​Independent contractors can lower their tax bill by writing off business costs like travel and insurance but should consult a tax pro for guidance. 

​The Counselors of Real Estate’s 2025 report lists 10 key issues, including AI, affordability and insurance costs, driving rapid changes in the real estate industry. 

​ News & Media By Melissa Dittmann Tracey CHICAGO – Homes are getting outfitted with geometric shapes and patterns to achieve a more eye-catching dimension to a space. The home remodeling site Houzz recently highlighted the rising popularity in online searches for geometric designs in home interiors. Geometric shapes can bring in a more modern […]

​ NEW YORK – Buying a home is certainly one of the most significant financial decisions a person can make. Whether you’re a first-time buyer or a seasoned homeowner, understanding your financing options is crucial to making a smart investment. From securing a mortgage to exploring down payment assistance programs, the right financing strategy can […]

​ TALLAHASSEE, Fla.— The deadline to apply for the state’s new storm protection project for homes is Friday, April 11. Elevate Florida is a new, one-time program funded by FEMA that pays a minimum of 75% of the costs to elevate, rebuild or harden against wind and structure damage by storms. It is different from […]

​ TALLAHASSEE, Fla. — Another new property insurer has been approved to conduct business in Florida – the 12th since the state enacted what Insurance Commissioner Michael Yaworsky called “historic legislative reforms” in 2022 and 2023. The new company, Apex Star Reciprocal Exchange, will be based in New Port Richey, the Office of Insurance Regulation […]

​ NEW YORK — Open floor plans that make it easy to move through primary living and entertaining areas have been popular for decades. Open concept floor plans join the dining room, kitchen and living (great) room into a communal space where sight lines are maximized and walls are minimal. According to JJones Design Co., […]

​ TALLAHASSEE, Fla. – Lawmakers should mandate smart sensors in multi-story condominium buildings to warn residents of potential structural failures, says a report by a Florida nonpartisan policy group released on Friday The report by the nonprofit Florida TaxWatch group recommends that lawmakers mandate the embedded microelectronic sensors, which can measure structural degradation, metal fatigue, […]

​ NEW YORK – Open floor plans that make it easy to move through primary living and entertaining areas have been popular for decades. Open concept floor plans join the dining room, kitchen and living (great) room into a communal space where sight lines are maximized and walls are minimal. According to JJones Design Co., […]

​ CHICAGO – Many real estate professionals were glad to put 2024 behind them. High interest rates, practice changes and the relative uncertainty that nearly always accompanies an election year meant the industry had to pivot and adapt, often several times. As the calendar finally flipped to 2025, agents and brokers exhaled, hoping lower interest […]

​ NEW YORK – Many of us share our homes with pets. Animals that become part of the family whether they live in a tank of water, cage with a running wheel, or rule over the place in their fur coats, they are part of the family and must be considered when making a decision […]

​ WASHINGTON – The post-pandemic housing market continues to be one of extremes, with home sales surging in some areas and languishing in others. Homes sell the fastest in Grand Rapids, Michigan, where the typical house sits on the market for just 13 days, according to a new study from Clever Real Estate that examined […]