Remodel or Move? How to Decide

​ NEW YORK — After four years of living in her home in Athens, Georgia, experienced house flipper Charissa Bright realized she needed more space and an updated layout for herself, her husband and their two teenage boys. It was 2021, and working from home meant that her own office was a priority, along with […]

Brass Comeback: The Trendy Way to Use it

​ CHICAGO — Toned down from its super shiny look in the 1980s and ’90s, brass has been re-emerging on the home design scene over the last few years. While the trend continues to be strong, designers have toned down the metal and how much they use it. Brass nowadays appears more like a brushed […]

Digital Marketing Trends for Real Estate Agents

​ NEW YORK — Today’s buyers and sellers are increasingly tech savvy so effective digital marketing strategies are crucial for agents who want to remain competitive. Some of the top digital market trends in real estate include the following: Video marketing Video marketing can use content from virtual tours, live walk-throughs or drone footage to […]

Exurbs Surge Across U.S. for Affordable Living

​ HAINES CITY, Fla. — Not long ago, Polk County’s biggest draw was citrus instead of people. Located between Tampa and Orlando, Florida’s citrus capital produces more boxes of citrus than any other county in the state and has devoted tens of thousands of acres to growing millions of trees. But last year, more people […]

Return-to-Office Trend Boosts Market Stability

​ NEW YORK — As more companies recommit to an in-office culture, the nation’s retreat from office property may be ending. In the third quarter of this year, one-third of all companies are requiring workers to be in the office five days a week, up 31% from the second quarter, according to Flex Index. “We […]

NFL Fans Say Loyalty Influenced Home Search

​ SANTA CLARA, Calif. — About 1 in 5 National Football League (NFL) followers say their loyalty played an extremely significant or highly significant role in their home search process, and a majority (55%) say that supporting a local team helps them feel more connected to their community and neighborhood, according to new research from […]

Dec. 4: Best Day of the Year to Buy a Home

​ News & Media IRVINE, Calif. — Dec. 4 stands out as the best day of the year to buy a home, while November’s 7.3% premium — the lowest of any month — offers advantages for buyers as well, according to real estate analytics company ATTOM. According to ATTOM’s latest analysis of more than 52 […]

Powell: Fed to Cut Rates Cautiously on Inflation

​ WASHINGTON — Chair Jerome Powell said Thursday that the Federal Reserve will likely cut its key interest rate slowly and deliberately in the coming months, in part because inflation has shown signs of persistence and the Fed’s officials want to see where it heads next. Powell, speaking in Dallas, said that inflation is edging […]

Redfin: Big Jump in Existing Home Sales

​ SEATTLE — Existing home sales rose 1.6% month over month in October — the biggest gain since January 2022 — to a seasonally adjusted annual rate of 4,179,346, according to a new report from the real estate brokerage Redfin. They climbed 1.7% year over year — the first annual increase since November 2021—and are […]

My Safe Florida Condo Program Launched

​ News & Media By Amy Connolly TALLAHASSEE, Fla. — The My Safe Florida Condo initiative officially launched this week, offering free inspections and grant funding for wind mitigation improvements to help eligible condominium associations strengthen their properties against hurricanes. The program, similar to the successful My Safe Florida Home program but limited in scope […]

Veteran Homelessness Drops to Record Low

​ WASHINGTON — Veteran homelessness rates have dropped to a record low since detailed counting began in 2009, the Biden administration announced Monday for Veterans Day. In January of this year, officials counted 32,882 homeless veterans, a significant drop from recent years and a 55.6 percent decrease from 2010. The number of unsheltered homeless veterans […]

Scam Alert: Letters Look Like Mortgage Warnings

​ News & Media By Reanna Smith-Hamblin NEW YORK — If you get an unexpected letter from your mortgage company, look closely. According to numerous Better Business Bureau (BBB) Scam Tracker reports, some letters are a deceptive solicitation for a home warranty service. It may appear to come from your mortgage provider. It’s allegedly from […]