What can we learn from a chicken sandwich? 5 key takeaways

Although they claim to have been the first to offer a fried chicken sandwich, Chick-fil-A realized that anyone else could offer a competing product. Therefore, they focused on developing an unbeatable customer experience.

Listing inventory drying up? 7 FAQs for hosting a budget-friendly homeseller seminar

Hosting a budget-friendly real estate seminar doesn't have to be overwhelming or expensive — all it takes is a bit of creativity and planning ahead of time so you can make sure everything runs smoothly on the day of the event itself.

Meet your mentor: A step-by-step for finding a real estate role model

Whether you’re looking to start strong or take your existing business to the next level, a mentor can be key. Learn how to find the expertise and experience you need in a real estate mentor.

75-Year-Old, Frank Lloyd Wright-Style Home in SoCal Is Listed for $2.5M

Realtor.com

Built in 1948 by a Frank Lloyd Wright devotee, this La Canada Flintridge, CA, home could be mistaken as a Wright design.

The hallmarks are there. With an open layout, walls of windows, a stone-stacked fireplace, custom built-ins throughout, and lots of interior wood, the 2,557-square-foot home is reminiscent of many Wright houses.

But this four-bedroom, three-bath dwelling was actually designed and lived in by local architect, Jack Simison, a fan of Wright’s work—especially organic design.

Referred to as the Simison House, the well-preserved property is on the market for the first time in its 75 years. It’s available for $2,500,000.









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$1.6M Texas Hotel Is Looking for a Buyer To Check In

Realtor.com

Checking in! With 12 bedrooms, 10 with en suite bathrooms, the historic Farris Hotel, aka Hotel Dallas, could be just about anything.

The building, just off Main Street in Eagle Lake, TX, has come on the market with a list price of $1,650,000.

“It was built in 1912 and, throughout its life, it has been a hotel at least twice and then a restaurant. And the individual who owns it now is using it as a single-family residence,” says Tim Grimes of Martha Turner Sotheby’s International Realty, who is co-listing the property with Brian Spack.

“There are so many possibilities somebody could do with this. If somebody has an imagination and is creative, it could be something really special,” Grimes adds.













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In a first, Rocket Mortgage powers mortgages for a community bank

Nashville, Tennessee-based Fourth Capital Bank is the first to integrate Rocket’s digital mortgage application using a new platform developed by Q2 Software.

6 Universal Design Tips for Easy, Long-Term Living at Home

Photo courtesy of Mowery Marsh Architects LLC via Houzz

Making your forever home as beautiful as possible is a no-brainer. But when it comes to improving accessibility, not every homeowner prioritizes with the future in mind.

Mobility and functionality are key for comfortably aging in place. Plus, home design that factors for accessibility can also be beneficial when selling a house.

The fix here, as you might have guessed, is called universal design. This is a plan that makes a home accessible and safe for anyone who lives there.

Sometimes called inclusive design or design for all, this approach helps create an equitable environment that accommodates seniors or those with mobility issues. And fortunately, some of these tweaks don’t have to break the bank.







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Triple Play: Three-Dome Home Rolls Onto the Market in Texas for $1.3M

Realtor.com

Dome homes occasionally bounce onto the market. Recently, we even came across a two-dome home. But what about a home with three domes? Whoa.

A 6,427-square-foot, triple-domed home in Bulverde, TX, has a trio of geodesic domes and is listed for $1.3 million.

The seller built the domed property over several years, after moving from another domed home in California.

The Texas home is two stories, and the central dome is 40 feet in diameter. It is flanked by two domes, each 30 feet in diameter and connected to the main dome by hallways.








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What does good leadership look like in 2023? Pulse

As we launch into Leadership Month here at Inman, we're asking you: What does leadership look like today?

Tired of Modern Farmhouse? ‘Teen Mom’ Chelsea DeBoer Has a Glam New Style To Try on ‘Down Home Fab’

HGTV

While few might think of Sioux Falls, SD, as a glamorous place to live, resident Chelsea DeBoer of “Teen Mom” fame is working to change that perception on her new home renovation show, “Down Home Fab.”

On this new series, Chelsea and her husband, Cole DeBoer, have been renovating homes in the area, pulling off some daring decor moves that her clients adore. On the latest episode, “Industrial Glam,” the DeBoers visit the home of Matt and Sara, who live on a 6-acre ranch in the nearby town of Del Rapids. Yet country elements such as farmhouse sinks and barn doors are the exact opposite of how these clients hope their new home will look.

