Real Estate

You won’t get far in Media without hearing someone refer proudly to this quintessential small suburb by its nickname: “Everybody’s Hometown”—a distinction locals take very seriously.

Wondering how we defined "cool?" Want to know exactly what makes a "suburb?" Check out our full methodology.

Its history, trendy vibe, and proximity to Washington, D.C. afford the suburb its unique flavor.

Brick streets, historic neighborhoods, and a mini-version of Manhattan’s Central Park paint one sublime picture of the Orlando suburb.

This city west of Dallas holds the spot as the most Googled burb.

Arvada has been described by residents as the best of both worlds—a place that has a small-town charm with big city perks.

The island is a small town close to SF with bike-able streets, beaches, and a lively downtown shopping district.

You’ll also find an assortment of businesses that include everything from coffee shops to record stores in a downtown scene replete with outdoor pianos for anyone to stop and play.

Everything in this New York City suburb is within a single mile, and the area boasts bike paths and parks galore.

CVNP has more than 125 miles of hiking trails, according to the National Park Service.

The burb west of Chicago posted about 13,400 listings on Etsy last year.

Maplewood, New Jersey—home to colonial houses sitting beneath blossoming Magnolia trees—can make a suburban convert out of any hip New Yorker.

The Dallas burb's downtown area has won awards for being one of America’s best main streets, with family-owned small businesses lining the historic courthouse square.

There are old-school pizza spots, midnight screenings of classic movies, and a roving music festival called Porchfest that takes place on—well, porches across the Boston suburb.

Located just 15 miles from Charlotte, the suburb of Belmont boasts an enticing mix of culture, outdoor recreation, and friendly neighbors.

The idyllic first suburb north of Chicago is brimming with excitement and culture—full of restaurants, bars and beaches.

This Los Angeles suburb nestled in the San Gabriel Mountains is chock full of cultural gems that make it unique.

Kirkwood is more than just a suburb of St. Louis. It has its own unique identity and history, which residents treasure.

Round Rock, one of the fastest-growing cities of its size, has a constant outcrop of new restaurants, free live music, and events for sports fans—even for those into quidditch!

The burb's many transplants often say things like “I would’ve moved here a decade ago if I’d known how nice people are.”

Here’s your chance to own a piece of New York dramatic history. The expansive Tribeca loft previously owned by playwright Edward Albee is currently on the market for $7.5 million, after undergoing a $1.5 million price cut. But if you’re a fan of Albee’s iconic works like “Who’s Afraid of Virginia Woolf?,” then you’re well aware this property is priceless.

There's a good chance you're either over- or underestimating how long your move will take.

Start your day waking up to peaceful views of a lake, ocean, or river and end with gently rocking waves lulling you to sleep. What could be better?

Moving is already a pain under the best circumstances, but there are even more reasons to dread it during the summer. It’s when the vast majority of moves take place, says Adam Doron, CEO of Unpakt, a booking and pricing site for movers. Because demand is high, prices are often at a premium and logistics are trickier than in other times of the year. But you don’t have to abandon your possessions curbside, Oregon Trail-style.

You might not think of real estate agents as experts in interior design. But—given the sheer volume of homes they see—they certainly have some valuable insight to offer. They see firsthand how design can be a detriment when selling a home.Many buyers have the ability to look past cosmetic aspects of a house, like design or finishes, and focus on the important things (the bones of the house, the layout, the location, etc.).

While there are some definite upsides to being a renter (you’re free to move when you get bored with your space!)—there are some definite bummers, too. High on the list: Boring white walls, ugly lighting, not enough storage, and hideous finishes. But not to worry. That standard rental can feel a bit more glam with a quick Target shopping spree. I asked some trusted designers for favorite products from the store that also solve renter’s common decorating problems.

These will come in handy in the future.

Kaley Cuoco is saying goodbye to the sprawling Mediterranean estate she bought with ex-husband, Ryan Sweeting. “The Big Bang Theory” star, who is now married to equestrian Karl Cook, just listed her six-bed, eight-and-a-half bath Tarzana estate for $6.9 million. But if you’re thinking this luxe property looks familiar, you aren’t wrong. Back in 2014, Cuoco purchased it for $5.

It’s no secret that packing everything up and moving is both exciting (a new space! A new home!) and a true nightmare. (Seriously, how do you accumulate so much stuff in one household?) But while packing up boxes isn’t the most fun thing in the world, there are some silver linings. For one, you’ll get to KonMari the heck out of your place. Two… okay that’s basically the only silver lining.

