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®.

These 15 features sell homes the fastest and at the best price

It turns out homebuyers are really into barn doors. When Zillow looked at design features that sell homes at the best price and with the shortest listing time, that feature topped the list. Anything craftsman-style, like rectangular farmhouse sinks, also got homes off the market at a premium. ... Read More »

3 Reasons to Live in a New Home Before Renovating

In today’s market, many buyers forego fixer-uppers for move-in ready homes. As a result, significant opportunities abound in prime locations as homes that need work linger on the market. ... Read More »

Back to school? Heres how it impacts home values

Neighborhoods with at least one good elementary school have greater home values as well as higher home price appreciation over the long term compared to homes without good schools, according to the 2016 Schools a Housing Report released today by ATTOM Data Solutions, the new parent company of RealtyTrac. ... Read More »

Im stunned by young peoples reasons for investing in a home

One of my friends is 28 and she’s looking to buy a house in San Francisco pretty soon. Now, as you know, I’m not a big fan of real estate for investment reasons, but because I’m not an expert, I’ve been researching it more and more (see my links here). So when she mentioned wanting to buy a house, I asked one question: “Why?” ... Read More »

The One Thing You Must Do Before Listing Your Home for Sale

When it comes time to sell your home, you know you’ll need to spend some time cleaning the carpets, decluttering, and landscaping for maximum curb appeal. But there’s another key task to add to your to-do list: checking in with your local government to be sure it has accurate information about your home. ... Read More »

Five Simple Tricks to Decorate a Small Apartment to Make It Look And Feel Spacious

Small apartments are a city dweller’s necessity. Besides being relatively affordable, apartment complexes have a lot more neighbors than a residential block with individual houses. Though limited in real estate, these condos can offer multiple amenities that large houses simply can’t extend. However, the limited space can also be cause for stress if the pers ... Read More »

Think Practice Makes Perfect? Oh, No It Doesnt, Science Says

Absurdly Driven looks at the world of business with a skeptical eye and a firmly rooted tongue in cheek. You're sitting there with your Sauvignon Blanc and your organic goat cheese on organic cracker. You're gawking at all the wonderful performances at the Olympics. ... Read More »

The secret to selling your house for more money

HGTV "Property Brothers" stars and co-authors of "Dream Home," Drew and Jonathan Scott, stopped by Business Insider to share their inside secrets for selling your home. Here's how to price your home so it sells for the most money possible. ... Read More »

10 Cheap Easy Decor Tips For A More Sophisticated Look

It’s that time of year again. Everyone is either heading out of their current apartment or moving into someplace new, all with hopes of getting settled in as soon as humanly possible. And as if all the packing weren’t draining enough, moving costs and other fees can quickly deplete your funds — and energy — making it hard to plan for future fun, i.e. housewa ... Read More »

Luxury home prices are finding their footing

Luxury home prices inched up 0.8 percent in the second quarter of 2016 compared to last year, to an average of $1.66 million, according to a new analysis from Redfin. The quarterly analysis tracks luxury sales in more than 1,000 cities across the country and defines a home as luxury if it is among the top 5 percent most expensive homes sold in each city. ... Read More »