By Diane Schmidt

original article: https://www.thespruce.com/moving-and-buying-home-in-winter-2436018

So real estate wisdom tells us that spring and summer are the prime seasons for house hunting and moving. People are more likely to get out and shop when the weather is nice. It is a more pleasant time of year, and sellers know their yards look better when not covered in snow. Yet there are some very logical and compelling reasons for going shopping for a house and moving in the winter as well.

As we know, moving and real estate often go hand in hand, and though we’d like to dictate when we move and when we buy a house, very often other circumstances can emerge and force us to sell, buy and move anytime of year. But having to buy a house in the winter is not the worst thing that can happen. In fact, here are some advantages that show how you could benefit from house hunting in the winter.

Fewer Buyers to Compete With

The most obvious plus of buying and moving in winter is exactly because real estate wisdom says to shop spring and summer. As a result of this popular piece of real estate advice, there will be fewer buyers in competition during the winter months. It’s simple economics—the low demand will work in your favor. So for the investor looking to find a good deal in the housing market, the winter can be prime time.

Lower Inventory but Less Competition

In most markets, winter usually means a lower inventory with fewer houses on the market. While this is often the case, it’s possible to find the right space and with fewer people looking, you’ll have less competition. 

Lower Prices

When you have fewer buyers in the market, supply exceeds demand. This usually results in prices being lower than during the hot or peak season.

Motivated Sellers

All the low activity in the winter will result in sellers being far more motivated to sell. Real estate agents know that the slow winter months are when sellers are more willing to negotiate, whether it is on selling price, closing costs, closing date or even terms of the sale, including what household appliances and items are included in the sale. And these are all the very reasons that many real estate agents recommend that their clients delay listing their homes till at least the spring. The winter is not a great time for sellers, in general.

Seller’s Circumstances

Furthermore, there are the circumstances hinted at above when sellers are forced to sell during the winter. Perhaps a job offer has dictated a winter move, or the seller may have personal issues that are dictating his/her actions—financial issues, divorce, etc. Again, this may work to the buyer’s advantage as the seller will be very motivated.

Less Multiple Offers

Another reason that winter can be such a buyer’s market for real estate is that the fewer number of buyers competing for homes means that the chances of there being multiple offers on a single property are greatly reduced. This again translates to buyers having the upper hand over sellers in the negotiations.

Motivated Relators

Low activity during the winter months also means you will have the undivided attention of your realtor, and he or she will be working harder for you. These lean months of low sales volume encourage realtors to try just that little bit harder to negotiate a sale.

So brave the cold, pull on a winter coat, and get out there and house hunt. Remember that in the U.S., it is still a great time to invest in real estate. Prices are low and so are interest rates.

Keep the vintage wallpaper, but upgrade that time- and money-draining retro thermostat to programmable.

What may seem like a good idea, often isn’t. 

Here are 17 common mistakes new homeowners often make.

#1 Get Rid of Your Only Tub

If resale value is important to you, don’t get rid of your only bathtub no matter how dreamy that walk-in shower looks.

It will make it harder to sell when the time comes. You’ll flat-out lose buyers who love a good soak or need a tub to bathe little ones (both human and four-legged).

#2 Leave Cabinet Doors on While Painting

Painting your kitchen cabinets pays off big at resale — it’s a small investment for a big “wow.” But the job’s time-consuming, so it’s tempting leave the doors on.

RESIST. At all costs.

Because no matter how hard you try, it’s not going to look good. Even the pros don’t do it. That should tell you something.

#3 Put Starchy Food Down the Disposal

Today’s garbage disposals can handle more challenging foods than earlier models, but starchy comestibles like potatoes, rice, and oatmeal still stump them.

Fun fact: Every Halloween, plumbers see an increase in calls because people are dumping pumpkin guts into the disposal.

Starchy foods clump when they hit water, clogging disposals and pipes. Instead, put them in the garbage can or, even better, your compost pile.

#4 Plant a Tree Close to Your House

That young sapling just a few feet from your door seems so harmless. Until it grows up.

