Building your dream home in Texas is an exciting journey, but it comes with its unique set of considerations, shaped by the state’s diverse landscapes and dynamic climate. In this Redfin article, seasoned Texas builders offer invaluable tips for both native Texans and newcomers. These insights will help you navigate the Lone Star State’s home construction landscape.
Essential pre-build tips for your Texas home
1. Figure out your budget and financing before getting started
Managing your finances is a critical aspect of building a house in Texas. Before starting construction, establish a realistic budget that includes all aspects of the project, from land acquisition to finishing touches.
Building a spacious, energy-efficient home in the Dallas area may cost between $200 to $300 per square foot, depending on various factors. Research the current costs of materials and labor specific to that region to create an accurate budget. Consult with local banks or financial institutions to explore financing options, such as construction loans, which can provide you with the necessary funds to complete your project without draining your savings.
Keep in mind that unexpected expenses can arise during construction, so having a financial buffer of at least 10% of your budget is advisable to ensure your project stays on track.
2. Create a realistic construction timeline
Texas’ weather can be unpredictable, which may impact your construction timeline. Work closely with your builder to create a realistic project schedule that takes into account potential weather delays.
For instance, if you’re building a home in San Antonio, where hot summers and occasional heavy rainstorms are common, your construction timeline should factor in weather-related disruptions. Effective project management is essential to keep the construction process on track.
3. Make sure you understand Texas building codes and regulations
Before embarking on your home construction project, it’s essential to familiarize yourself with Texas’ building codes and regulations. These codes can vary from one municipality to another, so it’s crucial to research the specific requirements in your area.
For example, if you’re planning to build a home in Austin, you should be aware of the city’s unique land codes and permitting processes. Multiple layers of review and inspections from various city departments are common in Austin. You can typically find information about local building codes on your local government’s website or by contacting the relevant permitting authorities.
4. Thoroughly research contractors and builders before selecting one
“Texas is known for its flexible contractor laws”, shares contractor review site Bad Texas Contractors. “Unlike many states, it does not require general contractors to be licensed. To safeguard your project, thoroughly research your contractor. Seek references and word-of-mouth recommendations from local homeowners. Visit ongoing construction sites to identify reputable builders. Ensure that the contractor’s claims are verified and that they have a solid track record.”
5. Make sure your builder has local experience
Local home builder Carty Custom Builders, LLC shares, “Building in Austin, TX, requires expertise due to the city’s complex land codes and permitting processes. Engage a builder experienced in Austin’s unique requirements, such as multiple layers of review and inspections from various city departments. Navigating these hurdles is crucial for a positive home-building experience in the city.”
6. Verify builder’s associations and certifications
According to local realtors DFWMoves, “Texas may not require general contractors to be licensed, but reputable builders often belong to the Texas Association of Home Builders or local affiliates. Look for builders with certifications like Graduate Master Builder from recognized industry associations. Request a list of all homebuyer clients from the past three years for a comprehensive view of the builder’s track record.”
7. Choose your location carefully
“Picking the right location and homesite is paramount when building in Texas,” says Republic Grand Ranch, a land company today offering newly developed acreage for sale near Houston. “Opt for larger lots, ideal for single-story ranch-style homes that are popular in the region. Ensure the site is elevated and not prone to flooding or other weather-related issues. Maintain natural tree coverage for shade and privacy.”
8. Consider offsite construction for your Texas home
“Offsite construction is an ideal solution for building homes in Texas,” states home builders Champion Homes. “Constructing houses in a controlled factory environment shields materials and labor from extreme weather conditions. Select materials suitable for the region, such as engineered wood siding, to withstand Texas’ harsh heat and sunlight.”
Tips for the construction and design phase of your Texas home
9. Use finger-jointed studs for strength and stability
“Texas experiences significant humidity variations between seasons,” informs local family owned business Brookson Builders. “Finger-jointed studs, engineered for strength and stability, combat twisting and bowing caused by humidity changes. Using these studs minimizes common issues like bowed walls or drywall blemishes in Texas homes.”
10. Blend functionality with local charm
“In Texas, it’s crucial to merge functionality with the region’s distinct charm when constructing a custom luxury home,” recommends custom home builder CRV Homes. “Tailor your design to the site’s specific topography and climate. Use locally sourced materials like Texas limestone and native plants for landscaping. Incorporate features like wide eaves, verandas, and energy-efficient windows to combat the intense Texan sunshine and reduce energy consumption.”
11. Don’t overlook landscaping
Texas’ outdoor spaces are an integral part of the lifestyle, so don’t overlook the importance of landscaping and outdoor design. Work with a landscape architect to create outdoor living areas that complement your home and the local environment. Native plants, irrigation systems, and outdoor lighting can enhance the beauty and functionality of your property. Additionally, consider factors like outdoor kitchens, patios, and pool installations if they align with your lifestyle and budget.
12.Incorporate energy-efficient features
Texas’ climate can be harsh, with scorching summers and high-energy demands. Consider incorporating energy-efficient and sustainable features into your home’s design. This includes options like solar panels, high-efficiency HVAC systems, and smart home technologies. Investing in energy-efficient solutions not only reduces your environmental footprint but also saves you money on long-term utility bills.
13. Secure homeowners insurance home insurance
Texas is prone to extreme weather events, including hurricanes, floods, and tornadoes. It’s crucial to consider the insurance aspects of your new home. Research and consult with insurance providers in Texas to understand the types of coverage you may need, such as windstorm insurance, flood insurance, and homeowners’ insurance. Ensuring that you have appropriate coverage can provide peace of mind and financial security in the face of unforeseen natural disasters.
Ready to build a home in Texas?
Building a house in Texas is a rewarding venture, but it requires careful planning and collaboration with experienced professionals who understand the intricacies of the state’s construction landscape. By following these insights from Texas builders, you’ll be better prepared to embark on your home construction journey and turn your dream home into a reality.
You want to become a homeowner but aren’t sure how you’re going to save up for your down payment. Typically, you’re going to need at least 3% to 5% for a down payment for a conventional mortgage, or 20% on a loan that doesn’t require private mortgage insurance.
Fortunately, there are a number of methods you can use to stash away money for your future home. Here are some of the best ways to save for a house and get one step closer to your dream.
1. Creating a Budget
Living on a budget may not be easy, but in the long run it can help you save money to put toward a home purchase. Creating a budget to track where your money is going is a good first step in a house savings plan.
Some effective ways to do this are recording expenses in a spreadsheet or using a budgeting app to determine your spending practices and identify where changes can be made to meet your savings goal. 💡 Quick Tip: Want to save more, spend smarter? Let your bank manage the basics. It’s surprisingly easy, and secure, when you open an online bank account.
2. Using Cash Envelopes
The theory behind this method is that it may be harder to part with cash than it is to swipe a debit or credit card. The cash envelope budgeting method involves distributing cash each month (or pay period) into envelopes based on categories you establish. When you’re out of cash for each category, you stop spending.
3. Deleting Your Stored Cards
Do you store your payment information on Amazon or other e-commerce stores? If so, it’s time to consider deleting them from each store or from your browser settings. If you have to manually input your card each time you want to make a purchase, you may just stop spending so much money online.
4. Downsizing Your Life
Another one of the tips for saving for a house involves downsizing your life. This could mean moving to a smaller rental or to a more affordable area of town. Just keep in mind that there is always a flip side to downsizing. For instance, your smaller apartment may not include parking, so you might be taking on an expense you didn’t have before. Moving to a different part of town might mean spending more on transportation costs getting to work each day. It’s a good idea to weigh the pros and cons before making any big decisions.
5. Setting Up Automatic Transfers
Reaching your savings goals might happen faster by setting up automatic transfers from checking account to savings account each time you’re paid. If your paycheck is direct-deposited, you may also be able to split the deposit into more than one account, on a percentage or dollar-amount basis.
6. Postponing Vacation
This method can reap plenty of savings if your usual vacation is a costly one. Instead of taking a big trip, a staycation may be entertaining and less expensive. Check out your local newspaper’s website to find free activities and events in your area. Art museums sometimes offer free admission days, and area nature trails are generally free and can be a good way to have fun and get exercise in one fell swoop. Now is the time to be creative since you’re working on your house savings plan.
7. Tackling Your Debt
If you get 4.50% APY in your high-yield savings account, but you carry a credit card balance with an interest rate of 23.99%, it may make more sense to put your money towards your debt right now rather than savings.
8. Eating at Home
Dining out is expensive. The average American household spends more than $3,000 per year on eating out. By skipping the takeout and restaurants and cooking your meals at home, you can add that money to your house savings plan.
9. Making Your Own Coffee
It’s a cliche, but it’s true: If you skip the lattes, you could boost your savings. The average American spends $92 per month on coffee, which adds up to about $1,100 per year. Purchasing a coffee maker and brewing your own cup of joe as opposed to hitting up a coffee shop every day will likely improve your home savings plan.
10. Using Coupons at the Grocery Store
Looking for coupons for items you normally buy anyway can trim your grocery bill. Coupons can be found on coupon websites and on brands’ websites.
Recommended: Tips for Grocery Shopping on a Budget
11. Buying Things on Sale
Just because you want something doesn’t mean you need to have it right away. Waiting to buy things when they go on sale is another one of the best tips for saving for a house. Along with looking at stores’ advertised sales, you could always create a Google alert to find out when things go on sale by typing in your favorite stores’ names + sales on Google Alerts. 💡 Quick Tip: If you’re saving for a short-term goal — whether it’s a vacation, a wedding, or the down payment on a house — consider opening a high-yield savings account. The higher APY that you’ll earn will help your money grow faster, but the funds stay liquid, so they are easy to access when you reach your goal.
12. Using Promo Codes
Promo codes are like coupons for online purchases. Browser extensions that search the web for deals can bring those promo codes to you and save you precious search time and effort.