When I had to coordinate moves across continents three times in the span of a decade, I quickly realized I had been living in a bubble, unable to see my truest self.

Want to live like Southern royalty? From its Antebellum columns to its picture-perfect views of Old Hickory Lake, this expansive mansion in Lebanon, Tennessee, is a dream retreat. And to sweeten the deal, this elegant abode was once the home of Reba McEntire, the true Queen of Country.This 12,816-square-foot lakefront home (known as The Estate at Cherokee Dock) comes with a dock for lake access that’s perfect for summer fun.

Unlike your kitchen cabinets and front door, your bedroom’s paint color has no sway on your home’s selling price, according to Zillow’s 2018 Paint Color Analysis. But that doesn’t mean you should go ahead and order that neon yellow paint. It’s likely you’re looking to style your space to promote some R&R. And, fact is, there are certain paint colors that do that better than others.

From the den to the dining room—everything is oversized in this Texas home.5623 Mcknight Street    Located in Houston, Texas$419,0003 bedrooms, 2 bathroomsThis house is love at first sight. The sprawling blue beauty, built in 1957, is set among a lush lawn with big, shady trees.Step right up along the paved brick walkway. (Now, don’t forget to notice those lovely shutters wrapped around that big window!) Just walk through that punchy green door and… you’re in!

I slept horribly my first night at 5427 Avenue de L’esplanade. Like most Montreal apartments, it was located in a decades-old building—and despite all the beautiful touches of its age, like crown molding and gorgeous hardwood flooring, it lacked air conditioning and was uncomfortably hot during the summer.

Moving. UGH. Packing your entire apartment and schlepping it across town? I’d much rather use those cardboard boxes for just about anything besides moving. (Fort building competition, anyone?) But, alas, people do move. In fact, about 35 million Americans do every year. So why do that many people put themselves through all that labor and legwork? Well, Porch, a company which connects homeowners with home-oriented professionals, asked more than 1,000 people just that.

It left me surprised and dismayed.

Moving is one of life’s most stressful events, and it’s no wonder why. It’s expensive. You have to go through all your belongings and decide what no longer sparks joy. Then there’s all the packing. This is all before actual moving day rolls around, which adds physical labor to the equation. It’s not hard to see why the whole thing generally makes people want to pull their hair out.But it doesn’t have to be that way!

To the uninitiated, the home-buying process may feel like a never-ending cycle of hoops to jump through. But those hoops are there for a reason—there’s a lot of money at stake and so many moving parts between buyer, seller, and lender. The more firewalls prior to closing, the less likely someone’s getting stuck with a bad deal. One of these tedious, but necessary final steps is the home appraisal.

Are you still captivated by the contemporary abode Emma Stone danced her way through in search of stardom in “La La Land?” In the film, Stone and her roommates twirl their way up to this incredible mansion to attend an industry party, and every room is filled with dancing guests and flowing Champagne. Cue the musical number “Someone in the Crowd.”Located in Encino, California, this 8,500-square-foot party palace is officially on the market.

It’s so easy to let our things pile up until moving day when you look around and can’t believe how much stuff you have. But wouldn’t it be far more productive to do regular “cleanse-outs,” where you routinely look at your stuff with a critical eye? We posed that question to Ali Wenzke, a moving expert—she and her family have moved 10 times in 11 years in seven states around the U.S.

When it was time for Apartment Therapy’s managing editor Sarah Yang to apply for college back in 2006, she had a few considerations about where to enroll: “I wanted to move away from home and live in a big city,” she says. Yang, the oldest of two children, grew up in California, just outside of Los Angeles. Though sticking around to try out L.A.

For the past 20 years or so, granite has reigned supreme as the most popular choice for countertop materials in homes. But, in recent years, a new competitor has emerged: quartz. But, putting trends and popularity aside, which countertops actually do the best job, year in and year out? To find out, we talked to two home builders about the best countertop materials in terms of durability, maintenance, and aesthetics.

We’ve always fantasized about living in a “chalet,” and this A-frame home atop Mount Washington in Los Angeles fits the bill to a T. The two-bed, two-and-a-half-bath home, which was initially designed by “Maverick of Modernism” James Allen Walter, has been dramatically remodeled to provide unobstructed views of the canyons and downtown. Tucked behind automated gates, this exquisite A-frame home measures 2,000 square feet.

You’ve survived months (and maybe even years) of scrolling through house-hunting apps and hitting up open houses every weekend. You’ve held your breath through the bidding wars and those scary weeks before closing, and now the deal is finally done. You’re a homeowner—WOOHOO! But before you stick your keys in the door and celebrate, there are a few things to keep in mind.