In addition to the risk of falling limbs, tree roots from mature trees can weaken your home’s foundation and clog plumbing and sewer pipes.

Plant medium and large trees at least 30 to 50 feet from the house. Put small trees (30 feet tall or less) at least eight, preferably 10, feet away.

#5 Flush “Flushable” Wipes

Sewer systems are facing a growing menace: flushable wipes. Despite the name, most don’t disintegrate, even after 10 minutes (compared to a few seconds for toilet paper).

Until a truly flushable wipe exists, don’t flush them — or anything non-organic, for that matter. Stick with good ol’ TP instead.

#6 Cover Wallpaper with Water-based Paint

You don’t have to remove that dated wallpaper – simply paint over it. Just don’t do it with water-based paint. It can reactivate wallpaper glue and cause the paper to peel. Instead, use oil-based primer, let it dry completely, and then apply latex paint over it. Oil-based primer has long been the industry standard and works well with oil and latex paints.

Related: The Best Way to Remove Wallpaper Without Losing Your Sanity

#7 Paint Exterior Brick

Brick needs to breathe. Paint chokes it.

Paint can destroy the brick and mortar and even cause the foundation to crumble. Talk about a hidden cost!

If you’re itching for a new exterior look, try new shutters, paint the front door, or update your landscaping. Those moves can scratch your itch and boost your curb appeal. If you just can’t live with your brick color, try brick stain, which bonds with the brick, allowing it to breathe.

#8 Skip the Last Mow Before Winter

Tempting as it is to skip that last mow before winter, leaving the lawn too tall in cold months gives mice and other rodents good cover from predators, like hawks. Which means they’ve got safe passage to work their way into your warm and cozy home for the winter. Plus, keeping grass short keeps it healthier.

#9 Let Ceiling Fans Run Forever

Ceiling fans don’t decrease the temperature in a room; they increase how quickly your sweat evaporates, making you feel cooler.

Since it’s only beneficial to run ceiling fans when people are in the rooms to enjoy their breeze, save money by turning them off when you’re out.

#10 Tear Out Original Architectural Features

Custom millwork, tin ceiling tiles, and mid-century modern brick give your home its character, so keep them if you’re remodeling (assuming they’re not in awful condition). Buyers appreciate these one-of-a-kind details, and preserving them sets your home apart. They can put your house at the top of house-hunters’ lists when it comes time to sell.

#11 Change Your Mailbox Without Checking with Your HOA

Or make any other change to your home’s exterior, such as replace your front steps, add shutters, etc. Homeowners associations work to keep neighborhood elements maintained and consistent in an effort to protect everyone’s home value.

That often includes seemingly small details, so let your HOA know of your upgrade plans. Otherwise, you could risk a citation or fine. Or worse, be told to undo it.

#12 Leave Hoses Connected in Winter

When you retire your lawnmower each fall, disconnect and store hoses, too. Leaving them attached during cold weather can trap water in the pipes, causing them (and possibly the faucets) to freeze. BTW, it also ruins the hose.

#13 Keep an Old-Fashioned Thermostat

Maintaining a cozy home temp while you’re at work or sleeping wastes money and energy. If your house came with a non-programmable thermostat, you’ll have to manually change it multiple times a day to avoid all that waste. (Like you need another task on the way out the door.)

Install a programmable thermostat, stat. One in the $150 range saves a typical household $131-$145 annually, so it’s practically free.

Related: 7 Time-Sucking Remodeling Mistakes That Are Soooo Easy to Make

#14 Put a Brick in Your Toilet

To decrease water use and save money, many people put bricks in their older, high-water-use toilets. But bricks crumble in water and can damage or clog pipes.

Replace the toilet ($350 or less) or fill a half-gallon milk jug with sand and drop it in the tank instead (saving about half a gallon per flush).

#15 Water Grass at Night

It may seem smart to water in the evening – especially if you have a sprinkler system, because electrical rates are lower. But without sun to evaporate it, water is more likely to cling to grass at night, promoting fungus. Instead, water in the morning when the air is cool, the sun is arriving, and there’s less wind than midday.

