Three years into COVID, landlords grapple with what to do about rent

Leniency or government protections often kept rent below market rate and prevented evictions. Three years into the pandemic, property managers are deciding how to move forward.

These Inman Connect sponsors will help the industry turn a corner

We asked select sponsors to share what draws them to be a part of Inman Connect Las Vegas 2023 — and what attendees can expect from them this summer.

Fresh off Super Bowl baby bump, Rihanna’s starter home hits market

The seven-bedroom Beverly Hills home was also occupied by John Legend and Chrissy Teigen from 2016 to 2021. After an initial unsuccessful offering of $19.25 million, the current owner is attempting to offload it at a loss.

Housing singled out as largest contributor to inflation: Economists

Housing costs were the biggest contributor to inflation in January, according to new data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics. Increased food and energy costs were smaller by comparison.

RateMyAgent, Realtor.com forge review publishing partnership

Realtors who use the review facilitation solution RateMyAgent can now send their customers' feedback to the trade group's home search portal Realtor.com.

Kirstie Alley’s Former Florida Waterfront Mansion Finds a Buyer

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Kirstie Alley‘s estate is letting go of her Clearwater, FL, compound, according to Dirt. It’s listed for $5,995,000.

Alley, who died of colon cancer last year at the age of 71, purchased the waterfront residence from Lisa Marie Presley in 2008 for just $1.8 million.

The estate was on the market for less than two weeks when an offer came in. It’s now pending sale.

Clearwater is the hometown of the Church of Scientology, and Alley was a member of the church. Presley, a former Scientologist, died unexpectedly last month at the age of 54.







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Rocket CEO Jay Farner, who led company’s 2020 IPO, retiring June 1

Former Rocket Mortgage CEO Bill Emerson will serve as the company's interim CEO while its board of directors conducts a search for a permanent leader.

Presale renovator Revive acquires HomePrep as it eyes the East Coast

Revive has acquired HomePrep outside of Washington, D.C. in a continued nationwide expansion, executives told Inman exclusively. The company adds value with no up-front costs to homesellers.

8 Surprising Signs a Bathroom Is Plagued by Bad Design

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When touring a home you’re considering buying, the kitchen and living room might be the first places you size up. The bathroom might be a place you glance at, but beyond checking that it exists, few lavish much attention on the loo.

But we’re here to say you should give each and every bathroom a closer look.

Think about it: The bathroom is often where you begin and end your day. So if it’s a nicely designed space, this can really put a spring in your step as you set out to face the world, or pave a smooth path to a restful night.

But if your bathroom is cramped or poorly designed, it can throw a real wrench in your mornings and nights. Plus, fixing a bathroom via renovation can be expensive, since moving plumbing fixtures is rarely a walk in the park.






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Romance and Real Estate: 5 Stories of People Who Found Love When Buying a Home

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Buying a home is an emotional process. You spend years saving money and figuring out your list of non-negotiables in an effort to find “The One.” And when you do fall in love with a home, it can feel akin to being hit by Cupid’s arrow: lots of excitement, nervousness, and even sleeplessness.

But on your swan dive into the homebuyer pool, did you ever anticipate you’d find actual love along the way? Turns out, romance can bloom in all kinds of situations and places.

As Gerard Splendore, a broker for Coldwell Banker Warburg, puts it: “The real estate process provides a multitude of opportunities to find and embrace love in its many forms.”

Below, five sweet stories of oh, so lucky folks who found love—of all kinds—when searching for a new home.






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At Home With Marlo Thomas

The actor has a new tableware collection for Williams Sonoma out in time for Valentine’s Day. For an enthusiastic host, it wasn’t much of a stretch.

Marlo Thomas, on Love and Entertaining

The actor and author has a tableware collection for Williams-Sonoma, out just in time for Valentine’s Day. For an enthusiastic host, it wasn’t much of a stretch.

Real Tea: ‘Buying Beverly Hills’ agents dish on rookie mistakes

Netflix's "Buying Beverly Hills" centers around rookie agents and their high-profile team leaders and mentors at The Agency. From mispronouncing finishes to being ill-prepared for showings, these agents dish on learning the tough lessons while being filmed for reality TV.

Stilt House From ’90s Flick ‘Heat’ Warms Up the L.A. Market for $1.6M

Realtor.com

A midcentury modern home on a Los Angeles hillside just came on the market for $1,599,000. Known as the Stilt House, it previously had a star turn on the silver screen.

It appeared in the 1995 action film “Heat,” directed by Michael Mann and starring Al Pacino and Robert De Niro.

Built in 1962, the unique dwelling is mostly supported by a sinewy system of stilts and juts over a hillside.

The Stilt House

Realtor.com


Heat house views







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Gorgeous HGTV ‘Rock the Block’ Home in South Carolina Hits the Market for $989,900

Realtor.com

An HGTV “Rock the Block” home has once again landed on the market, this time for $989,900.

Featured in Season 3 of the popular renovation competition show, the Summerville, SC, dwelling was transformed into a stylish showpiece by Keith Bynum and Evan Thomas, stars of HGTV’s “Bargain Block.”

The five-bedroom abode, which was built in 2021, was listed in April for $1,250,000, eventually selling in September 2022 for $950,000.

“The sellers actually never moved into the home,” says listing agent Matt Farrow, of ChuckTown Homes Powered by Keller Williams. “They decided to buy another home elsewhere. They had previously lived out of state on the water and missed that waterfront lifestyle.”







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6 Vital Topics To Discuss Before Hiring a Home Remodeler

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You might think gathering enough money is the hardest part of a home renovation—and, of course, funding can be a chore. But choosing a remodeling company might be even trickier.

To partner with the best possible contractor, you’ve got to ask the right questions first.

Indeed, this relationship is a “two-way street, requiring effort from both parties,” says Pamela O’Brien of Pamela Hope Designs.

But, she adds, a well-prepared client can really simplify the entire project.




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$40M NYC penthouse deal sets record for eXp Realty

The penthouse apartment sits at the southwest corner of Central Park and sprawls across more than 8,000 square feet.

‘Late Late Show’ Host James Corden Lists His L.A. Mansion for $22M

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Late night talk-show host James Corden and his wife, Julia Carey, have listed their Los Angeles mansion for $22 million.

The British host of CBS’ “Late Late Show” reportedly put up the seven-bedroom home for private sale in October, according to Dirt. The property is now listed publicly. The couple purchased the home in 2017 for $9,770,000.

Built in 1997, the “New England transitional” estate on a half-acre lot in the exclusive neighborhood of Brentwood Park has been “fully updated,” according to the listing.

Pool

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PLACE hires former Homeward exec Brian Gubernick

Brian Gubernick will serve as PLACE's new chief real estate officer tasked with helping teams and agents grow their businesses.

The USDA Loan Process From Beginning to End—and How Long It Will Take

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Getting a mortgage to buy a home is a process, with many hoops and hurdles to jump through and over before reaching the finish line. And this is particularly true for certain specialized loans, like those offered by the United States Department of Agriculture.

USDA loans offer fantastic terms—including 0% down payments and low-interest rates—for homebuyers in rural areas, and while many assume they’re just for farmland, properties on 97% of U.S. land are eligible.

How long does it take to get a USDA home loan?

While the USDA loan process might share certain similarities with other types of loans, there are a few additional steps applicants need to take that can lengthen the time it takes to complete.

All in all, in the best-case circumstances, you can expect the USDA home loan process to last anywhere from 30 to 60 days—or longer if there are hiccups such as missing paperwork. The availability of government funding for these loans might also lengthen the process, in some cases up to three months.

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