13. Cutting Out Cable
Cable television can be a major monthly expense for some households, sometimes hundreds of dollars every month. One of the best ways to save is to cut the cord, switch to streaming services, and potentially pay much less per month on your favorite entertainment by saving on streaming services.
14. Canceling Your Subscriptions
You may be spending money on monthly subscriptions without realizing how much. Canceling subscriptions to things like lifestyle boxes you aren’t using anymore or magazines you don’t read can add up to significant savings.
15. Making the Most of the Library
The local library is a fantastic resource. You can borrow books, magazines, and movies instead of buying them, and some libraries even offer access to free audiobooks. Libraries are funded by taxes, so you’re probably already contributing to this resource—there’s little reason to pay twice for items it provides as a public service.
16. Canceling Your Gym Membership
Gym memberships can be pricey, but exercise is not. Using free, online workout videos and things in your home as exercise equipment (e.g., stepping on your stairs, doing wall or table pushups, or using a chair for barre exercises), or walking around your neighborhood can save money over a gym membership.
17. Shopping Around for Insurance
You may be overpaying for insurance. Comparing rates and getting different quotes for your car, renter’s, pet, health, and other types of insurance can ensure you’re getting the best deal possible.
18. Steering Clear of Checking Account Fees
Is your bank charging you a monthly maintenance fee just to keep your account open? If so, it might be worth looking into switching banks or asking your bank how you can avoid these fees. For example, if you have a direct deposit into the account or maintain a minimum daily account balance, you may be eligible for a fee-free account.
19. Selling Your Stuff
Do you have things you never use anymore? Could they fetch some cash? Holding a garage sale or selling your stuff online might net a few dollars to add to your house savings plan. You’ll probably want to buy new things for your new home anyway, and selling your old things will allow you to save up.
20. Asking Your Boss for a Raise
During your annual performance review, consider asking for a raise, highlighting your accomplishments and why you deserve more money. Be specific about improvements you’ve made to the company by backing up your accomplishments with data.
21. Switching to a Better Job
If you aren’t making enough money in your current position, then consider switching to a higher-paying job. It’s a good idea to keep your current job until you find a new one, though.
22. Taking on a Side Hustle
If you have the time and energy, earning extra money on nights and weekends with a side hustle might be an option. For instance, you could start a dropshipping business, take up freelancing, or do affiliate marketing.
23. Signing Up for a Travel Rewards Credit Card
If you need to travel or you are still planning a vacation, using a travel rewards credit card may be a good idea. These cards offer certain rewards for different categories such as travel, gas, and dining out, and allow you to put your rewards towards flights, hotels, rental cars, and more. Plus, many of them offer other ways to save, such as providing you with rental car and baggage delay insurance or no foreign transaction fees.
Recommended: Credit Card Rewards 101: Getting the Most Out of Your Credit Card
24. Getting a Cash Back Credit Card
With a cash-back credit card, you can earn cash rewards every time you spend. Putting that cash back toward a statement credit or bank transfer will help accelerate your savings.
25. Renting Your Spare Room
If you have an extra room in your apartment that you aren’t using, you could get a roommate or list it on a rental site to reduce your overall living expenses. Just make sure that you get permission from your landlord before inviting anyone else to move in.
26. Renting Out Your Storage Space
Another one of the best ways to save for a house is to rent out your unused storage space on a peer-to-peer site. You could generate income without having to do much work at all, and you won’t have to live with someone else—just their stuff.
27. Making Your House Savings Plan Known
Your Aunt Mildred may always get you boxes of chocolates for your birthday, and your dad might give you gift cards for Amazon. But letting your family and friends know you’re trying to save for a home might plant the seed for them to give you cash instead. If you’re getting married, this is a time to tell people about your plans so that instead of registry gifts, they might give you cash for your future home.
28. Opening a High-Yield Savings Account
Putting your money into a regular savings account may not result in much of a return. However, putting money in a high yield savings account may net more interest and get you closer to reaching your savings goals. A high-yield savings account typically offers 20 to 25 times the national average of a typical savings account.
29. Hiring an Accountant at Tax Time
If you’ve been doing your taxes on your own every year, you may have missed potential tax savings you might be eligible for. A tax professional may be able to maximize your savings, possibly resulting in a larger refund, or minimize taxes you owe.
30. Saving Your Tax Refund
If you get a tax refund, consider saving it instead of spending it. The money can be a nice addition to your down payment, possibly even earning interest in high-yield savings account until you need it.
31. Changing Your Tax Withholding
Among the best ways to save for a house is by keeping more money from your paycheck. If your withholding is too high, the IRS is essentially holding your money for you all year round. Instead of getting a large tax refund, keeping your money now and investing it in an interest-bearing account will help you save up for your home.
The Takeaway
Saving for a house takes some time and effort, but there are many different ways to do it. For instance, by eating out less, you could potentially save thousands of dollars a year. Launching a side hustle could increase your income. And opening a high-yield savings account, which typically offers considerably higher interest rates than a traditional savings account, could also help your money grow — and help you achieve your dream of home ownership.
Interested in opening an online bank account? When you sign up for a SoFi Checking and Savings account with direct deposit, you’ll get a competitive annual percentage yield (APY), pay zero account fees, and enjoy an array of rewards, such as access to the Allpoint Network of 55,000+ fee-free ATMs globally. Qualifying accounts can even access their paycheck up to two days early.
Better banking is here with up to 4.50% APY on SoFi Checking and Savings.
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4.50% APY SoFi members with direct deposit activity can earn 4.50% annual percentage yield (APY) on savings balances (including Vaults) and 0.50% APY on checking balances. Direct Deposit means a deposit to an account holder’s SoFi Checking or Savings account, including payroll, pension, or government payments (e.g., Social Security), made by the account holder’s employer, payroll or benefits provider or government agency (“Direct Deposit”) via the Automated Clearing House (“ACH”) Network during a 30-day Evaluation Period (as defined below). Deposits that are not from an employer or government agency, including but not limited to check deposits, peer-to-peer transfers (e.g., transfers from PayPal, Venmo, etc.), merchant transactions (e.g., transactions from PayPal, Stripe, Square, etc.), and bank ACH funds transfers and wire transfers from external accounts, do not constitute Direct Deposit activity. There is no minimum Direct Deposit amount required to qualify for the stated interest rate.
SoFi members with Qualifying Deposits can earn 4.50% APY on savings balances (including Vaults) and 0.50% APY on checking balances. Qualifying Deposits means one or more deposits that, in the aggregate, are equal to or greater than $5,000 to an account holder’s SoFi Checking and Savings account (“Qualifying Deposits”) during a 30-day Evaluation Period (as defined below). Qualifying Deposits only include those deposits from the following eligible sources: (i) ACH transfers, (ii) inbound wire transfers, (iii) peer-to-peer transfers (i.e., external transfers from PayPal, Venmo, etc. and internal peer-to-peer transfers from a SoFi account belonging to another account holder), (iv) check deposits, (v) instant funding to your SoFi Bank Debit Card, (vi) push payments to your SoFi Bank Debit Card, and (vii) cash deposits. Qualifying Deposits do not include: (i) transfers between an account holder’s Checking account, Savings account, and/or Vaults; (ii) interest payments; (iii) bonuses issued by SoFi Bank or its affiliates; or (iv) credits, reversals, and refunds from SoFi Bank, N.A. (“SoFi Bank”) or from a merchant.
SoFi Bank shall, in its sole discretion, assess each account holder’s Direct Deposit activity and Qualifying Deposits throughout each 30-Day Evaluation Period to determine the applicability of rates and may request additional documentation for verification of eligibility. The 30-Day Evaluation Period refers to the “Start Date” and “End Date” set forth on the APY Details page of your account, which comprises a period of 30 calendar days (the “30-Day Evaluation Period”). You can access the APY Details page at any time by logging into your SoFi account on the SoFi mobile app or SoFi website and selecting either (i) Banking > Savings > Current APY or (ii) Banking > Checking > Current APY. Upon receiving a Direct Deposit or $5,000 in Qualifying Deposits to your account, you will begin earning 4.50% APY on savings balances (including Vaults) and 0.50% on checking balances on or before the following calendar day. You will continue to earn these APYs for (i) the remainder of the current 30-Day Evaluation Period and through the end of the subsequent 30-Day Evaluation Period and (ii) any following 30-day Evaluation Periods during which SoFi Bank determines you to have Direct Deposit activity or $5,000 in Qualifying Deposits without interruption.
SoFi Bank reserves the right to grant a grace period to account holders following a change in Direct Deposit activity or Qualifying Deposits activity before adjusting rates. If SoFi Bank grants you a grace period, the dates for such grace period will be reflected on the APY Details page of your account. If SoFi Bank determines that you did not have Direct Deposit activity or $5,000 in Qualifying Deposits during the current 30-day Evaluation Period and, if applicable, the grace period, then you will begin earning the rates earned by account holders without either Direct Deposit or Qualifying Deposits until you have Direct Deposit activity or $5,000 in Qualifying Deposits in a subsequent 30-Day Evaluation Period. For the avoidance of doubt, an account holder with both Direct Deposit activity and Qualifying Deposits will earn the rates earned by account holders with Direct Deposit.
Members without either Direct Deposit activity or Qualifying Deposits, as determined by SoFi Bank, during a 30-Day Evaluation Period and, if applicable, the grace period, will earn 1.20% APY on savings balances (including Vaults) and 0.50% APY on checking balances.
Interest rates are variable and subject to change at any time. These rates are current as of 8/9/2023. There is no minimum balance requirement. Additional information can be found at http://www.sofi.com/legal/banking-rate-sheet..
Want to learn how to invest in self-storage? I have stored boxes of my stuff plenty of times over the years and there’s a good chance that you have as well (or perhaps you know someone who has). Investing in self-storage facilities can be a relatively low-risk asset for people looking to diversify their income…
Want to learn how to invest in self-storage?
