Mauricio Umansky‘s residential brokerage The Agency is venturing into core services.
Through partnerships with Bubble Insurance Solutions and New American Funding, real estate agents at The Agency will have access to mortgage lending services and insurance services for their clients.
With Bubble Insurance Services, The Agency is launching its own affiliate insurance service, Agencia Insurance Solutions, which will serve new and past The Agency clients in California and Arizona. Through Agencia Insurance Solutions, agents will be able to offer clients access to flexible online home, auto and life insurance options.
The affiliation will provide The Agency’s agents with access to Bubble Insurance’s insurance coverage for their clients. The firm said the association aims to help homebuyers make more informed decisions by providing them with data-based insights into the risks associated with their home and neighborhood. These insights will be provided by Bubble Insurance’s patent-pending AI-based guidance system, HomePal, which uses data to match the most common environmental hazards for a property with the right policies and the right coverages for homeowners.
“Bubble’s AI-based shopping engine is specially crafted to integrate into home purchase and ownership flows to enable quick and smart insurance purchase,” Avi Gupta, the founder and CEO of Bubble Insurance, said in a statement. “Our one-stop insurance shop model is designed to give homeowners peace of mind and protect their investment, no matter what life throws their way.”
Through The Agency’s partnership with New American Funding, the mortgage lender will serve as The Agency’s preferred mortgage lender partner.
“We’re thrilled to officially announce our partnership with New American Funding,” Burke Smith, the executive vice president of affiliated businesses at The Agency, said in a statement. “Expanding our core real estate services with like-minded partners empowers our agents to provide their clients with best-in-class service and guidance throughout the entire transaction process.”
NAF offers numerous home financing options including conventional, jumbo, non-QM, as well as others. The Agency said that the partnership provides their agents with greater control over the transaction and enables them to offer better customer service to clients.
In 2023, The Agency ranked as the No. 18 brokerage in the country in the RealTrends 500 after reporting a total sales volume of $10.997 billion in 2022.
New American Funding ranked as the 31st largest mortgage lender in America for the first half of 2023, according to Inside Mortgage Finance data. The California-headquartered lender originated $4.69 billion in mortgage loans in the first half of the year.
Mauricio Umansky‘s residential brokerage The Agency is venturing into core services.
Through partnerships with Bubble Insurance Solutions and New American Funding, real estate agents at The Agency will have access to mortgage lending services and insurance services for their clients.
With Bubble Insurance Services, The Agency is launching its own affiliate insurance service, Agencia Insurance Solutions, which will serve new and past The Agency clients in California and Arizona. Through Agencia Insurance Solutions, agents will be able to offer clients access to flexible online home, auto and life insurance options.
The affiliation will provide The Agency’s agents with access to Bubble Insurance’s insurance coverage for their clients. The firm said the association aims to help homebuyers make more informed decisions by providing them with data-based insights into the risks associated with their home and neighborhood. These insights will be provided by Bubble Insurance’s patent-pending AI-based guidance system, HomePal, which uses data to match the most common environmental hazards for a property with the right policies and the right coverages for homeowners.
“Bubble’s AI-based shopping engine is specially crafted to integrate into home purchase and ownership flows to enable quick and smart insurance purchase,” Avi Gupta, the founder and CEO of Bubble Insurance, said in a statement. “Our one-stop insurance shop model is designed to give homeowners peace of mind and protect their investment, no matter what life throws their way.”
Through The Agency’s partnership with New American Funding, the mortgage lender will serve as The Agency’s preferred mortgage lender partner.
“We’re thrilled to officially announce our partnership with New American Funding,” Burke Smith, the executive vice president of affiliated businesses at The Agency, said in a statement. “Expanding our core real estate services with like-minded partners empowers our agents to provide their clients with best-in-class service and guidance throughout the entire transaction process.”
NAF offers numerous home financing options including conventional, jumbo, non-QM, as well as others. The Agency said that the partnership provides their agents with greater control over the transaction and enables them to offer better customer service to clients.
In 2023, The Agency ranked as the No. 18 brokerage in the country in the RealTrends 500 after reporting a total sales volume of $10.997 billion in 2022.
New American Funding ranked as the 31st largest mortgage lender in America for the first half of 2023, according to Inside Mortgage Finance data. The California-headquartered lender originated $4.69 billion in mortgage loans in the first half of the year.
Inside: Looking for some unique cash app card design ideas? Look no further! This guide has 100+ cool and unique ideas to help you create cards that reflect your personality and style.
The concept of Cash App card designs has emerged as a trendy and enjoyable way to personalize your monetary transactions.
Rather than limiting yourself to traditional designs, Cash App allows you to express your creativity, resulting in a card that reflects your individuality, interests, and style.
From inspiring quotes to your favorite emojis and collages, you have the option to turn your Cash App Visa debit card into a distinct and exciting asset.
This not only enhances the visual appeal of your card but also adds a touch of personality to your buying experience.
Whether you are getting a Cash Card for the first time or looking to redesign an existing one, this segment will offer you a plethora of unique design ideas to inspire your creativity.
Browse through our cash app card design ideas to help make your card stand out.
This post may contain affiliate links, which helps us to continue providing relevant content and we receive a small commission at no cost to you. As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases. Please read the full disclosure here.
What is Cash App Card?
A Cash App Card is a free, customizable debit card linked directly to your Cash App account.
Let’s break this down:
It functions like your ordinary Visa debit card, capable of handling payments anywhere Visa is accepted.
Since it draws from your Cash App balance—not your bank account—you can use it for both online and in-store transactions.
Interesting perks include a unique design to suit your style.
Great for budgeting – like a cashless envelope system!
In essence, think of it as a flashy, convenient companion to your Cash App, ready to assist with purchases, whether you’re grabbing your morning coffee or buying a cool online gadget!
Is the personalized Cash App card free?
Your personalized Cash App card is mostly free unless you opt for special versions.
The basic white or black card comes without a charge on your first order.
So as long as you stick with the basic options, you’re in the clear.
Just remember, additional cards, regardless of color, will cost you $5 each. For example, if you get a black one first and then decide you want a white one too, you’d need to fork out $5 for it.
How to Customize your Cash App Card
Your card design is like your fashion statement. It says a lot about you.
So, you want to design your Cash App Card to fit exactly what you want.
To start designing your Cash App Card, first, you need to open your app — the infamous green home screen should be your first sight.
Incorporate emojis, letters, or symbols that express who you are.
Use the freehand drawing option – use a stylus or finger to sketch directly on your card! It might take a few attempts, but experimentation is part of the fun.
Remember, keep your design concise but personal, and above all – have fun!
60+ Cool and Unique Cash App Card Design Ideas
When designing your Cash Card, it’s crucial to choose a display that best represents you and easily catches your attention.
Even though images or photos can’t be added, creativity can still run wild.
From selecting initial base designs to illustrating personal interests and hobbies, every idea is an opportunity to bring your card to life.
1. Create Inspirational Quotes Cash App Cards
Choose a quote that’s both meaningful and motivating to you.
It could be a famous quote or your personal mantra. Or even one of these millionaire quotes.
Personally, this is my favorite idea because I love constant reminders of inspirational messages!
2. Choose an Affirmation You needed reminding of
Having personalized affirmations and messages on your Cash App card can turn a regular transaction into a moment of reflection and inspiration.
It is like leaving an encouraging note on your Cash App card.
