The Refined Mortgage Lending Company & Home Loan Lenders
As many states move to reopen businesses affected during COVID-19, itâs essential that building owners, managers and tenants follow safety guidelines to keep employees andâ¦
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Source: century21.com
Secured credit cards are great options for people who have no credit history, poor credit or need to rebuild their credit, but the benefits of a secured card are limited – offering minimal long-term value.
With a secured credit card, your credit limit is low, typically equal to a security deposit required by the card issuer. Plus, rewards are typically not available.
In the case of an unsecured card, a security deposit is not required. Instead of money being taken from a security deposit, the cardholder is extended a line of credit and charged interest and fees for balances that are paid late. Both secured and unsecured cards can be used to make purchases or build credit.
Nevertheless, with successful use of secured cards, your credit rating can be boosted by establishing positive payment history – paving the way to “graduate” to an unsecured card with the same bank. That can mean a higher credit line or limit, more perks and a chance to reap rewards. Plus, you can get the security deposit returned.
Discover it® Secured Credit Card
See related: How a secured card can help your score
request a higher credit limit.
Here’s a sampling of secured cards and what’s required to upgrade to an unsecured card:
| Secured card name | Graduation requirements |
| Discover it® Secured Credit Card | Account reviewed after at least 8 months of positive payment history |
| BankAmericard® Secured Credit Card | No official timeline, but reports indicate account may graduate at 12 months |
| Capital One Platinum Secured Credit Card | No official policy, but some users have reported success graduating after first year |
| Citi® Secured Mastercard® | Account is reviewed after 18 months (some report graduation at 12 months) |
While not all secured credit cards automatically review an account to graduate, you can often request that your issuer upgrade you to a different product. Typically, you will have the best luck with your assessment after six months to a year of paying on time.
By sticking with your card issuer and opting for a different card, you can elect something with better rewards, a higher credit line or a lower interest rate. Plus, in some cases, remaining with the same issuer means no application and no credit check – which means no impact on your credit score.
You are also free to find unsecured card offers from other issuers. Because your payment history from the secured card is reported to credit bureaus, you can be evaluated with this updated information. Good places to start are unsecured cards designed for those with poor credit or checking for prequalified offers to make sure you have a good chance of approval.
CreditCards.com, but you can still find a great card offer for yourself! Our CardMatch tool can help match you with prequalified offers and cards that align with your credit history – with no harm to your credit score. Get personalized offers from our partners in seconds.
Whether you are trying to graduate or apply for a new product, there are some basic steps everyone can follow to improve their credit score and boost their chances of being approved for an unsecured card.
For people with poor credit, secured credit cards can help you build your credit and establish a positive payment history.
Once your credit score improves, it will be possible to make the transition to an unsecured card, which can offer you better benefits, including lucrative rewards like cash back, miles and points. Being responsible with your payments and your credit score is the quickest way toward unlocking a better product.
Source: creditcards.com
The best way to build good credit is to use the credit you have wisely.
But if you’re an international student or a new immigrant to the country, qualifying for a credit card can be a challenge. This is because many card issuers require a Social Security number (SSN) on the application. If you don’t have one, you won’t qualify for those cards.
There is hope, however. Keep reading to find out how you might be able to get a card without that number.
The short answer is no.
Some credit card issuers will accept visa or passport information from applicants. Other card issuers will allow people to apply for a credit card with what is known as an Individual Taxpayer Identification Number (ITIN), which can be used to file income taxes. You can get an ITIN without an SSN.
SSNs are issued by the Social Security Administration to people born in the U.S. or are authorized to work in the country. New arrivals to the U.S. can apply for an SSN if they are approved to work in the country.
An ITIN is issued by the IRS and is used when people need to file their taxes. The number is given to nonresident and resident aliens and their spouses and dependents who can’t obtain an SSN but must still pay U.S. taxes. Nonresident aliens, for instance, might need an ITIN if they are engaged in trade or business transactions in the U.S. throughout the year since they need to file taxes on this income each year.
If you are an international student studying in the U.S., you can apply for an ITIN even if you are ineligible for an SSN. You’d do this if you are in the country on an F-1 visa (students in traditional academic programs) or an M-1 visa (students in vocational programs).
