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Once upon a time, long before podcasts or Feedly came along, people spent much of their free time devouring the wisdom found in books! Today, many tomes serve purely as home decor. Instagram feeds are loaded with ways to make them shine—stacked on coffee tables, color-coordinated on shelves, wrapped in paper, and more.

It makes sense, to a certain extent.

“Americans don’t read as much. Almost a quarter surveyed said they hadn’t read a book, even part of a book, in the past year,” shares Kara Harms, design blogger at Whimsy Soul.

Still, lately, I’ve noticed that some of the most viral book-decor fads have taken things a tad too far.

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We all know good things come in small (though not necessarily cheap!) packages; and an elaborate treehouse in Bentonville, AR, is a magical reminder.

A veritable leafy playground, this luxe treehouse is just 866 square feet of nonstop fun—and it’s available for $1,250,000. The treehouse’s eye-popping architecture quickly made it internet-famous as one of last week’s most popular home listings.

From a custom-built treehouse and a heated pool with a waterfall to a covered fire pit and swinging bridge, you can have fun climbing your way around the property.

Enjoy views from the covered lookout patio, or chill out in the rope landing lounge.

Photos by @maisonfeteetcie / @katherineyounghome / @simonlewisphoto via Instagram@

No matter who you’ll be sharing your Thanksgiving table with this year, one thing is for certain: You’re going to want to set it well ahead of time. Planning and setting a beautiful tablescape is one of the items on your Thanksgiving to-do list that can be completed a day or so before guests arrive. And yes, a creatively adorned table is one of the best ways to make your holiday gathering memorable.

That’s why we turned our attention this week to eye-catching Instagram decor all about curated Thanksgiving table settings.

Maybe you’re looking for a nontraditional way to outfit your table. Or perhaps you’re in need of a simple design you can pull together at the last minute. The following Thanksgiving tablescapes are sure to provide a healthy serving of inspiration for your holiday decor.

1. Rustic minimalist

For the host looking for a simple yet impactful ambiance this turkey day, look no further than this rustic minimalist look from @saffronandpoe.

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The barndominium craze shows no signs of slowing down. Over 1,200 listings in Texas mention “barndominium” in their descriptions, but it’s not the lone star state of these rustic structures. Tennessee has more than 100 for sale, and the Georgia and Florida listings are inching closer to triple digits.

With so many barndominiums to sift through, we turned our gaze to affordability. We found five attractive homes priced below $500,000, where you can live out your modern farmhouse dreams.

While you might think that all barndominiums look alike, you’ll be surprised by the diversity of these five homes, especially on the inside.

So if you’re curious to find out what all the fuss is about, check out this quintet of budget-friendly barndominiums.

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Former FTX CEO Sam Bankman-Fried was adept at wooing investors and lawmakers alike. The founder of the popular cryptocurrency exchange spent the bulk of his time at his penthouse in the Bahamas, but he was also at home in the halls of power in Washington, DC.

His ample donations and friendly lobbying efforts made him a darling of senators and representatives before his company rapidly went bust in spectacular fashion in early November.

FTX sought to make an impression in DC

One of the nonprofit ventures Bankman-Fried partly funded went by the name of Guarding Against Pandemics. His brother, Gabe, ran the organization founded to prevent the spread of another pandemic such as COVID-19.

To cater to the power brokers of the nation’s capital, the nonprofit splurged on a townhome in DC’s Capitol Hill neighborhood. The point behind the purchase was to announce “S.B.F. and his network were in D.C. to stay,” according to a recent report from Puck.

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Travis VanderZanden, founder of the Bird scooter sharing service, has put his pretty perch on the market yet again, according to Dirt.

This time the modern mansion in Bel-Air is being offered for the reduced price of $19.9 million.

VanderZanden quietly purchased the L.A.-area home from “The Daily Show” host Trevor Noah in 2020 for $21.7 million, Dirt reports. Six months later, he listed it for $24,995,000.

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The numbers: Existing-home sales fell 5.9% to a seasonally adjusted annual rate of 4.43 million in October, the National Association of Realtors said Friday. Compared with October 2021, home sales were down 28.4%.

