As an academic and consultant, Mike DelPrete wears many hats. He can now add “sting operative” to his resume. DelPrete managed a team of undercover “secret home shoppers” to test the responsiveness of brokerages to online inquiries on home listings. His team conducted 100 such tests and found significant lapses in how brokerages handled contact with potential buyers. The average time for a...

As more brokerages and agents contemplate moving away from a cooperative compensation model, many are grappling with some tough questions, the most vexing probably being: What do I do if a seller is only willing to contribute part of the buyer broker’s fees, or none at all? According to Anthony Lamacchia, the broker-owner of Lamacchia Realty, he and his agents have seen disputes over buyer broker fees...

The American Land Title Association is making it clear that it won’t have the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau making drastic changes to title insurance without first at least hearing the trade groups thoughts on the issue. In a 15-page letter sent to CFPB Director Rohit Chopra on Aug. 2, the trade group stressed the importance of title insurance. “When Americans buy their home, they deserve...

Onity Group, parent company of top five reverse mortgage lender and servicer Liberty Reverse Mortgage, will acquire reverse mortgage assets from Mortgage Assets Management, LLC (MAM), a subsidiary of investment funds managed by Waterfall Asset Management. The deal, initially announced by Onity during its Q2 earnings call, suggests that Waterfall is committed to the reverse mortgage space. The assets at...

Breathtaking views are a given for any billionaire-friendly penthouse, but what feature do only the top luxury penthouses on the market have in common? Double-height ceilings! In architectural terms, a double-height space is defined as one where the ceiling is roughly twice the height of a typical room, providing homeowners with soaring, open spaces and striking natural light. And what happens when...

Snakes in your yard can be a good thing, but if you need to get rid of snakes, these simple tips will help. Helen Norman Snakes are relatively shy creatures that tend to avoid human contact and mostly keep to themselves. But sometimes you need to know how to get rid of snakes in your yard, or encourage them to go elsewhere. Usually, when snakes wiggle into gardens and yards, it indicates that...

Cleaning and laundry experts weigh in on what to consider before letting your pet share a bed with you. Jessie Preza Many pet owners see their pets as a part of the family, leading them to let their cats or dogs sleep in the bed with them rather than in their own or a kennel—but is that the right decision? Cleaning and laundry experts offer their opinions to help you decide what is best for...

From iconic estates to simple homes, these stunning sites reflect Wright’s life, career, and major design philosophies. Prisma by Dukas  / Getty Images Frank Lloyd Wright is arguably the most legendary American architect and one of the most recognized architects in the world. Wright designed hundreds of residential, commercial, and civic buildings as well as furniture and other structures...

Shoppers say they’re so comfy, they don’t want to get out of bed. Better Homes & Gardens / Walmart There’s something euphoric about climbing into your own bed after a long trip; however, there might be a small part of you that misses the hotel experience once it’s over—particularly, the luxe bedding. There’s just something about their bed sheets that lulls you to sleep, and with...

Consider the dryer off-limits to preserve these freshly-washed garments. Getty Images / Hispanolistic Whether running a single load or juggling multiple in a day, we all lean on the dryer to save time. While many of our everyday clothes can be tossed in without a second thought—and may even fare better than if they were air-dried—some garments can suffer damage if put through the machine....