#16 Clean Windows on a Sunny Day

Doesn’t a warm, sunny day seem like the perfect time to wash windows? Counter-intuitively, it’s the worst because the sun dries windows too quickly and causes smears. Instead, save this chore for a cloudy day.

#17 Pour Bleach or Drain Cleaner Down Pipes

Bleach seems like a great agent for keeping pipes unclogged and smelling fresh — and drain cleaner is literally for pipes, right?

Unfortunately, bleach can react with substances in your pipes and cause more clogs than it prevents. Even drain cleaner is rough on pipes — and both are environmentally awful. (Plus, as little as a teaspoon of drain cleaner can destroy a septic field.)

Instead, use a pipe snake (also known as an auger) to keep pipes running smoothly

By Paula Pant

original article: https://www.opendoor.com/w/guides/what-to-look-for-when-buying-a-house

There are many things to consider when buying a house—price, location, condition, size, schools, and more. We’ll walk through the trade-offs.

1. What lifestyle do you want?

First, identify the core values and lifestyle most important to you. Perhaps you want a walkable, hyperlocal and eco-friendly urban lifestyle. Maybe you want a quiet, rural country life. Or perhaps you’re striving for a low-maintenance setup that’s conducive to frequent travel.

Imagine your ideal lifestyle, both today and a decade into the future, and use this as the basis for choosing the features you’d like in your home. Think about your ideal day-to-day life with regard to commuting and running errands, and also imagine how you want to spend your weekends and holidays.

• Would you like to stay home, or travel?
• Do you plan to host parties or large gatherings?
• How often will guests stay over?
• Would you and your spouse own one vehicle or two?
• Do you use public transit?
• Does one of you work from home?

The answers to questions like these will impact your home preferences. Here are several qualities in a new home you should consider.

• BedroomConsider the number of bedrooms that you may need within the next decade. Do you plan to add to your family, or do you expect an empty nest? Might an older relative need in-home care?Any room that contains a closet and a form of ingress and egress for fire safety, such as a window, meets the definition of a bedroom. You may also want to buy a house with bedrooms that you use for purposes other than sleeping. For example, you may also want space for an office, gym, or hobby room.
• BathroomsAdditional beds and baths can boost the value of a home, too. The increase depends on the market where the home is located, as well as the home’s existing value. For example, according to data from our home improvement value calculator, wood floors and a pool tend to have a bigger increase on the value of more expensive homes, while bathroom and kitchen remodels tend to add more value for lower to mid-priced homes.
• StorageConsider how much space you need. Do you need a two-car garage, or might a car-port suffice? Do you have an accessible basement, attic, garage or tool shed? Does your dream home include space for hobbies? Home repairs and maintenance require tools and storage too, especially if you plan on tackling bigger projects yourself.
• StairsIf anyone in your family has mobility issues, or you plan to age in your home, consider whether you want a house with stairs. If an entryway includes stairs, you may not be able to accommodate guests with physical limitations. You may want a home that features at least one bedroom on the ground floor for similar reasons.
• Privacy and noiseToddler parents might want to sleep close to their children’s rooms, while teen parents might enjoy the idea of kids and their stereo speakers in the basement. Furthermore, if the home is located near a busy street, highway, college campus, or nightlife district, how much noise will seep into the space?Consider the home layout with regard to both noise and privacy: Would noise from the living room or the busy streets leak into the bedrooms? Can neighbors peer into the bathroom?
• EfficiencyConsider how much monthly budget you can allocate for utilities. Your real estate agent can ask the seller for copies of utility bills from the past 12 months. Many sellers can access these records online. These bills should offer an idea of the costs of heating and cooling the home.Features such as low ceilings, new windows and a smaller footprint tend to keep heating and cooling bills low. High vaulted ceilings, while luxurious, and a larger footprint can cost significantly more in utilities.

