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Do you want to make $10,000 a month?

I was struggling with this question for days. I wanted more money now and the thought of making $10,000 seemed like a dream spurred on by advertisements in magazines promising “easy” earnings opportunities.

But then again, it may have been too good to be true. And that’s why I’m writing this article: because so many people are looking for these quick ways to earn big bucks online without a lot of work – and I’m here to deliver.

I’ve been browsing the internet for years and have found a few ways to make $10,000!

There are a lot of ideas out there, you just have to decide what works well for you. So don’t get too excited just yet.

When you follow these easy-to-follow steps, you’ll be on your way to earning yourself some greenbacks that will take care of all those bills and more than pay off your student loans (or at least buy you a new car).

I have provided links to each of the sources I used for this article, so you can check them out for yourself and decide if they’re worth your time.

So without further ado, let’s get started.

What is the quickest way to make $10,000 a month?

Getting started on a side hustle has never been easier. But how do you know where to start?

Check out these six ideas that can be done in hours and make money like crazy!

  1. Become a freelance writer
  2. Start an Etsy shop
  3. Create and sell digital courses
  4. Drive for Uber or Lyft
  5. Become a virtual assistant
  6. Learn how to day trade

Three Ways to make $10000 a month

Everyone wants to make money and get rich quickly, but the truth is that it takes time.

There are many ways of making a living today; you can choose the traditional route, make money online, or look at passive income.

Option #1 – Make $10,000 a month by earning a high income

There are a few ways to make a high income. You can work in a high-paying profession, like a lawyer or doctor.

Working in a high-paying profession is the most common way to make a high income. If you want to earn a six-figure salary, you’ll need to choose a career that pays well. Some of the highest-paying jobs include doctors, lawyers, investment bankers, and CEOs.

Starting your own business is another great way to make a high income. If you can build a successful company, you’ll be able to earn an impressive salary. Of course, starting a business is risky and it takes hard work to be successful.

Option #2 – Make $10,000 a month by working online

There are many different types of work that you can do online in order to make $10,000 a month. Some examples include writing articles or blog posts, designing websites, freelancing, selling products or services, and much more.

How much you can expect to make depends on a number of factors including the type of work you do, how much experience you have, and the amount of time and effort you put into it. However, if you are willing to put in the time and effort, it is possible to make $10,000 a month by working online.

For many people, however, the quickest way is by starting an online business. The good news is that most of these businesses are easy and sustainable because they don’t require a lot of startup capital.

Learn how to make money online for beginners.

Option #3 – Make $10,000 a month with Passive Income

Investing money in assets that generate passive income is another option for making a high income.

With this approach, you will use your capital to purchase assets such as rental properties or dividend stocks. These investments will provide you with regular income, which can help you reach your goal of making $10,000 per month.

Best Ways to Make 10k a Month

The internet is a great place to make money if you know how. The best part is that there are no huge upfront costs like starting a brick-and-mortar store or subscription business, so the sky is the limit on how much you can make.

That is why you will see many of the best ways to make 10k a month are online, and I’ve listed some of my favorites below. They all work in different ways, but they all have one thing in common: you can get started with no upfront costs.

Want to make money online but don’t know what to do? This guide will show you the quickest and easiest ways possible.

Invest in Stock Market with Mutal Funds or ETFs

There are a few things to consider before investing in stocks.

First, you need to have a clear understanding of what stocks are and how they work. It’s also important to understand the different types of stocks, such as blue chip stocks, growth stocks, value stocks, small cap stocks, and penny stocks. This will help you decide which mutual funds or ETFs, you want to invest in.

With this buy-and-hold approach, you are looking to make returns in the long run and are not worried about the up-and-down movement of your portfolio.

You need a 1.5 million portfolio to make $10k a month passively (source). This is the intrigue of how to FI and why many people pursue it.

Make Income in Trading Individual Stocks

There are a few things to consider before actively trading in stocks. You need to understand what stocks are and how they work. You also need to know the risks involved in investing in stocks as an active day trader or swing trader.

Stocks are shares of ownership in a company. When you buy a stock, you become a part-owner of the company. The value of your stock will go up or down depending on how well the company does. Once you have a basic understanding of the stock market, you can begin researching specific companies that interest you.

Stocks are bought and sold on the stock market. The price of a stock is determined by supply and demand. When more people want to buy a stock than sell it, the price goes up. When more people want to sell a stock than buy it, the price goes down.

It is possible to make money fast with stocks.

Create a blog

Blogging is a great way to make money because it gives you the opportunity to share your knowledge and expertise with a wide audience. If you have a knack for writing and are passionate about a particular topic, then starting a blog is definitely a good way to make money.

There are several ways to make money from blogging, such as selling advertising space, affiliate marketing, or selling products and services. However, the most important thing is to build up a large enough audience so that you can monetize your blog effectively.

Become a Virtual Assistant

A virtual assistant is an online personal assistant who can help with a variety of tasks, including administrative tasks, social media tasks, and even customer service.

A virtual assistant can help with a variety of tasks that business owners and entrepreneurs need assistance with. You are able to have a non phone work from home job and work during the hours you want. This is why so many people find becoming a VA so appealing.

Use Your Expertise as a Virtual bookkeeper

A virtual bookkeeper is an individual who provides bookkeeping services to clients from a remote location.

To become a virtual bookkeeper, you will need experience in bookkeeping and accounting, as well as strong organizational and communication skills. You will also need to be proficient in using accounting software, such as QuickBooks or FreshBooks.

Create a Course on Teachable and earn $10k a month online

Teachable is an online course platform that allows you to create and sell your own courses. You can use Teachable to earn extra income or even make a full-time living from your courses.

In fact, Teri Ijeoma is one of Teachable’s top course creators and easily surpasses this threshold.

Etsy shop in just a few minutes. This is a great way to use your graphic design skills and easily make money from $1-3 printables.

Write Articles with a Freelance Writing Business

Freelance writing is a great way to make a comfortable living from your writing. Whether you have a passion for writing or you simply enjoy writing for fun, freelance writing can be a great way to make a living from your work.

Copywriting is a type of freelance writing that requires more specialized skills and offers higher ROI for clients. This is because copywriters are responsible for creating compelling and persuasive content that can drive conversions.

Build a Coaching Business with Clients

An online coach is a professional who provides guidance and support to clients through online communication tools such as email, chat, video conferencing, and social media.

Engage in a social media management

A social media manager is a professional who helps businesses grow and interact with their customers through social media.

Social media managers typically create and post content, monitor and respond to comments and messages, run ads, and analyze data to track results.

Drop Shipping

Drop shipping is a business model where you don’t keep any inventory and instead outsource the production of products to a third party. When someone orders a product from your store, you simply contact the supplier and have them ship the product directly to your customer.

This is a great way to earn passive income, as you don’t need to do any of the work yourself. You can also hire freelancers to do all of the low-value tasks for you, such as customer service, order fulfillment, and marketing.

Amazon FBA

Amazon FBA is a service that allows you to sell products on Amazon.com and fulfill orders through the Amazon fulfillment center.

For example, Amazon FBA is an online store that Amazon handles a lot of the stuff that causes headaches for most e-commerce store owners, such as shipping and customer service. This means that store owners can focus on more important aspects of their business while still benefitting from Amazon’s massive user base.

Customers are more likely to buy from you if they see that your product is eligible for Prime shipping.

Affiliate Marketing

Affiliate marketing is when you promote other people’s products and services to make a commission. The easiest way to get started with affiliate marketing is through Amazon.

You can sign up as an Amazon Associate for free and then use the Amazon Associates link generator to create links for the products you want to promote. Amazon will pay you a commission on anything that is purchased through one of your links, even if it isn’t something that you promoted.

Make a Salary Off Flea Markets

There are many ways to make a salary off flea markets and search through other people’s junk. It is completely possible to make an income from selling items online.

You can start by finding a market that you are interested in and looking for items that are in high demand. Then, you need to know what to look for when you are shopping. When you are ready to start selling, you will need to find a place to sell and know your profit margins.

