- The Best Cities for Renters
Sometimes renting can be just as difficult as homeownership. The most recent data from the U.S. Census Bureau shows that the average renting household spends 29.9% of its income on rent. Over 10 million renting households spend at least 50% of their income on housing. But those are not the only struggles renters face. The… read more…
- How Do Construction Loans Work?
Buying a home is no small decision, but when it comes to building a home, the stakes are even higher. Between finding the right contracting company, meeting building codes and figuring out your mortgage payments, building your home can quickly become a… read more…
- The Best States for Homeowners in 2018
Homeownership is a hallmark of American society. Data from the Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis shows that 64.2% of homes in America are owner-occupied, and a Pew Research survey from 2016 found that 72% of renters would like to own a home at some time in the future. But the benefits to home ownership… read more…
- The Most Affordable Travel Destinations in the U.S. – 2018 Edition
With summer starting to heat up it’s time for families to start planning their summer vacations. This can be a stressful period, especially for families whose budgets are already stretched trying to afford their mortgage and saving for retirement. But while a dream trip to a distant country may be off the table, there are plenty… read more…
- Places Where It Pays off to Commute
Most people are faced with a trade-off when choosing where to live. You could move closer to the city center where most of the jobs are but face a more expensive mortgage and more cramped housing options or move outside of the city and enjoy more space but endure a longer commute. For every city and… read more…
- Where Are Millennials Moving – 2018 Edition
According to Pew Research Center estimates there are around 71 million millennials in America and they are expected to surpass the number of baby boomers in 2019. That makes millennials a coveted generation for cities looking to bolster their workforce and tax base. But millennials are notorious for their quixotic preferences and figuring out where… read more…
- The Best Cities to Buy an Investment Property
The average home increased in value from $194,500 in 2015 to $205,000 in 2016, according to U.S. Census Bureau data. That is an impressive return of nearly $11,000, or about 5%, for American homeowners. Relative to income that extra $11,000 is equivalent to the average American household receiving a raise of 19% on their annual… read more…
- The Most and Least Severely Housing Cost-Burdened Cities
Millions of American families struggle to pay mortgage payments. According to U.S. Census Bureau data, nearly 7 million American households were severely housing cost-burdened in 2016, meaning they spent over 50% of their income on housing costs. When households spend so much on housing not only are they less able to afford day-to-day expenses but… read more…
- The Happiest Places in America – 2018 Edition
The U.S. ranked as the 18th-happiest country in the world in 2018, according to the World Happiness Report, released by the Sustainable Development Solutions Network for the U.N. That’s down four spots from the 2017 ranking. But while the U.S. may not be the happiest country in the world, there are some parts of the… read more…
- Top 10 Rising Housing Markets – 2018 Edition
From 2012 to 2016, the median home in the U.S. increased in value by roughly $33,000, from $172,000 to $205,000. That is great news for all the homeowners in the country. However those home investment returns have not been spread uniformly across the country. Some cities are experiencing faster than average home value growth due… read more…
- Cities Where Renters Can Afford to Live Alone
Many renters don’t enjoy living with roommates, but in order to live alone you need to find an affordable home. This can be challenging, especially with rents on the rise across the country. However, there are some cities where living alone is within reach for a large number of workers. Below we look at these… read more…
- The Best Cities for Living the American Dream in 2018
It is difficult to come up with any one definition for the American Dream that every American will agree on. But certainly for many people, it includes homeownership, economic opportunity and diverse communities. For these people, they need to live in a city where homes, and mortgages, are affordable and where it’s possible to climb… read more…
- The Best Cities for First-Time Homebuyers in 2018
The largest purchase most Americans will make in their life is their home. With so much on the line buying a home can be a stressful and difficult process, especially for first-time homebuyers. However, thanks to local economic factors like a stable mortgage market and affordable homes, some cities are better for first-time homebuyers who… read more…
- The Best Cities for New College Grads in 2018
These days having a college education is not enough to ensure a financially secure future. According to data from the Census Bureau, over 30% of Americans over the age of 25 have a bachelor’s degree or a graduate degree. That means college graduates looking to get a professional edge need to move to the right… read more…
- How to Get Preapproved for a Mortgage
In order to get preapproved for a mortgage, you need to provide your lender with extensive documentation proving your income, assets and debt obligations. If you qualify, you’d get a preapproval letter indicating how much you can borrow to purchase your new home. This article will explain mortgage preapproval step-by-step. We can also help you… read more…
- Years of Work Needed to Afford a Down Payment – 2018 Edition
Over 80% of renters have a desire to own a home, according to a 2015 survey from the National Association of Realtors. One big hurdle for many renters who are hoping to buy a home and take on a mortgage is saving for a down payment. In some cities, the average home is worth so much more… read more…
- Where Singles Have the Highest Homeownership Rate
Nearly 83% of renters have a desire to own their home, according to a National Association of Realtors poll. However with mortgage costs on the rise, it is difficult to switch from renting to buying. And buying a home can be even more difficult if you are single. However, there are some places where singles… read more…
- What Is a USDA Loan, and How Can I Qualify for One?
USDA loans are low-interest mortgages with zero down payments designed for low-income Americans who don’t have good enough credit to qualify for traditional mortgages. You must use a USDA loan to buy a home in a designated area that covers… read more…
- Cities Where Women Are the Most Successful
In 1948, only 32% of women were in the official labor force, according to the Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis. As of February 2018, that number had almost doubled to 57%. Today in some American cities, women are earning large salaries, running their own businesses and handling their mortgages with ease. With this in… read more…
- Overview of First-Time Homebuyer Loan Programs
First-time homebuyer loan programs generally enable people with low or moderate incomes or with less-than-stellar credit scores to live a part of the American Dream, which is to say, purchase a home. Often, it’s their first home. But technically, it… read more…
- The Top 10 Cities for Working Parents in 2018
The Bureau of Labor Statistics reports that in 61% of two-parent households, both parents work outside the home. But not all cities are equally suited for this family structure. In some cities, mortgage costs overwhelm earnings. In other cities, childcare costs are so high it makes getting by on even two incomes difficult. Below we look… read more…
- New York Neighborhoods With the Fastest-Growing Home Values
New York real estate has an estimated market value around $1.26 trillion as of 2018, according to the New York Department of Finance. Some New York neighborhoods are more popular than others, putting upward pressure on home values and mortgage costs. Below we look into the phenomenon to find the New York City neighborhoods with the fastest-growing home… read more…
- Best Cities for Runners – 2018 Edition
Nearly 17 million people competed in 30,400 U.S. road races in 2016, according to data from Running USA. But for Americans who are truly passionate about getting their daily steps in, not all cities are equal. Some cities are better for runners who prefer to run outdoors. While others are better for those who value… read more…
- The Best Cities to Sell a House – 2018 Edition
Americans sold 612,000 homes in 2017 and 44,000 in January 2018, according to data from the Census Bureau. For most home sellers, selling your home at a profit is likely one of your goals. Location is a big factor in this, as some housing markets favor sellers while others are more favorable to buyers. Below SmartAsset… read more…
- America’s Best Hockey Towns of 2018
Around 4% of Americans name hockey is their favorite sport to watch, putting it in fifth place behind football, basketball, baseball and soccer. So while hockey may not be America’s favorite pastime, for those who love it, it’s a way of life. But some places are better for fans of hockey than others. These towns… read more…