Within an hour’s timespan on a recent Sunday, I got a look at two completely different homes that are on the market and that show the diversity of the admittedly constricted ... Read More
When Joseph Eichler was born in 1900, homes in the United States were not much known for their creativity. When he died in 1974, he had helped to change the landscape of American m... Read More
In Peter Schneider’s 2000 novel Eduard’s Homecoming, a German scientist living in the United States returns to Germany when he learns that he has inherited an apartment buildin... Read More
Harlan is going to be moving at some point; he doesn’t know when or where, but he’s not stupid — he can read the writing on the wall. Harlan, of course, is not his real nam... Read More
I have a friend — let’s call him Richard — who has almost every reason to be a happy homeowner. But the one reason that makes him unhappy could ruin it all for him. Richard ... Read More
Ben and Ruhan want a house in San Francisco. Not just any home — a house, with a yard, good neighborhood, multiple bathrooms, off-street parking, and the usual wishlist of incide... Read More
Buying and selling a home is the closest most people come to real negotiation and interpersonal politics with real value at stake. Yes, people might know how to haggle with a stree... Read More
You’re heading into a for-sale house or condo to tour. You’re mentally armed with all of the questions you want to ask the listing agent about the seller, timing, other... Read More
A year or so ago, HGTV’s House Hunters program was under fire for manipulating the homebuying stories it portrays. The reality show, critics cried, did not portray reality. B... Read More
Let’s assume for the sake of argument (and for this column) that you want to refinance your home or condo. Is now a good time? How should you go about doing it? Like many of ... Read More
Here’s a true story. Recently Judi found herself deciding to exchange her large ranch-style home for a smaller, easier to maintain condominium. She didn’t know how soon... Read More
On the HGTV series Buying and Selling, families simultaneously try to sell their homes and buy new ones. It’s a high-stress process, but they get help from the show’s h... Read More
Sometimes it can be very profitable indeed to be out of step with everyone else. Just like heading to your favorite restaurant or shop during off-hours can get you a good selection... Read More
The report that the San Francisco real estate market is picking up is better news to sellers than it is to buyers. But this column is the Mystery Housebuyer, not the Mystery Houses... Read More
Fans of HGTV’s House Hunters program have been forced to reconsider that series. Each House Hunters features a person or couple touring three homes before they select one. We... Read More