Open a BMO Harris Premier™ Account online and get a $500 cash bonus when you have a total of at least $7,500 in qualifying direct deposits within the first 90 days of account opening. Expires 9/15. Conditions Apply.
The content related to the IHG One Rewards Premier Business Credit Card has been collected by Money Crashers and has not been reviewed or provided by the issuer of this card.
If your business activities regularly take you on the road, it makes sense to use a credit card that offers the most possible rewards towards a free night’s stay.
The IHG One Rewards Premier Business Credit Card does just that — earning as much as 26 points per $1 spent at IHG hotels across 18 brands, including Intercontinental, Crowne Plaza, and Holiday Inn. It also packs valuable non-rewards benefits that help you make the most of your hotel stays.
Intrigued? See what you can expect from the IHG One Rewards Premier Business card, and where it falls short.
What Is the IHG One Rewards Premier Business Credit Card?
Chase’s IHG One Rewards Premier Business Credit Card from Chase is a hotel credit card for small-business owners who frequently stay at IHG hotels and resorts.
The fun begins with an excellent sign-up bonus: Earn 140,000 bonus points after spending $3,000 on purchases in the first 3 months of account opening.
Moving forward, the IHG One Rewards Premier Business card earns a whopping 26 points per $1 spent on IHG hotels and resorts. This is broken down as follows:
10x points on eligible card spending
10x points for being an IHG One Rewards Member
6x points from your status as a Platinum Elite member — a key benefit of this card
The card also offers 5x points on eligible spending in several broad spending categories:
Travel
Dining, including eligible takeout and delivery
Gas stations
Social media advertising
Search engine advertising
Office supply stores
On all other purchases, you earn 3 points per $1 spent. You can redeem your points at eligible IHG hotels and resorts.
This card is quite helpful if you value elite status and free night stays. The card comes with automatic Platinum Elite status as long as you remain an IHG One Rewards Premier Business Cardmember. Platinum Elite benefits include promotional discounts on reward nights, guaranteed room availability with adequate advance booking, complimentary room upgrades where available, and early check-in where available.
There’s a $99 annual fee for this card but no foreign transaction fees.
What Sets the IHG One Rewards Premier Business Credit Card Apart?
This card has several features that set it apart from other hotel business credit cards.
Up to 26x points on eligible purchases. The IHG One Rewards Premier Business card earns a whopping 26 points per $1 spent on eligible purchases at IHG hotels and resorts. This is one of the highest rewards rates of any hotel credit card.
Excellent sign-up bonus. This card has one of the best sign-up bonuses in its category, even accounting for IHG One points’ lower redemption values.
Fourth night free on award redemptions. When you redeem your IHG One points for three consecutive award nights and book an extra night, you get that fourth night free. This can be used an unlimited number of times, which makes this benefit very valuable if you frequently stay four nights or longer at IHG properties.
IHG One Rewards Platinum Status. The card comes with complimentary Platinum Elite status in the IHG One Rewards program. Notable benefits include priority check-in, complimentary room upgrades (subject to availability), late check-out (also subject to availability), and 60% bonus points on eligible hotel and resort bookings.
Key Features of the IHG One Rewards Premier Business Credit Card
The IHG One Rewards Premier Business Credit Card has a high sign-up bonus, a very generous rewards program, and some clutch additional benefits for frequent business travelers.
Sign-Up Bonus
Earn 140,000 bonus points after spending $3,000 on purchases in the first 3 months of account opening.
Earning Rewards
This card earns a whopping 26x points on eligible spending at IHG hotels and resorts. That’s 10x points earned from the card itself, 10x earned as an IHG One Rewards member, and 6x points earned as a Platinum Elite statusholder.
The card also earns 5x points on travel, gas stations, social media and search engine advertising, office supply stores, and dining (including takeout and eligible delivery). On all other eligible purchases, it earns 3x points.
Redeeming Rewards
You can redeem your points at eligible IHG hotels and resorts, including Regent, Intercontinental, Kimpton, Even, Holiday Inn, Holiday Inn Express, Six Senses, Vignette, Hotel Indigo, Voco, Hualuxe, Crowne Plaza, Iberostar, Avid, Atwell Suites, Staybridge Suites, Holiday Inn Club Vacations and Candlewood Suites.
Anniversary Free Night & Fourth Night Free
Each account anniversary year, you earn one anniversary free night, with a current point redemption cap of 40,000 points. You can also use existing points from your IHG One Rewards account to redeem your anniversary night at hotels above the 40,000 point redemption level.
Separately but relatedly, you get the fourth night free when you redeem your points for three consecutive award nights and stay an additional night at the same property.
Spending Benefits
The IHG One Rewards Premier Business Credit Card is quite beneficial for businesses with higher spending requirements. There are three spending thresholds worth noting:
If you spend $20,000 in a calendar year, you earn a $100 statement credit and 10,000 bonus points.
If you spend $40,000 in a calendar year, you qualify for Diamond Elite Status, which includes free breakfast, through December 31st of the following year.
If you spend $60,000 in a calendar year, you earn an additional free night with a current point redemption cap of 40,000 points.
Important Fees
This card charges a balance transfer fee of $5 or 5% of the amount of each transaction, a cash advance fee of $15 or 5% of the amount of each transaction. There is a $40 late payment fee and a $40 return payment fee.
This $99 annual fee is not waived for the first year. There is no foreign transaction fee.
Additional Benefits
This card’s additional benefits include:
20% off when you purchase IHG One points with your card
Purchase protection on eligible items up to $10,000 per claim and $50,000 per account
Up to $50 in United TravelBank Cash each calendar year
Global Entry, TSA PreCheck, or NEXUS statement credit up to $100 every four years
Trip cancellation and interruption insurance, with reimbursement up to $1,500 per person and $6,000 per trip for prepaid, nonrefundable passenger fares on trips canceled or cut short due to sickness, severe weather, and other covered situations
Credit Required
This card requires good or better credit to qualify. If your FICO score is much below 700, or your personal credit history is limited, then you’ll likely have trouble being approved. However, this is pretty standard for a premium business travel credit card.
Pros & Cons
As with any rewards card, the IHG One Rewards Premier Business Credit Card has plenty of advantages and a few drawbacks.
Pros
This card is the complete package. It has a generous rewards program and plenty of benefits for stays at IHG hotels and resorts.
Earn 26x points on IHG hotel stays. Because this card comes with complimentary Platinum Elite status, it really pays to use it at IHG properties. It offers an extremely high rate of return that’s not matched by other hotel credit cards.
Receive a free night stay certificate each year. This card offers you a free night stay certificate each year on stays up to 40,000 points. In almost all instances, this certificate is worth much more than the card’s annual fee of $99.
Get instant Platinum Elite Status. Many hotel credit cards offer basic loyalty status with only a chance to earn higher levels after reaching a certain spending threshold. In contrast, the IHG One Rewards Premier Business Credit Card comes with Platinum Elite status as long as your account remains open and in good standing. That’s just below IHG’s top-tier Diamond Elite status.
Cons
The drawbacks of this card are really just things that you might find in other cards that this one lacks. It’s up to you to decide whether they’re deal-breakers.
No promotional financing offer. Some travel cards have 0% APR financing on new purchases, balance transfers, or both. This one doesn’t. This won’t be an issue for everyone, but it’s worth noting if you have high-interest business credit card debt already.
Cap on the value of the anniversary free night award. This card offers you a free night certificate each year, but caps its value at 40,000 points. That’s about enough for a mid-tier hotel in a mid-sized city, but excludes their most expensive properties. Thankfully, you can still apply this certificate to properties that require more points, and just redeem additional points to pay the difference.
IHG points aren’t worth as much as some other points. Just like visiting a country with a less valuable currency, it’s easy to misjudge the value of IHG points. These points are worth about a half a cent each, which is far below the value of World of Hyatt points or most airline miles. It’s not a big problem, but you shouldn’t get too excited to earn a lot of these points.
How the IHG One Rewards Premier Business Credit Card Stacks Up
This card’s closest competitor is probably the Marriott Bonvoy Business Card from American Express. Here’s how the two cards compare.
IHG One Rewards Premier Business Credit Card
Amex Marriott Bonvoy Business Card
Annual Fee
$99
$125
Sign-Up Bonus
Excellent
Very good
Rewards Rate
Up to 26x points
Up to 6x points
Foreign Transaction Fee
None
None
Credit Needed
Good or better
Good or better
Final Word
As with many hotel rewards cards, the IHG One Rewards Premier Business Credit Card is a great choice for small business owners who plan to stay at IHG properties. More so than most cards, this card treats you to a barrage of bonus points and plenty of nonrewards perks when you stay at IHG properties. And when you consider the free night certificate that you receive each year on your account anniversary, it’s clear this card’s benefits easily exceed its nominal cost.
The Verdict
Our rating
IHG One Rewards Premier Business Credit Card
The IHG One Rewards Premier Business Credit Card has a generous rewards program and boasts complimentary Platinum Elite status, which includes room upgrades, award night discounts and early check-ins. It’s a must for business travelers who regularly stay at IHG properties, and the $99 annual fee is more than fair in light of what you get.
Editorial Note:
The editorial content on this page is not provided by any bank, credit card issuer, airline, or hotel chain, and has not been reviewed, approved, or otherwise endorsed by any of these entities. Opinions expressed here are the author’s alone, not those of the bank, credit card issuer, airline, or hotel chain, and have not been reviewed, approved, or otherwise endorsed by any of these entities.
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Jason Steele is one of the nation’s leading experts in credit cards and travel rewards since 2008. Jason is also the founder and producer of CardCon, which is The Conference for Credit Card Media. Jason lives in Denver, Colorado where he enjoys bicycling, snowboarding and piloting small airplanes.
Editor’s note: This is a recurring post, regularly updated with new information and offers.
One of the best perks of the Marriott Bonvoy family of credit cards is the complimentary elite night credits you receive each year — ranging from 15 to 25 nights, depending on which card you have. For many years, this perk was limited to one set of credits per Bonvoy account, no matter how many credit cards you had. That changed in 2020, with Marriott enabling its members to earn up to 30 nights with both a small-business and a personal card.
In September 2022, this perk gained even more value, as cardholders can now earn up to 40 elite night credits annually through credit cards. That’s quite the head start for elite status each year.
