September 2024

Stay on budget with these useful, thoughtful, and affordable gifts. Better Homes & Gardens / Brian Kopinski Whether it’s an upcoming birthday, anniversary, holiday, or a “just because” occasion, a gift that shows you care can go a long way. While there are plenty of options out there at different price points, there are plenty of high-quality gifts that won’t break the bank. To help,...

According to new data from the Miami Association of Realtors, Palm Beach County, Florida, saw a 2.6% drop in total residential sales in July 2024, declining from 2,109 to 2,054 transactions. However, single-family home sales in the county rose slightly by 0.9%, increasing from 1,164 to 1,174, while existing condo sales experienced a year-over-year decrease of 6.9%, falling from 945 to 880. The median price...

The Community Home Lenders of America (CHLA) on Monday submitted a letter to Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) Director Rohit Chopra, urging the agency to balance the time frame and processes of loss mitigation in its revisions to Regulation X proposed in July. The proposals require mortgage servicers to emphasize borrower assistance and loss-mitigation options over foreclosure when homeowner...

Better Home & Finance Holding Co., the parent of digital lender Better.com, rolled out its Federal Housing Administration (FHA) streamline refinance program on Monday. The product is available for qualified borrowers with an existing FHA loan who are looking to lower their monthly mortgage payment, reduce their interest rate, shorten their loan term or get out of an adjustable-rate mortgage (ARM),...

Last week, Guild Mortgage announced a suite of products under the name “Flex Payment Mortgage.” The brand includes Home Equity Conversion Mortgage (HECM) reverse mortgage products alongside refinances, proprietary jumbo options and HECM for Purchase (H4P) loans. After acquiring the robust reverse mortgage division of Cherry Creek Mortgage in early 2023, Guild has used its expertise in the industry...

While inventory of unsold homes in the housing market in each of the last two years headed higher during September and October due to mortgage rate spikes, we’re seeing a more normal seasonal pattern now with inventory beginning to decline. We’re also seeing more home sellers withdrawing their listings to try again next year. In fact, for every two sales, there is another listing withdrawn from the...

Presale renovation firm Revive has made its artificial intelligence-powered property valuation tool available to everyone, according to an announcement on Thursday. Previously, the Revive Vision AI platform was only available to registered real estate agents. “Making Revive Vision AI available to anyone marks a new era in property valuation, where agents and consumers alike can access real-time,...

An 8-bedroom home in the exclusive North Bay Road community of Miami Beach has recently landed on the market. And beyond its flashy asking price (the property is listed for $39,500,000 with Douglas Elliman’s Bill Hernandez and Bryan Sereny of the Bill and Bryan Team), the house caught our eye with its unique features, standout location, and impeccable design. Taking a page from Miami’s most...

With the latest color launch from KitchenAid, you can finally match ~all~ of your kitchen essentials to your modern organic aesthetic. KitchenAid Is it a stand mixer or is it a statement piece? According to KitchenAid, the answer should always be both. The brand has long been rolling out the most aesthetically-pleasing stand mixers on the market, complete with dozens of different colors and...

Designers dish about the nostalgic trend taking over kitchen design. Courtesy of Rebecca Ward / Kat Alves Photography  Retro kitchen designs are making a comeback, adding a touch of nostalgia and an unexpected dose of color to the heart of the home. In recent years, the world of kitchen design has largely been dominated by neutral colors and classic materials, making this playful trend a fun and...