Recent winter storms caused chaos for airlines and passengers, with thousands of canceled flights and stranded travelers. Outdated IT systems were the real issue — not the weather. Why are airlines relying on such old systems?
It’s getting hot in here …
If your late-night Zillow scrolling has gotten more desperate lately, you’re not alone. Home prices are going bonkers. In the past decade, home values shot up 47.1%, beating out the 2010s and 1990s. U.S. home prices are expected to rise another 1.6% over the next year alone. And I found a few markets that are growing nearly five times faster than that.
Red-hot real estate markets
💰 Where home prices are increasing by 3.7%:
- 22. Clarksville, Tenn.: $268,967
- 21. Greenville, N.C.: $215,500
- 20. Durham-Chapel Hill, N.C.: $371,083
- 19. Wilmington, N.C.: $411,583
- 18. Albuquerque, N.M.: $322,333
- 17. Boise, Idaho: $448,317
💰💰 Markets where home prices are rising between 3.8% to 4.5%:
- 16. Yuma, Ariz.: $283,300
- 15. McAllen-Edinburg-Mission, Texas: $192,867
- 14. Fayetteville, N.C.: $218,500
- 13. Muncie, Ind.: $137,377
- 12. Santa Maria-Santa Barbara, Calif.: $852,250
- 11. Charlotte-Concord-Gastonia, N.C.: $348,667
- 10. New Haven-Milford, Conn.: $307,817
- 9. Johnson City, Tenn.: $226,160
- 8. Manchester-Nashua, N.H.: $434,489
- 7. Portland-South Portland, Maine: $475,000
- 6. Jackson, Tenn.: $183,167
- 5. Athens-Clarke County, Ga.: $323,333
- 4. Syracuse, N.Y.: $193,667
💰💰💰 And the top three fastest-growing markets are:
- 3. Rochester, New York: Homes here don’t just sell quickly (think eight-days-on-the-market quickly), but average home prices are expected to increase by 5% this year. It’ll still cost less to live in Rochester than other locations on this list; the median home price here is $199,975.
- 2. Flagstaff, Arizona: Mountains, desert and an expected 5.3% price hike in the next 12 months. The median home value here is $593,833, but it’s a less competitive market; it typically takes around 27 days for a listing to become a pending sale.
- 1. Knoxville, Tennessee: This riverside town is expected to see the highest home price increase by far, at 6.1%. The median home sales price is $321,000, and the average listing sits on the market for two weeks.
Looking to buy?
If you’re in the market, tech tools are your friend.
- Set up alerts on sites like Zillow for homes that match your buying criteria so you never miss a listing. I’ve got a how-to on my site!
- Use MortgageCalculator.org to see your estimated payments.
- Check your credit for free at AnnualCreditReport.com. Click that link or type the address directly into your browser’s address bar. Scammers love to lure you in with “free” reports on fake sites that trap you with monthly fees.
🏠 Pro tip: Winter’s the cheapest time of year to buy. There might be less inventory, but sellers who do list at that time usually want to sell ASAP. Real estate agents are also more open to negotiating closing costs and commissions!
Check your bathroom! Jergens lotion recalled over harmful bacteria
During winter, especially when using a lot of hand sanitizer, it is essential to keep your hands moisturized. Your skin can dry out and form tiny cracks if you don’t. The alcohol content of hand sanitizer can also cause uncomfortable dryness.
Cozy season is upon us
🍁 These are great to gift yourself … or, you know, someone on your gift list.
- Put up stained glass window film (18% off) and never worry about your neighbors judging you for watching nine hours of “Judge Judy.”
- Add pizazz to your football-watching with a TV backlight (under $30). Woo, get $10 off if you click the coupon box!
- Too cold to get out of bed? You need a lap desk.
- Missed the northern lights? This cube (17% off, under $20) projects them onto your ceiling for some funky cosmic ambiance.
- With a cute candle warmer, your favorites last longer than if you burn them all day. Don’t miss the 15% off coupon.
We may receive a commission when you buy through our links, but our reporting and recommendations are always independent and objective.
🚴 Have an e-bike? Here’s one thing that ruins the battery: Letting it drain completely before you recharge. Lithium-ion batteries perform best when kept charged between 20% to 80%. Keep your e-bike inside, too, once the temps drop for winter. Anything below 32 degrees is no bueno for your battery life.
Tech you need for your emergency kit
Big winter storm coming your way? Here’s what you need to prepare.
