Home features that bring the $$

Plus, soaring insurance premiums

͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌  April 15, 2023 | Issue #88

Good morning! This week we’re talking about home insurance, money-fetching home features and Airbnb’s swankiest listings. This issue of Money Moves was written by Aly J. Yale.   It’s the most wonderful time of the year (to sell) Eddie Lee / Money; Getty Images This week is officially the best week of the year to sell your house. According to Realtor.com, homes listed between April 16 and April 22 sell 18% faster than any other week of the year. They also sell for about $8,400 more. If your home has a pizza oven or “she shed,” it may fetch even more cash. Zillow says that having one of these — or eight other in-demand features — can increase your home’s price by up to 5.3%. Here’s the full list of value-adding features: Steam ovens Pizza ovens Professional-grade appliances Terrazzo flooring She sheds Soapstone or quartz countertops Modern farmhouse style Hurricane shutters/storm shutters Mid-century design Some of these features are clearly more style over substance. As Money reporter Mary Ellen Cagnassola puts it, “Buyers just want to have fun.” For more: 10 Features That Can Increase Your Home's Sale Price, From Pizza Ovens to 'She Sheds' Sell it now: The Best Week to List Your House for Sale Is Coming This Month   Soaring insurance premiums Eddie Lee / Money; Getty Images As I mentioned a few newsletters ago, I recently got my home insurance renewal in the mail. And my premium? It’s set to jump significantly. Unfortunately, my problem’s hardly unique. According to reporter Adam Hardy’s latest, the typical homeowner will see a 9% jump (about $150) in their insurance premium this year. Nationally, the total average premium will clock in around $1,800. In some states, though, you could pay quite a bit more. Here’s a look at the states with the most expensive home insurance bills: For more: Here's How Much Your Home Insurance Will Rise This Year, According to a New Forecast Expect higher taxes, too: These 5 States Have the Highest Property Taxes in America   Fighting foreclosure Eddie Lee / Money; Getty Images Inflation is no doubt putting a strain on everyone — particularly homeowners. According to recent data, foreclosure activity has doubled since last year. While foreclosures are still below pre-pandemic levels, “the number has been steadily rising for the past 21 months and is likely to continue increasing,” writes Money reporter Leslie Cook. If you want to make sure you’re not part of that growing statistic, having some contingency plans in place is key — like strategies for increasing your income, knowing where you’ll pull funds from in a pinch and mapping out what you’ll say to your lender. As Leslie explains, “It’s better to have a plan for what to do if you’re struggling with your mortgage payments than to have to scramble for a solution once it’s too late.” For more: 6 Tips for Homeowners Who Are Struggling to Pay Their Mortgage The latest on mortgage rates: Mortgage Rates This Week, According to Freddie Mac   What $10K gets you on Airbnb My family’s big into Top Chef, and on last week’s episode, one of the winners took home an Airbnb stay — anywhere in the world — for up to $10,000. It got me thinking: What could that $10K buy you? I know the platform has properties in some pretty out-there locations — not to mention entire “luxe” and “OMG” listing categories, so I did a little digging.  Take a peek at a few of the cool places I found for $10K or less: A nine-bedroom Victorian mansion in Lancashire, UK A sprawling Mexican villa that comes with a private chef and full staff A six-acre, 10-bedroom estate in Scotland A Colombian retreat complete with 24 karate gold bathtubs A private ski lodge accessible only by gondola Your own private island in the Caribbean I could go on and on, but you get the point: Airbnb has some pretty swanky offerings if you have the cash. My personal favorite is this Tuscan castle, but peek around the site yourself next time you need a distraction. (Just filter by price, and voila!)   Happy hunting, P.S. Spot a weird or unique home listing? Share it with me on Twitter, where I’m @alyjwriter, or via email at alyjyale@gmail.com. P.P.S. Have a friend who loves real estate or is looking for a home of their own? Please forward them this email or send them to the Money Moves subscription page.   Money’s Essential Home Buying Resources: Spring 2023 On the hunt? Check out Money’s Mortgage Calculator, list of The Best Mortgage Lenders and look at the latest mortgage rates. Thinking of refinancing? Our list of The Best Mortgage Refinance Companies can help. You can also use our Mortgage Refinance Calculator or these refi tips. Key question: How much house can I afford?   This newsletter is free because Money earns a commission when you click or make purchases from the links in this email and on our site. We also receive compensation for some of the products and services featured in this message. Offers may be subject to change without notice. Learn more about how we make money. Privacy Policy • Advertise With Us • We're Hiring! To stop receiving these emails, unsubscribe or manage your email preferences. 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