Common affirmations or quotes such as “Believe in yourself” or something more personalized like “Be the change you want to see”, can provide a boost of motivation every time you use your card. Here are more money affirmations to choose from.
Remember, these design features should reflect your personality and resonate with you on a personal level.
This way, every time you use your Cash App card, it becomes more than just a transactional tool; it becomes a unique extension of you.
3. Cash App Card Design with Word Art
With Cash App’s Word Art design, you can express yourself like never before! Instead of settling for a standard design, this feature lets you craft an emblem that’s truly unique – as unique as you.
Word Art breathes life into your card and makes it a conversation starter.
Personalized wording which can include your signature, favorite quotes, or your brand’s name
Variety of fonts and colors to choose from
Word Art designs can be both sophisticated and playful, matching your vibe and setting your Cash App Card a league above the rest. It’s about expressing yourself, your way!
4. Cash App Card Design with Emojis
Indeed, adding emojis to your Cash App card is a ground-breaking design concept. Just like you would sign a text message.
It gives the card a fun, personal touch that mirrors your unique personality, interests, and style—everything traditional card designs lack.
The available variety of emojis provides ample creative liberty.
5. Cash App Card Design with Symbols
Using symbols on Cash App card designs gives you an opportunity to personalize and add a dash of creativity to your card.
The beauty of using symbols is their versatility, and how they let you express your creativity and personality without overwhelming the card design.
Creating a design you love will certainly make every cash transaction a little more enjoyable!
6. Cash App Card Design with Patterns and Designs
Using patterns and designs on a Cash App card can significantly reflect your personal style and preferences.
If the idea of a standard and mundane Cash App card doesn’t appeal to you, you can customize it using a variety of patterns and designs, making it more personalized and meaningful to you. Here are a few ideas on how you can go about it:
Choosing to use patterns and designs on your Cash App card is not only a creative way to express your individuality, but it also adds a unique, engaging element to the otherwise utilitarian nature of financial cards.
7. Cash App Card Design with Color and Style
When it comes to card designs, color and style aren’t just aesthetic choices; they define your personality.
Choose your favorite hue or pick limited-edition colors to reflect your unique taste.
Customizable designs: Be it minimalist, neon, grunge, or vintage – tailor the card to match your persona.
The multi-colored, geometric designs offer a blend of personality and style, gearing towards a modern payment solution.
8. Create Freehand Card Designs
Freehand designs give your Cash App Card a unique, personal touch, turning it into a mini portable art piece.
Free-hand drawings add an artistic flare, turning your card into a unique piece of art. Various styles, from portraits to favorite anime characters or even cherished family names, can be featured.
You can also embed empowering quotes or use the cool street-art style of graffiti to make an imaginative statement.
Remember, the fundamental goal is not just to create a card but also to design an extension of your personality. Using a stylus will make this process much easier.
Expert tip: Sketch your design on paper first to get a feel.
Card App Card Design Themes
Using the above ideas, here are specific themes you can use for your personalized Cash App Card.
Space and Stars Theme: Display an image of the galaxy or stars in the night sky.
Music Theme: A melody note or a line from your favorite song could make a great design.
Sports Theme: Choose an image that represents your favorite sport, such as a football, basketball or ballet shoes.
Nature Theme: Use imagery of mountains, trees, or the beach.
Inspirational Quote: Choose a quote that motivates you each time you use your cash app card.
Emoji Theme: Use your favorite emoji, or a mix of them.
Family Picture: A sketch or silhouette of your family members.
Pet Theme: Show off your furry friends by depicting them on your card.
Anime Theme: Pick characters from your favorite anime series.
Movie Theme: Use a design related to your favorite movie.
Superhero Theme: Show your love for superheroes like Spider-man, Batman.
Zodiac Theme: Choose symbols or constellations of your Zodiac sign.
Food Theme: Use an image of your favorite food or a trendy food item.
Book Theme: Use symbols or important elements from your favorite book.
Art Theme: Paint splotches, abstract design, or famous art paintings.
Travel Theme: Landmarks of your favorite – city or vacation spot.
Western Theme: Perfect for the horse lover and cowboy boots!
Seasonal Theme: Images relating to different seasons like snowflakes, leaves, spring flowers.
Coffee Theme: A coffee cup or your favorite coffee order.
Fitness Theme: Dumbbells, yoga poses, or running shoes.
Floral Theme: Blooming flowers and foliage.
Gaming Theme: Iconography from your favorite games.
Minimalist Theme: Simple, clean lines and minimal colors.
Fashion Theme: Sketches of clothes, accessories or a runway.
Vehicles Theme: Cars, trains, planes, bicycles.
Career Theme: Symbols or tools related to your profession.
Hobby Theme: Images of something you love doing, from knitting to scuba diving.
Love Theme: Heart shapes, cupid, and other romantic symbols.
Health Theme: Medical or wellness-related symbols.
Educational Theme: Books, graduation cap and other study-related images.
Retro Theme: Vintage designs or pop culture from a certain era.
Birthday Theme: Balloons, cakes, party hats.
Cartoon Theme: Beloved characters from animated TV shows or movies.
Doodles Theme: A collection of small, simple drawings.
Marine Life Theme: Sea creatures or marine scenery.
Inspirational Icons: Images of people who inspire you like famous athletes, actors, or activists.
Favorite Color Theme: Feature various shades and gradients of your favorite color.
Fairy Tale Theme: Designs based on your favorite children’s stories or fantasy tales.
Skyline Theme: Capture the silhouette of your favorite city’s skyline.
Outer Space Theme: Planets, galaxies, rockets and astronauts.
Nautical Theme: Anchors, ship wheels, lighthouses and other seafaring symbols.
Dessert Theme: Images of your favorite sweet treats.
DIY/Handicraft Theme: Symbols related to different crafts – knitting needles, paint brushes, etc.
Wildlife Theme: Images of your favorite wild animals.
Geometric Shapes Theme: Create a sleek design with a variety of shapes.
Personal Logo: If you have a personal logo, you could use that.
Spirit Animal: Draw or paste in an image of your spirit animal.
National Flags: Show your pride of heritage with your country’s flag.
Camouflage Theme: Explore different types of camouflage patterns.
Mountain Landscape Theme: Use an image or drawing of a mountain range.
Festive Theme: Images related to different festivals or holidays.
Grayscale Theme: Designs with different shades of black and white.
Checkerboard Pattern: A timeless tic-tac-toe design for classic charm.
Vintage Theme: Checks, stripes, or polka dots—any of these can lend a nostalgia-tinged style to your card.
Money Theme: Start by drawing dollar symbols or creating designs inspired by currency
Other Cash App Card Ideas:
Draw a self-portrait: Keep it simple yet expressive, experimenting with different colors, lines, and shapes to highlight your persona.
Use your Favorite Movie Line: Choose a memorable quote from your favorite movie.
Choose Your Life Motto or Verse: Adding such text can create a unique reflection of your personality or beliefs. Here are a few neat examples:
Your Signature: This customized detail will not only make your card look original but also speak echoes about your personality.
Stick figure family design
A signature doodle
A caricature of yourself
Your kiddo’s names with whimsical stick figure drawings
A quote that resonates with you
Let that inner artist shine!
What are the Color Options Available?
Personally, I like to think about my design before I dig right into it. And knowing the background color makes things so much easier!