If you’re still trying to figure out how best to take advantage of this policy, you’re not alone. Today we’ll review all the reasons why you can get more value out of having both a personal and small-business Marriott card.
Get 80% of the way to Platinum status and choice benefits
Since you can stack elite night credits, it’s definitely worthwhile to hold both a personal and business Marriott card if you’re eligible. Most Marriott credit card comes with 15 elite nights annually – including the no-annual-fee Marriott Bonvoy Bold Credit Card. However, the Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant® American Express® Card offers 25 elite night credits per year.
You may be wondering why this is relevant when several of the Marriott cards, along with The Platinum Card® from American Express, also offer Gold Elite status or the ability to earn higher status based on spending (enrollment is required). The big difference is that this automatic status doesn’t grant you the corresponding number of elite nights — so you still need to reach the normal qualification thresholds if you want to enjoy the program’s Choice Benefits or hit even higher tiers of status.
Related: The complete guide to earning Marriott elite status with credit cards
If you frequently stay at Marriott properties, you can stack these 15-25 elite night credits on top of your own travel to upgrade to the next elite tier faster.
When you stack credits between a personal and business card — like the Marriott Bonvoy Boundless Credit Card and the Marriott Bonvoy Business® American Express® Card — you’ll have 30 elite night credits at the beginning of each year. Reaching Platinum Elite status requires 50 nights per year, meaning you’re 60% of the way there already. You would need to stay just 20 additional nights (or earn the nights through credit card spending on the Boundless card) to reach the next tier.
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And once you’ve reached Platinum Elite status, the benefits can be incredibly valuable — including things like free breakfast and suite upgrades.
Related: Why I prefer Marriott Bonvoy premium cards
For those with the Amex Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant card, you now receive complimentary Platinum Elite status each year as a perk of the card. This will entitle you to benefits like room upgrades and free breakfast. However, you will not have the necessary credits (50 nights) to earn the annual choice benefit associated with Platinum status. This benefit allows you to choose from one of the following:
That said, the 25 elite night credits you earn on the Bonvoy Brilliant can be stacked with the 15 elite nights offered by the Bonvoy Business card, allowing cardholders to start each year with 40 elite night credits — like TPG director of content Nick Ewen, who hadn’t set foot in a Marriott property in 2023 when this screen shot was taken.
That’s 80% of what you need to earn your first Choice Benefit selection (at 50 nights). It’s also more than halfway to the 75 nights required for Titanium Elite status. Reaching Titanium unlocks another Choice Benefit along with added perks like the ability to be upgraded to standard suites at Ritz-Carlton properties.
Annual award nights
But why stop at two Marriott cards?
There are many reasons to have as many Marriott credit cards as you can get your hands on. This is because of the incredible value you can get out of the anniversary award night certificates. Both the Bonvoy Boundless and Bonvoy Business cards offer an anniversary reward night worth up to 35,000 points. However, the premium Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant® American Express® Card — with its $650 annual fee (see rates and fees) — now offers an annual award night worth up to 85,000 points per night.
TPG values Marriott points at 0.84 cents each, meaning 35,000 points are worth $294 — nearly triple the annual fee on those cards.
Still, depending on how you travel, you might be able to get an even higher return on these award nights. I’ve used mine at the Sheraton Grand Hyde Park in Sydney, where we were upgraded to a massive terrace suite during peak travel season, and at The St. Regis Beijing for a room that would have cost well over $300 per night.
With Marriott’s move to dynamic pricing, the ability to use these awards is less predictable than in the past. However, it’s still possible to redeem these awards for more than the cost of your credit card’s annual fee, meaning this one benefit alone can justify keeping your Marriott credit cards year after year.
Related: Ouch: It’s not just you, Marriott stays now cost more points
There are two exceptions here. The Marriott Bonvoy Bevy™ American Express® Card and Marriott Bonvoy Bountiful Card from Chase do not offer free night awards automatically each year. On both cards, you need to make $15,000 in purchases each year, then you will receive a free night award worth up to 50,000 points.
The information for the Marriott Bonvoy Bountiful Card has been collected independently by The Points Guy. The card details on this page have not been reviewed or provided by the card issuer.
Category bonuses
Aside from annual award nights and elite night credits, having a personal and business Marriott card can help you earn more points across several spending categories. All four Marriott cards earn 2 points per dollar on everyday spending and 6 points per dollar at hotels participating in the Marriott Bonvoy program (with the exception of the no-annual-fee Bonvoy Bold; see details below).
Related: Which Marriott Bonvoy credit card is right for you?
But it’s the extra bonus categories, most of which do not overlap, that can help you maximize your earnings:
So, if you’re a big Marriott fan and want to focus your earning strategy solely on Bonvoy points, you can have multiple cards and enjoy earning rates across several categories.
Related: Are you eligible for a new Marriott Bonvoy card? This chart tells you yes or no
Bottom line
Marriott has made it much easier to qualify for elite status by allowing customers who hold both a personal and business credit card to earn two sets of elite night credits each year. In fact, many TPG staffers kicked off 2023 with 40 elite night credits. When you add this to the annual award night certificates on these credit cards, it’s practically a no-brainer to hold both a personal and business card in your wallet.
Related: Who qualifies for a business credit card?
Despite some ups and downs over the years, I’m still convinced that there’s plenty of value to be had in the Marriott Bonvoy program if you know where to look. For me, a big part of that value comes from the multiple Marriott credit cards I keep in my wallet.
Apply here: Marriott Bonvoy Bevy American Express Card Apply here: Marriott Bonvoy Bold Credit Card Apply here: Marriott Bonvoy Boundless Credit Card Apply here: Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant American Express Card Apply here: Marriott Bonvoy Business American Express Card
For rates and fees of the Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant Amex, please click here.
Additional reporting by Ryan Wilcox, Chris Dong, Christina Ly and Ryan Smith.
Broker and LO Scorecards, Escrow Mgt., Homebuyer Products; How Many Borrowers are at Less Than 4 Percent?
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Broker and LO Scorecards, Escrow Mgt., Homebuyer Products; How Many Borrowers are at Less Than 4 Percent?
By: Rob Chrisman
Mon, Jul 10 2023, 10:05 AM
“The world is going to come to an end tonight at midnight. Tune in tomorrow to see if it did!” Sensationalist headlines or bad predictions are tiresome at best, misinformation at worst. There is actual news, however. For example, thank you to the Knowledge Coop’s Ken Perry who sent along the latest in the Matter of ICE and Black Knight. LOs and underwriters know that the Supreme Court overturned the Biden administration’s student-debt forgiveness plan which would have wiped off $430B in loans from the government’s books, and people who worked hard to pay off their debt cheered. Although there are already some alternatives that are in the making, this carries huge implications for inflation, consumer discretionary spending, and the distribution of wealth in the U.S. In other news, the latest update on inflation in the U.S. is this week with June’s Consumer Price Index report. Economists forecast headline inflation to fall to 3.0 percent from 4.0 percent in May and core inflation to be reported at 5.0 percent from 5.3 percent in May. A CPI surprise could reset expectations on the direction of the Federal Reserve. The market is pricing in a 90 percent probability that the Federal Reserve will raise rates by 25 basis points at the July 25-26 meeting. (Today’s podcast can be found here and this week’s is sponsored by SimpleNexus, the homeownership platform that unites the people, systems, and stages of the mortgage process into one seamless, end-to-end solution that spans engagement, origination, closing, incentive compensation, and business intelligence. Hear an interview with Stavvy’s Kosta Ligris on the benefits of Remote Online Authorization (RON) and advances from Ginnie Mae’s recently published All Participants Memorandum.)
Lender and Broker Software, Services, and Products
On Nov. 15, millions of fans endured what felt like “several bear attacks to purchase Taylor Swift Eras Tour tickets on Ticketmaster’s flailing website. Don’t let your customers suffer the same fate as Swifties as they try to purchase their ticket to homeownership. SimpleNexus, an nCino company, enables you to extend a modern mortgage experience with the convenience of a single-sign-on portal where homebuyers can manage their search listings, complete their mortgage application, and sign closing documents from anywhere. See how SimpleNexus can give your business a leg up with modern mortgage technology that elevates the borrower experience and enhances efficiency by scheduling a demo.
“At NexBank, we are committed to our clients’ success by offering highly competitive products and services in Wholesale and Correspondent Lending, Warehouse Lending, and Treasury Management including Escrow Deposit Management. NexBank’s business is focused on residential housing and driving growth through our TPO channels. Our teams have been built to serve the TPO market. We do not compete with our clients for retail originations or refinancing business and are dedicated to their growth and invested in their success. NexBank offers unique products and competitive rates, and exceptional client service is our mission. To ensure our clients’ experience is simple, fast, and efficient, we are excited to announce that we have hired two new account executives to our strong and experienced sales team: welcome Adelfo Emanuele and Wendy Papaj! To learn more, visit us at the NAMB National Annual Conference this September or contact us today. Member FDIC, Equal Housing Lender, NMLS 672886.”
Mortgage professionals in the market for new technology know that buying new solutions is only the start; it’s getting them implemented without missing a beat that’s critical. That’s why Black Knight held discovery sessions with dozens of lenders to see how they implement new solutions while keeping business disruptions to a minimum. Read Black Knight’s new blog ‘You’ve Selected the Tech – Here’s How You Avoid a Failure to Launch’ to see how 32 decision-makers at lending organizations of all sizes handle their deployments. You’ll learn the ways you can build your own strong rollout plan before implementation starts, and how your own employees can actually make deployment go smoother. Read the blog today, then talk to Black Knight when you’re ready for proven mortgage solutions with white-glove implementation.
Grow that Pipeline with LoanStream’s Summer Specials on Non-QM and Government. Includes Price Improvements on FHA, VA, Select Government loans. Plus, Specials for Non-QM includes Full Doc, Alt Doc and DSCR. Here for a limited time so don’t wait, contact your Account Executive for full details as restrictions apply, or visit here. Plus, MaxONE DPA programs are now available in Massachusetts! Finance up to 100 percent CLTV with 600 Min FICO. Contact your AE to learn more.
Roller coasters are usually a thrill, but the people stuck upside down for nearly 3 hours last week on a Wisconsin ride might disagree. Similarly, mortgage production volumes have had lenders on a roller coaster lately and it’s one we never wanted to be on in the first place. As production levels out, do you know how your recent performance compares to that of your peers? Find out right now with MMI’s monthly Mortgage Industry Benchmarks newsletter, which lets lenders and LOs compare their recent performance to their peers via production-based tiers. Are you on the same track as your competition or are you on a completely different ride? Sign up for MMI’s monthly newsletter to find out!
