You’ll win the office Christmas party with these picks. Better Homes & Gardens / Marcus Millán As the holiday season approaches, so does the obligation to pick out thoughtful presents to show your loved ones how much you care. But the beloved Secret Santa tradition can leave even the most prepared gift giver scratching their head, wondering what to buy a coworker, acquaintance, or...

Look beyond the store this season and lean into eco-friendly and inexpensive autumn decorating with real fall foliage. Victoria Pearson Eco-friendly, affordable, and natural, foraged items like branches and leaves make some of the best fall decor. Learn the best types of trees, shrubs, and leaves to search for and how to best prepare and preserve them for your fall decorating purposes. We'll also...

It’s probably already your favorite flavor of the season—why not bring the warmth and comfort of apple crisp into your whole home? Dane Tashima If you feel like there's a "core" for each season, you're right: We've seen romcomcore take over in the spring, tomatocore in the summer, cowgirlcore during Beyonce's album rollout. And while pumpkin spice is probably one of the first things that comes...

These miniature houses aren't just for Christmas! See why Halloween villages are so popular this spooky season. Jason Donnelly This Halloween, there’s a new trend taking over our fall mantels and window sills: Miniature Halloween villages. These spooky displays have quickly become the must-have decor item, captivating us with their charmingly eerie details. Combining creativity with a dash of...

No matter the material, all decks are susceptible to damage from the elements. Save yourself the future fix with these preventative steps. Thomas J. Story Decks are a popular home extension that offers a comfortable space for outdoor activities and relaxation. There are various decking materials available—the most common include traditional wood, pressure-treated wood, concrete composite, and...

President Trump Draws National Media Attention to Rancho Palos Verdes Landslide Issues A few days after a state of emergency was declared in Rancho Palos Verdes due to accelerating landslides, many homeowners are growing increasingly concerned about the future of their properties and the potential impact on home values. Unfortunately, standard home insurance policies in California do not cover damages...

An often misguided premise I see on social media is that lower mortgage rates are doing nothing for housing demand. That’s ok — very few people are looking at the data without an agenda. However, the point of this tracker is to show you evidence that lower rates have already changed housing data. So, let’s review the data together. Purchase application data First, purchase apps is the fastest...

In what has become a familiar fall ritual, mortgage lenders are increasing their conforming loan limits months ahead of the FHFA’s official announcement. On Friday, Pennymac joined Rocket Pro TPO in announcing an increase in their conforming loan limit to $802,650 — before the expected increase by the FHFA in November. Pennymac’s increase will be effective for new broker locks on Monday, Sept....

Talk about sturdy construction. Better Homes & Gardens / Amazon I’ve spent more than a few hours virtually touring tiny houses on YouTube, so when I discovered that you can actually purchase one at Amazon, I stopped shopping for seasonal home decor and started searching the site for portable residences instead (if you like to spend your free time on Zillow, I highly recommend this...

Move over marshmallows—it’s time to roast some cheese. Cheese: -lvinst-; Campfire: Botina Inna / Getty Images | Design: Better Homes & Gardens It's official: We've made it to sweet, sweet s'mores season. Except this year, they're not so sweet.The evenings are finally getting chilly enough to warrant a fire, but it's not so cold that you need an indoor escape. And while the classic s'more...