1. Standard Black
The standard Black Cash App card, often referred to as the “classy classic”, might very well be your next wallet staple.
With its timeless appeal and slick design, this card is perfect if you’re looking for something basic yet sophisticated.
Pros:
Its cool black color creates a refined and sleek appearance.
With its simple and traditional design, it fits well with any wallet.
It’s a popular choice, giving it mass appeal.
Absolutely free of charge, which is a bonus.
It has that classic and vintage feel that just screams style.
Cons:
Could be considered too ordinary or basic.
Can easily be misplaced or lost due to its dark color.
The strict black design offers limited personalization.
If you like colorful or vibrant designs, it may not appeal to you.
So, whether you stick to the black card is entirely up to your personal style and preferences, mate!
2. White Base
Isn’t simplicity more your style? The white base color option for the Cash App Card might be just what you’re looking for.
Plus it’s free of charge, which appeals to your budget-savvy side. Since it is a classic color that works with anything.
Most importantly, it makes a simple statement about your preference for chic, minimal styles.
Pros:
Bright and clean: Suits any design you wish to superimpose.
Versatility: Perfectly complements both formal and casual situations.
Designer-friendly: Adds neatness and clarity to your chosen design.
Cons:
White can make stains more noticeable.
May discolor and lose it’s bright coloring.
Being a popular choice, it lacks uniqueness.
3. Glow In the Dark Base
Are you seeking an edgy, unconventional look for your Cash App card?
Consider the glow-in-the-dark base color which stands out among the more traditional options.
It’s stylish, boasting a fun green color, adding a quirky twist to your finance management. You might find it quicker if it gets misplaced, thanks to its luminous feature.
The biggest con is it comes with an additional cost of $5.
4. Chameleon Metal Cash Card
If you’re looking for a sophisticated touch to your digital transactions, the Chameleon Metal Cash Card is a unique alternative.
This cool cash app card option brings a colorful twist to your wallet.
Pros:
Customizable to your taste.
Differentiates you from other cardholders.
It has a sophisticated multicolor design.
Heavyweight imitates a premium feel.
Cons:
There are rumors that metal cards are no longer currently available.
Being noticeable might attract unwanted attention.
Also, you can choose to get a black metal Cash Card for $50.
Not sure if you should unlock button on cash app to pay for it. That is probably not a great idea!
How do you make cool designs on Cash App cards?
Remember, “cool” is subjective, so tailor your card to represent you.
Whether it’s a movie quote for film enthusiasts, adorable flowering designs for the ‘girly’ users, or a sports team logo for sports lovers, choose design elements that reflect your personality and lifestyle.
To make cool designs on your Cash App card, follow these simple steps:
Open your Cash App on your Android or iOS device and tap the Cash Card tab.
Locate the three dots at the top right corner of your screen. Tap it and select “Design New Card”.
Begin designing by choosing a base color for your card and click on “Personalize Card”.
When it comes to card text, make sure it’s large and well-aligned for easy readability. Using clean, standard fonts like Arial, Verdana, or Helvetica will look professional and legible.
You might like to add graphic elements or simple illustrations, to make your card more visually striking.
Make this card your everyday inspiration. Go all out or keep it minimal — it’s all about you!
Tips for Designing your Cash App Design
Designing your Cash App card allows you to add a touch of personality, making not just transactions but also the medium of transaction a reflection of you.
With an array of options from inspirational quotes to your favorite emojis, from creative collages to minimalist designs, the customization possibilities are endless.
This section provides helpful tips on creating a Cash App card design that is uniquely yours.
Use these suggestions as a starting point and let your creativity shine through. R
1. Simplicity is Key
When designing your Cash App card, simplicity is your best friend.
A minimalist design using a simple color palette and clean lines can create sophistication and style. Too much information? It just makes things difficult to read.
Try these tips:
Start by choosing a design that’s easy to read.
Go for a solid color background with your impactful saying in a clean font.
Don’t cram too much onto your card.
Get creative with basic shapes or perhaps, draw a scene from your favorite movie with a stylus.
But remember, keep it simple.
2. Consider Your Personal Style and Interests
Designing your Cash App card is an opportunity to truly make it your own by considering your personal style and interests during the design process.
Is there a hobby you are passionate about?
Maybe you love reading, gaming, painting or even knitting.
Get creative, perhaps with a self-portrait or graffiti of your initials
Pick or draw a design that reflects you
Remember, this is your chance to showcase YOU on your card. Have fun with it!
3. Think About the Types of Transactions You Will Be Making
If you are currently striving towards a money goal, this is a great chance to use your spending card to get you there.
Your personalized Cash App card design will greatly enhance your user probability of racing your goals.
While a little creativity with your Cash App Card design, you want to make sure you stay without your budget.
4. Make sure it is easy to read
Simple – you don’t want a cluttered card that’s hard on the eyes.
Here’s how to ensure yours pops while remaining legible:
Opt for a straightforward design. Busy doesn’t equate to cool.
Choose a clean font. Messy typefaces smack of unprofessionalism.
Balance your color scheme. Overly bright or dark? Nah, we’re seeking a middle ground here.
Consider a stylus for freehand designs – it aids precision.
Keep it simple, keep it clean.
5. Don’t overcomplicate things
Overly complex or crammed designs make it difficult to comprehend.
Aim for a clean, minimalist vibe – it’s trendy and effective.
Remember, the last thing you want is a card you can’t read or love to use!
FAQ
You’re in for some disappointment – you can’t put a picture on your Cash App card.
Cash App lets you jazz things up with emojis, freehand art, or even your unique $Cashtag, but not personal pictures.
If this changes, we will update this post.
No, you can’t have 2 Cash App cards.
Each Cash App account is tied to one unique Cash Card account, so you can’t have multiple cards for a single account.
Keep in mind that while you can change designs, you’re still only using one card tied to your account.
Show us your Collest Cash App Card Designs
What better way to stay on budget than by giving your Cash App card a personalized touch?
By incorporating meaningful sayings, emojis that encapsulate your spirit, or a favorite anime character or brand logo, you can make your debit card an extension and reminder of your financial goals.
Perhaps your creativity stretches to a cool pattern or your childhood cartoon character, or you fancy keeping it simple with your initials or nickname – remember, the simpler, the better.
You can also play around with outdoor scenes, objects that inspire you, or even a drawing from your kids.
Whatever your design preference, your Cash App debit card design is an opportunity to make your banking experience truly yours.
And yes, feel free to share your innovative designs and ideas with us in the comments. We value your input and would love to hear from you!
And remember – the ultimate goal is to stay mindful of your spending habits and budget.
Enjoy this as a canvas of individuality in the cashless world.
Now don’t forget… where can I load my cash app card?
Know someone else that needs this, too? Then, please share!!
With its charming neighborhoods, proximity to Boston, and picturesque coastal views, Weymouth offers an ideal balance between suburban tranquility and urban convenience. If you’re considering living in Weymouth, you may also be deciding whether to rent versus buy a home in the area. Even with the current housing market conditions, there are pros and cons to both renting or buying a home in Weymouth, potentially making it that much harder to decide.
If this sounds like you, here are a few points to consider. As of July, the current median sale price for a home is $575,000 if you’re thinking about buying a home in Weymouth. Or if you’re looking at apartments for rent in Weymouth, the average monthly rent for a two-bedroom apartment is $2,825. With today’s mortgage rates and what you can afford, it may be less expensive to rent rather than buying a home in the Weymouth area. However, there are many reasons that buying a home right now may still be a better option.
