The sudden change in the global banking landscape has left luxury real estate clients hanging out "in the parking lot," Kofi Nartey said, as they wait to see where the remaining chips will fall.

Sharing the latest funny photo is an almost irresistible impulse. However, if it crosses the line into marketing, you could be setting yourself up for financial consequences.

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While most Americans rarely worry about their bank, that faith was shaken this week when several (including Silicon Valley, Silvergate, and Signature) went under. Withdrawal runs and stock market chaos ensued, sending ripple effects far and wide. 

Yet by some miracle, one facet of the economy that remained astonishingly unruffled was the housing market—which even showed a glimmer of good news. 

Namely, mortgage rates fell this week to 6.6% for a 30-year fixed-rate mortgage, according to Freddie Mac. This marks the first drop after five weeks of pushing upward, cresting last week at 6.73%.

Plus, homebuyers who are bracing for another hefty rate hike to hit next week when the Federal Reserve meets again may instead find some relief. The Fed, after all, might be more interested in the short term in stabilizing an economy rocked by recent bank craterings rather than taming inflation.

Zillow — which held $3.4 billion in cash and investments at the end of 2022 — is well prepared to weather any storm, including the banking fallout, Barton said in a new interview on Thursday.

Catch up on the most-read stories of the week, as determined by Inman readers. Here's Inman Top 5 for March 10-16, 2023.

Marketing that repulses the intended audience is much worse than marketing with no redeeming qualities, writes Laura Viñalet. Your marketing should be strategic, purposeful and professional. Here are seven major marketing turnoffs that you should avoid.

A post-closing occupancy agreement is an agreement between the buyer and seller of a property that allows the seller to remain in the property for a certain period of time after the closing date. This agreement can be important for several reasons: Flexibility: A post-closing occupancy agreement can provide flexibility for both the buyer and seller...

Are you a real estate know-it-all? Just a big trivia buff? Take Inman's real estate marketing quiz. Test your knowledge to see if you're on the right track or if you need to study up.

Executives with the Canadian real estate tech company said its U.S. expansion plan and ambitious goals to grow its appraisal and title insurance market share are still in place.

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A Nashville, TN, home belonging to Michael Moloney of “Extreme Makeover: “Home Edition” has quickly found a buyer. It came on the market just last month for $1,850,000 and went under contract after 10 days.

While the listing agent would not comment on the seller, the listing states that a “highly creative and talented owner bought this property in 2003.”

“We have had multiple offers and have a backup as well,” says listing agent Beth Ligon Molteni, of Fridrich & Clark Realty. “The home has great street appeal, is situated on a walkable street in Nashville, and sits higher than the road. It also has a nice backyard.”

Flexible floorplan

The next owner will have a lot of options with the five-bedroom home, she adds.

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Forget the splashy in-ground pools, the brand-new deck, and those impressive fire features. The landscaping that can fetch the highest return on investment might cost homeowners only an afternoon of work.

It’s all about curb appeal. Homeowners who invest in standard lawn care service—which can be as simple as seeding and mowing their lawn to keep it green and healthy—generally see a 217% ROI, according to a recent report from the National Association of Realtors® and the National Association of Landscape Professionals.

Those who would rather not lug the lawnmower out to tackle their grass generally pay about $415 for lawn maintenance.

A home’s exterior and front yard are “the first thing that many homebuyers see as they drive up,” says NAR’s Vice President of Research Jessica Lautz. “It does impact whether a buyer is willing to step inside.”

Realtor.com

Skeletons, coffins, and spiders, oh my!

A “haunted” house that has been scaring people in Baird, TX, has officially creeped out social media, making it this week’s most popular home on Realtor.com®.

The home has been operating as a seasonal haunted house and boasts a staged interior decked out with spooky scenes. Skeletons adorn the living room, where the Grim Reaper lurks in the background. Tarantulas crawl the walls of the kitchen. There’s even a secret door found behind a coffin.

Bonus: Its affordable price won’t scare away buyers!

Home sales to Americans have increased significantly, giving them a chance to enjoy a lifestyle they could not afford in major U.S. cities, but the influx worries upsetting local residents.

Beagel aims to be a deeply integrated software partner leading with an in-browser open offer solution that allows buyers to bid on homes and agents to manage the process

This week, Byron Lazine and Nicole White discuss Brad Inman's view on the Silicon Valley Bank collapse, Plunk's impact on the real estate industry and Elon Musk's future Texas fiefdom.

It’s not always possible to predict how the world — and therefore the market — will shift. What we can do is teach new agents how to navigate the changing tides.

The days are getting longer, and many of us are looking forward to spending more time outside. Here are five favorite smart outdoor updates.

The San Francisco-based cloud banking software provider has trimmed the company's payroll by 1,100 employees and cut annual expenses by $72 million.

Realtor.com

A 1934 hacienda-style estate in Los Angeles is seeking a new steward. The listing price is $10,350,000.

The property consists of a 4,796-square-foot main house and a 2,092-square-foot guesthouse, with six bedrooms and five baths total. The 6.7-acre lot is located in West Hills in the western San Fernando Valley region. It’s about 30 miles northwest of downtown L.A.

“It became very important in motion picture history,” says listing agent Mike Deasy, of Deasy Penner & Partners, about the estate. “That part of the [San Fernando Valley] was largely undeveloped, (used) as ranch land.”

In fact, it was formed from an original 270-acre Spanish land grant.

Realtor.com

The Gorman House, which was made popular by Chip and Joanna Gaines on their very first season of “Fixer Upper,” is for sale again. This time for $1.2 million.

The seven-bedroom, seven-bath home in Waco, TX, has been on and off the market since 2021, with the price varying only slightly from $1.2 million to $1.1 million.

It’ll be interesting to see if the current owners, Baylor soccer coach Chuck Codd, and retired soccer pro Charmaine Hooper, let it go this time.

You see, after Chip and Joanna’s remarkable renovation about 10 years ago, the 3,284-square-foot Gorman House became a popular short-term rental, attracting many visitors to Waco, partly due to the Gaineses’ rising popularity and partly for Baylor University events and activities.