Getty Images (4)Homebuyers are always looking for a deal. That’s nothing new. But a true bargain today is scarcer and more valuable than ever, as buyers and sellers both feel the viselike squeeze of a tightening housing market.Soaring mortgage rates have pushed monthly housing payments up hundreds or even thousands of dollars for homebuyers. That’s straining budgets that would have worked fine just a few months ago. The result is a quickly cooling real estate business, with buyers largely pulling back from purchases and sellers forced to drop prices to meet the new reality—or to just skip the market altogether.But here’s the thing: This slump isn’t happening everywhere. In fact, some cities still have humming home markets, with low prices that insulate, to some extent, against the effects of rising mortgage rates. So the Realtor.com® data team found them: the cities where buyers can find the most affordable homes in America, right now.These are generally smaller metropolitan areas in the Northeast, the Upper Midwest, and the South, many of which have gone through economic challenges in recent years. Prices in these places have historically been lower than the rest of the country—and they didn’t go through the dramatic COVID-19 price pumps of the past couple of years seen by red-hot markets such as Phoenix, Boston, and Denver. Many are state capitals and former manufacturing powerhouses in the Rust Belt that saw population shifts as plants closed and jobs migrated overseas.They may not all be thriving tech centers or America’s most fashionable metros, but they all have plenty of surprisingly nice homes that are seriously well-priced. All had median price tags that were significantly less than the $427,250 median national home price in September.Sorry—you won’t find any areas in California, or the entire western half of the U.S., on this list. Home prices there remain too (damn) high.To come up with our findings, we dug into our listing data in the 100 largest metropolitan areas, compiled at the beginning of October, to see which had the lowest median home price per square foot. We used price per square foot instead of the overall price to account for seasonal trends as well as the different sizes of homes around the country.Metros include the main city and surrounding towns, suburbs, and smaller urban areas. We included only one metro area per state to ensure geographical diversity.Ready to check out some housing bargains? For real?1. Youngstown, OHMedian home list price per square foot: $95Median home list price: $149,900Youngstown, about halfway between Cleveland and Pittsburgh on the Ohio side of the state line, is the cheapest metropolitan area in the nation. This is in the heart of the Rust Belt, and like other boomtowns of the 19th and early 20th-century steel industry, it saw population declines starting in the 1970s. With more homes than buyers for them, prices fell.The city has a low cost of living, something Al Cerritelli, an agent with Howard Hanna Real Estate Services in the Youngstown suburb of Poland, says has become a self-perpetuating fact of life in upper Appalachia. That’s appealing to folks moving in from other higher-priced parts of the country looking for bargains.“People who come in from out of state, they talk about people being so nice here, how there’s not a lot of traffic, the cost of living is so affordable,” Cerritelli says.Things have slowed down in the past several weeks, as interest rates have hit new highs, Cerritelli says. But when he sends new listings to home shoppers, they’re opening his emails and clicking through to the properties.Prices in Youngstown have come down a little over the past several months, dropping a little more than 2% since hitting a high in August. And prices are still up year over year by around 12%.Cerritelli says he thinks costs had been artificially low before the pandemic, but with remote workers looking for cheaper places to live and work from home, prices were pushed up.“We had a lot of value that was not being perceived,” he says. “Then over the past two years, we saw some bidding wars, buyers walking in and elbowing each other to the side to get a contract going.”2. Scranton, PAMedian home list price per square foot: $124Median home list price: $225,000Scranton, about 2.5 hours north of Philadelphia, may be best known as the home of the fictitious Dunder Mifflin paper company from “The Office” and is the real-life hometown of President Joe Biden. It’s also one of the most affordable ski towns in America.The city has a rich history, as it was a coal industry center in the mid-19th century and was even dubbed the “Electric City” in the 1880s, after becoming one of the first with electric lighting and then electric streetcars. The population declined in the late 20th century, like in many industrial-era boomtowns. Now the city is home to five colleges and universities, and a vibrant downtown.The home prices in Scranton are low even after steady increases over the past year. Prices per square foot climbed 20% year over year, outpacing the national market’s 12% year-over-year increase. It’s 1 of 4 metropolitan areas on this list bucking the recent trend of prices falling a little.For just under $225,000, you can get a large, three-bedroom home, built in the 1940s, with an updated kitchen.3. Syracuse, NYMedian home list price per square foot: $130Median home list price: $217,250Syracuse, a college town in Central New York, was recently named one of the best places for middle-class homebuyers by Realtor.com thanks to its low price tag.But buyers on a budget may want to turbocharge their searches as prices are on the rise. They jumped about 10% year over year.The number of homes for sale in Syracuse is the lowest of any metropolitan area on the list. However, despite the housing shortage, homes are sitting on the market a little longer than the national average, selling in anywhere from 47 to 60 days over the past four months, according to Realtor.com data.Right now, buyers can get a three-bedroom, brick ranch in a cul-de-sac in Syracuse’s historic Washington Park neighborhood near the center of town, just a five-minute drive from the Onondaga Lake shore, for $220,000.___Watch: The 10 Best—and Most Affordable—Places To Retire in America in 2022___4. Wichita, KSMedian home list price per square foot: $134Median home list price: $304,475Wichita is known as the “Air Capital of the World,” attracting aviation enthusiasts from around the world. The area is a high-tech manufacturing hub that is home to companies like Beechcraft, Cessna, Learjet, and Boeing’s Stearman Aircraft. However, it still offers residents a low-cost, high quality of life—along with some fantastic barbecue.Wichita is also credited as one of the birthplaces of the American desegregation movement, marked by a sit-in at the Dockum Drug Store in 1958.Home list prices in Wichita have increased the most of any city on the list, rising 24% in the past year. And the Wichita market has so far completely avoided the downturn seen in other U.S. metropolitan areas, instead hitting a yearlong high in September.Buyers searching for deals can check out this three-bedroom, two-bathroom house spanning 2,500 square feet on nearly a third of an acre for $180,000. Or they can look at this three-bedroom, two-bedroom ranch for $265,000.5. Jackson, MSMedian home list price per square foot: $138Median home list price: $299,000Jackson, the birthplace of country singer LeAnn Rimes, has been in the news lately due to its toxic drinking water. The crisis appears to be affecting the real estate market.Home inventories have climbed as sellers have rushed to list their homes. There are now about 50% more homes for sale than this time last year.However, the drinking water hasn’t hurt home prices—at least not yet. Jackson is one of the four metro areas on this list where the current price is still the highest it’s been in the past year. Prices here have fluctuated a little each month, rising about 17% year over year per square foot.The city has historically been a flashpoint in the struggle for civil rights, and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency has just announced a civil rights investigation into the current water crisis, after formal complaints argued that the current situation is the continuation of systemic neglect of infrastructure needs in the heavily Black urban center of the Jackson metropolitan area.6. Little Rock, ARMedian home list price per square foot: $141Median home list price: $298,873Buyers can also look toward the capital of Arkansas to find affordable homes, even though prices are rising. The city was recently named one of the best for middle-class buyers thanks to its low cost of living and massive revitalization of its historic downtown.The price per square foot is up about 15%, and homes in Little Rock are still selling quickly.For around $300,000, a buyer in Little Rock can afford a one-bedroom condo with floor-to-ceiling windows and a patio overlooking the Arkansas River and the downtown River Market District. The same price will also get a large, four-bedroom home on a big lot in the wooded suburbs farther from downtown.7. Indianapolis, INMedian home list price per square foot: $144Median home list price: $300,000Indianapolis, best known as the home of the Indy 500, has frequently been included in the most affordable cities lists. Buyers in the state capital can find some of the cheapest mansions in the nation.Prices in Indianapolis were up 11% year over year. However, they did dip a little, by about 2%, from the high in May.Buyers can find snag a recently remodeled three-bedroom, one-bathroom house for about $150,000. They can also schedule a showing for this 2,000-square-foot, three-bedroom, two-bathroom house for $250,000. (You’d better hurry.)8. McAllen, TXMedian home list price per square foot: $144Median home list price: $270,000Some of the best deals today can be found in McAllen, a city of around 150,000 situated right on the U.S.-Mexico border in the Rio Grande Valley about an hour’s drive from the Gulf Coast.Visitors travel to the city to see its nearly 550 species of birds and 300-plus species of butterflies. It’s also a regional shopping mecca for those on both sides of the border.Home prices in this trade-port city have defied the housing market’s recent price downturn. They have been steadily rising since this time last year.This three-bedroom, brick starter home that could be rented out is on the market for $205,000. Those with a bit more expendable income can check out this newly constructed three-bedroom house with a big backyard for $285,000.9. Columbia, SCMedian home list price per square foot: $146Median home list price: $308,900Columbia is yet another state capital as well as a college town, home to the University of South Carolina. (Go Gamecocks!) It’s become more popular with out-of-state buyers during the pandemic who were looking for places with more affordable prices, low taxes, and warmer weather.Of all the metropolitan areas on the list, home prices in Columbia have seen the biggest price slump in recent months, falling almost 5% since prices peaked here in June. Still, prices are more than 10% above where they were this time last year.For around $310,000, buyers in Columbia can get an 1,800-square-foot, three-bedroom home in a suburb just a few minutes north of downtown.10. Augusta, GAMedian home list price per square foot: $150Median home list price: $311,575Only about an hour southwest of Columbia, Augusta is best known as the site of the elite Masters Golf Tournament every April. It’s also a medical, tech, and military hub. The city is host to Augusta University’s Medical College of Georgia, the state’s sole public medical school, as well as Fort Gordon Army Base, an Army cybersecurity and electronic warfare training center.The university and military base normally keep the real estate market humming, says Katerra Godbee, a Realtor with Realty One Group Visionaries.“We see a lot of people who relocate here for work or for school,” Godbee says. Many leave and then return later to stay permanently. Plenty are drawn in by the baked-in Southern charm.“People are very friendly,” she says. “It still has a small-town feel, and you can get a home on bigger lots.”Buyers typically can get homes on a half- or full acre. That was very appealing during the height of the pandemic when everyone wanted more space.“Because of our low cost of living, we had a lot of people permanently relocating here, from California, New Jersey, Texas, Florida, all over really,” Godbee says. “They came here and were able to buy with cash.”Inventory in Augusta has grown the most this year of any of the metros on this list, increasing by a factor of nearly 2.5. And housing supply has continued to rise in recent months.Despite the low prices, however, Augusta buyers haven’t been immune to the higher mortgage rates.“At the beginning of the year, maybe they were looking at homes at the $300,000 mark, but now they’re at $250,000,” Godbee says.The post Homebuyers, Don’t Give Up! Here Are the 10 Cheapest Cities in America To Purchase a House Right Now appeared first on Real Estate News & Insights | realtor.com®.

