The New Frontier of Tenants Rights: Logan Square Renters Fight To Outbid Corporate Buyers
Chicago’s 2024 right‑of‑first‑refusal ordinance lets tenants bid on a building before outside buyers, aiming to curb displacement in gentrifying neighborhoods. Tenants of a five‑unit property on North Francisco Avenue are testing the law, trying to purchase the $1.35 million building that has risen over 500% since 1995. They have a 90‑day window to secure financing or line up a buyer, but the heated seller’s market makes the goal elusive. The pilot so far has seen no completed tenant purchases, highlighting practical limits of the policy.
California Lawmakers Push New Fire Insurance Rules After Wildfire Claims Crisis
California lawmakers are advancing a trio of bills—SB-876, SB-877 and SB-878—to tighten fire‑insurance practices after the Jan. 2025 wildfires destroyed 12,000 homes and erased roughly $8.3 billion in property value. The legislation would require insurers to file disaster‑recovery plans, speed claim documentation,...
Clean House, Clear Mind: The Surprising Health Benefits Behind Spring Cleaning
Spring cleaning does more than freshen a home; it can dramatically improve health by reducing indoor allergens, lowering stress hormones, and enhancing sleep quality. Studies from Brown University and the Journal of Environmental Psychology show that thorough dust removal and...
Mortgage Calculator: Here’s How Much You Need To Buy a $400,000 Home at a 6.37% Rate
Mortgage rates slipped to a 6.37% average for 30‑year fixed loans in the week ending April 9, a 9‑basis‑point decline from the prior week’s 6.46% peak. The dip translates into a $2,012 monthly principal‑and‑interest payment for a buyer putting 20% down...
Rates Retreat From Seven-Month High, Offering Spring Buyers a Modest Reprieve
Mortgage rates slipped to 6.37% for the week ending April 9, easing from a seven‑month high of 6.46% the week before. New home listings dropped 10% year‑over‑year, the steepest weekly decline since the January winter storm, while active inventory remains 3.9%...
It’s Buy O’Clock Somewhere: The 8 Metros Where Home Shoppers Have the Upper Hand Right Now
Realtor.com’s new Market Clock tool maps housing conditions across the 50 largest U.S. metros, revealing eight genuine buyer’s markets: Atlanta, Austin, Jacksonville, Miami, Nashville, Orlando, Tampa and Riverside, CA. These metros show abundant for‑sale listings, price reductions and longer time‑on‑market,...
The Housing Market Is More Fragmented Than Ever—Here’s a New Way To Understand the Data
Realtor.com unveiled the Market Clock, a visual tool that maps buyer‑seller dynamics across the United States on a 12‑hour clockface. While the national market sits at a balanced‑cooling 3 o’clock, the top 50 metros are split—26% are seller’s markets, 16% buyer’s,...
The Birthplace of Basketball Makes a Comeback as America’s Hottest Market
Springfield, Massachusetts reclaimed the top spot in Realtor.com’s March 2026 Hottest Housing Markets, propelled by its median listing price of $352,500—less than half Boston’s $829,000. The city’s homes attracted 3.6 times the national average online views and sold in just...
19-Year-Old MLB Phenom Konnor Griffin Signs $140 Million Deal With Pirates—Just Months After Moving Into His First Marital Home
Teenage outfielder Konnor Griffin, the 19‑year‑old phenom drafted by Pittsburgh in 2024, signed a nine‑year contract extension worth $140 million, extending his stay through the 2034 season. The deal was announced Wednesday on the Pirates’ official X account and praised by...
Fed Meeting Minutes Show Policymakers Weighed Economic Impact of Iran War
Federal Reserve officials highlighted the economic fallout from the U.S.-Iran conflict in the March 17‑18 FOMC minutes, noting that a prolonged war could lift energy prices and feed core inflation. The committee voted to keep the policy rate steady in...
Mercedes-Benz Condo Developer in Miami Scrambles for Financing After Foreclosure Lawsuit
Mercedes‑Benz Places, a 67‑story, 791‑unit luxury tower in Miami’s Brickell district, is under pressure as developer Michael Stern’s JDS Development faces a foreclosure lawsuit over a $775 million bridge loan. The loan, originally funded by Maxim Capital and later transferred to...