2. Imagine your ideal yard

• SizeWould you prefer to maximize your space or minimize your maintenance? A large, fenced lot could give you enough space to play with children, let your dogs run off-leash, or install a toolshed or swimming pool in the future. A smaller lot, however, is less expensive and easier to manage.
• GradeA flat yard can make a great soccer pitch, or swing set pad. You might install a pool. Others would rather embrace a stellar view or a shorter commute and don’t mind a shrunken or hilly yard.
• ShadeDo you want a yard that’s forested and shady, or would you prefer more sun? If you plan on gardening or landscaping, make sure the yard’s light conditions are compatible with your plans. Some plants, like tomatoes, require abundant sunlight, while others, like mint, thrive in shade and part-sun conditions, so your decision could depend on what you hope to grow.
• FeaturesWould you like a deck, patio, swimming pool, jacuzzi, built-in cooktop or grill, or other outdoor features? These features can make a home life more enjoyable, but they also require significant upkeep. Pools and hot tubs need regular cleaning and maintenance. Decks and patios need to be re-sealed. Are you going to use these features often enough to justify the additional expense and commitment?
• SetbackHow much privacy and space from the road would you like? You may enjoy the privacy of a deeper setback, but being close to the street means you’ll be closer to your neighbors, your children may be able to play on the sidewalk, and you won’t need to worry about shoveling or plowing a long private driveway in winter. But then, you may be closer to your neighbors.

3. What matters most in a neighborhood

• SchoolsConsider your school district needs for the next ten years. The elementary school may be great, but the high school could rank subpar. Nonprofits such as GreatSchools provide rankings on both public and private school quality.
• AmenitiesWhat libraries, parks, pools, grocers and retailers are nearby? If you want to shop at a specific farmers market or specialty store, for example, then consider the travel time. If you’re a frequent business traveler, think about travel time commuting to the airport.
• Pet-friendlinessDo you need sidewalk space to walk your dogs? If you want to keep chickens or other uncommon pets, check neighborhood restrictions. If you buy in a neighborhood that’s governed by a homeowners association, the HOA may have additional restrictions, beyond town rules.
• WalkabilitySome buyers love their vehicles, and want a large garage and easy access to freeways. Others want higher walking potential. You might take stock of a neighborhood’s sidewalks, walking paths or bicycle paths, and if those connect from the house to other locations you’d visit frequently. You can find the answer by checking the WalkScore of the home, which ranks both the walkability and bike-ability of the area on a scale from 0 to 100.

4. Be realistic about home repairs

How much repair and maintenance work would you like to handle? Everyone’s answer will be different. One person’s cute fixer-upper is another’s worst nightmare.

Here are a few aspects of the structure and mechanicals of a property to consider:

• Fascia, soffits and gutters:Fascia are the long boards that run along a roof’s lower edge. Gutters are typically attached to the fascia. The soffits are tucked underneath. These are prime places to check for rot or signs of water damage.
• Roof:How old is the roof, and what’s the average life expectancy of the roofing material? If the roof tends toward the end of an expected lifespan, you may have to replace sections soon after moving in. You can ask for a credit to cover repairs when you buy the home. You may qualify for a lower homeowners’ insurance rate if the roof is newer, according to Esurance.
• Electrical:Older homes may have older electrical features, such as open junction boxes or a lack of high-amp outlets that can handle newer appliances, says This Old House. Some issues are grandfathered into modern codes and aren’t a big deal, but some can pose safety hazards. If you aren’t experienced with updating a home’s electric or don’t have a potentially large budget for a fix, you may want to consider if you can handle an older house with potential electric issues.

5. Separate needs from wants

You’ll need to weigh many different factors, including the home’s location, age, condition, size, features and price, when you’re buying a home. In order to weigh all these factors, first imagine what your ideal lifestyle would look like, both today and a decade into the future.

Choose a few must-haves that represent the most important aspects of that lifestyle, such as commute time. Be prepared to stay flexible and accept trade-offs, but don’t compromise on your core criteria.

