Real Estate

Manhattan, NYC
3 Bedroom + 2 Bathroom | $2,850,000

If you appreciate a fine piece of architecture when you see it, then you are likely drawn to Frank Lloyd Wright’s beautiful homes. But here’s a double-take, because this home for sale wasn’t designed by Wright, but rather by his apprentice, E. Fay Jones. Located in Memphis, Tennessee, this 4,300 square foot property is currently listed for almost $1.8 million. This mid-century estate sits on 1.27 acres, complete with four bedrooms and three and a half baths.

If you watched “Father of the Bride” with envy—admiring the complex relationship between George and Annie Banks, or wistfully dreaming up your own backyard wedding—the news that the Alhambra, California, home was for sale just a few years ago may have sent you running to mortgage calculators. What could a home like that—a gorgeous 4,400-square-foot center-hall colonial on a tree-lined street—possibly cost? And what would it take to afford something so grand?

So—you’re searching for an apartment on Craigslist. You click on “housing” and enter your search criteria: min bedrooms, max price, X miles from your zip code of choice, only show ads with pictures—GO! Aaaaaand you’ve already made a huge mistake. Not only did I do an annual housing hunt every five years while living in Brooklyn (I’m now in L.A.), I also worked as a real estate agent in Brooklyn for two years. I know the deal.

It took some deep digging to figure out which option best fit our needs right now and for the term of our loan. Here's how we made our decision.

When I was a kid, I used to dream of busting out of my hometown. I’d pine for shows in the mid-2000s that featured gorgeous locales like cities in California, or chic ones like New York City. I was convinced that once I made my big move, it’d be permanent: There would be no turning back to come home again. But while my husband finished up with the Army, I found myself needing to house hunt, find a job, and see about putting down roots.

New York’s Central Park is one of the world’s most well-known parks. Even if you’ve never set foot in the city that never sleeps, you’re likely familiar with this natural respite in the middle of one of the world’s most densely-populated urban environments.

Take a peek at the colorful interior.

When my boyfriend and I decided to move in together after a year of long distance, I knew there would be our share of compromises. One in particular would be combining the contents of two apartments into one singular household. Though I had done a thorough cleaning of my space and came out with a chunk of items to throw out, sell, or donate, I still naturally had accumulated a good amount of things.

Andrea Kaplan-Chambers and her husband have owned their Austin, Texas, home for a year now, but the path there wasn’t easy. The couple were both freelancers when they were applying for mortgages, (Kaplan-Chambers worked as a contract programmer and her husband owned a small sound design business) something they didn’t know was going to be as big of a problem as it ended up being.

Just because those pesky things aren’t sitting in your closet anymore, it doesn’t mean they’re somewhat easier for another person to have to deal with.

This interior re-designed Prospect Heights loft has been featured in all the fancy glossies. 364 Saint Marks Ave. #3D Located in Prospect Heights, Brooklyn $1,999,000 2 bedrooms, 1 bathroom Designed and styled by owner Olga Naiman and her firm Aparat Interior Design, this loft has been featured in loads of notable pubs, including Vogue. The apartment is impressive from the moment you enter.

An important piece of American history just hit the market, just weeks before Halloween. Originally belonging to John Proctor and his wife, Elizabeth, the John Proctor house is a 3,910-square-foot First Period colonial filled with history. Built in 1638 in Peabody, Massachusetts, the home became instantly associated with the Salem Witch Trails when Proctor was hanged after being falsely accused and convicted of witchcraft. Currently listed at $600,000 by Joseph Cipoletta, an agent for J.

I started my first teaching gig only a few months after finishing college. At first, I was thoroughly unprepared, but two years later, I was confident enough to land a coveted job teaching English at one of the best high schools in the county—a 30-minute drive south of my grubby apartment in Daytona Beach, Florida. After a few too many days of dragging myself out of bed at the crack of dawn to beat traffic, I decided I had to move closer to the school in New Smyrna Beach.

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.

When deciding whether to buy a co-op, condo or—gasp!—an entire townhouse, knowing the difference between the three is a good place to start.

