Entertainment areas—wet bars and dry bars—are places to prepare beverages for guests. But these spaces may be losing appeal and could make your listing look dated, designers say.First, make sure you know the difference between a wet bar versus a dry bar. Simply enough, a wet bar has a sink, allowing glasses to easily be rinsed, while a dry bar does not.Home bars became trendy in the 1970s and 1980s. More homeowners outfitted their basements w
Staying up to date on the latest innovations in real estate and beyond can be a full-time job. That’s why we’re committed to delivering technology news you can use, whether we’re busting popular myths or helping you choose the right tools for your business. As you think about innovations that are on tap for 2018, take a look at our five most popular tech articles this year.7 Real Estate Ideas That Deserve to DiePopular perceptions may drive
From techniques to make listing photos pop to methods for staging small spaces, these were the design crazes that made the biggest difference in home sales. We strived to offer both news and practical advice in our home and design section throughout the year, but we also kept an eye on forthcoming trends. As you can see, our roundup of 2018 design trends—which was published only this month—quickly became our most popular design article of
Marketing is an investment, not an expenseDid you go into real estate because you loved marketing?Chances are, you didn’t. And that explains why marketing is one of the top challenges for real estate agents today and the subject of so many of these articles.Most agents don’t come from a marketing background, and so they are learning skills, from the very basic to the very advanced, in addition to running their real estate business.In the wo
The national apartment vacancy rate ticked up slightly in the fourth quarter as multifamily construction begins to outpace current demand. The vacancy rate increased to 4.5 percent compared to 4.4 percent in the third quarter, according to a report from real estate research firm Reis.Vacancy rates posted increases in 50 of 79 metros in the fourth quarter. New York and Washington, D.C., reached record rates of 5.1 percent and 6.6 percent respectiv
Real estate professionals have some good news to share with their clients. On Jan. 1, buyers will be able to get much larger mortgages, whether they’re applying for conventional or FHA-backed loans.Each year, Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac adjust their limits for conventional, conforming loans based on changes in median home prices. For 2018, the companies are increasing loan limits nearly 7 percent, to a maximum loan amount of $453,100. That’s u
A shortage of building materials is becoming a pressing problem for many of the nation’s homebuilders. Twenty-one percent of single-family builders reported a shortage of framing lumber, according to the 2017 National Association of Home Builders/Wells Fargo Housing Market Index. Builders also reported a shortage in ready-mix concrete and trusses.The NAHB notes that the last time there was a shortage of framing lumber was in October 2004, when
Buyers looking for a home that’s perfect for entertaining will want certain property details. HomeDesignFind.com recently profiled some characteristics of the perfect home for entertaining, including:An entry hall or foyer. Make sure it’s sizable enough to allow guests to enter comfortably and to remove their coats and shoes. In addition, a covered front porch that protects visitors from the rain may be a perk.A coat closet in the entryway.
With tax reform signed into law, homeowners in areas with high property taxes are scrambling to prepay their 2018 tax bill in order to take advantage of deductions that will be severely curtailed once the legislation takes effect Jan. 1. The new tax law, which Congress passed and President Donald Trump signed last week, caps the amount of state, local, and property taxes that homeowners can deduct at $10,000.Some counties already allow for prepa
Black is making a comeback in home design, with black fixtures, appliances, and furniture emerging as hot trends for the new year. Ryan Brown of Brown Design Group in Southern California predicts that black fixtures will replace brass as the most trendy home hardware in 2018. “They look great in modern applications, as well as transitional homes,” he told realtor.com®. “And the best part is no water spots to clean off.”Matted black furni
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