According to a joint study by the University of Alabama and the University of Texas at Arlington, curb appeal can boost a home’s value by 7 percent on average — and twice that for homes in slower real estate markets. So, whether you’re trying to add value before you put your home on the market or simply hoping to better match your personal design aesthetic, it’s well worth it to invest the time and money needed to update your home’s landscaping, front porch curb appeal and [...]

With the weather warming up, flowers in full bloom and the days getting longer, spring is the season of celebration and rebirth. As the world, well, springs back to life, it’s the perfect time to incorporate this spirit into your home decor, too. There are some key subtle touches you can add to your home now, for a sophisticated and stylish spring touch, reminding you every day of the beauty and growth of this (much welcome) new [...]

Each Friday, Robbie Briggs, CEO of Briggs Freeman Sotheby’s International Realty, writes about luxury, trends, business and more in the advertising pages of the Mansion section of The Wall Street Journal. Below is his letter of April 30, 2021.

FROM MY PERSPECTIVE

In life — and in business — a change of scenery can really change your perspective.

That’s why we’ve been shaking things up and moving some of our offices. Yesterday, we opened our new space in Fort Worth, [...]

Every Texan deserves their place in the sun — and every Texas home does, too. With so much time spent indoors during the height of the pandemic, the value of a great outdoor space — complete with comfortable seating, compelling details and ample room to lounge and unwind — is more apparent than ever before. Fortunately, after a little attention and some key upgrades, your backyard can blossom from a grassy patch to a dreamy [...]

Each Friday, Robbie Briggs, CEO of Briggs Freeman Sotheby’s International Realty, writes about luxury, trends, business and more in the advertising pages of the Mansion section of The Wall Street Journal. Below is his letter of April 23, 2021.

FROM MY PERSPECTIVE

This is an exciting moment for our brokerage. I am proud to announce the promotion of Russ Anderson to president of the firm.

Formerly our chief operating officer, Russ will now lead the company in strategy, business planning, budgeting and its day-to-day operations, including sales, marketing, relocation services, finance, technology and [...]

With Hewlett Packard — the tech giant that effectively started Silicon Valley — moving to Houston, and the Rose Bowl swapping Pasadena for Arlington, Texas, in 2021, there’s more than a population migration going on: This is a full cultural shift — and the steady influx of people moving from California to Texas shows no signs of slowing. So what’s behind this ongoing trend, and what will it mean for Texas real estate? We take a look at some of the key drivers behind the [...]