IRES / MLS via Realtor.comA five-bedroom home originally designed for a Tibetan Buddhist meditation master has hit the market in Boulder, CO, for $8.8 million.The peaceful property was built in 1978 for Chogyam Trungpa Rinpoche, the founder of the Boulder-based Naropa University. Rinpoche died in 1987.The 5,267-square-foot Mapleton Hill estate is a “Japanese post-and-beam house, and we wanted to honor the original intent, so we kept the original woodworking and updated everything else,” says owner and listing agent John Canova of Compass.“The overall architecture has been kept the same. My wife and I would always look at this house and say, ‘What a cool project it would be to renovate it.’ We specialize in finding super unique properties and create incredible spaces,” says Canova. “We have owned it for about a year and a half.”DeckRealtor.comPoolRealtor.comDeluxe domicileCanova bought the home in May 2021 for $524 per square foot. He’s looking to more than triple his investment if he gets anywhere near his $1,671 per square foot asking price.The 1970s construction now sports upscale finishes.For example, the kitchen features Gaggenau appliances and bronze metal cabinets.“There are also Taj Mahal quartzite countertops,” he says. “All of the [cocoon bathrooms by Piet Boon] were shipped in from Holland with copper finishes. It’s really unique.”KitchenRealtor.comLiving areaRealtor.comThe bright primary suite is surrounded by windows and glass doors that open to a private balcony. The bathroom features imported Japanese tile and a tadelakt shower.Spiritual spacesThe striking architectural design, with its walls of windows, provides plenty of private spaces for deep meditation.“It was originally built for the meditation master, and then a Dutch painter purchased it, and the last owner was the founder of Gaiam yoga,” Canova says.BedroomRealtor.comBathroomRealtor.comThe half-acre wooded lot is tucked away on a private sanctuary near the Mapleton Hill Historic District. Offering views of Red Rocks and the Foothills, the property also features lush gardens, a tranquil path, and a creek running behind the house.“There are a lot of deciduous trees, so it is really a unique environment,” he says. “The backyard is very secluded, so you get the feeling like living in a treehouse, yet you are very close to downtown Boulder and you can walk to some great restaurants. There is also a saltwater swimming pool and a cedar hot tub. It’s like being at a wellness retreat, but you’re home.”The post Say Om to This Home: $8.8M Colorado Mansion Designed for a Tibetan Buddhist Meditation Master appeared first on Real Estate News & Insights | realtor.com®.

Canopy / MLS via Realtor.comNo need to go to Egypt to see the pyramids. There are two in Rockwell, NC, and they’re for sale.One is the main living area and the other is more of a garage. Both pyramids are listed together for $675,000.Architect James Kluttz designed the pointy place for himself and his family in 1987.The blue structure houses the living areas, and the red one is more of a garage and unfinished space.Blue pyramid with the living areasReid ShaverRed pyramid with the garage and some unfinished spaceReid Shaver“You can’t tell you’re in a pyramid once you’re inside,” says Krystal Baucom. Baucom and Rhonda Jolly are listing the property with DM Properties & Associates.“The bottom-level concept is open flow,” Baucom explains. “You don’t really feel like you’re in a pyramid unless you go into some small rooms off to the side where the ceiling flows from the pyramid.”The three-bedroom blue pyramid measures 3,687 square feet, and everything is above ground.“The walls of the bedrooms slant, but there are skylights so it still feels really open,” Baucom explains.Storage is plentiful in the unusually shaped building.“You can open a door and there’s a 10-foot closet that you wouldn’t have known was there because of the shape of the pyramid,” Baucom says.Living room with a fireplace and hammockReid ShaverKitchenReid ShaverAerial viewReid ShaverKluttz died in 1995, before he was able to complete his vision for the red pyramid.“It was more of a garage to the original architect. He didn’t finish the whole pyramid, and he left it open, so there’s over 3,000 square feet of unheated square footage that’s not counted in the square footage of the actual house,” Baucom explains. “You could pretty much think of anything you wanted to do and you could make it happen.”The pyramids sit on an abundance of acreage.“The current owners are farmers, and they have cattle. They’ve taken the 18 acres and separated 6 pastures off of it, and there are different kinds of fruit trees,” she says.The living spaces could use some updating since the current owners have had the place for about 16 years and haven’t changed much about it, she adds.BedroomReid ShaverBedroomReid ShaverBedroomReid ShaverThe locals know about the pyramid homes, and now word of the properties has spread on the web.“It has gone viral online. Everyone is calling and texting me. Somebody on TikTok picked it up, and it has had something like 30,000 views there,” Baucom says. “We’ve gotten a lot of traffic on the house.”In a written essay, one of the architect’s daughters said her father fell in love with modernist architecture while he was in the military serving in Europe in the 1950s. She wrote he would experiment with the design of his family’s homes since many of his clients liked the more typical construction.She said the red pyramid once housed her father’s collection of Louis L’Amour paperbacks and was also his workspace.Baucom says the picturesque property includes a creek and lots of privacy.“It would be good for somebody who is looking for something unique,” she says.ExteriorReid ShaverThe post 2 Pyramids for $675K in North Carolina Give New Shape to Live-Work Space appeared first on Real Estate News & Insights | realtor.com®.

