The Latest: 2019

It’s not just the promise of Tim Hortons coffee and milk in a bag that could bring us north of the border. This sprawling Canadian estate could easily do the trick, too! Tucked inside the exclusive gated community of Stonepine, this 4,135-square-foot home is a contemporary Canadian beauty… and it could be yours, if you’re willing to bring your bidding A-game: The property will be auctioned off by Concierge Auctions starting February 26. Seeing as it was previously listed at $2.

It’s not hard to see why high ceilings are highly-coveted real estate assets: Being typically found in pre-war homes, they give a historic feel and evoke a sense of grandeur. After all, a chandelier looks a bit more stately hanging from a 18-foot ceiling than an eight-foot one. They’re not just impressive looking, either. Tall ceilings also make spaces look and feel bigger than they actually are—a nifty trick in otherwise small apartments.

Despite how gloomy the world can seem, there are moments where an act of kindness provides a strong sense of hope. That is exactly what homeowner Alla Wagner has gifted her community, thanks to her “Write A Letter, Win A House” giveaway. In January, Wagner announced that she was holding a writing contest to find the next owner of her treasured abode in Alberta, Canada.

When you think of romance, pinching pennies isn’t necessarily what comes to mind. But let’s face it: When you’re spending a chunk of change on your housing every month, you can’t afford to break the bank for holidays like Valentine’s Day by planning lavish dates and buying expensive gifts for your special someone. So why not whisk your bae away to a locale that can do both? I found seven great examples from coast to coast that are both affordable and romantic.

It’s not unusual to live with a roommate to cut down costs. Hey, life is expensive! But 2018 demonstrated that an unlikely population is taking on roommates in order to make ends meet: married people. Economists at Trulia determined that in 2018, over 280,000 married couples (or 0.46 percent of all married U.S. households) lived with a roommate or boarder. Now, you may think that number sounds minuscule. But it’s a serious jump compared to just over 20 years ago.

You know a strong credit score will help you get into your next home. To get specific, if you’re renting, landlords like to see a score of at least 650 before they start asking for extra deposits and guarantors. If you’re taking out a mortgage, a score that’s 760 or above is the magic number that will get you the best interest rate on a home loan. But establishing and maintaining a good credit score isn’t just necessary for keeping a roof over your head.

Before you know it, your down payment savings account will be a bit more full.

This beach house on an island in Greece is like living a year-round vacation. Located in Chania, Greece $1,000,000 4 bedrooms, 4.5 bathrooms Owning this home would be like living inside of your screensaver. Named “Powder Blue,” this property is part of a complex called the Divine Villas, which happens to be a very appropriate name. First things first: The outdoor space. This sleek and modern home is perched upon the waters and offers pinch-me views of the sea.

Any renter with an internet connection and a passion for painting the walls dark green (or black or maybe just wallpapering a bit) can attest to the bit of confusion you feel when first encountering a mortgage calculator or payment estimator online. You approach the thing with some very rough estimates researched in haste about what a modest little 2-bedroom in an up-and-coming neighborhood might cost.

When my husband and I—aspiring landlords that we are—found out we could get an FHA loan to cover the purchase of a duplex, triplex, or fourplex, we thought we had it all figured out. But four months and a dozen offers later, we were still discovering surprises right and left. Here’s what we wish we’d known before navigating on our less-informed, high-risk multi-family home search. Read up on landlord/tenant laws in your area before embarking on this journey!

Design enthusiasts in Palm Beach County, Florida, let out a collective hurrah last year when the venerable Kips Bay Designer Show House in New York debuted a sister event in Palm Beach. The show house has now returned for a second year, gracing a 10,000-square-foot waterfront property in West Palm Beach (it’s open now through February 20!) Twenty-two design firms from throughout the country transformed the space in just under four months.

First comes love. Then comes marriage. Then comes an 18 percent higher probability of being a homeowner. According to research from the Urban Institute, delayed marriage is a major factor holding millennials back from homeownership. If the marriage rates were the same as they were in 1990, the millennial homeownership rate would be about five percentage points higher, says the Washington, D.C.-based economic and social policy research institute.

In honor of love, February, and gorgeous real estate, I put together another Real Estate Rom Com featuring this stunning home on Sotheby’s International Realty. A minivan turns a corner and pulls into the driveway of 49 Kingwood Ave. FAMILY FOCUSED SISTER takes a big gulp of her very big coffee as she pushes her even bigger sunglasses to the top of her head. She glances at herself in the rearview mirror, where did the time go? She thinks.

In many locations across the country, having a $350,000 budget to buy a home will get you some pretty nice digs, but when you’re looking in some of the big cities that stack of cash can translate into what some people may consider a college dorm room. Interested in seeing just how far your dollar stretches in the five major cities?

When my husband and I decided to take out a home equity line of credit for a renovation, we assumed we’d get a great interest rate based on our good credit scores. We’ve always paid our bills on time and don’t maintain any credit card debt. There’s just one demerit on my report; a medical bill in collections I’ve unsuccessfully disputed. But even with that blip, the credit monitoring service I use—CreditWise—said my score hovered in the high 700s!