Designer Molly McCabe and her husband share a love of grilling, entertaining and watching wildlife from their deck on Washington’s Bainbridge Island. For decades, the cedar deck — built by the couple from trees felled on their pond-side property — served as a grilling spot and an...

Mortgage spreads are once again the unsung hero for housing in 2026 because they are the sole reason why mortgage rates have been under 6.65% the entire year! Last week, the benefits of mortgage spreads being close to normal were very evident: if we currently had the highest levels of mortgage spreads in 2023, 2024 and 2025 with the 10-year yield at this level, mortgage rates would be over 7%. We all know...

Low-curb showers offer the safe, easy entry of a curbless shower while keeping water where it belongs, making them a practical choice for nearly any household. They can also open up a small bathroom visually and cost considerably less than going fully curbless. Browse this roundup for...

For those who want a beautiful garden but would rather not spend hours every week — or hire a staff — to maintain it, consider the following advice from landscape pros on Houzz. It’s important to point out that a low-maintenance landscape doesn’t mean no maintenance at all. Still, there are plenty...

Last week, 76 members of Congress, specifically the Real Estate Caucus and the Build America Caucus, signed a bipartisan letter “expressing serious concerns” over section 901 of the 21st Century ROAD to Housing Act. The letter, signed by 38 democrats and 38 republicans, urged House leadership to remove or substantially alter the highly contentious Section 901, arguing it could reduce housing supply...

It has been a busy week in the courts and HousingWire is here to update you on all of the real estate lawsuit developments.  The Compass v. NWMLS battle continues Compass is seeking to dismiss the counterclaims asserted against it by Northwest MLS (NWMLS), according to a motion filed last Thursday.  In the filing Compass claims that “only a monopolist like NWMLS would sue its own customer...

As North Carolina House Democrats take another swing at sweeping housing reform, a Democratic senator is seeking to streamline environmental reviews to accelerate construction. Sen. Woodson Bradley filed the “Let Them Build Act” on Thursday afternoon, days after House colleagues filed a bill titled “Relieving Housing Bottlenecks” to address the state’s affordable housing crisis. For New...

“Try a lot of new things. Keep what works.” This has been an operational mantra at Clayton for more than a decade, inspired by Chairman and CEO Kevin Clayton’s embrace of the Japanese principle of kaizen – constant, patient, humble, unrelenting improvement. That ethos – more discipline than buzzword, more practice than promise – frames a milestone moment this weekend at the Berkshire...

AD Mortgage released a new broker technology survey this week, which shows mortgage professionals are increasingly using artificial intelligence and digital tools but still face gaps in training, integration and adoption decisions. Based on responses from more than 250 mortgage brokers nationwide, the “Technology in the Mortgage Industry: 2026 Broker Survey” offers a snapshot of how originators are...

Whether you’re deep in the planning phase or just starting to think about a renovation, knowing what other homeowners are doing — and spending — can help you set expectations and make smarter decisions. Here are highlights from the recently released 2026 U.S. Houzz & Home Study, including the...