Category Archives: Featured

The numbers: New construction slows down U.S. home builders started construction on homes at a seasonally-adjusted annual rate of 1.56 million in September, representing a 1.6% decrease from the previous month, the U.S. Census Bureau reported Tuesday. Compared with September 2020, housing starts were up 7.4%. The pace of permitting for new housing units also […]

When we work with professional interior designers to decorate each room in the Real Simple Home, they’re given free rein to select any colors, patterns, decor, and furniture they like. So long as the space is beautiful, functional, and helps solve any design challenges within the room, the rest is up to their creative whims. This […]

As more professionals have been able to work remotely during the COVID-19 pandemic, they’re fundamentally changing the real estate landscape. Smaller, cheaper parts of the country have edged out the bigger, pricier cities to become the nation’s hottest housing markets as those who can work from anywhere are chasing affordability. In August, Burlington, NC, where buyers […]

Drum roll, please. At long last, the time has arrived when our nation’s top color forecasters announce their much-anticipated Colors of the Year. Haven’t heard of COTY? Just about every paint company and trend tracker out there today predict certain hues as “the next big thing” poised to dominate in fashion, home furnishings, and just […]

In early July 2021, Fannie Mae confirmed something that most real estate professionals already knew: Buyers and sellers are currently on a very different page. Over half of buyers (64%) think it is now a bad time to buy. By contrast, an even higher percentage of sellers (77%) think it is a great time to sell. But […]

Houzz identified the top emerging home design trends based on the latest search insights* from our community of U.S. homeowners, home design enthusiasts and home professionals. The trends reflect a need for dedicated activity spaces within the home, a desire to bring the outdoors in, a requirement to create flexible interior spaces and a passion for luxurious […]

There are so many residential design innovations and features that enhance wellness. These include steam showers, bidet-style toilets, combi-steam ovens, induction cooktops, smarter home technology and low maintenance surfaces like engineered stone and porcelain slab. Then there are design details, styles and trends that can put your home’s wellness potential at risk. Here are six, […]

Joe Cangelosi, the owner of Joe Cangelosi Design, told Insider that marble countertops weren’t the best option — particularly for those who plan to spend a lot of time using their kitchen. “They’re beautiful, but they also chip and stain easily,” he said. “Choose quartz instead. They have options that look just like marble. Or if you […]

Laura Woods Sat, August 28, 2021, 3:21 PM·5 min read It’s no secret that the COVID-19 pandemic has turned the real estate market into a wild domain. If you’re looking to buy or sell a home, you’re likely eager to know how long this will last. In June 2021, home prices across the U.S. surged […]

The numbers: Existing-home sales edged higher as the inventory of homes for sale grew, giving buyers some more breathing room in a tough market. Existing-home sales rose 2% to a seasonally-adjusted, annual rate of 5.99 million in July, the National Association of Realtors said Monday. Compared with June 2020, home sales were up 1.5%. Economists polled by MarketWatch […]