Antitrust regulators move to block ICE’s $11.7B Black Knight acquisition

The Federal Trade Commission alleges the deal would put an end to intense competition between the companies and drive up costs for lenders and homebuyers.

Historic Rhode Island Equestrian Farm Built by the Vanderbilt Family Available for $5.83M

Realtor.com

Buyers can now leap at the chance to own a horse farm in Portsmouth, RI, with ties to the storied Vanderbilt family. This historic property is available for $5.83 million.

When construction commenced in 1860, Sandy Point Farm was a part of the original 280-acre, waterfront Vanderbilt estate. The property was designed by architect A.S. Walker. A multidecade project, the stables were completed in 1902. At its peak, it was considered one of the most prestigious horse farms in America.

“The property has been such an iconic part of Portsmouth and American equestrian history for over a century now,” says listing agent Kylie McCollough, of Mott & Chace Sotheby’s International Realty.

Aerial view

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Get Out There! 7 Tips for Making the Most of Your Outdoor Spaces This Spring

Dejan_Dundjerski via Getty Images

With wintry weather still howling in some parts of the country, it can be tough to visualize what your yard will look like when it isn’t buried under snow in a few weeks.

But despite the chill in the air, spring and summer really are just around the corner.

To help you prepare for another season of outdoor gatherings and all-day relaxation, we’re here with some ideas for easy backyard upgrades. Here are seven expert tips for maximizing your outdoor space, so you can start enjoying it when spring finally makes her debut.

1. Spruce up the flower beds

Spring is all about new life, so what better way to transition your outdoor space this season than with fresh, green growth?








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5 Glorious Glass Houses to Take Full Advantage of Daylight Saving Time

Realtor.com

Those of us who like our sunlight hours to extend into the evening will appreciate the upcoming transition to daylight saving time—as well as houses that take full advantage of it.

We’ve found five gorgeous glass houses that look out on some of the most glorious landscapes in the country: the mountains around Sundance, scenic Lake Placid, and the Mojave Desert’s Joshua Tree, just to name a few highlights.

Now you won’t want to be throwing stones if you live in any of these glass houses, because they’re all multimillion-dollar investments. Great views rarely come cheap, after all.

But if you’re looking for a home that lets sunlight in and gives you almost unlimited opportunities to gaze out, one of these places could be just the ticket.






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‘Rock the Block’ Season 4 Recap: Are 2 Kitchens Better Than 1?

“House Party” is the official Realtor.com® podcast about the overlapping worlds of home and pop culture, hosted by Rachel Stults and Natalie Way. Click the player above to hear our take on this week’s hot topics.

We’re all in on Season 4 of “Rock the Block,” the home renovation competition that pits teams of HGTV stars against one another to fully renovate four identical houses and add as much value as possible. This time around, the showdown takes place in the idyllic mountain town of Berthoud, CO, and the designers are tasked with overhauling 5,000-square-foot mansions on a budget of $250,000 each. It’s a “Rock the Block” luxury edition, and we couldn’t be more excited to recap the season and watch the drama unfold.

This week is technically kitchens, but the designers are also tasked with renovating the dining room, pantry, and mudroom. On top of that, host Ty Pennington sends the HGTV stars on a hot air balloon design challenge, which literally takes the competition to new heights.

‘Rock the Block’ Season 4 Recap: Are 2 Kitchens Better Than 1?
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Tarek and Heather El Moussa’s Second Flip Shows That Even Reality TV Stars Are Struggling With Real Estate Now

HGTV

Today’s real estate market is tough for everyone—even reality TV stars.

At least, that’s the takeaway we glean from the second episode of Tarek and Heather Rae El Moussa‘s new show, “The Flipping El Moussas.”

In “The Flipping Delays,” the married flipping partners seem to be struggling straight out of the gate, having purchased a run-down, cockroach-infested, 1971 Spanish-style house in Long Beach, CA, for a whopping $1,090,000.

After surveying how much work they’ll have to do to this five-bedroom, 2.5-bathroom, 3,517-square-foot house, they estimate they’ll need just over $300,000 to renovate, as well as an additional $125,000 in selling and carrying costs.

Pop-up power ports
Newly added bathroom
Heather and Tarek are alarmed by the lag time in construction.
House with the original, rough stucco
House with new, smooth stucco
Great looking, inexpensive new fireplace
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Real Estate Coaching

Real estate coaching is a service provided to real estate agents and brokers to help them improve their skills, knowledge, and performance in the real estate industry. Real estate coaching can take many forms, including one-on-one coaching, group coaching, online coaching, and in-person training sessions. Real estate coaches can provide guidance an...


