Clear the Tracks! Arizona House With a Quirky Boxcar Bunker Quickly Finds a Buyer

Realtor.com

It only took about two weeks for the ranch with the notorious railroad-car bunker to be claimed. An offer has been accepted on the Arizona landmark that was listed recently for $1.35 million.

Located in Cave Creek, AZ, about an hour north of Phoenix, the unusual property offers even more than the famous treasure in the backyard.

The home’s peaceful setting and mountain views come with a trio of buried Santa Fe railroad cars, says Ryan Buckley, who is listing the property with Lori Cedarstrom. Both are with the Scottsdale office of Coldwell Banker Realty.

The ranch is conveniently nestled close to town, a short drive to entertainment and shopping, Buckley says.












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EXp cites ‘volatile housing market’ for double-digit sales decline in Q4

EXp World Holdings' revenue increased 13 percent to $933 million in Q4 2022 as closed transaction sides and volume fell by 13 percent and 16 percent, respectively, according to an earnings call Tuesday afternoon.

Compass revenue falls in Q4 — but losses narrow despite ‘difficult year’

In a Q4 earnings report Tuesday, Compass announced that between October and December of last year, it brought in $1.11 billion in revenue, down from $1.6 billion during the same period in 2021.

Are You a Basket Case? Why We Love All Things Woven (and How To Up Your Basket Game)

Getty Images / Houzz

Baskets are taking over the decor world.

Don’t believe us? Just click or scroll for a minute or two and count the rooms without baskets holding blankets, storing paper towels, lining pantry shelves, and corralling books. We’ll wait.

And this trend seems to get bigger every year, with baskets popping up at all price ranges and in every type of room. However, “traditionally and historically, baskets were most commonly found in the farmhouse or country-style home,” notes Shanda Richardson, a real estate broker with Premier Sotheby’s International Realty in Asheville, NC.

Curious about how baskets as a decor trend got started? See below for more of the history, and then read up on a few ways to make this look stand out in your home.






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Black Knight’s Q4 profits slip as clients cope with challenges

The company's $17.6 million in fourth-quarter net earnings represented a 71 percent decline from a year ago. Black Knight books $452.5 million in 2022 profits, up 118 percent from 2021 with revenue climbing 5 percent to $1.55 billion.

How to brand yourself when you’re broke (Hint: Think Bergdorf’s)

In the first event of Fordham Real Estate Institute’s new series, Bess Freedman, CEO of Brown Harris Stevens, sat down with her mentor Barbara Corcoran for the kickoff of the school’s "Titan Talks."

Helping new buyers get ‘invested’ in real estate

When working with buyers, take that conversation one step further, and share what you know about the different investment opportunities in real estate.

ChatGPT’s take on commissions, compliance and the MLS

RESO CEO Sam DeBord asks the latest in artificial intelligence, OpenAI’s ChatGPT, what it thinks about compensation in the MLS. Here’s what you should know.

Better lets Amazon workers put up stock as mortgage collateral

Through Better's Equity Unlocker program, borrowers pay a higher interest rate and Better can seize pledged shares if homeowners default or try to sell their stock before paying off their mortgages.

Investor activity slows, still makes up 1 in 4 homes sold in US

New data from John Burns and Redfin shows that investor activity slowed toward the end of 2022 but still accounted for about a quarter of home sales. That's up from about 11 percent in 2001.

Waterfront Wonder Crowned Connecticut’s Most Expensive Home at $150M

Realtor.com

Imagine waking up just steps away from your own mile-long beach, only 35 miles from midtown Manhattan.

That’s exactly what Copper Beech Farm, in Greenwich, CT, offers. That is, if you have $150 million.

The state’s most expensive property is listed with Leslie McElwreath and Joseph Barbieri, of Sotheby’s International Realty – Greenwich Brokerage.

The home last hit the market in 2014, when it reportedly sold for $120 million—a drop from its initial $190 million asking price.