Invest Your Money to Make More

Investing is the act of allocating resources, usually money, with the expectation of generating an income or profit.

The first step is to understand what you want to achieve with your investment.

Once you know your goals, you can start researching different investment options and choosing the one that best suits your needs. It’s important to remember that there are risks involved with any type of investment, so be sure to do your homework before making any decisions.

Learn all the best ways how to invest 10k.

How hard is it to make $10k a Month?

There is no one-size-fits-all answer to this question, as the amount of work required to make $10,000 a month varies depending on the individual’s circumstances and career path.

However, in general, making $10,000 a month requires a significant amount of hard work and dedication.

For example, someone who is self-employed may need to put in long hours to build up their business before they start seeing a return on their investment. Similarly, someone who is employed by someone else may need to put in extra effort to stand out from the crowd and get promoted.

How much money is required:

Again, there is no definitive answer as the amount of money required varies depending on the individual’s circumstances. However, in general, making $10k a month usually requires having a good income from employment or from other sources such as investments as you build your side hustle. It’s also worth noting that saving up enough money to live on while you’re working towards your goal can also be helpful.

Also, spending money on online courses to jumpstart your process is helpful!

How long does it take:

The time it takes to make $10k a month also varies depending on the individual’s circumstances. For example, someone who already has a well-paid job may only need to save up for a few months before reaching their goal, whereas someone who is starting their own business may need to work for several years before seeing a return on their investment.

How to make $10k a month FAQs

Many people are interested in earning a high income, but they don’t know how to get started. In this section, we go over many of the frequently asked questions.

There are many ways to make money without a job. You can start your own business, work as a freelancer, or find odd jobs.

How much you can make depends on how much time and effort you put into it. You could potentially make thousands of dollars a month if you’re willing to work hard.

If you have the right skills and connections, you can make a lot of money in a short period of time.

To earn 10k a month, you need to average making $333.33 per day (assuming a 30 day month).

If you plan to work a normal 9-to-5 schedule, you must earn $500 a day.

There are many jobs that pay $10,000 a month. Some of these jobs include:

  • CEOs or any C-level executive
  • Investment bankers
  • Lawyers
  • Doctors

Different jobs require different skill sets. For example, CEOs need to be good at managing people and finances, while lawyers need to be good at research and writing.

The cost of living varies widely depending on where you live – yes the debate of HCOL vs LCOL. But $10,000 a month is generally enough to cover basic expenses and leave some room for savings.

Of course, if you have a family or other financial obligations, your expenses will be higher and you may not be able to save as much.

How to make $10000 a month from home?

There are many ways to make money from home. You can start a blog and sell advertising, write eBooks and sell them online, or even start a YouTube channel and sell products through affiliate marketing.

The amount of money you can make from home will vary depending on the method you choose. For example, if you start a blog and sell advertising, you could make a few hundred dollars per month starting out. However, as you grow and expand into other niches like affiliate marketing, you could easily make over $10,000 per month.

Tips for success:

No matter which method you choose to make money from home, there are some tips that will help you succeed.

  1. First, be sure to choose a niche that you are passionate about so that writing or creating content is not a chore.
  2. Second, be consistent with how you plan on making money from home.
  3. Finally, invest in online courses to jumpstart your learning.

What are some tips for making $10,000 a month?

In the past few years, there has been a shift in how people get rich.

People are now making money six-figure salaries by doing what they love and starting their own businesses or becoming influencers.

Here are the best tips to make sure you have success in how to make 10k a month.

Tip #1 – Set a Goal

Setting a goal is important because it gives you something to work towards. It can also help motivate you to take action and stay on track.

When setting a goal, it is important to be specific and realistic. You should also make sure that your goal is measurable so that you can track your progress.

Example goals:

  • Enroll in online course to expand your earning potential
  • Earn an extra $500 per month from side hustles
  • Have your side gig income to take over your 9-to-5 income
  • Be able to retire and enjoy time freedom

Tip #2 – Make a Plan

As James Clear, the author of Atomic Habits says, “Many people think they lack motivation when what they really lack is clarity.”

You have to start by making a plan. You can daydream all you want about making $10000 in a month.

Here are a few steps to get you started:

  1. Brainstorm ideas for a side hustle
  2. Research the market and start small
  3. Figure out which online courses to take to jumpstart your learning
  4. Study. Study. And study.
  5. Stay consistent with your plan.

However, the best way to find out if a side hustle will work is to start small. You can always build up your business and make more money later on.

Tip #3 – Be Patient

You need to be patient if you want to make $10,000 a month. It takes time and effort to make this much money.

Don’t think you can walk away after a few hours and make $10k each month.

It takes time to be consistent in making $10k month after month.

However, if you put in the work, you can make $10,000 a month.

Tip #4 – Take Action

In order to make $10,000 a month, it is important to take action.

Each and every day, you should be working on something that will help you reach your financial goals.

Whether it is watching a Youtube video, listening to a podcast, or actually putting reach work in.

Taking action will help you reach your goals quickly.

How to make 10k a week

Making 10k a week is definitely possible, but it’ll take work and dedication to see results.

You’ll need to have the right money-making idea and put in the time and effort to make it successful. Additionally, having multiple streams of income can help you reach your goal faster.

Which Income Stream will you choose to Start with?

So there you have it! A few different ways that you can start earning an extra $10,000 a month.

Which one will you choose to start with?

There are many ways to make money quickly and easily, but not all of them are created equal. In this guide, we’ve outlined some of the quickest and most effective ways to make $10k a month.

Choose the option that best suits your skills and interests, and get started today!

Let us know in the comments below.

Know someone else that needs this, too? Then, please share!!

Source: moneybliss.org

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If you’re in tech in Utah, you probably already know Lehi. As the home of industry giants Adobe, Ancestry.com, Workfront, SirsiDynix, IM Flash and other large, small and up-and-coming firms, Lehi has grown from bedroom community to destination location for families looking to be in the center of the action.

Just south of Point of the Mountain, Lehi’s family-friendly lifestyle gives residents quick access to recreation, quaint restaurants, ample shopping and a perfect place to call home. Plus, its center-of-the-valley location means you’re never far from anything.

Considering a home in Lehi? Here’s what you’ll find.

Small town charm with top amenities

Lehi is growing— and fast— but it still retains the small town charm that drew families to it in the first place. Want a peek at what Lehi used to be? Take a drive by Lehi Roller Mills; if it seems familiar, that’s because this still-working mill was the set for the original Footloose. Just a few blocks down Lehi’s Main Street and pop into Paper Crush for a DIY custom day planner and other party supplies or grab a burger and old-fashioned shake at Porter’s.

If a wedding is in your future, Flowers on Main is your stop for fresh-cut beauties and handmade leis, which are great accompaniments to the custom dresses at Gowns by Pamela.

Family game night goes all out at Gamers’ Inn, where you can try games before you buy them or join in with a group to play your favorite board games. Sweeten the day with treats from Lehi Bakery, where the donuts are square, and cupcakes at the Little Cake and Dessert Shop.

If community events are more your style, attend Lehi’s annual Round-Up celebration and rodeo each June and mark your calendar for the carnival-style Foam Day in July. (Why the name? Because before the activities end, everything is covered in soapy foam.) And October wouldn’t be complete without a visit (or two!) to Cornbelly’s, where attendees can get lost in an old-fashioned corn maze —haunted or not—and test their punkin’ chunkin’ skills before settling in to make DIY s’mores. 

Walkability/Drivability and Livability

Don’t work in Lehi? Not a problem. Your average commute will still only be 23 minutes, or you could hop on FrontRunner to take the train to Salt Lake, Provo, Ogden and points in-between.

When you return home, it’s a quick walk, drive or bike ride for a bite to eat. Depending on the direction you prefer, both Tsunami and Jimmy Johns are both highly accessible, thanks to the Murdock Canal Trail, a 17-mile paved trail that runs parallel to an unpaved equestrian trail, and connects seven communities in Utah County.