Is your focus to do more with less? A business intelligence solution should highlight where there are opportunities to incorporate efficiencies and reduce costs. The most forward-thinking industry leaders are turning to Richey May’s RM Analyze to learn what they need to know now more than ever: how to operate even leaner. It’s half the cost of a full-time employee, and you gain access to a strong bench of talent with a rich background in the mortgage industry and access to hundreds of reports, including real-time peer benchmarking data, in no time. With these insights you can make meaningful decisions for your business and do more than just survive. Learn how to operate leaner.
Learn the process that enables lenders to more than double their average AE monthly loan volume. Wholesale lenders need efficient broker account policies to ensure the success of their Account Executives. Managing a sales force responsible for engaging with tens of thousands of mortgage brokers while competing with larger and more technologically advanced competitors requires a sound and scalable process. OptifiNow’s Mortgage Broker Scorecard shows wholesale lenders how to build a highly efficient sales process that guides the right AE to call the right broker at the right time. Download the Mortgage Broker Scorecard for free today!
Current Temperature of Housing Prices and Residential Lending
Black Knight’s monthly Mortgage Monitor is out this morning. “The housing market showed clear signs of reheating in May, with the seasonally adjusted Black Knight Home Price Index hitting an all-time high. The fifth consecutive month of growth, May’s 0.7 percent M/M gain is equivalent to an annualized rate of 8.9 percent, despite the backward-looking year-over-year growth rate currently hovering at 0.1 percent. If the rate of growth we’ve seen over the past few months continues, annual growth would remain at or near 0 percent for just a short time before inflecting and trending sharply higher. Home price gains over the past five months have now completely reversed the declines the market experienced last fall. In fact, 27 of the 50 largest markets and the US have returned to their prior home price peaks or set new highs this spring. It all comes down to inventory, and for-sale listings have deteriorated in 95 percent of major U.S. markets this year, leading to some dramatic swings in home price trends.
“Meanwhile, more than 60 percent of existing mortgage holders (thus potential sellers) are sitting on first lien rates below 4 percent, with significant disincentive to list in this high priced, low inventory, high-rate environment. High rates and their impact on affordability are simultaneously doing a number on demand: the monthly P&I payment on the average home purchase hit an all-time high in May. And just this week, rising rates made this the least affordable housing market in 37 years. Here is the full report.”
Capital Markets
Friday, we digested the latest nonfarm payrolls report following hotter than expected private hiring data the previous day. The U.S. government report showed the economy created 209,000 jobs in June, well below expectations and the smallest increase since the end of 2020. The data was taken by some as a sign that the Federal Reserve’s interest rate hikes were finally starting to cool the labor market, but other details of the report such as stronger than forecast wage gains suggested the Fed may have reason to resume raising rates later this month.
Yes, the main headline to close last week was that U.S. job growth (+209k for June) was solid but came up short of expectations and well short of the estimate of 500k of new payrolls seen in Thursday’s ADP Employment Change report. While the pace of hiring has slowed, 2023’s average monthly job gains are currently at 287,167, which still outpaces all pre-pandemic years going back to 1997. The June employment report was the first employment report to come in below forecast over the last 15 months but stronger-than-expected wage growth for June is likely to keep the Fed on track to raise interest rates July 26.
Wage inflation is the Fed’s biggest concern, staying at a plateau for the past several months after declining in the second half of 2022, meaning there’s still some ways to go to get back to a level the Fed is comfortable with. June average hourly earnings were up 0.4 percent, meaning that over the last 12 months, average hourly earnings have risen 4.4 percent, versus 4.4 percent for the 12 months ending in May. Jobs growth may have slowed but remains too strong and wage pressures are still too strong to justify an extended Fed pause. Pre-pandemic, average hourly earnings were increasing at around 3.5 percent.
This week’s calendar contains plenty of market moving potential including the $90 billion mini-Refunding over Tuesday to Thursday, with updates on consumer prices for June (expected to rise 3.1 percent year over year), producer prices, and many Fed speakers scattered throughout the week. In addition, earnings get under way with JP Morgan, Citigroup, Wells Fargo, and State Street reporting on Friday.
Today’s calendar gets under way mid-day today with the non-market moving May Employment Trends Index and wholesale inventories and sales for May. The afternoon brings May consumer credit and remarks from San Francisco Fed President Daly, Cleveland Fed President Mester, and Atlanta Fed President Bostic. We begin the week with Agency MBS prices roughly unchanged from Friday night, the 10-year yielding 4.07 after closing last week at 4.05 percent, and the 2-year at 4.91.
Employment
“Equity Resources is an independent/ privately-owned mortgage banker that is proudly celebrating our 30th anniversary! Our longevity and continued success are quite simple; we listen to, invest in, and develop our team members! In a slower market, we cross-train our team, we do not lay them off. “Improving the lives of families” is our core purpose and this begins with all our team. While uncertainty and concern are running rampant in the mortgage markets, we are creating opportunities for our award-winning loan officer team! Equity Resources is actively seeking focused loan officers throughout our 19 footprint states. In addition, we are also seeking an account executive for our B2B division with a history of working with credit unions and community banks. If you are frustrated with the direction of your mortgage career and would like to have a conversation about “Why Equity”, please contact Tom Piecenski, EVP of Sales and Development, at 614.327.5353.”
“Calling all LOs looking to dominate in their local market? Look no further than PrimeLending! We believe that you, as a loan originator, know exactly what it takes to succeed in your community. That’s why we empower you to build your business your way. With over 400 loan programs, including 23 renovation loan products, we offer all the flexibility you need to impress your clients and business partners. And when it comes to our production leaders, they believe in giving you the space you need to excel. In fact, in our latest Great Place to Work employee survey, 97 percent of our team said that management trusts them to do an amazing job without looking over their shoulders. So, if you’re ready to take the reins and steer your own professional journey, get in touch with Nic Hartke to talk about joining the PrimeLending family. Get ready to soar towards a bright future!”
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“Where are you from?” It’s a common question when you meet someone new while traveling. And it’s an easy question for most people. But for me, it’s complicated if I want to give more details than “the United States.”
After all, my husband and I gave up our Austin, Texas, apartment in June 2017, sold or donated most of our belongings and then set out as digital nomads on July 2, 2017. So, excluding some extended time living with family early in the coronavirus pandemic, we’ve traveled full time while working remotely for the last six years.
In 2020, I wrote about my first three years as a digital nomad. But in this story, I’ll look back at the past six years. In doing so, I’ll discuss how I became a digital nomad, some of my travel statistics and how travel has changed for me during the past six years.
How I became a digital nomad
On a bus from Aguas Calientes to Machu Picchu in Peru in 2013, I first heard of a gap year or sabbatical year. I hadn’t gotten into points and miles yet, but my husband and I loved the idea of taking a year off to travel after I finished graduate school. Well, fast forward four years to 2017, when it was time to leave on our “gap year.” By this time, we were already working as writers in the award travel space.
So, we hit the road as digital nomads instead of taking a gap year. And we quickly fell in love with the freedom and flexibility of the lifestyle. I appreciate experiencing different cultures, landscapes, experiences and cuisines daily. And I’ve found that frequently visiting new destinations inspires me.
I also enjoy using the topics I write about — points, miles, credit cards and elite status — on a daily basis. We make award redemptions most weeks (and often multiple times a week), and we’re constantly traveling. So, I know many of the airline, hotel and credit card programs I write about from personal experience. And I’m personally invested when these programs change or devalue their rewards.
Points and miles certainly fuel some of our travel. But we also book paid flights and nights when it makes sense. After all, we only have a finite amount of points and miles, and we’ve found that paid partner-operated premium-cabin flights are often the best way to earn airline elite status.
Related: 6 ways award travel and elite status pair well with my digital nomad life
1,121,959 miles on 575 flights
Over the last six years, I’ve taken 575 flights on 62 airlines to 180 airports in 58 countries. I’ve taken so many flights in the last six years that my flight map is difficult to read.
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I flew 1,121,959 direct flight miles in the last six years, with an average flight distance of 1,951 miles (about the distance from Atlanta to Los Angeles). My longest flight was 9,532 miles, from New York to Singapore. And my shortest flight was just 11 miles from Tahiti to Moorea in French Polynesia.
But my most memorable flight was on Sri Lanka’s Cinnamon Air from Polgolla Reservoir Aerodrome (KDZ) to Koggala Airport (KCT) on a Cessna 208 amphibious caravan.
I frequently fly American Airlines and often use Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport (ATL) when visiting family. So, it’s not surprising that my three most frequent routes by flight segments are between American Airlines’ hubs and Atlanta. Here’s a look at my top 10 most frequent flight segments over the last six years:
New York’s LaGuardia Airport (LGA) to/from ATL: 15 flights
Dallas Fort Worth International Airport (DFW) to/from ATL: 11 flights
Charlotte Douglas International Airport (CLT) to/from ATL: 10 flights
Kuala Lumpur International Airport (KUL) to/from Kualanamu International Airport (KNO): 10 flights while I earned Malaysia Airlines Enrich Gold status in 2019
Los Angeles International Airport (LAX) to/from ATL: Nine flights
Las Vegas’ Harry Reid International Airport (LAS) to/from LAX: Eight flights
DFW to/from LGA: Six flights
London’s Heathrow Airport (LHR) to/from LAX: Six flights
Hong Kong International Airport (HKG) to/from Da Nang International Airport (DAD): Six flights booked during Cathay Pacific’s New Year’s deal in 2019
DFW to/from LAS: Five flights
And my loyalty to American Airlines AAdvantage and its Oneworld partners shows when you look at the airlines I flew most by flight segments:
American Airlines: 224 flights, including reviews of American’s A321T business class, 787-9 business class, 777-200 business class with B/E Aerospace Super Diamond seats, 787-8 Main Cabin Extra, 757-200 Main Cabin Extra and 757-200 business class
United Airlines: 31 flights, including reviews of United’s 787-8 economy class and 757-200 economy class
Southwest Airlines: 29 flights, including a review of Southwest’s 737-800 from Oakland, California, to Newark
Malaysia Airlines: 26 flights
Qatar Airways: 23 flights, including reviews of Qatar Qsuite on a 777-300ER and Qatar Qsuite on an A350-1000
Delta Air Lines: 22 flights, including when I was one of the first American tourists to fly to Italy on a COVID-19-tested flight
British Airways: 20 flights, including a review of British Airways’ A380 economy class
Cathay Pacific: 17 flights
Japan Airlines: 14 flights, including a review of Japan Airlines’ 777-300ER premium economy
Qantas: 12 flights
However, if you look at the airlines on which I flew the most mileage, the ranking is a bit different due to some mileage runs:
American Airlines: 404,296 miles
Cathay Pacific: 104,481 miles
Qatar Airways: 89,630 miles
British Airways: 53,357 miles
Delta Air Lines: 49,603 miles
United Airlines: 42,237 miles
Singapore Airlines: 36,176 miles, including a review of Singapore Airlines’ A350-900ULR premium economy
Japan Airlines: 33,756 miles
Air Canada: 30,792 miles
All Nippon Airways: 28,938 miles
I track all my flights in OpenFlights. So, although it’s relatively easy for me to gather statistics on my flights, I don’t have a simple way to determine the amount I paid in points and cash for my 575 flights during the last six years.
