For a couple of pizza lovers trying to buy their first home, finding a new place meant finding the right kitchen, even if it meant a renovation. Here were their choices.

A modern farmhouse in East Chatham, a Southwestern-style home in La Quinta and a combined pair of 1840 rowhouses in Baltimore.

With more than 2,800 new housing units approved in the last three years, ‘Port Chester is certainly on the move.’ Not everyone is happy about it.

With more than 2,800 new housing units approved in the last three years, ‘Port Chester is certainly on the move.’ Not everyone is happy about it.

With more than 2,800 new housing units approved in the last three years, ‘Port Chester is certainly on the move.’ Not everyone is happy about it.

Some of the most visually appealing ones are also delicious. Here’s how to choose — and grow — the best ones.

It’s more complicated than you might think. Here’s what to consider before you spend a lot on the wrong ones.

A Craftsman bungalow in Pasadena, a Spanish-style house in Palm Springs and a three-bedroom cabin in Truckee.

A woman traveled the world, but when she wanted to settle down with her husband and son, she discovered that Carroll Gardens brought the most sunlight and joy.

The city regulates noise, but it has to be ‘excessive and unreasonable’ to be considered a violation. You may need a more personal approach.

An investor-owner took over a condo board, terminated a condo declaration and is now requiring a couple to sell their condo in what one expert called “a private form of eminent domain.”

When he found his dream home, he wasn’t expecting it to be tiny. Here’s how he made the most of every square foot.

When he found his dream home, he wasn’t expecting it to be quite so small. Here’s how he made the most of every square foot.

Over the past couple of years, residential developers have increased their wine programs, hiring specialists, hosting private tastings and even providing ritzy storing options to house one’s elaborate collection.

Once again, real estate professionals from all over the globe stampeded to the Anaheim Convention Center for another unforgettable Family Reunion. While some things remained consistent (the culture, the camaraderie, the Gary, etc.), there was plenty to distinguish this event from years past (the market conditions, the tech innovations, the 40th birthday celebration, etc.). It would take a full-length KellerINK publication to cover everything that took place during FR23, so for the sake of time, we’re going to hit you with the Top 4 Takeaways from this year’s Family Reunion. 

1. The Market Has Shifted

It’s official, the post-pandemic housing boom is no more. The days of 3% interest rates and same-day home sales are a thing of the past, and we may never see them again. “My guess is you will never see 4% [interest rates] in your lifetime,” Gary Keller predicted during his industry-defining Vision Speech. His aim wasn’t to scare agents, but to prepare them for the hard truths they will have to deliver to buyers whose expectations were shaped by the remarkable conditions of 2020 and 2021. 

One of the biggest drivers of this market shift is inflation. “It’s kind of still gonna be a rocky ride in ’23, because ’23 will be a full year of the federal government trying to get control of inflation,” Keller warned. Mortgage rates are just one of the knobs and dials the Fed has at its disposal to try and ward off a full-blown recession, but several other factors could upend the economy, including the current federal debt ceiling standoff, the ongoing conflict in Ukraine, and climate change. Despite these concerns, there are plenty of reasons for real estate professionals to remain optimistic.

2. Things Have Been Much Worse

Although the market isn’t as advantageous as it was a couple of years ago, it’s important to take a step back and put things in perspective. As Keller Williams celebrates 40 years of business, Gary Keller recalled the 10-to-18 percent interest rates he was up against during his first years in the real estate industry. It may seem unfathomable to current buyers to agree to a double-digit mortgage rate, but there are two things Keller pointed out that remain true today: 1) real estate appreciates and 2) you can always refinance when interest rates go down. As he often says, “The best time to buy a home is now.” 

This example underscores the message agents need to relay to their clients: real estate is the best long-term plan for wealth building. “Even if owning a home takes up 60 percent of your income, do it,” Keller urged. “Why? Because you’re trying to lock in your cost of living.” To prove his point, Keller compared the overall value of homeownership versus renting.

This week’s properties are a five-bedroom homes in Armonk, N.Y., and Upper Saddle River, N.J.

This week’s properties are in Prospect-Lefferts Gardens, Midtown East and on Riverside Drive.

Where single renters paid the greatest and smallest portion of income for rent on studio apartments.

A schoolteacher left her six roommates behind for some privacy and a decent kitchen. But would her budget be enough?

A schoolteacher left her six roommates behind for some privacy and a decent kitchen. But would her budget be enough?