If your destination is a dream home with all of the modern amenities, Lehi is your place. Thanks to the tech corridor, most homes in Lehi were built since 2000 and have all of the amenities homeowners are looking for. Best part: home values in Lehi average $266,300 and climbing, which makes a home in Lehi a smart investment but still affordable. Check out the homes for sale in Lehi on Homie for current availability.

Get out and play, nature’s way

Flanked by Thanksgiving Point to the West and Mt. Timpanogos to the East, Lehi’s access to the great outdoors means you can play hard by day—regardless of your preferred activity.

Take in a round of golf at Thanksgiving Point’s championship course or Frisbee golf at Dry Creek Trail Park, the city’s first disc golf course. You can also run, bike or walk the 17 miles of the Murdock Canal Trail or cool off at the city pool.

For a high-flying adventure, Flight Park State Recreation Area, accessible from Minuteman Drive, has facilities to help you get your hand glider, paraglider and model airplanes in the air.

And for a quick reminder of Mother Nature’s brilliance, Mt. Timpanogos looms just 10 miles east, where you can tour the cave, go for a hike hiking or have a quiet picnic.

Indoor fun

Shopping anyone? Traverse Mountain’s diverse stores include something for everyone, whether your style is H&M, Michael Kors, Quicksilver or Coach. And there’s Cabela’s, where you’ll find everything you could possibly want to feel at home in the great outdoors.

Across the highway are the restaurants of Thanksgiving Point, including Harvest Restaurant, known for its locally-sourced ingredients and fresh take on lunch and dinner. Top off the day by visiting the Museum of Ancient Life or Museum of Natural Curiosity, and the requisite trip to the Ice Cream Shop for an old-fashioned float—with bubblegum ice cream, of course.

Nightlife for everyone

Don’t expect the carpet to roll up at sunset. Evenings are a great time to catch a box office favorites at the Megaplex. In summer, Sundays end with a serenade from some of the best local talent at Wines Park. Or catch a nightcap at Scorez Sports Bar or Buffalo Wild Wings, both prepped for late-night fun.

Want to find your place in Lehi?

If Lehi sounds like the perfect place for you to call home, the Homie team is here to help. You can start the process by browsing through the current homes for sale in Lehi and click “Schedule a Tour” whenever you’re ready to get a closer look. When the time is right, Homie will help you create an offer, answer questions and secure your financing—and Homie’s services for buyers are completely free. You’ll find more details in our Buyer package.

Source: homie.com

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Mike and Georgia had looked for six months before they found their perfect townhome. Like many buyers, they were more worried about the sellers accepting their offer than they were about investigating the Homeowners Association (HOA). Turns out, the HOA almost ruined the deal. Because the HOA had let their FHA approval lapse, Mike and Georgia were not able to go with an FHA loan. When they switched to a conventional loan, they had to drain their savings in order to qualify for the higher debt-to-income ratios. At this point, they took a more careful look at the HOA’s meeting notes and were alarmed to read that roads would soon need major investments and that HOA fees had been rising higher and faster than local rents for the past five years. The entire scenario was a nightmare, costing Mike extra time and money—and he now gets to pay the association a pretty penny every month for the hassle.

HOAs aren’t usually top of mind when you’re looking to buy a home. In fact, HOAs can be completely overlooked until you learn that your dream house comes with one.

If you’ve carefully figured out just what you can afford to spend every month on a mortgage and then get hit with the added expense of an HOA, you may find your perfect home suddenly out of reach. But all the HOA news isn’t bad. Sometimes the benefits of an association can make homeownership more manageable—especially if you’re used to apartment or condo living.

Whether an HOA is part of your home shopping wish list or not, here’s everything you need to know to make a smart decision when it comes to joining an HOA.

What is an HOA and why do they exist?

One Salt Lake buyer, Kip. A., shared this insight, “HOAs are meant to ensure that a community maintains a good standard of upkeep and generally do a good job at that. Some HOAs might include lawn care, snow removal, and community amenities such as a clubhouse or pool.”

Homeowner associations are legal entities that exist to govern a planned community like a subdivision or apartment complex. HOAs ensure that certain rules and regulations (like what color you can paint your front door) are followed, and usually take responsibility for maintaining common areas like parking and sidewalks. An HOA will typically take care of at least some of the landscaping and exterior home maintenance.

As Kip noted, they can also provide community amenities like a pool, fitness center, and park areas. In some instances, HOAs provide road and waste management to areas that are outside city service areas. HOAs are funded by membership fees that are required to live on the property. Fees can range from $75 to more than $400 per month, depending on the neighborhood and the services provided.

Things to watch out for when it comes to an HOA

If you fall in love with a home that has an HOA, this is your must-do list before putting in an offer.

  • Dig into the fees: Find out what the current fees are, what they cover, and how often you can expect increases. Most HOAs in Utah have some limits on how much fees can be increased without homeowner approval. However, the board can usually approve a minimal increase without asking for input or taking a homeowner vote.
  • Verify what your fee covers: Be very specific when you look into what your HOA fee covers and what it doesn’t. If landscaping is included, find out the specifics—how often is the lawn mowed and edged? Is tree and hedge trimming included? What if you have a broken sprinkler? Verify policies for snow removal, waste and recycling, and which portions of your home are covered for repair under the HOA’s homeowners insurance policy.
  • Ask about big projects: HOAs need to maintain things like roofs, fences, and community amenities like swimming pools. Find out if any big projects are on the horizon and what the costs look like. Sometimes HOAs will impose a special assessment on top of your monthly fees in order to pay for something big like re-tiling the pool.
  • Read the minutes: HOA meeting minutes are public and available to all homeowners. Ask to review recent minutes, which should include the latest financials. Look for any complaints that seem consistent and note outstanding HOA fees from owners who are in arrears. The minutes should also include how much money is currently in the reserve account for emergencies and big projects. This can give you a clue into the health of the community and the potential for extra fees and increases.
  • Study the CC&Rs: The HOA governs the CC&Rs (Covenants, Conditions, & Restrictions) of the community. These are the rules that let homeowners know what modifications are allowed (painting, shutters, etc.) and what is not allowed. Some communities have liberal policies and others are highly restrictive, not even allowing wreaths on front doors or more than one small pet. Owners are fined if they violate the CC&Rs, so it’s highly important to understand what they are and whether or not you can live with them.

Life with an HOA… advice from Homie buyers and sellers

Many Homie buyers and sellers have lived with HOAs—and some have passed on a house because of the HOA—and wanted to share their experiences to help other home buyers.

Rob T. warns homeowners of the costs of an HOA over time, “Make sure that you understand the long-term costs of an HOA and consider if they are providing value equal to that cost. Since you are paying them monthly, make sure they doing their job. HOA‘s can be hit or miss. Some provide great value while others create huge hassles. Where possible, check with current residents in the area to see what they say about their HOA before you buy.”

Justin P. shared why he likes his HOA, “I like having an HOA to protect my property value from gross negligence or outrageous and inconsiderate decisions by neighbors.” However, he added this advice, “Read the CC&Rs to know what restrictions you may have as a homeowner, but judge the HOA’s ability to protect your property value by browsing the existing neighborhood to see how well kept it is.”

Clinton M. cautions potential buyers about possible fines and liens, “When purchasing a home in an HOA neighborhood, be well aware of the fact that your neighbors will be on the lookout for any infractions and are willing to turn you in (subjecting you to fines) for any violations. Be advised that your failure to pay your dues will result in a lien against your property and you can be foreclosed upon by your community. Not surprisingly, the community interest is at stake – if the HOA bankrupts, it goes on your credit too! The best advice I could give to any family or friend would be to think twice about purchasing in an HOA community.”

Homeownership is exciting, and it’s important to feel confident and comfortable about the community in which you buy. If an HOA is part of the package, be sure to do your research first. It’s nearly impossible to get out of HOA requirements and restrictions, and if you’re not happy with how yours is run, you could be in for a world of headaches, extra fees, and disappointment.  

Source: homie.com

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The search for your dream home might seem long and daunting, but there are ways to streamline the process so you only tour homes that fit the bill. We’ve narrowed the list of questions down to just three. Write these down, and jump into browsing homes with Homie now!

