DVN57 Properties & Interior Design

10/27/2025

The path to homeownership hiding in plain sight

In your mind, what defines a “starter” home? A modest two-bedroom house with a yard and a manageable mortgage? Reality check: That home now costs over $1 million in most states, according to Realtor.com’s Allaire Conte. .

“Getting into one requires $250,000 for a down payment, a household income of nearly $225,000, and the ability to cover a $6,400 monthly mortgage,” she says. “It's no wonder first-time homebuyers made up a new historic low of just 24% of home sales in 2024,” she adds, citing the National Association of Realtors. .

But is there a middle ground that's been overlooked? Perhaps. Manufactured and modular homes are now shedding their outdated stigma and proving they can build wealth just as effectively as traditional homes. .

Hannah Jones, senior economic research analyst at Realtor.com, explains that many manufactured homes remain affordable in lower-cost markets while still experiencing strong price appreciation. According to the Urban Institute’s analysis of FHFA data from 2000 to 2024, appreciation rates of manufactured homes nearly matched those of site-built homes. And over the past decade, manufactured homes have actually outpaced traditional homes in appreciation. .

The key distinction is no longer whether a home was built in a factory. It's about the building code it follows, who owns the land, and how it's financed, says Conte. “Manufactured homes are built to federal HUD standards on a permanent steel chassis,” she says. “Modular homes follow the same state and local building codes as traditional houses. In other words, the end product is essentially the same. They’re just assembled differently.” .

Cost is where factory-built homes shine. While the National Association of Home Builders reports that the average new single-family home sold for more than $665,000 in 2024, factory-built homes cost a fraction of that, with construction timelines 2 to 4 times faster than traditional building methods. .

The caveat: manufactured homes on leased land typically appreciate less because land values have jumped — from 36% of total home value in 2012 to more than 57% in 2023, Conte reports. Simply put, buyers like to buy the land with the house, so those willing to buy one on rented land represent a smaller pool. This means that for manufactured homes to build equity effectively, they need to be titled as real property, which qualifies them for conventional, FHA, or VA financing. .

As long as affordable housing remains scarce and construction costs stay high, factory-built homes will continue offering a legitimate path to homeownership. For buyers planning to stay at least 5 years, these homes can build meaningful equity, serving as a stepping stone to future purchases — which is what “starter” homes were always meant to be.

Realtor, TBWS

10/08/2024

Climate risk is reshaping US migration patterns, but change is slow

Why do people do it? Why do they either stay in or move back to parts of the country where natural disasters are known to strike repeatedly and only get worse, whether it’s the tempestuous coastal South, the tornado-prone flatlands of the Midwest, or the arid mountains of California?

Governing.com recently published Mark Gongloff’s take on this from Bloomberg Opinion, saying how in some ways it began four years ago, when the rise of remote work created a new version of the American dream: No longer forced to live close to the office, millions of people realized they could pull up stakes from New Jersey or wherever and move to sunnier, cheaper places.

“Unfortunately, many who made the trip found a nightmare waiting when they arrived: climate change and its accompanying threat of home-destroying natural disasters,” says Gongloff. “ The good news is that destruction and soaring insurance costs might finally be forcing Americans to take climate into account when deciding where to live. The bad news is that, on the whole, they’re still making risky choices — often leaping from figurative frying pans into literal fires.”

Recent data from real estate company Redfin suggests a subtle shift in Americans' migration patterns, with fewer people moving to areas prone to natural disasters. In 2023, only 16,144 people net moved into high flood-risk counties, a significant drop from the 383,656 who relocated to such areas in 2021 and 2022. Similarly, migration to high wildfire-risk counties decreased to 63,365 in 2023, down from 446,343 in the previous two years.

Some disaster-prone regions, including California's wildfire zones, Houston, coastal Louisiana, and Miami, are seeing population declines. However, the picture is complex, as factors like living costs also influence migration decisions. For instance, areas around Houston with similar flood risks are still attracting new residents.

Get the latest news coverage about policy and management in state and local government.

08/20/2024

A new day in real estate

Winds of change are making their way through the real estate industry as a groundbreaking set of rules governing how most real estate professionals conduct business in the US officially recently took effect. These changes, agreed to by the National Association of Realtors (NAR) as part of a $418 million settlement, are designed to transform the way Realtors get paid and who pays them, marking the largest change to the organization's rules in at least a generation.

As reported by CNN’s Samantha Delouya, Kevin Sears, NAR's president, emphasized the positive impact of these changes: "These new rules help to further empower consumers with clarity and choice when buying and selling a home. I am confident in our members' abilities to prepare for and embrace this evolution of our industry and help to guide consumers in the new landscape."

The first of these big changes affects commission transparency. Seller's agents will no longer advertise commission fees to buyers' agents on multiple listing services — changes that aim to prevent "steering" and ensure that homes are shown based on client criteria rather than commission rates.