Related: The best credit cards for booking flights
1,103 nights in hotels
I’ve spent over half of the last six years living out of hotel rooms. In particular, I’ve spent 894 nights at 75 major hotel brands within the last six years. And I’ve spent 209 nights at other brands and independent hotels.
Here’s the breakdown of my stays by loyalty program and brand over the last six years, including notes about my favorite programs.
390 nights at 15 IHG brands
Holiday Inn Express: 120 nights
Holiday Inn: 66 nights
InterContinental Hotels & Resorts: 51 nights, including five nights at the InterContinental Hayman Island Resort in Australia, four nights at the InterContinental Phuket Resort in Thailand, four nights at the InterContinental Phu Quoc Long Beach Resort in Vietnam, three nights at the InterContinental Danang Sun Peninsula Resort in Vietnam, three nights at the InterContinental New York Times Square in New York and two nights at the InterContinental Fiji Golf Resort & Spa in Fiji
Candlewood Suites: 28 nights
Hotel Indigo: 26 nights, including five nights at the Hotel Indigo Austin Downtown-University in Texas and four nights at the Hotel Indigo Birmingham Five Points South – UAB in Alabama
Staybridge Suites: 22 nights
Crowne Plaza Hotels & Resorts: 19 nights, including three nights at the Crowne Plaza Beijing Wangfujing in China and three nights at the Crowne Plaza Times Square in New York
Holiday Inn Resort: 19 nights, including 10 nights at the Holiday Inn Resort Kandooma Maldives in the Maldives
Voco: 11 nights, including six nights at Voco Gold Coast in Australia
Regent: Nine nights
Kimpton Hotels & Restaurants: Eight nights
Six Senses: Six nights, including four nights at Six Senses Laamu in the Maldives and two nights at Six Senses Yao Noi in Thailand
Atwell Suites: Two nights at Atwell Suites Miami Brickell in Florida
Avid: Two nights at Avid hotel Oklahoma City — Quail Springs in Oklahoma
Even: One night
Over the last six years, I’ve stayed 161 paid nights at IHG properties for an average of $152 per night. The least I paid was $48 per night at the Holiday Inn Express Berlin — Alexanderplatz in Germany. And the most I paid was $1,564 per night during a review of the InterContinental Maldives Maamunagau Resort in the Maldives.
Meanwhile, we redeemed IHG points for 209 nights over the last six years, including 36 fourth-night-free rewards. On average, we redeemed 15,591 IHG points per night. We also redeemed 20 anniversary nights over the last six years, including at the InterContinental Bora Bora Resort & Thalasso Spa in French Polynesia and the Kimpton De Witt Amsterdam in the Netherlands.
You might wonder how we earned so many IHG points and anniversary nights. We maximize IHG promotions to earn points on stays. And we often buy points during IHG points sales with a 100% bonus when we can do so for 0.5 cents per point. As for the anniversary night certificates, we both have multiple IHG credit cards, so we’ve each earned two anniversary nights for most of the last six years.
We frequently stay at IHG One Rewards hotels and resorts due to the high value we often get when redeeming IHG points. But, with the launch of the new IHG One Rewards program last year, we are also getting good value from the annual lounge membership you can select through IHG’s Milestone Rewards program after staying 40 nights in a year.
Related: 9 budget strategies for getting the most out of your points and miles
209 nights at other brands and independent hotels
These days, we usually stay at major hotel brands to earn and use elite status perks and benefit from the consistency provided by these brands. But we often stayed at independent hotels when we first hit the road as digital nomads in 2017. And even now, we sometimes find ourselves in a destination without major hotel brands or where staying at a property outside our brand loyalties makes the most sense.
For example, we couldn’t pass up staying in a twin cell at YHA Fremantle Prison in Australia and a robot hotel in Japan. Likewise, staying within Addo Elephant and Kruger national parks in South Africa let us maximize our time seeing wildlife in these parks.
We often book these stays through online travel agencies since we don’t have to worry about missing out on elite status benefits and earnings while staying at properties outside our primary brands. For example, we’ll sometimes book through credit card portals to use credits, like the $50 hotel credit each account anniversary year on the Chase Sapphire Preferred Card. And we’ll occasionally book through American Express Fine Hotels + Resorts to snag extra perks and use the prepaid hotel credit we get each calendar year as a perk of The Platinum Card® from American Express. We’ll also sometimes use Rocketmiles to earn American Airlines miles and Loyalty Points on our stays.
On average, I paid $83 per night on these stays. But, my least expensive night was $18 per night for a private room with a shared bathroom at Stella Di Notte in Belgrade, Serbia. And my most expensive night was $235 per night at the RLJ Kendeja Resort & Villas in Liberia during PeaceJam.
203 nights at 21 Marriott brands
Over the last six years, I’ve stayed 140 paid nights at Marriott properties for an average of $121 per night. The least I paid was $44 per night at the Four Points by Sheraton Bogota in Colombia. And the most I paid was $350 per night during a review of the Waikoloa Beach Marriott Resort & Spa in Hawaii.
Meanwhile, we redeemed Marriott points for 49 nights over the last six years, including six fifth-night-free benefits. On average, we redeemed 16,167 points per night on Marriott award stays. We also redeemed 14 free night awards we earned through Marriott credit cards and promotions over the last six years.
Related: Here’s why you need both a personal and business Marriott Bonvoy credit card
115 nights at 6 Choice brands
Ascend Hotel Collection: 54 nights, including 28 nights at Emotions All Inclusive Puerto Plata in the Dominican Republic, nine nights at Gowanus Inn & Yard in New York (no longer bookable through Choice Hotels) and three nights at Bluegreen Vacations Fountains in Florida
Comfort: 37 nights, including 19 nights in Japan
Quality Inn: 13 nights
Cambria Hotels: Four nights
Rodeway Inn: Four nights
Clarion: Three nights
Over the last six years, I’ve stayed 34 paid nights at Choice Privileges properties for an average of $93 per night. The least I paid was $54 per night at the Comfort Hotel Airport CDG in France. And the most I paid was $239 per night at Cambria Hotel New York — Times Square in New York.
Meanwhile, we redeemed Choice points for 81 nights over the last six years. On average, we redeemed 9,531 Choice points per night. I’ve found I can get excellent value when redeeming Choice points for unique redemptions and for stays in Japan, Europe and destinations that typically feature high paid hotel rates. So, as with IHG, we often buy Choice points during sales or through Daily Getaways promotions.
87 nights at 11 Hyatt brands and partners
I didn’t stay much with World of Hyatt until the program offered reduced qualification requirements and double elite night credits in early 2021. I earned Globalist status in 2021 for far fewer nights than is usually required, but I’ve prioritized maintaining it due to the on-site perks it provides.
I’ve stayed 53 paid nights at Hyatt properties for an average of $139 per night over the last six years. The least I paid was $24 per night at the Excalibur Hotel & Casino in Las Vegas. And the most I paid was $353 per night at Hyatt House New York/Chelsea in New York.
Meanwhile, I redeemed Hyatt points for 27 free nights over the last six years. I’ve found some excellent Category 1 Hyatt hotels that provide wonderful value on award stays. So, it isn’t surprising that I’ve redeemed 5,563 points per night on average and just 3,500 points per night for nine nights. Additionally, I redeemed seven free night certificates that I earned through Hyatt credit cards, Hyatt Milestone Rewards and the Hyatt Brand Explorer promotion over the last six years.
40 nights at 10 Wyndham brands
Days Inn: 10 nights
Ramada: Nine nights
Ramada Encore: Five nights
Microtel: Five nights
Club Wyndham: Three nights
Super 8: Three nights
Viva Wyndham: Two nights at Viva Wyndham Azteca — All-Inclusive Resort in Mexico
Baymont: One night
Howard Johnson: One night
Travelodge: One night
Over the last six years, I’ve stayed 29 paid nights at Wyndham properties for an average of $103 per night. The least I paid was $48 per night at the Days Inn Guam-Tamuning in Guam. And the most I paid was $200 per night during a review of the Viva Wyndham Azteca — All-Inclusive Resort in Mexico.
Meanwhile, we redeemed Wyndham points for 11 nights over the last six years. On average, we redeemed 9,068 points per night on Wyndham award stays. And we love getting a 10% redemption discount when we redeem Wyndham points as a benefit of our Wyndham Rewards credit card, as this brings an award night that would typically cost 7,500 points down to just 6,750 points.
32 nights at 6 Hilton brands
Over the last six years, I’ve stayed 18 paid nights at Hilton properties for an average of $130 per night. The least I’ve paid was $58 per night at the Hilton Jaipur in India. And the most I paid was $168 per night at the Hilton Niseko Village in Japan.
Meanwhile, we redeemed Hilton points for eight nights over the last six years, including one fifth-night-free benefit. On average, we redeemed 46,250 points per night on Hilton award stays. We also redeemed six Hilton free night certificates that we earned through Hilton credit cards over the last six years for excellent value at the Conrad New York Midtown, the Conrad Maldives Rangali Island and the Hilton Maldives Amingiri Resort & Spa.
