Sherry Spinelli, Realtor

What is a luxury homebuyer looking for when shopping for their new abode?

10 Must-Have Items That Luxury Home Buyers Want Most Here are 10 ideas listed in order of popularity that we think may intrigue even the wealthiest of home shoppers (or if you’re not among the jet-set, then here are 10 lavish home ideas that you can attempt to replicate on a much lower scale and less affluent budget).

“Stronghold” in Bernardsville is 140 years old

Gilded Age New Jersey mansion lists for $14M Situated on 32 acres in the heart of horse country, the 20,000-square-foot mansion was once owned by the prominent New York couple, James Coleman Drayton and Charlotte Augusta Astor, a member of the famous Astor family.

Here are the 10 best crowdfunding real estate platforms out there and the features that make them unique.

10 Best Real Estate Crowdfunding Investment Platforms In 2023 By pooling money with other investors, you can partake in larger real estate projects previously beyond your reach. An abundance of real estate crowdfunding apps is making investing even easier, allowing investors to browse and join in on projects from the convenience of their mobile devices.

Are you wondering how to get an offer accepted on a house in today’s highly competitive market? You’re in the right place!

How To Get An Offer Accepted On A House Many housing markets around the country are seeing scarce inventory and a lot of competition for available homes. If you’re in a hot seller’s market, simply offering the asking price may not be enough to get you into a home. And if you’ve found the home of your dreams, well, you’ll need to g...

Despite an interest rate pause in June, rates are expected to increase again after the Fed's July meeting.

Could mortgage rates drop in 2023? What homebuyers should know now Coming off of historic lows, mortgage rates today are around 6% to 7% APR. But as inflation shows signs of cooling and the Fed slows down rate hikes, many potential homebuyers may be optimistic about where rates could go over the next several months.

We combined reputable pricing information from our online research with insights from contractors and builders who have spearheaded these types of massive projects in the past.

Building Up? Here’s the Cost to Add a Second Story to Your Home You’ve decluttered, reorganized, and maybe even rearranged some furniture, but there’s no getting around the fact that you’ve outgrown your single-story home. Maybe your family has expanded, or perhaps you’re now working permanently from home. Whatever the situation, you need more space — ...

Although obtaining a loan with a bad credit history may seem nearly impossible, there are still ways to purchase a home with a not-so-great credit score.

How to Buy a House With Bad Credit

For the last 18 years of his life, André Leon Talley — Vogue’s pioneering creative director — lived in a stately center-hall colonial in White Plains, N.Y.

André Leon Talley’s ‘Sanctuary’ in White Plains, N.Y., Is for Sale Mr. Talley died last year at age 73, after complications from Covid. The house is now for sale for $1.25 million. “The house is a masterpiece,” said the listing broker, Bonnie Stein, an associate broker at Julia B. Fee Sotheby’s International Realty in Rye, N.Y. “It has tons of character. Th...

We’ll explore the world of house flipping and provide the information you need to make the best decision for your situation.

What Is a House Flipper? A Guide for Home Sellers If you’re unfamiliar with the term or unsure about what it entails, don’t worry — this guide is designed to help homeowners like you understand the ins and outs of this real estate strategy. We’ll explore the world of house flipping and provide the information you need to make the best decis...

Lower house prices might be behind the jump, which would be good news for the Fed's inflation fight.

New home sales surprisingly surged 20% last month. It shows the fight against inflation is working. Sales of new residential homes surged 20% year-on-year to 763,000 units, according to the US Census Bureau and the Department of Housing and Urban Development. That was well above the expected 636,000 figure, the agencies said.

Here are 5 things you can do leading up to your move to make for less stress on moving day.

5 Stress-Reducing Tips for Planning Your Long-Distance Move Move-in day excitement shouldn’t be overshadowed by moving day anxiety. Some smart preparation can go a long way towards making moving a little more uplifting (and a little less heavy lifting). Here are 5 things you can do leading up to your move to make for less stress on moving day.

Follow these cost-cutting tips to personalize your home without exceeding your remodeling budget.

14 Low-Cost Updates That Add Value to Your Home The customization and personalization of your home are important. It can benefit the flow and function of the space, making it more suitable for your family and your aesthetic. Unfortunately, home renovations can seriously add up. With a little planning and creative thinking, you can cut costs witho...

The 30-year fixed mortgage rate averaged 6.81% for the week ending July 6 — up from 6.71% last week.

U.S. mortgage rates climb again

Continue reading to discover luxury home upgrades that will transform your home into the ultimate coastal oasis.

