jeans) tumbling around, and the machine’s signals can be grating for those trying to sleep. As with dishwashers, dryers pose a fire hazard if lint buildup leads to overheating, so it’s safer to be awake and alert when using these appliances.
8. Steam Cleaning
Steam cleaners are all the rage right now, but it might be a good idea to wait until daylight hours to use yours. Spills can lead to burns, and accidents are more likely to occur at night when lighting is dim and you may be tired. Furthermore, carpets cleaned with steam can take longer to dry in the cool night air, making them susceptible to mold or mildew growth.
(TIP from CA Real Estate Group: Visit the above link to view a sample photo of each fence type for ideas!)
Increasing the privacy of your yard can be as simple as putting up a fence. However, if you’re on a budget, a traditional fence can be out of reach, as privacy fence installation costs can cost up to $13,000. Luckily, several affordable fence ideas can provide you with the privacy you long for without draining your savings. Below, we’ve provided our top six affordable fence ideas for privacy on a budget, along with installation guidelines, maintenance tips, and average costs, so you know what to plan for.
1. Bamboo Panel Fence
Suppose all you want is a little privacy, but you’re not concerned about keeping animals in or actually increasing the security of your yard. If those priorities were the case, there are few materials better than bamboo panels. An 8-foot section of bamboo privacy fence is around $150, plus the cost of posts and other structural materials.
Although there are undoubtedly more affordable options, bamboo is ideal for small sections of a privacy fence, as it completely blocks visibility into your yard while offering a stylish aesthetic to your outdoor space.
2. Pallet Fence
Pallets have long been used as a starting point for many DIY projects. Unsurprisingly, pallets are a great option for an inexpensive privacy fence because they’re basically already fence panels. Once you place them together and securely fasten them to the ground and one another, you have a fence.
Best of all, you can often find pallets for free by browsing online marketplaces. Even if you want to spring for the premium pallets, you can typically find them for less than $5 each, as businesses often have a surplus they’re looking to dispose of. Lastly, if you don’t love the look of the pallets themselves, you can break them down and utilize the lumber, which is far cheaper than buying lumber from the hardware store.
3. Lattice Fence
Lattice screens are an accessible option for a DIY privacy fence that won’t break the bank. The pressure-treated lattice itself will cost under $30 for an 8-foot section of 4-foot-tall fencing.
When building a DIY privacy fence using lattice panels, factor in the cost of fence posts and structural members. Lattice panels aren’t very strong materials, so you’ll want to make sure they’re secured to something solid to prevent them from sagging, warping, and falling over.
You can further increase the privacy and beauty of a lattice panel fence by planting climbing plants along the base, then training them to fill in and climb the fence. If doing so, make sure your posts are strong enough to support the additional weight of the plants.
4. Living Fence
One of the most effective and visually appealing ways to bolster your yard’s privacy level is to plant a living fence comprised of fast-growing plants like Arbovitae, English Laurel, Privet, Forsythia, Leeland Cyrpruses, and more. While large, established plants can cost hundreds of dollars per plant, you can buy small saplings for under $20 each.
To get the most privacy out of a living hedge, make sure you plant each plant close enough to one another that there are no gaps between them once the plants reach full maturity.
5. Dead Hedge
If you have lots of trees that are constantly shedding limbs, you’re in luck. Use those fallen sticks, twigs, and branches to create a dead hedge. Drive posts into the ground, then weave the sticks around the posts along your desired path, pushing them down as you go.
Over time, you’ll create a gorgeous hedge of branches that both complements your outdoor space and increases your property’s privacy. If you use branches for your posts, you can build this privacy fence completely free of charge.
Weave the branches around the posts while they’re still green and supple. If you wait until they’ve dried, they tend to break.
6. Repurposed Material Fence
If you love a vintage, repurposed look, you can get very creative with your privacy fence. Utilize repurposed materials like old wooden doors and windows, shutters, wood flooring, galvanized metal, barnwood, and whatever else you can find to create the privacy fence you’ve been dreaming of. Oftentimes, you can find these materials for free, though you’ll need to buy posts and other materials to support your fence structure.
If you’re simply after visual privacy, you can construct a privacy screen by building a frame similar to a wooden swing set, then hanging your repurposed materials from the top using chains and hooks. Since most of these materials aren’t intended for outdoor use, you can extend their lifespan by painting or sealing them with a sealant rated for outdoor use and UV exposure.
Find out which staging color combos agents say resonate the most when they’re working with sellers to get a home ready to sell.