I have stored boxes of my stuff plenty of times over the years and there’s a good chance that you have as well (or perhaps you know someone who has).
Investing in self-storage facilities can be a relatively low-risk asset for people looking to diversify their income streams. Or, perhaps you’re looking for a full-time income and are looking for your own business to start!
So, what exactly is investing in self-storage?
It is when you put your money into self-storage facilities and rent out units to renters.
I have personally used self-storage facilities for many reasons over the years for a short-term period, and nearly every single time I think about the profitability of it all and how passive it seems to be a self-storage owner or self-storage investor.
There are usually no customers at the facility (I’ve almost always been the only one there when dropping off or picking up), but every unit is being rented. Seems like an interesting way to make money with not too much work!
Plus, over 9% of households pay for self-storage units, and there is a lot of demand for new facilities.
Quick Summary
Self-storage investing can be a way to make money and run a business with low expenses
There is a lot of demand for storage units, with many businesses having a very long waitlist
If you don’t want to run a business, you can also buy shares in an REIT or even just rent out your garage or basement
What is Self-Storage Investing?
To put it simply, self-storage investing is when you invest in storage facilities.
More and more people need storage units for many different reasons such as moving, downsizing a home, needing a place to store something that a person doesn’t have room for (such as an RV or boat), or even businesses that are storing extra inventory.
For example, someone might need a short-term lease to store their belongings due to being in between homes (like if they are moving but their next home isn’t ready yet). Or a person on a long trip may decide to sell their home, but they need a place to store their important items.
If you decide to invest in self-storage, you have a couple of options. You can start by purchasing and owning a facility yourself or passively invest by buying shares in a self-storage REIT (Real Estate Investment Trust). I will be going over each of the options further below.
Related content:
Is Self-Storage a Good Investment?
Yes, deciding to invest in storage units can be a good idea.
According to Neighbor, the average profit margin on a self-storage unit is around 41%, and they typically have high occupancy levels of around 92%.
One of the main positives of investing in self-storage is being able to earn income with less work (you’re not dealing with customers all day long – people tend to store their stuff and not visit it often).
Self-storage facilities usually have low expenses compared to other types of commercial real estate investments. Also, self-storage is usually recession-resistant as people still need to store their stuff.
Another benefit of investing in self-storage is the flexibility it offers because you don’t need very many employees to run a storage lot. Some lots that I’ve been to don’t even have any employees – instead, you call the owner when you want to get your stuff and they then send someone down. People tend to store their stuff and not touch it for a while.
Related: 18 Passive Income Ideas To Earn $1,000+ Each Month
Types of Self-Storage Facility for Investment
When investing in self-storage facilities, you may not know that there are a few different types.
This section will discuss the different self-storage facilities you can invest in.
1. Climate-Controlled Storage
Climate-controlled storage is something that more and more people want these days because it can protect their belongings from temperature changes and humidity.
After all, many places get very hot weather, and storage units can get quite hot inside. You don’t want your things to melt into each other.
These types of units are good for storing items like electronics, artwork, or documents.
Now, your location is important in deciding if you need climate-controlled self-storage, as areas with extreme temperatures or humidity obviously will need AC more. For example, a storage facility in Florida may be more likely to have air conditioning than a facility in Alaska. And, a facility in Alaska is more likely to have heat than a storage unit in Florida.
2. Mixed-Use Storage
Mixed-use storage facilities combine multiple types of storage units in one location.
For example, these types of facilities may have climate-controlled, drive-up, boat, and RV storage all in one place. Many storage facilities are like this. They cater to different customer needs and tend to have a broader target market due to being able to store so many different types of items.
People tend to like these forms of storage as they can store all of their belongings in one place, instead of having their stuff scattered across town.
3. RV and Vehicle Storage
With so many people owning RVs and extra vehicles, the demand for storage has increased over the years.
Also, many neighborhoods simply do not allow for RVs or extra vehicles to be parked in front of their home (or even in their driveway, backyard, etc.), so a storage lot is needed.
Some storage facilities may even just be massive warehouses where people can store their RVs, valuable cars, and boats inside.
We have stored an RV in a place like this many times. We have found the typical rent to be around $5 to $10 per foot for our RV in an indoor parking lot, so you can see how quickly storage revenue can add up! Some businesses even have private RV units, and those fetch a much higher rate, such as $400-$600+ per month.
4. Boat Storage
Boat storage facilities specialize in safe storage for boat owners during the off-season or when not in use. These types of facilities typically have long waitlists too.
Boat storage businesses sometimes have both indoor and outdoor options (or they may focus on one or the other), as well as extra services like boat maintenance, hauling, launching, and more.
Coastal regions or areas with nearby water access (such as Florida) are usually good locations for investing in boat storage facilities as there are more boats, of course.
We have used boat storage facilities many times over the years to store our own boat. The amount you can make per boat can be anywhere from a couple hundred to a couple thousand dollars each month, depending on the location and the type of boat (catamaran vs. small fishing boat, for example) you can store. We have paid anywhere from around $1,200 to over $2,000 a month in the past for boat storage.
5. Drive-Up and Outdoor Storage
This is the type of storage that pretty much everyone has seen, as they are very common.
With this type, customers can drive directly to their storage unit, making loading and unloading much easier. These types of facilities are usually single-story buildings. Many times they do not have AC or heat.
Drive-up and outdoor storage facilities give renters an easily accessible storage solution.
How to Invest in Self-Storage
If you want to invest in self-storage, there are a few different ways to do so.
1. Buy an Existing Self-Storage Facility
One of the easiest ways to enter the self-storage market is by purchasing an existing business, such as those for sale by mom-and-pop operations.
This can save you time as everything is in place and you already have customers with rented units. Yes, you can improve some of their processes, but a lot of the hard work is already done for you.
But, purchasing a facility can be expensive upfront, though, because you will be buying a business with land, a building, and an existing customer base.
Just as an FYI – As you’re looking for storage facilities that are for sale, you may come across different classes. Class A facilities usually are higher-quality climate-controlled storage units, whereas Class B and Class C facilities may be lower-quality.
Buying an existing storage lot can possibly make you more money than investing in REITs (discussed further below), but it also means more hands-on management and responsibility because you will be actively running a business and managing employees.
2. Build a New Self-Storage Facility
There are around 2 billion square feet of storage space in the U.S. alone, but there is a high demand for more. Many self-storage facilities have long waitlists even!
I have called many storage lots only to find out that they had waitlists that were years long. I have even several times called every single lot within a few state radius, and found that every single one had a waitlist.
Yes, the storage business is really in that much demand!
As a self-storage investor, you can take advantage of this high demand and build your own storage facility.
To create a self-storage facility from the ground up, you will need to do the following:
Find land to buy – Once you know that an area needs a storage facility, you will need to find land to buy to build on. You will also want to make sure that it is easy to drive to (for example, if you are building an RV storage lot, you don’t want low bridges as the only way to get to your lot because no one will be able to get there then).
Build – After you buy the land, you will need to think about what you want your facility to look like, then hire a construction company to build your plan.
Open up for business– Once the facility is built, you will need to market it and get customers. You will also want to set up the systems to manage daily operations effectively and as passively as possible.
Self-storage is in demand, so building a new storage business can be a way to get started and make money.
3. Buy Shares in a Real Estate Investment Trust (REIT) That Focuses on Self-Storage
If you want to invest in self-storage without actually owning and managing a business, one way is to invest in an REIT.
REITs are a type of investment that allows you to buy shares in a company that owns self-storage facilities. Think of it like shares of stock in a company that you can buy.
With REITs, you can invest in a portfolio of self-storage properties without physically owning or managing the facilities yourself.
This is more passive because you don’t need to hire employees or do maintenance checks.
4. Rent Your Space on Neighbor.com
If you have extra space in your own home such as a garage, closet, driveway, or spare room, you can rent it out as storage space through a platform like Neighbor.
With this site, you can earn $100 to $400+ each month (the rate you can get depends on demand in your area and the type of storage you are renting out).
Here’s how Neighbor works:
Sign up for a free account – Create an account on Neighbor by clicking here.
Describe your space – Write a detailed description of your space, including the dimensions, location, and any features (such as air conditioning or heat). Add pictures of the space as well so that potential renters can see what you are renting out.
Set your price – Choose how much you want to charge for renting your space.
Manage rentals – Connect with interested renters, agree on terms, and manage ongoing rental contracts, all through the Neighbor platform.
You can learn more at Neighbor Review: Make Money Renting Your Storage Space.
Advice for managing a self-storage facility
If you decide to run your own storage facility, then here are my tips for new self-storage operators.
Making money from self-storage
To make money from your self-storage facility, you need to think about what your customers want. So, you may sell amenities to your renters, such as vehicle washing, starting up their vehicle or checking on it, electrical plugins to charge vehicles or RVs, and so on.
You’ll also want to think about how much money it will cost you to actually run the business. Will you need to hire workers? How much will maintenance cost you so that you can keep the facility in good condition?
Security in self-storage facilities
Security is very important for customers when choosing a self-storage facility. Customers care about their stuff and they don’t want anything happening to it, such as it being stolen.
So, you will want to make sure that your facility has a lot of light (especially at night time), security cameras aimed at different angles, and gates with codes. This helps your customers feel safer about leaving their stuff at your storage facility, and also helps to protect your business from liability issues and bad reviews (for example, if a person has their stuff stolen from your facility, they are likely to leave a bad review and this can cause others to not use your storage units as well).
Frequently Asked Questions About How To Invest In Self-Storage
Here are answers to common questions about investing in self-storage.
How can I find a self-storage business for sale?
To find a self-storage business for sale, you can start by searching on websites like LoopNet and BizBuySell. I took a quick look at both of these sites and found many for sale quite easily from anywhere in the hundreds of thousands to in the millions of dollars price range.
What are the best self-storage stocks to invest in?
