There’s No Place Like Home: Former Kansas Church Is Now a Heavenly House

Realtor.com

From 1885 until the early 2000s, a Lutheran church in rural Home, KS, was the backdrop for worship services, weddings, and other gatherings.

Then it closed and found new life as a business.

And in 2020, the former church became a home.

“I thought I was going to be staying here forever; that was my plan,” says listing agent and owner Jessica Leis, with Midwest Land and Home. “I love living here.”











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Idaho House Where 4 College Students Were Stabbed To Death To Be Demolished

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The Idaho house where four college students were found stabbed to death in their beds will be demolished this spring.

The owners of the six-bedroom, three-bathroom house on the Idaho-Washington border offered to give the off-campus rental to the University of Idaho, and school officials accepted.

Students Kaylee Goncalves, 21, Madison Mogen, 21, Xana Kernodle, 20, and Ethan Chapin, 20, were murdered on the second and third floors of the Moscow rental in the early hours of Nov. 13. The school plans to raze the home by the end of the spring semester.

“This is a healing step and removes the physical structure where the crime that shook our community was committed,” University of Idaho President Scott Green wrote in an email to students last week. “Demolition also removes efforts to further sensationalize the crime scene.”

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How to Get More Real Estate Listings

Getting more real estate listings can be a challenge, but there are several strategies that real estate agents and brokers can use to increase their chances of success: Develop a strong online presence: In today's digital age, having a strong online presence is crucial for any real estate professional. This can include creating a professional websi...


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Fannie and Freddie keep building capital reserves as profits shrink

By one measure, the mortgage giants have built up two-thirds of the reserves needed for them to be released from government conservatorship.

Tokenization for Real Estate

Tokenization is the process of breaking down a larger asset or investment into smaller, more manageable pieces that can be bought and sold by investors. In the context of real estate, tokenization involves the creation of digital tokens that represent fractional ownership in a property. Tokenization can be beneficial for real estate investors in se...


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New York’s luxury office towers attract employees back to work

The latest report from the Real Estate Board of New York finds Class A office buildings have higher occupancy rates.

Erin and Ben Napier of ‘Home Town’ Break a Beloved Design Rule: Should You, Too?

HGTV

On “Home Town,” Erin and Ben Napier tend to follow tried-and-true design rules when remodeling a house—but in the latest episode, they prove that any rule can be broken for the right occasion.

In the Season 7 episode “Blue Heaven,” the Napiers meet Michael and his adult son, Maclain, who have moved from Florida to Laurel, MS. He’s bought a four-bedroom, two-bathroom house listed at $157,000 and has $100,000 for renovations.

His house is a cozy Craftsman in a charming Southern town. Nonetheless, Michael is insisting that the makeover veer in a totally different direction, giving the space a breezy, coastal aesthetic.

This sunny Craftsman undergoes a coastal makeover on HGTV’s “Home Town.”

HGTV

This sunny Craftsman undergoes a coastal makeover on HGTV's
Erin and Ben Napier choose blue for the exterior of their client's Craftsman home.
A blue and white color scheme and restored ceramic statue are design wishes come true for the buyer and his family.
Erin picks a wallpaper pattern she knows Michael will love.
The kitchen undergoes a major change to its existing color scheme and floor plan.
Wood finishes warm up the space that's decked out in cool paint colors.
Erin and Ben use wooden touches to ground the airy coastal vibes of Michael's vision.
Ben Napier sees the home's dated built-in cabinets as an opportunity to upcycle.
The cabinet's molding serves as a secret drawer.
A bistro setup on the porch provides the perfect setting for Michael to take in the view.
Erin and Ben admire the custom family portrait they commissioned for Michael's new breakfast nook.
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Staging a House Showing

Staging a house showing is an important part of the home selling process, as it can help make the property more attractive to potential buyers. Here are some tips on how to stage a house showing: Declutter and depersonalize: Remove any personal items, such as family photos and personal memorabilia, as well as excess clutter. This will help buyers v...


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Pending Home Sales Rise 8.1% in January, Largest Increase Since June 2020

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The numbers: U.S. pending home sales rose 8.1% in January, according to the monthly index released Monday by the National Association of Realtors (NAR), with sales rising for the second month in a row.