To get an ITIN, you must first complete IRS Form W-7, also known as the IRS Application for Individual Taxpayer Identification Number. You’ll need to provide documents that prove your foreign or alien status and true identity. You can submit this information by mail or in person at an IRS Taxpayer Assistance Center.
What you need to apply for a credit card depends on the issuer:
Newcomers to the country or international students who get an SSN or ITIN may still struggle to qualify for a traditional credit card. Without a credit history in the U.S., international students and new immigrants are starting from scratch. And unfortunately, your credit history in a different country doesn’t automatically transfer to the U.S.
Galina “Allie” Petrova, an attorney in Greensboro, North Carolina, says newcomers to the U.S. and international students without a credit history here should consider secured credit cards as a way to help build credit.
A secured card works much like a traditional unsecured credit card, with one notable difference. When you take out a secured credit card, you must provide a deposit to the bank or financial institution issuing your card. That deposit acts as your card’s credit limit. If you stop making your payments, the bank behind your card can pay itself back by drawing on this deposit.
“That really is the best option for newcomers to the country to build credit,” Petrova said. “A secured card is limited. Your credit limit will usually be smaller. But it is a good way to slowly build your credit.”
start building credit. They usually don’t require long credit history, so it’s easier to get approved.
Ty Stewart, CEO and president of Simple Life Insure in La Jolla, California, agrees that secured credit cards are often a good choice for immigrants. Since issuers have your deposit as insurance, they risk less when they approve you for a credit card.
“Criteria for these differ from traditional cards and often don’t require a long credit history,” Stewart says. “The model makes the approval rate on secured cards much higher.”
Andrew Latham, certified personal finance counselor and editor at SuperMoney.com, has firsthand experience navigating the U.S. credit system as an immigrant.
“It’s a Catch-22 situation,” he said. “You need credit to build your credit history, but you need a credit history to get credit.”
Latham didn’t qualify for any credit cards when he moved to the U.S. after spending most of his life in Spain and Nicaragua. He eventually applied for a secured credit card and qualified for one with a $200 line of credit. That wasn’t much spending power, but within six months, his credit score had risen enough to qualify for a no-frills unsecured card. After using this card to continue building his score, Latham chose a credit card with an expanded rewards program.
But there are still some options to build a credit history without a secured card. Credit cards like the Petal® 2 “Cash Back, No Fees” Visa® Credit Card are designed to help applicants with no credit history build one without a deposit. And you don’t need an SSN to qualify.
The Petal card is designed to help people build their credit history. It accepts applications from customers with permanent residence in the U.S., an SSN or an ITIN. You must also be at least 18 years old (or at least 19 if you live in Alabama or Nebraska).
“Petal was created to help people get access to a high-quality credit card even if they don’t have a credit score,” Jason Gross, Petal’s CEO and co-founder, said. “This includes those who’ve yet to build credit in the United States but who are otherwise creditworthy.”
Unlike most cards designed for credit building, the Petal 2 Card offers cash back rewards. Cardholders will immediately qualify for 1% cash back on eligible purchases. But as you develop a history of making on-time monthly payments, that cash back bonus will eventually reach up to 1.5% (after making 12 on-time monthly payments).
It is possible to get a credit card without an SSN, and you have different options depending on your situation. But whichever card you choose, it’s important to start building a credit history as soon as possible since it comprises 15% of your U.S. credit score.
Source: creditcards.com
Weâve been hearing about electric cars for a while, but it sometimes seems that the only people who buy them are either very into being energy efficient or very wealthy. But there are a lot of good reasons for you to consider buying an electric car. They are good for the environment, but they can also be good for your pocketbook. And who doesnât want to satisfy the demands of their conscience and their bank account at the same time?
Check out our cost of living calculator.
1. Electric cars help the U.S. with energy independence.
The United States spends about $300 billion importing oil into the country. Thatâs two-thirds of the U.S. trade deficit. Being dependent upon foreign oil leaves the United States more vulnerable to international problems and fluctuations in the supply of oil abroad.
2. Electric cars are more efficient.
With an electric car you never have to stop for gas. You can charge your electric car in your own garage overnight and be ready to travel wherever you want to go in the morning. In addition, you wonât be wasting any time or money buying snacks or pumping gas at the gas station.
3) Youâll likely save money.
