How Many Credit Checks Before Closing on a Home?

Navigating the purchase of a home can be overwhelming for first-time buyers. Lenders require documentation of seemingly every detail of your life before granting a loan. And of course, they will require a credit check.

A question many buyers have is whether a lender pulls your credit more than once during the purchase process. The answer is yes. Lenders pull borrowers' credit in the beginning of the approval process, and then again just prior to closing.

Initial credit check for pre-approval

In the first phase of acquiring a loan, pre-qualification, you'll self-report financial information. Lenders want to know details such as your credit score, social security number, marital status, history of your residence, employment and income, account balances, debt payments and balances, confirmation of any foreclosures or bankruptcies in the last seven years and sourcing of a down payment. This is only a portion of the total information needed for your mortgage application.

Once you're ready to get pre-approved for a loan, lenders will verify your financial information. During this phase, lenders require documentation to confirm the information in your application and pull your credit history for the first time. You may be required to submit a letter of explanation for each credit inquiry in recent years, such as opening a new credit card, and for any derogatory information in your history, like a missed payment.

Once you find a home within budget and make an offer, additional or updated documentation may be required. Underwriters then analyze the risk of offering you a loan based on the information in your application, credit history and the property's value.

Second credit check at closing

It can take time for your offer to be accepted, and for your loan to pass underwriting. During this period from the initial credit check to closing, new credit incidents may occur on your history. Many lenders pull borrowers' credit a second time just prior to closing to verify your credit score remains the same, and therefore the risk to the lender hasn't changed. If you were late on a payment and were sent to collections, it can affect your loan. Or, if you acquired any new loans or lines of credit and used those credit lines, your debt-to-income ratio would change, which can also affect your loan eligibility.

If the second credit check results match the first, closing should occur on schedule. If the new report is lower or concerning to the lender, you could lose the loan. Alternatively, the lender may send your application back through underwriting for a second review.

As a buyer, it's important to be aware that most lenders run a final credit check before closing, so the home buying window is a time to prudently mind your credit.

Related:

• 5 Questions to Ask Potential Mortgage Lenders
• Choosing (and Using) the Most Rewarding Credit Card
• How Credit History Affects Home Insurance Premiums

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This Checklist Is the Key to Taking Care of Your Home (Without the Stress)

Here’s an easy way to get on top of your home maintenance checklist in the new year: Take it one small chunk at a time!

Little steps add up to big results. And if you dedicate some time to home maintenance - two hours a week, an afternoon per month and a couple of days a year - your home will remain in tiptop shape this year.

Here’s our easy-to-follow checklist:

Weekly home maintenance

Your weekly home maintenance ritual will be largely determined by the features of your home, but may include some of the following tasks:

• Give all your carpets a thorough vacuuming. Or, if you have hardwood floors, give them a good once-over with a large dust-mop.
• Plan to spend 30 minutes performing one small maintenance task in your yard, such as pruning a tree or shrub, painting a mailbox, or blowing leaves and debris from a garden path or sidewalk.
• Do some bathroom maintenance. Again, we’re talking about biting things off in small chunks here! Some examples:
  • Pick a drain used by a person with long hair, and clean it out with a Zip-It tool.
  • Spend some time repairing damaged tile grout in a shower or tub.
  • Clean the mineral sediment out of a showerhead.
• Freshen up your garbage disposal. Run a tray of ice cubes through it, along with some baking soda or lemon rinds, and voila! It’ll be clean and fresh again.
• Clean the outside of all appliances and the inside of one appliance per week. For instance, if you clean out the refrigerator this week, run a cleaning tablet through your dishwasher next week, and wipe out your dryer the following week.

Monthly home maintenance

These are the projects we all know we should do regularly but often don’t get to. Just pick an afternoon, and go for it!

• Clean the range hood and filter. This is one of those areas that we often forget about, but if you don't take care of it on a regular basis, it will become unmanageably greasy and dirty over time.
• Clean the furnace filter, and replace it if needed. This will help your furnace run efficiently, keeping utility bills down.
• Polish wood furniture, dust light fixtures and wipe down baseboards.
• Check your smoke and carbon monoxide detectors to make sure they’re functioning and don’t need new batteries. If you have a fire extinguisher, make sure it’s fully charged.
• Visually inspect the outside of your home for problems or issues, such as loose shingles, damaged siding, insect nests, or overgrown trees or shrubbery. Make a note to correct the problems!

