With its rolling hills, breathtaking coastline, and diverse ecosystems, San Francisco, CA, is home to many parks that offer respite, recreation, and a connection to nature. With expansive urban oases and charming neighborhood hideaways, San Francisco’s parks cater to every preference and interest.
From the iconic Golden Gate Park and the picturesque Lands End to the lesser-known gems like Glen Canyon Park and Precita Park, this Redfin article explores ten exceptional parks in San Francisco and the unique features that make each unique. So, whether you’re looking to rent an apartment in San Francisco or purchase a home in the area, get ready to explore the stunning green spaces in San Francisco.
1. Buena Vista Park
As the city’s oldest park, Buena Vista Park offers lush greenery, winding trails, and majestic trees that create a relaxing haven. Its elevated location provides breathtaking panoramic views of the city’s skyline, the iconic Golden Gate Bridge, and the surrounding San Francisco neighborhoods. Nature enthusiasts can explore the park’s diverse flora and fauna, including beautiful wildflowers and bird species. Additionally, Buena Vista Park has picnic areas, benches, and open grassy spaces, perfect for enjoying a leisurely day outdoors or gathering with friends and family.
2. Golden Gate Park
Spanning over 1,000 acres, Golden Gate Park is one of the largest urban parks in the United States. The park has a stunning array of landscapes, including meadows, gardens, lakes, and wooded areas. Visitors can explore the diverse gardens, such as the Japanese Tea Garden, the Conservatory of Flowers, and the Botanical Garden, which showcase a vibrant collection of plant species worldwide. Golden Gate Park also features numerous cultural institutions, including the de Young Museum and the California Academy of Sciences. The park’s unique landmarks, such as the Dutch Windmill and the Bison Paddock, add to its charm and uniqueness.
3. Glen Canyon Park
Glen Canyon Park is a hidden gem spread across 70 acres. One of its main attractions is the magnificent Glen Canyon, a lush canyon with a meandering creek that flows through the park. The park offers trails that wind through wooded areas, grassy meadows, and rocky outcroppings, providing opportunities for hiking, jogging, and nature walks. For rock climbing enthusiasts, Glen Canyon Park boasts unique rock formations, including the popular climbing spot known as “The Canyon Wall.”
4. Mission Dolores Park
Spanning over 16 acres, Mission Dolores Park is a beloved and iconic public park in the vibrant Mission District. Known for its picturesque views and diverse community, Mission Dolores Park attracts crowds seeking relaxation, social gatherings, and outdoor activities. The park features sprawling green lawns, palm trees, and well-maintained gardens.
Visitors can enjoy various amenities, including playgrounds, 6 tennis courts, a soccer field, a basketball court, and a dedicated space for off-leash dog activities. The park is also famous for its sloping hillside. It is a popular spot for sunbathing, picnicking, and taking in panoramic views of the city skyline, including the iconic San Francisco skyline and the nearby Mission Dolores Church.
5. McLaren Park
McLaren Park is a hidden gem tucked away in the southeastern part of San Francisco. As the city’s second-largest park, McLaren Park features a diverse range of landscapes, including grassy meadows, wooded areas, and rolling hills. From the higher elevations within the park, visitors can enjoy panoramic views of the city skyline, the San Francisco Bay, and even glimpses of the Pacific Ocean on clear days. Its Jerry Garcia Amphitheater hosts cultural events, concerts, and performances.
6. Lands End
Lands End is a breathtaking coastal park located at the northwestern edge of San Francisco. Stretching along the rugged cliffs and shoreline of the Pacific Ocean, this scenic park offers a captivating blend of natural beauty and historical significance. As part of the larger Golden Gate National Recreation Area, Lands End features a variety of trails that wind through cypress and eucalyptus groves, offering mesmerizing views of the ocean, rocky cliffs, and the iconic Golden Gate Bridge in the distance. The park is home to fascinating landmarks, including the ruins of the Sutro Baths, a historic saltwater swimming facility, and the dramatic Mile Rock Lighthouse perched atop a rocky outcrop.
7. Precita Park
Situated on a sloping hillside, Precita Park spans nearly 4 acres and features a large open grassy area, perfect for picnicking, playing sports, or simply relaxing in the sun. The park’s beautiful trees and landscaped areas create a serene and inviting environment, inviting visitors to take leisurely walks or sit and enjoy the peaceful surroundings.
8. Corona Heights Park
Situated atop a prominent hill, Corona Heights Park provides a unique vantage point that allows visitors to appreciate breathtaking vistas of the San Francisco skyline, the Golden Gate Bridge, and the Bay Area. One of the park’s notable features is the Randall Museum, which offers interactive exhibits and educational programs focusing on science, nature, and art.
9. Duboce Park
Duboce Park is a cherished green space nestled in the vibrant Duboce Triangle neighborhood. Spanning approximately 4.3 acres, this neighborhood gem features well-maintained lawns, mature trees, and beautifully landscaped gardens. Its central location and picturesque surroundings make it an ideal spot for picnics, sunbathing, or simply unwinding on a sunny day.
10. Ina Coolbrith Park
Ina Coolbrith Park, perched atop Telegraph Hill, is a small park named after Ina Coolbrith, California’s first poet laureate. The park’s elevated location offers panoramic vistas of the San Francisco Bay, the Golden Gate Bridge, and the city skyline. A bronze bust of Ina Coolbrith pays homage to her literary contributions and reminds us of her impact on California’s literary scene. While relatively small, Ina Coolbrith Park offers a unique blend of natural beauty, artistic inspiration, and unique views.
At some point, many city dwellers realize they’ve had enough of the tiny, exorbitantly priced apartments, the noise and gridlock, the angry drivers, and the packed sidewalks. They find themselves longing for a simpler life—perhaps even putting down roots in small-town America, where they’re not always in a rush and a walk through town is sure to include at least a few friendly faces.