Stay in Detroit, Get $15K: A Guide to the Coalition Providing the Funding in the Motor City
MoveDetroit coalition launched the “Make Detroit Home” program, offering cash incentives to Detroit residents. Up to 313 participants can receive a $15,000 stipend for business expenses, home purchases, renovations or rent, while other eligible residents may obtain $1,000 for relocation...
How Georgia’s Last-Minute Property Tax Deal Got Rolled Into a Hemp Bill—And What It Signals Beyond the State
Georgia lawmakers salvaged a stalled property‑tax reform by embedding key provisions into SB 33, a hemp‑regulation bill, after HB 1116 failed in the Senate. The compromise delivers a $500 grant per homeowner, caps the rate of assessment increases, and authorizes...
Howard Stern and Wife Beth Are Sued by Former Assistant Over Claims They Created ‘Hostile Work Environment’ at $50 Million...
Howard Stern and his wife Beth are being sued by former assistant Leslie Kuhn, who alleges a hostile work environment after moving into their $50 million Hamptons mansion. Kuhn claims she faced immense pressure from the couple's extensive cat‑rescue operations and...
Dave Ramsey Warns That Timing the Housing Market Will Leave Both Buyers and Sellers Unhappy: The Perfect ‘Time’ Is Now
Dave Ramsey warns that waiting for a perfect moment in the housing market will leave buyers and sellers dissatisfied, urging action now as spring inventory rises and median list prices fall for five consecutive months. Mortgage rates sit at 6.46%,...
Key Fed Official Says Interest Rate Hike Is Possible as Gas Prices Soar
Cleveland Fed President Beth Hammack warned that soaring gasoline prices, now $4.14 per gallon, could force the Federal Reserve to raise interest rates if inflation remains stubborn. The Fed has kept its benchmark rate steady at 3.5‑3.75% since December, but...
Inventory Is Up, Prices Are Down—So Why Are Home Sales Muted?
U.S. home sales remain muted despite a sharp rise in inventory and a 2.2% drop in median prices, now at $415,450, the lowest since 2022. Mortgage rates have jumped to 6.46%, the highest in seven months, adding roughly $117 to...
From Property Taxes to HOA Fee Deductions, 7 Last Minute Homeowner Tax Questions Answered by Expert Adviser
With the April 15, 2026 deadline looming, homeowners are racing to claim new tax benefits before filing. The Residential Clean Energy Credit still offers a 30% deduction for solar systems installed in 2025, while mortgage‑interest deductions are capped at $750,000 for loans...
Wyoming Woos Google, Microsoft, and Meta To Build More AI Data Centers in the State
Wyoming is courting the AI data‑center boom by hosting a closed‑door Data x Power summit that brought together Google, Microsoft, Meta, Amazon and energy firms. The state already operates 21 data centers and is promoting its abundant, low‑cost electricity, tax‑free environment and...
Congress Pitches Expanding Farm Credit System To Help Rural Homebuyers
A bipartisan Senate bill (S.4182) would amend the 1971 Farm Credit Act to broaden the definition of rural areas from towns under 2,500 residents to those under 10,000. The change would make an additional 29.9 million homebuyers eligible for flexible Farm...
Georgia Has $3.3 Billion in Unclaimed Property. New Bill Aims To Give Some Residents a Check.
Georgia’s Senate Bill 403 proposes that the Department of Revenue automatically issue checks for unclaimed property balances under $500, targeting the $3.3 billion currently held by the state. The bill would cross‑reference tax filings with the unclaimed‑property database, shifting the burden...
First Look at New York City’s Tallest Luxury Residential Tower on Iconic Fifth Avenue
New York City’s skyline will gain its tallest luxury residential tower at 262 Fifth Avenue, a 860‑foot, 52‑story development by Five Points Development Group. Designed by Meganom with interiors by Norm Architects, the building offers 26 full‑floor and duplex residences...
Georgia Passes Landmark HOA Reform To Protect Homeowners
Georgia lawmakers have passed SB 406, the Georgia Property Owners’ Bill of Rights Act, creating the state’s first formal oversight of homeowners associations. The bill mandates annual registration of HOAs with the secretary of state and bars unregistered groups from...
Oil Prices Surge After Trump Vows To Hit Iran ‘Extremely Hard’
President Donald Trump warned of a two‑to‑three‑week escalation against Iran, sending oil markets into a frenzy. Brent crude surged more than 10% to breach the $100‑per‑barrel mark, while the 10‑year Treasury yield climbed above 4.3%. Mortgage rates followed, jumping to...
