🏠 Florida housing boom or bust?

Back in 2020, we packed up our cubicles and realized we could work from anywhere. Some of us even vowed never to go back to making small talk in the break room with the coworker who definitely snatched our yogurt from the communal fridge earlier that week.

But now during the WFH era, we’ve wondered what will happen to those abandoned buildings where we once roamed the halls in slacks (lol). Plenty of cities are considering transforming those empty offices into apartments.

In New York City, there have been plenty of initiatives to transform skyscrapers into residential buildings. To name one, the owners of the McGraw-Hill Building in Hell’s Kitchen are thinking of turning stories 11 through 32 into luxury apartments. One of the biggest deterrents? It is priiiicey. With ongoing inflation, labor shortages, and supply-chain backups, construction costs are sky high.

SPILLING THE (REAL)TEA

Florida became a real estate hotspot during the pandemic as northerners flocked to sunny seaside towns, buying up beachfront properties. But dreams of days spent on the sand didn’t include the very real possibility of a hurricane. Has Ian brought a halt to the Florida housing boom? According to residential real estate agents in Napes, FL, demand remains strong from both locals and out-of-staters.

Is Airbnb on its way out? Pest infestations, hidden cameras, cat-fish accommodations, inflated fees. These are just a few of the complaints from users who are opting to go back to booking hotels.

As mortgage rates surge, Redfin stocks plummet. Home-buying demand is down, and consequently, Redfin Corp. shares have sunk to a record low. In fact, the real estate brokerage’s stock has dropped 90% so far this year.

How does IKEA plan on keeping prices low? With delivery vehicles that drive themselves! The furniture company has partnered with Kodiak Robotics in Dallas, Texas, on a pilot program with self-driving trucks. Just one question, though: How do they plan on unloading that dresser you ordered and delivering it to the front door? 🤔

If an interior designer isn’t in the budget, try InteriorAI instead. The tech lets you upload a photo of your home and then it generates a refreshed design based on your preferences.

TIP OF THE WEEK

Fall in love with your tablescape this season with some aspirational autumn decor ideas for your dinner table:

01 — Start with a focal point: Pick up your favorite Fall florals—think mums, magnolia, and dahlias—and either DIY your centerpiece, or pick one up from a local flower shop.

02 — Play with color: Warm shades of red, brown, and orange are overdone. Bring your place settings to life with a less expected pop of pistachio green.

03 — Accessorize each setting: A tiny take-home at every place setting is a thoughtful touch. For Fall, put a palm-sized pumpkin at every placemat.

04 — Add some ambiance: Light a few tall, taper candles in muted shades like orange or black to set the mood.

Inspo from the Gram👇

WHAT WE'RE CURRENTLY INTO

📚 What we're reading: It Ends With Us by Colleen Hoover, a bold and brave romance novel about a new love that's too-good-to-be-true and a first love that is hard to forget. We couldn't put this book down. If you haven't read it, do yourself a favor and add it to your cart now!

🎧 What we're listening to: There’s been one thing playing on repeat in Swifters’ earbuds since Midnights, Taylor Swift’s 10th album, released this past Friday.

👀 What we're watching: The Watcher on Netflix starring Naomi Watts, Bobby Cannavale, and Jennifer Coolidge is a seven-episode thriller about a family that moves into their dream home in the suburbs. Only it becomes more of a nightmare.

🛒 What we're adding to our shopping cart: Last-minute Halloween decorations. Sometimes procrastination pays off—these hanging skeletons are currently marked down (two for just $20!).

WEIRD OR WONDERFUL?

Some people take things too far. Sam Cox, AKA Mr. Doodle, is some people.

The U.K.-based artist covered every inch of his $1.5 million home with literal doodles using 900 liters of white paint, 401 cans of black spray paint, 286 bottles of black drawing paint, and 2,296 pen nibs.

Check it out:

WOMEN OF THE HOUSE

Featuring Rajia Abdelaziz, CEO of invisaWear

invisaWear creates stylish and discrete safety wearables. We spoke with the co-founder Rajia Abdelaziz about her safety tips for women in the real estate industry.

What inspired you to dedicate your career to safety?

When I was in college, I was leaving an event one night when a group of guys approached me in an SUV. I didn’t have enough time to find my phone in my purse. Luckily, I was able to escape the situation safely, but there have been so many other women who have not. After looking for a safety device, I quickly realized that the safety button industry was full of bulky panic buttons that my grandma wouldn’t even want to wear, so I knew something had to change.

What should more real estate professionals know about protecting themselves?

These situations are unpredictable, even if you are following all of the traditional safety recommendations. It’s best to plan ahead and equip yourselves with the tools to get out. We had a real estate agent use her invisaWear when a client's son was unhappy with the sale of a home and tried to attack her. The device alerted the agent’s boyfriend, and the police were able to get to the scene before she was hurt. The agent wished to remain anonymous, so we, unfortunately, cannot provide additional information. While I am glad we were able to help her, it breaks my heart that it has to be this way.

How can female real estate investors and agents be proactive about their safety?

The biggest one today is sharing online. You are often on a tight deadline with your property and it is an exciting process to document. Avoid sharing photos of the outside of the home—especially one with the numbers by the front door. This gives away your location! You will most likely be working on renovation projects for extended hours over a short period of time.

You don’t want people online to know exactly where you are. When you have contractors on your property to complete renovation projects, confirm their names and document their vehicle numbers.

Don’t park in the driveway or in a position that would allow you to be blocked in by another car.

Touch base with someone and always let them know where you are going and when you anticipate being back. If a contractor, agent, or client will be on the property that day, let them know as well.