Author Archives: Sabrina Mapes

Looking for home upgrades that add value without blowing your renovation budget? This list has great suggestions. A farmhouse sink. LED lighting. A pot filler. You might think these relatively low-cost home upgrades wouldn’t add much value, but our research shows that these and other home upgrades with modest price tags could pay for themselves — or […]

An agent explains what buyers with dogs or cats are looking for (and what they aren’t). Some people choose a home because it’s adjacent to a hopping entertainment district or close to their job. But those of us with dogs, cats and other animals that are like our children, we pick homes that will make […]

Discover homeowner tax deductions that may save you money during tax season for simply owning a home. Owning a home has its rewards and challenges — and that’s especially true at tax time. Depending on your circumstances, tax rules around homeownership can reduce the amount of income taxes you owe at filing time. This is […]

Here’s what agents had to say about right-sizing expectations. The housing market looks a lot different today than it did 12 short months ago. If you’re trying to keep up, you’re not alone. According to a recent Zillow survey of real estate agents, would-be buyers and sellers commonly have misconceptions about the future state of home […]

Your future homeowner self will thank you for it. Home buyers today have access to a wealth of information about the home-buying process before they even begin talking to a real estate agent. Friends and family, social media — everyone has a lot to offer. While much of this guidance can be good or well-meaning, some may […]

Tackle one task per day, and you’ll be more organized in no time. Getting your home and space organized can help you feel more in control of your environment. That sense of order can reduce stress, help you focus on your own wellbeing and achieve your other goals. Follow these tips to organize your whole […]

What you need to know about kitchen islands, mirrored walls and more. Outdoor features are rising in favor this year, along with private spaces and several other notable home characteristics, according to a new study of millions of active for-sale Zillow® listings. To help identify 2023 interior design trends, our researchers examined listing descriptions for more than 200 […]

You’ve probably heard of Art Deco and Coastal style, but how much do you know about Biophilic design, Grand Millennial and Japandi? Décor styles come in many forms, from Art and Crafts to Japandi. If you’re looking at homes online and can’t tell transitional from traditional, it may be time to learn about the history […]

Start the year strong by checking off monthly maintenance tasks before working on your winter to-do list. Going through a home maintenance checklist is not the way most of us want to spend a Saturday. “I can’t wait to flush out the hot water heater today,” said no one, ever. But for most of us, our […]

Can you guess which Midwest town claimed the top spot? Signifying a new trend toward affordability, Prairie Village, Kansas, was Zillow’s most popular market of 2022. The designation also showcases rising interest in the Midwest, and it headlined a major shift from 2021’s leaders, many of which sat on or near the West Coast. Grand Rapids, […]