Why Is Everyone Googling ‘Homes With Arches’?

​ 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 […]

What to Know About Financing a Home Purchase

​ 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 […]

Elevate Florida Applications Close Soon

​ 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 […]

New Property Insurer Enters State

​ 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 […]

Pros and Cons of Open Floor Plans

​ 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., […]

Report Urges Smart Sensors in High-Rises

​ 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, […]

Pros & Cons of Open Floor Plans

​ 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., […]

Helping Agents Get Their Clients Ahead

​ 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 […]

Pets Play a Role in Showings

​ 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 […]

Where Homes Are Selling The Fastest, Slowest

​ 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 […]

Most Mortgages Hold Rates Below 6%

​ News & Media NEW YORK — In January, mortgage interest rates reached 7.04%, after climbing through most of 2024’s fourth quarter, but rates have eased to the high 6% range since then, Realtor.com research found. Potential home sellers remain “locked in” with lower rates, and their unwillingness to sell has limited housing inventory. Mortgage […]

Spring Inventory Blooms, Buyers Remain Cautious

​Pending sales fell, price cuts hit a record and inventory grew, but supply remains below pre-2020 levels as buyers tread carefully amid economic concerns.