They left their corporate jobs and built a hotel in the surfing capital of the Philippines. Island life is busy, too.
9 min read
California's last-resort home insurer is getting a $1 billion bailout. Homeowners could be on the hook for some of the bill.
The bailout will be funded by the state's private insurers, but a new rule says they they can pass up to half of the cost on to customers.
4 min read
Here are the 31 most popular housing markets so far in 2025 — and why the once-hot Sun Belt region missed the cut again
Here are the 31 hottest real-estate markets so far this year, even though high mortgage rates have made homes difficult to afford.
10 min read
Confessions of women in real estate: 4 female agents on what it's really like to work in the industry
Recent accusations of misconduct have spotlighted how women in real estate are treated. Four brokers let us into their day-to-day lives.
8 min read
Professional cleaners share 6 red flags they'd look for when hiring someone to clean a home
Red flags to look out for when hiring house cleaners and cleaning companies include suspiciously low prices and no satisfaction guarantee.
3 min read
Billionaire couple win refund after paying $40 million for a Notting Hill mansion infested with moths
A judge ruled in favor of Iya Patarkatsishvili and Yevhen Hunyak, granting them a refund and damages for their purchase of Horbury Villa in London.
2 min read
America's broken housing market is making people lonelier. Moving near friends could help.
New housing laws in some states, including California, are making it easier to build denser, more affordable, and community-focused housing.
7 min read
Another mansion is about to fall off a cliff into the sea. Here's why that keeps happening in tourist hot spots.
Erosion worsened by the climate crisis is threatening mansions up and down New England's coasts. Their fancy finishes risk polluting nearby waters.
4 min read
I moved from Miami to a small town in Central Florida to save money. I love it so much that I'm still here 15 years later.
I left Miami to live in a small town in Central Florida. My move was meant to be temporary to save money, but I love raising my kid on the Space Coast.
4 min read
We still rent in our 30s. We spend our money on organic food and schools and feel we don't need to buy a house to be happy.
My husband and I realized we'd rather rent than buy a house. We spend our money on organic food and schools for our daughter, and are happier for it.
4 min read
11 US cities where home prices are falling the most
Some cities in the US had housing prices that dropped year over year in December. San Francisco, Tampa, and others had lower home prices.
2 min read
I tried — and failed — to sell Michael Jordan's mansion. Here's what I learned from its 12 years on the market.
Kofi Nartey used creative ways to lure a buyer for Michael Jordan's huge estate in the Chicago suburbs, which sat on the market for 12 years.
5 min read
A jump in delinquencies in a corner of the mortgage market suggests first-time homebuyers may be struggling
"Conventional delinquencies remain near historical lows, but FHA and VA delinquencies are increasing at a faster pace," the MBA said.
2 min read
16 affordable cities buyers should target as home prices rise but stay below peak levels
Mortgage rates and home values are up in the past year, though there are 16 US cities where property prices are below the median and falling.
7 min read
My partner and I paid off our mortgage early even though our financial advisor told us not to. Sometimes, I regret it.
Krisann Valdez paid off her $150,000 mortgage six years ago. She says the peace of mind is great, but she regrets not putting more into investments.
4 min read
I'm 55 and still live in my childhood home
Shawn Robertson, 55, has lived in the same house his whole life. Now, he and his wife are thinking about whether they'd like to move somewhere else.
4 min read
Homeowners in these 10 cities paid the highest property taxes last year
Property taxes can be a significant factor when purchasing a home, and these cities have the highest rates.
4 min read
How Trump's plans for federal workers and spending could derail Washington's office recovery
President Trump has moved to slash the federal workforce and spending. The Washington DC office market's recovery from the pandemic could now suffer.
6 min read
I'm 57 and was on track to retire. The LA fires caused $1 million in damage to my home, so I'll have to keep working.
A 57-year-old spent $163,000 on his Altadena home in 1996 and renovated it over the years. The LA fires destroyed it as he was planning to retire.
5 min read
California's largest home insurer wants to hike rates by 22% for homeowners to help pay for LA's wildfires
State Farm has asked the state's insurance commissioner for approval to increase premiums on homeowners, citing financial challenges.
5 min read
I'm a 3rd-generation Floridian. I left at 18 and don't plan to live in the state again — especially because I have kids.
From weather to my issues with the state education system, there are reasons I would never move back to Florida with kids even though I grew up there.
4 min read
See JD Vance's homes, from his humble childhood house in Ohio to the vice president's palatial residence
Take a look at Vice President JD Vance's real-estate journey, from his primary residence in Cincinnati to the Washington DC property he now rents out.
7 min read
We moved our family from California to Texas. Our income is lower, but we spend less and love the lifestyle.
The Ruiz family moved from San Bernardino to San Antonio in September after the Line Fire destroyed everything in their bedroom and dining room.
6 min read
Panic rooms are out and 'serenity zones' are in, so the superrich don't have to sacrifice style to feel secure
As the ultra-wealthy prioritize security, they're increasingly demanding sophisticated safety features that make the panic room a thing of the past.
4 min read
Workers forced to return to the office may soon become 'accidental landlords'
Homeowners forced to move face a tough dilemma: Sell the old house or rent it out? Going the landlord route makes sense for some, but it's not easy.
