The Next Hot Housing Market Is Out of This World. It’s in the Metaverse.

Despite the implosion of FTX and projections of a cryptocurrency winter, the metaverse real estate market is expected to grow by $5.37 billion by 2026.

Can My Neighbor Point a Video Doorbell at My Apartment Door?

Ubiquitous in many suburban neighborhoods, the devices have been slow to catch on in city apartments, but that is changing as New Yorkers warm to the technology.

12 fun ways to flex your local expert muscles

Leverage your knowledge to build your business. Rainy Hake Austin shares creative ways of being the local expert in your own unique way.

Survey Your Kingdom From This Splendid $5M Arkansas Castle

Realtor.com

A stacked-stone castle looks like it could be almost anywhere in Europe, but it’s actually in the hills overlooking Fayetteville, AR.

Dromborg Castle is more than 8,800 square feet of luxury, set on 40 acres with a pond. The house is listed for $4,999,000.

“’Drom’ means dream and ‘borg’ means big,” owner Joan Johnson explains of the castle’s name.

Indeed, it was a dreamy drive through the French countryside that inspired her and husband Bruce to build the home.









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Chateau Rochamore: Historic Hunting Lodge in Connecticut Pursues a Buyer for $1.9M

Realtor.com

Everything about the property at 271 Hunting Ridge Road in Stamford, CT, caters to the luxury-minded homebuyer.

A gated lot, wraparound terrace, and an indoor waterfall are just a few of the upscale features that ensure the next owners of this historic hunting lodge won’t want for much.

The Connecticut castle, set on more than three acres, is listed for $1,995,000—a more than $400,000 price drop from the property’s initial June 2022 listing.

Rock of love

Known as Chateau Rochamore, the home has a medieval-inspired facade that gives it a centuries-old aesthetic. It was built in 1906, though.

Castle in CT
Castle in CT
Castle in CT
Castle in CT
Castle in CT
Castle in CT
Castle in CT
Castle in CT
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Plunk releases market data API, signs 3 proptech partners

Plunk envisions its data API assisting users in the same way a stock ticker does Wall Street investors, by helping them make critical decisions with the most prompt business information.

5 Ultraluxe Log Cabins for Staying Cozy Through Spring—and Beyond

Realtor.com

On these cold and dreary winter days when the temperature is plunging, many of us begin to envy bears in the wild, who just take a long nap that lasts till spring. It’s a fine idea.

But since hibernation isn’t an option for humans, why not indulge in dreams of cozy log cabins, where weekends can even stretch to seven days long?

And since we’re fantasizing here, let’s throw in luxury features and fabulous locations, far enough from civilization to get away from it all, but close enough for you to get out when you’re in need of some company or recreation?

We’ve found five ultraluxe log cabins that fulfill these reveries. They’re all for sale, but many of them are also available for short-term rental, so you can try before you buy.






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Motto Mortgage opened offices at a record pace in 2022 as sales slowed

Double-digit growth in open offices was a bright spot for parent company RE/MAX Holdings, which reported a $2.6 million fourth-quarter net loss.

Berkshire Hathaway taps former Compass COO as strategic adviser

Brent Thomson has been hired as a strategic adviser for Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices Drysdale Properties as the company looks to expand its presence in California and Nevada.

A reason for the luxury slowdown? We may be in a ‘richcession’

Luxury home sales slowed faster than lower-priced homes. Crypto, tech stocks and proptech values plummeted. Is the slowdown impacting wealthy buyers more?

The Strange Game of Chicken Happening Between Homebuyers and Sellers: Who Will Blink First?

Photo-Illustration by Realtor.com; Photos: Getty Images (2)

The real estate game is at a stalemate that shows no signs of budging anytime soon, with neither buyers nor sellers willing to make the first move.

Buyers have little incentive to lead the way. According to Freddie Mac, they’re battling high home prices and climbing mortgage rates, which rose to 6.32% for a 30-year fixed-rate mortgage in the week ending Feb. 16.

Meanwhile, home sellers—who, a mere year earlier, enjoyed packed open houses and bidding wars—are now battling to stand out from hordes of other sellers, as the pool of available homes soared 70% higher for the week ending Feb. 11 compared with the same period last year.

“The market’s abrupt adjustments over the last year have made it harder for all participants to determine their own boundaries, let alone figure out how to meet in the middle so that a transaction can take place,” says Realtor.com® Chief Economist Danielle Hale in her analysis of housing data for the week ending Feb.11.


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New Black Knight integrations ‘close the loop’ on digital mortgages

Integration of Wolters Kluwer's eNote and eVault capabilities into Black Knight's digital closing solution, Expedite Close, eliminates the need for multiple vendors.