Ultimately, the decision depends on several factors like flexibility in where you live and your long-term financial goals. We’ll help you along the way so you can decide whether to rent vs buy in Weymouth – and make the best choice for your goals.
Advantages of buying a home in Weymouth
Proximity to Boston
A major advantage to buying in Weymouth is the city’s close proximity to Boston. While prices are higher farther away from Boston, appreciation can be higher in Boston suburbs like Weymouth. These locations can be more desirable for those commuting into Boston for work.
Even with a rise in working from home, the suburbs closest to Boston remain the most desirable in terms of location. There are commuter rail stations, easy access to the highway, and Redline stations which all help create reasonable commutes into the city. If you decide to keep your home as a rental property in the future, you may be able to generate more income as rent prices are also higher in areas like Weymouth compared to cities farther away.
Economic benefits
The overall strength of the Massachusetts economy is a major advantage to buying in Weymouth. Prices haven’t dropped as much from their peaks in the Boston area, compared to elsewhere in the country. The income is also typically higher, compared to the national average. As a result, the economy is one of the major reasons to consider living in Weymouth. There are plenty of other reasons that keep the area as an attractive place to live like great schools, hospitals, and more.
Disadvantages of buying a home in Weymouth
Competition and multiple offers
There’s high competition throughout the market, with multiple offer situations being the norm. Since Weymouth is close to Boston, it tends to bring higher competition than farther in the suburbs. Oftentimes concessions like a waived inspection and other competitive terms that are less favorable to a buyer are needed to win, which some people may not be comfortable with.
Higher prices compared to nearby towns
Weymouth has high prices relative to the towns that are just 20 minutes farther south. Properties are at a premium cost overall and per square footage, where if you’re willing or able to live farther away from Boston, prices for a similar house can be substantially less.
Determining if you are ready to buy a house in Weymouth
There are several factors to consider if you’re deciding whether to rent vs buy in Weymouth this year. Here are five points to look at:
1. High competition: There is limited inventory and if a buyer has specific requirements for a property, oftentimes there may only be few or no properties for sale at a certain time that fit their criteria.
2. Personal goals: Before deciding whether to rent vs buy in Weymouth you’ll want to evaluate your priorities and long-term goals. Are you looking for a move-in ready property or a fixer-upper? Do you want a home with a large backyard or a home with lots of extra rooms? Determining what aligns with your goals can help you figure out if now is the right time to buy a home in Weymouth.
3. Financial stability: Prior to beginning your homebuying journey, it’s important to understand your financial situation – particularly your credit score and if you have a stable income. It’s important to have additional funds set aside for your down payment, closing costs, home inspection fees, and other expenses that are part of the homebuying process. It’s also good to keep an emergency fund in case you have any unexpected costs during or after buying a home.
If you’re not sure whether you’re ready to buy, consider speaking with your real estate or financial advisor to understand all your options.
Is it competitive to buy a home in Weymouth?
Overall, competition has been high with the major factor being lack of inventory in the market. Turnkey properties and the most appealing properties in the best locations that are accurately priced are still receiving high competition with multiple offers. In addition, 10+ offer situations remain common.
It’s also typical to see offer deadlines for these types of homes, specifically after the first weekend on market. Properties that have outdated features tend to receive less interest, but depending on each buyer’s goals, can be a great opportunity to secure a property with little to no competition and favorable terms.
Advantages of renting a home in Weymouth
Minimal upfront costs
With renting, there are minimal upfront costs, aside from a security deposit and application fees. There’s no down payment required, which can be a large amount depending on the cost of the house. However, you can also look into first time homebuyer programs in Massachusetts, such as FHA loans if you’re considering buying a home. These programs can be a great tool if making a large down payment isn’t possible.
Flexibility
If you’re unsure of how long you plan to stay in a certain area or you don’t know if it’s a long term fit, renting can be beneficial to “test” certain locations to see how they fit into your life.
Disadvantages of renting a home in Weymouth
Inability to build equity
Even though the equity gain from paying down the mortgage is limited early on as a homeowner, the majority of your gains come from price appreciation over the long run. If you’re staying in a property or area for 3-5 years or longer, the chances for price appreciation and building equity are very high based on historical appreciation trends.
Additionally, you can consider paying slightly more towards your mortgage each year if this is a feasible financial option. Even one extra payment a year can shave approximately seven years off the life of the mortgage and can save you tens or hundreds of thousands in interest costs. One extra payment is typically a reasonable and doable goal, which can make a drastic difference in the long run.
High rent prices
Overall the cost savings to renting versus buying are very limited, especially when considering equity gains. Especially those needing a good amount of space, think 1,000 square feet or more, the cost to rent a home is often substantially more than a mortgage payment.
Renting vs buying in Weymouth: A real estate agent’s final thoughts
It’s still a good time to buy as prices have stabilized. Keep in mind they’re creeping upwards, albeit at a slower pace than in recent years. Working in the market every day with numerous buyers and seeing the demand still present gives the expectation that if interest rates fall below 6%, prices are likely to climb higher along with the competition for homes.
As a result, buying sooner rather than later in Weymouth can allow you to take advantage of the equity gain in the future. Over the long run, you’ll likely gain equity given the long-term trends of price appreciation and the Boston area’s stable economy.
Suze Orman set off quite a stir a few months ago in a New York Times interview. Although some folks were all atwitter to find out she was gay, what really had people in the personal finance world talking was the fact that the most successful personal finance writer in the country had the bulk of her $25 million portfolio in conservative municipal bonds, with only about $1 million invested in the stock market.
My buddy Chuck Jaffe, a MarketWatch columnist and not exactly a Suze fan, had a particularly good time that little factoid. Chuck has often criticized Suze’s advice as too conservative, and her lack of personal exposure to the stock market confirmed his suspicions that she was out of touch with the needs of everyday people. “In short,” he thundered, “the person being trusted as everyone’s financial adviser has a portfolio that few people could live with.”
I think Suze should be allowed to invest any way she wants to, but the whole kerfluffle points up an irony of personal finance columnizing: the more successful we pundits are, the less our lives resemble those of the majority of our readers.
I was thinking about that when J.D. asked if I’d be willing to write a little exposé for his site on how well I follow my own advice.
“I always wonder just how personal finance gurus lead their lives,” J.D. wrote in an email. “Do they really follow the advice they give? Are they frugal? Do they put their money in index funds? Do they drive older cars? I think this is a question many people have. I also think it’s one reason they read Get Rich Slowly: I quite clearly do follow my own advice, or try to.”
So do I — mostly. At J.D.’s request, I’m pulling back the curtain a bit to show you where I walk my talk, and where I’m full of (well-meaning) hot air.
In case you’re not familiar with my work: I’m the most-read personal finance columnist on the Web. I write a twice-weekly column for MSN Money and a nationally syndicated newspaper column. I’m also the author of three books about finance:
You can find out more about me, if you want, at asklizweston.com. But in answer to J.D.’s questions:
Am I frugal? Congenitally. Most of the time.
I grew up in a middle-class family with a dad who worked as an electric journeyman at the local power plant and a stay-at-home mom who had the Depression-era baby’s classic aversion to debt. We had a garden, we canned, we rinsed and reused baggies. My mom went back to work to help pay my college tuition, while I worked two to four part-time jobs each semester to make ends meet. I graduated without student loan or credit card debt.
