Friday, July 10, 2026 / by Lauren Kerschen
I posted a question on LinkedIn recently that got a lot of interest.
"No one cares about a formal dining room. Raise your hand if you actually use yours."
285 comments later, I was still reading replies.
Some people were offended. Some were laughing. A lot of them were admitting, somewhat reluctantly, that the last time they sat in their formal dining room was Thanksgiving 2019, and even then, half the family ended up eating in the kitchen.
That post wasn't meant to be controversial. It was just something I'd noticed over years of walking through homes with buyers. What people say they want and what they actually use are two very different things. And right now, the gap between those two things is bigger than I've ever seen it.
What Buyers Used to Want
For a long time, the formal dining room was a status symbol. It signaled that you had a house big enough to have a room specifically for eating in. You had the china cabinet. You had the table that sat twelve. You had the chandel ...
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Thursday, July 9, 2026 / by Lauren Kerschen
This Boyd, TX Property Has the Kind of Versatility Most Buyers Stop Looking For — Because They Never Find It
Is there a no-HOA acreage property for sale near Boyd or Azle, TX with a workshop and outdoor living?
Yes — 116 Chloe Ct in Boyd, TX 76023 sits on one of the largest lots in the subdivision on a quiet cul-de-sac with no HOA, a workshop with second-level storage and converted living space, a built-in outdoor kitchen and fireplace, and Springtown ISD tax rates. It's a one-owner home that has to be seen in person to fully appreciate.
Most Properties Make You Choose. This One Doesn't.
Buyers searching for acreage living near the northwest DFW corridor quickly learn the pattern: the homes with space usually need work, the ones that are move-in ready don't have the land, and the properties with workshop or ADU potential almost never have a finished interior worth writing home about.
116 Chloe Ct in Boyd, TX 76023 breaks that pattern across the board.
This i ...
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Wednesday, July 8, 2026 / by Lauren Kerschen
Why You Should Interview More Than One Agent, and Ask for Receipts
Should you interview more than one real estate agent before listing your home? Yes. Always. Ask each agent to back up their claims with actual sales data for your specific area, not just a confident pitch.
I need to tell you a story. It's not to say I told you so. Okay, maybe a little. But mostly I'm telling it because this happens more often than sellers realize, and it's costing them real money.
A seller and I went back and forth for months. We talked strategy, pricing, prep. Then he chose another agent. He was kind enough to text me the listing afterward and ask if I'd bring a buyer (I did end up doing that, more on that below). His reason for going with her? She had more "area expertise."
She had sold one house in that zip code. One.
I have sold multiple houses in that zip code. I also live in it. I didn't say that loud enough during our conversations, and that's on me. But it's exactly why this story matters ...
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Tuesday, July 7, 2026 / by Lauren Kerschen
My team helped 12 buyers close in the last 90 days.
Not one of them bought the house that checked all their boxes.
The couple who needed four bedrooms bought a three-bedroom in Keller with a yard so big they said, "our kids can share a room." The single guy who wanted modern finishes bought a 1980s ranch in Haltom City because he could picture his dog there. The family relocating from California arrived with a spreadsheet. Forty-seven criteria. They bought a home that met twenty-two of them, looked at each other, and said, "it just feels right."
After walking buyers through hundreds of homes across our lovely DFW metroplex, the pattern is impossible to miss.
What buyers say they want and what actually makes them write an offer are two completely different things.
If you're a seller getting ready to list, this is the most useful thing I can tell you.
Why the Checklist Lies
Buyers come in logical. They want granite countertops. A big backyard. Open concept. Updated bathrooms. Go ...
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dfw real estate 2026, home buying process, real estate agent, serious home buyers, dfw housing market trends, fort worth realtor, home selling tips dfw, lauren kerschen, dfw real estate, dfw real estate tips
Monday, July 6, 2026 / by Lauren Kerschen
What $3,500 a Month Actually Gets You: DFW vs. Los Angeles vs. New York City
What can you afford in Dallas-Fort Worth compared to Los Angeles or New York City for the same monthly payment?
In Los Angeles or New York City, $3,500 a month typically rents you 800 square feet with no yard, no garage, and no equity. In the Dallas-Fort Worth Metroplex, that same monthly payment can buy you a 3-bedroom home with a fenced backyard, a two-car garage, and ownership that builds wealth with every payment.
The Same Money. A Completely Different Life.
If you have friends or family in Los Angeles or New York, you've probably heard the stories. $3,500 a month for a one-bedroom. No parking. No outdoor space. A waiting list for a storage unit in the basement. A landlord who takes six weeks to fix anything.
Here's what that same $3,500 looks like in DFW.
Not a smaller version of the same life. A fundamentally different one — with a yard, a garage, a fireplace, and a mo ...
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dfw real estate 2026, home buying process, real estate agent, serious home buyers, dfw housing market trends, fort worth realtor, home selling tips dfw, lauren kerschen, dfw real estate, dfw real estate tips