Yearly home maintenance

Schedule these tasks in a way that makes sense to you. You can do them on a seasonal basis or just schedule one or two days per year to knock everything out.

Here are some bigger tasks to take on once a year:

• Clean and organize your garage, basement or attic. This is a maintenance task that everyone dreads doing, but it feels so good once it’s done! Plus, you’ll most likely discover some forgotten treasures to either donate to charity or sell online.
• Wash windows and window screens, and let the sunshine in! While this task is often done in the spring, you can do it any time of the year.
• Take on one major outdoor improvement project per year, and schedule a day or two to complete it. For example, you might want to install a fence, refinish a large deck, patch up an asphalt or concrete driveway, or install raised garden beds.
• Clean out gutters, check under the eaves, remove trees or shrubbery that are encroaching on your home, and install wire grates in any holes to keep pests out.
• Freshen up one room in your home. Pick any room, and give it a mini makeover. For instance, you can repaint it, switch curtains, move the furniture, and add plants and knickknacks to give it a whole new look. If you do this with one room per year, in a few years, your whole home will look terrific!

By following this easy checklist, you can have a wonderfully maintained home with a minimal investment of time and energy.

Related:

• 9 Updates Your Home Needs Every 10 Years
• The 9-to-5er’s Guide to Keeping Your House Clean
• Winter Weatherproofing Ideas That Take Just Minutes

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An Incredible Home in Hawaii That's as Much Fun as Summer Camp

Sunshine, island breezes, grass skirts and surfing are just some of the things that this summer-camp-inspired home brings to mind. Surrounded by mountain and sea views, it’s located at the foot of Pu’u Ku’ili, the Big Island's old cinder cone that’s known for being a good place for spotting whales.

Western red cedar, oversized sliding doors, board-formed concrete, operable wood louvers and rope lashing contribute to the home’s laid-back, camp-like feel.

Designed by San Francisco-based practice Walker Warner Architects with interiors by Philpotts Interiors and landscaping by David Y Tamura Associates, the home follows the layout of traditional Hawaiian architecture and is composed of multiple structures.

Upon passing an entry bridge, one enters a massive green compound with six separate buildings.

The main building features an open-plan living, dining and kitchen area that boasts high ceilings and is surrounded by a generous covered deck.

Thanks to a short corridor with a seating area, this living space is connected to the master bedroom in one wing, and a studio space in another wing.

In the expansive backyard, a large overhang of western red cedar shelters a tiki bar, outdoor seating lounge and an elongated pool.

Next to the bar and lounge area is a barbecue/luau spot where family and friends can enjoy outdoor cooking and feasting under the shade of a Kiawe tree.

Other buildings on the property include a large bathhouse with a wooden bathtub and a parking garage.

Marion Philpotts-Miller, who designed the interiors, used retro elements, rattan chairs, metal bed frames and summery colors including olive green and flamingo pink to create a stylish, surf-shack-inspired look.

With its open design and alfresco chill zones, this home is set up perfectly to enjoy the best of Hawaii's stunning landscape and pleasantly warm weather.

This article was written by Michele Koh Morollo and originally appeared on Dwell. Check out more of their content on Dwell.com.

Photos by Matthew Millman Photography.

Related:

• House of the Year: A Treehouse Tower With Water Views
• 4 Unique Home Trends That Ruled 2017
• Turn Your Home Into a Tropical Oasis with Easy-Care Palm Plants

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TV's Most and Least Desirable Neighbors for 2018

We wanted to know which fictional TV characters Americans would most like to have as a neighbor and which ones they’d avoid.

Most desirable neighbors for 2018

Leonard Hofstadter and Penny from CBS's “The Big Bang Theory” (above) are the top choice for neighbors in 2018, earning 19 percent of the votes. The couple received strong results from voters across different genders, generations and education levels, but were slightly less popular among voters from the West.

Leonard and Penny were neighbors when they first met, and they've remained close friends with their former roommate and current neighbor Sheldon Cooper over the years despite his interesting quirks. Plus, living next door gives Sheldon plenty of opportunities to play video games and watch sci-fi movies with Leonard and Penny's entire group of friends.

“‘The Big Bang Theory’ is one of the most popular shows on TV, so it’s not surprising that American adults chose its leading couple as the most desirable neighbors for 2018,” said Jeremy Wacksman, chief marketing officer at Zillow.

