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,...

With the Social Security trust fund less than seven years from insolvency — at which point a 24% across-the-board benefit cut could be triggered — a new proposal suggests capping annual payouts for the nation’s wealthiest retirees. A white paper released by the Committee for a Responsible Federal Budget advocates for a “six-figure limit” that would cap Social Security benefits at $100,000 per...

Some homes feel different the moment you walk in. Not because they’re larger or more expensive, but because they seem to have a kind of quiet energy. The air feels fresher. The light moves. There are small signs of life in every room, even when no one is speaking. That feeling doesn’t come from design alone. It comes from a mix of natural elements, daily habits, and subtle details that shift a...

For years, “luxury” in real estate was fairly easy to define. It meant larger homes, prime locations, and price tags that placed them well out of reach for most buyers. That definition is starting to shift. Across the country, a new category has been taking shape: homes that borrow the look, feel, and features of high-end properties, but come in at far more accessible price points. They’re...

Some of the country’s most compelling historic homes aren’t in its largest cities. They’re found in mid-sized places where growth happened early, architecture was built to last, and neighborhoods have remained relatively intact. These cities often offer something larger markets struggle to preserve: cohesive historic districts, where entire streets — not just individual houses — tell a...

When a design-loving empty-nest couple purchased this 1942 Bloomington, Minnesota, home, they were sold on the spectacular Minnesota River Valley views. The dated, closed-off kitchen was a different story. Marred by worn cabinetry and a cramped layout, the space felt worlds away from...

Getting that perfect balance of cozy and functional in a living room can be tricky, which is why homeowners will often turn to a design expert for help. We spoke to five professionals to find out the features they put at the top of the list when designing a client’s living area. They‘re guaranteed...

Рост стоимости рабочей силы, материалов, продукции и других товаров оказал сильное влияние на специалистов в сфере строительства и проектирования. Чтобы работать экономически эффективно и обеспечить жизнеспособность бизнеса, вам приходится перекладывать часть этих расходов на своих клиентов. Вот...

Los Angeles County still boasts the world's largest concentration of soundstage space -- 8.3 million square feet of certified and uncertified stages -- but roughly a third of it sits vacant. Average occupancy across the region's major facilities held steady at 62% in the first half of 2025, according to FilmLA's eighth annual Sound Stage Production Report released March 18, 2026. That figure is essentially...