The best self-storage stocks for you to invest in will depend on your own money goals and the amount of risk you want to take on. Unfortunately, I cannot tell you which is the best self-storage stock, as I am not your financial advisor and I do not know your specific situation. But, I can tell you which ones are popular.
Some of the most popular and best self-storage stocks include Public Storage (PSA), Extra Space Storage (EXR), and CubeSmart (CUBE).
Which self-storage REITs have the best returns?
Real estate investment trusts (REITs) are a popular way to passively invest in self-storage facilities. Several well-known self-storage REITs include Life Storage (LSI), National Storage Affiliates (NSA), and Simply Self Storage (SSS).
Keep in mind that past performance and dividends do not mean that the same will be true in the future, so it’s important to do your own research.
What risks are there with investing in self-storage?
Like with all businesses, there are risks when it comes to self-storage. Some risks include competition, changes in demand, and possible natural disasters that could hurt the facility (such as a severe storm or a flood).
Also, managing a self-storage facility will, of course, require at least some time from you and may even require employees, so you should also think about operational costs and business management.
How profitable can a self-storage business be?
The amount of money that a self-storage business can make depends on many things such as location, demand, and operating costs.
Can owning a self-storage unit generate passive income?
Having a self-storage facility can earn you passive income through rental fees. But, managing a self-storage facility also requires that someone works at the business, to check people in, show units, and check on the property. You could hire employees so that it is more passive for yourself.
You can also earn passive income by investing in self-storage REITs or stocks instead of owning and running a storage facility.
Does self-storage do well in a recession?
Self-storage in the past has performed relatively well during recessions, as people often downsize their homes or need temporary storage. Of course, though, the past doesn’t mean that it will always do well. So, it is always best to do your research and prepare as best as you can.
What is the future outlook for self-storage?
The future for self-storage looks to be positive, as there is a lot of demand for storage units and I’m still constantly seeing waitlists everywhere. In fact, whenever I need to store something even for just a few months, I’m always being told that I need to call a year in advance for a spot.
Many storage facilities have a high occupancy rate, long waitlists, and cannot keep up with demand.
How To Invest In Self-Storage – Summary
I hope you enjoyed today’s article on how to invest in self-storage.
If you are looking to add a new asset class to invest in, becoming a self-storage investor can be an interesting way to bring in a stable cash flow and make more money.
Self-storage is in high demand too, with many businesses currently having a long waitlist.
Factors such as location, demand, the quality of facilities (Class A, Class B, and Class C), and the type of storage lot all can change the success of a self-storage investment.
Are you interested in learning how to invest in self-storage?
In our latest real estate tech entrepreneur interview, we’re speaking with Sarah Biggerstaff from Homease.
Who are you, and what do you do?
My name is Sarah Biggerstaff. I am the CEO and founder of the Homease App for Realtors.
We are a digital community connecting Realtors to a vetted and reputable network of contractors, subs, inspectors, and all other vendors/home service professionals for themselves and their clients based on reviews and recommendations from trusted Realtor colleagues (a.k.a. their ‘homies’). It is a one-stop shop FREE tool for Realtors. We launched in Austin, Texas in January of this year and are currently servicing the Greater Austin area. In June of this year we partnered with Williamson County Association of REALTORS® (WCAR) to offer Homease as a free member benefit to their nearly two thousand Realtor members.
As a Realtor on Homease, search for reputable companies based on category and keyword searches, read about the companies and what specialties they offer, access special promotions to Realtors and their clients exclusively through Homease, call and text the companies directly through the app, and share the vendor profile pages directly with a client or another Realtor via text message. Realtors can also find and ‘follow’ their Realtor ‘homies’ in order to easily see their reviews and recommendations on the app.
What problem does your product/service solve?
A large part of what Realtors do before, during, and post-real estate transactions is recommending contractors, inspectors, and other home service professionals to assist their clients with getting their homes ready to put on the market, with inspections after going under contract, and with work and remodeling that gets done post-closing. Our clients almost always lean on us for these recommendations. So, where do Realtors find companies to recommend their clients to? They generally ask other Realtors they know and trust. This was how I came up with the name Homease, which is a play on words from ‘homies.’ Homease offers a streamlined tool where agents can find trusted, reputable companies that are recommended by other agents. It’s a win-win for all parties!
Before a vendor becomes ‘Homease Approved,’ they undergo a stringent vetting process whereby we collect three references from Realtors they have worked with; we verify their general liability insurance and their state licensing; we conduct an owner-background check; we do a phone screening with each company; and we check their online reviews as well as their BBB ratings. It is this very thorough vetting process that allows us to offer ‘Options with Ease’ to Realtors and their clients. As Realtors, it is imperative that we make solid and trustworthy recommendations to our clients. Homease is a solution that allows agents to do this within seconds and at no cost to them.
What are you most excited about right now?
Mostly, I am excited and grateful to finally be running the company of my dreams! Although we just launched in January of this year, I have been working on Homease for about two years. I spent quite a bit of time conducting market research interviewing Realtors to find out how and where they were searching for vendors and what is most important to them in the companies that they choose to work with and recommend to their clients.
Beginning in October of this year, Homease will begin advertising in RealtyLine Austin, a well-known industry publication for the Greater Austin real estate industry. This will be a wonderful opportunity to not only get the word out about Homease to our 14,000 Austin-area Realtors but also to promote the awesome companies that we work with in a full page ad that will run each and every month.
In general, I am excited about our brand ‘Homease’ and all the things that could potentially be done with the brand it as we expand geographically and otherwise. I am also excited about potential future partnerships with other local boards/associations of Realtors.
What’s next for you?
Right now my main focus is on continuing to grow our user base of Realtors (‘homies’) on the app, continuing to fill in our categories each with five reputable companies, and to track all the ‘success stories’ that happen through the app so that I can use them for continued sales and marketing. Eventually, I would love to expand Homease to other markets and to do a zip code integration into the app to pair agents and vendors based on zip codes. While expanding nationally over the next five years would be great, I am continuing to focus my efforts on the Austin-area.
What’s a cause you’re passionate about and why?
I love animals and especially dogs. I adopted a rescue dog in March of this year; her name is Nova. I support Austin Pets Alive which is a local animal no-kill shelter here in Austin. They are actually our charity organization this year for Austin Young Real Estate Professionals (AYREP), which is the Austin chapter for Young Professionals Network (YPN) which I serve on the board for. We set a goal at the beginning of this year to raise $10,000 for Austin Pets Alive and we are on track to meet our goal!
Thanks to Sarah for sharing her story. If you’d like to connect, find her on LinkedIn here.
We’re constantly looking for great real estate tech entrepreneurs to feature. If that’s you, please read this post — then drop me a line (drew @ geekestatelabs dot com).
Our industry thrives on personal connections. That’s why in-person events are so important. Here are some key takeaways from the BuiltHOW event that I host alongside Ben Kinney, and Chris Suarez.
1. Play chess, not checkers
The market is dynamic, and right now it’s shifting into a unique playing field that many of us have not seen in our careers. You must be ready to adapt and strategize according to the new climate. Your business cannot resemble what it was last year when you were working in a convenient market, and you may be required to alter your talent recruitment strategy, team goals, or overall expectations.
Like in chess, play strategically and stay four steps ahead with the end goal in mind. Recessions and volatile markets are a natural part of the economic cycle and are historically followed by high returns in real estate. Study the market as it shifts and adapt through deliberate action — that’s the game and the business.
2. Know your numbers
World-class athletes are keenly aware of their numbers, whether that be split-second timing, exact stroke count, distance, and duration. Performance can always be measured. Similarly, studying the real estate market daily will make you a better advisor while providing perspective on broader economic changes that will help you evaluate your business. For example, if home sales slow down x amount, how will that impact your sales and how will you pivot accordingly? Or, which expenses can be cut without interfering with your success rates? Finally, how many recruits do you need?
3. Use self-improvement to create impact
Show bravery by evaluating yourself with growth, rather than failure, in mind. Acknowledge your shortcomings to motivate change, reassess, and repeat. Use adversity to your advantage. Personal growth must happen consistently to compound and impact your business growth. Any day without growth negates the progress of other days.
4. Understand the power of partnership
Throughout the conference I host, and the many panels on topics like luxury homes, recruitment, economics, and tax codes, one message echoed — who you do business with matters.
Entrepreneur Jim Rohn says you are the average of the five people you spend the most time with. Surround yourself with leaders, top performers, and game changers — those who are grateful, ambitious, gritty, and positive. Pick your partners wisely, hold each other accountable, and maximize the relationships you’ve built.
5. Set your expectations wisely
BuiltHOW Speaker Mack Newton said, “You don’t get what you want, you get what you expect.” Your actions, words, work ethic, and mindset are at the center of your control. To expect and earn different results, perform differently to achieve them. Raise your expectations even if you and your business do not meet them after the first attempt. Take ownership of your growth and expect more as you work towards it.
Debbie DeGrote is the founder of Forward Coaching, a coaching company for professionals in the real estate industry.
Food stamps, or SNAP (Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program) benefits, help millions of Americans who earn lower incomes or face economic hardship feed their families. In one recent year, 12% of all Americans accessed this benefit.
In the not too distant past, however, SNAP benefits weren’t always the most convenient way to go food shopping. A person had to go to the store and pay for their groceries with the program’s EBT card. Today, however, as so much of life is going digital, the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) offers an online purchasing program to make food stamps more convenient for residents of every state. It’s becoming easier to use SNAP benefits online.
Here, you’ll learn more about how, where, and when you can use these benefits to grocery-shop online.
What Are Food Stamps?
“Food stamps” is an older, but still commonly used term to describe SNAP, or the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program.
SNAP is designed to provide nutritional assistance to low-income families, as well as the elderly, disabled, and people who have filed for unemployment. SNAP is a federal program administered by the USDA’s Food and Nutrition Service, which has a network of local offices.
