Real Estate – General

Baker House From Final Season of ‘Fixer Upper’ Is the Week’s Most Popular Home

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The multitalented power couple Chip and Joanna Gaines have the Midas touch—and they’ve struck again. Featured on “Fixer Upper,” the Patti Baker house is back on the market and racking up clicks like crazy.

It’s listed for $359,500, and it’s this week’s most popular home on realtor.com®.

Magnolia Nation first fell in love with the house when Chip and Joanna gave it a makeover during the final season of their HGTV hit show.

It came on the market in 2018, shortly after an episode about its renovation appeared on the show. Still filled with plenty of the desirable Gaines aesthetic, it’s now available for another buyer who’s wild about Waco.

Besides the Baker House, this week’s list was crammed with off-the-wall dream properties.

Want to live in Phoenix in a 11,000-square-foot brownstone with a French chateau vibe? Check.

In search of a self-sustaining homestead in Illinois? We’ve got you covered.

Or if you’ve always dreamed of living like James Bond … but in Los Angeles? If you have $62 million to spare, there’s a mega property that’s shaken, not stirred, and hovering over the city.

But even if you don’t have tens of millions to spend, there’s something for nearly everyone with this week’s most popular properties. Scroll on down and enjoy!

See all of the homes Here

Move Over, Solar Panels! Home Wind Turbines Are the Latest Green Energy Source for Homeowners

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Wind power is one of the most popular forms of renewable energy, and in some parts of the country, you can drive by huge fields of turbines with their fanlike blades. Home wind turbines, like solar panels, capture energy and help lower your electricity bill. But can this clean fuel source actually power your entire house? And if so, at what cost?

How do home wind turbines work?

If you’ve ever seen a wind farm, you already have a general idea of what the turbines look like when they’re operating. But how exactly do they work?

“They convert the kinetic energy in wind into mechanical power, which in turn is used to run a generator that makes electricity for the home,” says Dan DiClerico, a home expert at HomeAdvisor. The turbine’s long, narrow blades are aerodynamically designed to capture the maximum energy from the wind.

“As the blades rotate, they turn a shaft that is connected to a generator, which produces electricity that is delivered directly to the home,” he explains.

Are home wind turbines practical?

Residential wind turbines are a good option if you live in an area with consistent wind flow—but not gale-force winds, which would cause the National Weather Service to issue a wind advisory.

“Wind turbines operate within a range of wind speeds, below which they do not produce power and above which they will cut out to protect themselves from damage,” says Michael Ginsberg, author of “Harness It: Renewable Energy Technologies and Project Development Models Transforming the Grid.”

So, what’s a good wind speed range? Typically, 8 to 55 mph.

“The rated power output of the wind turbine is based on the rated speed, usually 25 mph to 35 mph,” Ginsberg says.

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How Much Home Insurance Do I Need? What Every Homeowner Should Know About Their Coverage

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Have you ever wondered, “How much home insurance do I need?” Well, you might, especially when you’re faced with a lengthy list of policy options from your insurance agent. Do you really need all that coverage?

On average, at least 6% of homeowners make a claim to their home insurance company each year. This might not seem like many, but those claims are far from small. The Insurance Information Institute estimates that insurers paid out an average of $10,592 to homeowners last year, covering everything from fire and lightning damage to theft.

Choosing the right level of insurance is key—if you don’t buy enough, you’ll be out of pocket for any shortfall. Buy too much, and you’ll be paying for coverage you don’t need.

Here’s how to make sure your major costs are covered in case of an emergency, and why taking a close look at your policy can save you money and heartbreak down the road.

So really, how much home insurance do I need?

The goal of any home insurance policy is to ensure you’re covered in case of a total loss of your home, says Ralph DiBugnara, president of Home Qualified.

“This means if the home was destroyed, the policy will cover the cost to completely rebuild it to the exact condition of when it was insured,” DiBugnara explains.

If you have a mortgage on your home, your lender will likely require your coverage to equal 100% of the replacement cost of the home. And even if your home is paid off—or no requirement is in place—it’s still a good idea to buy enough coverage to cover complete replacement, DiBugnara says.

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