Economists polled by the Wall Street Journal had expected a decrease to 4.37 million units.

The level of sales is the lowest since December 2011 excluding the 2020 pandemic.

This is also the ninth straight monthly decline in sales, the longest streak on record.

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Charlize Theron recently revealed that she’s patient enough to make a real killing in real estate.

The actress just sold the Los Angeles casita she bought about 20 years ago for a mere $519,000. The home was listed last month for $1,995,000, according to Dirt.

It was sold in less than two weeks, public records show.

Theron could potentially pocket a profit of around $1.3 million, minus her expenses for a dazzling remodel.

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Mortgage rates have skyrocketed this year, scaring many would-be homebuyers and sellers out of the market.

But even when rates seesaw lower, as they did this week, it still takes a toll on the housing market.

Why? Because when financial conditions are so erratic and unsettled, many would rather wait it out.

“Today’s homebuyers and sellers are dealing not just with higher housing costs, but more uncertainty as a result of fluctuating mortgage rates,” Realtor.com® Chief Economist Danielle Hale says in her weekly analysis. “The uncertainty is leading to hesitation.”

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Calling all happy campers! A newly constructed farmhouse with a fanciful trailer resort in Prairie Grove, AR, is this week’s most popular listing on Realtor.com®.

Called Flamingo Springs, the 60-acre property is a “1950s Palm Springs–inspired trailer resort,” according to the listing. You can live in the new farmhouse, which sits on its 2 private acres, and operate the charmingly retro RV park.

Other digs that drew your clicks include a fanciful, butterfly-covered cottage in California, a cute castle in New Hampshire, and a Frank Lloyd Wright-inspired time capsule in Ohio.

For a full look at this week’s 10 most popular homes, keep scrolling.

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A Southern California home owned by a music industry legend is now available for the first time.

The late Donald James Leslie, inventor of the Leslie speaker, built this five-bedroom home in Altadena in 1958 and raised his family there. The residence came on the market a couple of months ago for $3 million.

But first, let’s amplify Leslie’s background. The Leslie speaker and amplifier was designed to modify the sound of an instrument like an organ.

After Leslie began manufacturing the speakers in 1941, they became an integral element of electric organ sound and added a familiar vibrato to the instrument.

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A project that began as a way to help a loved one with diminishing vision evolved into a colorful love story—and tourist attraction.

Now, the P.G. Butterfly House in Pacific Grove, CA, is for sale for the first time with a list price of $998,000.

“The owners (J and Sonja Jackson) have had it since 1977. Sonja was slowly losing her eyesight, but she could see bright colors and contrast,” explains listing agent Arleen Hardenstein, with Sotheby’s International Realty.

“So, J started painting the house bright colors and putting up colorful butterflies to honor his wife and allowing her to see some beautiful things,” adds Hardenstein.

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For more than a year, renters have reacted with horror as landlords across the country jacked up monthly rents by previously unthinkable amounts. But finally, rents have begun to drop.

Much to the relief of tapped-out tenants, median monthly rents fell a bit in October, hitting $1,747 nationally, according to a recent Realtor.com® report. Rents were down about $25 a month from September and $47 from their peak in July. And while rental prices were still up 4.7% year over year, October had the lowest jump in rental prices in 18 months.

“The rental market is showing signs of returning to normal,” says Jiayi Xu, a Realtor.com economist. “Renters may start to feel a little bit of relief.”

The report looked at apartment complex, private condo, townhome, and single-family home rentals in October. Only studio, one-bedroom, and two-bedroom units were included.

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Built on a summit in the mid-1970s and away from the Southern California hubbub, the Von Hagen Residence is an oasis of calm.

This Topanga residence is on the market for $11,995,000 and marries the best elements of midcentury modern design with an exceptional location.

Listing agent Christina Hildebrand couldn’t offer much information about the Von Hagen family, but she is certainly familiar with the home’s legendary architects, Thornton Ladd and John Kelsey—better known as Ladd & Kelsey.

