Colorado

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United Airlines’ Denver hub is getting a big face-lift.

Not only is the airline adding stunning new gates with Instagram-worthy bathroom areas, but it’s also debuting three new and revamped lounges in the coming months.

It all starts this summer with the opening of a new club in the A-West concourse, between gates A25 and A27. This will become United’s first lounge in Denver’s A concourse. It’ll also be a major upgrade for flyers leaving from this pier since you’ll no longer need to take the train just to use a lounge.

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Then, later this summer, United will reopen the B-East club, which has been closed for the past few months for renovations. Once complete, it’ll become the largest club in the network, spanning a whopping 36,500 square feet.

Once the B-East club opens, United will close the existing B-West club and renovate it in a similar style to its other club in Concourse B, with completion scheduled for 2024. United will then build a Polaris lounge in Denver, but that’s still a couple of years away.

ZACH GRIFF/THE POINTS GUY

When all is said and done, United will have over 100,000 square feet of club space in Denver, including its novel Club Fly concept. But the improvements aren’t just about a bigger footprint.

Each new club will be designed to reflect the Mile High City and Colorado, and there’s a lot to get excited about. Don’t believe me? Come along for a first-look hard-hat tour of the new A-West club.

2-story layout

United’s A-West club will feature a two-story layout — one of the few lounges in the network to span multiple levels.

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ZACH GRIFF/THE POINTS GUY

Once you take the escalator up to the reception area, you’ll find touchless entry gates that will let you into the lounge. From there, it’s your choice as to whether you’d like to hang out on the first or second level.

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Both will offer fantastic views of the concourse and tarmac, as well as copious amounts of natural light. The lounge’s west-facing window seats are sure to be the most popular during Denver’s dramatic sunsets over the Colorado Rockies.

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ZACH GRIFF/THE POINTS GUY

The new A-West lounge will measure 24,900 square feet across both levels.

Colorado-themed design

From the moment you step inside, you’ll definitely notice a ton of improvements compared to United’s existing Denver clubs, beginning with the design.

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United is going with a Colorado theme for this lounge, and based on the renderings, you’re sure to be impressed. Expect plenty of natural wood, along with gray carpets, blue accents and tan leather finishes.

UNITED

At the moment, the lounge is still very much under construction, but you can already begin to see the Colorado inspiration. For instance, United installed gabion walls around the perimeter of the entrance hallway in a nod to the rock-filled walls that line Interstate 70 to prevent boulders from falling onto the road.

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ZACH GRIFF/THE POINTS GUY

This club will also feature two fireplaces — one on each level. A wood-filled wall display will flank the fireplaces under natural oak-lined ceilings. Assuming that the finished product looks anything like the renderings, it’ll likely feel that you’ve entered a cozy ski lodge rather than a busy airport terminal.

UNITED

In fact, that’s exactly how Alex Dorow, United’s managing director of lounges, premium services and hospitality, conceptualized this new space. “If Ralph Lauren had to build a ski chalet, what would it look like?” he asked the team during the design process.

ZACH GRIFF/THE POINTS GUY

Amenities for the post-pandemic world

Aside from the finishes, United is purposely designing the space for a post-pandemic world. That means you’ll find more private workstations here than in most other United Clubs, in order to support those who are working from the road.

There will also be a few high-top coworking tables that’ll be perfect for solo flyers.

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ZACH GRIFF/THE POINTS GUY

Also, the dining area will feature a mix of one-, two- and four-top tables and booths, which will suit those traveling alone or with friends and family.

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Speaking of dining areas, United is working to upgrade the lounge catering, said Dorow, and he teased locally inspired options that will rotate seasonally. “When we say local, it’s not just in the look and feel; it’s also in what you taste,” Dorow explained.

The three new Denver lounges will all feature United’s signature hydration walls and personal water bottle refilling stations. According to Dorow, the airline received feedback that more and more travelers want spouts to fill their own water bottles — a request that United is happily addressing in its newest outposts.

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ZACH GRIFF/THE POINTS GUY

Notably, the new A-West United Club will not offer shower suites, which is a bummer considering that the airline is planning to move its long-haul international flights to the A concourse in the coming years.

You will find gender-specific restroom facilities (featuring private, floor-to-ceiling stalls), an all-gender restroom and a family room on each level.

As with United’s existing lounges, expect fast and free Wi-Fi and convenient access to power outlets and USB ports.

A surprise is coming

While the new lounges seem like they’ll be a major upgrade for United’s Denver hub, Dorow didn’t spill all the beans during the hard-hat tour.

ZACH GRIFF/THE POINTS GUY

In fact, he teased an all-new amenity that’ll debut in all three of the new Denver clubs. “As we open up these lounges, you’re going to see some new ways that allow customers to also get to know one another,” he said.

He didn’t share specifics, but he kept mentioning “fun artifacts” and “games.” What that means is anyone’s guess, but the good news is that we’re just a few months away from finding out.

ZACH GRIFF/THE POINTS GUY

Better yet, even if this surprise is a dud, at least the rest of the lounge will bring some much-needed improvements to United’s Denver hub.

Source: thepointsguy.com

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Some reader stories contain general advice; others are examples of how a GRS reader achieved financial success or failure. These stories feature folks with all levels of financial maturity and income.

Mark Ferguson has been a Realtor since 2001 after graduating from the University of Colorado with a business finance degree. He runs a real estate team of 10 that sells over 200 homes a year, fix and flips 10 to 15 homes a year and owns 11 rental properties. Mark also runs www.investfourmore.com, a blog that discusses Mark’s fix and flips, rental properties, becoming a real estate agent and everything real estate related.

Many television shows portray fix and flipping as a very profitable business that can easily be done in your spare time. Sure there are usually a few contractor problems, but in the end the house sells for a lot of money and the owners make a killing. In reality, you can make money fix and flipping homes, but it takes a lot of hard work and a lot of flipping to make a lot of money. It is also very easy to lose a lot of money if you do not account for all the costs or overestimate the value of your flip.

I have been a Realtor since 2001, and I have fix and flipped close to 100 homes over the last 10 years. I have 10 fix and flips going right now, and I can tell you it is not easy managing one fix and flip let alone 10! It takes a lot of money to fund fix and flips, more time than you think to sell a flip, a lot of experience to deal with repairs and contractors, and expenses are almost always more than you figure.

If you buy houses cheap enough with enough of a margin for error, you can make good money fix and flipping homes — but don’t expect to be a millionaire after a year or two in the business.

Are the Television Shows Accurate in Their Portrayal of the Flipping Business?

Most fix and flip television shows love to show the before and after pictures of a flip with the initial purchase price and the selling price at the end. There are a couple of shows that portray the expenses accurately, but most leave out many of the costs that flippers encounter. In the fix and flip business, many investors use the 70 percent rule to determine if they can make a good profit when they flip a home.

The 70 percent rule states the purchase price should be 70 percent of the after-repaired-value (ARV) minus the cost of any repairs. For example, if a house will be worth $150,000 after it is repaired and it needs $30,000 in repairs, the 70 percent rule states an investor should pay $75,000 for that house. Buying a house that will be worth $150,000 for $75,000 seems like a home run, but it is really just an average deal because there are so many costs associated with flipping.

What Costs are Involved in Fix and Flipping Homes?

The obvious costs involved in flipping are the purchase price of a home and the repair costs. In our example, there appears to be $45,000 in profit once you include the selling price and the repairs but there are many more expenses that many beginners do not consider.