MLS via Realtor.comSince it’s that spook-tacular time of year, humor us and close your eyes. Then think of a classic haunted house. We’ll wait.Nine out of 10 times, we bet you’ve envisioned a decrepit old Victorian.Why? Because Victorians are so frequently associated with the stuff of nightmares. Hollywood certainly leans into that idea—think of the scary setting of Ryan Murphy‘s “Murder House” in the inaugural season of “American Horror Story.” Or the house where Norman Bates (and his mother) lived in the terrifying Alfred Hitchcock–directed movie “Psycho.” And who could forget the creepy and kooky “Addams Family” manse or Disney’s Haunted Mansion?You get the idea.But not all Victorians look like they’d be inhabited by otherworldly apparitions. Some are downright inviting!In fact, we’ve found five fanciful examples of Victorians on the market, rounded up from all over the country.And here’s a surprising fact that might make you jump, but in a good way: All are listed at reasonable prices that are not even remotely scary—under $500,000.Many feature those imposing mansard roofs, gables, ornate pillars, and turrets. Are they spooky or splendid? You be the judge.32 Pleasant St, Houlton, MEPrice: $399,500Merry not morose: This ice cream–colored classic Queen Anne Victorian was built in 1903, but you’re more likely to find a Mini Cooper than a Ford Model T in the garage. With such a cheerful paint job, it’s far more of a fantasy than a fright.Inside the 3,992-square-foot home, you’ll find five bedrooms, 2.5 baths, and lots of original woodwork on the patterned flooring, paneled walls, stately staircase, and even the ceiling.It’s overflowing with original charm, but it’s also equipped with high-speed fiber internet.Looking like a bed-and-breakfast waiting to happen, it’s located very close to the Canadian border. And it’s within walking distance of downtown shops and restaurants, the library, and outdoor community band concerts.Houlton, MERealtor.com115 W 9th St, The Dalles, OR 97058Price: $475,000Boo for blue: If this adorable Queen Anne Victorian is haunted, it would be by a sweet little granny ghost who would sweep away cobwebs and make your cat purr.The four-bedroom, two-bath, 3,711-square-foot jewel was built in 1885. It features intricate woodwork, including pocket doors, and 10-foot ceilings on both the first and second floors.Outside, you’ll find a large deck, an award-winning garden, and a garage. We’re betting this one is a favorite among trick-or-treaters, as it sits in a historic neighborhood in the popular Columbia River town known as The Dalles.The Dalles, ORRealtor.com206 Church St, Clio, SCPrice: $285,000Sneaks up on you: This 1898-built classic Victorian with intricate woodwork is in the popular Queen Anne style.Originally constructed for the town banker, it features craftsmanship unlike anything we’ve ever seen. Finer features include unique paneling, heart pine floors, stained-glass windows, and four fireplaces with ornate mantels.It’s also roomy, with 4,719 square feet of living space encompassing five bedrooms and 3.5 baths. In addition, the expansive lot— just under an acre—is dotted with magnolias, azaleas, crepe myrtles, and a swimming pool, sure to make a big splash.Clio, SCRealtor.com1598 Burbank Rd, Wooster, OHPrice: $299,900Fright-free four-story: An attic, a basement, and two fully finished and restored living spaces in between: Behold this 1863 Victorian, the oldest property on our list. But this grande dame’s age doesn’t show, as she’s had a lot of work done.Original features like fireplaces, flooring, woodwork, and two staircases have been restored. And the four bedrooms, two baths, and kitchen have all been updated.In total, the property spans 3,073 square feet, which doesn’t include the remarkable, wraparound covered porch.Located in the town of Wooster, with a classic downtown, it’s located about a half-hour from both Canton and Akron, and less than an hour from Cleveland.Wooster, OHRealtor.com305 2nd St NW, Faribault, MNPrice: $499,900Historically happy haunt: We saved what may be the best for last. Known as the Historic Hutchinson House, this kaleidoscopic Victorian, constructed in 1892, lights up the neighborhood.With six bedrooms and eight baths within 7,098 square feet of space, it’s a licensed B&B. The permits come with it, as do the lovingly restored woodwork, inlaid hardwood floors, pocket doors, and stained-glass windows.But it could also easily be converted to a large family home, with several generations delighting in its many intriguing nooks and crannies, jaw-dropping millwork, multiple fireplaces, and an abundance of windows, which allow plenty of light to flow into its large rooms. That’s extremely rare in most Victorians.Faribault, MNRealtor.comThe post Freaky or Fabulous? These 5 Victorians Under $500K May—or May Not—Get You in the Halloween Spirit appeared first on Real Estate News & Insights | realtor.com®.

ALLISON DINNER / GETTY IMAGESEven if Federal Reserve Chairman Jerome Powell and his cohorts stopped hiking policy rates soon, the 30-year fixed mortgage rate still would climb to 10%, according to Christopher Whalen, chairman of Whalen Global Advisors.That’s because the Fed’s torrid pace of rate increases in 2022 takes time to seep back into mortgage rates, especially with the fed-funds rate already jumping to a 3%-3.25% range in late September, from almost zero a year before.“Lenders only slowly adjust their rates,” Whalen told MarketWatch. “They are not used to seeing rates moving this fast, and typically would change rates only once a month or once every other month.”Borrowers pay a premium above risk-free Treasury rates on mortgages to help account for default risks. The 30-year Treasury rate rose to 4.213% Thursday, its highest since 2011, according to Dow Jones Market Data.Freddie Mac on Thursday said the 30-year mortgage rate was averaging 6.94% in its latest weekly survey, a 20-year high that has severely curtailed demand for new home loans.But with U.S. inflation showing no signs of a clear pullback from a 40-year high, expectations have been running high for the Fed to increase its policy rate by another 75 basis points at its November meeting, and potentially by the same amount again in December, according to the CME FedWatch tool.The CME odds on Thursday favored a 4.75%-5% fed-funds rate to kick off February.“There is a lag effect in mortgages,” Whalen said, adding that even if central bankers decided to hit pause on additional rate increases after their December meeting, the 30-year mortgage rate still would “easily touch 10% by February.”Whalen, an investment banker, author and specialist focused on banking and mortgage finance, urged the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission in 2008 to move complex and opaque derivatives “back into the daylight,” after banks and investors saw hundreds of billions of dollars in losses tied to structured debt, including subprime mortgage exposure. He also provided testimony to Congress in 2009 about systemic risks of the banking industry.Now, Whalen sees another major shakeout coming in mortgage banking as profitability continues to get pinched (see chart) and the housing market sputters.Importantly, Whalen also sees potential for home prices to give back all of their pandemic gains if rates stay high for all of 2023.That’s a bigger call than estimates for a 10%-15% correction in home prices from prices that surged 45% nationally during the pandemic.But Whalen pointed to speculative home flipping volumes that reached almost $150 billion, or 10% of total home sales in 2022, and the cold blanket of double-digit mortgage rates as catalysts for a steeper home price retreat.Economists at Mizuho Securities on Thursday pegged median home sales prices as down 2.5% from their peak, in a client note, and characterized the housing market as “deteriorating,” but mostly in line with expectations given the sharp jump in mortgage rates.Mortgage loan rates can be traced directly to the mortgage-backed securities, or MBS, market, which are bonds that trade on Wall Street, mostly with government backing, that finance the bulk of the near $13 trillion U.S. mortgage debt market.With the Fed’s race to raise rates, it has jolted financial markets, sunk stocks and led to a stark decline in mortgage bond issuance this year, while also making it more expensive for corporations, municipalities and households to borrow as part of its inflation fight.“It will take us months to get the bond market and lending market in sync so people can make money again,” Whalen said.Stocks closed lower for a second straight day on Thursday, leaving the S&P 500 index off 23% on the year at 3,665.78, and the 10-year Treasury rate at 4.225%, its highest since June 2018.The post Why the Housing Market Should Brace for Double-Digit Mortgage Rates in 2023 appeared first on Real Estate News & Insights | realtor.com®.

Getty Images / MLS via Realtor.comThe silver lining of free agency is sometimes a house sale.While Le’Veon Bell, the famed running back formerly with the Pittsburgh Steelers, has bounced around from team to team (New York Jets, Kansas City Chiefs) over the years, he’s also been able to offload the home he picked up in April 2016.But unfortunately for Bell, the trade-off wasn’t exactly in his favor. He paid $629,000 for his place near Pittsburgh, then sold it at a loss, for $475,000.The home was built in 1999 and has a three-car garage.Realtor.comThere’s also a very private backyard, and a new roof was put on last year.Realtor.comThe four-bedroom, 4.5-bath abode is situated on 1.78 acres and offers a bucolic setting at the end of a cul-de-sac. And while there’s a large back deck to lounge on, the rest of the home needs a lot of attention (read a total renovation). In fact, from the photos, it looks like some demolition has already begun.And the listing notes that the fixer-upper is a “unique opportunity.” Perhaps the new owners are up to the task?___Watch: Super Bowl Champ Aaron Donald Sells Calabasas Trophy Home for $6.25M___Ohio mansionBell might be team-less, but he’s definitely not house-less.The Ohio native also owns a home about 30 miles east of Columbus.He’s maintained this residence since December 2017, paying $855,000 for the six-bedroom, five-bath mansion. The place features almost 7,700 square feet of living space and a ton of room to toss the pigskin outside—25 acres.Last season, Bell did sign on with both the Baltimore Ravens and the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, but this year his focus has moved away from football to a different sport: boxing.His nascent career began with an exhibition match where he knocked out his fellow running back, Adrian Peterson. And later this month, he will have his professional boxing debut against MMA star and former UFC fighter Uriah Hall.Randy White contributed to this report.The post Former Steelers Running Back Le’Veon Bell Sells His Pittsburgh-Area Home appeared first on Real Estate News & Insights | realtor.com®.