While SNAP doesn’t cover all the items you might pick up at the supermarket, it can significantly cut your grocery bill.
• You can use food stamps to purchase meat, poultry, and fish; vegetables and fruit; bread and cereal; dairy products; snack food; and seeds and plants that produce food.
• However, you can’t use them to purchase tobacco, wine, beer, liquor, vitamins, prepared food, and nonfood items like cosmetics, hygiene items, and cleaning supplies.
Everyone on food stamps has a bank card called an EBT card, backed by the government. The program allows for customers to pay in-store and increasingly online, using their EBT just like a debit or credit card.
The maximum monthly food-stamp assistance you can get varies by where you live and how many people are in your household. A family of four living in the U.S. can now receive around $939 a month.
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Who Qualifies for Food Stamps?
A household is eligible for Food Stamps, or SNAP, when it meets specific criteria. Each state has an income limit that SNAP households must stay under. Additionally, they may factor in your finances and savings to determine your eligibility.
To apply for food stamp benefits or to get information about the SNAP program in your area, you can contact your local SNAP office. You can find local offices and each State’s application on the USDA national map .
Each state has its own application form. If your state’s form is not on the web yet, you can contact your local SNAP office to request a paper form.
Recommended: Average Grocery Budget for a Family of 5
Can You Use Food Stamps Online?
Yes, food stamps can be used online. Thanks to the expedited expansion of an online purchasing pilot program run by the USDA’s Food and Nutrition Service, households receiving SNAP benefits in any of the 50 participating states (along with the District of Columbia) can now use EBT to pay for groceries online from select retailers.
If a retailer is enrolled in SNAP’s online program, people on food stamps can select foods eligible for EBT benefits online and then arrange for in-store or curbside pickup. In some cases, it may be possible to have your groceries delivered. If the retailer charges a delivery fee, however, you cannot use your benefits to cover that fee.
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What Stores Accept Food Stamps Online?
You now know the answer to “Can food stamps be used online?” The next question is probably, “Where exactly can I use food stamps online?”
Fortunately, many stores now accept food stamps online. While Amazon and Walmart are among the best known retailers for online EBT shopping, the number of stores accepting EBT card payment online is continuing to expand.
• FreshDirect, an online grocery delivery service, now delivers for free to SNAP participants in some zip codes in the New York metropolitan area.
• Instacart, a grocery delivery service, is currently partnering with many local stores in the U.S. to offer SNAP EBT benefits. The latest version of the Instacart app should display whether your local store offers EBT SNAP.
Which retailers (and which specific locations) participate in the online SNAP program will vary from one state to another, so it’s a wise idea to check which options are available in your area.
Here are some of the retailers that are now accepting food stamps for online shopping (for either delivery or pickup):
• Walmart
• Amazon
• Aldi
• Food Lion
• Publix
• FreshDirect
• BJ’S Wholesale Club
• Kroger
• ShopRite
• Fred Meyer
• Safeway
• Albertsons
• Vons
• Hy-Vee
5 Ways to Use Food Stamps to Buy Groceries Online
The rules for using food stamps online will vary by retailer. Here are some ways this transaction might work.
1. Use Food Stamps on Amazon
For example, when shopping on Amazon, you can add your SNAP EBT card, shop for groceries, and when you check out, you enter your EBT PIN to pay for eligible purchases.
2. Order Groceries With Food Stamps at Walmart
For Walmart, you can order groceries online or through the store’s grocery mobile app. You first need to sign into your Pickup & Delivery account and then select Payment Methods.
3. Use Food Stamps Online at a Local Store
If your local store accepts EBT Online, you’ll see an option to add your EBT card to your account and can then add your card. During checkout, you select EBT as your payment method. You can then enter your PIN and complete your order.
For instance, at ShopRite, you can order groceries online at Shoprite.com or via the store’s mobile app. During checkout, you can select Pay Online and then click the Place Order button. You can then choose the EBT Snap Card as the payment method to complete checkout. That’s another way to use food stamps online.
4. Know Which Are Non-SNAP Items
At some retailers, you can also include non-SNAP items in the same order, but you’d need to pay for them separately with a debit or credit card. If the store charges a delivery fee, that charge would also need to be paid via a separate payment card since service fees are not included in SNAP benefits.
5. Continue to Check As Options Expand
If you don’t find EBT SNAP as a payment option when attempting to order from your preferred grocery store, you may want to keep checking back — the coverage areas and list of participating stores continue to expand.
Recommended: Average Grocery Budget for a Family of 3
Other Ways to Save on Groceries
If you don’t qualify for SNAP benefits or are looking for additional ways to trim your grocery budget, try these tips. They can help you save, regardless of how much you usually spend on food per month.
Plan Your Meals
By planning your meals ahead and buying in bulk, you can save money on food. Say you decide in advance that you’ll buy chicken that’s on sale and make a stir-fry one day, a sheet pan dinner the next, and will grill it as well. You might even double up on your cooking and freeze leftovers for the following week.
Shop Solo and Stick to Your List
Impulse buys have a way of wrecking your food budget, and if you have your family with you at the supermarket, it can be more likely that they will spot enticing and expensive items. It can be more economical to hit the grocery store on your own and stay laser-focused on your list.
Use Coupons
Whether you choose to clip the old-school paper coupons or use some of the digital couponing options, those deals can help you stay on your budget. You may even be able to use coupons in a way that doubles their saving power for even lower prices.
The Takeaway
The Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) — better known as food stamps — provides assistance to low-income people in the form of an EBT card that can be used to purchase certain types of food.
Many national retailers and supermarket chains now allow SNAP recipients to order eligible groceries online and then go into the store to pick them up, either in-store or curbside, or have them delivered.
Looking to keep better tabs on your grocery (and other) spending? Finding the right banking partner could help.
Better banking is here with up to 4.50% APY on SoFi Checking and Savings.
FAQ
Can you use EBT anywhere in the US?
Yes, if you qualify for EBT, you can use your benefits anywhere in the U.S.
Can EBT be used on DoorDash?
Yes, it can: DoorDash is partnering with Safeway and Albertson to enable shoppers to use EBT as payment in the app.
How much do you get for one person on SNAP?
In 2023, the average benefit for SNAP for a single person is $195 per month, though the benefit could be as high as $281.
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Typically, mobile homes built after 1976 can be financed. To meet mortgage lending guidelines, manufactured homes must have HUD tags. These tags are certifications stating that the manufacturer has complied with safety standards created by the HUD.
The HUD tags came into law on June 15, 1976. While HUD is the only agency that has this requirement, most lenders also follow the HUD guideline.
Before the law in 1976, manufactured homes were prone to safety issues such as wiring and electrical problems that could cause home fires.
Mortgage rates on mobile homes: are loans hard to get?
Lenders differentiate between mobile homes that are truly moveable and manufactured homes as real estate. As mentioned, a manufactured home is basically a mobile home that was built after 1976 that has HUD tags complying with certain codes.
With manufactured homes, it is possible to get traditional mortgages like VA loans or FHA loans. However, because these homes can depreciate, lenders are less likely to give you a loan with competitive rates. On the other hand, in areas where more Americans live in mobile homes, it is likely easier to secure more favorable financing.
Whoa, have you seen what just happened to interest rates!?
Suddenly, after at least fourteen years of our financial world being mostly the same, somebody flipped over the table and now things are quite different.
Interest rates, which have been gliding along at close to zero since before the Dawn of Mustachianism in 2011, have suddenly shot back up to 20-year highs.
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Which brings up a few questions about whether we need to worry, or do anything about this new development.
Is the stock market (index funds, of course) still the right place for my money?
What if I want to buy a house?
What about my current house – should I hang onto it forever because of the solid-gold 3% mortgage I have locked in for the next 30 years?
Will interest rates keep going up?
And will they ever go back down?
These questions are on everybody’s mind these days, and I’ve been ruminating on them myself. But while I’ve seen a lot of play-by-play stories about each little interest rate increase in the financial newspapers, none of them seem to get into the important part, which is,
“Yeah, interest rates are way up, butwhat should I do about it?”
So let’s talk about strategy.
Why Is This Happening, and What Got Us Here?
Interest rates are like a giant gas pedal that revs the engine of our economy, with the polished black dress shoe of Federal Reserve Chairman Jerome Powell pressed upon it.
For most of the past two decades, Jerome’s team and their predecessors have kept the pedal to the metal, firing a highly combustible stream of easy money into the system in the form of near-zero rates. This made mortgages more affordable, so everyone stretched to buy houses, which drove demand for new construction.
It also had a similar effect on business investment: borrowed money and venture capital was cheap, so lots of entrepreneurs borrowed lots of money and started new companies. These companies then rented offices and built factories and hired employees – who circled back to buy more houses, cars, fridges, iPhones, and all the other luxurious amenities of modern life.
This was a great party and it led to lots of good things, because we had two decades of prosperity, growth, raising our children, inventing new things and all the other good things that happen in a successful rich country economy.
Until it went too far and we ended up with too much money chasing too few goods – especially houses. That led to a trend of unacceptably fast Inflation, which we already covered in a recent article.
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So eventually, Jay-P noticed this and eased his foot back off of the Easy Money Gas Pedal. And of course when interest rates get jacked up, almost everything else in the economy slows down.
And that’s what is happening right now: mortgages are suddenly way more expensive, so people are putting off their plans to buy houses. Companies find that borrowing money is costly, so they are scaling back their plans to build new factories, and cutting back on their hiring. Facebook laid off 10,000 people and Amazon shed 27,000.
We even had a miniature banking crisis where some significant mid-sized banks folded and gave the financial world fears that a much bigger set of dominoes would fall.
All of these things sound kinda bad, and if you make the mistake of checking the news, you’ll see there is a big dumb battle raging as usual on every media outlet. Leftists, Right-wingers, and anarchists all have a different take on it:
It’s the President’s fault for printing all that money and running up the debt! We should have Fiscal Discipline!
