- How Much Home You Can Buy With $100,000 in America’s Largest Cities
New York City is famous for its closet-sized apartments. San Francisco residents have become accustomed to living in tight quarters. But New York and San Francisco are extreme examples of expensive housing markets in America. To see just how extreme they are, we analyzed value per square foot data to see how much home $100,000 could… read more…
- The Cities With the Highest (and Lowest) Real Minimum Wage – 2017 Edition
The federal minimum wage has been $7.25 since 2009. In many states, it’s the federal minimum wage that holds sway. However, some states, counties and cities have enacted their own laws establishing a higher minimum wage. Wherever you live, the minimum wage in your city may feel higher or lower than the number on the books,… read more…
- Gender Housing Gap: Where Women Are More Housing Cost-Burdened
The average woman earns 80% of what the average man earns, according to U.S. Census Bureau data. The real-world implications of the pay gap sometimes get lost in the discussion around the issue. Of course, being paid less is bad, but when it comes to things like housing, for example, women may be worse off… read more…
- The Least Affordable Housing Markets in America
The Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) recommends spending no more than 30% of your income on housing. But in some cities across the country, people are forking more than half their income over to rent, or buying homes worth 10 times their annual salary. According to HUD’s guidelines, these people are housing cost-burdened.… read more…
- Understanding HISA Grants
Military veterans with disabilities have access to special government grants. One such grant is the Home Improvements and Structural Alterations (HISA) grant, which veterans with disabilities can use to make their homes accessible. Read on to find out more about HISA… read more…
- The Income Needed to Pay Rent in the Largest U.S. Cities – 2017 Edition
Living in a big city can be fun. But almost everything in a big city tends to be more expensive, from meals out to groceries to morning coffee. And housing is often the most expensive part of living in a city. Below we look at data on rents in 15 major U.S. cities and estimate… read more…
- What Is a Lender Credit?
The scenario: You’ve found your dream house and negotiated a price that’s just barely within your budget. Then, you get a copy of the sales contract and to your surprise, the incidental costs associated with buying a house add thousands of dollars to the price. Legal fees, title insurance, inspection costs, transfer taxes, filing fees… read more…
- The Happiest Places in America – 2017 Edition
Happiness in the United States is the lowest it’s been in a decade, according to the 2017 World Happiness Report from the United Nations. Even so, the U.S. still ranked 14th on the list that considered 155 nations. But that’s on a country level, what about within the country? Which counties across the U.S. rank as… read more…
- The Best Cities For Working Women In Minnesota
When SmartAsset analyzed the best places for working women in the United States, Minnesota stood out as one of the best states. Many places in Minnesota had a high percentage of women in the workforce and those women were earning high incomes. For that reason, we decided to dive deeper into Minnesota data to see which cities… read more…
- The Best Housing Markets for Growth and Stability in 2017
Editor’s Note: This study was originally published in June 2017. Whether you’re buying a house for yourself or as an investment, one factor to consider is the long-term value of the home. Housing market growth is a way to determine… read more…
- The Best States for Homeowners in 2017
For many, a huge part of growing up and being successful includes owning a home of your own. Of course this is no easy feat since it often requires years and years of dedicated saving to make a down payment and continue paying for the home. But sometimes you don’t have to save quite as… read more…
- The Most Undervalued Cities in America – 2017 Edition
Many American cities are facing a housing supply crunch. Housing costs, especially in urban centers, are on the rise, and in cities like New York and Los Angeles large swaths of the population find themselves severely housing cost-burdened. People often want to live in places which offer the best value but when it comes to… read more…
- America’s Best State Fairs – 2017 Edition
Summer memories wouldn’t be complete for many Americans without tractor pulls, fried dough and live music with friends and family. Each year millions of attendees celebrate the end of summer and the start of fall with a trip to a state fair. Agriculture displays, horsemanship and classic car shows are just a few of the… read more…
- The Best Cities for New College Grads in 2017
For many, going away to college provides the chance to live a life without parental restrictions like curfews and allowances. But after those four years are up, an even bigger change lies ahead for new college grads. Unless you move back in with your parents, a life of buying your own groceries and paying rent… read more…
- The Best Places to Raise a Family in Texas
Texas is a large state with diverse regions. Whether you appreciate the beaches on the Gulf Coast, the rolling plains in the Panhandle or vibrant cities like Austin or Dallas, Texas has something for everyone. But what are the best places in Texas for those looking to settle down and raise a family? Below, SmartAsset… read more…
- What to Know About Buying a Condo
Condominiums can provide a stable, amenity-induced living experience at an affordable cost. For a number of people and families, condos offer a better option than a traditional home. However, it’s important to understand what you’re getting into before you take the… read more…
- Should You Get a Joint Mortgage?
Buying a home is a huge financial step in anyone’s life. Luckily, you often won’t have to go through the process alone. Many people buy a home with a partner, whether a spouse, a sibling or even a business partner. When going through the mortgage process with another person, you have the option of choosing… read more…
- The True Cost of Building a House
Looking for a new home can be frustrating. It can be hard to find exactly what you want in a certain neighborhood or in any homes you’ve visited. At some point, you might have even thought about building your own… read more…
- What Is a Housing Bubble?
Some investors say that when the real estate market gets too big, it’s bound to fail. This market condition is commonly known as a “housing bubble” and it tends to happen when home prices rise beyond what homebuyers believe to… read more…
- Pros and Cons of Buying Turn Key Homes
In the long term, it’s often smarter to buy a home than rent one. You could capitalize on both, though, through a real estate investment. You can buy a home for the eventual returns and rent it out to cover the… read more…
- The Best Cities for Motorcycle Owners – 2017 Edition
With summer fast approaching, it’s time to break out the swimsuits and sunglasses. For many, the arrival of summer also means dusting off their Harley Davidson and taking it out for a spin. If you’re a motorcycle enthusiast, you’ll probably have a bike no matter where you live. But we figured some American cities are… read more…
- The Best Cities for Living the American Dream in 2017
The definition of the American Dream will vary depending on who you ask. For some, it means a white picket fence, a trimmed green lawn and 2.5 children. For others, it means achieving your own personal goals and dreams, regardless of your background. Certainly the American Dream includes success and living a fulfilling life, whatever your… read more…
- The Best Cities for Working Women in Ohio
In Ohio, there are more women between the ages of 20 and 64 participating in the workforce than there are men doing so. And recently, SmartAsset found that Ohio’s capital, Columbus, is one of the best cities for women in tech. With those facts in mind, we delved into the data to find the best… read more…
- The Best Cities to Live on a $55,000 Salary
The average American household earned $55,775 in 2015. That figure is up $2,000 from 2014 and $5,000 from 2011. With that number in mind, SmartAsset set out to answer the question of where are the best cities to live on a $55,000 salary? We looked at data on cost, livability factors and more. Read on to learn what… read more…
- The Best Places to Raise a Family in California
So you want to raise your kids in the Golden State. The question is where? Are you a NorCal person, with its plethora of tech jobs and high costs of living? Or would you rather settle down in sunny SoCal? SmartAsset considered several factors and crunched the numbers to find the best places to raise a family in California.… read more…