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After clamp down in Park City, Pacaso gets a big reprieve in Utah

A bill moving swiftly through Utah's Legislature would prevent cities and counties in the state from placing restrictions on co-owned homes. The reversal is a big win for Pacaso and its rivals.

Can a mega-mansion in Paradise Valley bring in a record $75M?

The state's priciest-ever deal sold for $28.1 million in Scottsdale in June 2022, but with the lure of features like a metaverse room, a spa that generates snow and a lazy river, developers in Paradise Valley think they can get $75 million for an estate that's still in progress.

Homeowners Hold On Tight: Wind Damage Expected To Cause Billions in Losses to These Regions

Getty Images

Homebuyers along the Eastern Seaboard and Gulf Coast might increasingly be throwing caution to the wind.

Climate change is expected to worsen the risk of wind damage that homes in these regions face from storms, according to a recent report from the First Street Foundation, a nonprofit research and technology group, and Arup, a global consulting and engineering firm.

In the next 30 years, about 13.4 million homes that currently aren’t considered in harm’s way will be at risk of tropical cyclone wind damage as more storms become more powerful—and therefore more dangerous—due to climate change, the report stated.

Storms are also expected to expand farther north along the East Coast. Average annual losses are expected to increase from $18.5 billion to $19.9 billion.

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Zillow gets vote of confidence from JP Morgan analysts

Analysts gave Zillow an "overweight" rating, which means they expect Zillow to outperform peer companies. The report also sets Zillow's share price target at $48 by December of this year.

Home Buying Changes over the Last 10 Years

Home buying has changed significantly over the last 10 years due to several economic, social, and technological factors. Some of the major changes are: Increased use of online resources: With the advent of online real estate listings, virtual tours, and digital signing, the home buying process has become more streamlined and accessible to buyers.Gr...


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The Agency expands into Outaouais region of Quebec

With the new location in Outaouais, the luxury brokerage continues to strengthen its reach across Canada. This marks The Agency's 13th office located throughout the provinces of Quebec, Ontario, Alberta and British Columbia.

‘Rico to the Rescue’ Reveals Some Sneaky Yet Legit Ways To Spot (and Deal With) Shady Contractors

HGTV

Disreputable contractors who botch renovations or, worse yet, take a homeowner’s money and run are all too common—and a new HGTV show highlights the drama and some much-needed solutions.

On “Rico to the Rescue,” Denver-based real estate agent and construction restoration consultant Rico León helps homeowners rectify half-done renovation jobs, while also chasing down the contractors who’ve done the shoddy work.

“I resolve conflicts between homeowners and homebuilders,” says León. “Years ago, my parents got taken advantage of by a contractor. That’s why I’m such an advocate for homeowners.”

In the episode “Ranch House Redo,” León works with Chris and Katie, who bought a ’70s ranch house with four bedrooms and a large basement that needed a complete renovation from top to bottom.

León and his team discuss what the renovation will really cost.
Rico León and the homeowners in the house the way the contractor left it.
León's licensed dog
Empty basement left without finishes
Finished basement with generously donated materials
León speaks with the contractor
Freshly renovated kitchen
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Agents share their biggest ‘green flags’ in leadership

Agents shared the biggest "green flags" they find in good leaders and skills associated with emotional intelligence dominated responses. When leaders exhibit these qualities, team members are more likely to feel engaged, motivated and valued, leading to better overall team performance and satisfaction.

‘Mortgage Financing Remains a Headwind for Home Prices’: Home-Price Growth Slows in December, With San Francisco Leading the Way

David Paul Morris/Bloomberg via Getty Images

The numbers: The S&P CoreLogic Case-Shiller 20-city house price index rise fell 0.5% in December, its sixth monthly decline.

Year-over-year appreciation was still up 4.6%, but has slowed down from a 6.8% annual increase in the previous month.

A broader measure of home prices, the national index, fell a seasonally adjusted 0.3% in December, but was up 5.8% over the past year.

Key details: Miami, Tampa and Atlanta reported the highest year-over-year gains among the 20 cities in December.

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