Caren Parten, Briggs Freeman Sotheby's International Realty

10/16/2026

From discreet built-ins to statement-making spaces, the best home bars are defined by craftsmanship, personality and a sense of occasion. For more home-bar design inspiration, head to the Sotheby’s International Realty blog: s.sir.com/homebars.

10/15/2026

𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝟮𝟬𝟮𝟲 𝗗𝗿𝗲𝗮𝗺 𝗛𝗼𝗺𝗲 𝗢𝗽𝗲𝗻𝘀 𝗧𝗵𝗶𝘀 𝗪𝗲𝗲𝗸𝗲𝗻𝗱 ✨

Tour the dream, take home the ideas: luxury details that inspire every home, just west of Fort Worth.

Fort Worth Magazine's 2026 Dream Home opens to the public this Saturday and welcomes visitors through mid-November. This year's showpiece is a 𝘍𝘳𝘦𝘯𝘤𝘩 𝘙𝘪𝘷𝘪𝘦𝘳𝘢-𝘪𝘯𝘴𝘱𝘪𝘳𝘦𝘥 𝘦𝘴𝘵𝘢𝘵𝘦 in Aledo River, brought to life by some of North Texas' most talented builders, architects, and interior designers.

Now in its 26th year, the Dream Home is a chance to see the latest in luxury design, craftsmanship, and home technology up close, and to walk away with ideas for your own space. Even better, a portion of every ticket benefits A Wish with Wings, which grants wishes to children facing life-threatening and chronic illnesses.

🗓️ Tour dates: Oct 31 & Nov 1 | Nov 5 to 8 | Nov 12 to 15
🕚 11 am to 5 pm
📍 Aledo River, 1435 Jenkins Rd, Aledo
🎟️ $20 online or at the door (includes a one-year magazine subscription and a $10 donation to A Wish with Wings)
Tours run on select days only, so pick your weekend and plan ahead!

Tour Fort Worth Magazine's 2026 Dream Home in Aledo River and experience luxury design, innovation, and craftsmanship up close.

10/15/2026

Because an extraordinary life deserves an extraordinary home.

10/14/2026

How did this fall stack up against last year? Swipe through for a side-by-side look at how the market moved from Q3 2025 to Q3 2026, from pricing and inventory to how quickly homes are going under contract.

Big-picture numbers are a great place to start, but they only tell part of the story. 𝘌𝘷𝘦𝘳𝘺 𝘯𝘦𝘪𝘨𝘩𝘣𝘰𝘳𝘩𝘰𝘰𝘥 𝘮𝘰𝘷𝘦𝘴 𝘢𝘵 𝘪𝘵𝘴 𝘰𝘸𝘯 𝘱𝘢𝘤𝘦, and every home has its own value, character, and story. What's happening across the region may look a little different on your street.

Thinking about buying or selling, or just curious what these trends mean for your home? I'd love to walk you through the numbers for your specific neighborhood. Send me a message anytime. 🏡

10/13/2026

✨ 𝗪𝗵𝗲𝗿𝗲 𝗗𝗲𝘀𝗶𝗴𝗻 𝗠𝗲𝗲𝘁𝘀 𝗛𝗼𝗺𝗲

Finding the right home is about so much more than square footage. It's how the light moves through a space, how the rooms flow, and whether the architecture feels like it was made for the way you live.

I'm so grateful for these kind words. Helping my clients see a home's full potential, from its bones to its possibilities, is one of my favorite parts of this work. 𝘈𝘯𝘥 𝘸𝘢𝘭𝘬𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘢𝘸𝘢𝘺 𝘸𝘪𝘵𝘩 𝘢 𝘧𝘳𝘪𝘦𝘯𝘥𝘴𝘩𝘪𝘱 𝘢𝘭𝘰𝘯𝘨 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘸𝘢𝘺 makes it all the more meaningful.

Thank you for trusting me with your search. I couldn't be happier for you in your new home.

10/13/2026

Rates fluctuate, but a prime location is permanent. Marry the neighborhood you love, and let the market cycles handle the rest.

10/12/2026

𝐒𝐭𝐚𝐲 𝐢𝐧 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐡𝐨𝐦𝐞 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐥𝐨𝐯𝐞, 𝐥𝐨𝐧𝐠𝐞𝐫

For many of us, the hope is to grow older right where we are, surrounded by the rooms and memories we love. That's what 𝘢𝘨𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘪𝘯 𝘱𝘭𝘢𝘤𝘦 is all about: making a few thoughtful changes now so you can stay put safely and comfortably for years to come. And it doesn't have to mean tearing out walls. Plenty of the most helpful upgrades happen 𝘸𝘪𝘵𝘩𝘰𝘶𝘵 𝘢 𝘳𝘦𝘮𝘰𝘥𝘦𝘭.

Think lever-style door handles, brighter lighting in hallways and on stairs, a handheld showerhead, well-placed grab bars that look as good as they work, and non-slip surfaces where it counts. Small changes that add ease, safety, and peace of mind, whether it's just you or several generations under one roof.

Whether you're planning to age in place, bringing family together, or wondering if it's time for something that fits this next chapter a little better, I'm always happy to talk through your options.

10/11/2026

What do you make of this modern hammock?
Looks a little easier to get in and out of, but definitely might be less comfortable!

10/09/2026

For many first-time buyers, the biggest surprise isn’t the house hunt itself—it’s the hidden costs of homeownership. 🏡💸

Beyond the mortgage, there are things like:
🔑 Closing costs
🔧 Maintenance & repairs
💡 Utilities & property taxes

It all adds up quicker than most expect. Planning ahead for these expenses can make the transition to homeownership much smoother—and a lot less stressful.

What surprised you the most about buying your first home?

10/08/2026

𝐒𝐤𝐢𝐩 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐟𝐥𝐢𝐠𝐡𝐭 𝐭𝐨 𝐍𝐚𝐩𝐚. 🍷

One of the country's best w**e weekends is a road trip away. W**e Road 290, the 30-mile stretch of Hill Country between Johnson City and Fredericksburg, is now the 𝘴𝘦𝘤𝘰𝘯𝘥 𝘮𝘰𝘴𝘵-𝘷𝘪𝘴𝘪𝘵𝘦𝘥 𝘸𝘪𝘯𝘦 𝘳𝘦𝘨𝘪𝘰𝘯 𝘪𝘯 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘤𝘰𝘶𝘯𝘵𝘳𝘺, trailing only Napa itself.
Think rolling limestone hills, unhurried seated tastings, and Tempranillo where you'd expect Cabernet, with historic main streets and great dining to round out the weekend.

A few insider tips: 𝘣𝘰𝘰𝘬 𝘺𝘰𝘶𝘳 𝘵𝘢𝘴𝘵𝘪𝘯𝘨𝘴 𝘢𝘩𝘦𝘢𝘥 since weekends fill up fast, plan on two or three w**eries a day instead of rushing, and line up a driver or shuttle because the stops are spread out.

Get the full guide to planning your weekend at the link below.

https://bit.ly/4hwwOPn

Part of loving where you live is knowing the best of what's around it. Have a favorite Hill Country w**ery? Share it below, I'm always adding to my list.

W**e Road 290 offers a Napa-caliber experience in the Texas Hill Country, drawing over 9 million annual visitors to its dozens of premium estates.