MLS via Realtor.com / Realtor.comWhat if you could live out your childhood dreams in a “Swiss Family Robinson”–style treehouse?A magical mountain retreat in Boone, NC, offers the opportunity to do just that, making it this week’s most popular listing on Realtor.com®.More than 50 windows and skylights open up to a spectacular tree-dotted view. Built in 1970, the two-bedroom getaway has been completely modernized inside.In addition to the hideaway high up in the trees, you clicked on a home built by Habitat for Humanity in Montana, an Ohio spread on its own block, and a recently completed builder’s beauty in Texas.For a full look at this week’s 10 most popular homes, simply scroll down.10. 53 Oak Ave, Madison, CTPrice: $719,999Why it’s here: This three-bedroom Colonial is located just three houses from the beach.Built in 1946, the 1,192-square-foot retreat offers a step back in time with its retro wall paneling and parquet floors, so it could use some freshening up. There are exposed beams, lots of oversized windows, a built-in office area, and a sunroom to take in views of Long Island Sound.A private beach is less than a minute away.Madison, CTRealtor.com9. 7484 Falling Leaf Ct, Flushing, MIPrice: $549,900Why it’s here: This picture-perfect, five-bedroom domicile looks like something straight out of a magazine.The impeccably designed, open floor plan of this 3,413-square-foot house features a formal dining room that opens up to a covered outdoor porch. From the cozy, first-floor primary suite to the surf shack–themed kids room, every homey detail was carefully considered.Take in serene views of the private backyard from the spacious covered porch or nearby patio.Flushing, MIRealtor.com8. 2889 Stacia Ave, Helena, MT Price: $240,000Why it’s here: Habitat for Humanity built this beautiful three-bedroom, three-bathroom, 1,440-square-foot home in 2019. Now, this pristine place is available by lottery; potential buyers will need to meet income and other lending criteria.“This property is part of a Habitat program that caps the equity at 1.5% per year, which will make it an affordable home in perpetuity,” according to the listing.The home is available for private showings through Sunday. Offers must be submitted before Monday, and the lottery will be held on Tuesday.Helena, MTRealtor.com7. 25602 Lemoyne Rd, Perrysburg, OHPrice: $259,900Why it’s here: Not only will you be the new kid on the block if you purchase this property, but you’ll also be the only kid on the block!This 2-acre property surrounded by farmland was designed for someone who doesn’t like neighbors. But it has already attracted attention and now has a contingent offer.Built in 1864, the 2,200-square-foot home does need some updating, but it features a new septic system and newer windows, roof, furnace, and AC.The lot includes a two-car garage, two-horse stable, shed, and concrete patio area.Perrysburg, OHRealtor.com6. 1134 Back Rd, Belvidere, VTPrice: $345,000Why it’s here: Calling all entrepreneurs: This four-bedroom home comes with its own maple sugaring operation!Sitting on 10 acres in the valley beneath Laraway Mountain, this cozy, 1,200-square-foot dwelling has been modernized, but its midcentury charm remains. There are exposed-beam ceilings and brick walls in the kitchen, which also features quartz countertops.A quaint barn houses the maple operation, and a brook runs through the maple grove.Belvidere, VTRealtor.com___Watch: This Guitar-Shaped Home in Georgia Is Pretty Rockin’ 5. 62 Field Brook Rd, Madison, CTPrice: $825,000Why it’s here: This three-bedroom, custom home from 1994 was designed by local architect Duo Dickinson.From the bespoke built-ins to the walls of windows that span the living room, the jaw-dropping floor plan offers a “wow” factor in every room. Impressive details in the light-filled home include a sweeping staircase, sunken dining room, and access to a large deck.Located on an acre lot, the 3,448-square-foot home also comes with a central vacuum, three air-conditioning units, and a two-car garage.Madison, CTRealtor.com4. 358 Ownby Cir, Gatlinburg, TNPrice: $349,999Why it’s here: ‘Tis the season to not only check out a haunted house, but also to own one.This two-bedroom cabin was built on 4 acres in the woods, an ideal setting for paranormal activity.Used as a rental property, the 1,040-square-foot home—which is rumored to be haunted—features a living room with a floor-to-ceiling stone fireplace, exposed beams, and sliders that open to the wraparound deck.The property is being sold as is and needs some work.Ready for a fright? The listing states, “All personal property conveys sans items under the sheet in the kitchen.” That hasn’t discouraged one buyer though, as there’s already a contingent offer.Gatlinburg, TNRealtor.com3. 6624 Dillman Rd, Greenacres, FLPrice: $2,250,000Why it’s here: This gorgeous, double-gated compound sits on 2 acres, which include a pole barn, RV pad, and pond with a party deck.Built in 2015, the four-bedroom, single-level home offers nearly 4,000 square feet of living space. Luxury details include custom millwork, 10-foot-high ceilings, and a chef’s kitchen with an enormous granite island.The primary suite features a sliding barn door, and the gigantic bathroom comes with a separate glass shower and a spa tub. There’s even access to the covered lanai.Greenacres, FLRealtor.com2. 150 Wandering Oak Cir, Burnet, TXPrice: $1,400,000Why it’s here: This recently completed builder’s abode is located in a golf course community and features custom upgrades.The 3,284-square-foot, light-filled residence offers floor-to-ceiling windows, a chef’s kitchen with a waterfall island, and a covered back patio. The primary suite has a fireplace and custom closets, and the bathroom features a free-standing soaking tub.The six-bedroom home on a lot of 3 acres is just a short golf cart ride from the Delaware Springs Clubhouse.Burnet, TXRealtor.com1. 353 Blueberry Ln, Boone, NCPrice: $675,000Why it’s here: Here’s your chance to fulfill your childhood dream of living in an enchanted treehouse.The fully furnished custom escape is tucked away in the woods on a 3-acre lot between Blowing Rock and Boone. The 1970 build features five stacked-stone fireplaces, cathedral ceilings, and an updated kitchen with original cedar plank cabinets and butcher block countertops.The spectacular primary bedroom is two stories and has sliders that open to a private deck.In fact, there are multiple decks on both levels of the home to take in the peaceful views. On the market for just 12 days, the magical getaway is already pending sale.Boone, NCRealtor.comThe post A ‘Swiss Family Robinson’-Style Treehouse in North Carolina Is the Week’s Most Popular Home appeared first on Real Estate News & Insights | realtor.com®.

MLS via Realtor.comThe Goth Castle located in Hudson, WI, lives up to its name.In fact, the Victorian mansion inspired the owner to decorate accordingly.“It’s currently a [vacation rental], and there are skulls and just lots of interesting decor and darker colors and things like that,” explains listing agent Jenni Martin, with Edina Realty–Woodbury.“If you can imagine Disney’s Haunted Mansion, that’s exactly what it reminds me of,” she continues. “The colors are those deep greens and really bold and dark colors.”Scary funMartin says nobody who has stayed in the house has reported any ghosts or unusual activity, even though she claims that other nearby homes are haunted.The 5,611-square-foot-home is listed for $1.1 million.EntryMediagrahy Dining areaMediagrahy InteriorMediagrahy “For another $100,000, you could buy everything inside and future rentals,” Martin says.Original and colorfulThe turret on the circa-1900 home has the original, 6-foot, stained-glass windows. And much of the woodwork inside is original.“Some of the woodwork is painted gold, some of it is black, some of it is green,” Martin says.BedroomMediagrahy KitchenMediagrahy Almost everything about the home keeps with the Gothic theme.“When you first walk up to the house, the sidewalk is flanked by gargoyles,” she says. “It’s one of the only homes that has its own driveway and garage and is on a larger lot than most.”Inside, there are seven bedrooms, three bathrooms, and two kitchens.“They are on the same level. In the past, one would have been used for staff or for entertaining in the formal dining room,” Martin explains. “The house could easily be split into a duplex if necessary, but right now it’s all open.”The home’s rental website lists rates starting at $1,700 a night.“We’re very close to Minneapolis–St. Paul, 25 minutes, and our town is a river town with lots of cute shops and bars and things like that. People come here all the time for a day destination trek because it’s so close and so fun,” Martin says.Many bachelor parties rent the Goth Castle and bachelorette parties rent a pink castle by the same owner, Martin adds.BackyardMediagrahy The backyard has a pool and a hot tub. Inside, there’s a theater room and a “fitness pole.”“With [rentals], you have to have over-the-top amenities. You can have parties there, and you can have a lot of fun and do whatever you like,” Martin says.If this decor isn’t your thing, that’s OK.The buyer “could either be an investor or someone who is into this Goth type of look,” Martin says. “But honestly, it would just take paint at this point to bring it back to your typical Victorian home.”But maybe wait until after Halloween to redecorate.EntryMediagrahy BathroomMediagrahy KitchenMediagrahy The post Just in Time for Halloween: $1.1M Goth Castle in Wisconsin Lives Up to Its Name appeared first on Real Estate News & Insights | realtor.com®.

