Lifestyle

How to Create Your Own Home Workout Studio

Published

2 years ago

September 7, 2021

Regular exercisers typically love the outdoors, whether they run, bike, or simply walk outside – but the weather isn’t always conducive to exercise. Your local gym offers a perfect indoor workout area, but membership fees can be expensive, crowds can be annoying, and on top of that, it might take 10 minutes or longer just to get there.

That’s why so many people are turning inward, looking to create a home workout studio where they can exercise in privacy and comfort. But how can you go about this?

The Location

First, you’ll need to think about the location for your workout studio. Technically, any room in your living space can work, but some rooms will be closer to the ideal than others.

Consider:

Vertical space. Certain exercises are going to require an abundance of vertical space, especially if you’re already tall. Standing on a treadmill or an elliptical machine shouldn’t introduce the risk of hitting your head on the ceiling. You may also need enough room to do standing overhead presses or jumping jacks.
Horizontal space. You’ll also need to plan for horizontal space. Depending on the exercises you’re doing, you might want space to walk around – or enough space to include many pieces of equipment.
Proximity to others. Where is your target room placed in proximity to others? Depending on your objectives, you may want a room that affords you more privacy, or one where your noise won’t bother the other occupants of your household.
Unique features. Miscellaneous other room features also come into play. For example, you may want a window if you like natural light – or you may not want any windows, so you can feel a better sense of privacy.

The Floor

Next, you’ll need to think about the floor. The ideal floor for a workout space will be soft, cushioning your body if you’re doing floor exercises. It will also serve as a shock absorber, reducing the strain on your joints while simultaneously protecting the structures underneath. Of course, you’ll also want to look for something inexpensive, so you don’t spend your entire budget on the floor.

Exercise room flooring is designed to give you the best of all possible worlds. It’s affordable, cushiony, easy to install, and perfect for protecting your floors (and in some cases, your body).

The Equipment

Once you have the right flooring installed, you’ll be able to focus more on the equipment. For the most part, you’ll want to invest in the best quality equipment you can afford; cheap equipment may wear out faster, or may be unsafe, making the money you save in the transaction not worth it.

There are many options, including:

Cardio machines. Various machines exist to help you get a cardiovascular workout. These include things like treadmills, elliptical machines, stationary bikes, and even rowing machines. One is typically ample to give you a good start, but multiple options can also be valuable to keep your workouts feeling fresh.
Dumbbells and barbells. Dumbbells and barbells. Dumbbells and barbells are versatile, especially if you get an adjustable set of dumbbells, allowing you to lift weight and add resistance to various calisthenic exercises. You can get the hex dumbbells set with rack, this equipment can help your overall workout routine.
Cable machines. If you have the budget for it, a cable-based weight machine can also be valuable, helping you do exercises you can’t do with free weights alone.
Miscellaneous extras. There are dozens of extras to consider as well, including benches, pullup bars, kettlebells, inflatable exercise balls, and specialized equipment for different workout routines.

When you’re buying equipment, these tips can help you plan your home gym more effectively:

Set a budget in advance. Figure out how much money you’re willing to spend without impacting your long-term financial health. Once you have this figure, you’ll be in a much better position to set priorities.
Understand your personal priorities. What do you want to achieve when working out? If you know you want to focus on building muscle, for example, weights are going to be more important than cardio equipment.
Consider buying used. You can often get high-quality machinery and equipment for a reasonable price if you buy used. Just be sure to test the equipment for any flaws or defects before you commit to a purchase.

Leaving Room for Expansion

Few among us can buy and assemble a perfect home workout studio from the outset. Over time, your workout priorities might change. Your old equipment might break down. You might have more money to spend. Or there might be new types of equipment you want to include.

Because of this, it’s important to leave room for expansion. Keep an open mind about your next acquisitions, and leave some space in your workout room for a new piece of equipment to come in the future.

Lifestyle

Unlocking California’s Housing Gold: AB1033 and SB9 Offer New Avenues for Homeowners to Tap Equity

Published

2 days ago

December 6, 2023

Rosario Farell

In the golden state of California, homeowners now have the opportunity to unlock a wellspring of home equity through two groundbreaking pieces of legislation: Assembly Bill 1033 (AB1033) and Senate Bill 9 (SB9). These laws are not only reshaping the real estate landscape, but also providing homeowners with innovative means to capitalize on their most valuable asset: their homes.

Governor Newsom recently signed AB1033 into law, marking a significant milestone in California’s housing evolution. This legislation enables owners of single-family homes in the state to not only build Accessory Dwelling Units (ADUs) in their yards, but also to subdivide their properties into two condominiums. “This game-changing move,” notes Matt Lucido, founder and CEO of Yardsworth, “permits homeowners to sell off the ADUs, effectively tapping into the value hidden within their yards for decades due to restrictive zoning laws.”