The Dunphys from ABC's “Modern Family” and the Simpson family from FOX's “The Simpsons” tied for the second-most desirable neighbors, with 11 percent of the votes each. Will and Grace from NBC's revitalized sitcom of the same name rounded out the top four, earning 10 percent of the votes, followed by Jack and Rebecca Pearson from NBC's “This Is Us” (9 percent) and the Johnsons from ABC's “Black-ish“ (5 percent).

Least desirable neighbors for 2018

Despite their popularity, the Simpsons still topped the list of least desirable neighbors with 31 percent of the votes. Adults over the age of 55 were most likely to name the family as the least desirable neighbors on the list, while fewer millennials cited the Simpsons as the least desirable neighbors in the poll.

“It wouldn't be easy to live next to the Simpsons, who have spent nearly 30 seasons causing chaos for neighbor Ned Flanders and the rest of Springfield,” Wacksman said.

The Lannisters from HBO's “Game of Thrones” came in second on the list of worst neighbors with 21 percent of the votes. They ranked much higher than the rest of the competitors, including Sheldon Cooper and Amy Farrah Fowler from “The Big Bang Theory“ (9 percent), Olivia Pope from ABC's “Scandal” (6 percent) and the Jennings from FX's “The Americans” (5 percent).

Related:

• When Selling a Home, the Neighbors Matter
• 3 Things to Do When Your Neighbors List Their Home for Sale
• Why I Love My Neighbors

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7 Simple Ways to Keep Your Kids' Toys From Taking Over Your Home

Remember the days when you could read a decorating magazine without crying? If parenthood has made a mess out of your home and evening routine, get your sanity back with these simple tips.

1. Reduce the clutter

It doesn't matter how organized you are - a surplus of toys will always ensure your house is a mess waiting to happen. Fortunately, getting kids on board with the idea of ditching their stuff is a lot easier than it sounds.

The trick is to make it an opportunity for them to define themselves and their interests. Encourage kids to make a pile of "baby toys" to donate, and have them set aside any toys that no longer interest them, such as action figures from a forgotten TV show. Separating these toys will help them appreciate how much they've grown and rediscover the toys they love.

2. Choose toys wisely

Since you'll probably be stuck with them for a while, it pays to be picky when it comes to buying toys. To make toys more meaningful to your child, only buy them for holidays, special occasions and rewards - don't shy away from asking relatives to do the same.

Avoid toys that are poorly made (cheap), not age-appropriate, unnecessarily large, pointless or anything tied to a movie - unless it's that one you've been playing on repeat every day. The best toys are versatile, encourage creativity and can easily be expanded upon, such as Legos, wooden train tracks and dollhouse sets.

3. Leave some toys out of reach

If you're constantly finding play dough and puzzle pieces in the sofa cushions, it's time to put them on the top shelf of the closet. Designating these messy toys as "family toys" will give you more quality time with your child instead of scrubbing pen marks off the curtains.

Also, try to set aside a tote of toys, games and puzzles for rainy days. This ensures you'll always have a trick up your sleeve for sick days or when a boring relative visits.

4. Set boundaries

If toys are already sprawled out over every available surface of your house, don't worry! You can quickly reclaim order in your household by setting a few ground rules, such as "no toys in the kitchen" or setting limits on the number of toys allowed out overnight.

While that might seem a bit draconian, children are generally happier when they're given clear expectations and few surprises. That's why it's important to follow through and pick up every night, no matter how exhausted you feel at the time.

5. Give kids ownership

Picking up toys doesn't have to be boring. Babies, toddlers and big kids alike can have fun organizing and picking up, just as long as it's not a negative experience. This means you should provide enough time for enjoyment without resorting to counting "1, 2, 3" or shouting empty threats.

A great thing about setting aside extra time for picking up is that you and your child can do fun things like scoop up blocks with a blanket or deliver toys across the house via tricycle. If you make it fun enough, your kid will eventually pick up without even being asked.

6. Give every toy a home

Without a simple organizational system, picking up can be a major headache. Don't throw everything into one big toybox; there's a better way.

Buy a series of matching plastic bins and line them up along the wall where your child can easily put away and retrieve toys on his own. Designate one box for Legos, one for stuffed animals, one for train tracks … you get the idea.

Use stacking plastic boxes for smaller toys like matchbox cars and dolls. Organize them further by storing puzzle pieces, doll clothes and other annoyances in Ziploc bags.