  • Financing costs: Most people do not have $75,000 plus the costs of repairs and carrying costs to buy a flip. It is more expensive to finance a flip because banks make their money off interest paid on loans. The shorter time you hold a loan, the less money a bank will make. Most large banks will not finance flips, but some local lenders will. Hard-money lenders will fund flips, but they are very expensive, charging 12 to 16 percent interest rates plus 2 to 4 percent of the loan amount for origination fees. A hard-money lender is a not a bank but a company that takes money from investors at a given interest rate. The hard-money lender then lends that money to fix and flippers at a much higher interest rate.
  • Carrying costs: When you own a house, you have to pay for the lawn care, heating, insurance, taxes, HOA and more while you own the home.
  • Purchasing costs: Besides the loan origination costs, there are some other costs to consider when buying a flip. A home inspection will run $300 to $800. Some lenders will require an appraisal, which is $400 to $600. There will be a closing fee, recording fees, tax certificates and much more.
  • Selling costs: When you sell your house, you will most likely have to pay a real estate agent to sell the flip and possibly cover closing costs for a buyer. The real estate commission and closing costs can add up to be 10 percent of the sale price.
  • Miscellaneous costs: Depending on where and how you buy your property, it may have a tenant or the previous owner may still be living in it. You could have eviction costs or costs to pay the occupants to leave.

Here is an example of what the total costs would look like on a typical fix and flip I buy and sell. I have a great lender who charges me 5.25 percent interest rate and 1.5 percent origination, but they only lend on 75 percent of the purchase price. My loan costs are much lower than most flippers’.

Purchase price: $75,000

Loan amount: $56,250

Costs:

Loan costs: $2,500

Carrying costs: $1,600

  1. a. Insurance: $400
  2. b. Lawn maintenance: $300
  3. c. Taxes : $400
  4. d. Utilities: $500

Buying costs: $1,000 (I usually do not do an inspection or have an appraisal)

Repairs: $30,000

Selling costs: $7,000 (Since I am a Realtor, I only pay the buyer’s agent commission. I list the house myself and do not have to pay a listing agent.)

Miscellaneous: $5,000

Total costs: $47,100

If I sold the house for $150,000, my profit would be $27,900. That is a decent profit, but I want to make at least $25,000 on each flip because of the risk involved and the money I put into them. On this flip, I would need at least $50,000 of my own cash for the down payment, carrying costs and repairs. Beginning flippers could easily spend three times as much for financing costs and another $4,500 to pay a listing agent. That cuts the profit to under $20,000 for a house that sells for twice as much as it was purchased for. The next time you watch a fix and flip show, see how many of these costs they actually tell you about!

Will You Make More Money Fix and Flipping More Expensive Homes?

It is true that the profit potential goes up when you flip more expensive homes. However, there are many more risks involved when flipping expensive houses.

  • The repairs will be much more expensive because buyers will demand higher quality.
  • It takes longer to sell more expensive houses and your carrying costs will be higher.
  • The carrying costs will be higher due to HOAs, more maintenance needed, higher taxes, etc.
  • You will need more cash because down payments, carrying costs and repairs will be higher.
  • All your money is in one house instead of multiple homes, increasing the risk if something goes wrong.

The biggest problem with flipping more expensive homes is that the difference between the buy price and sell price is massive. Using the 70 percent rule, a house with a $500,000 ARV would have to be bought for $300,000, if it needed $50,000 in work ($500,000*.7-$50,000=$300,000). It is very hard to find a deal that has such a large difference between the ARV and the purchase price because an owner-occupant buyer would be willing to pay much more for the house. The owner-occupant can pay $400,000, put $50,000 into the house and still have a great deal. In the more expensive market, it is much more likely owner-occupants will have the cash to put into homes.

How Long Does it Take to Fix and Flip a House?

From start to finish, my goal is to have a flip for four months from the time I buy it to the time I sell it. I almost never hit that number because there are so many unknowns. The biggest delay I have is finding good contractors, especially when I have 10 properties at once. It takes me a couple of weeks to get a contractor started on the work, about a month for the work to be done, about three weeks for the home to be on the market before a contract is accepted and yet another month for the escrow/closing process — if everything goes perfectly.

Unfortunately, it often takes longer for the contractor to make repairs. We inevitably see a few things the contractor missed and they have to go back to the home to take care of those items. Then we have to line up cleaners and get the home listed. Sometimes it takes three weeks to get a good offer; sometimes it’s just one week, but it could just as easily be two months. In addition, the escrow process can vary from one month to sometimes two months. Now that I have so many houses and not enough contractors, I am looking at almost nine-month turn times on some of my properties.

Is All the Hassle Worth it When Fix and Flipping Homes?

After looking at all the costs and everything that has to be accounted for, it may seem a bit intimidating to flip a home. Especially when you consider we have not even talked about how to find a fix and flip that can be bought cheap enough to make money. Just like anything in life, it takes time to learn what you are doing and feel comfortable. I still am learning new techniques to find properties and finding better ways to fix and flip homes.

After you learn the business, it can be a lot of fun. I still get excited whenever I get a new deal under contract, almost as excited as when I sell one for a nice profit. Over the last two years, I have averaged about a $35,000 profit on each of my fix and flips. I completed 10 flips last year and should complete (buy, fix, sell) over 10 this year. On most flips, I make around $30,000 in profit; but once in a while, I will make more, like this property that I made over $50,000. In the last 13 years of fix and flipping homes, I have made over $100,000 twice on a single flip. My success has not come from making a huge profit on one or two flips a year, but on consistently making modest profits on multiple homes. There is much less risk flipping many lower priced homes than flipping one expensive home.

The best part about this business is that I do not flip full time. I run a real estate team of 10 and my primary job is running that team and selling houses. Once you set yourself up correctly with the right contractors, the right financing, enough of your own money and experience, the business does most of the work itself. It is not easy to get to that point and it takes a lot of time and reinvesting money back into the business.

How Do You Find a Great Deal to Fix and Flip?

Finding a great deal is the key to making money in the fix and flip business. I used to buy 90 percent of my fix and flips at the public trustee foreclosure sale. These houses were sold in as-is condition for cash, and many times the inside of the house could not be viewed or homes were occupied. When I bought a home at the trustee sale, I had no inspection period and no way to back out once the property was purchased. In the last two years, the competition at the trustee sale has increased and I have not purchased any homes from that sale in over a year. In fact, I do not even go to the sale anymore because people are paying close to the amount you could buy a house for on the MLS. When I buy on the MLS, I get to have an inspection done, I can use a loan to buy the property, and I don’t have to deal with any occupants.

Almost all of my deals are bought on the MLS now. There are a few tricks to getting a great deal, but it is not easy with rising prices and competition.

  • Act fast: I make offers within hours of homes being listed.
  • Become an agent: One of the reasons I can act so fast is that I write the offer, set up a showing and I do not have to wait on an agent.
  • Look for properties that need work: The more problems a property has, the more potential profit there is. Make sure you know how to fix the problems and how much it will cost!
  • Look for properties that have been on the market over 90 days. The sellers are more likely to accept low offers on these homes. If they are grossly overpriced, I do not even bother.
  • Make offers on homes that come back on the market quickly. I can set up MLS alerts to tell me when a house in a certain price point comes on the market or comes back on the market after a contract falls apart. Many times the great deals that need work have contracts that fall apart because buyers don’t realize how much work is needed until their inspection.

