Own It with Angie Hicks

Mikel Welch on Why Your Starter Home Might Already Be Your Forever Home

Mikel Welch moved to New York City with $500 in his pocket and a Craigslist ad. Now he's an Emmy winner, the lead designer on The Drew Barrymore Show, and the author of The Forever Home. In this episode, Angie sits down with Mikel to talk about design decisions that cost you money, the ones that set you free, and why your forever home might already be the house you're in. Here's what we discuss with Mikel: • Permanent vs. changeable decisions — and the rule that applies to everything that requires a contractor • Why your countertops and floors need to be classics — and what to do with your trendy impulses instead • The forever home philosophy: why forever isn't about the house, it's about right now • How to give a room a refresh without touching anything structural • Where to splurge and where to hunt — and why wood furniture will always be king • The $10,000 question: where Mikel says to spend it and where he says absolutely not • The designer trick Mikel uses to solve any renovation problem — without leaving your zip code • Why word art is the design trend you will definitely regret --------- Ready to find the right contractor before your next project? • Connect: https://www.angi.com/own-it-with-angie-hicks-podcast/ • Visit https://www.angi.com/ to connect with top-rated pros in your area.

Stop Designing Your Home for the People Who Don't Live In It

The dream home used to be about impressing your neighbors. Brian and Mika Kleinschmidt say that's over. The HGTV builders and designers behind hundreds of homes across Florida are seeing something different now — homeowners who want a space that works for the life they're actually living, not the one they're performing. In this episode, Angie sits down with Brian and Mika to talk about what home design looks like in 2026, how to build for multiple generations under one roof, and the budget line item that always runs out of money first. Here's what we discuss with Brian and Mika: How the definition of a dream home has completely changed — and what it means for how you build or renovate Why the formal dining room is disappearing and what's replacing it How to design for three generations under one roof without losing privacy What to build now so you don't have to retrofit later — wider doorways, main-floor bedrooms, and more Why landscaping always runs out of money last — and why it should come first The biggest budget mistake homeowners make before a renovation even starts What Brian and Mika learned building their own home that they couldn't have learned any other way --------- Ready to find the right contractor before your next project? Connect: https://www.angi.com/own-it-with-angie-hicks-podcast/ Visit https://www.angi.com/ to connect with top-rated pros in your area.

Farnoosh Torabi on Why Your Home Isn't the Investment You Think It Is

Financial independence got left out of the conversation for women — and Farnoosh Torabi has spent her career putting it back in. In this episode, Angie sits down with the personal finance journalist, author, and host of So Money to talk about money, homeownership, and what it actually means to be a co-pilot in your own financial life — not a passenger. Here's what we discuss with Farnoosh: • Why financial independence got left out of the conversation for women — and what that costs them • What to do if your partner handles the finances and you've let it stay that way • The three financial checkpoints to hit before you buy a home • Why your primary residence isn't really an investment — and what that means for how you think about it • The "dying with zero" concept and why more families are rethinking generational wealth • What owning it actually means — not just your house, but your whole financial life --------- Ready to find the right contractor before your next project? Connect: https://www.angi.com/own-it-with-angie-hicks-podcast/ Visit https://www.angi.com/ to connect with top-rated pros in your area.

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What Renovation TV Gets Wrong with Mina Starsiak Hawk

After a hundred houses and nine seasons of Good Bones, Mina Starsiak Hawk has one rule: assume the worst and budget accordingly. In this episode — the first Own It in-studio interview — Angie sits down with Mina to talk about what renovation really costs, why the inspection is the most underrated tool a buyer has, and the truth about contractors, bids, and lowest bids. Here's what we discuss with Mina: Why your renovation budget is wrong before you even start What a home inspection is really for — and why you should never skip it There's always a reason the lowest bid is the lowest bid What "good bones" actually means — and what to look for instead New construction vs. old homes: which one actually costs more to maintain Why no one is ever going to care about your home as much as you do --------- Connect: https://www.angi.com/own-it-with-angie-hicks-podcast/ Ready to find the right contractor before your next project? Visit https://www.angi.com/ to connect with top-rated pros in your area.

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Your Outdoor Space Shouldn’t be Last with Sara Bendrick.

Your kitchen gets the budget. Your bathroom gets the Pinterest board. And your yard — the first thing anyone sees when they pull up to your house — gets whatever's left over. Landscape designer, contractor, and TV host Sara Bendrick says that's exactly backwards. In this episode, Angie and Sara break down what a yard renovation actually costs, why so much of that money disappears underground, and the one thing every homeowner should do before a single plant goes in the ground. Here's what we discuss with Sara: • Why homeowners keep running out of money before they ever get to the yard — and how to fix that from day one • What "half your budget you'll never see" actually means, and why that's not wasted money • The difference between hardscape and softscape — and why the order you do them matters • How to phase a landscape renovation so the budget works for your real life • When to DIY and what to leave alone — and how to have that conversation with your contractor • What outdoor kitchens, fire pits, and hot tubs actually cost versus what people think • The ROI case for your outdoor space — and why realtors will back it up • Why you should live in your yard before you ever redesign it --------- Connect: https://www.angi.com/own-it-with-angie-hicks-podcast/ Ready to find the right contractor before your next project? Visit https://www.angi.com/ to connect with top-rated pros in your area.