Even though oil prices are the lowest theyâve been since 2008, electricity is still the less expensive option. Right now, if you purchase an electric car, recent data shows you will spend $3.74 worth of electricity to travel 100 miles. However, if you purchase a comparable car that uses gasoline, it will cost you about $13.36 to travel 100 miles. In addition, gas prices have a way of rising (or at least being unpredictable), so that journey of 100 miles can quickly get even more expensive for people with conventional cars.
4) You can get paid to buy an electric car .
Right now, the federal government offers a tax credit that can reduce the cost of a new electric car by up to $7,500. That can effectively eliminate the cost difference between a gasoline-powered car and an electric car. Sometimes it can even make the cost of buying a gasoline-powered car more than the cost of buying an electric car. However, the tax credit offer might not last forever, so you might want to buy an electric car sooner rather than later if thatâs an important factor for you.
Related Article: 3 Tips for Claiming the Energy Tax Credit
5) Theyâre Low Maintenance
With an electric car youâre not going to have to take your car to the mechanic as often. Although all cars may have problems, electric cars generally have lower maintenance costs than gasoline-based car. With an electric car youâll also spend less time worrying about how to get by while your car is in the shop, or waiting around at the garage for the maintenance to be performed.
Bottom Line
You donât have to be a hippie or a billionaire to opt for an electric car. There are advantages for anyone who takes relatively short car trips and has access to charging facilities.
Photo credit: ©iStock.com/Anna Bryukhanova, ©iStock.com/Drazen Lovric, ©iStock.com/stockvisual
The post 5 Reasons to Buy an Electric Car appeared first on SmartAsset Blog.
Source: smartasset.com
Source: century21.com
The content on this page is accurate as of the posting date; however, some of our partner offers may have expired. Please review our list of best credit cards, or use our CardMatch™ tool to find cards matched to your needs. Terms apply to the offers listed on this page.
The Chase Sapphire Reserve® is the premium travel credit card offered by the popular credit card issuer. This card comes with a hefty $550 annual fee, but it more than makes up for it if you take advantage of its large sign-up bonus, rewards and other travel perks.
Given the impressive rewards available with the Chase Sapphire Reserve, it’s no surprise that it’s not available to just anyone. Chase requires a certain credit score along with other qualifications to be approved. Keep reading to learn what credit score you’ll need to get the Chase Sapphire Reserve card and how to boost your score to qualify.
To qualify for the Chase Sapphire Reserve, you’ll need an excellent credit score. An excellent FICO score is considered anything 740 or higher.
But for this card, your credit score isn’t the only factor that Chase will consider. Chase has a well-known 5/24 rule that prevents someone from being approved for one of its cards if they have opened five or more credit cards within the past 24 months. Under the 5/24 rule, it doesn’t matter which issuer the card is from – any five credit cards will disqualify you.
In addition to your credit score and the 5/24 rule, Chase, like many issuers, generally considers your income and credit report data.
The Chase Sapphire Reserve is one of the most popular luxury credit cards on the market. It offers some incredible rewards and travel perks that can more than make up for its large annual fee.
The bad news is it’s only available to borrowers with excellent credit. However, if you’ve been in the good credit range — meaning a score between 670 and 739 — you can take a few steps to boost your score up into the excellent range.
If you have a good credit score, it likely means you’re already doing a lot of things right for your credit. Below are a few additional strategies to help you boost your score a little higher.
Credit utilization is an important factor in determining your credit score. It makes up 30% of your FICO score, and it’s best to keep your utilization ratio below 30%.
One of the most effective ways to reduce your credit utilization is to increase the amount of credit available to you. With most credit card companies, you can request a credit limit increase in your online account or by calling the issuer.
One of the best things you can do for your score is pay your full credit card balance each month. But if you’ve been making your payment on the due date each month, consider doing that a bit earlier.
Each month, credit card issuers report your card activity to the three credit bureaus. If your activity is reported before you’ve made your payment, then your credit report will show a balance, even if you don’t typically carry one past your due date. By paying your card off before your activity is reported to the credit bureaus, your credit report will show a lower balance and, therefore, lower credit utilization.
Becoming an authorized user on someone else’s credit score can provide a huge boost to your credit score. First, adding another credit card to your credit report increases the amount of credit available to you. And assuming there isn’t a large balance being carried on that card, you’ll see your credit utilization go down.
