This week’s properties are on the Upper West Side, Roosevelt Island and in St. George.

This week’s properties are a four-bedroom in Norwalk, Conn., and a five-bedroom in White Plains, N.Y.

Real estate agents often develop specialties to cater to specific types of clients, properties, and market segments. Here are some common real estate agent specialties: 1. Residential Real Estate Description: Focuses on buying, selling, and renting homes and residential properties.Types:Single-Family Homes: Detached houses for individual families.C...

Scott Sartiano proposed bringing his Manhattan-based members-only hot spot, Zero Bond, to a historic village inn. Local residents are not rolling out the red carpet.

A three-bedroom condominium in a converted Gothic Revival church in New Haven, an 1873 rowhouse in Lambertville and a 1938 bungalow in Atlanta.

This year, more than 360 private gardens across the country are opening to visitors. Don’t miss your chance to learn from some of the best.

The renowned character actor, best known for playing Detective Bunk Moreland on HBO’s “The Wire,” says a white landlord rejected his rental application.

Scott Sartiano proposed bringing his Manhattan-based members-only hot spot, Zero Bond, to a historic village inn. Local residents are not rolling out the red carpet.

Gary and Jay write in Your First Home, “Markets go up and down. The reality is there’s never really a perfect market—just the market you’re dealing with when you’re buying your home.” Mirroring this quote, the market in 2024 and 2023 has given buyers challenges – and opportunities.

June is National Homeownership Month, and it’s a good time to check in on the challenges and opportunities that buyers are dealing with. To help yourself become the economist of choice for your clients, here are some key takeaways from the National Association of Realtors ® (NAR) annual Home Buyers and Sellers Report. If you want bonus points, you can also check on our recap from last year here.

First-Time Buyers

Low inventory and high interest rates have roughly stabilized, with some new construction helping ease both price points and availability. The result is more first-time buyers successfully purchased in the past year.  

First-Time Buyers Were 32 Percent of Overall Buyers in 2023, Up from 26 Percent in 2022
A glimmer of good news is that more people are entering their homeownership journey. This past year’s increase is welcome: 2022 had the lowest amount of first-time home buyers since NAR started collecting data in 1981. Still, the average for most of NAR’s records is 38 percent, so this market is still lower than historical norms.A Typical First-Time Buyer Is About the Same Age: Mid-Thirties
The average age of a first-time buyer was reported to be 35 years old, down from 36 years old last year. The combination of student loan debt and high cost of living means delaying homeownership until savings can be built up. The Pride of Homeownership Remains Strong
Over half of first-time buyers (60 percent) reported that the primary reason for purchasing a home was the desire to own a home of their own.

Repeat Buyers

In 2023, there were a recorded 4.1 million home sales, which is one of the lowest numbers in recent history. This number is the same as it was in 2008, when the Great Recession, an economic downturn that began in late 2007 and lasted until 2009, was beginning to take place. Economists are projecting 4.3 million home sales in 2024, about the same as the period immediately following the recession, from 2009-2011. And, as the preceding graph illustrates, sales are trending up.

Houses Before Legal Spouses
Last year saw the lowest percentage of first-time buyers who were married couples in over ten years with only 9 percent of buyers being wed. Still, married couples accounted for the largest percentage (59 percent) of recent buyers. Single females remain strong as 19 percent of recent buyers.Continuing Presence of Multi-Generational Housing
As the cost-of-living increases with inflation, many families are finding buying power and stability in purchasing homes beyond immediate families. Fourteen percent of home buyers purchased a multi-generational home, planning to take care of aging parents and children while pooling resources. This number has held steady from last year.

For home buyers wading into the changing market tides and making moves, some interesting trends emerged:

A midcentury retreat in Palm Springs, a 2021 townhouse in West Hollywood and a 1912 Craftsman bungalow in San Diego.

The automaker paid $90 million for the ravaged Michigan Central Station in 2018, and will spend millions more to create a hub of businesses focused on transportation.

A Brooklyn woman who has been sober for three years needed a roommate. But alcohol would not be allowed in the apartment. Some people thought that was a joke.

Squeezed by high interest rates and record prices, homeowners are frozen in place. They can’t sell. So first-time buyers can’t buy.

Landlords are required to put security deposits in interest-bearing bank accounts. How much of that interest goes to you?

A Black woman claims a white homeowner tried to pull out of a sale because of her race.

A three-bedroom apartment in a modern tower, a duplex with a rooftop soccer pitch, and an 1898 mansion configured as a hotel.

In a city that’s constantly changing, remnants of old public artworks can be spotted between towers and in traffic triangles. You just have to look for them.

Investing in your career as a real estate agent is crucial for long-term success and professional growth. Here are some specific ways you can invest in your career: 1. Education and Training Continuing Education: Regularly take courses to stay updated on the latest industry trends, regulations, and best practices.Certifications and Designations: Ea...

May's top listings included Drew Barrymore's estate in the Hamptons.

In a city that’s constantly changing, remnants of old public artworks can be spotted between towers and in traffic triangles. You just have to look for them.