Christina Hall Reveals the One Thing Every Homeowner Should Have—in Case Disaster Strikes

HGTV

On her new show, “Christina in the Country,” Tennessee transplant Christina Hall doesn’t limit her design talents to cosmetic overhauls like revamping kitchens. In some cases, she tackles rebuilding from the ground up.

In the episode “Undoing the Damage,” Hall meets clients Kasey and JT, who lost their house in a fire.

“Their house actually caught fire and they’ve been displaced for a year,” Christina tells her husband, Josh Hall.

Kasey and JT have been living with their two daughters in a 40-foot travel trailer ever since. They’re hoping Christina can rebuild their house so it’s better than ever.

Fire damage — you can't see the smell
Where the fire began
Partially demolished home
Red oak plank in the shade
Very black kitchen
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Inman’s Top 5 stories of the week Feb. 10-16, 2023

Catch up on the most-read stories of the week, as determined by Inman readers. Here's Inman Top 5 for Feb. 10-16, 2023.

Mortgage Lenders Try To Lure Home Buyers With ‘Buy Now, Refinance Later’ and ‘Get the Seller’s Mortgage Rate.’ Will These Tactics Work?

Getty Images

Mortgage lenders went through a serious downturn last year, and many companies were forced to lay off staff in an effort to remain in business as interest rates jumped and buyers fled. Now the players are back and ready to fight for market share, trying out new promotions designed to attract home buyers.

Will these tactics work in boosting business? “If the economic backdrop is not favorable, we’ll see lower mortgage rates—but that may not be enough to spur lending activity,” Greg McBride, chief financial analyst at Bankrate, said.

“It’s not just a function of what happens with rates … if the economy is on a very weak footing, that’s going to temper demand among many would-be homebuyers,” he added.

‘Until we see improvements in affordability via lower home prices and mortgage rates, we expect home sales to remain muted in the coming months.’

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Redfin opens up Redfin Premier luxury services to homebuyers

Redfin Premier services will now be available to homebuyers across 28 markets. The brokerage also announced new designs for its Redfin Premier Agent profiles and listings.

One-time $100M Bel Air mansion falls to Earth with huge price cut

"Realistically in this market, this is what it's worth – it's priced to sell," said Shawn Elliott of Nest Seekers, one of the agents who listed the property last week.

Fold ‘Em: Kenny Rogers’ Former Georgia Mansion Hits the Market for $4.2M

Getty Images / Realtor.com

Time to walk away. Yep, an Atlanta home once owned by late country crooner Kenny Rogers has been listed for $4,234,200.

The iconic balladeer’s former mansion has been on and off the market, at various asking prices, since 2019.

The six-bedroom, 12-bath, palatial abode has a fine musical pedigree, but it has garnered some recent notoriety.

According to multiple reports, the estate was the site of controversial dance parties that raged into the wee hours, leading to reported noise and traffic complaints in Atlanta’s upscale Buckhead suburb.










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5 Stylish Space-Saving Solutions for Your Living Room We Found on Instagram

Photos by @kichlerlighting / @jyoungdesignhouse / @homeinheidelberg via Instagram

Rooms that are short on square footage are some of the hardest to decorate. There are only so many furniture configurations that’ll actually fit, and the lack of space means you have to stick to the bare minimum when it comes to decor.

In the case of a small living room, the goal is to make the space feel comfortable and uncluttered. But you don’t have to settle for an Ikea hack job. There are many creative ways to fill a tiny living room with tasteful necessities and a few extras, too.

This week, we scoured Instagram for the best living room design ideas that cater to those of us who live modestly. Here are five of our favorite small-living looks and a few tips on how to make them work in your own space.

1. Movable coffee table

If your living room is certified small, then you’re going to want a coffee table that’s easy to maneuver—like this one in a post from @homeinheidelberg.

“A movable coffee table isn’t just a practical solution for small living spaces; it’s a stylish and versatile decor option that can transform the look and feel of any room,” says designer Julio Arco, of Bark and Chase. “With its ability to be easily rearranged, this trend provides flexibility in how you use the space, allowing you to adapt easily to different occasions and activities.”

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Bella! A Las Vegas Mansion With a Custom-Designed Italian Streetscape Is the Week’s Most Popular Home

Realtor.com

A lavish estate in Las Vegas complete with an outdoor Italian streetscape is this week’s most popular home on Realtor.com®.

This custom-designed mansion will immediately transport you to Italy with its replica of a charming Italian street. From the storefront cafes to the fountain and cobblestone street, the outdoor retreat of the sprawling, 9,771-square-foot home offers a sweet taste of Italy.

Other homes that made the popularity list include a riverfront Missouri beauty with a boat dock and deck, an affordable barndominium in Tennessee, and a midcentury modern time capsule in Wisconsin.

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











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