I’ve never been much of a shopper, and was taught to pay credit card balances in full every month. (I have carried credit card debt a couple of times in my life — for cash flow reasons, not because we couldn’t pay the whole bill.) Since my early 20s, when I started working as a daily newspaper reporter, I’ve saved 15% to 20% — and sometimes more — of my income. Most of it goes into retirement funds and the majority of those are invested in stock mutual funds.
But a lot of the things I used to do to save money I now do mostly to save the environment: things like turning off lights, using a programmable thermostat, walking or biking instead of driving the car.
And now that I travel a lot, I’ve developed an appreciation for luxuries that would have been unthinkable in my salad days: things like membership to an airline lounge and occasionally paying for a first-class ticket, when I can’t qualify for an upgrade with frequent flyer miles. Flying coach these days reminds me way too much of riding the Greyhound bus during college, and I’m lucky enough to be able to afford an alternative.
Do I put my money in index funds? Yes. Mostly.
I’m a confirmed believer that people who think they’re going to beat the market probably are deluding themselves. I know I would be; I’m way too busy to monitor individual stocks or actively-managed mutual funds.
But a recent review of our portfolio showed that while most of our money is in broad-market index funds, we’re still hanging on to a few actively-managed funds I bought before I’d become firmly convinced of the futilely of trying to predict market-beaters. Like the cobbler’s children with no shoes, my portfolio’s overdue for a clean-up and rebalancing. Thanks, J.D., for goading me into it.
Do I drive an older car? Oh, boy. Do I.
I’m the proud driver of a 1993 SUV with—ta-da—250,000 miles on it. I inherited it from my husband, who upgraded to a later-model Volvo. (The man actually cares what he drives, unlike me.) I’d eventually like to replace it with a more fuel-efficient car, but at this point I drive so few miles that it doesn’t make sense to replace it. Besides that, I’m oddly curious to see how long the old beast will hold out.
I’ve also learned a lot about money over the years by making mistakes. I bought “retirement property” when I was in my 20s (anybody want 14 acres in Alaska, 80 miles from the nearest road?). After years of railing about the insanity of the dot-com boom, I sunk $2,000 into a tech fund in — get this — March 2000, about a week before the bubble started to burst. And the last time we bought a house, I forgot (yes, forgot) about closing costs, and had to sell off some investments at the last minute to cover closing costs. (Fortunately, the stock market cooperated with me for once — you’re not supposed to keep short-term money, like down payments and closing costs, in stock or stock mutual fund investments lest they take a dive right when you need the money.)
But yeah, overall I’ve followed my own advice. I’ve avoided toxic debt including credit card debt; put a pile away for retirement; and invested a ton of money over the years in fun and experiences. I’ve traveled around the world, earned my pilot’s license, threw some great parties, took two sabbaticals to care for my dying mother, and am in the process of raising a wonderful daughter (who may turn out to be our more expensive experience yet, but is soooo worth it). I firmly believe that managing money well helps you live life well, and that’s the message I hope to communicate to readers — regardless of where they happen to be on the road to financial health.
As you can see in the chart below, the ability of this marketplace to provide millions of active listings is impossible.
During the housing bubble crash years, active listings grew to more than 4 million in 2007 because most of the inventory in the U.S. comes from the existing home sales market.
NAR active listings data (see chart below):
2007: 4 million active listings
2023: 1.08 million active listings
On a positive note, the monthly supply of new homes has been falling from the peak of 10.1 months to 7.4 months, which means the builders are working through their backlog. But 7.4 months of supply, as the chart below shows, is still too much for the builders to get excited about adding to housing permits in a meaningful way.
Now let’s look at the rest of the new home sales report.
From Census: New Home Sales Sales of new single‐family houses in June 2023 were at a seasonally adjusted annual rate of 697,000, according to estimates released jointly today by the U.S. Census Bureau and the Department of Housing and Urban Development. This is 2.5 percent (±12.7 percent)* below the revised May rate of 715,000, but is 23.8 percent (±22.5 percent) above the June 2022 estimate of 563,000.
New home sales missed estimates and had three months of negative revisions. As always, these reports are wild month to month, so when you see a big print, either negative or positive, it will most likely get revised, so the trend is more important. We saw sales bottom in 2022, and they’ve risen higher ever since.
We have to remember that the new home sales market has some advantages that the existing one doesn’t, which is why we see 23.8% year-over-year sales growth for new homes. The new home sales market is much smaller than the existing one and doesn’t rely on a seller listing their home for demand to grow.
The builders sell their homes like they sell a commodity and they’re efficient sellers — they can cut prices and buy down rates for a smaller marketplace. In addition, the low number of active listings for existing homes makes the builders’ homes a more attractive option. Why not buy a new home instead of an older home that might need a lot of work?
From Census: For Sale Inventory and Months’ Supply: The seasonally-adjusted estimate of new houses for sale at the end of June was 432,000. This represents a supply of 7.4 months at the current sales rate.
It’s always critical to explain how the monthly supply data and numbers work for new homes because I believe a lot of confusion about supply comes from not understanding this data line.
Breaking down the monthly supply data (7.4 months) into different categories is vital:
1.2 months of the supply are homes completed and ready for sale, about 72,000 homes
4.5 months of the supply are homes that are still under construction, about 260,000 homes
1.7 months of the supply are homes that haven’t been started yet, about 100,000 homes
The builders manage their supply like good business people because they want to sell these homes at the highest profit possible and have the margin to spare if they need to make some deals. So, they’re not going to put their heads down.
My model for the builders is simple. To see real growth in permits we need monthly supply to get below 6.5 months with rising sales. We are working our way back to that level but have yet to arrive. We have to remember the builders had a backlog of homes to work off, so we had a pipeline of homes that need to be completed.
Here’s my model to understanding the builders:
When supply is 4.3 months and below, this is an excellent market for builders.
When supply is 4.4-6.4months, this is just an OK market for builders. They will build as long as new home sales are growing.
When supply is over 6.5 months, the builders will pause on construction.
Overall, this was not the best new home sales report: sales missed estimates and we had negative revisions in the prior three months. But, the trend of new home sales improving using a low bar from last year is still intact.
New home sales are still only at 1995 levels today, so it’s not exactly a booming market. This is why historical sale levels are important when talking about housing demand — we had a very low bar to bounce from last year, and we have. The year-over-year comps for all housing data are about to get much easier since the second half of last year is when home sales were crashing.
No matter what happens to the new home sales market for the rest of the year, I believe Chairman Powell is wrong if he thinks many single-family homes will come onto the market for sale. I mean, if 2023 was his housing reset, he should ask for a refund.
My short life as a daytrader In my second year of college, I decided to take out $10,000 in student loans and become a daytrader. I could earn far more than the low 4% rate the loans came with, and I planned to finance my education with the winnings.
Sounds like a great idea, right?
There I was, hanging out in the school library, taking up two or three monitors with stock tickers running across the screen and Excel spreadsheets tracking my trades. A copy of Barron’s would be spread out beside me, and the Wall Street Journal wasn’t far away.
So how did it go? Well, there were a couple of problems.
Real-time trading was hard to do in 1997. Back then, the internet was up and running well, and Datek Online had just launched, but real-time trading was still restricted to people with a lot faster connections than my school library had.