No, it’s the opposite! The Fed is ruining the economy with all these rate rises, we need to drop them back down because our poor middle class is suffering!
What are you two sheeple talking about? The whole system is a bunch of corrupt cronies and we shouldn’t even have a central bank. All hail the true world currency of Bitcoin!!!
The one thing all sides seem to agree on is that we are “experiencing hard economic times” and that “the country is headed in the wrong way”.
Which, ironically, is completely wrong as well – our unemployment rate has dropped to 50-year lows and the economy is at the absolute best it has ever been, a surprise to even the most grounded economists.
The reality? We’re just putting the lid back onto the ice cream carton until the economy can digest all the sugar it just wolfed down. This is normal, it happens every decade or two and it’s no big deal.
Okay, but should I take my money out of the stock market because it’s going to crash?
This answer never changes, so you’ll see it every time we talk about stock investing: Holy Shit NO!!!
The stock market always goes up in the long run, although with plenty of unpredictable bumps along the way. Since you can’t predict those bumps until after they happen, there is no point in trying to dance in and out of it.
But since we do have the benefit of hindsight, there are a few things that have changed slightly: From its peak at the beginning of 2022 until right now (August 2023 as I write this), the overall US market is down about 10%. Or to view it another way, it is roughly flat since June 2021, so we’ve seen two years with no gains aside from total dividends of about 3%.
Since the future is always the same, unknowable thing, this means I am about 10% more excited about buying my monthly slice of index funds today than it was at the peak.
Should I start putting money into savings accounts instead because they are paying 4.5%?
This is a slightly trickier question, because in theory we should invest in a logical, unbiased way into the thing with the highest expected return over time.
When interest rates were under 1%, this was an easy decision: stocks will always return far more than 1% over time – consider the fact that the annual dividend payments alone are 1.5%!
But there has to be some interest rate at which you’d be willing to stop buying stocks and prefer to just stash it into the stable, rewarding environment of a money market fund or long-term bonds or something else similar. Right now, if a reputable bank offered me, say, 12% I would probably just start loading up.
But remember that the stock market is also currently running a 10% off sale. When the market eventually reawakens and starts setting new highs (which it will someday), any shares I buy right now will be worth 10% more. And then will continue going up from there. Which quickly becomes an even bigger number than 12%.
In other words, the cheaper the stocks get, the more excited we should be about buying them rather than chasing high interest rates.
As you can see, there is no easy answer here, but I have taken a middle ground:
I’m holding onto all the stocks I already own, of course
BUT since I currently have an outstanding margin loan balance for a house I helped to buy with several friends (yes this is #3 in the last few years!), I am paying over 6% on that balance. So I am directing all new income towards paying down that balance for now, just for peace of mind and because 6% is a reasonable guaranteed return.
Technically, I know I would probably make a bit more if I let the balance just stay outstanding, kept putting more money into index funds, and paid the interest forever, but this feels like a nice compromise to me
What if I want to Buy a House?
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For most of us, the biggest thing that interest rates affect is our decisions around buying and selling houses. Financing a home with a mortgage is suddenly way more expensive, any potential rental house investments are suddenly far less profitable, and keeping our old house with a locked-in 3% mortgage is suddenly far more tempting.
Consider these shocking changes just over the past two years as typical rates have gone from about 3% to 7.5%.
Assuming a buyer comes up with the average 10% down payment:
The monthly mortgage payment on a $400k house has gone from about $1500 at the beginning of 2022 last year to roughly $2500 today. Even scarier, the interest portion of that monthly bill has more than doubled, from $900 to $2250!
For a home buyer with a monthly mortgage budget of $2000, their old maximum house price was about $500,000. With today’s interest rates however, that figure has dropped to about $325,000
Similarly, as a landlord in 2022 you might have been willing to pay $500k for a duplex which brought in $4000 per month of gross rent. Today, you’d need to get that same property for $325,000 to have a similar net cash flow (or try to rent each unit for a $500 more per month) because the interest cost is so much higher.
And finally, if you’re already living in a $400k house with a 3% mortgage locked in, you are effectively being subsidized to the tune of $1000 per month by that good fortune. In other words, you now have a $12,000 per year disincentive to ever sell that house if you’ll need to borrow money to buy a new one. And you have a potential goldmine rental property, because your carrying costs remain low while rents keep going up.
This all sounds kind of bleak, but unfortunately it’s the way things are supposed to work – the tough medicine of higher interest rates is supposed to make the following things happen:
House buyers will end up placing lower bids which fit within their budgets.
Landlords will have to be more discerning about which properties to buy up as rentals, lowering their own bids as well.
Meanwhile, the current still-sky-high prices of housing should continue to entice more builders to create new homes and redevelop and upgrade old buildings and underused land, because high prices mean good profits. Then they’ll have to compete for a thinner supply of home buyers.
The net effect of all this is that prices should stop going up, and ideally fall back down in many areas.
When Will House Prices Go Back Down?
This is a tricky one because the real “value” of a house depends entirely on supply and demand. The right price is whatever you can sell it for. However, there are a few fundamentals which influence this price over the long run because they determine the supply of housing.
The actual cost of building a house (materials plus labor), which tends to just stay pretty flat – it might not even keep up with inflation.
The value of the underlying land, which should also follow inflation on average, although with hot and cold spots depending on which cities are popular at the time.
The amount of bullshit which residents and their city councils impose upon house builders, preventing them from producing the new housing that people want to buy.
The first item (construction cost) is pretty interesting because it is subject to the magic of technological progress. Just as TVs and computers get cheaper over time, house components get cheaper too as things like computerized manufacturing and global trade make us more efficient. I remember paying $600 for a fancy-at-the-time undermount sink and $400 for a faucet for my first kitchen remodel in the year 2001. Today, you can get a nicer sink on Amazon for about $250 and the faucet is a flat hundred. Similarly, nailguns and cordless tools and easy-to-install PEX plumbing make the process of building faster and easier than ever.
On the other hand, the last item (bullshit restrictions) has been very inflationary in recent times. I’ve noticed that every year another layer of red tape and complicated codes and onerous zoning and approval processes gets layered into the local book of rules, and as a result I just gave up on building new houses because it wasn’t worth the hassle. Other builders with more patience will continue to plow through the murk, but they will have less competition, fewer permits will be granted, and thus the shortage of housing will continue to grow, which raises prices on average.
Thankfully, every city is different and some have chosen to make it easier to build new houses rather than more difficult. Even better, places like Tempe Arizona are allowing good housing to be built around people rather than cars, which is even more affordable to construct.
But overall, since overall US house prices adjusted for inflation are just about at an all-time high, I think there’s a chance that they might ease back down another 25% (to 2020 levels). But who knows: my guess could prove totally wrong, or the “fall” could just come in the form of flat prices for a decade that don’t keep up with inflation, meaning that they just feel 25% cheaper relative to our higher future salaries.
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When Will Interest Rates Go Back Down?
The funny part about our current “high” interest rates is that they are not actually high at all. They’re right around average.So they might not go down at all for a long time.
Remember that graph at the beginning of this article? I deliberately cropped it to show only the years since 2009 – the long recent period of low interest rates. But if you zoom out to cover the last seventy years instead, you can see that we’re still in a very normal range.
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But a better answer is this one: Interest rates will go down whenever Jerome Powell or one of his successors determines that our economy is slowing down too much and needs another hit from the gas pedal. In other words, whenever we start to slip into a genuine recession.
In order to do that however, we need to see low inflation, growing unemployment, and other signs of an economy that’s not too hot. And right now, those things keep not showing up in the weekly economic data.
You can get one reasonable prediction of the future of interest rates by looking at something called the US Treasury Yield Curve. It typically looks like this:
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What the graph is telling you is that as a lender you get a bigger reward in exchange for locking up your money for a longer time period. And way back in 2018, the people who make these loans expected that interest rates would average about 3.0 percent over the next 30 years.
Today, we have a very strange opposite yield curve:
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If you want to lend money for a year or less, you’ll be rewarded with a juicy 5.4 percent interest rate. But for two years, the rate drops to 4.92%. And then ten-year bond pays only 4.05 percent.
This situation is weird, and it’s called an inverted yield curve. And what it means is that the buyers of bonds currently believe that interest rates will almost certainly drop in the future – starting a little over a year from now.
And if you recall our earlier discussion about why interest rates drop, this means that investors are forecasting an economic slowdown in the fairly near future. And their intuition in this department has been pretty good: an inverted yield curve like this has only happened 11 times in the past 75 years, and in ten of those cases it accurately predicted a recession.
So the short answer is: nobody really knows, but we’ll probably see interest rates start to drop within 18-24 months, and the event may be accompanied by some sort of recession as well.
The Ultimate Interest Rate Strategy Hack
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I like to read and write about all this stuff because I’m still a finance nerd at heart. But when it comes down to it, interest rates don’t really affect long-retired people like many of us MMM readers, because we are mostly done with borrowing. I like the simplicity of owning just one house and one car, mortgage-free.
With the current overheated housing market here in Colorado, I’m not tempted to even look at other properties, but someday that may change. And the great thing about having actual savings rather than just a high income that lets you qualify for a loan, is that you can be ready to pounce on a good deal on short notice.
Maybe the entire housing market will go on sale as we saw in the early 2010s, or perhaps just one perfect property in the mountains will come up at the right time. The point is that when you have enough cash to buy the thing you want, the interest rates that other people are charging don’t matter. It’s a nice position of strength instead of stress. And you can still decide to take out a mortgage if you do find the rates are worthwhile for your own goals.
So to tie a bow on this whole lesson: keep your lifestyle lean and happy and don’t lose too much sweat over today’s interest rates or house prices. They will probably both come down over time, but those things aren’t in your control. Much more important are your own choices about earning, saving, healthy living and where you choose to live.
