Image-focused social network Instagram announced that it is making hashtags more findable and followable. You’ll now be able to follow hashtags to see top posts and stories about a topic on your home page. This opens the door for real estate professionals to easily follow housing-related photos and topics and track conversations on Instagram.“Following a hashtag is just like following a friend,” Instagram explains at its blog. “To get sta
Several malls in the U.S. are getting a new owner. Mall operating giant Westfield is being acquired by Unibail-Rodamco, a commercial real estate giant based in France, in a deal valued at nearly $16 billion. The sale comes at a time when the mall sector is struggling to define itself as it competes with growing threats from online shopping.Westfield is an Australian firm that operates 33 malls across the U.S. Its mall portfolio includes New York
Minneapolis office offers clients and their guests an immersive experienceThe moment I put on the Oculus Rift headset, I felt like I was inside one of Engel & Völkers’ listings.It only took a few seconds to master and then I was free to roam the house, admiring the tray ceilings in the dining room, wandering into the cozy den, ascending the stairs and meandering through each of the spacious bedrooms.All of this unfolded in the virtual r
Two-car garages are the most popular option in new homes nationwide, according to an analysis by the National Association of Home Builders of 2016 new-home construction data.Of all the single-family homes completed last year, 63 percent of the homes featured a two-car garage, while 22 percent had a garage suitable for three or more cars. Only 6 percent of new homes were built with a one-car garage and just 1 percent had a carport. Eight percent o
For those who are full of the holiday spirit, they may find their fa-la-la-la’s in these cities.“For a city to be really attractive for the holidays, it needs to offer something for everyone—from kids to the grandparents,” says Kirsten Maxwell, founder of kidsareatrip.com, a family activities website.Realtor.com®’s research team sifted through the data of the 150 of the largest metros to identify those with the most holiday magic. T
With rising home prices, more state lawmakers are proposing legislation to help home shoppers tackle the down payment obstacle. More states this year have considered or are considering passing laws to allow for tax-saving down payment accounts to aid first-time buyers.Three states authorized such accounts this year: Iowa, Minnesota, and Mississippi. Colorado, Montana, and Virginia already have such accounts in place.The established down payme
Congress approved a two-week extension for the National Flood Insurance Program late last week, keeping the program afloat until Dec. 22, but the National Association of REALTORS® continues to push legislators to do more—and fast.Beyond December, the program may be granted another short-term extension as part of a resolution to keep the government operating. That would give lawmakers more time to pass long-term NFIP reform and reauthorization.
Following on the heels of the Federal Housing Finance Agency, the Federal Housing Administration announced that it will increase its loan limits in most areas of the country in 2018. The FHFA had announced new limits for loans eligible for purchase or guarantee by Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac on Nov. 28.In high-cost areas of the country, the FHA’s ceiling on loan limits will rise from $636,150 to $679,650, according to the Department of Housing a
The national homeless population increased for the first time since 2010, bumping up 0.7 percent year over year in 2017, according to the Department of Housing and Urban Development. The West Coast was mostly responsible for the increase thanks to particularly tight housing markets in cities such as Los Angeles and Seattle, HUD’s data shows.“In many high-cost areas of our country, especially along the West Coast, the severe shortage of afford
Wildfires in Southern California showed resistance to containment efforts Sunday night, growing larger and forcing more homeowners to flee their houses. From San Diego to Los Angeles, an estimated 800 homes have been completely destroyed since the blazes—now the fifth largest in the state’s history—first started on Dec. 4. The fires have scorched 230,000 acres, prompted more than 200,000 residents to evacuate, and with more than 86,000 home
This website includes images sourced from third party websites including Adobe, Getty Images, and as otherwise noted.
