The Latest: 2019

The ancient Greeks and Romans had some great ideas that are still around today in some form (The Olympics, geometry, newspapers, grid systems, bacchanals, etc.) Another unsung hero from the period? Stucco (the form of siding similar to plaster) which was formerly used as a base for painting frescoes. Though the average homeowner is no longer using it to paint “The Last Judgment,” they are still using it to side their homes.

Let’s just say you loved the look of “The Brady Bunch” house—we’re talking sunken living room, modular furniture, the works. If that retro vibe talks to you, this is good news: These blast-from-the-past features are now on the major rebound.

I have a confession to make: I haven’t watched “Tidying Up With Marie Kondo.” But that’s mostly because I don’t watch anything. Watching the newest show right when Netflix releases it seems like a waste of my brain energy when I would rather be thinking about Henry Cavill’s Mission: Impossible-Fallout mustache or that Chrissy Teigen Instagram post of John Legend on vacation slowly rocking Miles in his swimsuit when she asks “Can you do GIFs on a video?

As far as credit is concerned, there are no hacks that can cause your score to magically skyrocket overnight. (Ahem, we’re wagging our fingers at schemes promising you a “new credit identity.”) But, what does exist is good, sound credit advice that advocates for responsible borrowing and takes into account the anatomy of your credit score, like utilization and payment history.

In Los Angeles, people build entire careers out of resembling someone else. There are the impersonators, the stand-ins, and the stunt people who make a living looking like celebrities. It seems pretty cool to look like someone else—until you’re searching to buy your first house in a super competitive real estate market. Suddenly, you’re at an open house, surrounded by a swarm of doppelgängers.

​Turns out, first impressions are worth a whole lot. Or at least to real estate agents stepping into a home for the first time.

Like millions of Americans who graduated with more than $50,000 in student loan debt, I knew it’d be a serious challenge to start my career living in pricey Washington D.C. and pay off my loans. Recent stats show the District’s median rental cost for a one-bedroom apartment is an eye-popping $2,121. At the time, I was only earning $12/hour as a radio station assistant and an unreliable-but-similar rate nannying in the afternoon.

Buying a home is expensive. Selling a home is expensive. This is common knowledge. Something I recently learned is not common knowledge? Just who pays the buyer’s real estate agent once a house sells (and who pays the seller’s, too). It’s likely you haven’t really thought about this ever. For expediency’s sake, the answer is “the seller.” Yes, the seller pays their listing agent and the buyer agent’s commission.

While Martha Stewart continues to dominate the world one lifestyle venture at a time (see: her pet CBD line), her daughter Alexis is busy working on a major real estate move. The younger Stewart recently listed her impeccably designed West Village triplex for $53 million, after having purchased the home between 2006 and 2007 for approximately $35 million.

How does moving to a brand new city sound? For some zodiac sun signs, like Cancers, it might sound terrible, as they’re prone to staying close to their family and are nostalgic for the “old neighborhood.” (Though, it might be a great experience for them to get out of their shells a bit!) “They are the homebodies of the zodiac,” explains Jenna Smith of My Stars! Horoscopes. “Once they get nestled into a place, they don’t want to leave.

On the fence about homeownership? There are many factors that should go into your decision to rent or buy property—and not all of them are purely financial. Perhaps you’re not sure if you’re going to stay in your current city long-term. And, hey, it’s pretty nice to be able to call your landlord when something needs fixing. But for many, the ultimate decision comes down to dollars and cents.

While she prepares for a speaking gig at the upcoming South by Southwest festival, would-be luxury home buyers are somewhere hunched over their laptops, completely mesmerized by the gorgeous Beverly Hills mansion Jodie Foster just put on the market. Listed by Christie’s International Real Estate affiliate David Kramer of Hilton & Hyland, the two-level 1950s dwelling is approximately 7,500 square feet, sits on a little more than an acre and has five bedrooms and seven bathrooms.

If you’ve ever vacationed in a wine-producing region (known as American Viticultural Areas, or AVAs), you know they’re home to some of the most picturesque landscapes in America. And if you love wine, you’ve probably thought about moving to one of them so you can sip vino surrounded by spectacular views every weekend.