Luxury Home Upgrades to Transform Your Space If you are considering building a custom home or updating your current residence , you may be considering which features to add to your wishlist. From technological enhancements to design components, there are certain elements that can elevate your home to the next level. Details such as these can m...

We’ve compiled a list of 10 common mistakes people make when buying a house.

Home Buying Blunders: 10 Rookie Mistakes To Avoid When Buying a House Buying a home will likely be the most expensive decision of your life. In the best-case scenario, it’s the first step toward building significant generational wealth. But if you buy a money pit, take on too much debt, or settle for something you don’t really want, you could be stuck with a finan...

With competition for homes at an all-time high, there's no time for rookie mistakes.

Common Real Estate Myths That You Need To Know Home shopping may be ramping up as more Americans are looking to move out of their expensive city homes to more affordable ones in the suburbs. Despite the ups and downs of the stock market, the real estate market has remained hot; with competition for homes at an all-time high, there's no time for....

One additional bedroom can make all the difference if you need extra space in your home.

How Much Does Adding a Bedroom Increase Home Value? If you need the added space, the cost and time involved in renovating your home may be worthwhile considering that you may recoup 53% to 75% of the costs.

Knowing what to fix – and what not to fix when selling a home – can be tricky.

Don’t Fix These 7 Things When Selling Your House The accepted wisdom of real estate holds that houses in good condition bring in a higher price than houses in not-so-great condition. While that is generally true, it’s possible to “over-improve” a home to the point of losing money if the return doesn’t match the investment.

Let’s take a look at 10 hard money terms to look out for when applying for a loan.

10 Important Terms To Know When Applying For A Hard Money Loan Applying for an investment property loan requires understanding the terms used in the lending industry. This is especially important if you are considering taking out a hard money loan. Hard money loans are typically used for short-term financing and are secured by real estate.

Home prices aren’t down everywhere, in some places they’re actually on the rise. If you live in these 5 cities, you might be shocked by your home’s value.

The (Surprising) Top 5 Cities Where Home Prices are Going Up

Whether you’re buying an upscale home or doing an update based on the latest luxury home trends, below are seven things people will expect to find when they visit.

Seven Must Have Features for Today’s Luxury Homes Everyone dreams of owning a beautifully updated home with all the creature comforts a person could ask for and more. These are the homes that fall in the luxury category. They aren’t necessarily mansions, but they do offer owners and their families the ultimate living experience.

It’s important to know how to get a CMA done for your home.

How Do I Get a Comparative Market Analysis and What Does a CMA Cost? One of the most powerful tools for determining your home’s value is called a comparative market analysis, or CMA, which is a comprehensive report that uses a plethora of data to compare your home to similar properties nearby. If you are wondering, “How do I get a comparative market analysis?” ...

If you rely mostly -- or solely -- on a fixed income, click through to see the best places to live in your state.

25 Best Places in the US To Live on a Fixed Income The average Social Security benefit for retired workers is $1,827 per month in 2023. That comes out to $21,924 in annual benefits for a single person, or $43,848 per year for a couple. For some people, that's their only monthly income.

Oklahoma City and Birmingham, Alabama, are the next two most popular.

Gen-Z homebuyers are flocking to these 3 cities the most - and avoiding California and New York Americans face a housing market characterized by low inventory and high mortgage rates. At the same time, adult Gen Zers have come of age in a remote-friendly professional landscape, altering beliefs about housing and location.

Here’s a closer look at these innovative devices so you know what you’re getting into before making a purchase.

How do robot lawn mowers work? Although not quite as mainstream as robot vacuums, robot lawn mowers are becoming increasingly popular. These nifty devices make it easy to maintain a beautiful lawn without lifting a finger — although you’ll need to make a pretty hefty upfront investment, as robot lawn mowers don’t come cheap...

The study, based on nearly 30 years of data from the state that has most enthusiastically embraced electric vehicles, demonstrates how EV charging infrastructure constitutes an in-demand amenity as well as a facilitator for achieving a carbon-free U.S. economy.

More EV charging stations amp up home values As electric vehicles continues to speed ahead in the market, a new study from the University of Maryland's Center for Global Sustainability (CGS) found that homebuyers are willing to pay a premium in areas where it's easy to top up those electrons in the batteries of their plug-in rides.

There are a large number of things that often go unaccounted for—particularly by newbies but also by more seasoned investors—when estimating a rehab budget.

You’re Making a Mistake if You Are Not Adding Contingencies Rehab Budgets

It’s crucial to understand the overall pros and cons of ARMs and how they work. Forewarned is forearmed, after all.