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What Home Improvement TV Gets Wrong (From Someone Who Was On It)

Most home improvement shows make renovation look easy, fast, and cheap. Kayleen McCabe spent years helping create that illusion — and then walked away from it. She's a contractor, TV host, and trades advocate who's here to show homeowners the truth: what you can actually do yourself, what you should never touch, and why the pretty stuff always has to wait. Here's what we discuss with Kayleen: • Maintenance first, pretty second — why foundation, plumbing, and electrical come before the kitchen you've been dreaming about • The permits rule: anything that requires one requires a professional, full stop • How to figure out your DIY limit — and why knowing when to stop isn't weakness • Why you should double your budget on every first renovation before you start • The Google rule: if you're searching whether a wall is load-bearing, you already have your answer • What most homeowners get wrong about toilets — and the $50 fix that most people ignore until they can't • Why the trades shortage is a homeowner problem too, and what's actually changing • What it feels like to love your house — and how to get there Connect: https://www.angi.com/own-it-with-angie-hicks-podcast/ Ready to find the right contractor before your next project? Visit https://www.angi.com/ to connect with top-rated pros in your area.

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You're Not Just Buying a House. You're Marrying the Neighborhood.

Not everyone should buy a house. Kelly Edwards — TV host, designer, and real estate agent — will tell you that to your face, even if it costs her the commission. In this episode, Angie and Kelly cover what first-time buyers actually need to know before they make an offer, how to renovate without blowing your budget on the wrong things first, and the design principles that hold up across every price point. Here's what we discuss with Kelly: • Why you're not just buying a house — you're marrying the neighborhood • The questions to ask yourself before you decide to buy at all • What the full team looks like when you're buying for the first time — and why the inspector matters most • How to figure out your renovation non-negotiables and what can wait • Why labor costs more than materials — and what that means for your budget • The design move most people overlook that makes any house feel bigger • The most common mistake homeowners make thinking about today instead of five years from now • What luxury homes get right about outdoor space — and how to steal it --------- Connect: https://www.angi.com/own-it-with-angie-hicks-podcast/ Ready to find the right contractor before your next project? Visit https://www.angi.com/ to connect with top-rated pros in your area.

Don't Waive the Inspection. Home Inspector Joe Explains Why.

Since COVID, waiving the home inspection has become something of a trend. Home Inspector Joe Mazza says it's one of the biggest financial mistakes a buyer can make — and he's seen the consequences firsthand. In this episode, Angie sits down with Joe to talk about what a great home inspector actually looks for, what most homeowners don't know to ask, and the things every new homeowner should do the moment they get the keys. Here's what we discuss with Joe: • Why waiving the home inspection is still happening — and why it's still a mistake • How to find a good home inspector and the questions you should ask before you hire one • What Joe sees before he even walks through the front door • Why the garage is one of the most dangerous rooms in your house • The one thing every homeowner needs to know the moment they move in • What's in the inspection report that most people don't know to look for • The deal breakers — what makes Joe pull a buyer aside and say walk away • What to tackle first when you move in, and what can wait • The strangest thing Joe has ever found on an inspection --------- Connect: https://www.angi.com/own-it-with-angie-hicks-podcast/ Ready to find the right contractor before your next project? Visit https://www.angi.com/ to connect with top-rated pros in your area.

Rates Aren't Going Back to 3%. Here's What Buyers Need to Hear.

The housing market is weird right now. That's not a hot take — it's what CNBC's real estate correspondent Diana Olick will tell you flat out. In this episode, Angie sits down with Diana to make sense of what's actually happening, why it's happening, and what homeowners and buyers should be paying attention to beyond the daily noise about mortgage rates. Here's what we discussed with Diana: • Why the market is as strange as it is right now — and how we got here • The supply shortage nobody is fixing fast enough, and what that means for prices • Why first-time buyers are getting squeezed the hardest • The mortgage lock-in effect: why people aren't moving and what that's doing to inventory • Rates aren't going back to 3%. So what should buyers actually be waiting for? • The markets where you can still buy a lot of house for the money • Why the starter home may not exist anymore — and how that should change your time horizon • What homeowners who come out ahead have in common • How to see past a bad kitchen and buy the bones • Ready to find the right contractor before your next project? ----- Visit angi.com to connect with top-rated pros in your area. Connect: https://www.angi.com/own-it-with-angie-hicks-podcast/

The CFO Mindset Every Homeowner Needs

Most people approach homeownership like a consumer. Caleb Silver, editor-in-chief of Investopedia, says you need to approach it like a CFO. In this episode, Angie and Caleb break down what it actually means to treat your home as a financial asset — not just emotionally, but on a real dollars-and-cents level — and what separates homeowners who build wealth from the ones who end up house poor. Here's what we discuss with Caleb: • Why your home is the foundation of your family's wealth — and how most people mismanage it • The CFO mindset: what it means to run your household like a business • How to figure out what it actually costs to be you in your home, all in • The 30% rule — and what happens when you blow past it • Where to put your money first, and what gets people spending in the wrong order • What home equity actually is and how to use it as a financial tool • The real return on residential real estate — and how it compares to other investments • Why the American Dream now has a price tag, and what Investopedia found when they added it up • What most homeowners understand too late --------- Ready to find the right contractor for your next project? Visit angi.com to connect with top-rated pros in your area. Learn more here: https://www.angi.com/own-it-with-angie-hicks-podcast/

Fall in Love with A Cheap Old House. But Know This First.

