Down payment assistance programs are helping more consumers become homeowners, according to a new study. Researchers with CBC Mortgage Agency, a national housing finance group, found that more than nine out of 10 home buyers would not have been able to purchase a home without down payment help. Further, more than half of the 1,100 buyers surveyed that received assistance were racial or ethnic minorities. Also, more than a third say they are the first in their family to buy a home.

“We conducted this study to illuminate the importance of [down payment assistance] to lenders and borrowers across the country, and the findings are compelling,” says CBCMA President Richard Ferguson. “It’s clear that without DPA, millions of Americans would be shut out of the homebuying market. With it, creditworthy buyers and their families can reap the many benefits of homeownership, which creates healthier communities and other positive outcomes for our nation.”

The borrowers who used DPA say that saving for a down payment had been the chief reason why they had been delaying a home purchase.

Lenders surveyed say that DPA is particularly helpful for buyers who carry student loan debt. They also reported that many of their clients had been paying more in rent than the cost of their new monthly mortgage.

Airbnb has seen explosive growth the last few years, even as some cities have fought to manage short-term rentals that they fear are overtaking communities. Still, homeowners and investors are cashing in.

Florida is Airbnb’s hot spot, finds a new study released from IPX 1031, a 1031 exchange resource. For homeowners or investors looking to rent out housing on a short-term basis, the state is home to seven cities with the most per capita rentals through Airbnb. Miami Beach has the most, topping IPX 1031’s list with more than 3,400 Airbnb listings per 50,000 people. Kissimmee, Fla.—near Walt Disney World Resort and Universal Studios—came in at number two.

Airbnb has bloomed into a multibillion-dollar company since launching in 2008. The company allows investment property owners to rent out their homes, apartments, and condos. Some cities haven’t been happy about the growth of short-term rentals in their communities. (Read more.)

IPX 1031 analyzed 350 cities to find those with the most Airbnb properties per capita by using data from a short-term rental analytics database called AirDNA.

Charlotte, N.C., has seen the most growth in the number of rental listings through Airbnb since 2017. The city has posted a 54.7% jump in Airbnb listings since 2017. Following close behind is Fresno, Calif., at a 54.4% increase, and Jacksonville, Fla., with a 54% uptick.

On the other hand, cities like Chicago, Austin, Boston, and Los Angeles have seen the most limited growth in short-term rentals. Washington, D.C., has seen a decrease. “Some of these cities have been dealing with tighter regulations and restrictions on Airbnbs, which may be the reason for these stagnant numbers,” the IPX 1031 Insight Blog notes.

When it comes to selling a home, the small tweaks can sometimes make the largest difference. From the tile grout to the smells, Apartment Therapy recently asked real estate pros to chime in with the easy-to-overlook attributes of a home that could increase a home’s value.

“It’s these small things that show pride of ownership,” Dana Bull, a real estate pro with Sagan Harborside Sotheby’s International Realty in Marblehead, Mass., told Apartment Therapy. “Buyers feel more confident in a transaction and can be more likely to pay a premium if they believe the home has been properly managed and maintained by a seller.”

The often overlooked areas that can make some of the biggest difference include:

Clean surfaces and crevices

Take note of those baseboards and tile grout because the cleaner they are, the bigger the impact. “Buyers notice everything,” Bull told Apartment Therapy. “I’ve had clients ‘ooh’ and ‘ahh’ over a basement floor so clean you could eat off it. Even little details matter, like clean grout, tidy closets, and a swept basement floor. Yes, I’ve had buyers get hung up over shoddy tile work and I definitely can’t blame them.” Clean or replace grout and caulk in the bathrooms to give off super-clean vibes.

Updated lighting

Swapping out the light fixtures makes a big difference, too. For example, replace old ceiling fans or light fixtures with more modern choices. “If you want to do a little more work, recessed lighting gives any space a bright, modern touch,” Sarah Maguire, a real estate pro with Compass in Boston told Apartment Therapy.

A smell test

The smell of a home has a big impact on first impressions. Sellers should watch what they cook when they have their home on the market, such as avoiding fish, broccoli, or other foods that can leave pungent lingering odors in a home. “Make sure your home has a pleasant smell, but don’t keep candles or air fresheners in sight,” suggests the Donahue Maley Burns Team. “You don’t want potential home buyers to think you’re covering something up.”

Read more easy-to-overlook updates to increase a home’s value on Apartment Therapy.

One in five U.S. homeowners say they feel house rich but cash poor, according to the newly released Hometap Homeownership Study. The rising costs of homeownership nationwide prompted nearly 20% of 675 homeowners surveyed to classify themselves as feeling “house rich, cash poor” most of the time, according to the study produced by Hometap, a firm that provides loan alternatives for tapping home equity. Seventy-three percent of respondents say they feel “house rich, cash poor” at least some of the time.

“We knew there were pockets of homeowners who felt house rich, cash poor—we see that every day in our work—but were surprised to find that one in five feel that way so often,” says Jeffrey Glass, CEO of Hometap. “Mortgage rates are at historic lows, which is encouraging more people to buy, but despite 45 million homeowners with excess equity, we’re seeing really conservative behavior—perhaps a lasting effect of the 2008 financial crisis. Unless wages start to rise relative to home values, we’ll see more homeowners falling into the house rich, cash poor category.”

Eighty-two percent of homeowners cited the main stressor in homeownership as uncertainty over their future income; the next stressor was the anticipated costs of home maintenance and repairs, at 81%.

Millennials may be particularly feeling cash-strapped. Sixty percent of millennial homeowners surveyed say they agree or strongly agree that housing costs make it difficult to achieve their financial goals. Nineteen percent say that 50 to 100 percent of their monthly income goes toward their mortgage payment. Thirty-six percent said they’re also paying off student loans.

Overall, homeowners say they expect the house rich, cash poor issue to worsen. Sixty-six percent say housing costs are rising faster than income, and 77% expect that gap to get worse. Further, 57% of respondents said they can’t find solutions to alleviate being house rich and cash poor. Seventy-three percent said they do not want to take on traditional financing options, such as home equity loans.

“This study from Hometap makes clear that homeowners think there’s a problematic gap between housing costs and income,” says Jeremy Sicklick, CEO of HouseCanary. “But what homeowners need to keep in mind is that on average home values tend to increase steadily across the U.S. It seems likely that homeowners will start to see their properties as usable financial assets that allow them to be more authoritative in managing their financial situations.”

The youngest cities are usually found near college towns. Realtor.com® researchers analyzed 2017 U.S. Census Bureau metro data to pinpoint the cities with the lowest average resident age (the rankings were limited to one city per state for geographic diversity). The top 10 cities all have an average resident age of 30 or younger.

The following cities’ residents have the youngest average ages:

1. Provo, Utah

Average resident age: 24.7
Median home listing price: $305,000
Percentage of renters: 30%

2. Stillwater, Okla.

Average resident age: 26.6
Median home listing price: $195,000
Percentage of renters: 64%

3. Jacksonville, N.C. (Tie)

Average resident age: 26.7
Median home listing price: $175,000
Percentage of renters: 67%

3. Manhattan, Kan. (Tie)

Average resident age: 26.7
Median home listing price: $209,900
Percentage of renters: 60%

4. Ames, Iowa

Average resident age: 27.3
Median home listing price: $246,000
Percentage of renters: 56%

5. College Station, Texas

Average resident age: 27.4
Median home listing price: $269,900
Percentage of renters: 50%

6. Mount Pleasant, Mich.

Average resident age: 28.1
Median home listing price: $161,500
Percentage of renters: 61%