With these big sails of your life properly in place and pulling you ahead, the smaller issues of interest rates and whatever else they write about in the financial news will gradually shrink down to become just ripples on the surface of the lake.
In the comments:what have you been thinking about interest rates recently? Have they changed your decisions, increased, or perhaps even decreased your stress levels around money and housing?
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* Photo credit: Mr. Money Mustache, and Rustoleum Ultra Cover semi gloss black spraypaint. I originally polled some local friends to see if anyone owned dress shoes and a suit so I could get this picture, with no luck. So I painted up my old semi-dressy shoes and found some clean-ish black socks and pants and vacuumed out my car a bit before taking this picture. I’m kinda proud of the results and it saved me from hiring Jerome Powell himself for the shoot.
The average cost of homeowners insurance in Delaware is $875 per year, or about $73 per month, according to a NerdWallet analysis. That’s significantly less than the national average of $1,820 per year.
We’ve analyzed rates and companies across the state to find the best homeowners insurance in Delaware.
Note: Some insurance companies included in this article may have made changes in their underwriting practices and no longer issue new policies in your state. Even if an insurer serves your state, it may not write policies for all homes in all areas.
Why you can trust NerdWallet
Our writers and editors follow strict editorial guidelines to ensure fairness and accuracy in our writing and data analyses. You can trust the prices we show you because our data analysts take rigorous measures to eliminate inaccuracies in pricing data and may update rates for accuracy as new information becomes available.
We include rates from every locale in the country where coverage is offered and data is available. When comparing rates for different coverage amounts and backgrounds, we change only one variable at a time, so you can easily see how each factor affects pricing.
Our sample homeowner had good credit, $300,000 of dwelling coverage, $300,000 of liability coverage and a $1,000 deductible.
The best homeowners insurance in Delaware
If you’re looking to buy homeowners insurance from a well-rated national brand, consider one of these insurers from NerdWallet’s list of the Best Homeowners Insurance Companies.
More about the best home insurance companies in Delaware
See more details about each company to help you decide which one is best for you.
State Farm
Well-established insurer with a lengthy list of coverage options.
Coverage options
More than average
Average set of discounts
NAIC complaints
Fewer than expected
State Farm
Well-established insurer with a lengthy list of coverage options.
Coverage options
More than average
Average set of discounts
NAIC complaints
Fewer than expected
America’s largest home insurer celebrated its 100th anniversary in 2022. One useful endorsement you may be able to add to a State Farm policy is an inflation guard rider, which automatically increases your policy limits to make sure your coverage doesn’t fall short.
Chubb
Perks and high coverage limits for affluent homeowners.
Coverage options
About average
Great set of discounts
NAIC complaints
Far fewer than expected
Chubb
Perks and high coverage limits for affluent homeowners.
Coverage options
About average
Great set of discounts
NAIC complaints
Far fewer than expected
Chubb generally serves affluent policyholders with high-value homes, offering lofty coverage limits and plenty of perks. For example, the company covers water damage from backed-up sewers and drains, and pays to bring your home up to the latest building codes during reconstruction after a claim. (Many insurers charge more for these types of coverage.)
If you insure a secondary or seasonal home in Delaware with Chubb, you can sign up for the company’s Property Manager service at no charge. With this service, a Chubb representative will inspect your home after a hurricane, report its condition to you, submit a claim on your behalf and help prevent further damage.
Nationwide
For shoppers seeking a broad range of coverage options, Nationwide may fit the bill.
Coverage options
More than average
Great set of discounts
NAIC complaints
Close to expected
Nationwide
For shoppers seeking a broad range of coverage options, Nationwide may fit the bill.
Coverage options
More than average
Great set of discounts
NAIC complaints
Close to expected
We like Nationwide for its wide variety of coverage options. For example, its standard homeowners insurance policy generally includes ordinance or law coverage, which can help pay to bring your home up to current building codes after a covered claim. You can add other coverage for things like identity theft and damage from backed-up sewers and drains.
Depending on how much personal assistance you need, you can get a quote for homeowners insurance on the Nationwide website or work with a local agent instead. You can also use the website to pay bills, file claims or check claim status.
Travelers
Strong coverage and decent discounts.
Coverage options
About average
Average set of discounts
NAIC complaints
Fewer than expected
Travelers
Strong coverage and decent discounts.
Coverage options
About average
Average set of discounts
NAIC complaints
Fewer than expected
Travelers offers a robust online experience. You can use the website to get a homeowners insurance quote, file and track claims, make payments and learn about insurance basics.
Its coverage offerings are similarly strong. For example, you may be able to add extra coverage in case the dwelling limit on your home isn’t enough to rebuild your house after a disaster. One unique option is Travelers’ green home coverage, which pays extra if you want to use eco-friendly materials when repairing or rebuilding your home after a covered claim.
USAA
Offers perks and affordable rates for the military community.
Coverage options
Below average
Average set of discounts
NAIC complaints
Far fewer than expected
USAA
Offers perks and affordable rates for the military community.
Coverage options
Below average
Average set of discounts
NAIC complaints
Far fewer than expected
USAA sells homeowners insurance to veterans, active military members and their families. If that description fits you, you may want to consider a USAA policy. That’s because the company’s homeowners insurance has certain features that other insurers may charge extra for.
For example, USAA automatically covers your personal belongings on a “replacement cost” basis. Many companies pay out only what your items are worth at the time of the claim, which means you may not get much for older items. USAA pays enough for you to buy brand-new replacements for your stuff.
How much does homeowners insurance cost in Delaware?
The average annual cost of home insurance in Delaware is $875. That’s 52% less than the national average of $1,820.
In most U.S. states, including Delaware, many insurers use your credit-based insurance score to help set rates. Your insurance score is similar but not identical to your traditional credit score.
In Delaware, those with poor credit pay an average of $1,815 per year for homeowners insurance, according to NerdWallet’s rate analysis. That’s 107% more than those with good credit.
Average cost of homeowners insurance in Delaware by city
How much you pay for homeowners insurance in Delaware depends on where you live. For instance, the average cost of home insurance in Wilmington is $725 per year, while homeowners in Dover pay $790 per year, on average.
Average annual rate
Average monthly rate
Camden Wyoming
Georgetown
Middletown
New Castle
Rehoboth Beach
Wilmington
The cheapest home insurance in Delaware
Here are the insurers we found with average annual rates below the Delaware average of $875.
What to know about Delaware homeowners insurance
Delaware can see a range of severe weather that can spell disaster for homeowners. When looking for homeowners insurance in Delaware, consider the risk of coastal storms, flooding and hail.
Hurricanes and wind damage
Hurricanes and coastal storms can cause significant damage to properties, even if they don’t make landfall. Delaware is particularly vulnerable to coastal flooding and damage from high winds, as it is surrounded by water on three sides. Pay attention to your wind and flood coverage so you can make sure you have enough coverage for the damage these tropical storms can bring.
Your policy may have separate deductibles for hurricane and wind damage. Suppose your policy has a $1,000 deductible for most claims and a 2% deductible for wind claims. If your house has $250,000 worth of dwelling coverage, you’d have to pay for the first $5,000 of wind damage yourself.
Flooding
Coastal storms, snow melt and heavy rains can all cause flooding in Delaware. Standard homeowners insurance will not cover flood damage, which means people in at-risk areas should consider buying separate coverage.
To find out your risk, check out the Federal Emergency Management Agency’s flood maps and RiskFactor.com, a website from the nonprofit First Street Foundation. Even if your property is deemed low risk, it may be worthwhile to purchase flood insurance for extra peace of mind.
Homeowners in flood-prone areas may need to purchase separate flood insurance. Remember that while you can purchase flood coverage at any time, there’s typically a 30-day waiting period before the insurance takes effect. Here’s more information about flood insurance and waiting periods.
Thunderstorms and hail
While Delaware weather is often mild, severe thunderstorms bring strong wind and hail, which can cause extensive damage to roofs, siding or windows. Standard policies generally cover storm damage but keep in mind that, as with wind, hail damage may have a separate deductible.
Delaware insurance department
The Delaware Department of Insurance oversees the state’s insurance industry. In addition to providing consumer information, the agency’s website is also a resource if you’re having a dispute with your insurer. You can file a complaint using its online form. You can also reach out to the department with questions or to get support with your complaint at 800-282-8611 or [email protected].
Frequently asked questions
Is homeowners insurance required in Delaware?
Homeowners insurance is not required by Delaware state law. However, your lender may require you to purchase homeowners insurance.
Does Delaware homeowners insurance cover flooding?
Standard homeowners insurance in Delaware does not cover flooding. If you live in a high-risk area, you should consider buying a separate flood insurance policy.
How can I save money on homeowners insurance in Delaware?
There are several ways to save money on home insurance in Delaware:
Shop around to make sure you’re getting the best rate.
Choose a higher deductible. In case of any claims, you’ll pay more out of pocket, but your premiums will be lower.
It’s important to understand your rights as a renter.
The landlord-tenant relationship is complex. Each party’s responsibilities can vary by city, state and lease agreement. But federal, local and state laws secure renters’ rights.
The first step in exercising your tenants’ rights is to understand what those rights (and the laws that protect them) actually are. The second is to learn how to take action if someone violates your rights.
In this guide:
The right to fair housing
The Fair Housing Act of 1968 makes it illegal for landlords to discriminate based on race, sex, age, religion, nationality, family status or mental or physical disability. The Fair Housing Act applies to most rental units. There are exceptions for small rental properties, private clubs and religious organizations.
The law protects current renters and prospective tenants from discrimination for any of the reasons listed above. This discrimination can take many forms.
Federal Fair Housing Act protections
Sex, race, family status, age, religion, disability or national origin are examples of protected classes under the FHA. Landlords can’t refuse to rent to or negotiate with someone because of their protected status. They can’t set different terms or conditions, ask a renter to move out or force them to pay different fees or higher rent.
