Consumer

Look at a home listing in Des Moines today, and AI has likely influenced everything from the price to the photos and description. If you’re applying for a mortgage or screening a rental, algorithms are involved there as well. Scott Wendl, broker/owner of RE/MAX Precision in Des Moines, has worked in the market for 30 ...

Anyone planning to buy or sell a home this year is stepping into a market that’s moving faster and operating differently than just a year or two ago. The past few months have seen a wave of new technology hit the real estate industry, changing how quickly deals close, who qualifies for a mortgage, and ...

South Florida’s luxury condo market is splitting in two. Christopher Austad, a sales associate with Douglas Elliman specializing in new development across New York City and South Florida, sees the divide clearly: ultra-luxury branded towers are selling fast at $10 million and above, while mid-tier projects are struggling to move units at any price. Understanding ...

Santa Barbara’s housing market is now sharply divided by price point. Homes under $2 million are selling steadily, with more buyers and more inventory than last year. But at the high end — Montecito estates and Hope Ranch compounds — sales have dropped nearly in half, and the median price has fallen from $5.9 million ...

The housing market in Pocatello, Idaho has become sharply divided by price. Homes listed under $400,000 are moving quickly, often drawing multiple offers within days. In contrast, properties priced above $900,000 are sitting on the market for weeks, with sellers forced to cut prices and offer incentives to attract interest. This split reflects a broader ...

Homeowners across Chicago’s south suburbs are staying put, holding on to their low mortgage rates and avoiding moves that would mean higher monthly costs. As a result, inventory in areas like Orland Park, Mokena, and Palos is low, but prices are holding steady — or even rising in some cases. Kevin Burke, team lead at ...

In South Jersey, the housing market is split. Single-family homes priced between $400,000 and $450,000 in towns with strong school districts are attracting multiple offers and selling quickly. In contrast, condos with rising association fees and homes on busy streets are lingering, even after price reductions. This divide means buyers and sellers face very different ...

National affordability headlines often overlook how high-equity coastal markets operate under different rules, according to a Southern California realtor who tracks transaction patterns in San Clemente. In San Clemente, California, about 40 percent of home sales are completed entirely in cash. Even among financed buyers, typical down payments range from 30 to 40 percent, making ...

Just a few years ago, buying rental property in central New Jersey was straightforward. Rents and home prices were climbing, and investors could secure positive cash flow with a standard down payment. Today, higher interest rates and elevated prices have changed the equation. Cash flow is harder to achieve, appreciation is less certain, and the ...

You find the perfect beachfront home in Ocean City, but when the flood insurance quote arrives, it’s double what you expected. Suddenly, your monthly costs jump by hundreds of dollars, and the deal you thought was secure starts to look uncertain. For buyers along the South Jersey Shore, flood insurance has become a central issue ...

If you live in Illinois, New Jersey, or California and have noticed “For Sale” signs lingering in your neighborhood, you’re seeing the effects of a significant trend. These three states now lead the nation in outbound moves, with residents leaving for more affordable and accessible destinations. The reasons go well beyond climate or politics. Scott ...

Apartment rents are falling across much of the country for the first time in years. After a long stretch of rising prices and limited supply, renters now have more choices and leverage than they’ve seen since before the pandemic. Landlords, in turn, are competing harder to keep tenants in place. But this cooling trend may ...

Metuchen, New Jersey, is seeing a striking divide in its real estate market: high-end homes are selling rapidly, while first-time buyers are being priced out. Last year, 15 homes in this small town sold for over $1 million — a figure that would have been almost unimaginable just a few years ago. At the same ...

After three years of buyers waiving inspections to compete, the South Orange County housing market has entered a new phase. Homes that once triggered bidding wars within days now often sit for weeks, and sellers who previously refused contingencies are now offering them upfront. “Three years ago, if you tried to buy a property with ...

A buyer in Naperville recently won a bidding war by offering appraisal-gap coverage, waiving the inspection, and allowing the seller to stay in the home for two weeks after closing. Three days later, she backed out. This scenario is becoming more common in the western Chicago suburbs. Lisa Byrne, Realtor and Team Lead at The ...