Robyn A. Friedman

(3/5/26)  As insurance costs continue to rise across the country, some homeowners are opting to go without coverage at all – and a new analysis by LendingTree found that 14.1 percent of U.S. owner-occupied homes are uninsured (12.2 million properties).   Key findings of the report, which was just released, include:   ·      Nearly 1 in 7 homes across the U.S. are uninsured. ·      West Virginia has the highest rate of uninsured homes – 23.9 percent of homes in the state lack

(2/26/26)  For the first time in three and a half years, the 30-year, fixed-rate mortgage dipped below 6% this week, according to Freddie Mac. The rate averaged 5.98%, down from last week, when it averaged 6.01%.  For many buyers who have been sitting on the fences, an interest rate starting with the digit “5” is significant, and experts say the rate drop this week may incentivize them to make a move.   “This rate, combined with the improving availability of homes for sale, i

(2/20/26) A new forecast by Zillow brings good news for prospective renters: Multifamily rents are expected to remain mostly flat through the end of 2026, as higher vacancy rates and new apartment supply improve the bargaining position of renters.   The typical U.S. asking rent in January 2026 was $1,895, according to Zillow, essentially unchanged from December and up 2% from a year earlier. That’s the slowest annual rent growth since December 2020.   Apartment rents rose jus

(1/28/26)  If you’re trying to find a home that’s not subject to the rules and regulations – and fees – associated with a homeowners association (HOA), your search might be getting more difficult. According to a new report just released by Realtor.com , the share of U.S. homes located in HOAs climbed from 34.3% in 2019 to 43.6% in 2025, underscoring how HOA obligations have become an increasingly common part of the total cost of buying a home.   “HOAs are no longer confined t

(1/13/26)  An analysis released in December 2025 by the Federal Trade Commission found that since 2020, consumers reported nearly 65,000 rental scams, many of which originated from fake listings on sites like Facebook and Craigslist. Losses totaled about $65 million.   These fake listings often look very real. They copy information from legitimate rental listings, but include the scammer’s contact information instead, according to the FTC, and are found on social media sites

(12/17/25)  Most home shoppers spend months searching for the perfect home. But when it comes time to apply for the financing they need to afford that home, many gather quotes from only one mortgage lender.   According to Zillow, that’s a critical mistake that can cost a homeowner tens of thousands of dollars over the life of their loan.   According to the Zillow Consumer Housing Trends Report 2025, nearly seven in 10 mortgage shoppers submit only one application. That’s not

(12/3/25)  An analysis by Zillow and Thumbtack released on Nov. 13 found that the hidden costs of homeownership – including insurance, maintenance and property taxes – now add up to $15,979 per year nationwide. That comes to an additional $1,325 per month on top of the principal and interest portion of a typical mortgage payment.   The hidden costs in some markets are even higher. In New York City, for example, they total $24,381 per year, while in San Francisco, they come to

(10/23/25)  Who doesn’t love Halloween? The costumes, the candy, the kids?   But, for some people, Halloween goes way beyond trick-or-treat – it’s a way of life. And those folks will be happy to know that there are towns where you can live Halloween 365 days a year, not just for one night.   Zillow recently identified 13 “boo-tiful” towns where residents can embrace Halloween year-round, in communities with rich histories, plenty of charm and, perhaps, a little bit of spookin

(10/17/25)  If you’re in the market for an apartment, there’s (finally) some good news for you.   According to Zillow, rental affordability is better than it’s been in four years. Thanks to a surge of demand for housing during the pandemic, builders responded and finished more multifamily units in 2024 than any year in a half-century. While that is not necessarily good news for apartment owners, who are facing an oversupply of available apartments and increased competition fo

(10/1/25)  If you’re in the market for a fixer-upper, expect to face more competition for available homes. According to a recent analysis...