Delouya explains how the second change deals with buyer representation agreements, saying that buyers must now sign a legally binding representation agreement with their agent before touring homes. This agreement informs buyers about agent compensation and emphasizes that commissions are fully negotiable. Along with that comes commission caps — specifying that a buyer's agent cannot receive more compensation than initially agreed upon, even if a seller offers more.

These changes underscore the invaluable role of Realtors in navigating the complex real estate landscape. As trusted advisors, Realtors are now better positioned to provide transparent, client-focused services that align with the best interests of buyers and sellers alike.

Many brokerages are already adapting to these new rules by creating flexible, short-term contracts to help buyers feel more comfortable. They simply want consumers and agents to have the least amount of friction going forward. As for long-term benefits, experts believe these changes will ultimately benefit consumers. The new rules are expected to foster a more competitive market, potentially leading to more diverse service offerings and pricing structures.

As the real estate industry adapts to these new rules, the true value of professional Realtors shines through. Their expertise, market knowledge, and ability to navigate complex transactions become even more crucial. Buyers and sellers can look forward to increased transparency, more negotiating power, and a real estate process that truly caters to their needs.

CNN, TBWS.

04/17/2024

Night work on the Brightline West high-speed rail project is planned outside of Las Vegas on April 15-16 beginning at 9 p.m. as field investigations continue in the Interstate 15 median.

02/10/2024

Brightline West announced an update to field investigation work, including new work beginning in Nevada on Wednesday.

01/20/2024

A new Costco is on track for land in the southwest valley along the 215 Beltway, county records show.

11/19/2023

10/22/2023

With F1′s Las Vegas Grand Prix just one month away, there is still no clear answer as to how Strip employees will get to and from work during the race weekend.

10/10/2023

Real Estate:
Is the home you like a primetime player for burglars?

4 bedrooms. 2 baths. Big family room with floor-to-ceiling windows. Open floor plan. You’ve got that checklist handy when shopping for a home. But what about what comes with it — such as how might burglars size it up to see if it fits their criteria as well? Realtor.com’s Gina Roberts-Grey asks. “Is your new abode safe as a fortress, or does it stand out as a prime target for intruders?”

Those floor-to-ceiling windows are great — as long as they are not blocked or shrouded by bushes or trees, which could provide all-too-much shelter from watchful neighbors or passers-by—isolating your home and making it a target for bad guys, says San Diego–based crime and violence prevention expert Steve Albrecht. Landscaping that blocks a door or widow acts as a wall between properties, providing hiding spots for criminals.

The solution isn’t costly, and you don’t have to spend a fortune ripping out a bunch of bushes. But you do need to keep landscaping trimmed so that neighbors—or patrol cars—can see completely around the front side of your house.

While it’s helpful to have stickers and placards that announce a property is protected, a poorly placed security panel can actually undermine your security goals. If your alarm’s control panel is visible through glass to someone loitering outside, a burglar can get an idea of how to defeat it. The best spot for a security panel? Close to where you typically exit and enter a home—but not in front of a window.

If you find the home that interests you has a readily visible panel, negotiate to have it relocated to a more secure, less conspicuous area, such as inside a nearby coat closet or on a wall not visible from a foyer.

When it comes to your doorways, a dark one lets crooks stroll inconspicuously up to your door and attempt to gain entrance, while a brightly-lit one helps them see what they’re doing. Make sure a home has motion-sensing exterior lights that switch on as a visitor—wanted or unwanted—approaches the house, porch, or side windows. “A monitor sensor light means a crook has to guess correctly if someone is home or not and may be calling the police,” says another crime expert Roberts-Grey interviewed. “Dimly lit yards are also problematic (no big surprise), because they similarly allow a miscreant to stalk around unnoticed. We suggest double-cone yard lights be placed on the corners of the home. These do a great job of illuminating the exterior of the house.”

Did you know that high fences and walls attract wrongdoers? While privacy is desirable, potential criminals want it even more, as it enables them to work in private. The solution would be to consider installing a security system or reinforced back/patio doors if the backyard is secluded.

And last but not least, that door that leads inside from the garage can be a security risk if you aren’t vigilant. Never leave it open or unlocked for convenience, as that door may be the last line of defense in the event a crook gets into your garage. Make sure all doors with access to the outside have a deadbolt and are part of your home security system. And be sure to cover or obscure any garage-door windows to prevent someone from peering in and being tempted by pricey gadgets and tools, your car, an expensive bike, or other valuables.

Roberts-Grey suggests before getting your heart set on a new home, consider getting a full security inspection. “Much like a home inspection can uncover flaws in the roof, structure, or plumbing, an inspection by a home security company or expert can help identify all sorts of ways a home might catch a malefactor’s eye.”

10/04/2023

Mie Kawamata dreamed of owning a home where she could tend a small garden and her 1-year-old daughter could play outside, yet still be close enough to commute to central Tokyo.