Takeaways

It’s difficult to find a property that meets every desirable criterion on your list. Hopefully, if you’re budget and your desires are reasonable, you’ll find something that fits your most important must-haves.

original article: https://magazine.realtor/daily-news/2019/10/03/home-improvement-projects-that-make-homeowners-happier

Certain home remodeling projects are making homeowners happier and proving to be well worth the cost and time when they sell their properties, according to a new survey from the National Association of REALTORS®, which includes insights from the National Association of the Remodeling Industry.

After completing a home remodeling project, 74% of more than 2,100 consumers surveyed reported having a greater desire to be in their home, 65% say they experienced increased enjoyment, and 77% felt a major source of accomplishment, the 2019 Remodeling Impact Report shows. Researchers examined 20 projects and surveyed REALTORS® and consumers on home renovation projects.

“REALTORS® and homeowners alike recognize the value of taking on a major home remodeling project,” says NAR President John Smaby. “While these tasks can be time-consuming and costly, the projects are well worth the temporary inconveniences, as this report shows, and the final products ultimately reward us with feelings of accomplishment, satisfaction, and higher home values.”

NAR calculated a “joy score” for each home remodeling project studied. The score, a scale from one to 10, is based on homeowners’ overall perceived happiness with their renovations. The higher the joy score for the project, the more homeowners felt satisfaction from it.

Some of the highest joy scores for interior projects centered on complete kitchen renovations, closet renovations, full interior and interior room paint jobs, kitchen upgrades, and basement conversions to living areas.

The exterior jobs with the highest joy scores were new fiberglass or steel front doors, new vinyl and wood windows, and new roofing.

The Resale Benefit

Remodeling can be money well spent at times of resale. Overall, the top remodeling projects for recovering costs at resale were from new roofing, hardwood floor refinishing, and new hardwood floor installation.

NARI remodelers say that homeowners spend on average about $7,500 for new roofing, but real estate pros estimate that sellers will recover $8,000 at resale—an estimated 107% of the value recovered.

On new wood flooring, the average cost homeowners spend on an update is $4,700, but a 106% potential return is possible at resale (real estate pros estimate $5,000).

The Happiest Home Projects

But remodels aren’t just for the potential payback at resale. “The NAR report shows us that people often remodel for resale purposes, but it also reminds us that homeowners remodel too, with the desire to make a home their own,” notes Lawrence Yun, NAR’s chief economist.

Here’s a closer look at the study results on the home improvement projects that made homeowners the happiest:

Kitchen renovation

Joy score: 10

Ninety-three percent of consumers said they had a greater desire to be at home since the completion of their kitchen remodel; 95% said it’s increased their sense of enjoyment when at home. “The kitchen is a space homeowners frequent regularly throughout the course of the day,” Yun says. “So when that area is remodeled to owners’ exact preferences—as they enter and exit the room—they continually experience the satisfaction of a job well done.”

The biggest reason behind a kitchen renovation was to improve functionality and livability, according to 46% of respondents. Also, 24% said they wanted to upgrade worn-out surfaces and materials, while another 20% said they had recently moved into their home and wanted to customize the kitchen to fit their particular tastes. “Kitchens serve as the ‘heart of the home’ for many, and whether you like to entertain or cook, updating a kitchen ensures greater access and use as homeowners age, especially when the upgrades take accessibility into account,” says Robert Kirsic, a certified kitchen and bath remodeler and also NARI’s 2019–2020 president.

Closet renovation

Joy score: 10

Upgrading home closets also made for instantly happier homeowners. Sixty-eight percent of consumers surveyed say they feel a major sense of accomplishment when they think about a completed closet renovation project. More than half say the most important result is improved functionality and livability.

Full interior paint job

Joy score: 9.8

A fresh coat of paint can do wonders for improving the look of a house—but it also improves the mood of those living there. Eighty-eight percent of respondents reported a greater desire to be home since having their home freshly painted.

New fiberglass front door

Joy score: 9.7

The installation of fiberglass front doors can also help for resale and happiness, the survey found. Seventy-nine percent of respondents said that they’ve had a greater desire to be home, thanks to their new front door. Sixty-seven percent say they have an increased sense of enjoyment when they’re home.