Michael M. Santiago / Getty ImagesHomebuyers and sellers have likely heard that America’s real estate market is undergoing a “correction” or “reset.” So how’s that going?So far, not so great.We looked at the data in our column “How’s the Housing Market This Week?” We found that several key statistics that would signal that this “reset” is well underway have barely budged.“Trend indicators, including home price growth, the new listings trend, and time on market changes, didn’t move much, if at all, over the week,” notes Realtor.com® Chief Economist Danielle Hale in her analysis.As a result, although she concedes that “the housing market continues to reset,” it’s been slow going. Here’s what this means for both homebuyers and sellers.How the ‘reset’ affected mortgage ratesIn June, Federal Reserve chair Jerome Powell announced plans to “reset” the housing market, then elaborated further: “When I say ‘reset,’ I’m not looking at a particular specific set of data. What I’m really saying is that we’ve had a time of a red-hot housing market all over the country, where famously houses were selling to the first buyer at 10% above the ask even before seeing the house. That kind of thing. So there was a big imbalance between supply and demand. Houses were going up at an unsustainably fast level.”In an attempt to fix this, the Fed has been aggressively and relentlessly raising interest rates all year, causing mortgage rates to more than double from the 3% to 6%-plus range. And for the week ending Oct. 20, the average 30-year fixed mortgage rate edged up even further from last week’s 6.92% to 6.94%, according to Freddie Mac.As mortgage rates graze and even top the 7% threshold—a level not seen in two decades—the cost to borrow money for a house is rising beyond what many homebuyers can handle. This, in turn, should dampen demand, which should then theoretically cause home prices to tumble in their wake.But are they? As is the case with the cost of many commodities these days, home prices aren’t caving quite yet.Why home prices are moving at a ‘glacial pace’Currently, home prices hover at a national median of $427,250—and for the week ending Oct. 15, prices continued to rise by 13.2% compared with the same week last year, marking the 41st straight week of double-digit price growth.At first glance, this might look as if home prices aren’t “resetting” at all. But they are, just at a “glacial pace,” according to Hale.Although it’s hard to notice week to week, monthly data shows that progress is indeed being made. In June, median listing prices grew by 18.2% year over year, to a record high of $450,000. In September, however, prices grew by only 13.9% year over year, to $427,250.“This signals a true moderation in prices above and beyond the usual seasonal cooling,” Hale says.“Our data tracks the price of homes that are listed for sale, but not the actual transaction price, and some sellers still appear to be aiming a bit too high,” Hale continues. “While many homeowners are aware of the shift in market conditions that has tilted the market back ever so slightly in buyers’ favor, data shows that a greater share of sellers are still having to reduce their asking price to find a homebuyer.”Why home inventory levels have jumpedFor the week ending Oct. 15, although the number of home sellers entering the market dropped by 15%, overall housing inventory shot up by 34% over this same week last year. That’s the biggest jump in the number of homes for sale seen in 15 weeks.“This increase in active listings likely reflects the degree to which homebuyers are struggling to navigate the market in light of the increased costs and reduced purchasing power higher mortgage rates have imposed,” says Hale. It also “likely signals fewer home sales transactions ahead.”These homes will likely stick around on the market longer, too. While properties currently linger on the market for a median of 50 days, for the week ending Oct. 15, they spent 7 more days on the market compared with a year earlier, a pace that’s slowed for 12 weeks straight.Clearly, home sellers today are facing a very different and much darker reality than those who raked in over-asking bids at blinding speed earlier this year. Combine that with the current misery being experienced by homebuyers, and it’s safe to say that very few are feeling good about the Federal Reserve’s real estate reset so far.The post How’s the Federal Reserve’s Real Estate ‘Reset’ Going? Not So Great, Latest Statistics Say appeared first on Real Estate News & Insights | realtor.com®.

Design by Realtor.com / Getty Images (3)After years of raking in record amounts, home sellers’ profits have begun to dip.Homeowners still made quite a bit on the sales of their single-family houses and condos in the third quarter of the year, according to a recent ATTOM report. The real estate data firm found sellers earned a hefty 54.6% more than what they originally paid for their properties—but that was down from the 57.6% they pocketed in the previous quarter.The report was based on home sale deeds, foreclosure filings, and loan data.The declines were due to pricing slipping for the first time in nearly three years, according to ATTOM. Rising mortgage interest rates pushed up monthly housing payments by so much that many buyers can’t afford to spend as much on a home if they can afford one at all. Rates more than doubled from the low 3% range at the start of the year to nearly 7%, according to Freddie Mac. Rates have hammered the housing market, resulting in many sellers cutting prices or listing their properties for a little less and raising fears of another housing bubble.“Rapidly rising mortgage rates have not only resulted in fewer home sales, but have begun to impact home prices as well,” Rick Sharga, ATTOM’s executive vice president of market intelligence, said in a statement. “With rates the highest they’ve been in over 20 years, homebuyers face serious affordability challenges. … It’s very likely that home prices will continue to weaken in many markets in the coming months.”Sellers stayed in their homes for an average of 5.98 years, according to the report.The biggest profit declines were in the Claremont, NH, metropolitan area, where sellers went from earning 72.8% in the second quarter of the year to 52.4% in the third quarter. It was followed by San Francisco, where profits fell from 85.1% to 65.4%, and Prescott, AZ, where they went from 86.3% to 70.8%. (Metros include the main city and surrounding towns, suburbs, and smaller urban areas.)Profits rose the most in the Macon, GA, metro, from 44.7% to 82.4%; Rockford, IL, from 29.9% to 41.8%; and Davenport, IA, from 29.2% to 41.8%.Cash buyers, many of whom were investors, still made up more than a third of all sales, representing about 35.7% of buyers in the third quarter. That was down just slightly from 36% in the previous quarter.Institutional investors, which are the big iBuyers, hedge funds, pension funds, and other financial powerhouses, purchased about 1 in every 15 properties in the third quarter of the year. Their purchases were down a bit from the same time a year earlier.“If the Federal Reserve’s objective was to slow down the housing market, it has succeeded spectacularly,” Sharga said. “The market has gone from double-digit annual home price appreciation to below 3%, and declining quarter-over-quarter prices. But the impact of 6% and 7% mortgage rates means that many homes are still out of the reach of prospective buyers, even with prices declining slightly.”The post Are the Big Paydays Coming to an End? Home Seller Profits Drop appeared first on Real Estate News & Insights | realtor.com®.

GETTY IMAGESThe numbers: U.S. existing-home sales fell 1.5% to a seasonally adjusted annual rate of 4.71 million in September, the National Association of Realtors said Wednesday.This is the eighth straight monthly decline, the first since 2007.The decline was in line with economists forecasts, according to a Wall Street Journal survey.The last time existing-home sales fell to this level was May 2020.Outside of the pandemic, the level of sales activity was lowest since September 2012.Compared with September 2021, home sales were down 23.8%.Key details: Existing-home prices continue to moderate given the backdrop of higher rates and cautious buyers. The median price for an existing home fell to $384,800 in September from $389,500 in the prior month.And expect this median price to keep falling through January and February, the NAR said.The number of homes on the market fell 2.3% to 1.25 million units in September.Expressed in terms of the months-supply metric, there was a 3.2-month supply of homes for sale in September, same as the previous month. Before the pandemic, a four or five-month supply was more the norm.Homes remained on the market for 19 days on average, up from 16 days in September. Pre-pandemic, the average time for homes to remain on the market was a month.Sales of existing homes mostly fell across the country. Aside from the West, where sales were unchanged from September, the rest of the regions saw declines.But the West has seen large declines on a year-over-basis, compared to the rest of the country, of 31.3% from last September.California may see a “sizable” price drop of as much as 10%, the NAR said.All-cash transactions made up 22% of all transactions. About 29% of homes were sold to first-time home buyers, unchanged from the previous month a percent higher than last year.Big picture: The mortgage rate hike continues to hit the real-estate market, with sales slipping. And we’re already seeing some price declines led by some regions.Rates are firmly above 7%, and is expected to keep rising as the Federal Reserve attacks high inflation in the country.That’s causing a surge in borrowing costs, which continue to hurt buyer demand. The average contract rate for a 30-year fixed-rate mortgage is at 6.94%, according to the Mortgage Bankers Association.Someone who was taking out a $300,000 mortgage last year at 3%, now with higher rates, can only afford a $190,000 mortgage, NAR said—a 37% drop in what they can afford.Equifax, a credit reporting company, said during its third quarter results that it expects mortgage originations to fall over 60% in the fourth quarter.Economists believe that the housing market downturn is sending ominous signals to the rest of the economy:Some insurers will not be able to make payouts and many will relocate to earn a paycheck and live elsewhere. Another estimated 40% were not insured. It takes time to rebuild what was lost but there will also be hurdles due to climate change and concerns of more ferocious storms.— Diane Swonk (@DianeSwonk) October 19, 2022What the realtors said: Lawrence Yun, chief economist at the National Association of Realtors said that existing-home sales have further to drop.“We are not yet at the bottom,” as interest rates are still rising, Yun told reporters.He said sales could fall to 4.5 million.Yun added that housing inventory, however, fell from September, meaning that people weren’t selling homes as much, which is hindering prices from coming down further to more affordable levels.“There will not be a housing market crash because of lack of inventory,” Yun said.Market reaction: Stocks were up in early trading on Wednesday. The yield on the 10-year note rose above 4.16%.The post U.S. Existing-Home Sales Fall Again as Housing Downturn Gathers Steam appeared first on Real Estate News & Insights | realtor.com®.