Republican Congressional Leaders Announce Plan to End the Partial Shutdown
Republican leaders House Speaker Mike Johnson and Senate Majority Leader John Thune announced a dual‑track plan to fully fund the Department of Homeland Security, ending a 47‑day partial shutdown that left TSA agents unpaid and caused airport delays. The strategy...
New Jersey Zombie Mall Built on a Landfill Will Be Demolished To Make Way for Hundreds of Apartments
The Borough of Raritan approved demolition of the aging Raritan Mall, a former strip mall built on a 1980s landfill, to construct a five‑story, 276‑unit apartment building. The project reserves 42 units for affordable housing and dedicates roughly 20,000 square...
Renting a Home This Spring? Look Out for ‘Vampire Costs’
Renters increasingly encounter hidden "vampire" costs that push the true monthly expense well above the advertised rent. Common fees include nonrefundable application charges of $200‑$400, utilities that can add $400 or more, pet deposits, resident‑benefit packages, and early‑termination penalties. Experts...
New Hampshire Senator Turns to Residents as Corporate Mobile Home Park Probe Deepens
Senator Maggie Hassan, ranking member of the Joint Economic Committee, has opened a confidential survey for New Hampshire mobile home park residents to document rent hikes, conditions, and landlord treatment. The move deepens her investigation that began in December, demanding...
Sacramento Moves Toward Legalizing Tiny Homes on Wheels in Backyards
Sacramento’s Planning and Design Commission is evaluating an ordinance that would let residents park tiny, fully‑equipped homes on wheels in backyards of single‑family or duplex lots. These movable cottages range from 150 to 400 square feet and typically cost under...
Virginia Passes New Housing Package Aimed at Affordability
Virginia Governor Abigail Spanberger signed a suite of housing bills aimed at improving affordability. The legislation, including HB1227, SB729, SB628, SB346 and HB655, expands local bonding authority, creates eviction‑prevention programs, and permits manufactured homes by‑right. Median home prices have risen...
Cincinnati Residents Could Face Foreclosure Over Extensive Vandalism Costing Them Thousands in Repairs
Cincinnati property owners are now liable for removing graffiti within 30 days, or the city will contract the cleanup and bill them. Unpaid bills can become liens and potentially trigger foreclosure, with one homeowner facing an $18,000 charge. Similar nuisance‑abatement...
The Billion-Dollar Real Estate Time Bomb: Heir Disputes Threaten America’s Great Wealth Transfer
The United States faces a hidden threat to the projected $2.4 trillion real‑estate component of the Great Wealth Transfer: heirs’ property disputes caused by the lack of wills. Experts estimate $42 billion in property could become entangled in legal battles, with a...
3 Cities Where the Best Time To Sell Is Right Now
Realtor.com economists identified the week of March 29‑April 4 as the optimal selling window for homes in Cincinnati, Seattle, and Grand Rapids. In Cincinnati, sellers can expect a 14.7% price premium, while Seattle sees a 10.2% boost and Grand Rapids an 8.4%...
Here’s How Much L.A. and Silicon Valley High-Earners Could Save by Trading California for Miami
Wealthy Californians earning around $500,000 can save over $51,000 a year by relocating to Miami, thanks to Florida's 0% state income tax versus California's 10.3%‑11.3% rate for that income bracket. Miami’s median home price of $500,000 is roughly half that...
This One Mistake Could Cost You ‘Tens of Thousands of Dollars’ When Buying or Selling a Home
Skipping a real‑estate agent may seem like a cost‑saving shortcut, but it often leads to far larger losses. The median home sold for $435,000 last year, while for‑sale‑by‑owner (FSBO) properties averaged $380,000—a $55,000 gap. Even after accounting for...
Gavin Newsom Warns California Cities To Prepare for More Housing—Or Else
California Governor Gavin Newsom has given 15 jurisdictions—including Kings and Merced counties and several small cities—30 days to adopt compliant housing elements or face action from the attorney general. These communities are more than two years behind state‑mandated timelines and...
How To Deep-Clean Wood Floors After Winter, According to Cleaning Experts
Winter’s dry air and tracked grit can scratch and dull wood floors. Cleaning expert Isabella Flores recommends starting with a thorough dry‑clean using a microfiber mop or soft‑attachment vacuum, then cleaning with a barely damp mop and immediate drying. She...
