- The Best State Capitals to Live in for 2015
What’s your favorite state capital? Those who like sunshine might say Phoenix or Santa Fe. Mile High Denver might be the preferred choice of mountaineers and skiers, while sailors might love Annapolis. College football fans, meanwhile, could favor Madison or Austin (depending on their allegiances). And, of course, it’s hard for anyone to argue against a week… read more…
- The True Cost of Living in Washington, D.C.
If you’re thinking about moving to the nation’s capital, you’re probably wondering whether you can afford to settle down there. Home prices in the District are notoriously high, but there’s more to the story than that. In fact, rent prices… read more…
- The Best Minor League Baseball Towns of 2015
Minor League Baseball continues to grow in popularity. In 2014 a record 42.4 million fans attended Minor League Baseball games across the country, an increase of more than 850,000 over 2013. To put that in perspective, the total attendance for the NFL’s 2014 season was about 17.6 million. This is SmartAsset’s second annual ranking of… read more…
- The Cost of Living in Las Vegas
Considering a move to Sin City? While it’s common to blow a bit of money on a fun-filled weekend in Las Vegas, anyone settling there for the long haul will want to follow a more sustainable spending plan. Having a solid… read more…
- The Cities with the Lowest Startup Costs – 2015 Edition
Starting a business isn’t cheap. One of the biggest challenges for most entrepreneurs is raising capital to fund the early stages of their company, before it has the customers and revenue to support itself. For this reason, founders often take out a small business loan or seek seed investments from angel investors to get things under way.… read more…
- The Best Cities for Children in 2015
Families move for a wide variety of reasons. In one U.S. Census Bureau survey of Americans who had recently relocated, roughly half of all respondents cited housing as the primary reason for their move, while 30% said they moved for family reasons and 20% moved for work-related reasons. This is the 2015 version of SmartAsset’s… read more…
- The True Cost of Living in Houston
Houston is home to 2.1 million people, according to the U.S. Census Bureau. That makes it the most populous city in Texas and fourth in the nation. This sprawling metropolis is named after Sam Houston, president of the former Republic… read more…
- The Top 10 Cities for Career Opportunities in 2015
As of July 2015, the unemployment rate in the United States had dipped below 5.3%, its lowest level since the spring of 2008. That’s great news for workers, who benefit from a tighter labor market in a number of ways. Naturally, it is easier for workers to find a job when unemployment is low. Low… read more…
- The Cost of Living in Atlanta
Atlanta combines small-town charm with the hustle and bustle of a big city. The city itself is home to just under half a million people, but the Atlanta Metropolitan Statistical Area (MSA) is home to 5.8 million Americans, and that… read more…
- The Best States for Homeowners in 2015
Housing policies at the state level can have a significant impact on homeowners. State regulations regarding taxes, insurance and mortgage lending affect home prices and the costs of ownership. Likewise, the economic conditions in a given state can have a profound impact on local housing markets. This is the 2015 version of SmartAsset’s study. Read… read more…
- The Cost of Living in San Diego
Life in a sunny city by the Pacific Ocean sounds pretty appealing to most people. If you’re considering moving to San Diego, you’re probably wondering whether you can afford to live in what’s officially nicknamed “America’s Finest City.” As far as… read more…
- The Top 10 Best American Cities to Work in Tech in 2015
It’s a good time to be a tech worker. Between 2013 and 2014, even as job and income growth in the rest of the economy was sluggish, overall employment in technology grew by 3.7% and average annual technology incomes increased by 2.4%. Today, there are 3.8 million tech jobs in the United States, paying an average of… read more…
- 3 Reasons to Pay a Broker’s Fee When Renting
When you’re on the hunt for a rental, it can be tempting to jump on a unit designated as a “no-fee” apartment. Who wants to pay extra money for a broker’s services? After all, you already have to worry about… read more…
- What Are HUD Loans?
HUD loans are part of a vast network of government programs designed to make homeownership a reality for low-income Americans with less than favorable credit. However, you have to meet certain requirements. We’ll tell you all you need to know… read more…
- Getting a Home Inspection
The home-buying process can seem long-winded, especially if you’ve never gone through it before. By the time you near the closing stage, you may want to skirt over any steps that aren’t required. Although it might not be mandatory, it’s… read more…
- What Is the True Cost of Living in Chicago?
Chicago: The Windy City. Famous for its architecture and its deep-dish pizza, it has a lot to offer visitors and residents alike. This top-five-largest city in the US is also known as the “Jewel of the Midwest.” But if you’re thinking… read more…
- The Top 10 Best Cities to be a Real Estate Agent in 2015
Although we are now several years beyond the housing crisis, the recovery in U.S. cities has been uneven. Low mortgage rates and strong economic fundamentals have spurred explosive growth in sales and construction in cities like Denver and Seattle. In other areas, however, the market is tepid and prices remain well below the highs they… read more…
- The Least-Stressed Cities in America in 2015
Feeling stressed out? You’re not the only one. A 2014 study by the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation and the Harvard School of Public Health found that half of all American adults dealt with a major stressful event over the prior year. And that doesn’t even consider the cumulative effect of the smaller daily stresses of… read more…
- What Is the True Cost of Living in Denver?
Nestled in the Rocky Mountains in the American West, Denver has a lot to offer. For skiers and other outdoor enthusiasts, Denver is a dream destination. And if you enjoy physical training and sports, working out at Denver’s mile-high elevation… read more…
- The Cities with the Highest (and Lowest) Real Minimum Wage – 2015 Edition
Over the past several years cities such as Seattle, San Francisco and Los Angeles have opted to enact their own minimum wage laws in lieu of increases at the state or federal level. Part of the logic behind these increases is that living costs in cities are higher, making it harder to survive on a… read more…
- What Is the True Cost of Living in Portland, Oregon?
Portland, Oregon is more than just microbreweries and food trucks. The City of Roses boasts a lively arts and cultural scene. Employment options in Portland include established companies like Boeing, Nike and Intel, in addition to a wealth of start-ups and boutiques.… read more…
- The Pros and Cons of a Piggyback Mortgage Loan
For many homebuyers, a conventional 30-year mortgage with a fixed rate makes the most sense. However, sometimes you want to buy a home and you won’t have the right circumstances to qualify. In certain situations, such as not having enough… read more…
- The Top 10 Cities for Healthcare Access and Home Affordability in 2015
Most people, when buying a home, will look not just at the house itself but at the block, the street, the neighborhood and the city. Are there parks nearby? How safe is the neighborhood? What is the commute like? Is there access to public transportation? And what about the schools? These are typical questions to… read more…
- The Pros and Cons of Prefab Homes
If you can’t find a house you want to buy you may be tempted to build your home yourself. In that case, you’ll need to choose between a stick-built house and a prefab home. Stick-built means your home is built… read more…
- All About Home Improvement Loans
So you’ve found yourself a home you can afford to buy. Nice work! But if the home you’ve purchased is an older home there’s probably plenty of work that needs to be done to turn it into a comfortable spot… read more…