Another benefit of becoming an authorized user is that you’ll get credit for the payment history of that card. Assuming the primary cardholder has made all of their payments on time, those payments will benefit your credit score as well.
Staying on top of your credit situation is critical when it comes to boosting your credit score. Monitoring your credit will alert you right away if anything appears on your credit report that shouldn’t be there. Many credit monitoring services also give you insight into your credit and show you what factors on your credit report may be holding your score down.
If you currently have bad credit or fair credit, then applying for the Chase Sapphire Reserve may not be the best choice for a while. Work on improving your credit with responsible credit use, and over time you’ll see your score climb up. While not a flashy travel card, the Capital One QuicksilverOne Cash Rewards Credit Card is a rewards card that you can typically qualify for with fair credit. You can use this or a similar card to build your credit history and score.
Even with a credit score above 740, you may still be denied the Chase Sapphire Reserve card. Luckily, Chase – like most major card issuers – has a reconsideration line, meaning you can call 1-888-270-2127 and ask the representative to take another look at your application.
But in some cases, it may simply be that your credit score isn’t high enough or you don’t meet one of Chase’s other requirements, such as the 5/24 rule. In that case, spend a bit more time improving your credit score to increase your chances of being approved the next time around.
As is the case with many premium credit cards, Chase requires an excellent credit score to qualify for the Chase Sapphire Reserve card. Given all the benefits the card comes with, it’s probably worth the effort. But if your credit score hasn’t reached 740 or higher yet, then you may need to take some additional steps to boost your score to ensure your application is approved.
Editorial Disclaimer
The editorial content on this page is based solely on the objective assessment of our writers and is not driven by advertising dollars. It has not been provided or commissioned by the credit card issuers. However, we may receive compensation when you click on links to products from our partners.
Source: creditcards.com
The Chase Sapphire Preferred Card has long been a stalwart in the mid-tier category of cards, consisting of credit cards with annual fees around $100.
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For a long time, American Express had great premium cards (such as the American Express® Gold Card or the many varieties of the The Platinum Card® from American Express) but not a strong competitor to the Sapphire Preferred. When Amex announced a major overhaul to the American Express® Green Card* a few years back, with (positive!) adjustments to its benefits and bonuses, that changed.
However, the Chase Sapphire Preferred Card has recently received a boost in benefits. Check out how the cards currently stack up.
| Card |  Chase Sapphire Preferred Card |
 American Express Green Card |
| Rewards rate |
|
|
| Welcome bonus | 100,000 points if you spend $4,000 in first 3 months | 45,000 points if you spend $2,000 in first 6 months |
| Annual fee | $95 | $150 |
| More things to know |
|
|
The most valuable part of signing up for a new credit card is often its initial welcome bonus. Instead of only 1 or 2 points per dollar spent, the initial spend on a new card can often earn 10 or 20 points for each dollar spent toward earning the bonus.
That’s no different from the welcome bonuses on these two cards. Unfortunately, comparing the welcome offers on cards can be tricky, since credit card issuers often change them over time, or you may have access to different offers based on a prior relationship with the card issuer.
Still, we’ll take a look at the welcome bonuses of the Chase Sapphire Preferred versus American Express Green as of writing to compare which card comes out on top.
The current welcome bonus on the American Express Green card is 45,000 Membership Rewards points if you spend $2,000 in the first six months – and some individuals may see a 50,000 points welcome bonus targeted offer on Amex’s website.
For the Chase Sapphire Preferred, the current welcome offer is 100,000 Ultimate Rewards points if you spend $4,000 in the first three months (the highest the card has ever offered).
If you’re able to put $4,000 on the new card in the first three months, then the initial offer on the Sapphire Preferred is a clear winner. If your spending is lower, you might consider the lower spending requirement on the Amex Green card.
Like most Chase cards, the Sapphire Preferred is restricted by the Chase 5/24 rule, so if you’ve applied for five or more personal cards from any issuer in the past 24 months, you are unlikely to be approved for a new Sapphire Preferred card. In that case, the Amex Green card would have a huge edge for you.
American Express and Chase have competing points programs with their Membership Rewards and Ultimate Rewards systems. Ultimate Rewards and Membership Rewards are widely considered to be two of the top systems of points out there.