Apparently, the school library was not designed for my exclusive use. For some reason, the library staff grew weary of my hanging out in the library all day, taking up three computers. I tried to play it cool when they asked me about it — “Oh, is there a problem?”— but in the end I was put on library restriction: I could use only one computer at a time, and if others were waiting to do academic work, the stock trading would have to stop. Not wanting to pay for a better computer and connection at home, I finally gave it up.
Fast-forward ten years, and I haven’t done any stock trading since then, but I’ve managed to choose unusual paths most of that time:
I lived in West Africa for four years, working as a volunteer for a charity without taking any salary.
I’ve worked as an entrepreneur for most of my adult life — ten years and counting without the dreaded “real job”.
After spending so much time overseas, I’ve found that I really enjoy traveling to places most North Americans never go to, so I recently set a goal of traveling to every country in the world before my 35th birthday in 2013
Each of these experiences has taught me a lot about personal finance, and in a few important ways, my belief in unconventional living has carried over to how I handle money. I’ve made a lot of mistakes along the way, but I’ve also done a few things right.
With that in mind, I’ve written a two-part summary to explain more about how I handle my finances. While I don’t expect that anyone will adopt my own system in full, I do hope that this summary may help others who see the world similar to the way that I do. My thanks to J.D. for providing a forum for this summary here at Get Rich Slowly.
Back to basics First of all, I’d like to think that most of what the GRS site advocates — and what GRS readers consistently practice — represents a great start to a nonconformist approach to personal finance. Sadly, the majority of North Americans are woefully under-informed about financial matters and do not set savings goals.
Simply by planning and taking deliberate action with your finances, you are already in a league of your own.
Further, as different as I may be, I am an advocate of most of the basic financial advice presented here on GRS and in other like-minded publications. Some financial advice is fairly generic, but there really are some good principles that are true for everyone.
For example, I believe in:
I think of these things as The Basics. Simply following The Basics will put most of us far above the curve.
Also, I am generally skeptical about retirement as it’s commonly defined (more on that later), but I am even more skeptical about Social Security. If you’re under 50 years old, I don’t recommend you count on Social Security for anything. Consider those payments you make each month as a parent or grandparent tax.
Where I diverge from the conventional wisdom is over the issues of debt, focused spending, home ownership, traditional employment, retirement, and charitable giving.
Here are a few of my principles — and please, feel free to take them or leave them for yourself as you see fit. I don’t make judgments about the choices of others; I only think it’s reasonable that each of us should carefully consider our own motivations and priorities. As J.D. says, “Do what works for you.”
#1 — There is no such thing as “good debt.” Finance books and magazines often talk about “good debt,” in the sense that a long-term mortgage is considered a good thing to have. Depending on your perspective, a car loan or education loans may also be “good.”
Well, this is probably the only thing in the world I am conservative and old-fashioned about, but I happen to believe that all debt is something to worry about. While watching many friends accumulate huge levels of debt buying cars and houses, I have lived my entire adult life debt-free.
This has occasionally meant going without something or not buying an expensive car (I don’t own any car at all now), but the real secret is that choosing to live debt-free is no sacrifice at all. Even though I work as an entrepreneur and have never had a stable income, I also don’t have to worry about falling behind on mortgage payments or watching credit card finance charges rise every month.
#2 — Student loans? No thanks! Aside from the short experience of daytrading with my undergraduate loan money (I actually came out a little ahead, but I wouldn’t recommend trying that), I’ve financed the rest of my education without debt as well.
Two years ago I came to Seattle and began an expensive graduate program, and since that time I have met a lot of students who have gone into debt to finance their undergraduate and graduate education. It’s fair to say that some of them are happy with this choice, and there are certain professions (such as medicine) where it is very difficult to get an education without taking on serious debt.
However, it is also fair to say that I know a lot of people who have truly regretted taking on so much debt to go to school, especially if they enrolled in a program that does not lead to a high-paying job after graduation.
I’m simply not comfortable borrowing large sums of money. I was able to pay for my University of Washington Master’s Degree on my own. But now that I’m writing during the day instead of building businesses, I really can’t afford to continue paying for my education. Earlier this year I was accepted to a competitive Ph.D. program on the east coast, but the offer didn’t come with financial support, so I had to make a tough decision.
I could have started the program by taking loans or using long-term savings, hoping that more financial support would come along later. To be honest, I briefly considered taking the loans. But in the end I made the right choice, at least for me: I’m not going. I don’t value it that much.
#3 — A house is a liability, not an asset I am currently living in one of the most expensive housing markets in North America (Seattle, Washington), and I have no interest in buying a home here. I am quite happy that my landlords are responsible for maintenance, and that I pay no homeowners’ dues or property taxes. (Yes, I realize that some of those costs are factored in the price of rent, but I think we still come out ahead.)
In the long-term, you do have to live somewhere, and if you’re staying put for the next 30 years and want a home of your own, ownership can make sense. But for many of the rest of us, renting is becoming less of a stigma now that people have begun to realize that taking out huge mortgages isn’t usually a good idea.
Invest in yourself My wife Jolie and I made a decision several years ago that guides most of our spending choices. We try not to spend money on “stuff” — physical items that all of us end up accumulating over time — and instead focus our spending on life experiences that we value.
Jolie is an artist, so we invest a lot in her art education and supplies. For me, world travel is my highest personal expense category. On a train ride from Hungary to the Czech Republic a few years back, I worked out the cost of visiting 100 countries. I had already been to a lot of countries, and I figured that to get to the remaining 60 or so and stay for a few days in each would cost roughly $30,000, or the cost of a large SUV.
I prefer to use public transport and don’t own a car in Seattle, so I thought, wow, that’s cheap. I could have a large vehicle and complain to everyone about the cost of fuel, or I could have the world. For me, it was an easy choice.
Some people would say that world travel is a frivolous luxury, and not something that should be such a prominent item in a graduate student’s budget. I’ll try to consider that point the next time I’m flying off to Hong Kong or Johannesburg.
Because travel is so important to me, my working budget includes funds for at least one Round-the-World trip each year. I realize that I don’t need this trip in the same way that I need to buy groceries, but I do need it in the sense that it is one of my highest priorities, and I would rather eliminate other expenses before cutting into it.
A lot of GRS readers may not be as interested in travel as I am, but that’s OK — it’s more important to find your own “life experience” priorities. What do you get excited about? What are you truly passionate about? I believe these items should be your spending priorities, right after groceries, savings, and investing in others — the next area in this short guide to unconventional personal finance.
Invest in others For many affluent people, charitable giving is an afterthought. It’s something we do once in a while to feel better, or at the end of the year for a tax write-off.
I have a problem with that mindset. Done well, charitable giving is essentially an investment in those less fortunate than us. I don’t view investing in others as a luxury or an afterthought; I consider it as essential as taking care of our own savings.
Money doesn’t solve all the problems of the world, and it’s important to give to the right causes. For example, because far more people give to short-term relief than to long-term development, the money spent on disaster relief is often highly inefficient and poorly used.
But when you create a strategy for your investment in others, you can have a positive impact on far more people, and the quality of that impact will be greatly optimized.
If you’re not sure where to start and are looking for good causes to increase your own giving, consider the following organizations. I personally know the people who run each of these groups and give them my highest recommendations:
Kiva.org — This great organization has the objective of democratizing microlending by matching small donors (like you and me) with promising entrepreneurs in the developing world who need small loans to improve their businesses.
