Robyn A. Friedman

(6/9/26) If you’re thinking about purchasing a newly constructed home, prepare yourself for sticker shock. In addition to the rising costs of labor and materials, regulatory costs at the federal, state and local levels have added $131,734 to the cost of a new single-family home, according to a new study by the National Association of Home Builders (NAHB). That’s 26.4 % of the average sales price of $499,500 as of January 2026. That’s why NAHB is advocating for the reductio

(6/1/26) If you prefer to rent your home rather than own it, then Zillow has some good news for you. According to Zillow’s latest rental report, concessions – incentives such as free rent, waived fees and discounted move-in costs – are showing up on nearly 40% of listings (39.8% to be exact). For renters, that can translate into meaningful savings both upfront and over the life of a lease. A year ago, roughly 1 in 3 rental listings offered a concession of some sort. Befo

(5/18/26) Are you put off by the high cost of new construction? Well, don’t be. According to new research released this month by Realtor.com, buyers of newly built homes save an average of $25,335 over the first 10 years of ownership when compared to buyers of 20-year-old homes. The savings, due to lower energy bills and fewer major repairs, offset the higher upfront costs of purchasing a new home. “Homeownership is not a one-time expense, and the ongoing costs of owning a

(4/26/26) Miami developer One Thousand Group and Minor Hotels, a Bangkok-based luxury resort owner and operator, have announced Anantara Miami Resort & Residences, the Anantara brand’s debut project in the United States. The development will include a 50-story tower, with 100 private branded condominium residences and 120 resort residences, which allow owners to make their units available to hotel guests. There will also be 50 five-star hotel suites and an extensive list o

(4/16/26) While homeownership remains the American dream and the goal for many Americans, right now the rental market is more affordable across the country, according to a new report by Realtor.com . The report, released today, found that in March, renting a starter home was the more affordable option across all 50 of the nation’s largest metros, with average monthly savings of $920 compared to buying. Disciplined renters who hold onto those savings can ultimately apply th

(3/24/26) Which features are likely to make buyers pay more for a house? New Zillow research found that homes with lifestyle-driven amenities and move-in-ready finishes are selling for as much as 5.4% more than expected – or about $19,500 extra on the typical home. Features likely to attract buyers today – and, more importantly, get them to open their wallets, include: · Cottage-inspired lifestyle features, such as docks and outdoor fireplaces . These features can

(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