Both types of points currencies allow you to either use your points directly for travel or transfer to a variety of hotel and airline transfer partners.
When redeeming your points for paid travel, Chase has a clear advantage. With the Sapphire Preferred, your points are worth 1.25 cents per point, and if you additionally have a Chase Sapphire Reserve card, you can combine your points for free and redeem for 1.5 cents per point. Chase also allows you to pay yourself back for purchases in certain categories at the same 1.25 or 1.5 cents per point value.
With the American Express Green card, you can only use your points directly for travel at a rate of 1 cent per point on airfare or 0.7 cents for hotels, car rentals or cruises. The exception is if you also have The Business Platinum Card® from American Express, where you can pay for airfare at a rate of 1 cent per point but then get 35% of your points refunded to you (on up to 500,000 points per calendar year when booked through amextravel.com), making your points worth 1.54 cents per point.
American Express and Chase also feature a variety of transfer partners. Whether the American Express 20 transfer partners are better than Chase’s 13 transfer partners is a matter of opinion, depending on where you like to fly or stay.
See related: 6 worst ways to redeem your credit card rewards
The Chase Sapphire Preferred card ($95) and the American Express Green card ($150) have similar annual fees, and neither is waived the first year. Neither card charges foreign transaction fees.
Some of the best perks of the Chase Sapphire Preferred card are its trip delay and rental car insurance. You’ll also get a $50 hotel credit each year and a one-year complimentary membership to DoorDash DashPass.
On the Amex Green card side, helping to offset the slightly higher annual fee are a couple of potential statement credits:
See related: Best credit cards for international travel
The Chase Sapphire Preferred earns 5 points per dollar on travel booked through the Chase Ultimate Rewards travel (2 points per dollar on other travel purchases), 3 points per dollar on dining and 1 point per dollar on all other purchases. The Amex Green card has similar bonus categories, with 3 points per dollar on dining and travel and an additional 3 points per dollar on transit purchases.
The two cards will earn a similar amount for everyday spend, though the American Express Green card will earn more for people who have high transit spending or a high spending on travel booked directly with hotels or airlines. Whether that is enough to offset the higher sign-up bonus on the Sapphire Preferred card will depend on your particular spending patterns.
Depending on your travel and spending habits, these cards come out pretty similarly. Your choice between these may come down to which points ecosystem you prefer – Amex’ or Chase’s. If you’re still unsure which card is right for you, you can also check out other top travel credit cards to expand your search.
*All information about the American Express Green Card has been collected independently by CreditCards.com. The issuer did not provide the content, nor is it responsible for its accuracy.
Editorial Disclaimer
The editorial content on this page is based solely on the objective assessment of our writers and is not driven by advertising dollars. It has not been provided or commissioned by the credit card issuers. However, we may receive compensation when you click on links to products from our partners.
Source: creditcards.com
Two of Chase’s most popular credit cards, the Chase Freedom Flex℠ and the Chase Sapphire Preferred Card, have both earned high praise from savvy rewards hunters who like to squeeze as much value as possible from their spending.
Here we take a look at each card’s value and help you decide which is the best fit for you.
| Card | 
Chase Freedom Flex℠ |
Chase Sapphire Preferred Card |
| Rewards rate |
|
|
| Sign-up bonus | $200 when you spend $500 in the first three months | 100,000 points when you spend $4,000 in the first three months |
| Annual fee | $0 | $95 |
| Estimated yearly rewards value (for someone who spends $15,900 and maxes out the Freedom Flex rotating categories) | $493 | $376 |
| Card benefit highlights |
|
|
It depends on how you plan to use it.
The Chase Sapphire Preferred card is known as one of the best travel credit cards with one of the cushiest sign-up bonuses you can get without paying more than $100 on an annual fee. The card charges a yearly fee of $95 and offers 5 points per dollar on travel purchased through Chase Ultimate Rewards, 3 points per dollar on dining purchases and 2 points per dollar on all other travel purchases.
The Chase Freedom Flex card, by contrast, offers a wide array of bonus categories and no annual fee. Though it’s best known for its 5% cash back rate in everyday spending categories that rotate each quarter, such as gas and online shopping (upon enrollment, on up to $1,500 in spending per quarter, then 1%), it also offers 3% back on drugstore purchases. Like the Sapphire Preferred, the Freedom Flex also offers 5% on travel booked through the Chase Ultimate Rewards portal and 3% back on dining purchases.