Moving is the worst, I get it. But not getting your rental deposit back? That is the worst of the worst. Make sure it doesn’t happen to you with our ten-tip guide. Clean the kitchen appliances. This is often one of the places people will look at first to gauge a home’s cleanliness, so scrub out the oven, wipe down the inside of the fridge, and clear the dishwasher drain. Clean the windows.

We’ve all seen them: Cozy, rustic cabins with retro, A-frame designs. We usually come across them on Pinterest, or while scrolling through hashtags on Instagram. Either way, they always catch our eye, with their warm, inviting entrances and mid-century modern vibes that make us want to spend a whole weekend holed up inside one, with nothing but a good book. Well thanks to the beauty of the Internet, we now can.

Moving in together is a huge step in your relationship. You’ll soon learn how to share a home together, but also how to kindly and confidently share your true feelings, like when your sweet and lovely partner asks what you really think about that old, worn-out chair of theirs.

Planning on selling soon? I’m sure you know that kitchens and bathrooms are a great target for your makeover dollars, but they also are the most expensive places to renovate. If you have just a little cash but want to make a major impact, step outside and check out the view from the curb. A fresh coat of paint will go a long way. If you want your property to pop out on the block, go for a bright, eye-catching color that’s a little out of the norm.

The countdown to buying your first home is innately defined by one thing: the balance in your savings account. Unlike car loans and the too-expensive shoes you put on your charge card, you can’t exactly buy a home with zero money down, so most people who have their sights set on homeownership begin by saving for a (sizeable) down payment.

Ike and Tina Turner may have sold this View Park, California house in 1977, but their legacy (and some of their furniture) remains. Many of the furniture pieces in the four bedroom home were made custom for the space, and the Turners included them in the sale. Though not everything is in its original condition; the sofa was covered in red velvet, and they reupholstered it in a neutral beige. The round bed, however, is just as they left it.

We’re still mourning the loss of an icon. Mary Tyler Moore turned the world on with her smile, as did the Minneapolis Victorian that served as her apartment’s exterior on The Mary Tyler Moore Show. The Queen Anne home that’s been on and off the market is currently for sale, and at quite the price reduction. While Mary Richards’ sweet apartment was a set on a soundstage, the interior of the Kenwood home is impressive in its own right—and just a little bit bigger.

So you found the perfect apartment—everything seems to check out, from the desirable neighborhood to the amazing rent. But is it really as wonderful as it seems? Before you start shifting those extra dollars from your rent fund to your coffee budget, double check your new home to make sure none of these hidden expenses are going to end up emptying your wallet.

Alright, San Francisco, you officially win at ridiculous real estate. This studio is so tiny that it has a combo kitchen and bathroom. The icing on the cake? The landlord is asking $2000 per month. SFist shared a listing from neighborhood site Nextdoor advertising this newly renovated space in Presidio Heights. While the square footage isn’t advertised, the listing does say it’s “tiny” and that “one person [is] best.

We shop around for furniture, cars, even food bargains. So why is it that when it comes to saving on a mortgage, many people don’t bother to look around for the best deal? Of course, it’s not everyone that’s ignoring the possibility of shopping around. A new study conducted by LendingTree found that it’s actually first-time homebuyers who are more likely to shop around for better mortgage loan terms, versus repeat buyers.

Is it appropriate to ask my landlord to pay for an appliance that broke in my new apartment? My window A/C unit was fried because a previous tenant decided to DIY some of the electrical wiring in the apartment without notifying the landlord. Here’s a little background: I installed my window A/C unit in my new apartment. I bought the unit two years ago, having saved up and researched the most cost and energy efficient model. The unit fried as soon as I turned it on.

Annie Hall is 40 years old this month. Ever wonder what the property in the film costs now? Let’s investigate. Annie Hall came out in April 1977. Winner of four Academy Awards, including those for Best Picture, Best Director, and Best Actress for Diane Keaton, it’s always been one of my favorite romantic comedies (up there with When Harry Met Sally) and certainly my favorite Woody Allen film.

Have you caught up on Big Little Lies, the seven-part HBO miniseries everyone from your mom to your hair stylist is talking about? The one starring Nicole Kidman, Reese Witherspoon and Shailene Woodley, even though she seems a little too young to play the mother of a first grader? If so, let’s dish, and if not, maybe bookmark this for later – this contains mild spoilers.