There are other ways to get great deals such as direct marketing to sellers who do not have their properties for sale or finding wholesalers who sell cheap properties to investors.

What Should You Avoid if You Decide to Start Flipping Homes?

If you have decided you want to give flipping a try, here are some tips to keep you from losing too much money on your first try.

  • Only do the repairs yourself if you know what you are doing and have time to complete them. Many flippers try to save money by doing the work themselves. They don’t realize how long it takes to make repairs, especially in their spare time. It ends up taking months to fix the property and the extra time will eats up the money you thought you saved by doing the work yourself. To make the situation even worse, the work won’t be as good as if a professional did it.
  • Do not overestimate the value of a home or rely on values to increase to make money. Many markets have increasing prices, but that doesn’t mean they will keep increasing. A lot of flippers went bankrupt during the housing crisis because they assumed the market would keep going up. When prices stopped increasing and then decreased, they lost everything. I kept flipping right on through the housing crisis because I based values on the current market and left myself room for adjustment.
  • Do not overprice a home when you list it. To make money flipping, you have to sell quickly and keep your money moving from property to property. If you have a house sitting on the market that won’t sell, it is most likely overpriced. I have found that the sweet spot for a house to be on the market is three weeks and then I usually get an offer. If I don’t get an acceptable offer after 30 days, I lower the price 5 to 10 percent, depending on the activity.
  • Don’t try to sell a house yourself unless you are an agent. If you sell a house for sale by owner, you lose market exposure by not being in MLS. Ninety percent of buyers use a real estate agent to represent them and those agents look on MLS to find properties for their buyers. If you use a limited service company that puts the home on MLS, you still have to pay for the buyer’s agent. You are saving very little money and the buyer has representation while you do not. Who will get the better deal?
  • Always assume your repairs will be more expensive than you think and the flip will take longer than you think. Even if you get a bid for all the work before hand, things always pop up that you didn’t see or you couldn’t have known about.

My Worst Flipping Experience

There is a lot of information in this article and I didn’t even come close to covering every topic involving flipping houses. I hope it gives you an overview of what it is like and what it takes to flip houses. It is not about hitting a homerun on every flip, but hitting a lot of singles over and over again. I have lost money on flips before, sometimes because of things I have no control over. Since I had many flips going at once, losing money on one flip did not destroy my business — but this was the worst experience.

A couple of years ago, I bought a flip at the trustee sale. I saw the interior of the home through the windows but never got inside the house before I bought it. It was a good deal on a newer house, with little work needed and I thought I would make some easy money. After I bought the house and got the locks changed, we found a brand new BMW in the garage. I knew something very odd was going on, so we tracked down the previous owners in California (I am in Northern Colorado). They claimed the bank had foreclosed wrongly and they were going to get the house for free. They ended up filing a lawsuit against the bank a week later and we had a house we could not sell because it was involved in litigation.

The previous owners had been convinced they would get the house for free by a legal aid. We offered them $5,000 to drop the case and they would not even think of it, because they knew they would get the house for free. Long story short, the lawsuit was frivolous and thrown out by a judge as soon as he saw the case. The problem was that it took the court almost a year to look at the case even after we had hired lawyers and paid them almost $10,000 to speed up the process. After carrying costs and lawyers fees, I lost about $15,000 on that house. There was no way to know that would happen, but sometimes that’s how it works when buying houses at the foreclosure sale. That is why I prefer to have multiple low-value houses at the same time, instead of one expensive house. I was still making money and turning other properties while that house was tied up. If all my money was tied up in one house that I could not sell for a year, I could have been in serious trouble.

Conclusion

I have been in the fix and flipping business for a long time and it has been very good to me. It is not easy to get started, to find great deals, find great contractors or to get all the money needed to flip. It is not impossible either, but it does take a lot of planning and education to get started. If you want to ask any questions in the comments, I’ll try to respond as quickly as possible.

Source: getrichslowly.org

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If you haven’t had a chance to book a stay, know that Monday is the final day to book World of Hyatt properties before the award rates for many popular spots increase.

Starting Tuesday, 214 hotels in the World of Hyatt portfolio will require more points.

Across the properties going up, there will be an average price increase of more than 5,000 World of Hyatt points … per night. That’s not great news, but there is still time to lock in redemptions at some of our favorite hotels before prices increase.

Related: Suddenly, my Hyatt free night certificates feel worthless

At most properties, you can lock in stays for 13 months out (through April 2024) at the current award rates. Also, the vast majority allow free cancellations if your plans ultimately change.

However, there are a few exceptions to that general rule, especially around the winter holiday week, when some stays are nonrefundable. Some all-inclusive properties, such as some Secrets properties, charge a $50 cancellation fee at any point that you change your mind.

Secrets Moxche Playa Del Carmen Room ViewSecrets Moxche Playa Del Carmen Room View
SECRETS MOXCHE PLAYA DEL CARMEN/FACEBOOK

Read the fine print carefully before making a booking you are unsure about keeping, but know that most bookings are penalty-free until a few days before check-in.

If you want to make bookings but don’t currently have Hyatt points in your account, there are a few ways to do that.

First, if you have Hyatt Globalist status, you can have Hyatt make you some bookings without points needed until you get closer to check-in. Beyond that option, a few credit card transferable points programs, including Chase and Bilt, can typically transfer points instantly to Hyatt.

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Here’s a guide on how to book Hyatt stays without enough points in your account.

Here are some properties to prioritize if you want to lock in some stays today before they cost more starting Tuesday.

Hotels going from Category 4 to 5

Unfortunately, there are many popular properties that will soon be out of reach via the most common Hyatt free night certificates.

These awards are given out in several ways, including via the World of Hyatt Credit Card or by reaching certain qualifying night thresholds during the year.

Here’s a partial list of those properties that will no longer be eligible.

  • Andaz San Diego.
  • Chicago Athletic Association.
  • The Eliza Jane.
  • Hyatt Regency Grand Reserve Puerto Rico.
  • Grand Hyatt Jeju.
  • Grand Hyatt Seoul.
  • Park Hyatt Saigon.
  • Hyatt Regency Amsterdam.
  • Thompson Madrid.
  • Hyatt Place Moab.
  • Hyatt House Naples/5th Avenue.
  • Lahaina Shores Beach Resort, a Destination by Hyatt Residence.

Let’s take a closer look at three of these properties that represent particularly great value.

Related: The 23 best Hyatt hotels in the world

Andaz San Diego

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Andaz San Diego. CLINT HENDERSON/THE POINTS GUY

Why you should stay there

Andaz San Diego is a nice property in the heart of San Diego’s Gaslamp Quarter, close to popular restaurants and a ton of nightlife. The rooms are contemporary and the service is friendly and efficient, from the front desk to the restaurant staff. There is a hopping rooftop bar with great views of the city.

What it will cost

  • The Andaz San Diego will go from Category 4 to Category 5. When this change takes effect, it will go out of range of a Category 4 award certificate.
  • Award nights for standard rooms increase from 12,000-18,000 points per night to 17,000-23,000 points per night.

Chicago Athletic Association

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Chicago Athletic Association. HYATT

Why you should stay there

Chicago Athletic Association is housed in a classic building — formerly an 1890s-era private athletic club. The building may date to the late 19th century, but the rooms are refreshed and midcentury modern.

