Can a garden be beautiful, sustainable and fire-resistant? Is this even a question you would have asked six or 12 months ago? Recent wildfires in Los Angeles and Western North Carolina have prompted rethinking our outdoor spaces. Google searches for “fire resistant plants” hit an all-time high this year along the West Coast and “succulents” are a top eco-friendly plant being searched online. Here’s what you should be thinking about when planning a garden project, according to experts. Adding Sustainability Having a sustainable garden means incorporating native plants that will thrive in your soil with less fertilizer and water. That…

In recent analyses, we determined the richest cities in states of the Pacific Northwest, like Oregon and Washington. Here we decided to move on to finding out the most expensive ZIP codes in Washington state. Many housing markets across the United States witnessed a surge in homebuying activity in starting in the second year of the pandemic, 2021, which continued until rate hikes cooled things off a bit. Washington already had very pricey homes before this surge, and they only got more ridiculous. Read on to find out the most expensive ZIP codes in Washington in 2025, based on the…

Social media has transformed every celebration—whether it’s a child’s birthday or a large corporate event—into a full-blown production. Gone are the days of simple snacks and a few decorations. Today, personalized experiences and Instagram-worthy activities are the norm. That’s exactly why Bouquet Box Flower Bar could be the next big franchise opportunity for entrepreneurs looking to break into the event planning or floral industries. Bouquet Box Flower Bar is an exciting new offshoot of Bouquet Box, a floral subscription service launched in 2021 by Courtney Sixx in collaboration with famed floral purveyor Mark’s Garden. Each Bouquet Box delivery includes a…

In preparing the 2024 edition of The Canopy Report, the Arbor Day Foundation’s wide-ranging study into how America relates to trees, the foundation sought to determine the value Americans place on trees. The result wasn’t surprising. The report found 88% of people routinely take part in activities proximate to trees and green spaces, and those who participate on a daily basis report being happier and scoring higher in mental and physical health scores than those who spend less time engaging with nature. Some 77% of people reported wishing their neighborhoods had a greater number of trees and more green spaces,…

Legend has it that John Jacob Astor, for whom the enclave was named, never actually set foot within the New York City neighborhood of Astoria. No matter. These days lots of other folks are stepping into this West Queens bailiwick, drawn by qualities that include a burgeoning foo d scene, a location highly proximate to Manhattan, a beguiling history and most of all, Astoria’s comparative affordability vis-à-vis neighboring districts. “There has been a huge influx of people coming in from Long Island City who are priced out of Long Island City and decide their next move is Astoria,” says Arlinda…

As one of the top 25 volume builders in the country, Beazer Homes is delivering nearly 5,000 homes per year. The company has engaged in a concept home project to deliver on its goal of improving the health and the performance of each home, and directly changing the lives of 5,000 families across the country. Beazer promised that by the end of 2025, every single family home it builds will meet the requirements of the U.S. Department of Energy’s (DOE) Zero Energy Ready Home program. Plus, it is achieving ENERGY STAR® certified, along with Indoor AirPlus® by the U.S. Environmental…

Remember Lifestyles of the Rich and Famous, the syndicated reality show that ran from 1984-1995? Robin Leach, the series’ waistcoat-wearing British-American host, brought audiences a glimpse of what lay beyond the gilded gates of celebrity homeowners, ending each episode with his signature catchphrase wishing viewers “champagne wishes and caviar dreams.” It was all a bit bling before bling was a thing. But it was a cultural moment that would prove the public’s apparently insatiable appetite for the reality format—and for real estate. The show’s popularity reached its zenith after inspiring countless parodies, from sketches on Saturday Night Live to a…

While knowing the neighborhood where you are investing is certainly an essential component to real estate success, following macro trends can give you a competitive advantage. You may be able to better understand how your local market could be impacted. In a recent podcast, I spoke with Lonnie Hendry, Chief Product Officer at Trepp and host of The TreppWire Podcast, a weekly show which offers insights on commercial real estate, structured finance, and banking news and trends. Lonnie shared the value of keeping the big picture in mind as you operate in your local market. Most recently, the impacts of…

The price threshold for “ultra-luxury” real estate is notoriously slippery. Many pinpoint the top 1% of a local market as the qualifying mark. Yet labeling a property “ultra-luxury” isn’t just about cost. Grand design, impeccable craftsmanship and an enviable setting can matter more than a multimillion-dollar tag. Some residences under $5 million embody a level of splendor that defies tidy definitions. They remain lavish but avoid straying into eye-popping, wallet-busting territory. Here are six examples from across the globe that prove ultra-luxury can transcend price. Haciendas may trace their lineage to Spanish tradition, but they discover new vitality amid Costa…

Most trophy listings try to dazzle you into submission: all-glass façades, algorithm-powered climate controls, and the inevitable mid-century daybed next to a fig tree. Weissenhaus needs no theatrics. Set on nearly 200 acres along Germany’s Baltic coast and newly listed by Sylt Sotheby’s International Realty for €185 million (roughly $202 million), the estate speaks with the authority of time—an estate built for legacy, not display. Its layout resembles more a private cultural institution than a private home—40 structures scattered across parkland and coastline, each one representing a distinct moment in Northern European architecture. “Weissenhaus is not simply one of Europe’s…