New vinyl windows

Joy score: 9.6

The happiness around new windows mostly comes from the result of improved functionality and livability. Forty-seven percent of respondents said they were motivated to update their windows to improve their home’s energy efficiency, and 23% want to upgrade worn-out surfaces, finishes, and materials.

BY: SUZANNE PFEFFERLE TAFUR

original article: https://www.theadvocate.com/gambit/new_orleans/cue_magazine/article_2ee74722-df10-11e9-b23d-c7a1e3bc6d07.html

Add autumnal colors with pillows in heavier fabrics, such as velvet, to update a room for fall.

PHOTO BY KATARZYNA BIALASIEWICZ/GETTY IMAGES

Don’t let the weather fool you. Fall is finally here.

And although there’s not much you can do about unseasonably warm days, at least you can make it feel like autumn inside your home without cranking up the air conditioning. Cozy fabrics, rich patterns and colors and festive accents will do the trick.

Two local interior designers offer advice on how to get started.

Designer Susan Currie (233 Walnut St., 504-237-6112; www.susancurriedesign.com) says swathing your kitchen table with cloths, placemats, and table runners in earthy autumn colors is a quick way to update a home.

“As you continue to create your tablescape for the fall, add fall-themed bowls and small salad or dessert plates to accent your regular dining ware,” Currie says.

Mixing patterns and fall hues with white or cream china makes the room feel more festive, she adds. Currie also suggests displaying a collection of baskets and filling them with fall foliage. Incorporate small pumpkins in the flower arrangement or place them around the basket.

When it comes to refreshing the living room, designer Kelly Sutton (3937 Magazine St., 504-302-2547; www.kellysuttoninc.com) likes to swap light, summery blankets and linen pillows for warm, fluffy throws and pillows in  velvety fabrics and deep hues.

“You could bring in some navy blues, forest greens and amber and cognac colors,” she says. “The whole mood of the room sort of shifts.” You can enhance the fall vibes by adding patterns that incorporate those colors.

Pillows are easy to update because they can be stored when not in use, and you can save money on seasonal pillows by buying just a cover — if that’s an option — or snagging discounts at local retailers. If you spring for custom-made pillows, opt for a luxurious fabric on the front and a less expensive one on the back, Sutton says.

For design inspiration, explore women’s fall fashion trends and find ways to pull those themes into your home, Currie says.

“Interior design tends to follow what’s happening in fashion,” she says. “This season I am seeing plaids and animal prints down the runway. Perhaps add a plaid lumbar pillow to a chair, or show your wild side by adding a pair of spotted leopard pillows to your sofa.”

You also can layer a faux hide rug over one of your existing rugs, she says.

Elegant autumn-inspired accessories can enliven a space, but to keep your home from looking like the scene of a Halloween party, stick with classic items and ideas or things found in nature, Currie says. Cut branches from the garden or pick up fresh fall flowers at a grocery or florist, and arrange them inside a tall cylindrical vase, she suggests.

Currie favors forsythia, with its warm yellow blossoms, and eucalyptus, which adds texture and fragrance.

“If you like neutrals, I personally think pussy willow is a great way to add texture for the fall, and it can be dried for a long-lasting arrangement on your dining table,” Currie says.

For more ideas, Sutton recommends checking out the “usual suspects” online like Pinterest and Houzz or spend some time perusing local boutiques.

“I think just taking a stroll down Magazine Street is an easy way to get inspiration and see what the shops have,” she says.

Currie agrees.

“There are so many stores out there with fall decor,” she says. “Take a Saturday afternoon field trip to pick up a few seasonal accents to bring the feeling of fall into your home.”

By Time Out editors

original article: https://www.timeout.com/los-angeles/things-to-do-in-los-angeles-this-fall?awc=16830_1570499118_618bf138ef50faeff6fe951255e1469a

Fall in Los Angeles is an elusive thing. There’s no nip to the air—au contraire, some of the warmest (and wild-fiery) days fall in these months—and any dramatic color changes take place in fashion rather than on trees. Mostly, we know it as that period of time in L.A. after (most of) the tourists leave and just before palm trees all over the city get the Christmas light treatment. Even if you’re still enjoying L.A.’s best beaches come October (and why would we ever complain about that?), you’ll recognize the signs: the impulse to jack up your reading list, to buy sweaters you won’t wear for weeks, to throw a scarf on over your sundress, to order seasonal squash dishes. You may even start craving the best pie in the city. No matter, here are the best things to do each fall in L.A.—or, at least, things that’ll help make it feel like autumn is actually a thing here.