The central Chicago location is also a selling point, as the property sits near Millennium Park and the Art Institute of Chicago. It even has an on-site Shake Shack and a bocce ball court.

What it will cost

  • Chicago Athletic Association is going from Category 4 to Category 5. When this change takes effect, it will go out of range of a Category 4 award certificate.
  • Award nights for standard rooms increase from 12,000-18,000 points per night to 17,000-23,000 points per night.

Related: Book this, not that in Chicago

The Eliza Jane

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The Eliza Jane. HYATT

Why you should stay there

The Eliza Jane was a sweet spot for many looking to visit New Orleans as it was new, trendy, well located and still eligible for the Hyatt Category 1-4 award nights.

What it will cost

  • Eliza Jane is going from Category 4 to Category 5. When this change takes effect, it will go out of range of a Category 4 award certificate.
  • Award nights for standard rooms increase from 12,000-18,000 points per night to 17,000-23,000 points per night.

Related: Here’s how to quickly stock up on Hyatt points for your next vacation

Hotels going from Category 7 to 8

Unfortunately, Hyatt is also making some properties out of reach for even its more exclusive free night certificates. Category 1-7 free night certificates are provided when you pass 60 elite nights and qualify for World of Hyatt Globalist status.

These properties are moving out of range of that valuable certificate:

  • Alila Marea Beach Resort Encinitas.
  • Carmel Valley Ranch.
  • Hyatt Carmel Highlands, Overlooking Big Sur Coast & Highlands Inn, A Hyatt Residence Club.
  • Park Hyatt Beaver Creek Resort and Spa.
  • Hyatt Centric Key West Resort & Spa.
  • Wentworth Mansion.
  • The Lodge at Spruce Creek.
  • Ksar Char-Bagh.
  • Viceroy Bali.
  • Hotel Gajoen Tokyo.
  • Keemala.
  • Hotel Excelsior Dubrovnik.
  • Hotel Martinez.
  • Le Narcisse Blanc Hotel & Spa.
  • Boheme Hotel.
  • Mykonos Riviera Hotel & Spa.
  • 7Pines Resort Sardinia.
  • Ca’Sagredo Hotel.
  • Grand Hotel Cocumella.
  • La Villa del Re.
  • Margutta 19.
  • Villa Spalletti Trivelli.
  • Villa Geba.
  • El Lodge Ski and Spa.
  • Nobu Hotel Marbella.
  • Grand Hotel Villa Castagnola.
  • Park Hyatt Zurich.
  • Villa Orselina.

Park Hyatt Zurich

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Park Hyatt Zurich. CAPE PEMBROKE/HYATT

Why you should stay there

The Park Hyatt Zurich is a sleek and modern midrise in the heart of the financial capital of Zurich. The modern artwork hanging on nearly every hotel wall is worth a visit alone.

What it will cost

  • The Park Hyatt Zurich is going from Category 7 to Category 8. When this change takes effect, it will go out of range of Category 1-7 award certificates.
  • Award nights for standard rooms increase from 25,000-35,000 points per night to 35,000-45,000 points per night.

Park Hyatt Beaver Creek

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Park Hyatt Beaver Creek. SUMMER HULL/THE POINTS GUY

Why you should stay there

Park Hyatt Beaver Creek is a five-star option in essentially every way if you want a ski-out Colorado mountain vacation.

Standard rooms routinely cost over $1,000 per night during the peak ski season. Staying with points is a way to have a ski vacation that’s as easy as stepping out onto the snow and being right next to the gondola without spending thousands of dollars on lodging.

Booking with points also means you get to skip the nightly resort fee. Those with Hyatt Globalist status luck out, too, with saving on mountain prices for breakfast each day.

What it will cost

  • The Park Hyatt Beaver Creek is going from Category 7 to Category 8. When this change takes effect, it will go out of range of a Category 7 award certificate.
  • Award nights for standard rooms increase from 25,000-35,000 points per night to 35,000-45,000 points per night.
  • Expect ski season nights to be at the high end of that range.

Related: Review of the Park Hyatt Beaver Creek

Popular leisure and big-city destinations increasing

In addition to the painful number of properties climbing from Category 4 to 5 and Category 7 to 8, plenty of hotels are moving up other levels on the award chart.

Many popular leisure resorts and busy city destinations will inch up from Category 6 to 7, meaning extra points for stays booked as of March 28.

Here’s a breakdown of some popular spots that you should strongly consider booking now before prices increase.

Grand Hyatt Kauai Resort & Spa

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Grand Hyatt Kauai. SUMMER HULL/THE POINTS GUY

Why you should stay there

Grand Hyatt Kauai is a large, lush Hawaiian resort in sunny Poipu. It has one of the best pool complexes you’ll find anywhere, with a 1 1/2-acre saltwater lagoon, 150-foot waterslide and multiple layers of pools for playing, sunning and swimming.

This hotel also has an above-average club lounge, so those who have or purchase access can save on food costs by indulging there.

Standard rooms can cost close to $1,000 per night during peak times, making this a popular award redemption location.

What it will cost

  • The Grand Hyatt Kauai is going from Category 6 to Category 7.
  • Award nights for standard rooms increase from 21,000-29,000 points per night to 25,000-35,000 points per night.

Related: Review of the Grand Hyatt Kauai

Andaz 5th Avenue

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Andaz 5th Avenue. BENJI STAWSKI/THE POINTS GUY

Why you should stay there

It’s hard to beat the location of the Andaz 5th Avenue, given its proximity not only to Fifth Avenue but the New York Public Library, Bryant Park, Broadway and more. It’s close to almost everything without being in too frantic of a location.

What it will cost

  • Andaz 5th Avenue is going from Category 6 to Category 7.
  • Award nights for standard rooms increase from 21,000-29,000 points per night to 25,000-35,000 points per night.

Related: Review of the Andaz 5th Avenue

Hyatt Regency Maui Resort and Spa

Hyatt Regency Maui. CLINT HENDERSON/THE POINTS GUY

Why you should stay there

The Hyatt Regency Maui offers an excellent location near Lahaina on Maui. It’s set on 40 acres on Kaanapali Beach and has a giant feature-filled swimming pool with a grotto bar, waterslide and bridge right next to the beach.

There are a total of 806 guest rooms and 31 suites, many with dramatic views of the ocean. This has traditionally been a great way to redeem World of Hyatt points (when available). However, cash prices have soared since the pandemic.

What it will cost

  • The Hyatt Regency Maui goes from Category 6 to Category 7.
  • Award nights for standard rooms increase from 21,000-29,000 points per night to 25,000-35,000 points per night.

Related: A review of the Hyatt Regency Maui

Hyatt Regency Aruba Resort Spa and Casino

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Hyatt Regency Aruba Resort Spa and Casino. HYATT

Why you should stay there

The Hyatt Regency Aruba Resort Spa and Casino has many amenities in a central location on the beach. On top of that, it has a large pool complex with a waterslide, activity pool and adults pool. Rooms were recently renovated, and as the name implies, there’s an on-site casino.

What it will cost

  • The Hyatt Regency Aruba Resort Spa and Casino goes from Category 6 to Category 7.
  • Award nights for standard rooms increase from 21,000-29,000 points per night to 25,000-35,000 points per night.

