Homes.com Staff

Should You Buy a Home in a Subdivision?

You want to know you're making the best decision before you buy a new home in a subdivision. Unfortunately, the right choice is likely to differ depending on who you ask, as personal preference plays a large part in the home-buying process. It isn't as simple as seeking the advice of another person.Some homeowners would immediately recommend a subdivision without a second thought, while others would warn against it. Whether they've founded their beliefs on experience or anecdotes, it's all too easy to get lost in what people think. In truth, your own opinion should take priority.A little research can go a long way in helping you make your decision. As you answer the four questions below, you'll begin to get a better idea of what life is like in a subdivision. Consider the following:

January 1, 2025

When is the Best Time to Buy a New Home?

When home builders market a new development, their goal is to generate interest quickly and maintain their momentum until every lot is purchased. Most builders work with borrowed money, so they don't want to take the chance that unsold homes will linger on their books. Every day that passes costs them interest on the loans.

January 1, 2025

What REALLY Happens to HGTV Dream Home Winners?

To celebrate the 25th anniversary of HGTV’s Dream Home giveaway, the popular cable network is sparing no expense. Not only will the winner receive a sprawling 3,300-square-foot seaside house 10 minutes from Newport, Rhode Island, he or she will get a $250,000 mortgage and a brand new motor home.It sounds like the perfect prize, and millions of past entrants no doubt have thought the same. But, we're all adults here, so we know that if something sounds too good to be true it probably is.

January 1, 2025

How to Create Compelling Outdoor Living Spaces on a Budget

Who Says a Pretty Patio Has to Cost a Pretty Penny?

January 1, 2025

The Most Affordable Coastal Towns In America

Whether you love hitting the beach at the peak of summer or are more of a snowbird opting for a beach trip in the cooler months, most of us can agree that the beach is the perfect destination for a getaway any time of the year. And, when you think back on all of your trips to the beach with family or friends, chances are that you were bunking up together in a beach rental, rather than staying at a hotel. The Homes.com team loves a fun, relaxing trip to the beach as much as the next person, and wanted to see where people could find the best value for their next beach getaway. To find these figures, we looked at and pulled in data from the 25 most-reviewed listings on VRBO, a top vacation rental service, for beach towns in the US with populations between 5K and 13K. It's important to note that any cost metrics are not tied to a specific time frame or set of dates, with the intention of providing an annual average for each beach town.What beach can you get the most bang for your buck? We've got some answers that may surprise you!

January 1, 2025

The Pros and Cons of Living in a Multigenerational Household

Living arrangements in America today are a far cry from the “Ozzie and Harriett” nuclear families of the 1950s and 60s. Eighty-four million Americans, 20% of the nation, now live in multigenerational households that include two or more adult generations or grandparents and grandchildren younger than 25.Multigenerational households are an excellent way for families or individuals to save money. Some Hispanic and Asian societies have traditionally featured homes with two or three generations. Among families with Asian heritage, 29% lived in multigenerational family households in 2016, according to census data. Among Hispanics and African Americans, the shares in 2016 were 27% and 26%, respectively. Among whites, 16% lived with multiple generations of family members.In recent years, large numbers of young millennials living with their parents on a temporary or semi−permanent basis have accelerated the growth of multigenerational households. One third of 25- to 29-year-olds in 2016 lived with their parents.Multigenerational households have advantages and disadvantages. Here are some of the most important pros and cons.

January 1, 2025

A New Generation of Homebuyers is Here: Meet Generation Z

Born between 1995 and 2012, the oldest members of the post-millennial cohort known as Generation Z are now poised to enter the real estate market. Unlike generations before them, they have never known a world without digital connectivity, and most were not old enough to have struggled through the housing crisis of 2008 that catapulted the Great Recession.Though the two generations share many traits, they differ in important ways. Generation Z is an even larger cohort than the millennial generation, and they are also more diverse. Nearly half of Generation Z (48%) are members of racial and ethnic minorities while 39% of millennials are minorities.What does this mean for the real estate industry? How will Generation Z impact future homebuying trends? To gain further insight into facets of the homebuying experience for these up-and-coming homeowners, Homes.com surveyed over 1,000 adult Gen Zers aged 18 to 24 years old. Here’s what we found:

January 1, 2025

The Best U.S. Suburbs to Move to in 2021

The remote work tidal wave during 2020 dramatically reshaped the way many Americans are making their homebuying and rental decisions. Working from home and the elimination of long commutes has prompted a mass migration away from large metropolitan areas into smaller surrounding suburbs, where overall costs of living are usually more accessible. Higher demand for larger lot sizes, more square footage, and pools have also have emerged. It makes sense — if we’re going to spend so much more time at home, we want our spaces to be as comfortable as possible! It begged the question: what are the best suburbs to move to in 2021?Homes.com wanted to dive deeper into this shift in consumer behavior, and how the sudden freedom from being tethered to the office has affected where to call home. We compiled a listing of 50 suburbs, based on the U.S. Census’s list of fastest-growing towns in each state, and ranked them against a set of homebuying criteria to uncover the best U.S. suburbs to move to in 2021.Read on to see where your area stacks up!

January 1, 2025

Driveway vs. Street Parking: Which Is Worth More to Your Home's Value?

What’s Off-Street Parking Really Worth?

January 1, 2025

What Is a Mother-in-Law Suite? Benefits, Design Ideas and Costs

The concept of a mother-in-law suite stems from early 20th-century traditions when caring for aging parents was a societal expectation after marriage. However, you don't need to have in-laws to reap the benefits of having a second, private living space as part of your home. 

January 1, 2025