Pros and cons of an adjustable-rate mortgage Say “mortgage,” and most people think of a fixed-rate, long-term loan. While that’s certainly the most popular variety, it’s not the only home loan in town. For some aspiring homeowners, an adjustable rate mortgage might be a better option.

After numerous record-breaking, pandemic-fueled, $100-million-plus mega-mansion sales, the hyped up Hamptons may have finally hit a wall.

Beach bargains: Hamptons luxury home prices are dropping Most of the trophy homes that traded during the pandemic remain happily occupied, leaving little for hungry buyers to choose from. And many have taken a wait-and-see approach due to soaring interest rates, a shaky stock market and the looming threat of “the R word.”

If you had a choice between two equally spectacular Tuscan-style vineyard estates in Northern California — one in Healdsburg for $9.5 million and one in Livermore for $4.88 million — which would you buy?

A pairing of Northern California luxury wine vineyard estates. Which do you prefer?

High interest rates, inflated prices and tight supply are weighing on the traditionally busy spring market.

Home sales barely budge from April to May in sluggish spring market There were just 1.08 million homes on the market at the end of May. That’s 6.1% lower than the supply in May of last year. At the current sales pace that represents a three-month supply. Six months is considered a balanced market. Before the Covid pandemic hit, there were nearly twice as many home...

Some of these items may seem like no-brainers, but we bet there are a few that you never thought of!

How to Prep Your House For Sale and Attract Buyers When selling a home, there’s a lot of work just to prep your house for sale. However, real estate agents say it’s not uncommon for clients to forget something when prepping. We’ve assembled this list of the top things you can take care of to help your home make a great impression, entice buyer...

The ranks of Gen Z homeowners will almost certainly grow in the coming years as they scale corporate ladders and amass savings.

Gen Z is coming for the housing market There's a lot we still don't know about Gen Z when it comes to the housing market, since a large chunk of the generation is just starting out on their own. But compared with millennials, who came of age in the shadow of the Great Recession and the housing bust, Gen Zers have been lucky: They largely...

The most recent iteration of the BMO Real Financial Progress Index revealed a number of new information including that over 65% of Americans are waiting on mortgage rates to drop before buying a home in today’s market.

Over 60% of Potential Home Shoppers Waiting for Rates to Drop According to BMO, compared to a year ago, homebuyers are dealing with much higher costs of ownership due to a combination of elevated mortgage rates, persistently high home prices and limited inventory, leaving housing affordability near the most challenging levels in more than 30 years as a result....

The five-bedroom house is in the fashionable La Californie neighborhood, which is known as 'billionaires' hill' and was once home to artist Picasso.

Estee Lauder's 'favorite home' goes on sale: Five-bedroom French villa listed for $9.4mn A new owner can enjoy spectacular views of the sea, hosting up to ten people

As the spring real estate market kicked into full gear in May, home sales in Northern Virginia were down 24.9% compared with May 2022, although home values remained strong.

Home sales, inventory remain low in Northern Virginia; prices holding steady “The environment may be different than a year ago, but we are still selling homes,” said NVAR board member Colleen Wright. “The small decrease in mortgage rates has helped, but choices remain limited because many homeowners are wary of giving up the great rates they already enjoy. Buyers conti...

Two home inspectors shared tips with Insider to help homebuyers make informed decisions.

5 things home inspectors wish you knew before buying a home The decision to buy a new home is not one to be taken lightly. Certified financial planner Colin Moynahan told Insider in 2019 that the cost of a home amounts to one of the "top single expenses [a person] will ever pay."

People who think they can “never qualify to buy a home” might be surprised at what FHA can do.

Is It Easier To Qualify for FHA or Conventional? First-time homebuyers who are just starting out often wonder whether it's easier to qualify for FHA than conventional. In a word, yes. In fact, that’s the whole reason FHA was created. Its purpose was and is to give people a chance to buy a home when they can’t meet conventional lending requirem...

Here are the 10 best places to buy a home in 2023, according to NAR.

The 10 best cities to buy a home in 2023 are all in the South Even with rising homeownership costs squeezing out buyers, some real estate markets will remain hot in 2023, mostly due to their relative affordability compared with the rest of the U.S., a new forecast finds.

You can avoid unwanted surprises during the home buying or selling process by understanding the common closing costs and what you can expect to pay as a buyer and seller.

Who Pays The Closing Costs: Sellers or Buyers? Closing costs are a crucial aspect of any real estate transaction, but they can vary widely, build up quickly, and be confusing to understand. Buyers tend to focus on the upfront expenses like the purchase price and down payment. Sellers often consider the repairs and renovations needed to make the....