The average amount we redeemed per night with Hilton Honors is significantly higher than with other hotel loyalty programs. This, combined with my struggle to get more than TPG’s valuation (0.6 cents per point) when redeeming Hilton points, is why I don’t frequently stay at Hilton brands despite having Hilton Diamond status through a Hilton credit card.
19 nights at 4 Accor brands
Ibis: 12 nights
Mercure: Four nights
Grand Mercure: Two nights
Ibis Budget: One night
Over the last six years, I’ve stayed 19 nights at Accor properties for an average of $56 per night. The least I paid was $36 per night at the Ibis Muenchen City Nord in Germany. And the most I paid was $84 per night at the Ibis Madrid Alcobendas in Spain.
8 nights at 2 Best Western brands
Best Western: Six nights
Best Western Plus: Two nights
Over the last six years, I’ve stayed eight nights at Best Western properties for an average of $78 per night. The least I paid was $57 per night at the Best Western Amsterdam Airport Hotel in the Netherlands. And the most I paid was $147 per night at the Best Western Plus Mountain View Auburn Inn in Washington.
452 nights camping
When I became a digital nomad in 2017, I didn’t think there was any chance I’d camp 452 nights in the next six years. And even three years ago, I’d only spent three nights tent camping for a concert at The Gorge in Washington state and three nights in a rental RV doing a relocation from Las Vegas to Denver.
But, as it became apparent the coronavirus pandemic would affect international travel for more than just a few months, my husband and I tried out a six-night RV relocation rental in July 2020. Then in August 2020, we decided to buy the same RV model we’d relocated.
When we bought our Class C RV, we expected we’d sell it as soon as international travel to most destinations became relatively simple again. But, we discovered we enjoy working remotely from our RV while in the U.S. We’ve now spent 440 nights camping in our RV since buying it — 97 nights in 2020, 234 nights in 2021, 80 nights in 2022 and 29 nights so far in 2023.
Nineteen nights in our RV have been free at locations (like select Walmarts, select Cracker Barrels and businesses that participate in Harvest Hosts) that allow RVers to stay overnight upon asking permission. We’ve also spent 37 nights sleeping in the driveways of friends and family while visiting them.
But we usually find paid RV campsites with power and water. We’ve paid for campsites on 393 nights as follows:
171 nights at city and county campgrounds ($32 per night on average)
133 nights at U.S. Army Corps of Engineers campgrounds ($27 per night on average)
66 nights at state park campgrounds ($34 per night on average)
37 nights at private campgrounds ($52 per night on average)
Four nights at national park campgrounds ($48 per night on average)
On average, we’ve paid $33 per night for our RV campsites. The highest we paid was $104 per night at Orlando / Kissimmee KOA Holiday in Florida. And the least we paid was $17 per night at Shady Grove Campground in Cumming, Georgia, during a half-off promotion.
Related: The cheapest place to stay at Disney World is a tent — so I tried it
443 nights with family and friends
One aspect my husband and I appreciate about being digital nomads is seeing our family more than when we lived in one place. Here’s a breakdown of our nights with friends and family over the last six years:
July 2 to the end of 2017: 32 nights
2018: 90 nights
2019: 83 nights
2020: 167 nights
2021: 29 nights
2022: 27 nights
So far in 2023: 15 nights
We spent significant time with each of our parents in March through August of 2020 as much of the world locked down. However, the nights since August 2020 are lower than pre-pandemic since we now stay in our RV (either in the driveway or a nearby campground) while visiting most friends and family members.
Related: 43 real-world family travel tips that actually work
104 nights in transit
Over the past six years, I’ve spent 101 nights in flight or sleeping in airports. I typically avoid overnight flights, but sometimes overnight flights are unavoidable (and they’re enjoyable if I book a lie-flat seat or luck into a row to myself in economy).
If I have an overnight layover at an airport, I’ll book a hotel if the layover is long enough and I can find a modestly priced hotel on-site or with a free shuttle. But sometimes the layover is too short, or it just doesn’t make sense to get a hotel. In these cases, I’ll usually sleep in a lounge — ideally one with a sleeping area or at least lounge chairs — or in a Minute Suites (or a similar type of space) that participates in Priority Pass.
I’ve also spent three nights on trains, including two on the Amtrak Empire Builder from Portland, Oregon, to Chicago and one on a Trans-Mongolian train from Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia, to Hohhot, China. I thoroughly enjoyed both experiences, so it’s surprising that I haven’t taken any other overnight trains in the last six years. However, low-cost flights on many routes served by overnight trains often make flying a more convenient and less expensive alternative.
Related: 11 of the most scenic train rides on Earth
90 nights in vacation rentals
Vacation rentals are the accommodation of choice for many digital nomads, especially those who stay in each location for at least a month and appreciate having their own kitchen. And I spent 39 nights in vacation rentals in 2017 after becoming nomadic July 2.
However, one particularly bad Airbnb experience in 2018 and an increasing interest in hotel elite status caused me to switch most of my nights to hotels instead of vacation rentals. I stayed in vacation rentals for 17 nights in 2018 and 20 nights in 2019. I only stayed in one vacation rental each in 2020 (for three nights), 2021 (for two nights) and 2022 (for two nights). And so far, I’ve only stayed in one vacation rental (for seven nights) in 2023.
On average, I paid $53 per night for vacation rentals across my six years as a digital nomad. My least expensive vacation rental was $17 per night for a private studio apartment in Da Nang, Vietnam, that I booked through Airbnb. And my most expensive vacation rental was $129 per night for a waterfront apartment in Auckland, New Zealand, through Hotels.com.
I’ll still stay in vacation rentals when they’re my best option. But I generally prefer to stay at hotels for consistency and to earn and use my elite status perks.
Related: When a vacation rental makes more sense than a hotel
259 cities in 52 countries and territories
Finally, let’s talk about destinations. Over the last six years, I’ve visited 259 cities in 52 countries and territories. Here’s a look at the number of nights I stayed in each:
1,253 nights: United States of America (including 318 nights in hotels or vacation rentals)
88 nights: Germany
69 nights: Japan
56 nights: Australia
54 nights: South Africa (including 32 nights in or near South African national parks)
36 nights: Dominican Republic
27 nights: Maldives, Thailand
24 nights: Spain
22 nights: Hong Kong, Malaysia
21 nights: New Zealand, Serbia, Vietnam
20 nights: Canada, Colombia, Italy
19 nights: India
18 nights: Netherlands, United Arab Emirates
16 nights: Singapore
14 nights: Bahamas, French Polynesia, Indonesia
13 nights: Fiji, South Korea
11 nights: Brazil, Mongolia
10 nights: China
Nine nights: Bulgaria, England, France, Pakistan
Eight nights: Bosnia and Herzegovina, Latvia, Liberia, Mexico, Sri Lanka
Seven nights: Greece, Guam
Six nights: Turkey
Five nights: Belgium, Marshall Islands
Four nights: Sweden
Three nights: Argentina, Chile
Two nights: Panama
One night: Ethiopia, Finland, Ireland, Northern Mariana Islands, Taiwan
As you can see, I would have spent the most time in the U.S. even if the coronavirus pandemic hadn’t kept me in the country for much of 2020 and 2021. And interestingly, even my most visited country outside the U.S. (Germany) accounted for just 88 nights across the last six years.
I also visited 14 other countries and territories before becoming a digital nomad. So, although I’m not striving to visit every country in the world, I’ve visited 66 different countries and territories so far. My husband and I are trying to visit a few new-to-us countries each year while also returning to some of our favorite destinations like Germany, Japan, South Africa, Australia and Hong Kong.
Related: The 18 best places to travel in 2023
Bottom line
I feel incredibly thankful for the last six years I’ve spent as a digital nomad. I’ve grown significantly as a person and content creator while traveling full-time.
And I’ve had some amazing experiences, including swimming with manta rays in French Polynesia and the Maldives, watching a sea turtle dig a nest and lay her eggs on a Florida beach, staying at some awesome resorts (Six Senses Laamu, Six Senses Yao Noi and Alila Fort Bishangarh immediately come to mind), and overnighting in second-class hard bunks on a Trans-Mongolian train.
But it’s not these epic experiences that keep me on the road. After all, I could enjoy many of these experiences on vacation. Instead, the daily things like being surrounded by languages I don’t know, enjoying delicious local foods and exploring new cities and neighborhoods on foot keep me attached to the digital nomad lifestyle.
CHICAGO — Summer in Chicago means countless street markets and arts fests, outdoor concerts, parties at the park and so much more.
Whether you’re shopping local at Englewood Village Market, competing for prizes at a Pilsen street cleanup, admiring Japanese floral arrangements on display in the Southport Corridor or dancing the night away at a Shrek rave, there’s something for everyone this weekend.
Here’s a roundup of 18 things to do in Chicago this weekend:
10 a.m.-4 p.m. Sunday
On Catalpa Avenue between Clark Street and Ashland Avenue
This neighborhood resale market returns this weekend for the first of three summer events. Shop vintage clothing, decor, accessories, music and other items from more than 30 vendors, including Fad 2 Fresh, Field Mercantile and Ruby Baby Vintage. There will also be live music and potato-based pastries from Downstate Donuts. The market is pet-friendly and there is a $5 suggested donation for admission.
10 a.m.-9 p.m. Saturday, 10 a.m.-7 p.m. Saturday
Along West Waveland and North Southport avenues. See map here.
Browse artwork by some of the city’s best artists at this family-friendly art festival. There will be a variety of mediums on display, including oil, acrylic, watercolor, jewelry, sculpture, photography, wood, glass and more. Plus, kids can enjoy interactive games and activities. Find more information online.
Noon-10 p.m. Saturday
The Promontory, 5311 S. Lake Park Ave.
Since 2018, Passport Vibes has brought partygoers together for a festival all about Afrobeats. Groove to Afrobeat and African music from local and international DJs, enjoy food and retail vendors, play outdoor laser tag, enjoy photo installations and more.
10 a.m.-5 p.m. Saturday, 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Sunday
National Museum of Puerto Rican Arts and Culture, 3015 W. Division St.
Celebrate Puerto Rican art and culture at the 23rd annual Barrio Arts Festival with live musical performances by local Puerto Rican artists, family-friendly arts workshops, Puerto Rican delicacies, handmade crafts and more. Admission is free. Learn more and see the fest’s full schedule here.
Noon-6 p.m. Saturday and noon-4 p.m. Sunday
Southport Corridor, 3200-3900 N. Southport Ave.