Grand Hyatt Vail

Grand Hyatt Vail. HYATT

Why you should stay there

Grand Hyatt Vail is a full-service ski hotel without quite as high a price tag as the Park Hyatt Beaver Creek. That will still be true, but both are going up in award cost.

Right now, the maximum you’ll pay for mountain-adjacent lodging at the Grand Hyatt is just 29,000 Hyatt points per night, which is a great deal while you can lock it in.

This is not as ski-out as the Park Hyatt. However, during the heart of the season, an on-site ski lift will take you up the mountain, though you need to be an advanced beginner to an intermediate skier to traverse that terrain. In other words, new skiers will still need to take the shuttle to ski school.

What it will cost

  • The Grand Hyatt Vail is going from Category 6 to Category 7.
  • Award nights for standard rooms increase from 21,000-29,000 points per night to 25,000-35,000 points per night.
  • Expect standard rooms to fall at the top end of those ranges during much of the ski season.

Related: Guide to visiting Vail

All-inclusive resorts are going up

The all-inclusive resorts in the World of Hyatt program will also take a hit. Some will go from costing 25,000 points per night for double occupancy to 40,000 points per night. Hyatt uses a letter system for all-inclusives instead of numbered categories.

Lots of properties are increasing one category (for example, from C to D), and some are going up two categories (C to E). Some of the popular all-inclusive resorts changing categories are:

  • Zoetry Agua Punta Cana.
  • Zoetry Casa del Mar Los Cabos.
  • Zoetry Montego Bay Jamaica.
  • Hyatt Zilara Cap Cana.
  • Hyatt Ziva Cap Cana.
  • Hyatt Zilara Rose Hall.
  • Hyatt Ziva Rose Hall.
  • Hyatt Ziva Cancun.
  • Hyatt Zilara Cancun.
  • Hyatt Ziva Los Cabos.
  • Hyatt Ziva Puerto Vallarta.
  • Secrets Papagayo Costa Rica.
  • Secrets Wild Orchid Montego Bay.
  • Secrets St. James Montego Bay.
  • Breathless Montego Bay Resort & Spa.

However, before locking in your stays, carefully review the cancellation policy. Many of these properties impose a $50 fee if you need to cancel — and most require this at least four days prior to arrival.

Related: These are the most luxurious all-inclusive resorts

Zoetry Agua Punta Cana

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ZOETRY AGUA PUNA CANA/FACEBOOK

Why you should stay there

The Zoetry brand has multiple properties going up in award cost, including the Zoetry Agua Punta Cana. It’s next to the water with multiple on-site restaurants and standard rooms that start at over 700 square feet.

What will cost

  • Zoetry Agua Punta Cana is going from Category C to Category E (moving up two categories).
  • Award nights for standard rooms increase from 25,000 to 40,000 World of Hyatt points per night.

Hyatt Ziva and Zilara Cap Cana

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Hyatt Ziva and Zilara Cap Cana. HYATT

Why you should stay there

The Hyatt Ziva and Zilara Cap Cana in the Dominican Republic are side-by-side resorts, one dedicated to adults and the other for family travelers. There’s an on-site beach, pool and even a water park, making for a fun one-stop-shop resort.

What it will cost

  • The Hyatt Ziva and Zilara in Cap Cana are going from Category C to Category E (increasing two categories).
  • Award nights for standard rooms increase from 25,000 to 40,000 World of Hyatt points per night.

Hyatt Zilara and Ziva Rose Hall

Hyatt Zilara and Ziva Rose Hall. CLINT HENDERSON/THE POINTS GUY.

Why you should stay there

The Hyatt Zilara Rose Hall and the Hyatt Ziva Rose Hall are two of the best all-inclusives in Jamaica. They have been favorite redemptions for folks at TPG over the years, offering good value in a setting where food and drinks are included.

Between the two neighboring resorts (one is adults-only, one family-friendly), you’ll find multiple pools, beaches and lounge areas.

What it will cost

  • The Hyatt Zilara and Ziva Rose Hall in Montego Bay, Jamaica, are going from Category C to Category D.
  • Award nights for standard rooms increase from 25,000 per night to 30,000 World of Hyatt points per night.

Bottom line

If you want to maximize your free night awards and World of Hyatt points at any of the 214 properties going up in price (view the full list), you need to do it Monday.

As mentioned, you can book future stays as far out as the calendar allows, typically 13 months. These changes go into effect for bookings made or modified on or after Tuesday.

Related reading:

Additional reporting by Kyle Olsen.

Source: thepointsguy.com

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Who amongst us hasn’t wondered at some point what it would be like to live in a castle?

Whenever we visit a castle, we think of what it must have been like to live there, and imagine ourselves as king (or queen) of our domain.

Then we unfortunately snap back to reality and go about our lives, always dreaming of that old stone castle perched atop a cliff overlooking a quaint English village…Right, back to our story here.

When you think of castles, your mind immediately goes to Europe. The dreamlike, fairy tale castles in Germany, England, Scotland, or France can make your jaw drop and your imagination run wild.

European countries are rich in history, and there are countless jaw dropping castles to visit, including Neuschwanstein in Germany, Alhambra in Spain, Corvin Castle in Romania, Kilkenny Castle in Ireland — the list can truly go on and on, and that’s not an exaggeration. 

But what if you don’t have the means, the time, or the desire to travel across the ocean to visit these castles in Europe?

Well, if you live anywhere around New York, you’ll be glad (and perhaps even surprised) to know that there are various castles worth visiting right here in the Empire State. Don’t believe us? Keep reading to see what your own backyard has to offer. 

1. Boldt Castle

First on our list is Boldt Castle, a landmark tourist destination located in the Thousand Islands area.

Boldt Castle on Heart Island (part of the Town of Alexandria, in Jefferson County) on the Saint Lawrence River.
Boldt Castle on Heart Island (part of the Town of Alexandria, in Jefferson County) on the Saint Lawrence River. Photo credit: Hamidreza, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons

The castle was originally built as a private mansion for millionaire George Boldt, the general manager of the Waldorf-Astoria Hotel in NYC and the Bellevue-Stratford Hotel in Philadelphia.

Boldt and his family used to enjoy spending their summers at the family cottage on Hart Island (now Thousand Islands), and the businessman decided to build a bigger home for them there.

However, work on Boldt Castle came to a sudden halt in 1904, when George Boldt’s wife passed away. Heartbroken, Boldt gave up on the project, for good, and the castle was left vacant and in disrepair for 73 years. 

After being purchased by the Thousand Island Transit Authority for just $1 in 1977, the castle was restored and renovated, and is now a popular tourist attraction, open to visitors from May to October.

the power generator at Boldt Castle on Heart Island on the Saint Lawrence River
The electricity generator at Boldt Castle looming over the Saint Lawrence River. Photo credit: Hamidreza, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons

It’s only accessible by water, either from the U.S. or Canada, and despite this fact, it’s one of the most visited attractions in Upstate New York.

If you want to visit a property that was truly built out of love, and later lovingly restored, be sure to pay it a visit. 

2. Singer Castle

On the rocky, wild shores of Upstate New York lies another historic estate reminiscent of the quaint castles of Europe, namely Singer Castle.