How much?

This one’s the biggest factor in most home buyer’s cases, which is why it is number one on our list of questions. To avoid shopping out of your price range, get pre-qualified first. Pre-qualification can help you narrow what your budget can actually support. Once you have a price range, the pool of houses that you can consider will grow smaller. Certain locations and types of builds will be crossed off the list, so you can get a little pickier with what is available.

You can get pre-qualified with any lender of your choice, but we recommend checking out Homie Loans™*.

Where?

As the old saying goes, “location, location, location”. How far are you willing to drive to get to work, daycare, or your favorite hangout spot? Narrow your search down to a few cities that you’re willing to live in and that have homes in your budget.

While commuting times are important, you’ll also want to consider the safety and convenience of the area. What’s the crime rate? Is a grocery store nearby? What about a school?

Even if you’re planning on moving to a rural area, you’ll want to check how close things are in case of emergencies. You never know when someone is going to come up with a bad case of fell out of a tree and broke their arm.

What?

What are you looking for exactly? Think of a few things that your dream home ABSOLUTELY has. Basically, these traits are what you’d be looking for in the perfect home Tinder profile. Is it a rambler or multi-story? Does it have a large backyard? How many bedrooms and bathrooms do you need?

If you’re willing to do a little DIY, these might have a lil’ bit of wiggle room, but if you want a move-in ready home, you’ll want all of the homes you look at to check your boxes.

Go forth and hunt houses!

Click here to browse homes for sale on Homie.com. Our listing platform allows you to easily filter based on location, bedrooms/bathrooms, and price. Because we like you so much, we even offer Homie buyers up to 50% of our commission.* That makes the process THAT much easier.

If you’re looking to sell your home before you start the journey to buying your dream home, consider selling your home with Homie! We can help you sell a home for a low fee, and you can save some green to put toward your new home.

*Homie Loans and Homie have a business relationship in that both are owned by the same persons.
**Subject to terms and conditions outlined in the Buyer Broker Agreement.

Source: homie.com

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For anyone who’s dreamed of having their own little private pool with infinity views out over the ocean, the Waldorf Astoria Los Cabos Pedregal delivers — and for the points and miles enthusiasts among us, award nights can be surprisingly accessible.

Not every piece of this rugged paradise is perfect, though my recent stay came pretty close. Here’s a closer look at the Waldorf Astoria Los Cabos Pedregal.

The basics

The resort, part of the Hilton Honors portfolio, is located on the southern tip of Baja California Sur in Cabo San Lucas, Mexico. It first opened in 2009 and was rebranded to a Waldorf in 2019; it’s one of just 34 Waldorf Astoria properties worldwide.

One of the resort’s two beachside pools. (Photo by Brad Walters)

Other things to know at a glance:

  • Standard check-out time: Noon (later for Hilton elites if available).

  • Cancellation policy: Varies from as little as 14 days out during the off season to 90 days out during peak times.

  • Room types: Starting with standard rooms up to larger casitas and multi-bedroom private villas. There are 115 rooms and suites in total on the property.

  • Transportation: Los Cabos Airport (SJD) serves several hubs on all the major U.S. carriers. The hotel is about a 40-minute drive or cab ride away (Uber isn’t allowed to do pickups). If you’re adventurous and packed very light, the slow but comfortable Ruta del Desierto bus from the airport’s domestic terminal can get you as far as Puerto Paraiso mall, a mile from the resort, for $5. On the other end of the cost spectrum, private transport can be arranged with the hotel.

  • Parking: Complimentary valet parking.

  • Location: Along the southernmost stretch of beach in town, a 15-minute walk from the tourist center.

Balcony with plunge pool. (Photo by Brad Walters)

This property stands out even among other luxury properties in Los Cabos because every unit, from the standard rooms on up, comes with its own (small) heated pool. We’ll have plenty more on those pools below.

Booking with points

Paid rates all-in start at just over $1,200 a night for a standard room, but at high season those rates can more than double.

Awards start at 120,000 points per night for a base room, in which case your redemption would be worth no worse than 1 cent per point and easily north of 2 cents per point at peak periods.

As with many things in award travel, fortune favors those with the flexibility to drop everything and go. When I booked this with points in mid-March, every single day for the rest of the month was available at low-level award pricing:

What’s more, Hilton elites get every fifth night free when booking five or more consecutive standard award nights, which can effectively reduce the per-night rate to 96,000 points.

Watch out, though: Rates can jump to over 1 million points per night based on demand.

At last check, no 120,000-point dates remained for the winter 2023-24 travel season. If that’s when you want to go, watch award availability like a hawk, as it seems to come in waves.

🤓Nerdy Tip

American Express Membership Rewards transfer to Hilton Honors points at a 1:2 rate, meaning 60,000 AmEx points could theoretically cover a night here. If you prize luxury hotels over fancy flights, it’s a decent value.

The base room for award bookings is a Pacific View King. In my recent stay and a prior stay in 2021, the Hilton Honors Gold status conferred from holding the Hilton Honors American Express Surpass® Card ($95 annual fee; terms apply) scored me a double upgrade to an Ocean View Deluxe room. It’s the same size as the base room with a full, unobstructed ocean view.

Around the resort

Around the resort. (Photo by Brad Walters)

Design and layout

Cabo itself is situated in a landscape where desert, mountains and sea all seem to collide, and the resort’s design blends well with its surroundings.

Entry/exit tunnel. (Photo by Brad Walters)

In fact, you actually have to go through a little mountain — via a chandelier-lit tunnel — to get to the resort from town.

I arrived on foot, passing through a security checkpoint before getting whisked through the short tunnel on a golf cart. Once on the other side, I arrived at the open-air check-in lobby, where I was greeted with a welcome margarita.

While standard check-in time is 3 p.m., I arrived at noon, which gave me some time to explore the grounds before the desk texted me around 1 p.m. to tell me my room was ready.

Hotel beachfront. (Photo by Brad Walters)

Beyond the lobby, the resort sprawls out over 24 beachfront acres along and up the base of the mountainside.

Most common areas are grouped on two-tiered levels; it only took me a few pleasant minutes to walk from one end of the resort to another.

Hotel grounds. (Photo by Brad Walters)

The tiered design assures that every unit has a view of some kind, although some views are better than others.

Generally speaking, the higher on the property you go, the more expansive the view — but the more you’ll see between you and the ocean.

Casita with personal pool, as seen from main walkway. (Photo by Brad Walters)

In terms of privacy, it can vary wildly. The outdoor spaces of some of the casitas around the pool are quite exposed, as are the lower levels of some of the larger buildings. I wrote ahead to request a more private room and was happy with what I wound up with.

Inside the common area. (Photo by Brad Walters)

Although the resort’s design can feel somewhat spare from the outside, the small details stand out once indoors.

Food and beverage

The property features four restaurants ranging from fancy to poolside casual, along with three bars and a coffee shop.

As a Hilton Honors Gold member, I could enjoy the $34 continental breakfast buffet for free at Don Manuel’s, which is open for all meals of the day but serves breakfast starting at 7 a.m.

Granola with yogurt and berries. (Photo by Brad Walters)

Continental breakfast included granola, fruit, cereal, coffee, freshly squeezed juice and a selection of pastries.

Breakfast chilaquiles. (Photo by Brad Walters)

For an upcharge of $13 (including taxes) I upgraded to the Mexican breakfast, which included made-to-order huevos rancheros, chilaquiles, omelets and a rotating daily special, among other hot items.

For the sheer selection alone, it’s more than worth the price to upgrade, especially since you’re allowed to sample as many items as you’d like.

Pastry station, included with continental buffet. (Photo by Brad Walters)

Everything I tried was good, but the most memorable items I had were the crackling, delicious buffet pastries and a spiced hot chocolate.

The walkway to El Farallon, by day and at last light. (Photos by Brad Walters)

The highly regarded (and priced to match) El Farallon is open for dinner from 5 p.m. to 11 p.m. I didn’t partake during my short stay, although if I carried the Hilton Honors American Express Aspire Card ($450 annual fee), this would be a solid way to use up much of the $250 annual Hilton resort credit that comes with the card. The cliffside location looked stunning.

