Robyn A. Friedman

(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

(6/20/25) Dark olive green and navy blue may not be the first colors you think of when painting your kitchen and bedroom. But new...

(8/10/24) If you’re the owner of a luxury home – defined as the most valuable 5% of homes in any given region – then I have good news for...

(3/14/24)  If you’re planning to list your home for sale in the next few months, then you’ll be interested in some new research released...