While the Freedom Flex will likely be a better deal for many cardholders since it charges no annual fee and offers a wide range of rewards categories, there are still good reasons to consider the Sapphire Preferred, including its enormous sign-up bonus.
If you travel regularly and want to maximize your spending, consider applying for both credit cards. Chase lets you pool rewards from different card accounts, and you can get a higher point value when you redeem for travel through the Ultimate Rewards portal with the Sapphire Preferred. If you only have the Freedom Flex, you won’t be able to take advantage of Chase’s transfer partners, which is one way that you can really maximize the value you get from your points.
With the updates in mid-2021 to the Chase Sapphire Preferred, it now also comes with the 5 points per dollar on travel and 3 points per dollar on dining. Previously, those had been differentiators for the Freedom Flex. Additionally, if you now max out your bonus categories, the Freedom Flex earns an average rewards rate of 1.72 points per dollar across its bonus categories, compared to the Sapphire Preferred card’s average 2.1 points per dollar across its bonus categories.
One area where the Chase Freedom Flex shines is that it has a two-part sign-up bonus. In addition to getting $200 if you spend $500 in first three months, you’ll also get 5% cash back on grocery store purchases on up to $12,000 spent in the first year. That 5% back does not include purchases at Walmart or Target, but if you do your grocery shopping elsewhere, you have the chance to score a lot of points. If you max out your grocery spending to the tune of $1,000 per month, the Freedom Flex’s grocery bonus could get you 60,000 Ultimate Rewards points. That same grocery spending on the Sapphire Preferred would only get you 12,000 Ultimate Rewards points.
If you want more control over how you use your points, the Chase Sapphire Preferred is the clear winner. The Sapphire Preferred not only offers a huge sign-up bonus (worth multiple round-trip domestic flights), but also a more flexible transfer policy that lets you transfer points on a one-to-one basis to a number of Chase travel partners.
For example, frequent flyers of Southwest Airlines, British Airways, Air France, Korean Air, Singapore Airlines, United and Virgin Atlantic can apply their Sapphire Preferred points to their travel loyalty programs. Frequent guests of Marriott Bonvoy, IHG and Hyatt can do the same. And along with the Sapphire Preferred card’s 25% travel redemption bonus when you book through the Ultimate Rewards portal, the card features a long list of travel partners to which you can transfer points and get even higher point values.
For example, the 100,000-point sign-up bonus on the Chase Sapphire Preferred is worth around $1,250 when redeemed for travel through the Ultimate Rewards portal, but if you transferred to United at a 1:1 ratio, your points would be worth $1,520, as we value United miles at 1.52 cents each. You could get even more value transferring to Singapore Airlines ($2,360 at a point value of 2.36 points per dollar) or World of Hyatt ($2,000 at a point value of 2 points per dollar).
For heavy travelers, this perk alone can help make up for the card’s annual fee. You’ll still want to consider whether it makes the most sense to redeem points through the Chase Ultimate Rewards portal or by transferring to partners.
| Rewards on $5,000 annual air travel spend | |
|---|---|
| Travel booked through Chase Ultimate Rewards | Transferring points to World of Hyatt |
| $5,000 x 5 points x 1 cent average point value = $250 | $5,000 x 2 points x 2 cents average point value = $200 |
See related: How to calculate the value of Chase Ultimate Rewards points
The Chase Sapphire Preferred card also stands out because of its eye-popping sign-up bonus. New cardholders who spend at least $4,000 in the card’s first three months will receive 100,000 bonus points. Chase points are worth 1.25 cents when redeemed for travel through the Ultimate Rewards portal, making this bonus worth approximately $1,250. The Freedom Flex card, by contrast, offers a $200 bonus (20,000 Ultimate Rewards points, worth 1 cent each) after spending $500 in the first three months.
For cardholders who want to earn rewards on both travel spending and everyday expenses, such as dining, groceries, clothing and gas, the Chase Freedom Flex card is a clear winner. As long as cardholders don’t mind tracking the Chase cash back calendar and enrolling in rotating spending categories, they can earn a significant amount using their Freedom Flex card each time a purchase qualifies for a 5% bonus.