Singer Castle on Dark Island, in the lower Thousand Islands region, near Chippewa Bay (in St. Lawrence County, New York).
Singer Castle on Dark Island, in the lower Thousand Islands region, near Chippewa Bay (in St. Lawrence County, New York). Photo credit: Ad Meskens, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons

Located on Dark Island, Singer Castle was completed in 1905 by Frederick G. Bourne, the president of the Singer sewing machine company. If you’re a fan of Gothic architecture and/or literature, then you simply have to visit Singer Castle. 

The medieval-style fortress is your quintessential Gothic castle, featuring things like secret passageways, hidden buttons, wrought-iron chandeliers, huge fireplaces, and (just) 28 bedrooms.

Nobody knows why Bourne decided to include all these unusual features in the construction, but we’re definitely intrigued.

For instance, one of the panels in the library can be opened by pulling a specific book from the shelf, thus providing access to a secret passageway leading to the wine cellar. That’s something you’ve probably seen many times in mystery or crime movies, but this one is for real.

There’s also a secret dungeon accessible only via a hidden passage located in Bourne’s former office. 

Singer Castle on Dark Island, a prominent feature of the Saint Lawrence Seaway.
Singer Castle on Dark Island, a prominent feature of the Saint Lawrence Seaway. Photo credit: Ad Meskens, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons

If this charming and mysterious property has piqued your interest, you might want to start planning a weekend getaway and get away from the hustle and bustle of the city.

You can book the Royal Suite for up to six people, and explore all the secrets of Singer Castle as if you’re characters in an Agatha Christie novel. Fun!

3. Highlands Castle 

Looking at Highlands Castle, you’d be tempted to think it’s a medieval-age structure that’s housed many generations throughout the decades.

From the outside, the castle looks like it’s been plucked right out of a Game of Thrones episode – nevertheless, Highlands Castle was built in the mid-1980s, by a loving father.

“Someday I’ll build a house where we both will live. A place where you can bring your friends and create special memories… Someday Jason, I will build you a castle.” 

John Lavender, the man who built Highlands Castle

John Lavender once made a promise to his young son that one day he was going to build him a castle. Parents make all kinds of grand promises to their kids, but Lavender actually kept his. 

John Lavender invested years of his life building this grand castle for his son. He did a great job picking the location, in Bolton Landing, overlooking Lake George in the Adirondacks.

Highlands Castle in Bolton Landing, New York.
Highlands Castle in Bolton Landing, New York. Photo credit: Youtube / HouseBeautiful

It was a huge undertaking; builders reportedly used more than 800 tons of stone to construct the property for Lavender, and included a 2,000-foot-long driveway leading to a stone wall with iron gates guarded by lion statues.

The interiors are equally impressive, and stepping inside, you’d think you’re on a movie set, filming the New York version of Downton Abbey.

The good news is that you can rent the castle and enjoy the views for yourself; prices start at $5,700 per night, but they’re well worth it, if you ask us.  

4. Belhurst Castle 

Located on the shores of Seneca Lake, Belhurst Castle was built in 1889, designed by Fuller & Wheeler in a Romanesque Revival style.

All the materials used in the construction were imported, mainly brought over from Europe, which is one of the reasons why the construction took roughly four years. 

Belhurst Castle on the northwestern shore of Seneca Lake, in the heart of New York's Finger Lakes wine region.
Belhurst Castle on the northwestern shore of Seneca Lake, in the heart of New York’s Finger Lakes wine region. Photo credit: RochesterNY, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons

The castle was used as a private residence until 1932, when it was sold to businessman Cornelius J. Dwyer. The new owner transformed Belhurst into a popular entertainment and leisure destination, turning it into an upscale restaurant and adding a speakeasy and a gambling casino.

The restaurant was reportedly highly popular during the prohibition era, when liquor was brought down from Canada using the canal system. 

Nowadays, Belhurst Castle is a top-class, resort-style destination in the New York area. Guests and visitors can enjoy fine wine and craft beer, delicious steaks at the Edgar restaurant, various best-in-class services at the on-site salon and spa, and more.

Those who want to spend the night can do so at the off-site Vinifera Inn and White Springs Manor, or they can book one of the 11 rooms available inside the castle.  

5. Lyndhurst Mansion

A National Historic Landmark, Lyndhurst Mansion is one of the finest examples of Gothic Revival architecture in the country.

Lyndhurst mansion, also known as the Jay Gould estate, sits in its own 67-acre park beside the Hudson River in Tarrytown, New York.
Lyndhurst mansion, also known as the Jay Gould estate, sits in its own 67-acre park beside the Hudson River in Tarrytown, New York. Photo credit: Elisa.rolle, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons

Sitting on a massive 67-acre lot close to the Hudson River in Tarrytown, the imposing castle was completed back in 1838, with a design by renowned American architect Alexander Jackson Davis.

Its first owner was New York City mayor William Paulding Jr., but the property was expanded and nearly doubled in size under the helm of its second owner, businessman George Merritt. He was also the one to rename the property ‘Lyndenhurst,’ after the linden trees on the property. 

Merritt added a new four-story tower to the castle, as well as a new porte-cochere, a servants quarters, a new dining room, and extra bedrooms.

The third – and final – private owner was American railroad tycoon Jay Gould, who owned the property until his death in 1892. Eventually, the castle was donated to the National Trust for Historic Preservation. 

Lyndhurst mansion is now open to the public, and Gothic architecture fans can explore the grounds as they please, either on their own or via guided tours.

Entryway to Lyndhurst mansion, a majestic estate in Tarrytown, NY on the Hudson River.
Entryway to Lyndhurst mansion, a majestic estate in Tarrytown, NY on the Hudson River. Photo credit: Elisa.rolle, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons

Depending on the tour you choose, you can visit the first and second floors, the observation tower, the kitchens, the gardens, and the swimming pool building.

And, if the estate looks somewhat familiar, then you might have already seen it on your screen. Lyndhurst Mansion was featured in numerous movies, TV shows, documentaries, and even housed a 2017 episode of Project Runway. 

More palatial estates

The Thrilling History of The Breakers, the Vanderbilts’ Iconic Summer Estate in Newport
In Colorado, $20 Million Will Buy You a Real-Life Castle Steeped in History
Winfield Hall, the Historic Woolworth Mansion in Glen Cove
Richie Rich’s House is Actually the Biltmore Estate, America’s Largest Home

Source: fancypantshomes.com

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Moving To Colorado On A Budget & A Moving Checklist

Moving To Colorado On A Budget & A Moving ChecklistToday, I’m going to talk about our move to Colorado. It kind of popped up out of nowhere but now we are right in the middle of it all. I can’t believe how quickly everything is moving along and I am extremely excited.

Out of all of the moves we’ve done, this one is definitely the largest. We’ve moved a few times now, but they have all been fairly cheap and short distance moves.

However, after collecting, hoarding, and buying things over the last 5 years, we have many more items to move this time around. Even if we were just moving across town it would be difficult with all of our stuff.

Moving to Colorado will be our longest move as well as our most expensive. I’ve heard of people spending over $10,000 moving, and that is something we didn’t want to come anywhere close to.

Below are some updates for our move to Colorado, including our moving expenses and what’s left on our moving checklist.

Related:

Moving supply costs.

Moving supplies weren’t as expensive as I thought they would be. I highly recommend you shop around, as I found widely varying prices for moving supplies.

For instance, many moving companies charge around $5 per box, whereas places like Home Depot and Lowes charge between $1 to $1.50 per box. There are also moving box sets that usually end up being a better deal, such as with this one.