It’s against the law to state that only renters with particular physical and mental abilities or familial status can rent an apartment. The same goes for people of a certain age, race, sex or nationality. This applies to verbal statements and advertising, too. It’s also illegal for landlords to harass, intimidate, bribe or interfere with a renter’s right to equitable accommodation.
Definition of familial status
A landlord can’t refuse to rent to families with kids under 18 or discriminate against people seeking custody of children under 18. Landlords can’t deny legal guardians or pregnant women a home unless there’s a legal reason to do so.
Definition of sex
It’s against the law to only rent to men or women. Landlords also can’t discriminate because of a renter’s sexual orientation or gender identity. The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) offers resources, especially for LGBTQ+ renters.
Other protected classes
Certain state laws extend additional protections. Some make it illegal to discriminate because a renter receives alimony, child support or public assistance. Others ban discrimination based on physical characteristics like tattoos and piercings.
Search by state to learn about the laws in your area. If someone violates your rights, contact an organization on this list, reach out to an attorney or law firm or file a claim with HUD.
Rights for disabled tenants
The FHA and the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) protect renters with physical and mental disabilities. Under these laws, landlords must provide safe and accessible rental homes to residents with disabilities.
The ADA requires that common spaces are accessible. The FHA requires that most apartments, rental homes and condos built after March 13, 1991, include wheelchair-accessible doors, hallways and living spaces. Homes built before that date must have grab rails, accessible outlets and light switches, TTY phone systems, visual alarms and other accessible features put in place. Learn more about your rights in our accessible apartment guide.
If a landlord won’t rent to you or refuses to make reasonable accommodations so you can live in your home, you could file a complaint. Contact a Fair Housing Assistance Program (FHAP) or file a claim with HUD. Hiring an attorney with experience in discrimination claims can increase your chance of success.
The right to a habitable home
You have the right to a habitable home. That means the home you rent is a clean, safe space with access to heat and water. It’s structurally sound and free from pests.
A habitable home isn’t a threat to your physical health. A landlord must provide working safety measures like fire extinguishers, carbon monoxide and smoke detectors and fire alarms in your apartment. Most states require landlords to tell renters about environmental hazards like asbestos or mold before signing a lease.
The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and HUD also require landlords to tell prospective renters about lead paint in buildings built before 1978. Both parties must acknowledge the presence of lead paint in writing before the tenants move in. Landlords aren’t obligated to remove lead-based paint, just acknowledge it.
In most other cases, the landlord or property management team is responsible for removing toxins and making the rental home safe to live in. This doesn’t apply to damage caused by the current tenant.
Tenant rights include access to timely repairs and maintenance. A landlord will often include a timeframe for completing repairs. The lease may provide additional details about timing.
The right to privacy and notice for landlord visits
This is one of the most common landlord-tenant issues. Thankfully, renters’ rights are quite clear on the subject.
A landlord or property owner might own your apartment, but they can’t just barge in whenever they want. Landlords can only enter under certain circumstances. These include making or assessing repairs and showing rental units to insurance or mortgage professionals and prospective renters.
Landlords don’t need permission to enter during emergency situations like a fire or natural disaster. They can also come in if they think a tenant abandoned an apartment.
Most states require a landlord to give advance notice before entering an apartment, usually 24-48 hours. Rental agreements may provide more details.
Tenants have the right to request another date or time for a landlord’s visit. But they can’t deny them access if they have a valid reason to enter.
The right to fair credit reporting
The Fair Credit Reporting Act of 1970 gives renters the right to know what’s in their credit reports. If a property manager or landlord rejects your application, they have to disclose where they got the information. They also have to tell you how to contact the issuer. You just need to request this information from your landlord in writing.
This protects tenant rights because landlords have to provide evidence of bad credit. They can’t just deny your application for no reason. It can also catch clerical errors and alert you to possible identity theft.
Rights regarding notice of evictions
Evictions are one of the most difficult landlord-tenant issues. Landlords can legally evict a tenant for several reasons. These include nonpayment of rent, violating the terms of the rental agreement, significant property damage and failing to move out after a lease ends. The eviction process and eviction laws vary from state to state.
A landlord must follow the law in their state. Renters have the right to receive an eviction notice that details the reason for eviction. It must also provide a time frame for the eviction process. Residents should respond in writing and offer a solution that resolves the problem, if possible. (Eviction resources are available.) Once an eviction goes to court, the process is more difficult to stop.
If landlord-tenant communication breaks down and the issue isn’t resolved, the case goes to eviction court. If bad landlords try to evict tenants without an eviction court order, renters can get damages. Contact a lawyer or law firm immediately.
An eviction can damage your credit and make it hard to find a home in a safe location. Hiring a lawyer can help.
“Nationwide, only 10 percent of tenants are able to secure representation in eviction cases, compared to 90 percent of landlords,” Emily Benfer of the Princeton University Eviction Lab explains. “Where tenants are not represented, the vast majority lose their case.”
The right to recover a security deposit
Renters also have the right to have their security deposit returned at the end of a lease. Many rental agreements require security deposits to fix damage caused by residents or a pet. Security deposits are also used to cover incomplete rent payments.
Landlords can use a security deposit to fix the damaged rental unit or to pay off unpaid rent. But they need to provide the renter with an itemized list of expenses for which the landlord used the security deposit. They also need to return the unused portion of the security deposit to the tenant.
A renter should know local laws since some states limit how you can use security deposits and how large they are. Certain security deposits (like pet security deposits) aren’t refundable. Check your lease for the details.
The right to quiet enjoyment
Residents have the right to quiet enjoyment, called “Covenant of Quiet Enjoyment” in a lease. It guarantees residents the right to enjoy their rental property without “substantial interference” from a landlord.
If a landlord starts hammering nails in the middle of the night or fails to enforce quiet hours or no-smoking rules, they could be in violation. Refusing to repair a rental unit until it becomes uninhabitable, revving engines or throwing loud parties would be a violation, too.
A renter who can prove their landlord acted in bad faith could earn monetary damages or a full or partial rent refund. A lawyer who specializes in landlord-tenant issues will be an important ally.
Protect your rights
Now that you’ve reviewed your rights, you understand the protections provided by the law and your lease. If you’re a victim of discrimination or another legal issue, there’s more work ahead.
You may need to report a renters’ rights violation or file a landlord-tenant dispute. You might need to file a claim, challenge an eviction or take legal action.
Read the rental agreement
If you’re not sure if your landlord has violated your tenants’ rights, re-read your lease carefully. It can provide evidence to support your case or clarify a legal issue.
In a perfect world, you received a copy of your lease when you signed it. Some states must provide a copy of your lease agreement after you move in and after every annual renewal.
Otherwise, you can request a copy of your rental agreement from your landlord or management company in writing. That’s a good habit to get into for all landlord-tenant communications.
Document everything
Get everything in writing when documenting a legal issue. You need clear evidence and an organized system for keeping track of all the details.
“Documentation is important, whether you’re talking to a lawyer, going through the court system or going through a housing discrimination case,” says Kelly Gorz, Associate Director of High Plains Fair Housing Center in Grand Forks, North Dakota.
“Keep track of any kind of communication you have with your landlord — any emails, texts, receipts. Keep a notebook. If you talk to them in person, write down the date, what you asked for and what they said. Take pictures at move-in and walk-out. Take videos. Definitely don’t pay in cash. Make sure you have some kind of record of payment, whether that’s a check or certified mail.”
Study tenant rights in your state
Legal protections for renters vary widely by state and territory. They can even vary from city to city, so research the laws in your location thoroughly.
“Contact local fair housing offices and your city planning and development offices, too,” suggests Gorz. “They are very connected to their local community resources.”
Renters in HUD housing can call 1-800-MULTI-70 (1-800-685-8470). Assistance is available in English and Spanish. HUD also details tenant rights organizations and services by state and territory.
Some state attorney general websites also have information for renters. Enter your state to learn if yours is one of them.
Report discrimination to a partner agency
Reporting discrimination can feel overwhelming. Filing a claim with a community organization that specializes in FHA issues can make the process feel more manageable.
A renter can usually work directly with an organization in its own state. Staff members serve as advocates for renters who are filing an FHA claim, facing an eviction notice or dealing with another legal issue. Some can provide a lawyer or other legal services, while others provide free education and outreach.
Report FHA violations to HUD on the phone
Renters can also report housing discrimination complaints directly to HUD by calling 1-800-669-9777. The TTY is 1-800-927-9275. It’s always free to call.
Provide your name and address, as well as the name and address of the person who discriminated against you. Include the date the violation occurred, the address of the rental property and a brief description of the incident.
If HUD finds evidence of discrimination against a renter and the case goes to court, HUD will provide a lawyer for free. A renter can also retain their own attorney.
Report discrimination to HUD in writing
Tenants can also provide these details in writing. File an online complaint in Spanish or English on the HUD website.
Or, download this form and mail or email it to the closest regional office. The form is also available in Arabic, Spanish, Chinese, Korean, Russian, Somali, Cambodian and Vietnamese.
Retain an attorney
If you’ve been a victim of discrimination, you’ll need a lawyer that specializes in discrimination cases. If you’re challenging an eviction or you’re in the middle of a landlord-tenant dispute, select an experienced landlord-tenant attorney.
Free legal help is also available. Search by state to find a pro bono attorney or law firm in your area.
Challenge unmade repairs
If a landlord doesn’t make necessary repairs or the apartment is uninhabitable, renters have options. First, submit a request for repairs in writing and document any response.
Next, check your city and state’s maintenance laws. Information is often available at the local housing or building authority office. The health departments or fire stations might also provide help.
If the problem violates building or health codes or the apartment isn’t safe to live in, contact local authorities. Inspectors may order the landlord to fix the problem.
Knowledge is power
Every renter should know and understand their rights. That’s the first step to preserving them. And if your landlord violates your rights are violated, take the necessary steps to resolve the issues so you can enjoy a safe and happy home.