Getty Images / MLS via Realtor.comLife had to be sweet in Sugar Land, TX, for retired NBA forward Tracy McGrady, living in a luxurious, 23,652-square-foot palace with nine bedrooms and 12 bathrooms.But not nice enough to entice him to stay any longer.The Hall of Famer recently sold his longtime domain, which was listed at $8 million.The property, about 40 minutes outside of Houston, was originally built in 1999. McGrady purchased it for $6.3 million in 2004, the same year he signed with the Houston Rockets.Tracy McGrady’s Sugar Land mansionRealtor.comThe luxe domain is brimming with elaborate features like limestone floors, custom iron doors and railings, and a carved-wood ceiling in the family room.Two-story entrywayRealtor.comFamily room with a custom ceilingRealtor.comThe bedrooms, some of them with lofts, are all special, especially the primary suite, which takes up an entire wing and has dual closets the size of designer boutiques.Bedroom with a loftRealtor.comPrimary suiteRealtor.comClosetRealtor.comThen there are the features you’ve come to expect in the mansions of the rich and famous, including a plush home theater, a game room with a pool table and video games, and an elevator.Home theaterRealtor.comGame roomRealtor.comAnd what baller mansion would be complete without a full-size, indoor basketball court and a state-of-the-art gym?Full-court basketball gymRealtor.comThe grounds span 2 acres on a golf course lot, inside the gated community of Sweetwater Estates. The property includes Versailles-like gardens, a landscaped pool and raised spa, and a guesthouse with a kitchen and bath.Backyard with elaborate poolRealtor.comMcGrady, 43, is a 6-foot-8, seven-time All-Star. He played for seven teams during his NBA career, from 1997 to 2013. He wore jerseys for the Toronto Raptors, Orlando Magic, New York Knicks, Detroit Pistons, Atlanta Hawks, San Antonio Spurs, along with the Rockets. Since retiring, he’s served as a basketball analyst for ESPN.The post NBA Great Tracy McGrady Sells His Sweet Sugar Land Castle appeared first on Real Estate News & Insights | realtor.com®.

A funeral parlor is a place few people enjoy visiting—much less living in permanently—but a new reality series proves that this macabre setting can make for a comfortable dwelling for the right family.In “We Bought a Funeral Home,” Arryn and Heather Blumberg have bought a former funeral parlor in the small town of Dresden, Ontario, for $570,000. They spent an additional $400,000 to renovate it into their dream residence. Suffice it to say, it was a big undertaking. The 12,000-square-foot space had 38 rooms, including an embalming room.And it was also haunted, of course, which keeps the Blumbergs and their kids (Rafferty and Noa) on their toes.Curious to hear more about what inspired this strange living choice and the horrors they encountered within, we spoke to the Blumbergs about how they came to embrace their Addams family–style residence in all its spooky glory.What possessed you to purchase a funeral home?Heather: We’ve always been this way. Black is our favorite color, and we’ve always loved horror. When Arryn found [the listing], he showed me a picture. The architecture is called Second Empire, and it’s beautiful, bordering on Gothic.It’s got a widow’s walk, and it looks like the Addams family house. It was the middle of the [COVID-19] pandemic; we were bored. We walked in and were here for a couple of minutes, and we were like, “Damn, we’re buying a house.” We just fell in love. We went from finding the house online to putting in an offer about five days later.Arryn: The kids thought we were joking. We tend not to think stuff like this through. We figured, “Why not?” We’d figure it out as we went along.Arryn and Noa Blumberg admire the custom casket bar.discovery+Which parts of the house that scream ‘funeral home’ have you embraced?Arryn: We have a casket lift that goes to different floors, and that’s always fun to take people up and down on. We’re not trying to hide that it was a funeral home, but it’s not a theme park. It’s our house.Heather: We’ve definitely leaned in heavily in the basement areas. Initially, the embalming room was a very little room, and we thought we’d use it as laundry, maybe a shower room because it’s already liquid-proof. Eventually, we decided to do a speakeasy outside, and therefore, we would turn it into a cigar lounge, which is a lot of fun.We’ve kept the original embalming walls—we’ve got all the hooks in the ceiling that were used for winching—and we found a beautiful antique poster of the arteries and veins in the body, and so that became my key design piece.I designed cabinetry that would look like something you would find in an operating theater. The worktop I designed to look like a gurney. The kids and I made some artwork out of old Victorian embalming tools. It’s weird but comfortable. We had fun!Can you flesh out your full vision for the renovation?Heather: We call it glam Goth. It’s also kind of British eclectic. I love deep, dark jewel colors. I love playing with blacks, anything highly saturated. I love monotone. I love playing with textures and mixing antiques with new vintage finds. Anything that was original to when the house was built in [the] 1880s, we’ve kept. We modeled baseboards and trim on the original to bring in more of that Victorian flavor.Arryn: I’ve always loved those old English manor houses that are filled with curios from travels [and] interesting artifacts, so we’ve tried to capture some of that. Each room has a feel to it.Has the building’s history scared off potential contractors?Heather: Funnily enough, you give some of them the address, they get here, they do a walk-through, and then we never hear from them again.The Blumberg family lived in the funeral home during renovations.discovery+Arryn: We’ve had probably half a dozen of those. Thankfully the main contractor, Dave [Depencier]—who’s been amazing, as creeped out as he and some of his crew have been—kept turning up and [did] a great job.How did you pick which renovations to prioritize within your budget?Heather: We needed a kitchen, bedrooms, [and] bathrooms, and unfortunately, they’re big-ticket items. When you’re moving electrics and plumbing and HVAC, and all of those things that had to be done, that we agreed upon. And from there, a couple of fun rooms to do along the way to make us feel good. Could I have done without a casket bar that goes from room to room? Yes. However, we moved into a funeral home, and I really wanted one.The Blumberg family embraces the haunted nature of their home with spooky decor.discovery+Anything creepy happen since you’ve been in the house? Have you seen or heard any ghosts?Heather: It started with a few shadows on walls where there weren’t any people. The dogs hate the main staircase in the house; they growl and bark at it. Our daughter has the top floor of the house, and her doors open and close at night. She’s had times when it seemed someone was sitting on her bed. And it’s progressed to, we have a lady in the house that randomly will shout “hello” at you.Arryn: I’ve heard someone shout “Hello,” and I’ll shout back, thinking [Heather is] in the house. I’ll then text saying, “What did you want?” And [she’s] like, “What do you mean? I’m out of the house.” I’m not a believer in ghosts or anything like that, but this place is definitely haunted.Any advice for peacefully sharing space with possible spirits?Heather: Noa has morning rituals, night rituals. Friends have gifted us smudging kits, but so far we haven’t felt the need to use them.Arryn: We try not [to] overfocus on it. Sometimes old houses can be creepy; whether it’s real or imagined is besides the point. It’s part of the building; it’s part of the character of the home. We don’t find it malicious or threatening, so we continue as normal.Funeral homes are generally places where you come to celebrate something. It’s sad, but it’s still generally a celebration, and I think that’s why maybe we’re a little luckier. I would probably have a different opinion if this was a jail or an asylum.Heather: Both of which I want to do next after we finish this house!Does the funeral home feel like your home now?Heather: It does. We filmed for such a long time, and we’ve only recently had the house to ourselves without a construction or film crew. Every time I drive up and look at it, I’m still, “This is ours? Really?” It’s bizarre, but it’s wonderful.The post Exclusive: The Stars of ‘We Bought a Funeral Home’ Reveal the Eerie Reality of Renovating a House Built for the Dead appeared first on Real Estate News & Insights | realtor.com®.