100-degree heat
Cuts your EV’s driving range by 31%. It’s all based on the outside-versus-inside temp; 100 degrees is 30 degrees above a comfortable 70-degree interior. A 10-degree winter day puts you 60 degrees below 70, and so it sucks up 51% of your battery to keep you warm. That’s nearly a full percentage point per degree!
Photography tip: How to shoot a winter landscape
If you consider winter the most beautiful time of year, you might want to capture it on camera. That can be tough when you’re new to photography, though. There are all sorts of harsh elements for a newbie to balance, especially the intense light caused by snow reflecting the sun.
5 simple ways to protect your home this winter
Winter months can bring some serious challenges for homeowners. Icy driveways, slick walkways and frozen pipes can cause a lot of damage.
Whether you tough it out or take off to warmer climates, you want to keep your home safe over the winter months. That means you need protection from thieves while you’re away. Protect your home with the security system that protects Kim’s family, SimpliSafe. Visit SimpliSafeKim.com today to save 40% on a home security system and get your first month free when you sign up for Interactive Monitoring.
Sweet deals under $10
Sorry-not-sorry, but you’re probably going to want all these …
- These soft and cozy Hanes sweaters are so cheap (46% off!) and come in great colors, so it’s time to stock up for winter.
- Upgrade your around-the-house scissors with a pair that’s actually sharp (only $9.99 for a 3-pack).
- Add one or two drops of rosemary oil to your shampoo each wash to make your hair thicker and fuller.
- This is the best no-scent, no-shine lip treatment for when your kisser’s dry.
- This fan-favorite windshield defogger and cleaner is under $6.
We may receive a commission when you buy through our links, but our reporting and recommendations are always independent and objective.
🤠 A Texa-llent idea: Remember the winter storm that left millions of Texans without power? The state is now requiring all crypto miners, big or small, to register. Any unregistered mining outfit that consumes over 75 megawatts (that would be like charging 1,500 Teslas at once) is looking at fines ranging up to $25,000 per day. That’s one big mine!
Easy upgrades under $10
- Shower curtain liners get nasty. Stop it with all the cleaning spray and replace yours (11% off).
- Turn any pair of lace-up shoes into slip-ons with elastic laces that come in lots of colors.
- Ah, organized cords and cables for only $7.
- These are sweet: QR code labels (29% off) for your storage boxes. Scan to know what’s inside — Christmas decorations, winter coats, old paperwork …
- Ow, my achin’ back! A hanging footrest makes sitting on a plane or at a desk all day easier on your feet, back and legs.
We may receive a commission when you buy through our links, but our reporting and recommendations are always independent and objective.
194 pounds the average traveler weighs
That’s with their carry-ons on a plane. How do we know? Finnair started weighing passengers. It’s not about your airport snacks or waistline. It’s to check if the plane is heavier in winter or summer.
Hurry! Valentine’s (or anytime) picks
- The cutest bookmarks for the kid or adult reader in your life.
- You’ve seen stress balls, but what about a stress potato? Sure to get a laugh!
- Winter does a number on our skin. No more dry lips with this favorite overnight lip mask.
- When the way to their heart is through their dog, give ‘em a pet cam!
- Forget Scrabble. This game will bring you closer.
We may receive a commission when you buy through our links, but our reporting and recommendations are always independent and objective.
The dark days of winter …
… are a real drag. It’s rainy here this weekend, so I may curl up under a blanket. Who am I kidding? I can’t sit still.
- Furry, warm and lots of good color options, plus it’s 48% off!
- This cotton cable-knit throw looks so comfy, and the colors are great.
- A wearable blanket means no one can steal it from you when you get up for a snack.
- Food-themed blankets are hysterical — love the pizza and tortilla. (On sale!)
- This chunky chenille throw is so gorgeous you’ll want to leave it out year-round.
We may receive a commission when you buy through our links, but our reporting and recommendations are always independent and objective.
See live bird migration maps in your area
Want to watch the birds fly south for the winter? In one minute, I’ll share a few tech tips all bird lovers should know about.
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How China used tech to fake a great Olympics
Did you miss the Beijing Winter Olympics? You aren’t alone. Listen now to this one-minute podcast to find out why it had the smallest American audience in Olympic history.
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Prep your home for winter now before you get too busy with the holidays
Depending on where you are in the world, Jack Frost may have already visited your home. That’s the case for our vice president, Kip Kuroski. When he wakes up in his South Dakota home and looks outside, his entire yard is blanketed in snow.
Use a Nest thermostat? The temperature is rising
Texas and a few other states want customers to enroll their Nest and other smart thermostats in a program to help reduce power consumption. Texas was unprepared for this year’s record cold winter and they’re not ready for summer’s heatwave, either.
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices