Housing has become increasingly expensive. According to the National Association of Realtors, mortgage rates on average have risen by more than a full percentage point over the last 12 months. The average price of a home has inched up as well. Taken together and measured against household incomes, the statisticians at the Association estimate that
Real Estate
In the world of commercial real estate, the level of success for everyone involved often hinges on the strengths of the brokerage team. While I have seen this play out many times in my area of investment sales, I’ve also observed the importance of team building in other industries and segments. If the team in
For many cities and towns across the globe, modernity is a major point of pride. For others, a communal sense of esteem is achieved by efforts at conservation. Then, there are cities such as San Miguel de Allende in central Mexico, where progress and tradition share the same cobblestone streets. Nowhere in San Miguel is
Another holiday season, another gift. It’s hard to keep things interesting. Even gifts for the home can get a little repetitive. Your mom probably has enough picture frames to last for several generations and your sister already has four blenders. This year, aim to give something fun and unique. From family and friends to coworker
“Tis the season to be jolly,” and while many people are excited about the holiday season, not everyone is feeling so cheerful and jovial. According to Thumbtack, 58% of Americans feel stressed about the holidays. Home preparation is a major source of stress, according to Morgan Olsen, Thumbtack’s home & design expert. In fact, she
Who among us hasn’t inadvertently burned a pot or pan – or two? However, some people routinely burn cookware to the point of no return. And as a result, these individuals end up with mismatched cookware sets that look like they survived a 5-alarm house fire. Trust me, these people would welcome new, matching cookware
In an exploration of median home prices for Q3 in the United States, Forbes found Iowa to be the lowest in the nation. In the state’s fastest rising market of Burlington, the median price per square foot was just $98, meaning with $4 million, one could theoretically purchase an over 40,000-square-foot home. By comparison, in
Question: What could turn office-bound wage earners into digital nomads faster than a fully equipped Winnebago? Answer: The Covid-19 pandemic, of course. Covid liberated once-inert employees to move freely and work where they chose. For many, what they chose was the chance to travel widely, working from hotels and other hospitality industry settings. Marrying work
A bathroom remodel – especially for a primary suite – is a major undertaking with tremendous wellness potential for its users. Done well, it can also offer strong resale potential for your property. That’s why it’s worth paying heed to what the pros say is trending. And why I always pay attention when the National
Manhattan, the heart of New York City, is a focal point of global real estate interest, and its dynamic market reflects various economic, social, and geopolitical factors. Given its relative importance, here are five critical areas or factors poised to influence the Manhattan real estate market in the upcoming months. Through a combination of data-driven
Hosting an event is a major endeavor, whether it’s a formal or casual dinner, holiday party, kids’ birthday party or sleepover, or accommodating family and friends overnight in the perfect guest bedroom. A gift for the host or hostess shows that you appreciate all that goes into pulling off these types of events. So, we
It’s that time of the year when everyone is releasing their 2024 home design predictions — and these prognosticators may or may not be right. However, when Houzz released its top 10 predictions, we sat up and took notice. That’s because Houzz has 65 million homeowners and design enthusiasts in its community, along with 3
In a series of recent studies, we analyzed and identified the richest cities in a couple of Rocky Mountain states. These included the richest cities in Colorado and Utah. Now, we turn our focus on one of their neighbors; the state that is the least populated in the United States — Wyoming. We analyzed over
In the quest to lure employees back to the desks they abandoned during Covid, office building owners and employers have tried everything from ping pong and billiard tables to comped lunches and free beer. Lately another gambit has floated, one leveraging the novel idea office workers will be more inclined to return to offices adorned
Whether you’re in real estate or a different profession, time is always your most valuable asset. The way you use it can greatly impact both the short- and long-term outcomes that you have in business and life. If you can be efficient with your time, you’ll be able to optimize your working hours and achieve
When you’re hosting guests for the holidays — or any time of the year — you want to make them feel as welcome as possible. Similar to the luxury hotel bedroom experience that you create for yourself, you also want visitors to have a comfortable and memorable experience in your home. “The bedroom should be
Remember when penthouses were squalid structures? Of course, you don’t. It was more than 100 years ago that rooftop lean-tos and sheds were built to house servants atop New York City’s tall buildings. Since then, the allure of living in sky-high residences has soared, along with prices and prestige reserved for the very few. The
The historic lodges of America’s national parks owe much of their character to the use of native wood and stone in an architectural style nicknamed “parkitecture.” Structures built in the early days of parks such as Yosemite and Yellowstone were defined by a rustic, hand-crafted look intended to fit into the country’s dramatic landscapes. The
This lush, gated estate on the Southern California coastline is prepped for a buyer to unlock its potential. The flat 4.3-acre property in Carpinteria encompasses not one but two parcels totaling 350 feet of bluff top along the Pacific Ocean. The first contains the main house and guest studio. The second is a park-like stretch
Zillow recently announced its six hottest home trends to watch for in 2024. Four of them are wellness related. No one should be surprised by this, as homeowners are increasingly acknowledging and appreciating the links between their living spaces and quality of life. That’s showing up in both home improvement and resale reports. Here are