7. Hit the books

It's not your imagination. That pile of storybooks by the couch really is getting taller, and if you wait much longer, it will likely turn into a giant heap.

Worse yet, your kid uses those books to stall and push back bedtime a little later with each passing night. That's why it's important to either keep the books in your child's room, or keep a small selection of favorites in a basket for easy retrieval.

Related:

• 5 Organizing Secrets Only the Pros Know
• Declutter Your Way to a More Organized, Intentional Home
• 10 Tips for Organizing an Irresistible Yard Sale

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TV's Most and Least Desirable Neighbors for 2018

We wanted to know which fictional TV characters Americans would most like to have as a neighbor and which ones they’d avoid.

Most desirable neighbors for 2018

Leonard Hofstadter and Penny from CBS's “The Big Bang Theory”(above) are the top choice for neighbors in 2018, earning 19 percent of the votes. The couple received strong results from voters across different genders, generations and education levels, but were slightly less popular among voters from the West.

Leonard and Penny were neighbors when they first met, and they've remained close friends with their former roommate and current neighbor Sheldon Cooper over the years despite his interesting quirks. Plus, living next door gives Sheldon plenty of opportunities to play video games and watch sci-fi movies with Leonard and Penny's entire group of friends.

“‘The Big Bang Theory’ is one of the most popular shows on TV, so it’s not surprising that American adults chose its leading couple as the most desirable neighbors for 2018,” said Jeremy Wacksman, chief marketing officer at Zillow.

The Dunphys from ABC's “Modern Family” and the Simpson family from FOX's “The Simpsons” tied for the second-most desirable neighbors, with 11 percent of the votes each. Will and Grace from NBC's revitalized sitcom of the same name rounded out the top four, earning 10 percent of the votes, followed by Jack and Rebecca Pearson from NBC's “This Is Us” (9 percent) and the Johnsons from ABC's “Black-ish“ (5 percent).

Least desirable neighbors for 2018

Despite their popularity, the Simpsons still topped the list of least desirable neighbors with 31 percent of the votes. Adults over the age of 55 were most likely to name the family as the least desirable neighbors on the list, while fewer millennials cited the Simpsons as the least desirable neighbors in the poll.

“It wouldn't be easy to live next to the Simpsons, who have spent nearly 30 seasons causing chaos for neighbor Ned Flanders and the rest of Springfield,” Wacksman said.

The Lannisters from HBO's “Game of Thrones” came in second on the list of worst neighbors with 21 percent of the votes. They ranked much higher than the rest of the competitors, including Sheldon Cooper and Amy Farrah Fowler from “The Big Bang Theory“ (9 percent), Olivia Pope from ABC's “Scandal” (6 percent) and the Jennings from FX's “The Americans” (5 percent).

Related:

• When Selling a Home, the Neighbors Matter
• 3 Things to Do When Your Neighbors List Their Home for Sale
• Why I Love My Neighbors

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3 Ways to Get a Whole New Look With Just a Coat of Paint

6 Ways to Use Your Home to Give Back

When it comes to giving back, most people immediately think of donating time or money to a cause. But another just as impactful - and perhaps less thought of - option is sharing your home as a force for good.

Here are six ways to make a difference with your home.

1. Connect your neighbors through reading

Perhaps you've seen charming little structures in your neighborhood that are similar to mailboxes but filled with books. Strted in 2009, the Little Free Library is a nonprofit that inspires a love for reading while building community. Purchase – or build – one of these book exchange boxes to place in front of your home, and fill it with books you want to share.

2. Host a soldier for the holidays

Live near a military base? Many organizations offer the opportunity to host a soldier for a holiday meal at your home. The easiest way to adopt a soldier or other member of the military is to connect with your local U.S. Army Family and Morale, Welfare and Recreation (MWR) or Navy MWR resource office to check what opportunities they provide for hosting.

3. Share your home with a cancer patient and their family

Cancer patients seeking treatment may end up at hospitals and communities far from home. While many hospitals provide lodging, there's also an opportunity for hosts to step in and provide a homey place to stay.

Programs vary from area to area, so the best place to start is connecting with your local hospital. If you're in the greater Philadelphia area, check out Hosts for Hospitals or Boston's Hospitality Homes.

4. Open your home to evacuees

When a natural disaster strikes, entire communities are unable to return home. Launched in 2017, Airbnb Open Homes is a program through which Airbnb works with nongovernmental organizations (NGOs) to book homes for people in need, for free. When a disaster occurs, hosts near affected areas are contacted with requests from displaced families and individuals.