Agave Study bar. (Photo by Brad Walters)

Meanwhile, a recent addition to the resort’s bar offerings is Agave Study at Peacock Alley, which offers mezcal and tequila tastings paired with local bites.

Champagne bar, complete with swings. (Photo by Brad Walters)

Down on the beach you’ll find a separate champagne bar with swings for chairs, a fun place to spend a few minutes even if you’re not indulging.

Additionally, the resort offers cooking and cocktail-making classes for a fee.

Pools and hot tubs

Adult pool. (Photo by Brad Walters)

The hotel features two main pools, one for adults and one for all ages. Each was consistently busy during my stay; these photos are generally from early in the day.

Both pools are designed with an infinity-style setup overlooking the long beach, which is shared with a few other hotels but felt secluded otherwise, given that it’s essentially cut off from the town proper.

Swim-up bar. (Photo by Brad Walters)

The adults-only pool boasts a shaded swim-up bar, while the family pool features a built-in hot tub.

Family pool with hot tub in center. (Photo by Brad Walters)

Just see an attendant and they’ll set you up at an available lounger with umbrella shade as desired. Sunscreen is available at both pools, too.

Poolside service was prompt and friendly, with several small water bottles delivered in a bucket of ice as soon as I got settled. (That said, I far preferred spending time in my own little balcony pool, where it’s a lot easier to imagine you’re the only one at the resort.)

Staff occasionally comes around with free popsicle treats, which is a nice touch.

Family pool. (Photo by Brad Walters)

Farther up from the beach are a small circular kids pool, suitable for splashing around, and a pool reserved for spa guests with small waterfalls built in.

🤓Nerdy Tip

As with most beaches around Cabo San Lucas, the ocean here isn’t really suitable for casual swimming due to waves that crash like thunder, plus an immediate, steep drop-off into deep water. For a more peaceful wave experience, take a short ride to busy Playa el Medano or a longer trek to gorgeous, less touristy Playa Palmilla.

Other amenities and extras

Gym. (Photo by Brad Walters)

Elsewhere at the resort, you’ll find:

  • The aforementioned spa, with a full complement of paid treatments.

  • A kids club, which offers “family movie nights, curated programming, scavenger hunts, Spanish classes [and] cooking adventures,” the resort says.

  • A business center (basically just one room with a computer) and meeting facilities.

  • A well-appointed fitness center with yoga and a variety of other classes available.

  • A gift shop.

  • Two tennis courts.

Additionally, you’ll receive an email before arrival outlining the various paid excursions the resort is happy to set up for you, including land and sea activities.

In the room

Building 1. (Photo by Brad Walters)

Once my room was ready, I was escorted over and given a full tour by the agent who had checked me in. My unit was on the third of four floors of Building 1, beachside on the edge of the property next to El Farallon.

Previously, I’d stayed in Building 3, higher up near the lobby. The views were excellent in both cases, but I preferred Building 1 because there was no visual distraction between me and the beach/ocean.

Infinity view from inside the balcony pool. (Photo by Brad Walters)

The star of the show was the infinity ocean-view balcony and plunge pool, which is roughly 12 feet long by 4 feet across. It’s 3 feet deep with a full-length step-down that can seat at least 4 comfortably.

Full pool, looking down toward the beach. (Photo by Brad Walters)

While nobody would confuse this for a full-size pool, you can paddle around and even do mini-laps if you desire. Or you can sit, stretch your legs, soak for hours, and (in season) scan the horizon for whales — your choice.

The only whales I spotted were a couple of cruise ships as they meandered past, alas.

The plunge pool got good morning sun but was shaded for most of the day, which I actually appreciated. It’s kept at a comfortably warm temperature (between 80 and 84 degrees year-round, the resort says) and felt nice even on mild 65-degree nights.

Looking north from my balcony pool. (Photo by Brad Walters)

The balcony features slanted privacy slats on the side making it easy to see out while shielding others from seeing in. There’s plenty of comfy seating, although I wouldn’t have minded a full-size lounger in lieu of one of the two small sitting couches.

Daybreak view from balcony. (Photo by Brad Walters)

In terms of outside noise: I didn’t hear much of anything while in my room (score one for the soundproofing), but on the balcony, it’s pretty much impossible not to hear others nearby enjoying their outdoor space. If you’re anywhere near a main pool, you’ll likely hear that during the day, too, but it’s nothing a good pair of earbuds can’t cancel out. At night, all I could hear with my balcony open was the sound of crashing waves.

Closet door, fireplace, minibar/coffee/safe area with TV above. (Photo by Brad Walters)

The room was a cozy 856 square feet, which included a knob-controlled fireplace and an oh-so-comfy king bed. (The square footage includes the outdoor space, too.)

Looking in from the balcony. (Photo by Brad Walters)

Looking in from the front entryway. (Photo by Brad Walters)

Generous closet space. (Photo by Brad Walters)

The open bathroom boasted a rain-water shower and a large soaking tub with a loofah and what looked like honey but was actually bubble bath solution. It also had a mini seating area that functions as a visual buffer as much as anything else.

Sink area plus shower. (Photo by Brad Walters)

Bathtub. (Photo by Brad Walters)

Toiletries come in the form of pump-style bottles meant to carry over from guest to guest, a slight letdown to those who like to take home leftover samples of fancier stuff than we’d otherwise use day-to-day.

Customized minibar. (Photo by Brad Walters)

Rooms include complimentary mini-bars stocked with water and soft drinks. (Did I get in touch in advance to request a fridge full of zero-calorie Coke products? Maybe…)

🤓Nerdy Tip

Tap water in Mexico isn’t safe to drink, but the staff will bring you as much water as you need upon request for free. As far as room service dining goes, that’s available too, but for an extra cost.

Tequila, nuts and fruit upon arrival. (Photo by Brad Walters)

Also in my room, and complimentary for all guests, was a 200 mL bottle of Clase Azul Reposado tequila (a roughly $40 value and equivalent to four or five shots) with a ramekin of warm nuts, along with some apples. The tequila bottle is yours to take home and makes for a nice keepsake of your stay.

Every unit on property, from standard rooms to stand-alone villas, also includes the following:

  • A Nespresso machine.

  • Plush bathrobes for use during your stay.

  • A set of binoculars, useful for whale-watching.

  • A nice toiletry bag that was stocked (rather sparsely, in my case) with mouthwash, shoe shine, a sewing kit and a shower cap. The bag is yours to keep.

  • A beach bag, also yours to keep.

  • Free Wi-Fi, which was reliable all over the property (at least for basic internet browsing).

  • An afternoon snack of warm tortilla chips served with outstanding guacamole and pico de gallo, plus a pair of Corona beers, available from 4 p.m. to 6 p.m. and delivered upon request. (The hotel has a chat feature in the Hilton app that makes this or any other request seamless.) On both of my stays the resort accommodated my request for margaritas rather than beers.

  • A safe to lock your valuables.

Afternoon chips with guac, pico de gallo and margaritas. (Photo by Brad Walters)

An evening turndown service is offered in addition to morning housekeeping, but allow a wide time window for both. When asked at check-in when I’d prefer my turndown I said 8 p.m., but it wasn’t done yet when I returned to my room a little before 9. By then, I was ready to fall asleep to the crashing waves and texted the front desk to (nicely) say never mind.

🤓Nerdy Tip

I initially thought I’d have to unplug a lamp by the bed to charge my phone, but upon looking more closely, I found that the night tables have a well-camouflaged set of plugs and USB outlets on the sides adjacent to the bed.

Stand-alone beachfront homes, some of which feature hammocks. (Photo by Brad Walters)

Larger suites and stand-alone villas might include such extras as a fire pit, a larger private pool, beach hammocks, a full kitchen or even a dedicated butler.

Beyond the resort

Cabo San Lucas marina. (Photo by Brad Walters)

If you’re staying longer than a couple days, it’s well worth budgeting some time to get to know the Cape region, preferably by car.

