August 2025

As we work — and spend — to make the places we live in beautiful and functional, we sometimes make decor mistakes we come to regret. Unhappy choices nearly always stem from poor planning, rushed decisions, self-doubt or bad advice. Here I’ll show you how to take sound and sensible steps to create...

According to the National Association of Realtors, U.S. existing-home sales climbed in July 2025, offering a sign that easing affordability pressures and higher inventory are luring more buyers back into the market. Transactions of previously owned homes increased 2% from June to a seasonally adjusted annual pace of 4.01 million. Compared with a year earlier, sales edged up 0.8%. The regional picture was...

On-time rent payments improved in August 2025, offering a rare positive note in a year marked by declining performance, according to new data from Chandan Economics. Preliminary estimates for August show that 83.2% of tenants at independently operated units paid their rent on time — up 34 basis points (bps) from July. July’s figure was revised downward to 82.9%, which is the lowest level in the...

Fannie Mae‘s latest Mortgage Lender Sentiment Survey points to a growing trend of lenders that want to make the mortgage process and its various components as efficient as possible. In 2025, lenders ranked streamlined business processes, reduced costs and consumer-facing technology as their leading priorities. Every touch point in a mortgage’s life cycle — from sifting through years of servicing...

When Rishard Rameez, co-founder and CEO of Canadian-based real estate brokerage Zown, bought and sold a home within the same year, the inefficiencies of the process left him frustrated. “I couldn’t wrap my head around the fact that I had to pay all of my down payment towards covering the real estate agent’s fees, which didn’t really make sense when it took me years to save that money.” He...

The nation’s top brokerage by transaction side count continues to expand. On Monday, eXp Realty announced that it was welcoming back San Antonio-based The Victorica Group.  The group was formed at eXp, but went on to briefly operate as an independent brokerage. It ultimately decided to return to eXp after being courted by several other firms. The group said the decision ultimately came down to...

The publicly traded companies in the reverse mortgage space were largely profitable in the second quarter of 2025, despite a challenging macroeconomic backdrop.  As a group, they posted $1.2 billion in originations in Q2 2025, compared to $1 billion in the first quarter. Executives pointed to stronger demand for home equity products among seniors, as well as internal investments in artificial...

Heavy metal legend Rob Zombie has officially parted ways with his two-home Hollywood Hills retreat, selling the architecturally notable “Thorgusen Compound” to separate buyers for a combined $8.9 million. The pair of mid-century residences — both designed by architect Robert “Boulder” Thorgusen and framed by lush landscaping from Garrett Eckbo — went for $3.4 million and $5.5 million,...

Want a multicolored palette that hits all the right notes without veering into a cacophony? Look to the classic composition of white, black and wood. While each is a distinct neutral, they harmonize for a result that’s clean but not sterile, dramatic but not melodramatic, warm but not suffocating....

This $5.8M Lake Orion estate is more than just a home--it's a lifestyle masterpiece. Overlooking panoramic water views, it features an indoor saltwater pool, multiple chef-inspired kitchens, and expansive entertainment spaces designed for hosting on every scale. As the largest home in Lake Orion, it offers unmatched space, privacy, and elegance. Every detail was crafted for comfort and prestige, making...