What if the most affordable path to homeownership has been sitting empty on a small-town street for the last 40 years? Elizabeth and Ethan Finkelstein built a community of nearly 3 million people around exactly that idea — beautiful, historic homes with real bones at prices that actually make sense. In this episode, they break down what it actually costs to buy and restore a cheap old house, how to know if you're the right person for it, and why they think we've been dreaming about homeownership all wrong. Here's what we discuss with Elizabeth and Ethan: • How to know if you're an old house person — and why that question matters before anything else • What to look for structurally before you fall in love with the character • The full budget breakdown on a $27,000 house — soup to nuts, every line item • When to DIY and when to hire a pro (and what not to touch under any circumstances) • How to buy a cheap old house remotely — the practical process from first scroll to closing • What it takes to qualify for a mortgage on a fixer-upper • Why they think the new American Dream looks a lot like a forgotten house on a quiet street • Ready to find the right contractor for your next project? Visit angi.com to connect with top-rated pros in your area. --------- Ready to find the right contractor before your next project? Visit angi.com to connect with top-rated pros in your area. Angi (formerly Angie’s List) is a leading home services marketplace that has helped homeowners with 300M+ home projects from plumbing and remodeling to roofing and landscaping. Learn more at https://www.angi.com/landing/podcast-angie-hicks

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Buying a Home for Who You Are Now Is the Biggest Mistake You Can Make

Most people think buying a home is about finding the right mortgage. Tiffany Aliche — The Budgetnista, New York Times bestselling author, and one of the most trusted voices in personal finance — says that's exactly where they go wrong. A mortgage is one line item. The real question is whether you can afford the whole thing, and whether you're buying for your life right now or the life you're building. In this episode, Angie and Tiffany break down the real math of homeownership: what it actually costs to carry a home, how to know if you're ready to buy, and the mindset shift that turns a house from a financial trap into a wealth builder. Here's what we discuss with Tiffany: • Why shame shields solutions, and what Tiffany had to let go of before she could rebuild • The "is your mortgage rentable?" rule and why it changes how you think about buying • What the full carrying cost of a home actually looks like beyond the mortgage • The Noodle Budget: what it is, when to use it, and how it protects homeowners when things go sideways • How much cushion you actually need before you buy, and why saving a down payment isn't enough • The biggest mistake homeowners make that has nothing to do with the house itself Ready to find the right contractor before your next project? Visit angi.com to connect with top-rated pros in your area. Angi (formerly Angie’s List) is a leading home services marketplace that has helped homeowners with 300M+ home projects from plumbing and remodeling to roofing and landscaping. Learn more at Angi.com

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He's Flipped 1,000 Homes. Here's What He Fixes First.

Tarek El Moussa has bought, fixed, and sold over 1,000 homes. That means he's walked into quite a few houses in his day. And he sees things the average homeowner completely misses. In this episode, Angie sits down with Tarek to talk about what actually moves the needle when you're preparing to sell, what kills deals at inspection, and how to think about ROI when you're deciding what to fix, update, or leave alone. Here's what we discuss in this episode: What buyers see the moment they walk through your door — and what they're actually looking for Why seven out of ten homes fall out of escrow today, and the simple move that prevents most of it The projects with the best ROI before you list and the ones that aren't worth it How to get a high-end look without blowing the budget The gold toilet rule: what's personal, what's smart, and when those two things collide Tarek's four-step framework for any home improvement decision: evaluate, emulate, renovate, duplicate Ready to find the right contractor before your next project? Visit angi.com to connect with top-rated pros in your area. Angi (formerly Angie’s List) is a leading home services marketplace that has helped homeowners with 300M+ home projects from plumbing and remodeling to roofing and landscaping. Learn More: angi.com/landing/podcast-angie-hicks

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Introducing Own It with Angie Hicks

Do you own your home, or does it own you? For over 30 years, Angie Hicks has been hearing homeowners' hopes and headaches. What she learned: there's a lot nobody tells you about owning a home. Introducing Own It with Angie Hicks! In her new podcast, Angie sits down with leading experts, industry insiders, and real homeowners to tackle the questions that keep you up at night — whether to renovate or move, how to prioritize when you can't do it all, and what's actually worth the investment. No how-tos. No Pinterest perfection. Just real talk, hard-won lessons, and the kind of advice you'd want from someone who genuinely gets it. New episodes drop every other week. Follow now so you don't miss the first one.