AB1033: The condominium option

The core feature of AB1033 is its allowance for homeowners to not only construct ADUs in their yards, but also subdivide their lots into separate units — each designated as a condominium. The revolutionary aspect of this is that homeowners can independently sell the ADU, presenting an innovative approach to utilizing home equity that deviates from traditional methods like selling and moving, or borrowing against one’s home with second mortgages or cash-out refinancing. These conventional avenues typically involve high interest rates and the potential for displacement from one’s neighborhood, making AB1033 a refreshing and much-needed alternative.

“Historically, there were only two ways for a homeowner to tap into the equity of their homes. One, by selling and moving, but that’s not a great option with today’s interest rates; or two, borrowing against their home with a second mortgage or cash-out refinance — which is also untenable with today’s interest rates,” Matt Lucido shares.

However, it’s crucial to recognize that AB1033 primarily benefits homeowners who already possess ADUs. For those seeking to sell a portion of their yard and access the opportunity without pre-existing ADUs, SB9 remains the best option. Additionally, AB1033’s full potential hinges on its implementation by local municipalities, which may vary across the state. This means that the extent to which homeowners can benefit from AB1033 depends on the discretion of local authorities.

SB9: A state-wide mandate

SB9 focuses primarily on allowing the subdivision of single-family lots into two separate units, and facilitates the construction of additional dwelling units. The essence of SB9 lies in its potential to expand housing options, while allowing homeowners to tap into the previously dormant value within their properties.

SB9’s provisions are designed to address some of the persistent challenges associated with housing in California. It permits the subdivision of single-family lots, creating opportunities for the construction of up to two additional units, whether in the form of ADUs, or even a new house or duplex. This not only encourages greater housing density, but also allows homeowners to maximize the use of their land, thereby capitalizing on their home equity without selling their homes or incurring high-interest mortgage debt.

Implementation challenges

While AB1033 and SB9 offer promising avenues for homeowners to tap into their property’s hidden value, several challenges and uncertainties must be considered in the implementation of these legislative measures.

AB1033, for example, has additional costs other than those associated with lot subdivision and construction. Homeowners opting for this route will also need to pay for legal counsel to establish a Homeowners Association (HOA) for the newly created two-unit condominium. Operating and maintaining such an association in the years to come adds complexity and expense to the overall expense, making AB1033 a potentially costly option compared to SB9.

Under SB9, the cost of subdividing a lot can range from $50,000 to $75,000. These expenses primarily arise from the need to create a new parcel map compliant with the Subdivision Map Act, city fees, and the involvement of consultants and surveyors. These costs can be prohibitively high for many homeowners, potentially limiting the accessibility of these opportunities. Companies like Yardsworth have stepped in to mitigate this challenge by covering all these fees and expenses for their SB9 clients, making it a more financially viable option.

Furthermore, AB1033 is not yet fully implemented, and its uniform application across California remains uncertain. Municipalities possess significant discretion when it comes to adopting and implementing the provisions of AB1033. Consequently, the extent to which homeowners can leverage this law may vary greatly depending on their location. In contrast, SB9 is a state-wide mandate, ensuring consistent implementation across all municipalities, making it a more dependable option for homeowners.

California’s housing crisis and unlocking home equity

“California homeowners are still sitting on near-record home equity,” Matt Lucido points out. “The value of California homes has more than doubled in the last 10 years.”

The confluence of AB1033 and SB9 takes on added significance in light of California’s pressing housing crisis. Governor Newsom has persistently underscored the state’s need for 3.5 million new homes by 2025. These legislative measures, AB1033 and SB9, represent significant steps toward addressing this crisis. They offer pathways to unlock the latent potential within California’s housing market. They provide homeowners with innovative ways to access their home equity without the need to sell their homes, a practice often linked with gentrification-related displacement.

One of the central challenges in California has been the spiraling cost of homeownership. Today’s 20-year-high interest rates only make buying a home (or selling, moving, and rebuying) more expensive. As a result, homeowners are staying put in their homes, with no viable way of accessing their home equity. It is essential to find ways to access this wealth without resorting to high-interest borrowing, such as Home Equity Lines of Credit (HELOC), with rates as high as 10 percent or more. This is where AB1033 and SB9 emerge as compelling alternatives. These laws facilitate homeowners in staying in their homes and neighborhoods while selling a portion of their property, thus allowing them to access their home equity without incurring considerable financial burdens.

The new California laws AB1033 and SB9 offer innovative solutions to unlock home equity for homeowners in the state. By permitting the subdivision of single-family lots and the construction of ADUs that can be sold independently, these legislations allow homeowners to tap into the dormant value within their properties. This not only provides a pathway to access much-needed funds without displacement, but also encourages housing density to help alleviate California’s crisis. However, potential barriers like municipal discretion over AB1033 implementation and high subdivision costs associated with SB9 must be addressed to ensure these laws fully deliver on their promise.

Overall, AB1033 and SB9 represent promising steps in the right direction to empower homeowners, stimulate housing growth, and inject liquidity into the state’s housing market. While uncertainties remain, their passage indicates California’s commitment to pursuing creative approaches that benefit both homeowners and the broader community.