High-Paying Tech and Trade Jobs With $200K Salaries Are Transforming This Quiet Nashville Suburb
Clarksville, Tennessee, is experiencing a rapid suburban boom as Japanese parts maker T.RAD and Korea Zinc invest $90.2 million and expand operations, creating roughly 1,350 new manufacturing jobs with salaries ranging from $86,000 to $200,000. The influx of high‑pay positions is...
EXCLUSIVE: Aubrey Plaza Finds a Buyer for $5.8 Million California Compound Where Husband Jeff Baena Died
Actress Aubrey Plaza has secured a buyer for her Spanish‑style Los Feliz compound, which she listed at $5.75 million after previously dropping the price from $6.5 million. The property, purchased with director Jeff Baena for $4.7 million in 2022, is now listed as...
Falling Home Prices Offer a Window as Mortgage Interest Rates Edge Higher
Home prices continued to slip in the spring, with the median list price falling 1.9% year‑over‑year—the 22nd straight week of flat or negative growth. Inventory rose 7.8% year‑to‑date, though the pace of new listings remains 3.4% below last year’s level....
Homeownership Costs Consume Nearly 100% of Typical Wages in These Coastal Markets
ATTOM’s Q1 2026 affordability index shows homeownership costs in coastal markets are swallowing nearly a full year of typical wages. Kings County, New York tops the list at 108.6%, while Santa Cruz, Marin, San Luis Obispo and Orange counties in California range from 88% to...
Congress Advances Plan To Crack Down on Crime in DC
Congress passed the District of Columbia Safe and Beautiful Commission bill, combining intensified law‑enforcement, immigration enforcement, and city‑wide beautification initiatives. The measure cleared the House 218‑206 along party lines and follows President Donald Trump’s executive order to spend roughly $2 billion...
This Florida City Is Offering a $10K Incentive To Build an ADU
Orlando City Council approved an ADU Incentive Program offering up to $10,000 in rebates and full refunds on impact and permit fees for homeowners who construct accessory dwelling units and rent them at affordable rates. The program covers impact fees...
Mobile Homes Can Offer a Path to Wealth—But Not for Everyone
New Realtor.com research shows manufactured homes can generate strong equity, especially when the buyer owns the land beneath the structure. Between 2019 and 2026, mobile homes sold with land appreciated 70.1%, outpacing the 58.6% gain for traditional single‑family homes, while...
Raleigh Vs. DC: How High-End Living in the Research Triangle Compares to the Nation’s Capital
Washington, DC’s luxury market remains the nation’s most expensive, with the entry‑level threshold at $1.45 million and prices in the top 1% falling 18% year‑over‑year. Raleigh’s high‑end segment is cheaper at $1.05 million but is expanding rapidly, posting 6% annual growth for the...
This Miami Metro Is One of the Most Competitive Seller’s Markets in Florida—Here’s Why
Coral Springs, a Miami‑metro suburb, now has the lowest inventory in Broward County, with active listings down 37% year‑over‑year and a two‑month supply of single‑family homes. The median listing price sits at $395,000, roughly 36% cheaper than Miami’s $619,500 median....
The Grass Is Always Greener on Your Neighbor’s Lawn—But Why?
Homeowners often feel “lawn envy,” comparing their grass to neighbors’ immaculate turf, driving demand for better lawn care. Experts identify five key factors—consistent watering, balanced nutrients, appropriate fertilizer type, regular aeration, and a structured care routine—that separate thriving lawns from...
South Florida Million-Dollar Home Sales Surge to an All-Time High, and This Celeb-Studded County Leads the Way
South Florida’s luxury market is booming, with 2,040 million‑dollar home sales YTD—a record high not seen since 2008. February saw an 18.8% overall rise, driven by 17.8% growth in single‑family homes and 21.6% in condos and townhomes. Palm Beach County...
They’re Building a Dream Home From Scratch for Less Than $3K After Watching 100 Hours of YouTube
Jennifer and Chris Ohs bought a 21‑acre plot in Summerville, GA, and decided to build a DIY home using a used 40‑foot shipping container they found for $2,450. After more than 100 hours of YouTube tutorials, they are constructing an...
How Denver Is Offering a New Path to Homeownership
Nearly one‑third of Colorado households are severely cost‑burdened as Denver’s median single‑family home price hit $699,750 in February 2026, a 2.9% rise since the pandemic. Prices per square foot jumped 25.2% over the same period, squeezing first‑time buyers. Realtor.com analyst...
