Homes.com

No “unique” interior décor is safe with Matterport 3D Tours on Homes.com. It lets home-shoppers remove everything inside a home listing with the tap of a button. Well, almost everything. 

A 30,000-square-foot Fort Wayne estate nicknamed the “Mansion That Pizza Built,” once owned by longtime Pizza Hut owners Dick and Deanna Freeland, has been relisted for $6.75 million, a steep drop from its original $30 million price in 2016. The custom-built, castle-inspired home sits on 40 acres with a lake, stables and imported marble, standing as a tribute to the couple’s deep ties to the community. Read more: https://bit.ly/3L5zDcb

Mortgage rates dropped to their lowest level in nearly a year, with the 30-year fixed rate averaging 6.19% this week, down from 6.27% last week, according to Freddie Mac. The decline has already boosted housing activity, as refinance demand jumped 81% and home sales reached a seven-month high, signaling renewed momentum in the housing market. "The lowest mortgage rates in a month spurred an increase in refinance activity," Joel Kan, the association's vice president and deputy chief economist, said in a statement Wednesday. "Borrowers remain attentive to these opportunities to lower their monthly mortgage payment." Read more: https://bit.ly/476EGll

Home sales ticked up in September as buyers responded to easing mortgage rates, with existing single-family and condo sales rising 1.5% to a seven-month high of 4.06 million, according to the National Association of REALTORS®. Economists say the modest uptick highlights how sensitive the housing market remains to borrowing costs, even as affordability challenges persist. “Home sales actually rise even with job cuts happening, which implies that mortgage rates have a stronger influence than the job market,” Chief Economist Lawrence Yun said, citing the 2008 Great Recession as an exception to the rule. Read more: https://bit.ly/48FxNIV

Amira Maruf, MFA and Rasheed Power, two tech professionals in their 30s, chose to skip a $50,000 wedding and use the money as a down payment on a new home outside Dallas — a decision reflecting a growing trend among millennials and Gen Z buyers who are prioritizing homeownership over costly celebrations. A survey published last week from national homebuilder PulteGroup suggests 81% of individuals between the ages of 25 and 44 would prioritize buying a home over having a dream wedding. "I know a lot of my generation say, 'I will never be able to buy a house,' but it definitely is a possibility if you plan for it," said Maruf. "And for us, it was not doing the wedding." Read more: https://bit.ly/3L3Umgu

Kohler Co. has entered the digital health market— which has users wearing rings, watches and more to track activity from resting to roused — with Dekode, a $599 toilet-mounted device that uses cameras to analyze users’ stool for insights into hydration, gut health and potential signs of illness. The device aims to offer “a key area of insights that people could be getting to be able to optimize their health on both a daily basis and ... help them live much better in the future as well,” Kash Kapadia, CEO of Kohler Health, told Homes.com. Learn more: https://bit.ly/47BQFaG

Housing affordability and property tax fairness have become central issues in New York City’s upcoming mayoral election, as critics argue the city’s decades-old tax system unfairly burdens owners of modest homes while benefiting luxury property owners. A revived lawsuit and renewed political debate are pressuring city and state leaders to reform the system, which many say is outdated, inequitable and racially discriminatory. Learn more here: https://bit.ly/4qsPVw4

Nearly 450,000 homes came to market in September, marking an 8.1% increase from a year ago and pushing total inventory to its highest level since July 2019. “The September growth in for-sale inventory comes amid a still resilient economy," added Erika Ludvigsen, the national director of residential analytics at Homes.com. "The housing market is showing some signs of improvement, supported by a slight decline in mortgage rates and continued income growth.” Of the 941 markets Homes.com tracks, 94% saw an increase in total listings in September, led primarily by Sun Belt and Midwest markets. Gain more insights: https://bit.ly/48GNOhD

The 27-acre “Camelot” estate in Heber City, Utah, featuring a 24,000-square-foot home with seven bedrooms, 11 bathrooms, and resort-style amenities, is on the market for $23.5 million. Designed for privacy and luxury, the property includes equestrian facilities, a baseball diamond, tennis courts, and an indoor Olympic pool, attracting interest from ultra-high-net-worth buyers worldwide. Christie's International Real Estate Park City's Valen Lindner said her team is working to reach the "ultra-high net worth" audience across the United States, Europe, the Middle East and Asia. Learn more: https://bit.ly/4oxtjJ4

The cost to purchase a median-priced home in the United States grew 2% in September compared to the same time a year earlier, ending a summer that saw a slight uptick in price growth. New data from Homes.com revealed that in September, the median price for a single-family home was $385,000, an increase of $7,500 from the same period in 2024. Although it’s an annual uptick, September’s median price is still below June’s peak of $395,000. Learn more: https://bit.ly/48z6akK