When it comes time to move, you will be grateful you have these.

Anyone who’s buying their first home has probably gotten used to stalking their bank accounts leading up to their closing making sure they’re beefing up their savings for a down payment and closing costs. According to Zillow, the median price of a home sold in America is $230,800. Putting 20 percent down on that home will cost you $46,160.

Since 2006, Dunkin’ Donuts (soon to be just “Dunkin'”) has been using the tagline “America Runs On Dunkin’.” And, over the years, that term caught fire and has now become part of the beloved coffee brand’s reputation. And as of today, Dunkin’ Donuts’ caffeinated products are fueling more than just people. Say hello to the 275-square-foot Home That Runs on Dunkin’, the first-ever tiny house running solely on recycled coffee grounds.

Disneyland is dubbed the “Happiest Place on Earth,” and is a popular vacation destination for people from all over the world. Even celebrities love to spend the day at the magical theme park in Anaheim, California. But have you ever wondered what it would be like to live close enough to Disneyland that you could visit on a regular basis? For true Disney fanatics, owning a home in the area would be a dream come true.

My husband and I are “recession kids.” We were just starting high school when the Great Recession brought the most significant economic downturn in the United States since the Great Depression. We watched our parents, neighbors, and family friends struggle with unemployment and the housing market crash. Foreclosures surged throughout the country, and home values plummeted following the housing bubble.

You’ve been squirreling away dollar after dollar and finally have a pile big enough to consider buying your first home. That’s the good news. The not-so-great news: First-time buyers are prone to making some pretty big mistakes. “Home sales have gone up and many first-time homebuyers are coming down with a case of home-buying FOMO,” says Tanya Hobson-Williams, an attorney in Jamaica Estates, New York.

Talk about the ultimate fall cleaning. Former fashion model and entrepreneur Tyra Banks recently offloaded another one of her Pacific Palisades homes that she bought four years earlier. The America’s Next Top Model host sold the four-bedroom, five-bathroom for $4 million, which is only slightly less than the $4.25 million she asked for when listing the posh pad back in May.

We’re back with the final installment of A Renter’s Diary! We’ve followed Rebekah Hall in her first month moving from a single family home into a 800-square-foot apartment in Little Rock, Arkansas. She’s had to figure out how to downsize and work around the quirks of the space. Last week, Hall shared how she shopped around her apartment (and her parents’ home) for no-cost kitchen storage solutions.

Welcome to Scandi Week—Apartment Therapy’s seven-day focus on all-things Scandinavia (often defined as the countries of Sweden, Denmark, and Norway). Sometimes it seems like the whole world is obsessed with trying to copy this corner of the globe, from its timeless style aesthetic to its now-famous coziness rituals. For the next week, we’ll take a look at all of it—cleaning, pop culture, and of course tons of eye-popping design inspiration.

This piece is run with an anonymous byline as a courtesy to the writer, as the post could affect their ability to obtain housing. In my first apartment out of college, my roommate and I rented a well-maintained, spacious apartment with a built-in cabinet, hardwood floors, and an original clawfoot tub. We fell in love with its charm and the rent was pretty affordable. The building was a two-flat that the landlord had lived in for over 30 years.

Read over these missteps, as well as what you ought to do instead, so that you can handle your inspections with a sense of confidence.

Welcome to Scandi Week—Apartment Therapy’s seven-day focus on all-things Scandinavia (often defined as the countries of Sweden, Denmark, and Norway). Sometimes it seems like the whole world is obsessed with trying to copy this corner of the globe, from its timeless style aesthetic to its now-famous coziness rituals. For the next week, we’ll take a look at all of it—cleaning, pop culture, and of course tons of eye-popping design inspiration.

Living in New York City often means expensive rent and little space, but sometimes apartments here are…an experience, to say the least. It seems like everyone lives in a building that has its quirks—things like strange-but-creative ways of fitting appliances in, weird structural features, odd smells, and more. Even the best apartments—the ones no one would dare give up their leases on—have their own interesting shortcomings.