Both are dentists, inspiring Cole to quip, “This is something we can really sink our teeth into.”

That gets an eye roll from Chelsea, but she agrees with him.

A gold sink in a black countertop
Improved, open bathroom entrance
Bar under an arch
Dated kitchen in the center of a home
Kitchen moved so its positioned along a wall
Cabinets that reach to the ceiling
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Minimum wage workers need at least 4 jobs to pay rent in some cities

Even the most expensive cities — which typically have higher minimum wages — are more affordable than those with $7.25 an hour minimums, according to data released Tuesday by Zillow.

5 secrets behind my best sales year yet, despite the market slowdown

Top-producing agent Mary Bonham believes that no matter what the market renders, there are key actions we can take as Realtors that’ll improve our business.

US home prices slip for fifth month as market bottom comes into view

The Case-Schiller index posted a 7.7 percent annual gain in home prices — down from a 9.2 percent gain in October — while the FHFA index showed a 0.1 percent decline in prices between October and November.

U.S. Home Prices Fall for 5th Straight Month in November, Case-Shiller Index Shows

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The numbers: The S&P CoreLogic Case-Shiller 20-city price index fell a seasonally adjusted 0.5% in November, marking the fifth consecutive monthly decline.

Year-on-year appreciation was still up 8.6% annually, down from a 10.4% increase in October.

A broader measure of home prices, the national index, fell by a seasonally adjusted 0.6% in November and was up 9.2% over the past year.

Key details: Miami, Tampa and Atlanta reported the largest year-over-year gains among the 20 cities in November. All 20 cities reported lower price increases for the year.

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Redfin builds on app feature with ‘Favorites Lists’ for buyers, renters

Redfin's new website and app feature will allow homebuyers and renters to save their favorite properties in customized lists and share them with their home search partner to stay organized.

Jason Oppenheim of ‘Selling Sunset’ Lists His Hollywood Penthouse for $7.5M

Getty Images / Realtor.com

Here’s one way to get to the top in Hollywood. All you need is $7,495,000.

That’s what’s being asked for a newly renovated, luxury penthouse in the heart of Tinseltown, near the intersection of Hollywood Boulevard and La Brea.

The seller is “Selling Sunset” star Jason Oppenheim, of The Oppenheim Group, who recently completed a “painstaking,” two-year remodel of the penthouse.

The property last changed hands in 2021 for $1.6 million.











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How To Spot HVAC Issues Before It’s Too Late: 7 Signs To Look Out For

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Some house noises are creepy, while others might indicate something that can chill most homeowners to the bone: an HVAC problem.

These interferences can come in the form of a hissing, popping, or clicking noise, or a high-pitched squeal akin to nails on a chalkboard. Don’t ignore these sounds! They could be your HVAC system trying to get your attention.

“Apart from the typical noises the furnace will make when starting up, there shouldn’t be any loud noises coming from the system while it’s on,” says Traci Fournier, vice president of operations at One Hour Heating & Air Conditioning. “Oftentimes, this is one of the first indicators that the furnace is on its last legs.”

Being attuned to sketchy noises is one way to identify an HVAC issue. But are you aware of the other telltale signs that might indicate your HVAC needs servicing or is about to go kaput?

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The Massive Mistake Homebuyers May Be Tempted To Make Right Now: Is This You, Too?

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

Pamela Grunstein still thinks about the couple who presumed the high-priced, haywire housing market of 2022 was bound to settle down, so they put their house hunt on hold to wait it out.

Grunstein, a real estate agent with the Francie Malina Team in New York’s Westchester County, met the couple when their local market was rife with bidding wars and offers often six figures over the asking price. Although they were eager to find a home for their two young kids, they also worried that market conditions were so nuts that they’d end up overpaying.

“They felt that everything was wildly overpriced and that they were chasing the market up,” Grunstein says.

Eventually, the couple decided to stop home shopping. Instead, they found a place to rent, even though its small size and dated layout made it less than ideal for their growing family.

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How to Create a Playroom That Appeals to Children and Adults

Thanks to an awareness that design affects children’s development, playrooms are no longer ‘the worst room in the house.’ You may even want to hang out there.

Fashion victims? When broker and agent style choices clash

The standard for appropriate business attire is always a moving target, especially in real estate. How should residential real estate brokers navigate this ever-shifting playing field, one full of landmines in every direction?

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