Pending home sales last rose by this much in June 2020, fueled by pandemic buying.

Pending home sales beat analyst expectations. Analysts polled by the Wall Street Journal had forecast the pending home sales index to rise by 0.9%.

Contract signings rose in all four regions on a monthly basis.

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Pending home sales rose in January — but those gains are unlikely to last

The Pending Home Sales Index jumped 8.1 percent to a reading of 82.5 in January, before mortgage rates began another climb, according to data released Monday by the National Association of Realtors.

Drummer Anton Fig’s Airy NYC Apartment on the River Hits the Market for $2.9M

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And the beat goes on.

Longtime drummer Anton Fig, who played in Paul Shaffer‘s house band for the “Late Show With David Letterman,” is ready to make a move.

The musician recently listed his posh, loft-like apartment on Manhattan’s West Side for $2,995,000. He paid $2,404,000 for it in 2015.

Perched beside the Hudson River and just steps from Riverside Park, the three-bedroom, two-bath, 1,700-square-foot prewar dwelling sports spectacular views from its large windows.









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$1.3 Million Homes in California

A Craftsman bungalow in Pasadena, a Spanish-style house in Palm Springs and a three-bedroom cabin in Truckee.

5 Outdoor Home-Staging Mistakes Sellers Make That Could Turn Off Buyers

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Before potential buyers even set foot in your home, they’ve likely already scoped it out online. Well-staged listing photos are a must for generating interest and bringing buyers around. Then, once buyers see it in person, a pristine home can help increase the amount buyers are willing to offer.

But what some sellers don’t realize is that home staging isn’t just for interiors. It’s imperative to stage the outdoor areas, too.

“A well-staged outdoor area can increase the perceived value of the home and set it apart from the competition,” says Eric Tamminga of Iron Embers, a fire pit and outdoor furniture manufacturing company based in Ontario.

To help better stage your porch, patio, deck, or backyard—and increase your curb appeal—be sure to avoid these missteps.





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The Homebuyer Burnout Epidemic: Why House Hunting Feels So Hopeless Now—and When the Agony Will End

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When Jenna Watts moved to Savannah, GA, where her husband, Gil, was born and raised, she expected the couple would be renters for a year or two at the most. The couple began house hunting in October 2020, hoping to put down roots as they started a family.

Three and a half years later, they have seen over 50 homes and made offers on several. Each time, the couple lost to an all-cash buyer, often someone from the Northeast or the West Coast who recently sold a home and were looking to downsize Down South.

Jenna, 30, and Gil, 31, have a good budget for a home, but they can’t pay all cash. The months and months of disappointments have taken a toll.

“When I see new listings, I don’t get excited anymore,” Jenna says. “I feel burned out. Sometimes I feel numb to the whole process because it’s been so repetitive, and it just feels like things are stagnant and there’s no light at the end of the tunnel.”

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RE/MAX turns 50: What to expect at the R4 conference this week

RE/MAX is hosting its annual R4 conference in Las Vegas Sunday through Wednesday. Here are the sessions, speakers and events — including a performance from Maroon 5 — you can't miss.

Take Inman’s inaugural Intel leadership survey here

What's it like to lead during the largest housing market correction since the Great Recession? Inman wants to know what leaders, executives and entrepreneurs are doing to stay afloat.

In Brooklyn, a Tiny Apartment and a Neighborhood Filled With Families

A woman traveled the world, but when she wanted to settle down with her husband and son, she discovered that Carroll Gardens brought the most sunlight and joy.

Cardone says REI will ‘save housing’: The Real Word

This week, Byron Lazine and Nicole White discuss the latest from Gary Keller, Grant Cardone's market predictions and little things that undermine real estate businesses. 

Circa 2010: What real estate agents need to know about kitchens and baths

Knowing these trends and being able to discuss them with buyers and sellers will give Realtors a distinct advantage. Suggesting modern features to sellers to add to their homes before listing existing properties will also give agents additional power.

Growing your real estate business abroad? Consider a helping brand

In today’s global business landscape, taking the right name in real estate — and all that comes with it — can make all the competitive difference.

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