This charming New England home is a classic Shaker style with ultra-modern features. 41 Saltaire Drive Located in Old Saybrook, CT $888,000 3 bedrooms, 2 bathrooms This is your classic coveted New England seaside home but—surprise!—it was built in just 2015, so you’ll get all modern updates. The architect-designed shingled home in Old Saybrook was constructed with today’s living in mind.

So your credit score is less than perfect and you’re doing everything in your power to improve it. The bills are paid on time and you’re only charging about $20 on your credit card every month (because the limit is only $500!). But, even with all of this, your credit doesn’t seem to budge more than a few points because your bills aren’t tied to your credit or you have just one measly credit card.

When buying a house these days, homeowners insurance is typically mandatory–even if you don’t think you’ll ever need it. However, the hefty monthly sum you pay for coverage may be more useful than you realize. “It is important to remember that a homeowners insurance policy provides important coverages beyond just the structure of the house,” says Michal Brower, spokesperson for State Farm Insurance.

As a renter or a buyer, you’ve probably heard the words agents, brokers, and Realtors used to describe the same person who is helping you buy, rent, or sell your house or apartment. There’s even a chance you’ve used these three terms interchangeably. While an agent, a broker, and a Realtor will all help you buy or sell a home, these terms are not synonyms and do mean different things.

It was time to be inventive and put to use one of the oldest tricks in the book. Here's what I've come up with so far:

Entering the real estate business with the purpose of earning passive income certainly isn’t a novel idea. However, the inventive folks over at Wisconsin’s ESCAPE have placed a creative twist on the popular investment tactic in the form of the company’s “Free ESCAPE Tiny House Program,” which allows participants to profit off tiny dwellings. The way the program works is ESCAPE lends out free tiny homes to people who agree to share a portion of the rental proceeds.

If you live in a majorly cramped city, you know that space is definitely at a premium. Dreams of moving into a bigger, more airy space might pop into your head when all the crap you’ve shoved into your only closet falls out for the millionth time. But if more space is what you’re looking for, there is actually a stupidly simple way to solve this problem on the cheap: Rent a storage unit.

Whether you’re starting the process of buying your first home or want to sell the home you’re in to upgrade or change neighborhoods, the process of buying a new home can seem daunting. From finding a great real estate agent, working with a lender, acquiring a real estate lawyer, and getting a home inspector—all on a short deadline—buying a home can often feel like writing the most overwhelming and emotional college research paper.

With fall fast approaching, it’s time for a getaway during which you can get cozy underneath blankets, light a fire in a hearth, and reach for some apple cider, all while enjoying the changing leaves and crisp air. And what better place to experience all of that than inside a treehouse? Don’t worry, these aren’t the treehouses of your childhood, complete with hand-me-down pillow poufs and tacked-on band posters.

Your final walk-through is the last hurdle before going to closing and becoming a homeowner. Since it’s so close to the finish line, many first-time buyers have a tendency to try and rush this appointment or not take it as seriously as they should. Unfortunately, this can lead to unintended consequences. With that in mind, we’ve created a guide on how to handle your walk-through the right way.

Many people feel that New York City is the center of the universe. And if that center had a center, it just very well may be Times Square. Though it’s often called “the Crossroads of the World,” many New Yorkers will tell you that Times Square itself is nothing but a tawdry tourist trap. But there’s no denying its proximity to many of the features that make New York City a major hub, including the Broadway theater scene and “restaurant row.

Americans love stuff. We store it in our homes, garages, basements—and when that’s all filled, we pile it in to storage spaces across the country. But sometimes when space is hot commodity, all that stuff creates a huge problem and the idea of renting additional storage space can seem like a good answer. If you’re toying with the idea of storage space, you’re not alone: In a 2017 study, the non-profit Self Storage Association found that approximately 12.

It’s not just every bachelorette party in America that heads to Nashville. Tennessee’s capital city is a major draw for everyone from actors and athletes to business tycoons and, of course, musicians. In fact, you’ll find most of country music’s top crooners have set up shop in Music City. Here are some of our favorite big names who have called the Southern city their home: As you may have seen on their new E!

Why bring that negative energy into your new home?

