Housing Chatter delivers the news you need to know about current events in the housing market in simple terms. We have no political or institutional affiliations so you can be confident that our content and commentary is unbiased. Housing Chatter is brought to you by your professional Realtor®.

9 Ways To Make Cheap Furniture Look Expensive

Cheap furniture doesn't always have to look it. When you're bored with that hand-me-down dresser, thrift store-sourced table or the IKEA coffee table everyone has, know that the answer isn't throwing it away. You CAN do something to make even the most basic piece of pressed board seem a little more stylish -- even a little more expensive -- without ... Read More »

7 Things That Make A House A Home (That Cant Necessarily Be Bought)

There comes a point in every life where your dreams are run over by the steamroller of reality. For me, it was the idea of a home that looked like something out of "The Dick Van Dyke Show." Over the years, I hoarded vintage everything and anything, sacrificing space, sanity and occasionally my shins as I'd knock into a too-low nightstand found for $ ... Read More »

How Your Fridge Can Save You Thousands of Dollars

Shutterstock / toocanimages We've all been there -- examining the mound of mush in a takeout container at the way back of the fridge, questioning whether it is edible. Or worse, cramming in dinner's leftovers only to find yourself with no way to close the fridge. It's food, and money, wasted. An o ... Read More »

Heres What HGTV Doesnt Tell You About Home Renovations

Ask anyone who has left a high powered job about why they decided to move on, and you'll inevitably hear the words "labor of love."That's certainly the case for Laurel LaBauve, who left her VP position at a big pharmaceutical company to flip houses. But LaBauve prefers you not call it that. "I hate the term flip, which conjures up an image of a chea ... Read More »

And The 10 Best Counties In America Are..

City pride is most certainly a thing, and most people across the country are not afraid to show theirs. But, thanks to this list of incredible counties, a new kind of pride is about to become very real, as well. According to the blog on the real estate site, Movato, these are the state subregions to live in if all those city lists are a bit too spec ... Read More »

Top 5 Tips to Consider Before Buying a Vacation Home

AffordabilityYou should condition yourself to the added expense of paying for an increase in your lifestyle. Think about what you can afford in terms of taxes (village and town), electric, gas, water, garbage removal, gardening, mortgage payments and insurance. Also, put away money for reserve, because houses break. Bonus RightsDo you want beach rights? What ... Read More »

Dear Everyone: Labor Day Is NOT The End Of Summer

www.andreakamal.com via Getty Images Honestly, it seems like there is maybe one week of summer we can actually enjoy. In June, everyone is thinking ahead to the July 4th weekend, or muttering something about how it "doesn't feel like summer yet." In July, the back-to-school commercials start. In A ... Read More »

The Labor Day Sales Your Home Wants You To Shop

Contrary to popular belief, Labor Day weekend is not the end of summer. But while your opportunity to hit the beach, fire up the grill or kick back with a frosty cocktail might last another few weeks, these bargains on home goods won't.Everyone gets $10 Kohl's Cash for every $50 spent through September 1. Look for 50% to 60% off bath towels, rugs an ... Read More »

5 Easy Ways To Prepare Your Home For Fall

Getting your home ready for summer is easy enough -- throw open some windows, bust out the hammock and before you know it, you're enjoying the long-awaited warm season we all love so much. But with Labor Day weekend upon us and lower temperatures ahead, it's officially time to prep our homes for fall.It might seem like quite the burden to bear durin ... Read More »

10 Things to Do Before Signing a Lease

Having a place to call home can be one of life's greatest comforts and pleasures, but finding that perfect pad isn't always easy! Between hunting down available spots, finding a place that meets your wants and needs, getting approved to rent an apartment and filling out the paperwork, needless to say, the process can be stressful. One of the most im ... Read More »

Nightmarish, Cannibalistic Cricket Invading Eastern U.S.

A "nightmarish," cannibalistic cricket from Asia is apparently invading homes throughout the eastern United States -- and scientists say there's still a lot we don't know about the spindly-legged creature.The greenhouse camel cricket (Diestrammena asynamora), which is known for its voracious -- and sometimes cannibalistic -- appetite, has been in th ... Read More »

Heres A Simple Explanation Of Why You Cant Smell Your Home

We've all visited friends whose homes smell...well, not so fresh. Or, it might have been your own home that assaulted your senses after you returned from a week away. Regardless, the thought bubble is the same: "How can you not notice such a bad scent?"Turns out, the home in question might have always smelled like that -- and your brain is to blame ... Read More »

Eco-Friendly Electric Fireplaces: How Do They Stack Up?

There’s nothing cozier on a crisp fall day than sitting in front of your fireplace, enjoying its warmth and the hypnotizing play of the flames. Add in some good company, your favorite munchies, and maybe a faithful four-legged friend snoozing on the hearth rug, and you’ve got a recipe for total relaxation. If you’re committed to going green, the fireplace in ... Read More »