Let’s say, for example, that you average $300 per month on gas. If you use your Freedom Flex card to earn 5% cash back during a quarter that gas qualifies for a bonus and 1% cash back the rest of the year, you’ll earn $72 by the end of the year. By contrast, if you use a Sapphire Preferred card for the same purchases, you’ll earn around $45 worth of rewards on your gas purchases by the end of the year.
| Rewards earned on $300 monthly gas spend | |
|---|---|
| Chase Freedom Flex card | Chase Sapphire Preferred card |
| ($300 x 5% x 3 months) + ($300 x 1% x 9 months) = $72 | $300 x 1 point x 12 months x 1.26 cent average point value = $45 |
While the Chase Sapphire Preferred and Chase Freedom Flex rewards programs overlap when it comes to travel and dining, the cards can still make a great pairing if you want to maximize the value of your Ultimate Rewards points. You can use the Freedom Flex for much of your everyday spending and the quarterly bonus categories and save the Sapphire Preferred for one-off travel purchases outside of Chase’s portal.
Because Chase lets you pool your rewards from different accounts, you can transfer earnings from your Chase Freedom Flex card to your Sapphire Preferred card and buy travel through Chase Ultimate Rewards with a 25% bonus. You can also transfer your Freedom Flex points to other travel loyalty programs once you’ve transferred the points to the Sapphire Preferred card.
| Pairing the Chase Sapphire Preferred with the Chase Freedom Flex ($15,900 annual spend) | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Chase Freedom Flex card (with maxed-out 5% bonus categories) plus Chase Sapphire Preferred card |
Average rewards rate | Average point value | Rewards earned minus $95 annual fee |
|
1.68 points per dollar | 1.26 cents | $493 |
Chase Sapphire Reserve card instead could help you stretch your points even further: Ultimate Rewards points are worth 50% more when redeemed for travel through Chase’s travel portal when using the Sapphire Reserve.
Savvy card users will benefit the most from using both cards. But cardholders who want to stick to just one shouldn’t have much trouble squeezing value out of either card.
Unless you’re a heavy traveler, though, the Freedom Flex card has more to offer longtime cardholders – particularly since it doesn’t charge an annual fee. But the Sapphire Preferred card’s plush sign-up bonus and flexible redemption policy make it an ideal choice for cardholders who want to earn a free trip quickly.
See related: Sapphire Reserve vs. Sapphire Preferred, Freedom Flex vs. Freedom Unlimited
Editorial Disclaimer
The editorial content on this page is based solely on the objective assessment of our writers and is not driven by advertising dollars. It has not been provided or commissioned by the credit card issuers. However, we may receive compensation when you click on links to products from our partners.
Source: creditcards.com
The National Association of Realtors (NAR) has released new research on the conversion of hotels and motels into housing. While the study was spurred by a 37% drop in hotel occupancy rates driven by the pandemic, the findings have broader implications. Hotel conversions provide a means to simultaneously create renewed profitability and help address the national housing shortage.
Commercial members surveyed
A survey was sent to 75,000 commercial members of the NAR between February and March of 2021. 168 reported being engaged in the sale, leasing, development, property management or appraisal of converted hotels/motels between 2018 and 2020. Of the reported conversions:
Success stories
The report ends with five case studies detailing acquisition, zoning, renovations and expected final property values. For those interested in engaging in hotel/motel conversions, they’ll find an excellent road map in this report.
Source: century21.com
There’s no question that technology is making an impact on the construction industry – even though construction is an industry that’s been historically slow to embrace innovation. The reluctance to change and evolve is due to fragmentation in the industry. With so many small firms specializing in different aspects of the construction process, it’s a challenge to adopt seamless processes and adapt to new technologies.
But recent advances that increase the efficiency, flexibility and adaptability of many emerging construction technologies are making them more cost-effective for firms to adopt. Just a few of the new technologies in use today include modular construction (using free-standing, integrated modules that are manufactured off-site and then transported to a site for installation), geospatial technologies (used to visualize, measure and analyze Earth’s features) and wearable technologies (such as head-mounted displays).
There’s more on the horizon. Some emerging technologies in the construction industry include mass timber (an engineered wood product), construction robotics (using robots to build) and autonomous construction vehicles (equipment operated by a computer).
To read a NAIOP report about new construction technologies, click here.
Source: century21.com