To list your home on Airbnb or learn more about the program, read through its extensive FAQs.

5. Provide a safe place for refugees

Those forced to flee their country may not always have the connections and immediate financial resources to find shelter. A spare room or unused part of the house could be a great temporary solution for these refugees while they get on their feet.

Room for Refugees started in the United Kingdom and now works in the United States and Canada, too. Many other refugee resettlement services offer hosting opportunities, so research the relevant needs in your area.

6. Get creative

Your home can serve as the gathering place for all kinds of impactful work. Invite your neighbors over for dinner, or throw a progressive dinner party. Hosting a Death Over Dinner party is a great way to talk about end-of-life care for yourself or someone you love. Other ideas include hosting a lecture series, a documentary viewing or a crafting night, all in an effort to build community right where you live.

Related:

• The 9-to-5er’s Guide to Keeping Your House Clean
• How Breaking Three Design Rules Made Our House Feel More Like Home
• Three Easy Holiday Crafts to Make You Feel Festive

 

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14 Million Americans Plan to Give Their Home to A Family Member

Americans are moving less than ever, according to Zillow's analysis of the U.S. Census Bureau's Current Population Survey. Just 4.2 percent of American homeowners moved between 2015 and 2016 - which is almost half the 7.7 percent rate reported in 1990.

According to the Zillow Group Consumer Housing Trends Report 2017, 86 percent of all American homeowners - defined as those who have owned their home for more than a year - have no plans to move in the next three years. Why? Those planning to stay in their homes list love of their home (58 percent) and neighborhood (45 percent) as the top reasons they don't plan to sell.

A smaller, but still sizable, percentage of homeowners list a very generous reason for staying. Almost one-quarter (23 percent), a total of nearly 14 million households, say the reason they're not moving is because they plan to pass down their home to a family member.

Move over, fine china - homes just might be the new hottest heirloom.

This is good news for younger generations, who may be struggling to afford to buy their own home or living with their parents while saving up to buy one. In fact, over the past two decades, there's been a marked increase in the number of young Americans aged 18-34 living with their parents - up to 33.4 percent in 2016, compared to 27 percent in the late '70s.

Interestingly, this increase in recent years isn't driven by younger generations who may be putting off moving out - it's driven by older millennials. Since 2012, the percentage of 18- to 25-year-olds living with a parent has actually started to decline, while the share of 26- to 34-year-olds living with parents continues to increase. If their parent(s) are among the households planning to pass their home down, maybe they won't ever have to fly the coop.

Family financial gifts play a big role in helping people buy homes, above and beyond those generous families giving their entire home away. According to the Zillow Group Consumer Housing Trends Report 2017, 14 percent of all home buyers who purchased a home in the past 12 months used a gift from a family member or friend to help pay for the down payment. That number jumps to 20 percent for all millennial (18- to 37-year-old) home buyers.

Related:

• Why Cities Must Become Affordable for the Middle Class
• 27 Stats that Sum Up the American Housing Market
• How to Actually Afford to Buy a Home in America

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How to Get a Mortgage and Change Jobs at the Same Time

It's true that changing jobs can affect your loan approval, but, like most mortgage-related questions, the devil is in the details. So long as you are moving from one position to one with equal or higher income, and you are able to provide documentation of your work and income history, any changes to your loan approval chances should be minimal. The most important thing for lenders and their underwriters is ensuring you can repay the loan, and the best indicators of that are your income and history of employment.

Lenders want to know you have reliable, steady income that is ongoing, for at least the next three years.

If you're thinking about accepting a new job or recently moved positions, consider the ways it may hinder your mortgage acquisition.

What to expect when changing jobs before getting a mortgage

If your new job is within the same industry as are your last, and if the transition earns better pay, then lenders likely will not have a concern. Promotions are looked at favorably. Even lateral moves to stronger companies offering increased salary or improved benefits are sensible business decisions that shouldn't impede loan acquisition.

Your lender likely will want to ensure the longevity of your new role and confirm your new salary. Full-time positions with long-term contracts are ideal. Expect to work in your new role for at least 30-days before earning loan approval. Typically, you'll need to provide your first pay stub from the new company and disclose your offer letter confirming your salary. Be prepared for lenders to omit commission earnings from your total salary since your commission is unproven in the new role, which could affect your total loan amount.