CharityIs — My friend Scott Harrison started this project to bypass government foreign aid (most of which does not go to the poorest people in poor countries) and directly provide access to clean water and sanitation throughout Africa and Asia.
Care — One of the larger, more traditional charities, Care has managed to keep administrative expenses down even as they have expanded to projects in 71 countries
What I’m Doing Right now I’m beginning a writing career while my wife works as an artist, so we have definitely had to cut back on both giving and savings, but I still try to pay attention to the overall percentages. I also believe that if you don’t “miss” the money you give — if there is no real sense of sacrifice — you’re not really being challenged by the giving.
Therefore, I have a stated goal of investing at least 15% of our income every year in charitable giving. I feel a little strange about writing that here for 50,000 people to read, because this is something that is very personal, and I have previously shared the number with only a few people.
To those who say that it’s hard to give to others when you don’t have much money yourself, part of me wants to sympathize, but another part remembers that we chose to adopt this principle when we were living on about $12,000 a year. In the end, all I can say is that every year we have given more money away, and we have rarely lacked for anything.
To be continued… By getting the basics under control, rejecting conventional beliefs about debt, choosing to spend freely on life experiences instead of “stuff,” and creating a giving plan to invest in others, I’ve built a personal finance system that is aligned with my values.
There are just a few important parts left, including where the income comes from. I’ll discuss that in the next update, which will be published at Get Rich Slowly next week. In that article, I’ll discuss alternative forms of work, the financial independence goal, and a few mistakes I’ve made on my nonconformist finance journey.
Thanks for reading this far! I welcome feedback, questions, or disagreements in the comments below.
Purchasing a home got a little more expensive this week, as rates ticked closer to 7%. But relief may come later this year, according to a new forecast.
The average rate on the 30-year fixed mortgage increased to 6.81% this week, up from 6.78% the week prior, according to Freddie Mac. Rates followed the 10-year Treasury yield higher, as markets responded to the Federal Reserve’s quarter-point rate hike this week, which put short-term rates at the highest level in more than 20 years.
Read more: What the latest Federal Reserve move will mean for loans and mortgages
The increase compounds the unrelenting affordability problems homebuyers must swallow and further exacerbates inventory challenges, though softer rates may be in the offing.
“With consumer price inflation calming close to the Federal Reserve’s desired conditions, mortgage rates look to have topped out,” Lawrence Yun, chief economist at the National Association of Realtors (NAR) said in a statement on pending home sales Thursday. “Given the ongoing job additions, any meaningful decline in mortgage rates could lead to a rush of buyers later in the year and into the next.”
Entry-level buyers can’t keep up
First-time buyers, often the most rate sensitive in the market, took a step back as rates ticked up.
The volume of purchase applications for a mortgage decreased 3% from one week earlier on a seasonally adjusted basis to the lowest level in over a month, the Mortgage Bankers Association (MBA) survey for the week ending July 21 found. Overall, purchase demand was 23% lower than the same week a year ago.
The decline was partly driven by a 10% decrease in applications for home loans backed by the Federal Housing Administration, a popular choice among moderate-income and entry-level buyers.
“Many borrowers remain on the sidelines given current rates and persistent affordability challenges,” MBA deputy chief economist Joel Kan said in a statement.
Home prices aren’t exactly helping the affordability equation either.
The median price of single-family homes was $450,000 for the week ending July 24, a separate survey by Altos Research found. That’s unchanged from last week and also from a year ago. The median price of a new listing was also unchanged from last year.
“Again, this is yet another signal that despite affordability challenges for so much of the country, there are sufficient buyers at these prices and these mortgage rates that home prices are not falling in 2023,” Mike Simonsen, CEO of Altos Research, wrote in his blog post.
A lack of inventory is also helping to prevent prices from falling. And that’s a direct consequence of elevated mortgage rates because many homeowners are holding off on selling their properties because they don’t want to give up their current low mortgage rate.
Altos Research forecasted at the start of the year that inventory would end 2023 at 600,000. The firm has since revised that figure down by a third to 400,000.
“We’ve had low-inventory surprises almost every week all year,” Simonsen wrote. “The key takeaway on inventory is that there is no signal anywhere in the data, of a surge in inventory.”
Eventually homebuyers may get some relief as mortgage rates are widely expected to soften during the remaining months of the year.
For instance, NAR on Thursday released a forecast that puts the 30-year fixed mortgage rate at 6.4% this year and then drops to 6.0% in 2024. Realtor.com predicted in June that mortgage rates would average 6.4% throughout this year and fall to 6.1% by year-end. That’s similar to what the MBA is anticipating, too.
“MBA expects that rates will remain volatile in the coming months,” MBA President and CEO Bob Broeksmit said in a statement this week, “but will fall to around 6% by the end of this year.”
Gabriella Cruz-Martinez is a personal finance reporter at Yahoo Finance. Follow her on Twitter @__gabriellacruz.
Click here for the latest personal finance news to help you with investing, paying off debt, buying a home, retirement, and more
Read the latest financial and business news from Yahoo Finance
The Super Man complex most healthy people have has a kryptonite when it comes to life insurance options: the non-medical factors that affect your life insurance rates.
It’s a huge shock to many people who get a free life insurance quote who are in the best shape of their lives when they can’t qualify for the best life insurance rates because of non-medical factors. It usually goes something like this:
“I Crossfit 3 times/week and compete in Iron Man triathalons and you’re telling me that I can’t qualify for the best rates because I’m a rock climber?”
Yes. That’s what we’re saying.
In our 8 years of helping consumers find the lowest life insurance rates available, here are the top 5 “non-medical” factors that affect your life insurance rates (in no particular order).
Non-Medical Factors that Affect Life Insurance Rates
1. Hazardous Occupations
Have you seen “Deadliest Catch” ? Those 700 lb steel traps on a boat being swung around by 25 foot waves isn’t really the ideal risk for life insurance companies. Expect to pay more… a lot more.
We’re also talking about occupations like oil rig workers, ironworkers (think high rise structural construction) and bomb diffusers. Yes, I’ve actually insured a police bomb diffuser. One of the sharpest clients I can remember – but he pays A LOT more for his life insurance than if he didn’t have this hazardous occupation.
Again, most of these people are in great shape because of the nature of their occupation – but their non-medical factors come into play when underwriting their applications.
2. Hazardous Activities
In this group, the most common risks we see are deep sea scuba divers, private pilots, motor racing, skydivers and high altitude rock climbers. Most of these people HAVE to be in great shape to perform these activities at a high level and most of them are. However, these risky activities come with increased premiums when it comes to life insurance no matter how fit you are.
Be prepared to fill out a questionnaire regarding the specifics of your hazardous activities as life insurance companies will determine your pricing based on many factors including your training, experience, and how often you perform these activities. If you are going to participate in high-risk activities don’t be surprised if you land in the high-risk life insurance premium bucket.
3. Foreign Travel
If you have any plans to travel abroad, your life insurance company wants to know about them. If it’s a high-risk area, like any of the places on this government Travel Warnings List, you’ll have a very hard time finding coverage until you come home from your trip.
Life insurance companies will also be looking at the purpose of travel and length of stay. For example – you may have a 2 week vacation planned to Bali, Indonesia, but Indonesia may be on the state departments “Travel Warnings” list or be a high risk country in the company’s underwriting guidelines. Many companies won’t consider this risk after factoring the purpose and length of stay.
