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As the weather gets warmer across the U.S., those aquatic fantasies really start to set in. You know the ones. But instead of dreaming about a home near the water, why not consider one actually on the water?

There’s never been a better time to satisfy your inner seafarer, because we’ve found five fantastic floating homes on both coasts—ranging from the affordable $345,000 in Florida to an aspirational $2.5 million in swanky Sausalito, CA.

Hot tubs, laundry rooms, home theaters, loft bedrooms: You won’t believe the fancy features tucked into these upscale homes. Some even have yard-sized decks.

And they’re all tightly moored and docked in calm marinas, so seasickness is nothing to fear.

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Finally! You found a home that checks all the boxes—except one.

That gorgeous two-bed, two-bath Craftsman with perfect afternoon light has it all, just no garage. Oof!

Maybe you need a garage because you can’t bear the thought of scraping ice off of your car windows in the winter or enduring a smoldering vehicle in the summer. Or maybe you want a garage for storage space.

Either way, don’t buy a home with lots of empty acreage around it, thinking you can add a garage later.

If you’re wondering how to find a good home inspector, you’re not alone. No matter how amazing a home looks, you’ll want to kick those tires—hard—before you buy. And that means you need to know how to find a good home inspector.

A home inspector examines a home and points out any flaws, from a leaky roof to a faulty foundation. Typically home inspections happen in the days after your offer has been accepted but before you close the deal. That way, you can accurately gauge whether you really want to move forward, cut your losses, or renegotiate with the seller for a fairer price.

But an inspection is only as good as your inspector, so you have to make sure you’re dealing with someone who really knows their stuff. Here’s how to find a home inspector who’ll ace the job.

Are home inspectors licensed?

It seems like a no-brainer to hire an inspector who has been licensed or certified, but it’s not as simple as you think, according to Frank Lesh, executive director of the nonprofit American Society of Home Inspectors.

Not every state requires home inspectors to be licensed, and for those that do, the licenses can mean varying degrees of expertise, depending on the state’s requirements. There are also independent groups that certify inspectors where the quality varies considerably.

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Although the Federal Reserve hiked interest rates on Wednesday, mortgage rates veered in the opposite direction and tumbled.

For the week ending March 23, the nationwide average for the popular 30-year fixed-rate mortgage was 6.42%, according to Freddie Mac. That’s down from last week—and it’s the lowest level in more than a month.

It’s a small reprieve and much-needed break for homebuyers, but don’t look for it to last. When the Fed raises rates, mortgage rates usually rise in kind.

“Economic conditions will keep upward pressure on rates,” notes Sabrina Speianu, economic data manager for Realtor.com®, in her recent analysis. This “will continue to present an affordability challenge for buyers and may keep some sellers, who are locked in at lower rates, waiting on the sidelines.”

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Actress Jane Seymour‘s oceanfront mansion in Malibu, CA, is available to rent for $100,000 a month. And yes, that is the correct number of zeroes.

Available now through May, according to the listing, the seven-bedroom beauty sits high atop a bluff and boasts 6,326 square feet.

The listing also notes that if you want to rent the home for just a month, the rate jumps to $125,000 a month. Understandably, the house is being shown to prequalified tenants only.

The “Dr. Quinn, Medicine Woman” actress purchased the property in 1994 for $3.4 million, according to Dirt.

joinfreddie/michaelaiduss/vivirdesign via Instagram

Some home upgrades—notably anything involving plumbing or electricity—demand a professional. But others? Not so much. In fact, in an age when homeowners feel empowered to square off with many home improvement projects themselves, creating DIY decor has become a typical weekend activity.

So to keep you busy during these first few weeks of spring, we’ve assembled a collection of home projects inspired by our current favorite interior-design posts on Instagram. Here are five fabulous, high-reward endeavors no one will believe you actually pulled off yourself.

1. Built-in entryway bench

This cozy entryway bench, seen in a post from @michaelaiduss, makes a wonderful first impression on anyone who walks through your front door. And it won’t take you more than a few days to recreate on your own.

“A built-in entryway bench adds a touch of luxury,” says Sarah Gaffney, lead designer at Next Stage Design. “If you have some carpentry skills, these are actually doable yourself. Otherwise, you can also use a high-backed settee to create a similar look.”

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Looks are truly deceiving.

A sedate Tudor in Ann Arbor, MI, set social media abuzz with its bold, Barbie-inspired palette. That’s why it’s this week’s most popular home on Realtor.com®.

Devotees of the color pink must have a look at this condo. From a kitchen decked out with Barbie-themed appliances to the primary bedroom awash in pink tulle and rosy hued accessories, these interiors are totally tricked out and over the top.