MLS via Realtor.com / Realtor.comA Dutch-built stone home in Stone Ridge, NY, is the oldest property to hit the market this week on Realtor.com®.The 2,525-square-foot house offers lots of spaces for entertaining, including a cozy den with a Dutch door that leads outside. Inside, there are wide-plank wood floors and exposed-beam ceilings, along with an exposed stone sunroom with lots of windows to take in the pristine views.Other antique homes on the market this week include a Connecticut estate with an equestrian facility, a waterfront farmhouse in Virginia, and a stone center-hall Colonial in New Jersey.Scroll down for a full look at this week’s 10 oldest homes.1. 138 Pine Bush Rd, Stone Ridge, NYPrice: $658,000Year built: 1700Dutch-built home: What was once a tavern rumored to have been visited by George Washington has been turned into a Dutch home with an indoor pool.The 3.4-acre property comes with a barn and two outbuildings. The four-bedroom house boasts stone hitching posts and original architectural details. The primary and secondary bedrooms were both recently renovated.Across the street, an additional 2.8-acre lot is included with the sale.Stone Ridge, NYRealtor.com———2. 39 E Logan St, Philadelphia, PAPrice: $696,00Year built: 1730On Register of Historic Places: This well-preserved, 13-room dwelling is said to be one of the oldest homes in Germantown.The six-bedroom, center-hall Colonial still features many historic details, including double living rooms, an elegant main staircase, and four fireplaces. With two kitchens and two laundry rooms, the 4,113-square-foot home seems like it was designed for entertaining.You can take in views of the private yard from the wraparound porch or the fun treehouse.Philadelphia, PARealtor.com———3. 2 Race Hill Rd, Madison, CTPrice: $1,800,000Year built: 1740Abode with equestrian facility: This charming four-bedroom antique comes with an addition from the 1990s, and it still boasts a 100-year-old slate roof.Throughout the 3,748 square feet of space, you will find exposed beams, wide-plank wood floors, and many built-ins. The oversized living room features a brick floor.The property comes with more than 30 acres of land, including a pond and four fenced pastures. There’s also a six-bay garage to store all of your toys or farm equipment.The equestrian facility includes an indoor arena, an outdoor ring, 22 stalls, barns, and sheds. Then there’s a three-bedroom apartment for staff.Madison, CTRealtor.com———Watch: How Much—and How Big—Is Indiana’s Most Expensive Home?___4. 720 Swedesford Rd, Lower Gwynedd, PAPrice: $5,390,000Year built: 1740Recently renovated: The historic main residence just come off a three-year renovation and expansion.Now offering nearly 7,000 square feet of living space, the grand home features a high-end kitchen with an exposed-beam ceiling, an enormous dining room with a fireplace, updated bathrooms, and lots of spots to take in the surrounding views.A three-bedroom caretaker’s house and a two-bedroom renovated guesthouse can also be found on the secluded lot along with a bank barn, equestrian facilities, and an indoor arena.The 24-acre property includes a private pond, arboretum, organic vegetable garden, orchard, walking trails, and, yes, pickleball courts.Lower Gwynedd, PARealtor.com———5. 1849 Ocran Rd, White Stone, VAPrice: $625,000Year built: 1742Waterfront farmhouse: This three-bedroom residence on 4.6 acres is located on George’s Cove and comes with a new boat lift and slip.The domicile features two primary bedrooms with walk-in closets and two full bathrooms. Historic details include heart pine wood flooring and two wood-burning fireplaces.Plus, there’s a three-car garage with a workshop and an enlarged bay designed for a boat or RV storage.White Stone, VARealtor.com———6. 648 Altamont Voorheesville Rd, Altamont, NYPrice: $445,000Year built: 1747Center-hall Colonial: This modernized, five-bedroom farmhouse still features wide-plank floors, custom built-ins, and hand-hewn beamed ceilings.A chef’s kitchen serves up custom cabinetry and a center island. The 3,177-square-foot home also has a formal living room with a fireplace and a great room where you can get cozy near the pellet stove.The property’s 5 acres are zoned for horses, and there’s an attached in-law apartment with a separate entrance.Altamont, NYRealtor.com———7. 1069 Canal Rd, Franklin Township, NJPrice: $530,000Year built: 1750Old Simonson Place: This five-bedroom build-out features many original details, including a built-in hutch and an exposed-beam ceiling in the dining room.The 2,269-square-foot home has been updated over the years. The renovated kitchen boasts granite countertops and a breakfast nook. A primary suite has a separate sitting area and a spacious bathroom with a soaking tub.The 2-acre property borders a stream.Franklin Township, NJRealtor.com———8. 546 Kulps Rd, Barto, PAPrice: $660,000Year built: 1750Renovated farmhouse: This three-bedroom home was built where a quarry once operated. It has been expanded over the years.The first-floor primary suite features two closets and a bathroom with radiant-heat flooring and a soaking tub. Upstairs, there’s a private deck. A portion of the 2,698-square-foot home has been available as a short-term rental.Also located on the 8-acre lot are a pool and a two-story barn.Barto, PARealtor.com———9. 258 Main St, Frelinghuysen, NJ Price: $425,000Year built: 1751Center-hall Colonial: This former Anglican Mission House comes with lots of original details, including wide-plank floors, deep sills, and high ceilings.The property was originally an Anglican church, later becoming an Episcopal church after the Revolutionary War. Over the years, it became known as the Mission House before being transformed into a single-family residence.The four-bedroom home features two newer bathrooms, but the next buyer will need to put some finishing touches to it.Frelinghuysen, NJRealtor.com———10. 35 Second St, Newport, RIPrice: $1,950,000Year built: 1760The John Frye House: This property includes two historic homes and offers a total of five bedrooms.Located in the Point neighborhood, the 3,242-square-foot home features original wide-plank wood floors and numerous fireplaces. A formal living room boasts original paneling, while the modern kitchen still features an original cooking fireplace.An enormous great room has a cathedral ceiling with exposed beams. It’s a great spot for entertaining or relaxing.Newport, RIRealtor.comThe post It Rocks: Built in 1700, a Stone Home in New York Is the Week’s Oldest Property appeared first on Real Estate News & Insights | realtor.com®.

GPSR / MLS via Realtor.comA newly remodeled midcentury modern ranch in Palm Springs, CA, is ready for its next owner.The home was actually built for the Knott family—yep, the same owners of the Knott’s Berry Farm Southern California theme park.The most recent owners plucked the property two years ago and remodeled this sweet spot. But that ’70s vibe lives on.Patrick Jordan with Bennion Deville Homes/Patrick Stewart Properties is listing the three-bedroom, three-bath, 3,616-square-foot property, with its striking yellow door, for $3,095,000. It’s located in the tony Tennis Club neighborhood.‘Berry’ nice getawayThe Knott family commissioned the home in 1970 as their Palm Springs getaway. They enjoyed their desert oasis until the 1980s, and it’s changed hands multiple times since then.The current homeowners bought the pad in early 2020 for $1,525,000 and embarked on a long list of renovations. Now, they’re ready to move on.“They loved Palm Springs so much, they actually bought a bigger house [in Palm Springs], so their whole family could come,” Jordan says.The sellers leave the place in a transformed state.Renovations included removing two patio posts that blocked the pool view (adding one off to the right, out of sight), adding new flooring, punching up the interiors with whimsical wallpaper and lighting, and swapping out the hardware on the original cabinetry. The baths were also updated, with two of them flaunting high ceilings.The outdoor pool features fire bowls and in-water seating.“They spent quite a bit of money on the pool,” Jordan says.Other design features include a great slump-stone fireplace in the living room, which boasts views of the San Jacinto Mountains.In place of the former circular driveway, there’s now a walled pedestrian gate and fire pit.“The whole front yard was all driveway that [now] has been turned into a cool desert oasis,” Jordan says.New folding doors in the great room connect the indoor and outdoor living areas.EntryRealtor.comGreat roomRealtor.comKitchenRealtor.comDining areaRealtor.comOne of the bedroomsRealtor.comOne of the bathsRealtor.comPoolRealtor.comThe listing also includes a two-car garage.It’s just a short walk downtown, and the Palm Springs Art Museum is only a half-mile away.Palm Springs continues to attract primary- and secondary-home owners.“It’s about a 60-40 split,” Jordan says. The majority are still buying vacation homes.“But that situation changed a lot during the pandemic,” he says. More direct flights to Palm Springs have also made living here year-round easier.And with this glorious remodel, there’s nothing to do but kick back and relax.The post $3.1M Palm Springs Home Originally Built for Knott’s Berry Farm Founder Crushes It With Glorious New Design appeared first on Real Estate News & Insights | realtor.com®.

