Author: lofaack

A federal jury’s landmark ruling could upend how Americans buy and sell homes.

Industry experts said this week’s legal verdict that the powerful National Association of Realtors (NAR) and several large brokerages conspired to inflate home commissions could eventually reduce real estate agents’ fees and, crucially, lower costs for home buyers and sellers. At a minimum, the jury ruling will likely lead to greater transparency, long a source of confusion and frustration for consumers about where their money goes in real estate transactions.

The vast majority — or nearly 90% — of US homes are bought and sold through real

A house owned by Cate Blanchett at 5 Trinian St, Prahran could be yours.

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Academy Award-winning actor Cate Blanchett and her writer-director husband Andrew Upton are selling a Prahran house they have owned for almost two decades.

The famous couple has listed a three-bedroom home at 5 Trinian St with a $2.25m-$2.45m price guide.

CoreLogic records show they purchased the property for $745,000 in 2006.

Renovated by Alwill Architecture, the stylish double-level pad features two bathrooms, a stone and stainless-steel-fitted kitchen and outdoor deck.

A gate provides access to the nearby Victoria Gardens while the main bedroom includes an ensuite

ST. GEORGE — A house that recently went on the market is mystifying millions on TikTok, because of what’s inside the house — or rather, what was never in it.

The house was built in 1998, but nothing has ever been moved in. An instruction manual still sits in the microwave, and the dishwasher still has a sample soap packet inside. Plastic wrapping covers the door strike plates. Construction dust sits in the bathtub and bathroom drawers.

Despite being 26 years old, the house in the Emerald Springs community is totally brand-new.

Homie Real Estate agent Shane Jourdain recently took

The median price of a home that sold in Northern Virginia in January was $650,000, 6.6% higher than a year earlier, according to the Northern Virginia Association of Realtors.

The Northern Virginia housing market remains much tighter than the national average, with the number of homes for sale last month representing just a 0.74-month’s supply, compared to an average 3-month supply of inventory on the market nationally.

As a result, fewer buyers are finding what they are

The housing market is finally starting to normalize after an exhausting and wild three years. But even normal is a bit weird in the world of real estate. Even though home prices are falling, interest rates remain astronomically high, barring many from being able to afford homes.

See: 7 Best Cars for Retirees on a Budget
Also: 6 Genius Things All Wealthy People Do With Their Money

And then you’ve got everyone on the other side of the equation: the homeowners. They’ve got the most to lose because their homes probably are their biggest assets and biggest

A substantial settlement recently announced by a US group representing more than one million Realtors has real estate experts hopeful Canadian home sellers could soon get a better deal.

Last week, the US-based National Association of Realtors (NAR) agreed to pay $418 million US to end legal claims from home sellers that alleged the group artificially inflated real estate commissions.

The NAR, which denied any wrongdoing in the case, it has also been agreed to eliminate the standard six per cent sales commission and do away with other commission rules.

The landmark settlement in the US is playing out at

Your home is your sanctuary, but it’s also one of your biggest budget items. And after you retire, it may feel like more home than you need. But in this housing market, when a smaller home with upgraded features may be about as expensive as the one you’re selling, is it still smart to downsize?

In some cases, downsizing is appropriate, but not necessarily money-saving. You may be able to sell your house and buy something cheaper, but it might also make sense to downsize to move closer to family or have less house to clean.

It’s important to be