San Francisco is a dream city for many, but it comes at a cost—it’s the most expensive city in America. But, if you had an unlimited budget and the daydreams to make it happen, you might consider moving into one of the most expensive homes you could find. To help you picture it, we combed through listings to find the highest priced homes for sale right now in San Francisco.

This new San Francisco listing is billed as “a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to live and work within San Francisco’s most iconic, historic property,” I know what you’re thinking and no, it’s not that iconic, historic landmark—but this one is pretty fantastic. This one is a historic clock tower penthouse—and it is absolutely amazing. Frankly, given its $6.25 million price tag, it ought to be.

It’s an old real estate trope, but it seems to be true: Paint color can heavily sway a prospective buyer’s opinion of a home. While a seller might think throwing a fresh coat of paint on the walls will boost the value of their property, in reality, doing so might actually leave a bad impression on buyers; depending on their individual tastes and styles.

Portland, Oregon
3-Bedroom | $615,000

Is Santa Barbara the new Malibu? Judging by the recent $10M luxury beachfront home purchased by Mila Kunis and Ashton Kutcher, the answer may be a resounding: “It’s all alright!” Modest by most celebrity and California coastal real estate standards (and down $2.

If there’s a person out there who hasn’t fantasized about a slumber party with the Golden Girls’ Blanche Devereaux, we’ve yet to meet them. Now’s your chance to channel the famous Southern belle — the former home of actress Rue McClanahan is now on the market. Curbed reported on Monday that the former home of the late actress (who passed in 2010) was freshly listed in the upscale Royal Oaks neighborhood in Encino, CA for $5.5 million.

If your taste runs a little spooky — or your sense of humor just a little kooky — have we got the Portland listing for you: a gothic Victorian mansion inspired by The Munsters is for sale, and for under $500K.

The housing stock in America may be just as varied as the population here, particularly in older areas where people have been building for hundreds of years as waves of settlers brought influence from their native countries. Different styles and trends have prevailed over the years, and of course, no city or region is defined by just one style, but certain geographic areas definitely do have a common thread running through their local architecture and design.

Queen B and Jay Z could be on the move. The power couple are reportedly under agreement on an over-the-top Bel Air mansion. According to The Real Deal: The eight-bedroom, 11-bathroom spread was designed by Irish architect Paul McClean, who designed at least three of the 10 priciest homes sold in L.A. last year. The six-structure compound totals 30,000 square feet with eight bedrooms, 11 bathrooms, four pools, a basketball court, a recording studio, a spa, staff quarters and limestone floors.

Considering this San Francisco mansion takes up an entire city block in the most expensive urban real estate market in the country — one of the largest private lots in the Bay Area — and is a compound comprising four separate residences around a sculpture garden, it’s actually kind of a steal at $12.5 million.

Two things are for certain, Floyd “Money” Mayweather loves to make headlines, and it’s been a great year for the boxer. He won the much-hyped “one-of-a-kind superfight” against UFC champ Conor McGregor last month, the estimated $300+ million in winnings from which enabled him to do good (purportedly one of several athletes who promised to donate millions to Hurricane Harvey relief in Houston) and #treatyoself with luxurious new digs.

Before there was Chip and Joanna, there was Tom Hanks and Shelley Long in the classic 1986 film The Money Pit. The duo starred as two yuppies who buy a sprawling estate for just $200,000 in a distress sale. But naturally, nothing goes right when they attempt to move into the home, which ends up being a deathtrap with collapsing stairs, a bathtub that falls through the floor, and even a resident raccoon. And now, it can all be yours!

It took 12 years and two successive, fantasy-loving owners to complete, but this charming little cottage in Ollala, Washington is now an exact replica of Snow White’s House — and it’s for sale. According to Travel+Leisure, the 2,800-square-foot home features four bedrooms and four and a half bathrooms on five private, gated, wooded acres — and all the character and charm you could want from a real-life Brothers Grimm fairytale, minus the seven dwarves.

If you plan on selling within five months, or even five years, a renovation is usually planned with extra consideration for resale value. Though there are certain updates that will always be a worthy investment with wide appeal (read: hardwood floors), some projects aren’t worth the trouble if your goal is to maximize your home’s value. One of the most common pitfalls for value-focused renovators is going overboard on the extras.

With a new record dropping on Friday called Colors, it might be shocking to Beck fans that the Grammy-winning 90s icon is actually more of a fan of neutral palettes — at least, that is, judging by his last two Los Angeles renovation projects in as many years. The LA-native musician and his wife, actress Marissa Ribisi (twin sister to Giovanni, known best for her role as redhead Cynthia in Dazed and Confused), are quickly making a name for themselves as adept home flippers.