Photos courtesy of Douglas Friedman / Getty ImagesAnyone who’s ever driven through Malibu, CA, on the Pacific Coast Highway will have doubtless noted Cher‘s iconic estate, which she just listed for $85 million, according to the Wall Street Journal.The Italian Renaissance-style compound’s famous gatehouse, which serves as a guesthouse, is visible from the road. Passersby can tell there’s something remarkable behind it.The mononymous singer purchased the 1.79-acre cliffside property in 1989 for $2.95 million.It took more years for the astounding estate to be designed, planned, and then completed in 1999. In fact, the gatehouse is rumored to have been a notorious bone of contention between Cher and the Coastal Commission.Ocean viewsThe elaborate mansion measures 13,200 square feet and has seven bedrooms, plus an unlisted number of baths.“From every room, there is an ocean view,” Cher told the Journal.Of course, there’s a sweeping Pacific view from Cher’s own private quarters, which also feature a private meditation room and two closets—one is fortified and equipped to be used as a panic room.And her primary bath is designed to resemble a Turkish hammam or spa, with elaborate wood screens.And, do you believe? There are also reports of a climate-controlled room with almost 100 unique hairpieces.___Watch: Newly Renovated, the Elvis Honeymoon Hideaway Is Back on the Market for $5.65M___Fabulous featuresAmong the more fabulous features outdoors are a tennis court, infinity pool, gym, driveway lined with 40 palm trees, and courtyard with a Moorish-style fountain.The pop icon was known for throwing A-list parties and dinners, and invitations were highly coveted.As a singer, producer, and actress, Cher, 76, has won an Emmy, Grammy, and Oscar. She’s sold more than 100 million records, which ranks her among the world’s bestselling music artists.She’s been known for her pop songs and style since the 1960s, when she performed with her then-husband, Sonny Bono. The ageless artist is still active as a performer, philanthropist, and fashion icon.Real estate reduxThis is not the first time the lavish retreat has been on the market. Realtor.com® records show that Cher previously listed the property for $45 million in 2009.And her former palace in Beverly Hills was listed in 2019 for $48 million.Robert Kass of Hilton & Hyland and his colleague Drew Fenton represent the Malibu listing.The post Cher Reportedly Lists Her Landmark Malibu Estate for a Staggering $85M appeared first on Real Estate News & Insights | realtor.com®.

SCOTT OLSON / GETTY IMAGESThe numbers: Construction on new U.S. homes fell a seasonally adjusted 8.1% in September to 1.44 million, the Commerce Department said Wednesday.The drop in construction on homes reverses a sharp increase in August, when housing starts rose 13.7%.Economics polled by the Wall Street Journal expected housing starts to fall to a 1.47 million rate from June’s initial estimate of 1.58 million.On a year-on-year basis, housing starts are down 7.7% in September.Building permits for new homes rose 1.4% to 1.56 million in September. Economists had expected building permits to inch up to a 1.54 million rate from August’s initial estimate of 1.52 million.Key details: Starts of new holes fell 4.7% in September, while apartment starts fell 13.1%.Permits for new homes fell 3.1% in September while apartment construction starts rose 8.2%.Big picture: The housing market is weakening rapidly, exacerbated by affordability concerns. Analysts are hoping that Mortgage applications continue to fall last week and mortgage rates continued to climb.___Watch: Mortgage Rates Jump Again, More Than Doubling From a Year Ago___What are they saying? “Elevated input costs and shortages coupled with weakening demand will continue to be constraints going forward,” said Rubella Farooqi, chief U.S. economist at High Frequency Economics.Economists at Contingent Macro said: “While strength in multi-family provided a modest offset to some of the initial weakness, all signs suggest housing will be a considerable drag on growth late in the third quarter and into the fourth quarter.”Market reaction: Stocks were set to open lower on Wednesday while the 10-year Treasury note rose to 4.1%.The post U.S. Housing Starts Retreat in September, Dragging Down U.S. Growth appeared first on Real Estate News & Insights | realtor.com®.

MLS via Realtor.comCalling Ol’ Blue Eyes fans: If you have $12.75 million to pony up, now’s your chance to live in the hilltop estate that Frank Sinatra called home in the 1950s and ’60s.It was originally listed for $21.5 million in August 2021, then taken off the market in March of this year. It’s now available after a drastic $8.75 million price cut.The six-bedroom house sits on a lot of 8 acres in a suburban neighborhood of Los Angeles. It comes with a pool, pool house, and 2,000-square-foot pergola.Pool areaRealtor.comThere’s also a guesthouse that comes with its own in-ground pool and yard.Guesthouse with a private poolRealtor.comDining areaRealtor.comThe main home is midcentury modern. It was designed by architect William Pereira, whose futuristic buildings include San Francisco’s Transamerica Pyramid. The 1951 build has since been restored and now boasts more than 6,600 square feet of living space.There are marble floors, enormous windows, and glass sliders. Outside, there are numerous spaces to relax and take in the views of the nearby 1,325-acre nature preserve.Walls of glassRealtor.comLiving roomRealtor.comThe listing notes that the estate has been featured in many movies and TV shows.The property offers plenty of space to add equestrian facilities, a recording studio, vineyard, helipad, or additional living structures.Sinatra’s swingin’ real estate continues to appear on the market. Last year, his custom-built mountain retreat in Mountain Center, CA, became the week’s most popular home when it was listed for $4,250,000. The desert getaway was taken off the market this May.The post Frank Sinatra’s Former California Compound Sees Price Drop to $12.75M appeared first on Real Estate News & Insights | realtor.com®.

MLS via Realtor.comCalling Ol’ Blue Eyes fans: If you have $12.75 million to pony up, now’s your chance to live in the hilltop estate that Frank Sinatra called home in the 1950s and ’60s.It was originally listed for $21.5 million back in August 2021 when it included an additional 7-plus acres of land. The property is now being offered separately, reducing it by $8.75 million.The six-bedroom house sits on a lot of 8 acres in a suburban neighborhood of Los Angeles. It comes with a pool, pool house, and 2,000-square-foot pergola.Pool areaRealtor.comThere’s also a guesthouse that comes with its own in-ground pool and yard.Guesthouse with a private poolRealtor.comDining areaRealtor.comThe main home is midcentury modern. It was designed by architect William Pereira, whose futuristic buildings include San Francisco’s Transamerica Pyramid. The 1951 build has since been restored and now boasts more than 6,600 square feet of living space.There are marble floors, enormous windows, and glass sliders. Outside, there are numerous spaces to relax and take in the views of the nearby 1,325-acre nature preserve.Walls of glassRealtor.comLiving roomRealtor.comThe listing notes that the estate has been featured in many movies and TV shows.The property offers plenty of space to add equestrian facilities, a recording studio, vineyard, helipad, or additional living structures.Sinatra’s swingin’ real estate continues to appear on the market. Last year, his custom-built mountain retreat in Mountain Center, CA, became the week’s most popular home when it was listed for $4,250,000. The desert getaway was taken off the market this May.The post Frank Sinatra’s Former California Compound Back on the Market for $12.75M appeared first on Real Estate News & Insights | realtor.com®.

GMLS IDX / MLS via Realtor.comA spectacular Queen Anne Victorian mansion has hit the market in Fairfield, CT, for $6.95 million.Although built in 1997, the custom home was inspired by the landmark Vanderbilt Shelburne Farms estate from the Gilded Age in Shelburne, VT.As for the relatively newer construction that’s on the market, located on Sasco Point, the waterfront home was designed by architect Jack Franzen and features 12,378 square feet of space.Deluxe detailsThe nine-bedroom house features numerous luxury details, from the mahogany-framed windows to the oak double stairway.Grand entryRealtor.comOfficeRealtor.com“The quality of construction is second to none,” says listing agent Cindy Raney, of Coldwell Banker Realty.“It’s a very large home that feels warm and cozy. Every room has a view of the water, and the primary suite has a beautiful balcony where you can take in the views of Long Island Sound.”Who does Raney envision to be the next owner?“Some of the biggest homes sold lately we thought were going to be by a young family, but the last two we sold were to empty nesters,” she says. “They wanted a destination home for all of the kids and grandkids to come to. Most residents are there full time, but for many, it could be a second home. The buyer will definitely be looking for a property with water views.”Living roomRealtor.comBedroomRealtor.comThe spectacular primary suite boasts dual bathrooms, a sitting room, extensive closet space, a terrace, and waterfront views. There are three additional bedroom suites on the second floor, along with a laundry area and home office.The home has been professionally staged by interior designer Meridith Baer.“We used Meridith Baer to sell another house, and they bring in the most beautiful accessories that make the home look really beautiful,” Raney says.TerraceRealtor.comPoolRealtor.comThere are beautiful arches, detailed paneling, and hardwood flooring throughout the four-level home. There’s even an elevator.There’s also a four-car attached garage and a four-car detached garage. And a one-bedroom apartment with a kitchen, sitting room, laundry, and separate entry would be ideal for extended family or staff.“It also has a pool, is an easy walk to the beach, and is just an hour from New York City,” says Raney. “It’s super convenient, and it’s located on a street that is very quiet and offers absolute privacy.”The post Modern-Day Queen Anne Victorian in Connecticut Hits the Market for $6.9M appeared first on Real Estate News & Insights | realtor.com®.