11 min read
We moved from Iowa to Oregon after floods devastated our hometown. It was a hard move, but we don't regret it.
In 2008 a flood devastated eastern Iowa. We became climate crisis movers, and decided to relocate to Oregon.
6 min read
They built a solar home in the '70s before it was cool. Now, they're selling it for $1.3 million.
"It was unusual at the time to have such a system and it works pretty well," Paul Grogan told BI.
8 min read
Trump's threatened tariffs on Mexico and Canada could inflate home prices — even if he never imposes them
Building a typical new home could cost $40,000 more if Trump's tariffs on Canada and Mexico go into effect, per an industry group's analysis.
5 min read
The climate crisis is set to erase $1.47 trillion in US home values. Here are 5 areas predicted to get hit hard.
In parts of California and New Jersey, populations are set to decline while insurance costs grow, leading to home-price declines, First Street found.
3 min read
'Oracle of Wall Street' Meredith Whitney shares 3 key economic predictions for 2025 — including a complete reversal of a strongly held stance
Top analyst Meredith Whitney, known for warning about the financial crisis, shared the economic and housing-market trends she has her eye on in 2025.
6 min read
My family bought a fixer-upper in another country, sight unseen. Renovations cost us a million dollars and years of peace.
We bought a fixer-upper in Canada without seeing it in person. Renovations cost a million dollars and took a toll on our family's mental health.
4 min read
One city bought a hotel to solve the homeless crisis. It just might work.
One city bought a hotel to help solve the homeless crisis. It just might work.
9 min read
They left NYC to live in a tiny house on a farm in Oregon. To their surprise, life didn't get any slower.
"There was always something to prepare for living on the farm, and all of it felt like a tight deadline," Castro told Business Insider.
8 min read
I traveled to Toronto for a much-needed vacation from NYC and fell in love with it. I'm now moving to Canada for good.
I took a two-month trip to Toronto. Although it's a plain city, I loved how it welcomes middle-age people and helped advance my career.
5 min read
My family spent $36,000 renovating our home after 35 years. These 7 upgrades had the most dramatic effect.
When my family renovated our home after living in it for 35 years, changing the kitchen layout, windows, and appliances made the biggest difference.
6 min read
10 US cities where homeowners are safest from natural disasters
CoreLogic weighed the cost of replacing homes, the frequency of climate disasters, and more to identify areas with lower risks from natural disasters.
7 min read
I'm an interior designer with over a decade of experience. There are 7 red flags I look out for when buying furniture.
As an interior designer, I know how to look for signs furniture is not good quality. My red flags include visible screws and suspiciously low prices.
3 min read
Equinox's new luxury hotels have giant gyms and supplement mini-bars
Equinox plans to open 33 hotels over the next decade, at least half of which would be in the US — including Texas, California, and Hawaii.
2 min read
'Shark Tank' star Barbara Corcoran found her dream home in 1992 — but had to wait more than 20 years to buy it
"Shark Tank" investor Barbara Corcoran once delivered a package to a Manhattan penthouse. She bought it for $10 million more than two decades later.
4 min read
4 things wealthy homebuyers want
Luxury buyers want move-in-ready homes with solar panels, green roofs, steam rooms, and pickleball courts, according to Sotheby's.
6 min read
One of the solutions to NYC's housing shortage is already running into regulatory hurdles
New York City Mayor Eric Adams wants to allow certain homeowners to add extra dwellings in their backyards, attics, and basements.
5 min read
I live in a remote community of 80 people, where temperatures are low and I drive 10 hours to get groceries at the nearest town
I live in a small, remote community in northern Canada called Beaver Creek, where running basic errands and buying groceries can be an all-day affair.
6 min read
New CEO of Douglas Elliman has a plan to right the shaken real estate brokerage
Douglas Elliman is a top seller of luxury residential real estate, and its top brokers are industry celebrities. But a scandal has shaken the firm.
7 min read
11 top cities for young people, thanks to falling rent and ample social activities
Rent has soared in some cities due to return-to-office mandates, and buying still isn't an affordable option. Here are 11 top cities for young people.
5 min read
A Florida mansion next to Larry Ellison's is on the market for a record-setting $285 million. It hasn't been built yet.
See the planned lavish compound, which comes with a car museum, a padel court, and a shooting range. It's America's most expensive new home for sale.
3 min read
A serial home flipper with over 25 years of experience shares 7 common renovation mistakes people make
Missteps include not vetting contractors and going overboard with color, according to a designer who's bought, sold, and renovated homes for 25 years.
4 min read
If you own a home, the LA wildfires are trying to tell you something
A third of American homes, or about 48 million properties, are at risk of wildfires. Here's how to protect yours.
9 min read
I persuaded my roommates to spend 2 nights with me in a tiny home. By the end, we couldn't wait to have our own rooms back.
Business Insider's reporter spent two nights in a 212-square-foot home with her roommates. The trip was filled with highs and lows.
4 min read
There's a key silver lining for hopeful homebuyers after the least affordable housing market in 40 years — and it's not lower mortgage rates
Last year's housing market was the least affordable since 1984. However, top real-estate analyst Ivy Zelman sees a huge silver lining for buyers.
4 min read