How to get a mortgage with a new job

Avoid transitioning to a job that doesn't make financial sense, such as a lateral move for less pay, a change from full-time employee to contractor or a major industry change. Employment history showing frequent career moves could be a red flag for lenders that you may not be able to maintain steady income.

Another red flag for lenders is an extended gap in employment history. Chances of acquiring a mortgage may be stronger if your period of unemployment was less than six months. However, some exemptions include military service members returning from deployment or full-time students transitioning into the workforce; these paths are viewed as forms of employment.

How to get a home loan when relocating?

If your new job requires you to move, you'll need to solidify living arrangements before relocating. If you don't mind renting in your new location for at least 30 days to provide lenders with your first pay stub, it's likely the least stressful solution. Extended-stay hotels are popular options while familiarizing yourself with the surrounding community and local real estate market. On condition that you're sticking to the same industry and the new role offers a financial or career advantage, the new job should not restrict quick loan acquisition in a new city.

Alternatively, you could attempt purchasing and closing on a home in the new location before giving notice to your current job for a smooth, one-time move. If you're moving fast, understand a purchase offer takes 30-45 days to close, on average. Lenders verify employment during loan application and then again just prior to closing, so be sure to maintain employment until the sale closes.

If you're a homeowner and need to sell while shopping for a new home, and possibly live in a rental simultaneously, finances can become demanding. Selling your current property before buying can provide cash from closing to help fund your down payment, which could boost your loan eligibility. But if you can afford carrying two mortgages for a period of time, you can purchase a home in the new location, move in directly and then work to sell the initial property remotely. Again, you'll be limited to the speed of the purchase agreement or expect to disclose your new role to the lender.

Can relocation packages help with home purchases?

Often, companies offer relocation packages that range in coverage from paying for a moving service to a generous Guaranteed Buy Out (GBO). A GBO is when the company buys your home for an average appraisal value if it does not sell in a fair timeframe. Other relocation packages might help with closing costs of your home sale or pay the real estate commission fees. If you're underwater on your home, your new employer might cover the loan difference at resale.

Some relocation packages assist their new employees purchase a local home within a year of moving, they may buy down your interest rate or contribute to a down payment.

Whether buying a house out of necessity or preference, acquiring a new job within the same industry for better pay likely won't prevent loan approval, but it may slow the process down by a month.

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5 Home Design Trends for 2018 (and 3 Fads That Need to Go )

Design Trend: Beige That's Anything but Bland

Most Favorited Home in Every State This Year

4 Unique Home Trends That Ruled 2017

How Breaking 3 Design Rules Made Our Home Feel More Like Us

House of the Year: A Treehouse Tower With Water Views

Leave it to a celebrity architect to live in a home that was just voted our 2017 House of the Year.

Each week, we take you inside a unique space - from a shipping container converted into a tiny home to a magical treehouse that happened by accident. And at the end of each quarter, we ask you to vote on your favorite.

Tens of thousands of you weighed in throughout the year, voting this wooded, waterside home your favorite of those featured on Porchlight. Even with its August debut, it quickly earned nearly 2,500 votes.

When we first wrote about the five-story home among the treetops, it belonged to Jason McLennan, a designer and environmentalist based on Bainbridge Island, just outside Seattle, WA.

You loved McLennan’s 3-bedroom, 4-bathroom sanctuary with reclaimed wood, accents from a salvaged ship, and lush, green surroundings.

The house was built in 1978 by another architect, who salvaged four, immense wooden posts to anchor the living space. The builders rescued other touches from an old ship, in a nod to the local maritime industry.

A 12-foot-long antique leaded glass window anchors the kitchen, while adjacent doors open up to a patio that offers views of Puget Sound.

Every floor of the five-story home has vistas of passing ships. It’s part treehouse, part ship, some might say.

The home stands in stark contrast to last year’s winning home, a 16,000-square-foot palace with a private ski bridge in Big Sky, MT. That 6-bedroom, 9-bathroom home boasted a full gym and movie theater.

This year’s stunner sold over the summer for $875,000. Read more about the home in our original post here.

Photos by Erik Hecht. Set decoration provided by Lily Karsten. Plants provided by Bainbridge Botanicals.

Related:

• The 2018 Pantone Color of the Year is Here, and It’s Purple
• 8 Dream Homes Serving Up a Slice of Island Life
• 4 Homes With Jaw-Dropping Floor-to-Ceiling Windows

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