The duo worked on a number of iconic residential and commercial structures throughout California’s Southland in the 1960s and 1970s. A 2019 exhibition chronicling the pair’s designs asserts their work “has left a lasting impact on California Modernism.”

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Jonathan and Drew Scott are accustomed to renovating homes to better suit their inhabitants on “Property Brothers: Forever Home.” But in the latest episode, they must also ensure the house works for two dogs and a grand collection of guitars.

In the episode “Rockin Reno,” the Scott brothers drive to Northridge, CA, where they meet Alex and Ginger, who have adopted two labs, Lily and Coda. Alex also has a large guitar collection, which he stores in the living room.

They’re living in the home that Alex inherited from his beloved grandparents, who made it clear they want him to “make it his own.” Alex and Ginger have $182,000 to renovate the living room, family room, kitchen, and backyard so that everyone will be accommodated for generations to come.

The property brothers are eager to get started, as they’re both guitar lovers and dog lovers. They show us some cool licks to satisfy everyone, and you might find yourself wanting to try them in your own living space. (Add your own dogs and guitars.)

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The numbers: Construction on new houses fell 4.2% in October as high mortgage rates put off buyers and forced builders to scale back, a situation that’s likely to continue through 2023.

U.S. housing starts slowed to an annual pace of 1.43 million last month from 1.49 million in September. That figure reflects how many homes would be built in 2022 if construction took place at same rate over the entire year as it did in October.

Economists polled by MarketWatch had expected housing starts to register a rate of 1.41 million after adjusting for the typical seasonal swings in demand.

New construction hit a record 1.8 million in April before tapering off.

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The house in Santa Fe, NM, that actor Larry Hagman once owned is pending sale after a month on the market. It was listed for $3,995,000.

Hagman, who famously played J.R. Ewing on the long-running TV series “Dallas,” died 10 years ago. But some of his personal touches remain in the home.

The green powder room looks just like the star designed it.

Marshall Elias for Sotheby’s International Realty

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Winter brings major cold spells to many parts of the country, and frigid weather often puts your plumbing system at risk. When the mercury dips below 32 degrees Fahrenheit, uninsulated pipes can freeze and burst. Plus, those freezing temps mean your water heater is working extra hard to supply your home.

That’s why it’s crucial to prepare your plumbing system for the season.

“Some other common issues we see during winter are exterior faucets freezing, clogged drains due to increased use during the holidays, and frozen well pumps,” says Doyle James, president of Mr. Rooter Plumbing.

Let’s take a closer look at the winter plumbing issues that plague homeowners so you can be prepared before the holiday season. After all, the last thing you want is to have your holiday guests knocking on your neighbors’ door in the middle of the night to use their bathroom.

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While buying any home is an expensive endeavor these days, buying a brand-new home—where everything is in pristine condition—will understandably cost a bit more.

Recent data from the National Association of Home Builders and the U.S. Census Bureau found that the price for a newly built home currently hovers at a national median of $436,800. Compare that with a preexisting home’s median price of $396,300, and it’s clear that buying brand-new might set you back tens of thousands of dollars extra.

Many homebuyers may find the added expense of new construction well worth it, due to the money they stand to save on renovations and repairs that might crop up in an older home. But homebuyers should also know that they can lower the costs of new construction right when they make the purchase through some smart negotiation tactics.

Here are some strategies to try that could make a newly built house far more affordable than many might imagine.

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A five-story building known as The Cosmopolitan sits right in the heart of downtown St. Louis. And for buyers in search of their very own historic high-rise, this one can be snapped up for $1.4 million.

It was built around the turn of the 20th century for National Cash Register and later served as a showroom for Clark Peeper Furniture. Most recently, the building has been a workspace and studio for interior designers Mark and Mary Pitliangas.

While the multilevel Missouri landmark has worn a number of hats over the years, it owns a singular distinction: There isn’t another available property quite like it.

“It’s a storybook inside, and the experience of being in [those] spaces can’t be overstated,” says listing agent Justin Ströhm, with The Ströhm Group.