Many companies will ask about previous foreign travel as well. If you show a pattern of traveling to potentially high risk places, they may factor that in to their underwriting decision.
4. Family History
This is the biggest disappointment to consumers purchasing life insurance because it’s something you have no control over. Generally speaking, if any of your parents or siblings passed away before the age of 60 of cancer, heart disease or diabetes – most life insurance companies won’t offer their best health classification.
However there are some highly rated and very well known life insurance companies that don’t factor this in. If you’re in great health, make sure your agent provides you with these options.
Ads by Money. We may be compensated if you click this ad.Ad
5. DUI’s and Moving Violations
Life insurance companies will pull your Motor Vehicle Report (MVR) and factor in any excessive moving violations and DUI’s. A couple speeding tickets usually isn’t an issue, but when you get a reckless driving ticket, DUI or an excessive number of moving violations – it becomes a factor in your life insurance pricing.
Every life insurance company will have different underwriting guidelines for each specific high risk activity.
The best advice we can give is to be open, honest and detailed with your agent about your non-medical factors. It’s your life insurance agent’s job to find you the best life insurance rates available and the more information we have, the better chance you have of actually securing the best rates.
Lastly, if you have a family or anyone financially dependent on you – don’t be disheartened because of the higher pricing. Many people we speak with think it’s “unfair” that they have to pay more because of these “non-medical” factors that come into play when determining your life insurance rates. It’s unfair to your family if you don’t protect them.
Remember the purpose of this coverage. Tomorrow is promised to one, so protect your family today.
Jeff Root is an independent life insurance agent at rootfin.com where he helps consumers across the nation find the lowest life insurance available.
You would be surprised at how many musical artists crossover to acting and vice versa. It is all in the performance, and while it doesn’t always work out (Harry Styles can’t act, guys, sorry), more often than not, it does.
Studios might put singers in their films to draw their fans to the theater or give them a shot that they have always wanted to take. Often they perform a song during the film or for the credits. Here are the best movies that star a musical artist.
1. A League of Their Own (1992)
A League of Their Own tells a fictionalized account of the real-life story of women needing to play baseball because the men were at war. Madonna plays one of the main characters, Mae Mordabito, who is inspired by Faye Dancer.
She didn’t have much of a track record in the film, but ultimately her fame was considered a big enough asset for the film, so she was added to it. A League of Their Own features Madonna singing This Used To Be My Playground.
2. A Star Is Born (2018)
2018’s A Star Is Born is the third remake of the film, each of which starred a singer: 1954 stars Judy Garland and 1976 stars Barbara Streisand. It follows an alcoholic musician who falls in love with a young singer.
Lady Gaga (also known as Stefani Germanotta) plays the young singer in this version. The film’s soundtrack sold over six million copies worldwide and received four Grammy Awards wins out of seven nominations.
3. Grease (1978)
The film Grease is based on the stage musical of the same name. The studio needed a powerhouse vocalist to take on the role of Sandy. Olivia Newton-John initially turned down the role but eventually decided to take it. Her co-star, John Travolta, has said many times that he knew only one person could play this role, and it was her.
4. The Blind Side (2009)
The Blind Side tells the story of Michael Oher, an American football offensive lineman who overcame an impoverished upbringing to play in the National Football League (NFL) with the help of his adoptive parents, Sean and Leigh Anne Tuohy.
Tim McGraw plays Sean. His performance has been widely considered fantastic, and while he wasn’t the movie’s main star, he left an impact on many people.
5. 9 to 5 (1980)
The film 9 to 5 stars Jane Fonda, Lily Tomlin, and Dolly Parton as three working women who live out their fantasies of getting even with and overthrowing the company’s autocratic, sexist, egotistical, lying, hypocritical bigot boss, played by Dabney Coleman.
Dolly Parton was already established as a successful singer, musician, and songwriter, but the film permanently launched her into mainstream popular culture. Her song, 9 to 5, garnered an Academy Award nomination and four Grammy Award nominations, winning her the Best Country Song and Best Country Vocal Performance, Female awards.
6. The Social Network (2010)
The Social Network tells the story of the founding of the social networking website Facebook. Justin Timberlake portrays Sean Parker, the first President of Facebook. Jonah Hill was in contention for Timberlake’s role, but director David Fincher passed on him. While the film has a soundtrack, Justin Timberlake does not sing on it.
7. Glass Onion: A Knives Out Mystery (2022)
Glass Onion is a standalone sequel to the 2019 film Knives Out, with Daniel Craig reprising his role as master detective Benoit Blanc as he takes on a new case revolving around tech billionaire Miles Bron. Janelle Monae has two roles in the film.
Many have said she is the reason to watch the movie, as her performance is incredible. She has been nominated for several awards due to this performance, including Critics Choice for Best Supporting Actress.
8. Labyrinth
Labyrinth is a 1986 musical fantasy film in which Sarah embarks on a quest to reach the center of an enormous, otherworldly maze to rescue her infant half-brother Toby, whom she wished away to Jareth. The film stars Jennifer Connelly as 16-year-old Sarah and David Bowie as Jareth, the Goblin King.
One user quotes Bowie, saying, “I’d always wanted to be involved in the music-writing aspect of a movie that would appeal to children of all ages, as well as everyone else, and I must say that Jim gave me a completely free hand with it.”
9. Dreamgirls (2006)
Dreamgirls stars both Beyoncé Knowles and Jennifer Hudson. The story follows the history and evolution of American R&B music during the 1960s and 1970s through the eyes of the Detroit girl group known as “The Dreams” and their manipulative record executive.
10. The Rocky Horror Picture Show (1975)
The film is based on the 1973 musical stage production The Rocky Horror Show, with music, book, and lyrics by O’Brien. The production is a tribute to the science fiction and horror B movies of the 1930s through to the early 1960s.
In late 1973, Meat Loaf was cast in the original L.A. Roxy cast of The Rocky Horror Show, playing the parts of Eddie and Dr. Everett Scott. The success of the musical led to the filming of The Rocky Horror Picture Show, in which Meat Loaf played only Eddie, a decision he said made the movie not as good as the musical.
Source: Reddit.
Who is one actress you can never stand watching, no matter their role? After polling the internet, these were the top-voted actresses that people couldn’t stand watching.
10 Actresses People Despise Watching Regardless of Their Role
These 7 Celebrities are Genuinely Good People
We’ve all heard the famous adage that “no publicity is bad publicity,” and while it tends to be accurate, there are certainly exceptions. But what about those few stars who stay out of the limelight and get along without a hint of trouble?
These 7 Celebrities are Genuinely Good People
Have you ever known someone and thought you liked them—until you learned about their hobbies? Then you get to know them and then you’re like, “Wow, red flag.” Well, you’re not alone.
These 10 Activities Are an Immediate Red Flag
Some celebrities definitely seem to enjoy the limelight and keep working to stay in the public eye. While others quickly move out of the spotlight. Many of these actors and actresses stepped out of the spotlight to live a more private life without constant media pressures.
10 Celebrities That Made the Big Times Then Disappeared Off The Face of the Earth
We’ve all been there – sitting through a movie that we can’t help but cringe at, but somehow it still manages to hold a special place in our hearts.
These 10 Terrible Movies Are Still People’s Favorites