The Japanese Culture Center, Lakeview Roscoe Village of Commerce and Japanese Arts Foundation are partnering to host a Japanese floral arrangement exhibition in the “unofficial Japantown of Chicago.” Stroll through the Southport Corridor this weekend and you will see Japanese art of flower arrangements, or ikebana, featured in over a dozen locations, including local restaurants and business storefront windows. Galleria Liqueurs, 3409 N. Southport Ave., will also be hosting free sakes tasting through the weekend. There will be an informational table to learn more about this free event near J. Crew, 3423 N. Southport Ave.
Noon-2 p.m. Saturday
Meeting House Tavern, 5025 N. Clark St.
Lighthouse Foundation, a Black, queer-led social justice organization serving Black LGBTQ+ people in the city, is celebrating its fourth anniversary with live music, drag performances and storytelling. Drinks will be available for purchase at Meeting House Tavern’s bar. Purchase your ticket for a donation of $35-100 online. Proceeds go toward supporting the work of Lighthouse’s flagship research project, the Black Queer Equity Index.
5-10 p.m. Friday, noon-10 p.m. Saturday and noon-9 p.m. Sunday
On Lincoln Avenue between Montrose and Wilson avenues
Enjoy live music, family fun, vendors, local restaurants and a craft beer showcase at this Lincoln Square summer festival. You can catch performances by artists from Chicago and beyond, like Lala Lala, Superchunk, Slow Pulp, Mucca Pazza, Disaster Kid and more. The street fest is easily accessible from the CTA Brown Line Western stop. There is a $20 suggested donation for families, $10 for adults and $5 for seniors and kids.
9 p.m. Saturday
House of Blues, 329 N. Dearborn St.
Party like you’re “Far Far Away” and dance through the night to your favorite Shrek tunes. Tickets are $22.50 to $37.50. Buy them online for a party of “ogre-sized fun.”
11 a.m.-5 p.m. Saturday
Independence Park, 3945 N. Springfield Ave.
A haven for art enthusiasts and shoppers, there will be more than 40 vendors at Summer Artisan Fest showcasing their handmade items at Irving Park’s Summer Artisan Fest. Shop jewelry, home decor, candles, baked goods and other one-of-a-kind items. Pets and all ages are welcome.
6-8 p.m. Friday
Kilbourn Park, 3501 N. Kilbourn Ave.
Pack a picnic and grab chairs and blankets for some free, family-friendly entertainment at the park. Enjoy the sounds of summer at this free-to-attend concert series.
2-6:30 p.m. Sunday
Picnic Grove 5 in the Dan Ryan Woods, 8700 S. Western Ave., near 85th Street and Western Avenue
Learn how to make your own zines — or handmade mini magazines — at this second annual Zine Camp. Connect with the city’s zine community, learn tips and tricks and more. This free event is hosted by Zine Club, a group that meets monthly to discuss zine-making, and sponsored by Quimby’s Bookstore, 1854 W. North Ave.
Noon-10 p.m. Saturday
Lincoln Abraham Park, 1800 N. Stockton Dr.
Celebrate electronic dance music with and dance to tunes spun by local DJs and producers in Lincoln Park this weekend. This is a free event hosted by a group called EDM Chicago is free. Donations are appreciated and will count towards a merch and ticket giveaway.
Noon-4 p.m. Sunday
Metropolitan Brewing, 3057 N. Rockwell St.
Chicago Vegan Test Kitchen and Ascend Cannabis are hosting a Vegan Summer Sesh this weekend with local plant-based chefs, cruelty-free artisans and mindful wellness alchemists. The event is open to all ages and pets are welcome. Admission is free with RSVP.
1-4 p.m. Sunday
Reva and David Logan Center for the Arts – Screening Room, 915 E. 60th St.
Kicking off this Sunday and running through August, the Logan Center for the Arts is hosting free film screenings of celebrating Black cinema, self-representation and freedom. Two summer screenings will be paired with selections from the South Side Home Movie Project, which archives home movie recordings from Chicago’s South Side to protect the neighborhood’s history and films. The “Screening Freedom” series draws from decades of Black film production and showcases works that reflect and enrich Black life, from blockbuster movies to intimate family records. RSVP for free online.
10 a.m.-2 p.m. Saturday
Englewood Village Plaza, 5822 S. Halsted St.
Shop fresh produce, food, goods from local farmers, Black businesses and more at this Saturday market. There will also be live music, fun for the family and a weekly rotation of programming, from art activations to health and wellness activities to community information sessions.
10 a.m.-3:30 p.m. Saturday
Reva and David Logan Center for the Arts, 915 E. 60th St.
Watch the documentary “What These Walls Won’t Hold,” hear from survivors of police torture, learn about COVID-19 in prison and more at this exploration into art, death and imprisonment. Find the full schedule and RSVP online.
10 a.m.-12:30 p.m. Saturday
Corner of 16th and Paulina streets
Help clean up 16h Street in Pilsen with Cleanup Club Chicago and Pilsen-based environmental justice group PERRO. There will also be “litter races” with prizes for those who want to compete. Grabbers, bags, water and some protective gloves will be provided during the event. Attendees are encouraged to bring a five-gallon bucket, gloves and sunscreen. Register for the cleanup online.
4-7 p.m. Saturday
Hops & Scotch, 720 S. Wells St.
Taste award-winning, premium Italian wines paired with Limoncello while supporting local, women-owned businesses. RSVP online.
PLUS: Four Picks from Our Partners At
7 p.m. Friday
Radius, 640 W. Cermak Rd.
Vibe to hip-hop and reggae this Friday with the Dirty Heads at Radius.
7 p.m. Friday-Sunday
Briar Street Theatre, 3133 N. Halsted St.
Come and experience this explosion of color and sound and hear the sounds of unique instruments that you can’t find anywhere else.
7 p.m. Sunday
Metro, 3730 N. Clark St.
The Oakland hip-hop group is celebrating 30 years of 93 Til Infinity this Sunday at Metro.
10 p.m. Friday
PRYSM, 1543 N. Kingsbury St.
Get ready to dance the night away with this wild mix of house and techno at PRYSM.
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Memorial Day is known as a great time to score deals on big-ticket items or to make any smaller purchases that you may have been putting off.
Many retailers will start discounting items the Friday before Memorial Day, so you’ll have a whole weekend to shop. Here are the best deals this year!
What’s Ahead:
Best all-around Memorial Day deals
Walmart – Save up to $1,000 on Samsung TVs; get discounts on patio and garden, toys, clothing, home improvement, pets, beauty, and more.
Amazon – The Memorial Day sale features summer savings deals from outdoor living, cooking, and barware to electronics and beauty.
Macy’s – Get 20%-60% off furniture, rugs, and mattresses, plus a free box spring or adjustable base with a qualifying purchase. Save 20% to 50% off select clothing styles, plus get an extra 20% off kids’ and baby clothes with the offer code CUTE.
JCPenney – The sale features up to 50% off mattresses, 40% off furniture, and up to 50% off home items, plus additional coupons on clothing, jewelry, and portraits.
Target – Save up to 25% on furniture, lighting, and home decor; save up to 20% on bedding and up to 15% on patio furniture, plus get free same-day shipping on orders over $75 through May 31.
Appliances
Find fantastic deals on large and small appliances, from refrigerators and washing machines to Roombas and coffee makers.
Lowe’s – Save up to $500 on qualifying appliances, plusfind Memorial Day deals on everything from small appliances and patio furniture to grills, tools, and home improvement. Get free local delivery on appliances when you spend a minimum of $299.
Best Buy – Save big on major appliances during the Memorial Day sale. Don’t forget to take advantage of the Price Match Guarantee.
Home Depot – Snag appliances up to 30% off, and find discounts on lawn equipment, power tools, home improvement items, and more during theMemorial Day savings event.
Mattresses
May is the best time to buy a new mattress. New models come out in the Spring which makes Memorial Day weekend sales the prime time for a mattress upgrade.
Avocado Green Mattress – Save $100 on green and vegan hybrid mattresses with the code HONOR through June 7.
Birch – Get $200 off, two free Eco-rest pillows, and free delivery with code MEMORIALDAY200.
Casper – Get 15% off mattresses, 10% off everything else, and 50% off final sale items.
Cocoon by Sealy – Save 35% off mattresses, plus free pillows and sheets during its biggest sale ever; the sale ends May 31.
DreamCloud – Get $200 off mattresses, plus $399 worth of accessories included; the sale ends May 30.
Haven – All mattresses are 50% off storewide, plus 30% off accessories.
Helix – Take up to $200 off mattresses, plus receive two free Dream pillows.
Mattress Firm – Take up to $500 off mattresses and receive a free adjustable base on a queen mattress purchase of $699 or more by using the code ELEVATE.
Nectar – Receive free pillows, sheets, and a mattress protector —a $399 value— with a mattress purchase.
Purple – Receiveup to $400 off a mattress, pillow, sheet, and mattress protector bundle.
Puffy – Get $300 off plus two free pillows with every purchase.
Serta – Save up to $1,000 off a mattress and base through June 7.
Tempur Pedic – Save up to $500 off select adjustable mattress sets.
Tuft & Needle – Save up to 20% sitewide through May 31.
Electronics and gaming
Aside from Black Friday, Memorial Day is one of the best times of the year to snag discounts on televisions, computers, smartwatches, games, and other electronic devices.
Dell – Get deals on PCs, laptops, monitors, and more during its summer sale event.
HP – Save up to 47% on select products, plus get limited-time deals daily.
Xbox – Get three months of an Xbox Game Pass subscription for $1.
Best Buy – Snag big-screen 4K TVs starting at $279; save up to $200 on Windows laptops.
Microsoft – Score a variety of discounts on a Surface, save up to $500 on select PCs, or cash in discounts on Xbox accessories.
Furniture, home decor, and improvement
If you’re looking to freshen up your home, now is the time to stock up on home goods, tools, and any remodeling supplies.
Overstock – Overstock’s Memorial Day Blowout Sale features up to 70% off thousands of items, plus free shipping on everything.
Pier 1 – Pier 1’s Memorial Day sale includes up to 50% off rugs, lighting, indoor and outdoor furniture, and home decor. Plus you can bundle a variety of candle fragrances for 15% off.
Wayfair – Snag deals up to 70% off during the Memorial Day clearance.
