The Latest: Oct 2018

There are a multitude of reasons why people don’t make it to move-in day after an offer is accepted: Your financing doesn’t go through, inspections uncover major issues, or you don’t move quickly enough. But one issue you usually don’t hear about? The seller backing out. “It is very rare for the seller to back out of the sale,” says Alex Lehr, proprietor of Lehr Real Estate in San Carlos, California.

Like a lot of people, I grew up thinking that New York City was this magical place where all your dreams came true. In my fairytale, there was no gorgeous royal to sweep me off my feet—I was the princess, and New York was my one true love. When things were good, I pictured myself basking in the glow of the city lights. When things were bad, I told myself it would all go away once I got to New York.

I have had some bonkers roommate experiences in my short 25 years of life. From waking up to a roommate watching me sleep repeatedly for months in a small dorm space, to another roommate going on a three-day blackout drinking binge, I’ve grown accustomed to compiling my own personal list of “roommate horror stories.” Hence, when I was able to find an affordable micro-studio in Seattle for the last few months of my undergraduate studies, I jumped on the opportunity.

Fact: The majority of people don’t have amazing credit. In fact, the median credit score, according to Experian, is only “good,” the average score hitting 700. But some people do blast their way into 800 territory—a tier known as “exceptional.

First, a disclaimer: You should, of course, live your life on your own timeline. But, if you were curious about the median age of homebuyers, a snapshot from the National Association of Realtors reveals that it’s 32. To get super specific… the average household income of the median homebuyer is $75,000, their homes were 1,640 square feet, and they spent $190,000 on their first property.

You’re trying to save 20 percent to put down on your first home, but do you know exactly why you’re striving for that amount? Though you don’t need to put down that percentage of your home purchase price in order to buy, it does help in two major ways: It saves you money in the long run by shredding off interest and makes you a more attractive loan applicant. And while all that sounds like a great goal, it can feel impossibly to many.

When my husband and I put an offer on our house, I asked our agent if he thought sending an offer letter, or a personalized letter to the buyer explaining why they should pick us over another offer, would be appropriate. “Yes, definitely do that,” Mark Branch, our real estate broker with Century 21 Scheetz in Indianapolis, Indiana, told me. “And send pictures, too.

Niagara Falls is one of the most popular tourist destinations in the world. The beautiful area straddling the New York-Canadian border is home to striking waterfalls; miles of hiking trails and fishing and boating on the Niagara River; as well as wineries, orchards, shopping, golfing, and restaurants.

Before I moved into my current apartment, I thought I did a good amount of research: I’d cranked out the numbers for my budget, called around to multiple agents and buildings, and went on plenty of apartment tours. Despite all this, I was shocked at what the market held for me—though Omaha, Nebraska, has been named one of the most affordable cities in the country, most of the townhomes and apartments I’d loved so much were still out of my budget.

This home in Alys Beach, Florida looks like it’s straight out of a magazine spread. It comes tricked out with the best of everything—even all the furniture. 71 Nonesuch Way, U1 Located in Alys Beach, Florida $2,850,000 4 bedrooms (plus bonus), 4.5 bathrooms Dreaming of a beach house that feels like you’ve jumped into your screensaver?

Congratulations! You just moved into your new place and can’t wait to get settled. There are boxes to unpack, new neighbors to get to know and a new neighborhood to explore. But wait! Before you leave your new home to say hi to the Joneses or even rest your moving-weary head on the pillow that very first night, there are a few things you must know and do: You know that key that opened your front door? Think about how many other people might have the same key. Former residents?

There are many reasons to love old homes—the unique charm, the historical touches, the amazing architecture. But taking on an elderly home comes with its own set of challenges, too.

If you’ve been searching for a new house or apartment, you’ve likely already encountered some exaggerated listings. Whether it’s ad copy that stresses the home’s soaring city views or sneakily staged photos, some listings look better on the MLS than they are IRL. But you can cut through the clutter if you know what to ignore. Read on for seven listing red flags you should know about, according to real estate experts.

Ellen DeGeneres’ reputation as a serial house flipper is well documented, and now we have a bit of insight as to why she moves so much. On Friday, Ellen DeGeneres sat down with host Savannah Guthrie of “TODAY.” She was there to share her #MeToo moment—which she also recounted to Busy Philipps earlier in the week on her own talk show. Despite the heavy topic, the comedian touched on some lighter notes as well.

And how to know if it's a good idea for you to use it.

I had lived in my first home for almost one and a half years before I knew furnaces had filters that needed to be changed on the regular. Here’s how that discovery went down: My mom was at a hardware store, and she texted me about filters being on sale! Did I want her to pick me up some? I Googled: “How often do furnace filters need to be changed?” Google responded: “Check them once every month.

If you’re a frequent Zillow user, you’ve probably heard of the Zestimate: the free online estimate of your home’s value generated by the real estate company. Sounds convenient, right? You can get your house appraised online without even leaving your chair. You may be tempted to just skip the hassle of hiring an appraiser to get an accurate estimate for your home and use the Zestimate instead. But Emily Heffter, a spokeswoman for Zillow, says that might not be the best strategy.