9 things to do in the fall in L.A.

Go apple picking

Fall is apple picking season, and even though we live in sunny Southern California, there are plenty of options around Los Angeles. From September to November, the Oak Glen area of Southern California will be blooming with these delicious fruits just waiting to be picked. Purists can eat their apples straight from the tree, while others may choose to press them into a cider or bake them into a pie.Read morePhotograph: Monique BatacThings to do

Play in a pumpkin patch

If you’re looking for a pumpkin for a jack-o-lantern, any pumpkin patch will do. But if you’re looking for a pumpkin patch where you can enjoy the day, L.A. has plenty of patches that have enough fun for the whole family, including petting zoos and haunted mazes—and one in Irvine that’s even Hello Kitty-themed.Read morePhotograph: Courtesy Big Horse Corn Maze & Harvest FestivalThings to do

Get lost in a corn maze

October is the only month you won’t mind being told to “get lost”—in a corn maze. Los Angeles has a few in the Valleys that are a guaranteed good time, as you weave through a labyrinth of corn husks (and maybe a few dead ends) until reaching the end. Some are even designed to create particular images and messages. Visit one, or visit all and be sure to take stock in the abundance of corny jokes that await.Read morePhotograph: Courtesy Kelly Lee Barrett/CinespiaMovies

Enjoy the final days of outdoor screening season

Just because summer comes to an end doesn’t mean the alfresco cinema experience has to. Rooftop Cinema Club, Cinespia and Street Food Cinema continue their outdoor movie screenings slates through October, with tons of Halloween-themed flicks thrown into the mix. Read morePhotograph: Courtesy CC/Flickr/Don GrahamThings to do

Take in fall foliage

Look, it’s not Vermont, but Los Angeles does indeed have some fall colors. Mountainous environs like Oak Glen and Big Bear are usually the go-to, but you can find some splashes of color closer to home, too; we typically turn to one of the region’s stunning botanical gardens for some seasonal vibes.Read morePhotograph: Courtesy Creative Commons/Flickr/AirwolfhoundTravel

Go camping

While many people prefer to go camping during the summer months, we prefer fall. Lower temperatures, less crowded campgrounds and fewer bugs are just a few of the reasons why. Whether you’re more an off-the-beaten-path camper or like more glamping style camping, there are plenty of great places to camp around Southern California.Read morePhotograph: Courtesy Vegan OktoberfestThings to do, Festivals

Celebrate Oktoberfest

Oktoberfest might be one of our favorite holidays adopted from other lands. Because, you know, beer. With all the craft beer the city has to offer—we have plenty of fantastic beer bars and biergartens in L.A.—Oktoberfest gives us the opportunity to visit them as much as possible and welcome autum with a bratwurst in hand. Put on your leiderhosen, brush up on your oompah dancing and raise a stein to the festival that encourages us to drink our dinner. Prost!Read morePhotograph: Jakob N. LaymanBars

Cozy up by a fire

Once the Santa Ana winds blow through the last of the season’s hot weather, cravings for all things warm and cozy are at an all-time high. So when the sun sets early and that cool Pacific Ocean breeze blows in, it’s time to head for the flames. These fireplace bars are keeping us warm with crackling flames and seasonal cocktails all fall and winter long.Read morePhotograph: Michael JulianoThings to do

Check out Christmas lights

Most of the month of December is technically still considered fall, which means you can have a merry fall as well. In between a deluge of Christmas activities and frantic shopping trips, take the time to check out these twinkling neighborhoods. Just make sure to bring along an extra sweatshirt and some patience: not even Christmas lights can escape L.A. traffic.Read more