We also bought bubble wrap and lots and lots of tape. Our total cost for moving supplies was around $100.

We could have completely skipped any costs for moving supplies if we would have looked around though. You can often find free moving supplies on Craigslist, at stores, and so on. We would have gone this route but I will be honest and say I was a little lazy since the move sprung on us very quickly.

Moving To ColoradoThe cost of moving to Colorado.

Up until last week, we were set on renting a moving truck and trying to figure out a way for everything to work out. However, things just weren’t going to happen that way.

Our main problem is that we have two cars and a moving truck to bring to the new house, yet there are only two of us. And this is why we didn’t think a company such as UHaul or Budget would work for this specific trip.

Yes, we could tow one of the cars behind a moving truck, but we need a fairly large moving truck for all of our things. Towing a car behind it on such a long move (over 1,000 miles) and through steep mountains just seems like too much for us.

Then, Wes’s dad the other day said the company he works for uses UPack to move their employees, so I decided to look them up.

After debating for some time, we made the decision to use UPack for our moving to Colorado needs.

UPack was the easiest and cheapest option for us. UPack is a company that moves your stuff for you. They drop off a moving trailer at your home, you load it up, they pick it up a few days later, then they drop it off at the location you are moving to. They handle all of the actual moving, which is exactly why we chose them. We can make the whole 15 hour trip with only stopping one night, but I know if we drove a moving truck ourselves then it would require much more planning, more stops, and possibly even paying for car shipping because we would have to find a way to bring our second car to the new house.

Going the UPack route is pretty similar in pricing to renting a moving truck as well, and much cheaper than hiring a full-service moving company. I priced out several rental moving truck companies and once I priced everything out, it was very comparable to the pricing that UPack gave me. This is because once you factor in the extra lodging, the higher gas costs because we would have to drive a moving truck, insurance costs, and more, renting a moving truck quickly added up.

A UHaul moving truck rental would have been around $2,500 including the rental truck, insurance, gas, etc. Then, we would have had to still pay for extra lodging and somehow still transporting our second car to Fruita as well. I’m assuming that would have made our moving cost somewhere between $3,000 to $3,500 for the extras. The UPack expense from St. Louis to Fruita is $3,000, so it was an easy choice for us since it meant much less work on our end and a much safer way to move.

My Moving Checklist.

Moving to Colorado hasn’t been as stressful as I originally thought. While there are many things we have already completed on our moving checklist, everything seems to be going smoothly even with all of the tasks that are left. If you need a thorough moving checklist, UPack has one that I found very helpful.

What’s left on our moving checklist:

  • Arrange for the drop off of the moving trailer at the new house (and pickup a few days after). This is one of the more important things on our moving checklist because I need my stuff, of course!
  • Turn the internet off at our Missouri house. We’ve already cut cable.
  • Confirm with moving truck unloaders about what time they should be at the new house. Since it’s only me and Wes (and I am extremely weak), we need someone to help us bring all of our heavy furniture into the house.
  • Wait for Charter internet at the new house. Yes, this is getting installed within the first hour of moving into our new house. After spending all of that time actually moving to Colorado, I will need internet quickly set up so that I can continue working. I just can’t go without it!
  • Notify companies of our move. There are still a few more places we need to inform, such as our car insurance company, our bank, and more.
  • Run through the house one last time. Before we move, we need to run through the house and make sure nothing is left behind and we also need to make sure it’s perfectly clean too for the home sale.
  • New driver’s license. We also need to license our cars.
  • New health insurance. This is the last task on our moving checklist but also very important. Our current health insurance is only good at certain Missouri healthcare providers, so we definitely need this.

How much did your last move cost you? How did you try to save money? Are we crazy for moving to Colorado at the last moment? Is there anything I am missing from my moving checklist?

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Source: makingsenseofcents.com

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We’re Moving To Fruita, Colorado! And My Moving Bucket List Fruita House

We’re Moving To Fruita, Colorado! And My Moving Bucket List Fruita HouseWe are moving to Fruita, Colorado! Fruita is a small town near the town of Grand Junction (which is small as well), on the western side of Colorado.

Even though we came across many Craigslist scams, we found one house that we absolutely loved. We loved the location, the house was nice (the picture in this post is of the house we are renting), and it was below our budget.

We had everything pretty much riding on this one house though. We didn’t find anything else in the area that we liked and rentals seemed to go very fast in this small county.

We were nervous, but submitted an application and were accepted just a few days later.

The rental house is $1,400 per month, which is more than what we pay for the house we currently own. However, I’m still happy with this amount as our budget was $2,000 per month, which was an amount that I didn’t want to really reach.

Some of you may be wondering why we chose Fruita of all places in Colorado. It wasn’t even on our radar until recently, so I’ve never talked about this small town on my blog until today.

We chose Fruita, Colorado for many reasons:

  • The location is amazing. We are close to many different areas and near the highway so we can have day trips to some amazing places in the area. There are things to do to the west, to the east, to the north, and to the south. Some of these places are below.
  • We are located right next to Colorado National Monument. This means we’re just two miles away from rock climbing, hiking, bicycling, camping, and more in this awesome national monument. We are also right next to Rattlesnake Canyon which has the highest amount of arches outside of Arches National Park. Then there’s also the Kokopelli Trail that goes all the way to Moab from Fruita.
  • We are close to all of the outdoorsy fun in Moab, Utah. We are one hour away from Arches National Park and 1.5 hours away from Canyonlands National Park. We LOVED Moab when we visited last year, so we wanted to be close to this area.
  • Other places close by include Grand Mesa National Forest (I’ve heard the many lakes here are beautiful), Dinosaur National Monument, Uncompahgre National Forest, Gunnison National Forest, and more.
  • There are tons of things to do in the area including rock climbing, skiing, hiking, canyoneering, rafting, mountain biking (some of the best mountain biking is said to be right here), visiting one of the many wineries in the area, and more. While I haven’t done some of these things before, I definitely want to get more into them.
  • The weather. While the mountain towns in Colorado are beautiful, I knew I wasn’t ready for super cold weather just yet. Fruita has weather fairly similar to St. Louis, except that there’s way less humidity. The weather is perfect for us.
  • It’s affordable. We looked for rental homes in other areas, but couldn’t find what we were looking for unless we wanted to increase our budget by a few thousand dollars each month. That just wasn’t going to happen.

And those are some of the reasons for why we chose Fruita, Colorado. While we don’t know if we will be here next year (location independence for the win), I know that we will have a ton of fun exploring this new-to-us town while we have the chance.

Now, onto my moving bucket list.

We’re Moving To Fruita, Colorado! And My Moving Bucket List

Colorado National Monument

My Moving Bucket List

In less than two weeks, we will move over 1,000 miles away, as well as put our house on the market. This is probably the biggest change ever for the both of us.

Even though I will miss St. Louis a lot, I know we will have fun in Colorado. I am ready to leave St. Louis and see what else there is for us.

Before I move though, there are many things I plan on doing as sort of a bucket list so that I can enjoy the time we have left here.

I know we will be back again to visit friends and family, but creating a “moving bucket list” sounded like fun.

1. I plan on seeing my friends and family as much as possible.

While I don’t have any family left in St. Louis, Wes does. We will miss them dearly and plan on visiting often because we know we will miss them too much.

I also plan on hanging out with my friends as much as possible. I know I will miss my friends a lot.