When it comes to getting a home market-ready, paint beats almost any other home improvement upgrade. A new Better Homes and Gardens Real Estate poll found that three out of four real estate agents say repainting the interior can add the most value before a sale—sometimes boosting the listing’s value by as much as 10%, or up to $20,000.
“Painting is the most cost-effective upgrade, and you can cover the most space with it,” says real estate broker Josh McGrath, the owner of Better Homes and Gardens Real Estate Central in South Charleston and West Virginia and the 2025 President of the West Virginia Association of REALTORS®. Paint and supplies tend to be cheaper than most other house projects, so if a homeowner had $1,000 to spend, McGrath would generally suggest putting it all toward paint.
“Even if you just paint the walls the same color, you get that fresh look. The dents and dings are gone, and you get that clean paint smell,” McGrath says. “That’s the biggest impact you can make.”
Color Choice Matters
Real estate agents understand the value of freshly painted homes. It’s why painting the entire home or at least one interior room is the home remodeling project they most often recommend to homeowners before listing, according to the National Association of REALTORS®’ 2025 Remodeling Impact Report.
And, the BHGRE poll confirmed what many agents see every day: Color can make or break a first impression. The color of the walls can make buyers feel welcome or turn them off. The poll revealed that buyers often hold strong impressions of certain colors.
For example, more than half of respondents said red is the number-one dealbreaker for them in homes they view.
“Red has subliminal messaging,” McGrath says. “Red means stop. Red means caution. It subconsciously drives your blood pressure up. It’s great for a restaurant—but not for a house. A home should feel calm and inviting.”
Other bold hues like orange, neon hues, purples and saturated pinks were also ranked as home buyer turn-offs, according to the survey.
Meanwhile, neutrals still dominate in real estate. Eighty-four percent of agents in the BHGRE survey said whites, grays and beiges remain top choices. McGrath points to an emerging favorite that bridges both cool and warm tones—his favorite Sherwin-Williams’ Worldly Gray, which is mix of beige and gray.
The BHGRE poll revealed the following favorite color combinations when staging a home before listing it:
Beige and soft green (tied as the favorite staging palette)
White and gray (tied as the favorite staging palette)
Navy and white—which offers a contrast without turning off mainstream buyers
Bold combos—such as black and gold or taupe and teal—but used sparingly and often reserved for luxury listings
Half of homeowners say they repaint not to change out the color but simply to refresh their home, according to the BHGRE survey.
“Think about buying a pre-owned car,” McGrath says. “You expect it to be detailed—clean looking nice and smelling fresh. Buyers expect the same thing with a house. Fresh paint makes it feel like its new again.”
Whether selling or not, he recommends repainting a home every three to five years, depending on how you live in the space. “Life leaves marks on the walls,” he says. “A fresh coat of paint can bring it back.”
Get the latest Buena Park real estate update for September 2025! Christine Almarines with the CA Real Estate Group breaks down the newest stats, home prices, and trends in both 90620 and 90621. Whether you’re buying, selling, or just keeping an eye on the market — this video gives you the insider data you need to make smart moves.
🚨 Buena Park Market Update is here! 🚨 Here’s how September played out in both 90620 and 90621 ⬇️
🏡 90620 – Single-Family Homes • 25 Active | 10 Pending | 24 Sold • Avg List: $896,651 • Avg Sold: $910,940 • Avg Days on Market: 24.5
🏘️ 90620 – Condos/Townhomes/PUDs • 4 Active | 3 Pending | 4 Sold • Avg List: $719,475 • Avg Sold: $708,000 • Avg Days on Market: 56
🏡 90621 – Single-Family Homes • 9 Active | 8 Pending | 3 Sold • Avg List: $1,366,666 • Avg Sold: $1,295,000 • Avg Days on Market: 6.6
🏘️ 90621 – Condos/Townhomes/PUDs • 14 Active | 6 Pending | 4 Sold • Avg List: $746,700 • Avg Sold: $742,475 • Avg Days on Market: 43
The market is moving fast — if you’re thinking about buying or selling in Buena Park, let’s build your strategy.
— Christine Almarines CA Real Estate Group ✨ DRE #01412944 powered by Caliber Real Estate “Where we put CARE in every transaction”
Cerritos Update
Get the latest Cerritos real estate market update for September 2025! Christine Almarines with the CA Real Estate Group breaks down key housing stats — from active listings and pending sales to average home prices and days on market. Whether you’re buying, selling, or just staying informed, this update gives you the data-driven insight you need to make confident real estate moves in Cerritos.