This light and bright home in Los Angeles is everything you want in a cute California abode. 952 Lucile Ave Located in Los Angeles, California $989,000 2 bedrooms, 2 bathrooms When you conjure up sunny images of a California bungalow, it’s this home that ticks all the boxes. The exterior is dreamy with curved windows, a Spanish tiled roof, and bursts of green. There’s a sweet little porch and lots of plants and trees.

If you’re selling a house, one of the first things you may want to do is hold an open house. While opening up your doors to potential buyers might seem like an effective way to sell your humble abode, it might not be worth the hassle. Joe Cleary, owner of The Cleary Group in Florida, says that open houses are slowly becoming a thing of the past, largely due to advances in virtual listings and home tours.

For doorman-building devotees, there’s nothing like seeing a familiar face on the way in and out of that place you call home. But for others, there’s nothing worse than having to chit chat with this person—or having him know your business. For those lucky enough to have the option, the decision is of personal preference.

Tiny homes have had a big rise in the popularity over the last two decades, with television shows, books, and Instagram pages dedicated specifically to the under-400-square-foot abodes. And the next trend in these kitschy, wanderlust-style homes? Having a huge price tag.

Each year, millions of people flock to Disney World in Orlando, Florida for a magical vacation. But for those lucky enough to live in the area, a fun day at the parks can be more than just a once-a-year or once-in-a-lifetime experience. Have you ever wondered what it would be like to live close enough to Disney World to visit on a regular basis? If you’ve dreamed about making the Orlando area home, you’ve probably been curious as to how much it would cost to live there.

If you’ve ever looked at a house for sale and thought to yourself, “That is an incredible washer/dryer set, fridge, piece of artwork, etc.” then you’ll be pleased to know that if you play your cards right, you actually can get it with the house. It just needs to be in your inclusions/exclusions list.

After toiling through an endless trail of listings and showings, you’ve found your dream home. The only problem? The price tag that’s out of your budget. But that doesn’t mean you have to give up your dream of home ownership; if you’re willing to put the research and effort in, you can often move the price point down significantly (within reason, of course).

As if the Park Slope neighborhood isn’t idyllic enough, the address is even better. 420 12th Street, Apt B1L Located in Brooklyn, New York $1,899,000 2 bedrooms, 2 bathrooms Located among the charming brownstones of Park Slope, this co-op happens to be in one of the most coveted buildings in the neighborhood: Ansonia Court, once home to the Ansonia Clock Factory. But the space itself is a showstopper from the entrance.

With a move on the horizon, chances are you have a massive closet clean out on your schedule or the vision of redecorating your living room (and finally discarding that sofa from college) is in your head. But when moving day gets closer (and you realize how much stuff you really have), all you want to do is lie down. Well, there are actually easy ways to make sure your discarded items and furniture go to worthy causes—and in many cases, you don’t even have to take off your slippers!

Sure, you already know a tiny home is likely to be a fraction of the cost (and size) of a traditional starter home. But you may be curious how the two home types compare when it comes down to day-to-day living costs—and which one shakes out to be a better investment in the long run. While expenses (often unexpected ones) are a common denominator in ownership for both home types, the things that will siphon money from your savings account can differ dramatically between the two.

If you’re struggling with summer’s departure, fear not: In Hollywood, it’s always bright and sunny. In fact, it’s rare to come across a big celebrity who doesn’t have a sparkling swimming pool in their backyard. Whether they’re smack-dab in Los Angeles or 3,000 miles away, here are some of our favorite celebrity swimming pools: When Anna Faris sold her Nichols Canyon home last month, she actually lost money on the deal.

They say that your home is your biggest investment–meaning you’re going to sink a good chunk of change into your new abode, both at the outset and over the years. With that kind of money on the table, it’s crucial to save some dollars wherever you can. With that in mind, I picked the brains of three real estate professionals to determine the easiest ways to save money when buying a home.

As a good rule of thumb, you should never be too far from a Target. I found out that this is especially true if you’re planning a move; and boy, was I ever planning a move. I was a young newlywed who would soon be shipping off to Alaska to join my husband at his military station.