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With wintry weather still howling in some parts of the country, it can be tough to visualize what your yard will look like when it isn’t buried under snow in a few weeks.

But despite the chill in the air, spring and summer really are just around the corner.

To help you prepare for another season of outdoor gatherings and all-day relaxation, we’re here with some ideas for easy backyard upgrades. Here are seven expert tips for maximizing your outdoor space, so you can start enjoying it when spring finally makes her debut.

1. Spruce up the flower beds

Spring is all about new life, so what better way to transition your outdoor space this season than with fresh, green growth?

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Those of us who like our sunlight hours to extend into the evening will appreciate the upcoming transition to daylight saving time—as well as houses that take full advantage of it.

We’ve found five gorgeous glass houses that look out on some of the most glorious landscapes in the country: the mountains around Sundance, scenic Lake Placid, and the Mojave Desert’s Joshua Tree, just to name a few highlights.

Now you won’t want to be throwing stones if you live in any of these glass houses, because they’re all multimillion-dollar investments. Great views rarely come cheap, after all.

But if you’re looking for a home that lets sunlight in and gives you almost unlimited opportunities to gaze out, one of these places could be just the ticket.

HGTV

Today’s real estate market is tough for everyone—even reality TV stars.

At least, that’s the takeaway we glean from the second episode of Tarek and Heather Rae El Moussa‘s new show, “The Flipping El Moussas.”

In “The Flipping Delays,” the married flipping partners seem to be struggling straight out of the gate, having purchased a run-down, cockroach-infested, 1971 Spanish-style house in Long Beach, CA, for a whopping $1,090,000.

After surveying how much work they’ll have to do to this five-bedroom, 2.5-bathroom, 3,517-square-foot house, they estimate they’ll need just over $300,000 to renovate, as well as an additional $125,000 in selling and carrying costs.

Real estate coaching is a service provided to real estate agents and brokers to help them improve their skills, knowledge, and performance in the real estate industry. Real estate coaching can take many forms, including one-on-one coaching, group coaching, online coaching, and in-person training sessions. Real estate coaches can provide guidance an...

In the most dramatic banking implosion since the Great Recession, regulators on Friday shut down the bank, which boasted ties to proptechs, including Airbnb, Opendoor and OJO.

Catch up on the most-read stories of the week, as determined by Inman readers. Here's Inman Top 5 for March 3-9, 2023.

The typical monthly payment rose to $2,563 this week despite home prices that were down 1 percent, according to data on Friday. That’s the highest monthly payment on record, up 29 percent from last year.

Luxury home sales fell 44.6 percent year over year, according to data released Friday by Redfin. Prices are nevertheless still high because inventory is so low, economists say.

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If you’re the type of homebuyer whose mood soars or plummets depending on the latest mortgage rates, then this week was a tough one.

Mortgage interest rates climbed to 6.73% for a 30-year fixed-rate mortgage, for the week ending March 9, according to Freddie Mac. This means today’s homebuyers will have to pay almost 50% more per month for home than they would have just a year earlier.

This steep hike in housing costs might hurt the rebound that had been emerging in the housing market, when rates were lower earlier this year.

“Recent signs of a housing bottom have been encouraging, but the still-shifting financial and economic landscape makes it hard to pinpoint whether the floor is firm enough to withstand these new challenges,” says Realtor.com® Chief Economist Danielle Hale in her most recent analysis. “In the meanwhile, that means housing activity is likely to continue roughly in line with its recent low pace of sales.”

The real estate industry got two kernels of good news in the latest jobs numbers from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.

Formerly an independent brokerage, The Nassimi Group has relinquished its indie status to become a 10-person team under Douglas Elliman. In 2022, Richard Nassimi closed roughly $80 million in sales volume.

Coldwell Banker Seacoast Advantage allegedly pocketed commission fees it told its agents were going to the franchisor. The brokerage says the allegations are "a complete fabrication."

Symba is fintech-light layered over a deal tracker, spliced with back-office accounting. It’s a superb tool for anyone new or growing in the business and a solid accessory solution for those already comfortable managing their numbers.

Color can make a difference in everything from how you feel to how you’re perceived. Find out how to use it more effectively in your branding and marketing.

The company logged revenue of $207.3 million in the fourth quarter of 2022 compared to $334.2 million a year earlier, according to an call Friday morning to discuss Q4 and 2022 earnings.

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Quarterback Baker Mayfield is now a free agent after playing for both the Carolina Panthers and the Los Angeles Rams last season.

And according to reports, there’s NFL-wide interest in Mayfield’s signal-calling chops.

Of more immediate relevance, though, is the interest in Mayfield’s Ohio real estate.

After just 13 days on the market, the athlete’s four-bedroom, 3.5-bath home in Westlake, OH, sold for $949,900—nearly what he’d asked for it.

Photo courtesy of A New Day - Interior Design Studio via Houzz

White has been the go-to color for kitchen cabinets, countertops, and backsplashes for as long as we can remember. In a room that gets so messy, homeowners can’t help but gravitate toward pristine, white furnishings that make the room feel open and bright.

But over the past handful of years, the sterile soullessness that’s inherent to the all-white kitchen has caused the pendulum to swing toward design trends with contrast, like two-tone cabinets (i.e., light-color uppers and dark-color lowers) and dark stone countertops. Homeowners have warmed up to the idea of playing with color and texture in their kitchen in a big way.

The following popular posts from Instagram feature designs that demonstrate how to tastefully infuse color into your kitchen in a variety of ways. So if you’re looking to get out of your monochrome rut, keep reading for some fresh ideas for your kitchen.

1. Color pop in the cabinets

For those who aren’t quite ready to redo their cabinet fronts in a bold hue, check out this technique from @colombe studio.

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An 8,880-square-foot house in Zanesville, OH, complete with a stripper pole and windowless rooms is this week’s most popular home on Realtor.com®.

With an off-the-charts creep vibe, the five-bedroom home could double as the set of a horror flick. At first glance, the newly renovated interior looks beautiful with its high ceilings and modern kitchen, but then it gets downright scary from there. The bedrooms are windowless, some of the bathrooms have no doors, and then there’s the “entertainment area” with the stripper pole.

Other homes that made the popularity list include a waterfront mobile home in Florida for under $200,000, a Wisconsin property that originated as a church and evolved into a library before transforming into a home, and a classic midcentury modern home in Missouri.

For a full look at this week’s 10 most popular homes, keep on scrolling.

The cluttered, lively ethos of Apartment Life offers an antidote to the chilly perfectionism of Instagram — and creative ideas that still feel relevant.