Central Cabo San Lucas (just outside the resort) exudes an overtly touristy party vibe that might not be for everyone. Large cruise ships dock here often, and strolling the pedestrian zone that encircles the marina is a great way to feel like you’re back in the States.

That said, if it’s endless shopping you’re after, check it out — just try to time your visits to avoid those midday cruise crowds. You can walk through the tunnel into town or request a golf cart to take you as far as the outer security gate, from which the marina is a 5-minute walk.

Playa Palmilla, near San Jose del Cabo. (Photo by Brad Walters)

San Jose del Cabo, closer to the airport, is San Lucas’ more sedate, artsy counterpart. The strollable streets of its compact central core radiate from Plaza Mijares, a large car-free public square. A pleasant walk (or bike ride, along separated green lanes) southward along the estuary and then westward alongside the beach resorts is a pleasant way to pass a couple of hours.

If you like San Jose, you’ll likely love Todos Santos, an even more charming, artsier outpost about an hour north of San Lucas. Even farther afield, La Paz is known for its pretty colonial downtown. The largely unspoiled East Cape is also worth exploring, but you’ll want a 4×4 to access many of its jewels.

When to go

Cabo San Lucas has a dry, relatively mild season from roughly December through March. The rest of the year is warm to hot, with rains mostly confined to August through October. Hurricanes are a factor to consider; for instance, Hurricane Kay brought heavy rains as it passed just west of Cabo in September 2022.

For me, the sweet spot for visiting Cabo is between mid-November and New Year’s, when the ocean is still warm enough for comfortable swimming (at wave-free beaches) but the air temperature isn’t sweltering and rain chances are minimal.

The bottom line

When this property became bookable with Hilton points it was an instant darling in the world of award travel, and for good reason.

It’s more than just that warm pool of your own, where hours can easily slip away gazing out at the ocean with a pleasant margarita buzz.

It’s also the gracious service that’s there when you need it but never hovers, delivered with a palpable sense of pride that makes it easy to forgive a few relatively minor lapses.

Given that the base rate for many standard-issue Hilton properties these days is 40,000 points per night, it’s easy to wonder how much longer this oasis can be enjoyed for just triple that amount. Soak it up while you can.

This stay was independently reviewed and paid in full by the writer.

All information about the Hilton Honors American Express Aspire Card has been collected independently by NerdWallet. The Hilton Honors American Express Aspire Card is no longer available through NerdWallet.

(Top photo by Brad Walters)

How to maximize your rewards

You want a travel credit card that prioritizes what’s important to you. Here are our picks for the best travel credit cards of 2023, including those best for:

Source: nerdwallet.com

Apache is functioning normally

The first steps of moving in and decorating a space are fun and thrilling—it’s like mapping out a blank canvas with infinite potential. You’re excited to find the perfect bed, couch, or rug, and it’s satisfying when everything comes together. But what happens two or three years later?

Furniture and décor are much like a closet full of clothes in that it’s natural not to feel the same zeal years later. I bought a big piece of art from Etsy before deciding I absolutely couldn’t stand it months later. Within a year, my tastes had shifted to favor more moody neutrals, proving the design process is truly never-ending. But instead of completely revamping my apartment or spending thousands of dollars on new furniture, I found tiny décor swaps could have a big impact. Sometimes a small switch can change a room in the same way a new couch can. 

Creating a space you actually want to be in might mean adding a sconce or two or creating mood lighting with a fancy candle. Whether it’s a new rug or a new pillow, unique home décor can go a long way. For a list of objects currently on my shortlist, keep browsing below. 

Source: whowhatwear.com

Apache is functioning normally

Big-city amenities, small-town comfort, and a quick commute to Salt Lake and Ogden can all be found in Davis County. If you’re looking to move into this cozy-chic area, we’ve got your guide!

Cities to Fall in Love With

Davis County is the state’s third-largest—home to Layton, Farmington, Bountiful, Kaysville, and Clearfield. There are also a few smaller communities including Fruit Heights, Sunset, Woods Cross, West Point, Syracuse, South Weber, Clinton, and Centerville. This diverse city has plenty to offer for everyone! From thrill seekers to history buffs, you’ll want to check out this northern attraction.

A History Worth Documenting

Davis County was founded back in 1850 and still pays homage to its roots in several places, whether you want to step back in time at Pioneer Village in Farmington or catch a history lesson at the Layton Heritage Museum, Bountiful Historical Museum, or The Whitaker in Centerville. The area is rich with learning opportunities and chances to learn more about your new neighborhood.

The Main Attraction

There are so many things to love about Davis County, but we have to say the thing we love the most is the family-centric feel.

Growing Together

Davis county has plenty to do for young families, and one of the biggest draws is the educational system. The Davis School District is a proud Best in State award holder. With over 50+ elementary schools and eight high schools, you’re sure to find the right fit for your children

After the K-12 years pass, there’s no need to go far for a post-secondary education. Weber State is nearby but so are Salt Lake Community College and the University of Utah. If you’re looking for something a little different, Davis Technical College is a great option!

Eat Your Heart Out

No, really. There are tons of places to visit for foodies of all kinds. Got a sweet tooth? Check out Mrs. Cavanaugh’s Chocolates and Ice Cream. If you’re into local dinner fare, check out Arella Pizzeria, Pace’s Dairy Ann, or Holy Smokes BBQ. Feeling adventurous? Visit Argentine Corner or Fuji Sushi.

Lunch anyone? Two stops that cater solely to midday meals include the county’s top rated restaurant on Yelp, Vitos, and Beehive Bakery and Cafe in Bountiful. If you have artisan breads (or donuts and pastries) on your mind, Bunbasketand Parson’s Bakeryare sure to please.

It’s a Davis County Thing

Some things happen only once a year. In Davis County, these include the annual bison roundup on Antelope Island(fall), baby animals day at the USU Botanical Center in spring, and summer’s Davis county rodeo and fair. Opportunity doesn’t stop in mid-winter either. While some people choose to huddle close to a fireplace in their own home, it’s equally as cozy watching migrating bald eagles at Farmington Bay. Just be sure to bundle up.

Drive Easy

Davis County may be one of the LEAST out of the way places in the world. With most communities positioned on the I-15 corridor, it’s a quick trip to work from anywhere in Davis County, whether you work in Salt Lake, Ogden, or somewhere in between.

Hate to drive? You’ll be covered with FrontRunner, and its stations in Wood Cross, Layton, Clearfield, and Farmington. Stop for a morning beverage on your way at the very local World’s End Coffee.

On top of convenience, the Farmington UTA stop is right next to one of the most innovative shopping/transit communities in the area, Station Park. There you’ll find shops, restaurants, and office space, all walking distance of Frontrunner’s Farmington Park and Ride.

The Great Outdoors

Someone tell you to take a hike? There are literally more than 500 miles of trails in Davis County. Favorites include Antelope Island (the first-day hike on January 1is a chilly blast of fun for the new year!) and Adams Canyon Trail and waterfall—or even the trail system bordering the Legacy Highway.

Like all of the Wasatch Front, skiing is a short drive away for Davis County’s 300,000+ residents. Best bets on a crowded day: Snowbasinand Powder Mountain. Reach the pair by heading east on I-84.

Utah’s top amusement park, Lagoon, calls Farmington its home. While you won’t find rides running mid-winter, Lagoon has spring, fall and summer hours. Best bet for residents: Get a season pass that gets you in all season long. You’ll want to go more than once.

You can also play a round of golf at a number of challenging courses in the area, including Valley View Golf Course, Oakridge Country Club (current home of the Utah Championship), Glen Eagle Golf Club, or eight others. Find a complete list of Davis County courses here.

Fun Doesn’t Have a Bedtime

Time of day doesn’t matter—in Davis County, you’ll find opportunities to relax day or night. For example, schedule a time to visit a Sego Lilyspa or ramp up the action with the kids at Classic Fun Center in Layton. As the sun goes down, take in a live performance at Kaysville’s Hopebox Theater or a big-name, outdoor concert at the (Foreigner, Styx and Chicago can’t be wrong). You can also wrap up a busy day with a movie at one of the seven theaters in the area, followed by a bite to eat and a drink at Rooster’s in Layton—with some of the most unique micro-brewed beers in the state.

