🏠 Airbnb no more hidden fees & affordable housing midterm results

Waiting for your S.O. to get down on one knee? 💍 Slyly read this out loud while they’re in the room:

A diamond may seem like a big investment that could set you back financially, but that rock will pay off in dividends. According to The Wall Street Journal, married couples are four times wealthier than unmarried couples who live together. In 2019, couples ages 25 to 34 who lived together had a median net worth of $17,372 while their married peers were worth $68,210.

But why are married couples more well off? Well, they are more likely to become homeowners, pool their resources, have longer-term financial strategies, and take advantage of legal/tax perks.

SPILLING THE (REAL)TEA

The people have spoken! During the midterm elections, voters in cities like Austin, Texas; Los Angeles, California; and Palm Beach, Florida, were in favor of more spending for affordable housing.

More devastation for Florida. Not long after Hurricane Ian struck the Gulf Coast, Hurricane Nicole made landfall on the state’s east coast this past Wednesday, damaging beachfront homes in Volusia County.

Why buy a modest home when you can own an entire village? In 2022, the median price of a house in the U.S. was $428,700, according to Federal Reserve Economic Data. Meanwhile, this entire town in north-western Spain—complete with 44 houses, a hotel, a church, and a school—is up for grabs for just $259,000.

No 👏 more 👏 chores! Airbnb CEO Brian Chesky is putting a stop to unreasonable checkout requests, like “stripping the beds, doing the laundry, or vacuuming.” The app will also start showing the “total price” instead of nightly rates that don’t include cleaning fees, taxes, and other charges.

What’s a billionaire to do when his bike business goes kerplunk? The answer for Peloton co-founder and former CEO John Foley is to pivot toward a new passion—like custom rugs. How innovative 🥱

TIP OF THE WEEK

Searching for a new plant baby? According to All About Gardening, these are the five most popularly searched houseplants on TikTok:

01 — Aloe Vera (2.3 billion views) is not only the most aesthetically pleasing houseplant, according to TikTok, but it also has a bunch of medicinal/skincare benefits.

02 — Devil’s Ivy (312.4 million views) has heart-shaped leaves that grow on long, cascading tropical vines.

03 — Swiss Cheese Plants (242 million views) is a starter plant that’s easy to care for and isn’t susceptible to most diseases.

04 — Snake Plants (161.9 million views) add oxygen and moisture to the air, which means it’s especially helpful for homeowners with allergies or asthma to have in their bedrooms.

05 — Fiddle-Leaf Figs(109.6 million views) can grow to be more than 10 feet tall and are named after their large, fiddle-shaped leaves.

WHAT WE'RE CURRENTLY INTO

📚 What we're reading: You’ve definitely seen his quotes pop up on your Instagram feed. Ecuadorian author Diego Perez—who goes by the pen name Yung Pueblo—released a new book, “Lighter,” about healing, self-compassion, and letting go.

🎧 What we're listening to: OK, so, hear us out—if you’re having trouble staying focused during this time of year, (because let’s face it, browsing early Black Friday deals is way more fun than your to-do list) put on these 30 Hz binaural beats, which can improve concentration and alertness.

👀 What we're watching: Nothing says Fall like slipping on a pair of fuzzy socks, lighting a candle, cozying up with a warm blanket, and watching all seven seasons of Gilmore Girls from start to finish on Netflix.

🛒 What we're adding to our shopping cart: If you’re hosting a family get-together this holiday season, having enough seating for everyone is almost always an issue. Leave those hard, metal foldout chairs in the garage and grab these woven straw poufs on Etsy instead.

PROPERTY CRUSH

Do you ever just dream of deleting social media and moving to secluded farmland in Wyoming? Then this ranch in Big Sky country could be the escape you’ve been searching for—only you’ll need $71 million to move in.

Why the large price tag? Well, for one, the estate used to belong to the family members of Walt Disney. And for two, it includes 5,000 acres with sprawling views of 11,000-foot-high mountain peaks. ⛰️

WOMEN OF THE HOUSE

Featuring Brit Morin, founder and CEO of Brit + Co

Two years ago, Brit Morin and her husband invested in a short-term rental property in Helena, Montana, that could showcase their style through a beautifully designed property. Here’s what she shared with us about the making of Orofino Lodge & Cabin.

Where did you look for inspiration when designing Orofino?

I called upon years of experience in the realm of interior design as well as stay after stay in other Airbnbs and boutique hotels. I tried to recall which elements had made these stays really special and memorable so we incorporated them into our design and decor.

Now that it’s complete, what is your favorite thing about space?

It’s probably a tie between the skylight above the bed and the wallpaper.

What is your hope for guests during their stay?

We have so many hopes for our guests. We hope that they come here to slow down, recharge, and reconnect with themselves, each other, and nature. We hope they leave here inspired by and in love with Montana. We hope they come back and stay with us time and time again.

What is something you wish you knew back when you first got started?

We’ve learned the most by just diving in, embracing mistakes and missteps, and rising to meet new challenges along the way. We just have so much more experience under our belts at this point. Now we’re been able to take this hard-won knowledge and apply it to our next endeavor.