Other homes that made the popularity list include a lakefront tiny home in Georgia, an affordable antique in West Virginia, and a converted church in Illinois.

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Tucked between Park and Lexington avenues is one of the most prestigious homes on the New York market. The Thomas Lamont mansion at 107 E 70th Street, originally commissioned by Lamont himself, was recently listed for $45 million.

The 10-bedroom, 14-bath, midblock mansion was designed in 1922 by Walker & Gillette—an architecture firm best known for its work on the once-private residences now occupied by the French and Italian consulates and the esteemed Spence School.

Lamont, a partner at J.P. Morgan, acquired the plot of land in 1920 and proceeded to build the “the best house on the best block,” The New York Times boldly stated.

It is, after all, nearly 23,000 square feet.

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Design experts Nate Berkus and Jeremiah Brent openly admit they’re not the biggest sports fans. But as we see on the latest episode of “The Nate and Jeremiah Home Project,” they sure know how to score points with sporty homeowners.

Go team!

In the episode, “Story of Sacrifice,” Berkus and Brent meet Mark and Laura, who have lived in Merrick, NY, all their lives. They bought their home 15 years ago and have been wanting to renovate ever since.

The family, which includes two children, has been scrimping and saving for years—with Mark working Saturdays, going in early, and eating PB&J sandwiches for lunch. Over the years, they have managed to save an impressive $175,000 for the remodel. No loans or credit card debt for them!

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Rising interest rates have not only thrown a wrench into home sales but have caused some pretty seismic changes in home renovation, too.

According to the just-released 2023 U.S. Houzz & Home renovation report of more than 46,000 respondents, nearly 3 in 5 homeowners remodeled or redecorated their homes last year, and nearly half made repairs. And this urge to revamp will carry firmly through 2023, the report says. More than half of homeowners (55%) are planning renovation projects in the next year.

What’s spurring the continued interest in home reno? It seems partially fueled by the fact that people are planning to stay put in their homes for the long haul, rather than sell and upsize to a bigger and better place.

“Faced with shortages of housing stock and high interest rates, we’re seeing homeowners update their current home to make the space more functional for the long term,” said Liza Hausman, vice president of industry marketing at Houzz.

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After binge-watching a few hours of HGTV, home flipping may seem like a good way to make some extra cash. But the shows don’t always dwell on the financial risks facing investors who jump into the game.

Home flippers flooded the real estate market last year, according to a recent report from ATTOM, a real estate data firm. But their profits fell, as the housing market corrected to the lowest levels since the Great Recession.

To come up with its findings, ATTOM looked at metropolitan areas with at least 200,000 residents and 100 home flips last year.

Flips comprised roughly 8.4% of all home sales in 2022, the highest percentage since 2005, according to ATTOM. More than 407,000 single-family homes and condos were flipped last year—up 14% from 2021 and 58% from 2020. Nearly two-thirds of flips were purchased in all-cash deals.

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Talk about stunning!

New York City brownstones and townhomes are in a class by themselves, simply because there are far fewer of them around, compared to apartments.

So when a property like this one, which is owned by the “X-Men” actress Rebecca Romijn, hits the market (even just to rent), it grabs some attention. Just be prepared to pay dearly: The elegant abode in Manhattan’s trendy Chelsea neighborhood is listed for $17,500 a month.

With historic bones and a modern gut renovation, this gorgeous four-bedroom, three-bath home is truly one of a kind. Romijn’s eclectic remodel was featured in Architectural Digest in 2020.

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The numbers: A dip in mortgage rates propelled U.S. home buyers to purchase new homes, boosting sales for the fifth month in a row. The strength in new home sales is due to the low number of options buyers have with previously owned homes.

New home sales rose 1.1% to an annual rate of 640,000 in February, from a revised 633,000 in the prior month, the Commerce Department reported Friday. The number is seasonally adjusted.

The data from January was revised significantly. New home sales only rose a revised 1.8% to 633,000 in January, compared with the initial estimate of a 7.2% increase to 670,000.

The new home sales data are volatile month-on-month and are often revised.

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The Hollywood star of “27 Dresses” and “Westworld” fame is ready to collect the rent.

Yup, James Marsden, who got his start in the “X-Men” franchise movies, has listed his tidy Studio City, CA, pad for $6,595 a month.

Marsden’s roles in a range of projects, including “The Notebook” and “Superman Returns,” cemented his celebrity status.

The 49-year-old purchased the “starter home” in 1998 for $454,000, Forbes reported.

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Those trying to avoid natural disasters and the fallout from climate change might want to move to the Southwest.

Counties in New Mexico, Colorado, and Utah have the lowest risk of environmental peril, according to a recent study from CoreLogic, a real estate data firm. The study analyzed the risk of natural disasters over the next 30 years, to the nation’s 154 million properties. Wildfires, tornadoes, inland flooding, severe thunderstorms, winter storms, earthquakes, hurricanes, and storm surges were included in the analysis.

“Generally, good elevation shields places from thunderstorms, wildfires, and flooding,” says John Rogers, chief innovation officer at CoreLogic.

Other factors—such as soil type, proximity to flammable brush, and building codes and types—also play a part.

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It’s always fun to see what the homes renovated on reality television really sell for. Do the sale prices given on the show accurately reflect the true sale? Did some offers fall through? And does a reality TV makeover increase a home’s resale value?

One of the most transparent renovators on television is Tarek El Moussa, co-star of three HGTV shows: “Flip or Flop,” “Flipping 101,” and “The Flipping El Moussas.” He not only reveals his purchase price and the cost of the renovation but also what it should cost to sell the house (taking into account the marketing, commissions, and staging expenses).

El Moussa also discloses the finance, or “carrying” costs, on his properties. This comes down to the monthly interest paid to the lender. Short-term loans usually demand a higher interest rate. A quick turnaround renders a higher profit.

He also attaches his name and the show name to his listings, which could add sales appeal for El Moussa fans who want to buy his renovated residences.

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A 12-acre farm in West Chester, PA, where the first shots of the Battle of Brandywine were fired, is the oldest property on the market this week on Realtor.com®.

The place played a prominent role in the Revolutionary War. Today, the property’s fenced-in pasture and tack house make it an equestrian lover’s dream.

Other vintage dwellings to hit the market this week include a historic New England Cape in Connecticut, a Maryland cottage owned by an officer in the Continental Army, and a Colonial farmhouse in New Jersey.

Scroll down for a full look at this week’s 10 oldest homes.

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The Federal Reserve’s latest rate hike may be like a late frost creeping over the fragile spring housing market.

In the wake of the Fed increasing its rates by 0.25% on Wednesday afternoon, mortgage interest rates are expected to rise again. That’s going to hurt buyers grappling with still-high home prices, mortgage rates that are already nearing 7%, and a lack of properties for sale. Sellers will also share in the pain as there will be fewer buyers who can afford to jump into the fray and pay top dollar for their homes.

The housing market had begun to thaw as mortgage rates had temporarily fallen to the low 6% range. But this expected rate increase could halt the momentum that had been building.

“With home prices and mortgage rates already pushing the edge of the envelope for many shoppers’ budgets, it’s not surprising to see homebuyers respond when rates fluctuate,” says Realtor.com® Chief Economist Danielle Hale. “When rates rise, we see signs that buyers are pulling back, but when rates drop, homebuyers seem to jump back in the market.”

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On “Fixer to Fabulous,” Dave and Jenny Marrs have been making over their hometown of Bentonville, AR, one house at a time. Now they’ve stepped it up and are revitalizing the whole town.

In the latest episode, “Historic Bank Into Mercantile,” they revisit Centerton. In this neighboring town, the couple have purchased a former bank built in 1905, for $130,000. They’ve already spent $100,000 converting the upstairs level into a chic apartment and office space.

Now, it’s time to tackle the first floor, spending $100,000 to transform it into a store called “Marrs Mercantile,” where they’ll sell baked goods and lifestyle items handmade by local artisans.

Remind you of anyone … or place? Sounds a lot like how Chip and Joanna Gaines of “Fixer Upper” fame morphed Waco, TX, into a tourist destination with a full slate of stores, restaurants, and attractions. It’s certainly a smart way to revitalize a sleepy downtown, and the renovations could apply to an assortment of spaces—residential, commercial, and otherwise. Check out how this latest project unfolds, and snag a little DIY inspiration.

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Tax season is here—and while many gripe about forking money over to Uncle Sam, the real question is: Are your tax dollars being put to good use?

Odds are, you’re aware that certain areas have high taxes, while other places enjoy a lower rate. But rock-bottom taxes aren’t necessarily a good thing if your streets are riddled with potholes and petty crime. Ideally, the money people pay in taxes is used to improve their communities, but a recent study suggests that certain states are much better at this than others.

According to WalletHub‘s Best & Worst Taxpayer ROI rankings for 2023, Americans’ tax payments offer wildly different rates of return on that investment, depending on where they live.

To help break it down, their team of data analysts compared how much residents pay in taxes, on average, to how much those funds end up impacting five key categories of livability: education (graduation rates, pre-K funding), health (number of hospital beds, life expectancy), safety (crime, car crashes), economy (unemployment rate), and infrastructure (water/air quality and bridge/road maintenance).