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Silicon Valley Bank, proptech hub for real estate clients, collapses

In the most dramatic banking implosion since the Great Recession, regulators on Friday shut down the bank, which boasted ties to proptechs, including Airbnb, Opendoor and OJO.

Inman’s Top 5 stories of the week March 3-9, 2023

Catch up on the most-read stories of the week, as determined by Inman readers. Here's Inman Top 5 for March 3-9, 2023.

Monthly homebuyer payments just hit all-time high as spring arrives

The typical monthly payment rose to $2,563 this week despite home prices that were down 1 percent, according to data on Friday. That’s the highest monthly payment on record, up 29 percent from last year.

Luxury home purchases hit record low as buyers eye other investments

Luxury home sales fell 44.6 percent year over year, according to data released Friday by Redfin. Prices are nevertheless still high because inventory is so low, economists say.

Half the Homes, for 50% More Money: An Honest Look at Homebuyers’ New Reality

Realtor.com / Getty Images

If you’re the type of homebuyer whose mood soars or plummets depending on the latest mortgage rates, then this week was a tough one.

Mortgage interest rates climbed to 6.73% for a 30-year fixed-rate mortgage, for the week ending March 9, according to Freddie Mac. This means today’s homebuyers will have to pay almost 50% more per month for home than they would have just a year earlier.

This steep hike in housing costs might hurt the rebound that had been emerging in the housing market, when rates were lower earlier this year.

“Recent signs of a housing bottom have been encouraging, but the still-shifting financial and economic landscape makes it hard to pinpoint whether the floor is firm enough to withstand these new challenges,” says Realtor.com® Chief Economist Danielle Hale in her most recent analysis. “In the meanwhile, that means housing activity is likely to continue roughly in line with its recent low pace of sales.”


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Latest jobs numbers take pressure off wages — and mortgage rates

The real estate industry got two kernels of good news in the latest jobs numbers from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.

The Nassimi Group hitches its wagon to Douglas Elliman

Formerly an independent brokerage, The Nassimi Group has relinquished its indie status to become a 10-person team under Douglas Elliman. In 2022, Richard Nassimi closed roughly $80 million in sales volume.

Agents sue largest Coldwell Banker franchise over commission ‘scheme’

Coldwell Banker Seacoast Advantage allegedly pocketed commission fees it told its agents were going to the franchisor. The brokerage says the allegations are "a complete fabrication."

Symba has the cheat codes for managing agent finances: Tech Review

Symba is fintech-light layered over a deal tracker, spliced with back-office accounting. It’s a superb tool for anyone new or growing in the business and a solid accessory solution for those already comfortable managing their numbers.

What the top brokerages’ color choices say about them (and how to choose your personal branding)

Color can make a difference in everything from how you feel to how you’re perceived. Find out how to use it more effectively in your branding and marketing.

Douglas Elliman earnings fall short to close out 2022

The company logged revenue of $207.3 million in the fourth quarter of 2022 compared to $334.2 million a year earlier, according to an call Friday morning to discuss Q4 and 2022 earnings.

QB Baker Mayfield Quickly Sells His Ohio Home for Just Under $1M

Realtor.com / Steph Chambers via Getty Images

Quarterback Baker Mayfield is now a free agent after playing for both the Carolina Panthers and the Los Angeles Rams last season.

And according to reports, there’s NFL-wide interest in Mayfield’s signal-calling chops.

Of more immediate relevance, though, is the interest in Mayfield’s Ohio real estate.

After just 13 days on the market, the athlete’s four-bedroom, 3.5-bath home in Westlake, OH, sold for $949,900—nearly what he’d asked for it.










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Cooking With Color: 5 Kitchen Design Ideas To Help You Break Out of Your Monochrome Rut

Photo courtesy of A New Day - Interior Design Studio via Houzz

White has been the go-to color for kitchen cabinets, countertops, and backsplashes for as long as we can remember. In a room that gets so messy, homeowners can’t help but gravitate toward pristine, white furnishings that make the room feel open and bright.

But over the past handful of years, the sterile soullessness that’s inherent to the all-white kitchen has caused the pendulum to swing toward design trends with contrast, like two-tone cabinets (i.e., light-color uppers and dark-color lowers) and dark stone countertops. Homeowners have warmed up to the idea of playing with color and texture in their kitchen in a big way.

The following popular posts from Instagram feature designs that demonstrate how to tastefully infuse color into your kitchen in a variety of ways. So if you’re looking to get out of your monochrome rut, keep reading for some fresh ideas for your kitchen.

1. Color pop in the cabinets

For those who aren’t quite ready to redo their cabinet fronts in a bold hue, check out this technique from @colombe studio.

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