Florida's largest community bank, Amerant Bank, continues to grow the national footprint of its mortgage subsidiary, Amerant Mortgage, through acquisitions.

HGTV

Christina Hall might know a whole lot about renovating a house, but the latest episode of her new show, “Christina in the Country,” reveals she still has some major blind spots now that she’s moved to Tennessee.

In the episode “Some Like It Hot,” she meets Tom and Terese, who recently relocated from California. They want Hall to put together a stunning new kitchen and bathroom, with an $85,000 renovation budget.

See how Hall’s project unfolds—and the major stumbling block she encounters that forces her to put half of this renovation on hold. Let this serve as a reminder that remodeling in the country can be a whole different ballgame–and even accomplished designers will need to learn new things!

Rural homes may have a septic tank instead of sewage hookups

HGTV

Realtor.com

Does the thought of paying for a home these days give you heart palpitations? We get it. After all, it’s hard enough to afford eggs right now. Affording a house? That’s a bird of a very different feather.

That’s why we searched our listings and found five turnkey homes in various parts of the country for under $100,000. Whether you’re looking for a cute cottage in a big city or an adorable starter home in a small town—we’ve got you covered.

And while these prices are on the low end, the quality is quite high.

Only $99,900 for a three-bedroom, two-bath Victorian with a wraparound front porch, and all the charm you could hope for in Mississippi? It’s available.

Things are looking up for homebuyers on a budget as mortgage rates fall from their 20-year highs, according to a report published Thursday by Redfin.

tnah.com

After the past few years of isolating in our homes during the COVID-19 pandemic, the demand for seamless, indoor-outdoor living was very much on display in this year’s New American Home.

The 40th iteration of the show home, built every year to feature the latest and greatest building methods and products, was unveiled this week at the International Builders Show in Las Vegas.

The contemporary, four-bedroom, seven-bathroom home spans nearly 7,600 square feet and is located in a gated, upscale community in Henderson, NV, about 20 minutes outside of Las Vegas. The two-level residence, with a two-level pool, private patios outside most of the bedrooms, and outdoor kitchens, is on the market for about $15 million. The newly built home also features an elevator between floors, an office with a private bathroom, and a two-car garage.

“What’s the most impressive about this house is everything you don’t see,” said architect and builder Michael Gardner, of Luxus Design Build, at a press conference. “When you walk into the home, the simplicity of it and the complexity behind it, that to me is one of the coolest parts of it.”

Despite big rounds of layoffs by companies like Compass and Anywhere, payrolls throughout the real estate industry held firm in January, according to a report released Friday by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. 

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Mortgage rates have dropped yet again—could this spell an opportunity for homebuyers?

The average interest rate for a 30-year fixed-rate home loan fell to 6.09% for the week ending Feb. 2, according to Freddie Mac. That’s down nearly a full percentage point from October’s 20-year high of 7.08%.

Meanwhile, the number of homes for sale is soaring, flying 71% higher for the week ending Jan. 28 compared with this same week a year earlier, according to a recent analysis by Realtor.com®.

This dip in mortgage rates, combined with plenty of homes on the market, adds up to a potential win for homebuyers.

Sales of homes valued at $10 million or more in newly emerged or reemerging markets helped propel transactions in that sector beyond pre-pandemic levels in 2022 while falling short of 2021 levels.

Catch up on all of the latest news and this week's most-read stories. It's Inman's Top 5 for the week of Jan. 27 - Feb. 2, 2023.

As David Kramer steps into his role as Hilton & Hyland's president after a year of upheaval, the brokerage is repositioning itself. Kramer told Inman the goal is to effect change with culture.

Being a mentor isn’t a one-way street. When done right, it offers you the opportunity to hone your skills and experience to unexpected levels of personal and professional growth.

Getty Images / Realtor.com

Tommy Hilfiger has splashed out a cool $36.9 million for a stylish pad in Palm Beach, FL.

The fashion designer purchased the five-bedroom, seven-bath, waterfront estate from Larry Moens, one of the area’s top real estate brokers, according to The Real Deal.

Moens has sealed the deal on numerous Palm Beach properties for high net worth buyers, including Oracle co-founder Larry Ellison, actor Sylvester Stallone, and casino developer Steve Wynn.

Realtor.com

The deal was inked for "eight figures" and brings to MooveGuru a number of substantial mortgage marketing partnerships, according to news sent exclusively to Inman.

@laurenbradshawdesign / @josephgbradshaw / @home_decor_daily via Instagram

If there’s one decor trend that seems wholly appropriate for the winter months, it’s “cottagecore.” Nailing cottagecore decor in your home is all about embracing the comfort and coziness of rustic, handmade designs that harken back to a slower way of living.

“It’s countryside living viewed through rose-colored spectacles and evokes the feeling of a simple life with home-baked bread, herb gardens, and freshly made lemonade,” says Jen Stark, home improvement expert and founder of Happy DIY Home.

Since many consider the kitchen the heart of the home, it’s one of the best places to live out your cottagecore fantasy. The best part? The stakes are low for achieving this aesthetic as many cottage-inspired looks cost next to nothing and can even be done by yourself if you’re the crafty type.

Here are five of our favorite decor ideas from Instagram at the moment. Keep reading to learn how you can re-create these cozy vibes in your own kitchen.

Realtor.com

A former religious retreat in Battle Creek, MI, in need of salvation has ascended to the top of this week’s most popular home listings on Realtor.com®.

Built in 1938, the dwelling once served as a spiritual sanctuary for the Sisters of Mercy, an institute of Catholic women. The 8,480-square-foot estate fell into foreclosure a few months ago and does need work, which is why it is being offered for just $799,000.

Other homes that made the popularity list include a tropical Florida retreat, a cabin in the Ohio woods, and a storybook home in Illinois.

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

The four-legged pets are welcome, but not welcome everywhere. Their owners must carry them or use a service elevator.

Stephen M. Ross, the real estate developer and principal owner of the Miami Dolphins, sold his penthouse atop 25 Columbus Circle for $40 million, down from the $75 million list price in 2019.

We live in an amazing time with unprecedented tools and technology, writes Jimmy Burgess. By tapping into the leverage these tools provide, your business can’t help but grow.

Today, putting together a seamless smart home setup doesn't have to be expensive. Find out how to create one on a budget.

Fello centers itself around a series of lead-capture website add-ons that can be easily customized, turned on and off, and fed into any number of integrated CRM solutions used by the brokerage, team or agent.