Real Estate

Franklin, Tenn. – September 08, 2026 -- Buying a plot of rural land is often just the first bill in a much longer list of expenses, according to a new HelloNation feature that breaks down what happens between closing and the first shovel of dirt for construction.

Grading and site prep costs vary wildly based on terrain

The article notes that steep slopes and heavily wooded parcels typically demand far more earthwork than buyers initially budget for, with the scope tied directly to topography, soil composition, and where the structure will sit.

Water and sewer aren't guaranteed on rural lots

When a property lacks access to public utilities, buyers must pay for a drilled well and a septic system instead. Well costs shift with local geology and water depth, while septic installation depends on soil percolation results and county health department rules.

Hilton Head Island, S.C. – September 07, 2026 -- Second-home buyers eyeing Hilton Head Island are being urged to match neighborhood choice to their actual goals -- rental income, privacy, or golf access -- before signing a purchase agreement, according to a new HelloNation article featuring real estate professional Brandon Greenplate of Greenplate Group Real Estate.

The article identifies Sea Pines and Palmetto Dunes as the two communities most frequently considered first by buyers. Sea Pines offers a mix of homes and villas with beach access, while Palmetto Dunes pairs vacation residences with golf, tennis, pickleball, and lagoon recreation.

Austin, Texas – September 03, 2026 -- Homebuyers hunting for a new-built house at a discount should look to Charleston, South Carolina, where new construction now sells for 12.2% less than existing homes, according to Realtor.com's second annual Top Metros for New Construction report.

Charleston-North Charleston tops the ranking of the 100 largest U.S. metros with an overall score of 84.7 out of 100. The median new-build listing there runs $443,273, compared with $504,832 for an existing home -- the widest new-construction price advantage among the top 10 markets.

Southern metros dominate the top 10 rankings

Eight of the 10 best metros for new construction sit in the South. Greenville-Anderson-Greer, South Carolina, ranks second, followed by Boise City, Idaho, in third. Six of the top 10 metros are located in North or South Carolina, and two more are in Tennessee.

SEATTLE -- September 01, 2026 -- More than 78,000 renters had their on-time rent payments reported to credit bureaus through Zillow in July, the highest single-month total since the company launched its free rent reporting program in 2024. That figure is up 26% from a year earlier.

SHERIDAN, WYOMING -- August 28, 2026 -- Homeowners in Recklinghausen, Germany, are discovering that decades of deferred maintenance can shrink a house's resale value far more than the cost of fixing it would. Brummelt & Müller Immobilien GmbH, a real estate agency in the western German city, said buyers are increasingly avoiding homes where heating, electrical systems or windows haven't been updated in 30 or 40 years. The agency's outlook covers the wider Ruhr region, where a wave of generational property transfers is now reaching the market.