I have several dates planned with all of them and I want to squeeze every second I can into my schedule so that I can see them as much as possible. This will be the hardest part of moving for me – not seeing my close friends as much as I currently see them. Luckily, I already know that I will be back in St. Louis three more times this year, so I will take full advantage of those times whenever I come into town. Love you guys!

2. I want to eat at my favorite restaurants.

Okay, so the rest of this moving bucket list isn’t as serious, but I still wanted to include them because before we leave I need to get a good fix on my favorite meals. I’ve already visited and said goodbye to my favorite Mexican restaurant located up the street, my favorite Korean restaurant,  and I also went to my favorite bakery.

Now, I just need to eat enough fresh gooey butter cookies and some delicious St. Louis BBQ in order to be happy.

3. I need to visit my hair stylist.

Before you think I am a bad finance blogger for spending a ton of money on my hair, that is not true. I visit her just twice a year, but she is amazingly good at what she does and she is quite affordable.

I actually have an appointment with her today and I am still not sure what I plan on doing but I’m excited! Wish me luck!

4. I want to enjoy our house.

Our house is currently a construction zone with all of the updating that we are doing (read the post 5 Tasks We Need To Complete In Order To Sell Our Home Quickly if you are interested in what we are doing), but I still want to enjoy our house as much as possible.

This house is the first house we have ever bought (and the only one we have ever bought), and if you couldn’t tell already, I have attachment issues and I get attached to things pretty easily haha!

Most of our clutter is already packed away, donated, or thrown away, so there isn’t much left to enjoy except for our actual house, but I will find a way to enjoy it! I want to cook in my kitchen as much as I can, enjoy sleeping in my bedroom, and more.

For the last two weeks that we have, I am just going to take in all of the wonderful memories that I have had in St. Louis. Everything has been great here, but I am ready for the outdoorsy fun and beauty that Colorado will allow us to have.

What tips would you give to someone who is planning a long distance move? What would you add to your moving bucket list if you were to move somewhere far away?

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Source: makingsenseofcents.com

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On average, it costs $23,890 a year to attend an out-of-state school versus $9,410 for an in-state school. That’s $14,480 more per year you could pay — just to attend a college in a different state than where you grew up.

Source: Giphy.com

Over four years, you could end up paying $60,000 more than someone who attends school in-state. So, what are some ways you can lower the cost of out-of-state tuition? Here are seven of our biggest tips.

What’s Ahead:

1. Research Regional Reciprocity Programs

Many schools have “regional reciprocity agreements” or “tuition exchange programs” that let you attend certain out-of-state colleges for in-state rates.

For instance, 18 colleges in Georgia offer in-state tuition to residents of border states. This includes Alabama, Tennessee, North Carolina, South Carolina, and Florida.

On a much broader scale, several states have banded together to create regional reciprocity programs that give you reduced out-of-state tuition at hundreds of public and private schools.

The four biggest regional reciprocity programs include:

  • Midwest Student Exchange — Illinois, Indiana, Kansas, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Nebraska, North Dakota, and Wisconsin.
  • The New England Regional Student Program — Connecticut, Maine, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Rhode Island, and Vermont.
  • Academic Common Market — Alabama, Arkansas, Delaware, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maryland, Mississippi, Oklahoma, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, Virginia, and West Virginia.
  • Western Undergraduate Exchange — Alaska, Arizona, California, Colorado, Hawaii, Idaho, Montana, Nevada, New Mexico, North Dakota, Oregon, South Dakota, Utah, Washington, Wyoming, and the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands.

Some schools will offer in-state tuition to any student in a neighboring state, while others may require you to meet certain criteria — such as having a specific high school GPA or declaring a certain major.

MU30 Tip: Already have a few colleges in mind? Look on their websites or contact financial aid to see if they have any tuition exchange or reciprocity programs in place.

2. See If You Qualify for a Tuition Waiver

In some cases, you may be able to get a tuition waiver that allows you to attend an out-of-state college at a reduced rate. Tuition waivers are usually granted to students with special circumstances:

  • You (or someone in your immediate family) is a veteran or active duty military member.
  • You were valedictorian or a high achiever.
  • You’re enrolled in a special degree program, such as STEM or health care.
  • You work for the school you wish to attend.
  • You were or are a part of the foster care system.
  • You’re a nontraditional student.
  • You’re of Native American heritage.
  • You have a financial hardship.

To see if you qualify, search for the phrase “tuition waiver” on your favorite schools’ websites. This should pull up a list of all the tuition waivers currently available. (For example, I found 13 waivers on the University of Washington’s website.)

3. Apply for Out-of-State Scholarships

There are several scholarships specifically for students who are attending college out-of-state. These scholarships can help you cover the costs of tuition, room and board, and other expenses.

To find out-of-state scholarships, start by checking with your college’s financial aid office. There’s a good chance the school has scholarships earmarked for nonresidents.

From there, do a scholarship search using a tool like the College Board Scholarship Search or Fastweb. You may find some private scholarships to help lower your out-of-pocket costs.

Read more: Scholarships and Grants: How To Score Free Money for College

MU30 Tip: Does your parent or guardian work in higher education at one of these Tuition Exchange member schools? If so, you can apply for a reciprocal scholarship that lets you attend hundreds of schools in the U.S., Canada, Greece, Morocco, the United Arab Emirates, and Switzerland at a free or reduced rate!

4. Think About Becoming a Resident Assistant

If you’re planning on attending college out-of-state, one way to lower your costs is to become a resident assistant (RA). RAs typically receive free or reduced-cost housing in exchange for their duties, which can include things like leading tours and organizing social events.

So while you may not get a tuition discount, it could help you save on housing while you’re there.

To become an RA, start by talking to your college’s housing office. They should be able to tell you about any open RA positions and their requirements. You may also need to fill out an application and go through an interview process.

5. Negotiate Out-of-State Tuition With the Financial Aid Office

It’s not widely advertised, but you can technically negotiate the cost of tuition and fees with the financial aid office. In fact, doing so could save you anywhere from 5% to 15%. On a four-year degree that costs $60,000, that’s a savings of $3,000 to $9,000.

Beyond negotiating, the financial aid office is also a way to find out what types of aid are available to you as an out-of-state student.

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6. Become an In-State Resident

This tip may seem a little far-fetched, but hear me out. If you’re taking a gap year, for instance, and have time to establish residency in the state where you want to attend college, it could be worth it.

Every state has different requirements for residency, but you’ll typically need to live there for at least a year before you can apply for in-state status.

Start by researching the requirements for the state you want to move to, then get working on completing them. This could include getting a job or an apartment in the state, getting a driver’s license, and more.

7. Look for Schools With Lower Out-of-State Tuition Rates

If all else fails and there’s no way for you to get reduced out-of-state tuition, another option is to simply look for schools that charge lower rates for out-of-state students.

MU30 Tip: Want to see which colleges have the lowest tuition rates? Check out this affordability calculator from the U.S. Department of Education.

Once you have out-of-state tuition rates for different colleges, you can start to compare your options and make a decision about which school is the best fit for you.

Read more: Not Enough Financial Aid? Here are 10 Ways To Pay for College

Bottom Line

Out-of-state tuition can be costly, but there are ways to minimize costs without racking up a ton of student loan debt. Use these tips to see how much you can save.

Featured image: Alexander Lukatskiy/Shutterstock.com

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Source: moneyunder30.com