American Signature Furniture – Up to 20% off and 48 months of promotional financing.
Society6 – Their Memorial Day sale features 40% off wall art, 30% off home decor, and more.
Bed Bath & Beyond –Save up to 25% on outdoor furniture, decor, and kitchen appliances.
Ace Hardware –Discounts on lawn care and equipment, grills, patio furniture, and power tools through May 31.
Costco – Member-only savings include deals on patio furniture, mattresses, appliances, and electronics through June 13. Save an additional $150 when you buy two qualifying items for your home.
Clothing
Spring and summer clothing sales are upon us, and it’s the perfect time to give your closet a refresh. Find winter apparel on clearance and save on spring and summer fashions.
ModCloth –30% off sitewide, plus an extra 50% off sale items.
Nike – Get up to 40% off on markdown items.
Victoria’s Secret – Save 30% to 70% off more than 1,800 styles.
Old Navy –Save up to 50% off storewide with styles as low as $5.
Men’s Wearhouse – Get up to 85% off original prices.
Zappos – Save up to 30% off footwear, clothes, bags, and accessories.
Banana Republic – Receive an additional 50% off sale styles and 30% off regularly priced items.
Bloomingdale’s –Save 60%-70% off some clearance items plus save 30-50% off select clothing styles.
Outdoor
Prepare for a summer of fun by loading up on any outdoor equipment you might need.
Bass Pro Shops – Its outdoor sale runs from May 20 to June 2 and features discounts on tents, fishing gear, yard games, clothing, and camp furniture.
REI – Memorial Day coincides with its big anniversary sale. The deals include 30% off clothing, 50% off Nalgene water bottles, and 25% off select outdoor gear.
How to save more on Memorial Day
According to Consumer Reports, May is the best month to buy air conditioners, freezers, grills, mattresses, strollers, smartwatches, lawn equipment, and other home improvement and decor items.
The deals don’t stop at the Memorial Day sale. Many retailers will offer additional discounts on top of sale prices if you sign up for a rewards program, email updates, or a store credit card. You may also snag a promo if you’re a student or if it’s your first order.
Poke around to see if you can find any promotional offers and pay attention to any pop-up ads so you don’t miss an opportunity to save money on your purchase. Usually, a sales representative will ask you to sign up if you’re physically in a store, but you can ask during checkout if not. Some businesses may not let you combine coupons while others do. Either way, it’s worth a try to rack up savings.
Furthermore, big-name retailers like Best Buy offer a price match guarantee, so shop around to see if you can find a product cheaper elsewhere before you buy it. That way you know you’re getting the best deal around.
Summary
Memorial Day weekend is one of the best times of the year to go shopping. Just about every retailer will offer promotions, and you’ll score the deepest discounts on appliances, mattresses, and seasonal goods. Add more savings to your purchases by signing up for a rewards program or by taking advantage of price match guarantee promotions.
Chase is offering a bonus of 140,000 points after $3,000 in purchases within the first 3 months + $100 statement credit on purchases at IHG properties within the first year on the IHG premier card
Card Details
Annual fee of $99 (not waived the first year)
Card earns at the following rates:
26x points per $1 spent on IHG properties (10x from the card + 15x from status and club membership)
5x points per dollar spent on travel, dining & gas
3x points per $1 spent on all other purchases
Free night certificate on card anniversary (worth 40,000 toward a stay)
Automatic Platinum elite status
Fourth Reward Night Free on any stay of 4 or more nights
20% discount when purchasing points
Global Entry or TSA PreCheck fee credit
Earn a $100 statement credit and 10,000 bonus points once you spend $20,000 in a calendar year.
When you spend $40,000 in a calendar year, you will qualify for Diamond Elite Status through December 31st of the following year.
Receive up to $50 United TravelBank Cash each calendar year after registering your IHG Rewards Premier Credit Card with your MileagePlus account.
This product is available to you if you do not have a current IHG® Rewards Credit Card (any IHG personal card) and have not received a new Cardmember bonus within the last 24 months (onany IHG personal card). This restriction does not apply to Business Card Credit Card products.
Chase 5/24 rule applies to this card
Our Verdict
Best bonus was 175,000 points, this is 35,000 less but comes with the $100 statement credit. We have also seen 140,000 points + free night certificate. I think those were better offers than this, but some might prefer this offer.
Protective Life Insurance Company has a great record or working with its clients and can offer some of the best term life insurance rates available.
If you have ever shopped for life insurance, then you are probably well aware that there are several important variables that you should keep in mind when determining how and where to purchase your coverage.
First, at the top of your list, should be knowing how much protection to obtain. This is because you will not want your loved ones or other survivors to fall short when it comes to proceeds. For example, if your beneficiary (or beneficiaries) will need a certain amount to pay for final expenses or other specific debts, then it will be important to purchase at least that amount of coverage.
But equally as important, though, will be ensuring that the life insurance company through which you purchase the protection is strong and stable from a financial standpoint. This is because you will want to know that the company will be there to make good on its promise if or when the time comes for the policy’s beneficiary to file a claim. One insurer that has been positive when it comes to paying out its policyholder claims for many years running is Protective Life Insurance Company.
The History of Protective Life Insurance Company
Protective Life Insurance Company has been in the business of offering life insurance coverage for nearly 110 years. In the year 1907, the company’s founder, Governor William Dorsey Jelks started the insurer, just as President Theodore Roosevelt started his 7th year as a United States President.
Just a short two years later, in 1909, Protective Life Insurance Company paid out its very first death benefit claim – and the company has been faithfully doing so ever since. By the year 1932, after just 25 years in the business, Protective had more than $65 million of insurance in force. And, by the time the company was in business for 50 years, it had nearly $1 billion.
Throughout the years, the company has grown and expanded. In part, it has done so by acquiring other insurers. For instance, in 1997, Protective acquired West Coast Life, which helped in solidifying the insurer’s national presence. And, in 2006, Protective acquired Chase Insurance Group.
By 2007, the insurance carrier’s 100th anniversary, it had more than $252 billion of insurance coverage in force. In 2015, the company became a wholly owned subsidiary of The Dai-ichi Life Insurance Company, Ltd. Protective Life Insurance Company was, and still is, headquartered in Birmingham, Alabama.
Protective Life Insurance Company Review
Protective Life Insurance Company is known for serving its customers first. Based on testimonials, the firm is known for being flexible, as well as for providing dedicated service. Also, it is also very involved in the communities in which it serves.
The company provides a learning center directly on its website. This can help consumers to learn more about life insurance and how much protection that they may need, based on their specific situation.@media(min-width:0px)#div-gpt-ad-goodfinancialcents_com-banner-1-0-asloadedmax-width:580px!important;max-height:400px!important
Protective also offers a claims center on its website, as well. Here, claims can be filed directly online. Forms can be downloaded and sent in, and questions may be asked of customer service representatives.
Reps may be contacted in a number of different ways, including via a toll-free telephone line (during business hours), email, and an email form. Business hours for reporting a life insurance claim are Monday through Thursday between 8:00 a.m. and 5:00 p.m. Central time, and Friday between 8:00 a.m. and 3:00 p.m.
Additional information is also provided within the Protective Life Insurance Company online claims filing center, such as details regarding what to do when a loved one dies, and life insurance FAQ.@media(min-width:0px)#div-gpt-ad-goodfinancialcents_com-large-leaderboard-2-0-asloadedmax-width:300px!important;max-height:250px!important
Financial Strength and Ratings
Protective Life Insurance Company is considered to be a very strong and stable company from a financial standpoint. It also is well respected for paying out its policyholder claims. In 2015 alone, Protective paid out over 20,000 life insurance claims in the amount of approximately $1.9 billion. The average processing time on a life insurance claim at Protective Life Insurance Company was 6.22 days. For this reason, the company has been given high marks from the insurer ratings agencies. These ratings include the following:
A+ from A.M. Best (Superior) This is the second highest out of a possible 15 total ratings.
AA- from Standard & Poor’s (Very Strong) This is the fourth highest out of a possible 21 total ratings.
A from Fitch (Strong) This is the sixth highest out of a possible 22 total ratings.
A2 from Moody’s (Good) This is the sixth highest out of a possible 21 total ratings.
Although Protective Life Insurance Company is not BBB (Better Business Bureau) accredited, the BBB has provided Protective with the grade of A+. This is on an overall grade scale of A+ to F.
Over the past three years, Protective Life Insurance Company has closed a total of 39 complaints through the BBB. Of these, ten were closed over the past year. Of the 39 complaints that were closed during the past three years, 18 had to do with problems with the company’s products and / or services, 10 were concerning billing and / or collection issues, 3 were with regard to advertising and / or sales issues, another 3 were having to do with guarantee / warranty issues, and five had to do with other issues.
Life Insurance Products Offered Through Protective
Protective Life Insurance Company offers a wide variety of different life insurance policies to choose from. This can help its customers to gear coverage more towards their individual protection needs.
Policy types offered through Protective include the following:
Term Life Insurance
Term life insurance can provide level death benefit protection for a set amount of time. This type of life insurance doesn’t offer cash value build up, so it is often more affordable than a comparable amount of permanent insurance such as whole life or universal life coverage. Therefore, it can be a good option for those who want a nice amount of coverage, but who may not have a lot to spend in premium.
Protective Life Insurance Company offers term life insurance plans that range from 10 to 30 years in level death benefit protection.
Universal Life (UL) Insurance
Universal life insurance is a form of permanent life insurance coverage. This means that it provides both death benefit protection, as well as cash value build up. The cash value will grow tax-deferred, meaning that there is no tax due on the gain unless or until the time that it is withdrawn by the policyholder. This can allow the funds to grow and compound exponentially over time.
A universal life insurance policy can be more flexible than some other types of permanent coverage like whole life insurance. This is because the policyholder can choose – within limits – how much of their premium dollars will go towards the death benefit, and how much will go towards the cash component of the UL policy.
@media(min-width:0px)#div-gpt-ad-goodfinancialcents_com-leader-1-0-asloadedmax-width:728px!important;max-height:90px!importantThe Protective Life Insurance Company’s Custom Choice UL policy is a very affordable way to protect one’s family’s financial security if the unexpected were to occur. It offers low premiums for life, as well as a death benefit that is non-taxable (from income tax) to beneficiaries.
The premium rates can start as low as $7.32 per month – and, provided that the premium is paid, the coverage will remain in force for the remainder of the life of the insured. Also, the premium will also remain level for an extended period.