Join the Davis County Family

Does one of the many thriving cities in Davis County speak to your soul? Start browsing homes for sale in the area now or learn more about how to buy with Homie!

Homes for sale in Bountiful, UT
Homes for sale in Centerville, UT
Homes for sale in Clearfield, UT
Homes for sale in Clinton, UT
Homes for sale in Farmington, UT
Homes for sale in Fruit Heights, UT
Homes for sale in Kaysville, UT
Homes for sale in Layton, UT
Homes for sale in Sunset, UT
Homes for sale in South Weber, UT
Homes for sale in Syracuse, UT
Homes for sale in West Point, UT
Homes for sale in Woods Cross, UT

Source: homie.com

Apache is functioning normally

Pretty much since I learned to walk, I have had an unusual disdain for waste. I noted the inefficient route of the school bus and wondered why it couldn’t just pick us up at a few centralized locations. Tracked my allowance with multi-year forecasts and kept the dollar bills organized in a photo album. Always cast a fiery eye towards a fridge or a front door left open, a car left idling, or a credit card bill left unpaid.

This odd condition has proved to be profitable over the years, as I have naturally sought out ways to use less energy and waste less money, with very positive side effects like getting to spend more time outside and retiring from work relatively early.

This is the reason the concepts of money and energy efficiency mingle so freely on this supposedly-financial blog: you can look at your energy consumption as a very close measure of the wastefulness of your life. The ideal life, even a very modern one, will require you to spend very little of your earnings buying energy. This is a contrarian opinion for me to hold in this world of Peak Oil and energy shocks, but check out the evidence:

Transportation: The Mustache family uses less than 3 gallons of gasoline per month for most of the year. This changes for special occasions like family roadtrips, but by following the basic principles of avoiding commuting and car clown local driving, and using the bikes for errands like groceries, driving is cut by almost 90%. Savings: about $10,000 per year compared to an average family.

Electricity: Although our current 2600 square foot house is oversized for three people, we manage to run it these days on 243 kWh per month, which costs about $25.00 even when offsetting 100% of the use with more expensive wind energy from the local utility. This is done by being reasonable with the air conditioning, letting our bodies toughen a bit as the seasons change, line-drying the clothes, and using CFL and LED light bulbs*.  Savings: About $1000 per year

Heating: I have upgraded some of the insulation in this house, added some South-facing windows and plenty of thermal mass, and seal the curtains and shutters up tightly on winter nights while the programmable thermostat keeps the house at 62F during the nights, 67 during the day. The water heater is in an insulation blanket and we use a low-flow showerhead. Because of this our spending on natural gas averages out to $25 per month ($300 per year), which includes all heating, hot water for showers and dishwashing, and cooking. In contrast, the average US house spends $400 on water heating and another $960 on heat, meaning we enjoy Savings of $1060 per year.

When your bills are this low, it becomes a bit difficult to save money on energy by buying high-tech upgrades. I could get a Nissan Leaf electric car, but it would sit unused in the driveway just as much as the Scion xA currently does. Could replace my 80% efficiency furnace with a 95% efficient one for $4000, but the payback period would be decades. Better to just add $100 more insulation or get a nice pair of slippers to drop the existing furnace use even more. We spend about $5 per year on electricity running the air conditioner – I’d sooner remove it altogether than upgrade it.  I can’t even upgrade my city bicycle, which cost $300 brand-new in 2008 and has over 4000 miles of errands on it, because it still works perfectly and gets me around very quickly. This whole picture is an example of a Non-Emergency Energy Situation. Spending is minimal and further optimization is difficult, so energy use fades into the background where it should be.

So when does energy use become an emergency? There is no single fixed rule, but the following are some warning signals:

When energy is unusually expensive: While living in Hawaii last winter, I noticed that their electricity is generated by burning tankerloads of imported oil, which is reflected in the 30 cent/kWh price (300% of what I pay here). And all the water is electrically heated – furiously expensive. To compensate, we took many of our showers just by jumping into the turquoise-blue ocean and outfitted the Vacation Suite project with GU10 LED bulbs in its track lighting system, which use 85% less power than halogens. People who live in the Northeastern US who rely on heating oil are in a similar situation for heat.

When more than 5% of your income is on spent on energy and gasoline: Bumping up your savings rate by 5%, for example from 10% to 15% of income will slice 8 years off of your working career. Is worth working 8 more years just to stand at the gas pump?

When you have a rattly almond-colored fridge with fake woodgrain handles:
Last year I ran some tests on an old fridge that a friend still had in operation. It was burning 110 kWh per month, or  $135 of electricity every year. For $300 he replaced it with a nearly-new fridge from Craigslist and I measured it again. This one used 62% less energy, saving him $83 per year, which is a spectacular 28% annual return on investment! When you do the math, many of the lower-cost energy upgrades described in this article will return even more than the stock market over time.

When you find yourself driving around regularly in a car that gets worse than 35MPG:  Imagine that your only vehicle was an 84-foot double-trailer Walmart semi, stuck in first gear with no muffler and a bed of nails for the driver’s seat. Would you take it down to the drive-through? Probably not. This is how ANY sub-35MPG vehicle should feel in your mind to drive regularly. It’s an emergency! Sell it! Replace it with a reasonable car!

My own Plan for Energy Efficiency

The latest sketchup model is fully detailed, and structural engineering is almost done too.(Thanks Mike B and Chris G!)

Because energy consumption is one of the biggest issues affecting humanity these days, I’ve decided to go just slightly overboard when renovating the new house. It presents an ideal blank slate for this experiment because in its current condition, it is an energy emergency. It came with almost completely uninsulated walls and ceilings, and a drafty crawlspace that lets winter air blow directly in from the outside. I found it both ridiculous and amazing that the house has existed in this condition, wasting energy for almost 60 years.

But through this blog, I had the good fortune of hearing from a reader/energy expert named Roch Naleway who manages a department of GP Conservation products. Born in Germany and having lived in the Netherlands and now Portland, Oregon, you can imagine the strict views this man has on energy efficiency. And he has been lecturing me to take my own own game to the next level on this project.

Insulation:  The new insulation will be a combination of sprayed-on foam insulation, rigid foamboard with foil backing, and standard batts. The roof, all-important in a wide flat house like this one, will be insulated to R-50.

Free Solar Heat: The amount of South-facing glass in the house should provide more than enough to heat the entire structure for most of the cool season, since my region gets over 300 sunny days per year.

Supplemental Heat: The house currently has an old gas furnace with creaky mouse-filled ducts. This will be replaced with a 95%-efficiency gas boiler and radiant under-floor heat installed between the ducts from the crawlspace side. Although it will hopefully not be used much, it will be a luxurious and efficient way to warm the house, and an excuse for me to learn how to install a multi-zone boiler heat system. Also nicely compatible with roof-mounted solar water heating panels in the future.

Electricity: I will be installing a very fancy clothesline overlooking the park, and no air conditioning system at all. With LED lighting throughout, our bills should be even lower than they are today. With usage this low and a local utility that discourages grid-tied solar installations, solar panels are not practical at this time, but I will probably do some off-the grid experiments in the future – stay tuned.

Water Heating: Either a tankless natural gas heater or an electric heat pump water heater will get the job done here. I will supplement it in the summer with a Hawaiian-style outdoor shower that gets its heat entirely from a simple coil of black irrigation pipe mounted on the roof.

As the final bit of this energy efficiency experiment, I just ordered a fine new tool which should come in handy for both the blogging and construction “businesses” : an 8-foot-long bike trailer from Bikes at work that can carry huge items up to 300 pounds. With my new house only 1.7 miles from the Home Depot, I plan to use this to haul most of the construction materials, eliminating countless trips in the van and giving me some serious leg training in the process.

 Energy Efficiency Shopping: If you find this field as interesting as I do, I recommend browsing around GP Conservation’s site. If you have questions about the field, ask them in the comments and I’ll try to get Roch to spend an entire workday answering them for us.

