Strategic Moves Realty - Compass

Once you get the keys, the expenses don’t stop, so it helps to budget for repairs, insurance, taxes, maintenance, and the surprises that come with ownership.

Costly First-Time Homeowner Mistakes to Avoid Owning your first home comes with a learning curve, and many of the biggest surprises aren’t part of the purchase itself. This guide covers common mistakes such as underestimating taxes and insurance, postponing routine maintenance, rushing into renovations, overlooking neighbourhood restrictions,...

Angelina Jolie has sold her sprawling Los Angeles pad for $24.75 million—months after putting the opulent property on the market and confessing she wants to leave the U.S. for good.

Angelina Jolie Sells Los Angeles Mansion for $24.75 Million—After Revealing Plans To Leave the U.S. for Good Jolie, 51, purchased the extraordinary dwelling, which was once home to iconic filmmaker Cecil B. DeMille, for $24.5 million in 2017, less than a year after she filed for divorce from fellow on-screen star Brad Pitt, and it has served as her primary residence ever since.

Putting less than 20% down can work for some buyers, but understanding the trade-offs matters just as much as getting into the market quickly.

Do You Really Need 20% Down to Buy? The idea that every buyer needs a 20% down payment is one of the biggest misconceptions in real estate. This article looks at different loan options, why some buyers choose smaller down payments, and what trade-offs come with that decision, including mortgage insurance and monthly costs. For first-t...

With a few tips and clever design techniques, you can make your outdoor space appear more spacious.

Unique Ways To Make Your Tiny Garden Look Much More Spacious Don't allow space limitations to destroy your dreams of having a lovely garden. With a few tips and clever design techniques, you can make your outdoor space appear more spacious. As you enhance the perception of your garden's size, it's important to make a plan and stick to it. Avoid cluttering the...

If you’re preparing to buy a home in the U.S., how confident do you feel about mortgages? This quiz gives you a chance to test your knowledge.

Test Your Mortgage Knowledge Before Buying a Home Preparing to buy a home in the U.S.? Realtor.com’s sponsored mortgage quiz offers a way to check your familiarity with home financing. Use it as a starting point for identifying topics you’d like to understand better and questions to bring into a mortgage conversation. Learning the basics can he...

Homeownership can feel out of reach when you're focused on perfect numbers, but understanding your actual options may change the picture.

Why Some First-Time Buyers Misjudge Their Down Payment Needs Many aspiring buyers spend years assuming they need a much larger down payment than lenders actually require. This article explores how "money dysmorphia" can cause people to underestimate their financial readiness, even when they've made meaningful progress toward their goal. While every buyer's si...

If you’ve been holding on to a low mortgage rate, moving can feel like a bigger financial decision now. For sellers who do need to move, the useful question is what today’s local market supports, not what a home might have fetched at its peak.

What Higher Rates Could Mean for U.S. Home Sellers Real estate professionals discuss how higher borrowing costs may affect listing times, pricing decisions, and homeowners considering a move in the United States.

If you're wondering whether the market is shifting in your favor, longer selling times and more inventory are often some of the first signs to watch.

How to Tell When It’s a Buyer’s Market Real estate markets are always changing, and it can be difficult to know when conditions are starting to favor buyers. This article walks through some of the common signs, including rising inventory, slower sales, price reductions, and increased negotiating room. Every market is different, but under...

If you're planning to update your home, don't assume older design ideas are out of style. Several familiar finishes and materials are finding their way back into modern spaces.

Classic Design Details Making a Comeback in 2026 Home design trends are shifting away from spaces that feel overly polished and toward rooms with more warmth, texture, and personality. This 2026 article looks at several classic design details that are returning in fresh ways, showing how familiar materials and finishes can make a home feel more in...

Before you buy, ask about repairs as well as the age of the roof and major equipment. A maintenance history can tell you much more than an installation date alone.

Six Details to Check Before Buying a House A practical checklist for U.S. home tours, covering water pressure, signs of leaks, roof flashing, maintenance history, storage, and natural light.