Washington Gov. Bob Ferguson signed a bill into effect earlier this week that bans noncompete agreements across the state. The move marks a significant shift in employment law that will take effect on June 30, 2027. The measure prohibits contracts that restrict workers from joining or starting competing businesses after leaving a job. Noncompete agreements are commonly used in industries such as...

Some homes feel solid, considered, and quietly expensive the moment you step inside. There’s no single “wow” feature pulling focus, no oversized chandelier or dramatic statement wall. And yet, everything seems to sit just right. That impression usually comes from details that don’t announce themselves. Real quality tends to show up in subtle ways: how things align, how materials meet, how...

A new ultra-luxury listing has quietly surfaced in one of South Florida’s most tightly held oceanfront buildings. Unit 301 at Arte Surfside has just hit the market for $22.95 million, offering a rare opportunity to buy into a boutique development that has already set records across Miami-Dade. Completed as a 16-residence project, the building quickly established itself as one of the most exclusive...

It’s a strange disconnect that shows up more often than you’d expect. A home carries a multi-million-dollar price tag, sits in a sought-after location, and checks all the obvious boxes: size, finishes, amenities. And yet, something about it feels… off. Not bad, exactly. Just not luxurious. At the same time, there are homes at far lower price points that manage to feel far more refined,...

Magnificent surroundings, including giant boulders, soft evergreen trees and views of Lake Tahoe, inspired the warm organic style of this 1940s cabin renovation. With rustic features like wood ceilings, a stone fireplace and even giant boulders inside, the home already had...

Combine two classic tones, wood and white, and what do you get? A whole range of possibilities, it turns out. Here, see how designers mixed light, midtone and dark woods with pure white, cream and other hues to transform ho-hum baths into distinct designs that turn daily tasks into uplifting...

The long-anticipated rebound in the U.S. housing market is losing momentum, as a fresh uptick in borrowing costs and escalating geopolitical tensions inject new uncertainty into an already fragile recovery. After entering 2026 with cautious optimism, economists had projected a modest revival in home sales, driven by easing mortgage rates and a gradual increase in housing supply. Instead, renewed...

Federal Housing Finance Agency (FHFA) Director Bill Pulte is again targeting New York Attorney General Letitia James, this time filing criminal referrals with the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) over alleged insurance fraud. The referrals were sent to two U.S. attorneys — Jason Reding Quinones of the Southern District of Florida and Andrew Boutros of the Northern District of Illinois — who were...

Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac last week enacted updates to condominium project standards and property insurance rules for one- to four-unit properties and larger developments, aiming to lower costs for homeowners. The moves have been met with mixed opinions from mortgage professionals. The updates, which Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac announced on March 18, allow greater leeway in how replacement cost...

Two weeks ago on CNBC, I talked about how the housing market was poised for growth for the first time in years — unless mortgage rates shot up due to the war with Iran. Mortgage rates were sub 6% before the war and today they hit 6.62%, according to Mortgage News Daily. That is a big move. It’s unfortunately the kind of move that the housing market has grown accustomed to over the past few years,...