Protective Life Insurance Company also offers a survivor universal life insurance product. This could be a good option for someone who is married or part of a couple and has estate planning needs, such as helping beneficiaries to pay estate taxes and / or helping a loved one with special needs.
These types of policies are also often referred to as second-to-die or joint life insurance coverage. They cover two individuals under just one single life insurance policy – and because of that, they are often less costly than purchasing two single policies. The death benefit that is paid out will be free of income tax to the beneficiary (or beneficiaries), and the proceeds may be used for whatever needs the survivor or survivors may have.
Variable Life Insurance
Variable life insurance is another type of permanent life insurance coverage. With variable UL, there is also a death benefit and a cash value component. However, with this type of insurance coverage, there is additional flexibility with the investments that can be chosen in the cash component. For example, equities may be chosen, which can allow for additional growth. They can, however, also pose more risk. Therefore, it is important to be aware of this before getting into any variable life insurance product.
Overall, a variable universal life insurance policy will essentially combine the “core” benefit of life insurance coverage via an income tax-free death benefit, along with a great deal of flexibility for the policyholder / investor in terms of cash value / investment build up over time. It is important to note that there may also be additional fees with variable universal life insurance because of the investments that are included in the policy.
Other Coverage Products Offered
Protective Life Insurance Company also offers a Protect My Child life insurance policy. While most people do not want to ever think about the passing of a child, the truth is that sometimes accidents or illnesses do occur. In this case, the cost of final expenses and / or uncovered medical expenses can be paid through a life insurance policy on a child.
The Protect My Child policy offers coverage of between $10,000 and $100,000. Because the policy is a permanent life insurance policy, it will also have cash value build up. Therefore, the plan will have tax-deferred savings that may be used for future college costs, the down payment on a house, a wedding, or any other need down the road.
When the child turns age 18, the amount of the life insurance coverage will automatically double – at no additional premium cost. When purchasing the Protect My Child life insurance plan, premium rates can start as low as $6.37 per month. And, because the policy is permanent, the rate is locked in never to increase. This means that the child can keep this same premium rate throughout the lifetime of the policy.
How to Find the Best Premium Quotes on Life Insurance Coverage
When seeking the very best premium quotes on life insurance coverage, whether it is through Protective Life Insurance Company, Banner Life Insurance, or any other insurer, it is typically best to do so via an agency or a company that works with more than just one life insurer. This is so that you will be able to compare and contrast all of the options that are available to you, as well as the cost of each. This is not only true when seeking the best life insurance coverage but for when shopping for other forms of coverage as well such as the best auto insurance companies and rates.
We know that buying life insurance can be somewhat confusing, There are lots of details to keep in mind – and you want to be sure that you are getting the very best deal from the best insurer for your needs. We can help you in sorting it all out so that your coverage will best meet the protection requirements that you have. We can do it all without you having to meet in person with a life insurance agent. Just simply go online or give us a call. So, contact us today – we’re here to help.
If you live in California, you may have seen or heard commercials for Intelliloan, a mortgage company that boldly advertises its mortgage rates every chance they get.
Unlike many other mortgage lenders out there, who don’t even mention their interest rates or lender fees, Intelliloan puts it out there for everyone to see.
Of course, leading with your mortgage rates isn’t so easy, since they can change daily and quite significantly from month-to-month.
This might explain why Intelliloan is constantly updating the mortgage rates in its commercials – fortunately, they’ve been moving in the right direction lately, lower.
Intelliloan Fast Facts
Direct-to-consumer mortgage lender located in Costa Mesa, CA
Founded in 1993 by Darryl Preedge
Licensed to do business in 33 states nationwide
Specialize in low mortgage rates with no lender fees
Seem to do much of their business in their home state of California
First a little brief history on Intelliloan, which opened its doors back in 1993 in Downey, California.
It was founded by Darryl Preedge, who had worked for a lender for three years before venturing out to open his own mortgage shop.
The company started with just three employees, but has since grown into a national mortgage lender licensed to do business in 33 states.
At the moment, they don’t appear to lend in Alabama, Alaska, Hawaii, Indiana, Kansas, Kentucky, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, New York, North Carolina, Ohio, West Virginia, or Wyoming.
They seem to do most of their home loan lending on the West Coast, particularly in California.
Applying for a Mortgage with Intelliloan
Intelliloan is a direct-to-consumer mortgage lender, meaning you work with them online or by phone remotely.
They say it takes about 15 minutes to get your mortgage approval started. And that process begins by filling out a short lead form on their website.
From there, they’ll ask you to create an Intelliloan account and you’ll need to provide some basic contact information.
Then you’ll proceed to fill out a loan application with the help of a loan specialist.
Alternatively, you can use the chat/text feature on their website to begin, which allows you to speak to a specialist right away if you have questions.
Or you can simply call them up on the phone to get started.
It’s unclear if they offer a digital loan application after that point, but it appears to be pretty no-frills and direct.
They say they’re big on customer service and satisfaction, so hopefully that’s demonstrated in the loan process from start to finish.
Loan Types Offered by Intelliloan
Home purchase and mortgage refinance loans
Conforming loans backed by Fannie/Freddie
Government home loans including FHA loans and VA loans
Jumbo home loans up to $3 million loan amounts
Reverse mortgages for those 62 and older
Fixed-rate options: 30-year fixed and 15-year fixed
ARM options: 5/1, 7/1, and 10/1 ARMs
Intelliloan offers all the typical stuff you’d expect from a mortgage lender, including home purchase financing and mortgage refinancing.
Their bread and butter is probably refinance loans since they offer super low mortgage rates, a key decider for those looking to refinance an existing home loan.
But they also offer home purchase financing on primary residences, second homes, and investment properties. And they’ll get you pre-approved so you can shop with confidence.
In terms of loan type, they offer conventional conforming loans backed by Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac, along with government home loans including FHA loans and VA loans.
They don’t appear to offer USDA loans, and it’s unclear if they offer construction or renovation loans.
It seems they are focused on straightforward vanilla stuff that isn’t too complicated, which allows them to close loans fast and offer low rates.
In fact, they mention in their fine print that they’re not currently accepting applications from self-employed borrowers, nor will they accept conforming loan amounts below $200,000.
However, they do offer jumbo loan financing with loan amounts as high as $3 million, and cash out as high as $500,000.
Additionally, aside from fixed-rate options, they offer adjustable-rate mortgages that are fixed for the first 5, 7, or 10 years.
And they’ve got ARM options for both FHA loans and VA loans.
Homeowners aged 62 and older can take advantage of their reverse mortgage offering as well.
Intelliloan Mortgage Rates
As noted, Intelliloan isn’t shy about advertising its mortgage rates. In fact, just about every advertisement I’ve seen from them features a mortgage rate and/or mortgage APR.
So they lead with their pricing, which is a good sign if the lowest price/rate is what you’re after when purchasing a home or refinancing an existing mortgage.
Right on their homepage you’ll see “today’s rates,” which at last glance looked pretty darn good.
For example, on the day of this post they were offering a 30-year fixed at 2.325% (2.49% APR) and 15-year fixed at 1.75% (1.99% APR). Yes, that low.
The assumptions were a $300,000 loan amount a single family, owner-occupied property in the state of California. Minimum 740 FICO and 60% loan to value (LTV).
If you don’t fit all those criteria, expect a higher mortgage rate. But still, those advertised rates look pretty enticing.
They advertised similarly low rates for high-cost conforming loans and FHA/VA loans.
Intelliloan Rate Protection Promise
Intelliloan also offers a Rate Protection Promise that provides up to three years of so-called mortgage rate protection.
Simply put, if fixed interest rates fall below your current fixed rate on a previously closed Intelliloan mortgage, you can refinance to that lower fixed rate on a 15- or 30-year mortgage.
This can be exercised at any time after the first 100 days from loan closing up until the third anniversary of the loan closing.
You won’t have to pay any non-recurring closing costs (e.g. lender fees, appraisal fee, credit report fee, escrow, title, recording, notary, courier, etc.), but you will be responsible for any recurring closing costs such as prepaid interest, property taxes, insurance premiums, HOA dues, and so on.
Basically, it’s a no cost refinance if fixed mortgage rates happen to fall significantly in the three years that follow your original transaction with Intelliloan.
Of course, you can always shop around with other lenders, and may find that another can beat them on rate and offer it without closing costs.
Either way, you need to re-qualify for the loan, so it’s not totally automatic, it’s just a discounted refinance.
Intelliloan Reviews
On LendingTree, they have a 4.9-star rating out of 5 based on more than 500 reviews, with a 98% recommendation rating.
On Google, they’ve got nearly 200 reviews and a 4.5-star rating out of 5, which is obviously very good. Most former customers seem to be very happy with their service and rates.
On Yelp, they’ve got a 4.5-star rating based on about 200 reviews as well. It appears most of their customers refinanced an existing mortgage, which seems to be their top offering.
Similarly, they have an excellent 4.93-star rating out of 5 on the Better Business Bureau website based on over 200 reviews, which is pretty unheard of.
Usually, customers head over to the BBB to complain about a company, but that doesn’t appear to be the case here.
They are an accredited business with the BBB since 1999, but only have a B+ rating at the moment thanks to 13 complaints filed against the business.
All in all, they appear to be a mortgage lender focused on offering the lowest rates possible to borrowers who have fairly straightforward loan scenarios. If that’s you, they might be able to offer you an excellent rate.
But if you’re self-employed or have a complicated loan scenario, they may not be the best fit.
Intelliloan Pros and Cons
The Good
Appear to offer very low mortgage rates with limited or no lender fees
Excellent reviews on several ratings sites
BBB accredited company since 1999
Offer most major home loan types
Can apply for a mortgage directly from their website
Intelliloan Rate Protection Promise allows you to refinance without lender fees
The Maybe Not Good
Not licensed in all 50 states
Do not offer USDA loans
May not offer construction/renovation financing or home equity loans/lines
May not be a good fit for those with complex loan scenarios
Pettola joins NAF from Envoy Mortgage, where he spent nearly nine years, most recently as director of national sales. Before Envoy, he was executive vice president of wholesale lending at Total Mortgage Services. “We are thrilled to welcome Andy to our company,” NAF president Christy Bunce said. “Throughout his career, he’s shown the ability to … [Read more…]