Further Reading: Wired Magazine comments on how we’ll all be using almost entirely clean energy by 2050 – I sure hope so.

* I recently upgraded the last frontier – the kitchen – with higher-end LEDs from GE. These were the first LED bulbs I found with a sufficently good “color rendering index” to make the food look tasty, and thus they finally allowed me to remove the power-hungry halogens.

Source: mrmoneymustache.com

Apache is functioning normally

I was on Zillow the other day looking at real estate when it occurred to me that I never really touched upon the so-called “Zestimates” offered up by the famous real estate portal.

Most consumers have heard of the Zillow Zestimate, which made its debut back in 2006.

But they’ve been largely written off by industry folk (real estate agents) as “unreliable” and various other expletives, assuming the value estimation is lower than it should be.

First things first, let’s define a Zestimate. By Zillow’s own account, a Zestimate is the “estimated market value” of a property.

By estimated, they mean a home value assigned using proprietary computer algorithms developed by statisticians.

They also refer to Zestimates as a “starting point in determining a home’s value,” which is important to note when browsing around Zillow.

A Zestimate is computed based on data, not human touch, vision, interaction, etc. And we all know how computers can fall short…this explains why there are error rates.

Speaking of, the median error rate for the entire nation is currently 4.6%, which means half of Zestimates nationwide were within 4.6% of their sales price, and the other half were off by more than 4.6%.

Where to Find a Zestimate?

  • Simply visit the home details page of any property
  • And you’ll see the Zestimate near the top of the page in the center
  • Below the most recent sold price
  • There is also a section below dedicated to the Zestimate

If you look up any property on Zillow, whether it’s for sale or not, you should see a Zestimate at the very top of the page, directly under the last sales price (or current listing price).

And if you scroll down a bit more, you’ll see an entire section dedicated to the property’s Zestimate, including a 1-year, 5-year, and 10-year graph.

On the graph, you’ll be able to track the history of the Zestimate alongside home prices for both the city and zip code to get a better feel for the property in question.

It also displays the movement of the Zestimate over the past 30 days to give you more information about recent price movements, as seen below.

Recently, the company launched a Zestimate forecast, which as the name implies is an estimate of the home’s value over time, in this case the next 12 months (both dollar amount and percentage wise).

Finally, you’ll see a so-called “Rent Zestimate,” which is simply the estimated monthly rental price of the property.

Is Zillow Accurate?

  • It depends on the number of recent sales comps in the immediate area
  • How unique or not unique the property is
  • If any major home improvements have been made since the last sale
  • Or if the neighborhood dynamics have shifted considerably

A Zestimates accuracy is clearly of utmost important, especially if it’s being relied upon by millions of prospective home buyers.  But Zillow says themselves that Zestimates track the market, as opposed to drive it. So it’s not a forward-looking valuation tool.

So are these Zillow estimates accurate? This is a tough question to answer because like any other statistical model they could get the value right on the nose or be $100,000 or more off.

It’s a bit of a crapshoot really.  But it certainly depends on the property. And the day because they’re apparently updated daily.

For example, a 3-bedroom, 2-bathroom single-family residence built in 1982 in Your Town, USA may be assigned a Zestimate of $250,000, based on public data culled by Zillow.

You’ll also see a value range, which displays the high and low estimated value of the property.

A large range indicates less data/higher volatility, whereas a small range means Zillow has plenty of information to make an informed decision, and hopefully a lower median error rate.

In other words, if there are lots of sales in a given area where homes are pretty uniform (same style/size/layout/number of beds and baths), the Zestimate will probably be pretty accurate.

Conversely, if the property is unique and in a sparsely populated area where homes only sell a few times a year, the Zestimate may be a far cry from its true value.  And this can be too low OR too high.

So if a multi-million dollar home sells next to yours, and it’s the only recorded sale over the past six months, your Zestimate will probably be inflated if it’s not truly a multi-million dollar home.

Zestimates may also appear to be too low if there’s a ton of demand in a certain area because home buyers are technically overpaying based on the value Zillow comes up with.

The opposite is also true.  That being said, the seller won’t care that they’re selling well above their Zestimate so long as someone is willing to pay.

And if you make the “Zestimate is too high” argument, you’ll probably get laughed at by the seller and the real estate agent.

Of course, if I were buying a home and had the choice, I’d want to be making an offer on a home that was listed below the Zestimate, whether accurate or not.  It’s not a must, but if I had the choice…

If you want to get really deep, you have to question what accurate really means.  Is what a property is worth what you should pay for it?  Does it matter what it’s “worth” if someone is willing to pay an entirely different amount?

I’m sure over time we’ll see improved Zestimate accuracy, which is a good thing, but it will always leave many unanswered questions like those just posed.  Then again, so will full-blown appraisals.

In fact, there have been three different versions of the algorithm released thus far (2006, 2008, 2011, and 2019) with probably more to come.

Note: Only about 100 million homes have an associated Zestimate, so you could get extremely unlucky, but chances are the property you’re researching will have one.

The 2019 Zestimate Update

In late June 2019, Zillow announced a major update to its Zestimate, calling it the “most sophisticated and accurate” version to date.

What makes it different now is that it relies upon so-called computer vision and neural networks to identify and value any improvements present in a home, along with real-time data.

For example, it can analyze a property’s photographs and determine if a countertop or fixture is high-end or low-end, merely by classifying different patterns found in the pixels.

It’s pretty wonky stuff, a product of the $1 million Zillow Prize science competition that spanned two years.

But if your house has nice stuff inside, like a new kitchen, and perhaps good curb appeal outside, it can help pump up its value.

It appears to go beyond the black and white data stuff to find the qualities that make a particular property special or unique, and most importantly, more valuable.

The use of real-time data will bolster accuracy as well, with the list price and time on market of for-sale homes also factored in.

As a result of the update, Zillow says the error rate is now less than 2%, meaning half of all Zestimates will fall within 2% of a home’s eventual selling price.

That’s down from nearly 5% in prior iterations, which should be welcome news to those who saw their value go up (and not down!).

A Zestimate Is Not an Appraisal!

  • Despite what you might think or hear
  • A Zestimate is not an appraisal, Zillow says this verbatim
  • It’s just an estimated market value
  • Also check out the market appreciation number for increased accurary

This is where things get ugly. A lot of homeowners, and I suppose some in the industry, seem to get tripped up into thinking a Zestimate is a home appraisal.

Zillow explains right on its informational page that a Zestimate is not an appraisal, and cannot be used in place of an appraisal.

Why? Because Zillow hasn’t physically inspected your home, like a real appraiser would.

And the data they receive may be dated, incomplete or inaccurate, especially if recent changes have been made to the home in question, such as major home improvement, or if a home has just sold nearby.

Of course, they do allow homeowners to edit their home facts if thing change.

But it’s still really nothing more than a home value estimator, just like the Redfin Estimate.

Zillow also shows a so-called “market appreciation” tab in the Zestimate section for certain properties that reveals the local housing market appreciation. I’ve seen it for homes in Los Angeles.

For example, if home prices rise by 10% in a given neighborhood since purchase, they’ll provide a sale-based estimate by combining the purchase price and the dollar amount of that appreciation.

So a home that sold for $250,000 with 10% appreciation would get an estimate of $275,000, which could exceed the home’s Zestimate.

Different properties have different types of estimates available, all of which you’ll be able to see on the individual property page.

Regardless, you can’t get a mortgage with a Zillow Zestimate. You’d be laughed right out of the bank.

An appraisal from a certified appraiser will be required by the mortgage lender to obtain financing in most cases unless you’re paying with cash.

So what does that tell us? Well, it means Zestimates are exactly what Zillow says they are, a starting point. An idea, a ballpark, an estimation of a home’s value using a computer. The actual sales price could be entirely different.

In other words, take them with a huge grain of salt, just like advertised mortgage rates.  But still brag to your friends if and when your Zestimate rises!

Read more: How much house can I afford?

(photo: AlexiUeltzen)

Source: thetruthaboutmortgage.com