Consumer

In New York City, challenging your property tax assessment is far from straightforward. The city’s property tax appeal system is so understaffed, rushed, and opaque that even large institutional investors are often surprised by how little attention their cases receive. For homeowners and small investors, the odds of a fair review are even slimmer. “It’s ...

If you’ve tracked home or commercial sales in Reno over the past year, you’ve likely noticed a marked slowdown. Listings are down, closings are less frequent, and overall market activity has dropped. Despite appearances, the cause isn’t a lack of buyers or a collapsing market. The core issue is that deals don’t pencil out due ...

David Helbraun, founder and chairman of Helbraun Levey, has spent more than 20 years representing restaurant owners, from small cafes to large hospitality groups. His firm, which has handled thousands of openings, repeatedly sees the same lease mistakes. “People fall in love with spaces,” he says. “They stop looking at the numbers.” Here are seven ...

Tokenized real estate is often pitched as a breakthrough for investors: blockchain technology, the argument goes, allows you to buy and sell property shares instantly, unlocking liquidity in an asset class that’s usually locked up for years. But the reality is more nuanced. Tokenization does not automatically make real estate liquid, and understanding the real ...

After a sluggish start to 2024, Martin County’s housing market has shifted. Homes that lingered on the market earlier this year are now selling more quickly, and new listings are declining. The balance of power between buyers and sellers is changing, affecting how both sides should approach their next move. Current Market Conditions Martin County ...

Imagine you find the perfect condo in Boca Raton. The price fits your budget, and the location is ideal. Then you receive the insurance quote: $8,000 a year. Suddenly, your monthly housing cost jumps by $650, and the deal no longer works. For buyers and homeowners across South Florida, home insurance has become a major ...

National headlines warn of plunging office values and stalled apartment construction in major U.S. cities, but Philadelphia’s real estate market is showing more resilience than most. Appraisers working locally report that Philadelphia is holding steady, even as other towns face steeper corrections. Unlike New York or San Francisco, Philadelphia never depended heavily on office space. ...

When most people think of Philadelphia’s hottest real estate, neighborhoods like Fishtown, Northern Liberties, and Rittenhouse Square come to mind. These areas dominate headlines, social media, and bidding wars. However, appraisers working throughout the city are seeing momentum in less-hyped neighborhoods where prices remain reasonable, infrastructure is solid, and local interest is quietly building. These ...

Jacksonville’s housing market has shifted rapidly from a seller’s market to one that favors buyers. After months of limited inventory and bidding wars, the number of homes for sale in Jacksonville has climbed to about 11,000 – nearly double what agents saw during the peak of competition. For buyers who have been waiting for better ...

You’ve found the perfect Miami condo. The kitchen is updated, the price seems fair, and you’re ready to make an offer. But then the inspection uncovers costly issues, the appraisal falls short, or the loan fails to close – and the deal collapses. After more than 20 years in Miami real estate, Nayla Benitez, associate ...

Americans spend more than $200 a year on credit monitoring services, hoping to catch identity theft before it causes damage. Yet most of these services only alert you after the fact, while simple, free protections often go unused – and criminals continue to take advantage. “Everyone’s been hacked in some capacity,” says Will Smith, National ...

A studio apartment in downtown Akron currently rents for about $1,000 per month. For a two-bedroom unit, expect to pay between $1,200 and $2,000, depending on the building and the quality of finishes. Compared to Cleveland, these prices are relatively low – downtown Akron rents are less than half of what you would pay in ...

Building a luxury mountain home is a long, complex process that requires years of planning, permitting, and construction. Unlike suburban developments that can be completed quickly, mountain projects demand patience and careful execution. Developers in places like Telluride and Steamboat Springs know that rushing the process often leads to homes that look dated before the ...

Five years ago, Palm Beach County buyers focused on square footage and pools. Today, those features are still on the list, but they’re no longer the first questions asked. According to Raymond Fernandez, a sales associate and relocation specialist with eXp Realty who has sold hundreds of new-construction homes across South Florida, buyers now walk ...

Lucas Piper, owner of Five Star Vacation Home Rentals in Austin, has seen many short-term rental owners spend thousands on upgrades that fail to increase bookings. Despite investments in new furniture, complete repaints, or landscaping, some properties remain vacant for weeks. In contrast, owners who focus on a handful of targeted, inexpensive improvements consistently secure ...