As you’ve probably heard, small- and medium-sized communities, farther from the country’s historic coastal population centers, have had quite a housing renaissance in the past few years. While mortgage rates were near zero and workers had more flexibility to work remotely during the COVID-19 pandemic, many descended on pretty, tranquil, formerly affordable, smaller towns—and that caused some prices to skyrocket.
But here’s the news: It’s not too late to trade in big-city bustle for small-town serenity without busting your budget. The Realtor.com® data team found America’s most affordably priced, small towns that also have lots to offer residents. These aren’t just nice places with low-priced real estate. These are places where you might actually love to live.
“I drive down the street and see 10 people I know,” says Kelsey Janssen, a Realtor® and associate broker at Coldwell Banker Town & Country Realty of Kearney, NE, one of the top spots on our list. “Even people who don’t know you wave here.”
Janssen says she has clients who have come from California, or neighboring Colorado, and they’re blown away by how friendly everyone is—on top of how much more affordable the homes are.
Some of these smaller communities have carved a niche for themselves, whether it’s live music, like in Branson, MO, or the old-world German charm of New Ulm, MN. Each has a different flavor.
To find these desirable small towns, the Realtor.com data team looked at real estate in every U.S. “micropolitan area,” the collection of counties with a population between 10,000 and 50,000. (With the surrounding areas included, a micropolitan area can technically have a population as large as 200,000, but we’re focusing on the core town within.) Then we pulled together U.S. Census Bureau data detailing the dining, entertainment, recreation, and quality-of-life business establishments in the area, and calculated their rate per 100,000 residents. We ranked the towns using an equal combination of those categories, as well as home list prices.
We limited our list to places where the median list price per square foot is less than 150% of the national average, and we selected only the highest-ranking micropolitan area in any given state, to ensure geographic diversity.
Here’s our list of the most affordable small towns with big quality of life.
Median list price: $159,250
Our No. 1 affordable small town with lots of big-city appeal is Cortland. The residents of the town in central New York have quick access to some larger cities, sitting about 35 minutes north of Ithaca and 45 minutes south of Syracuse. And the median list price is just about one-third of the national median in May. You get a lot for your money here.
Cortland, which has a history dating to the late 18th century, is surrounded by tree-covered hills, which transform into a patchwork of orange, gold, and crimson in the fall, which sets the mood for the annual Great Cortland Pumpkin Festival.
“The community events are just wonderful here,” says Jason Hage, a local real estate broker at Hage Real Estate.
“You’ve got the Pumpkin Festival and also the Homer Fireman Field Days. We have two or three parades a year,” he adds. “Every Wednesday night from June through August, we have Music on the Green at the Homer elementary school. It’s such a cool thing to be able to hang out there with your neighbors and check out live music.”
Cortland, like any good small town, has a Main Street dotted with restaurants, bars, coffee shops, vintage boutiques, and tattoo parlors. Other local attractions that boost Cortland’s small-town bona fides include the Cortland Repertory Theatre, offering up a range of performances, and The 1890 House Museum, where residents can learn about the town’s history and architecture.
For the more adventurous Cortlanders, Greek Peak Mountain Resort is where to go for downhill skiing and snowboarding, as well as snowshoeing and cross-country skiing—and it’s only 15 minutes outside of town.
Median list price: $384,450
Located in the heart of the Midwest, Kearney is about 2.5 hours west of Omaha and 2.5 hours east of the Colorado state line.
Kearney (rhymes with “Barney”) began as a historic Army outpost, founded in 1848, along the Oregon Trail. It became an important stop for those wagons driving west during the expansion of the U.S.
Now, “it’s just one of the best places to live,” says Realtor Janssen,
She tries to tell people moving to Kearney not to be alarmed when people they don’t recognize wave at them, she says. “That’s just how friendly people here are.”
There are hiking and biking trails, parks, golf courses, and white water rafting on the Platte River bordering Kearney to the south. There are also affordable homes for sale.
A three-bedroom home on the edge of Harmon Park, just a few minutes from downtown Kearney, is listed for $189,000.
Median list price: $320,000
Branson is a lake lover’s dream. It snagged one of the top spots of the Realtor.com annual list of the nation’s most affordable lake towns for four of the past five years. The town is located in the southern Ozarks, just a little north of the Arkansas border.
The area is known for its mountainous terrain and the large bodies of water nearby, Table Rock Lake and Lake Taneycomo. The lakes were created by the sort of dams that came to typify this section of the country in the 20th century. Lake Taneycomo came first with Powersite Dam in 1913, and the much larger Table Rock Lake Dam was constructed in the 1950s.
Branson ranks the highest among all our towns in the Census Bureau’s “amusement, gambling, and recreation” industries, as the town has become a hub for tourism and live music.
The Dutton Family Theater, Clay Cooper Theatre, and Presley’s Country Jubilee all offer something for music lovers in the area. But crime is higher in the area than in the other small towns, according to AreaVibes.
Buyers here can enjoy lower home prices, as properties in the Branson area are priced about 25% below the national median. This two-bedroom, one-bathroom house is for sale at $145,000.
Median list price: $257,450
Sandusky is another popular lake town that made it on our list. Perched on the edge of Lake Erie, about midway between Toledo to the west and Cleveland to the east, the town has plenty of restaurants and bars downtown and along the thriving waterfront.
One of the most popular attractions is the iconic Cedar Point Amusement Park, which sits on a peninsula that juts into Lake Erie, offering unparalleled views from the top of the park’s 16 world-class roller coasters. In fact, Cedar Point is known around these parts as “The Roller Coaster Capital of the World.”
History buffs can soak up exhibits on shipbuilding, shipwrecks, and pirates at the Maritime Museum of Sandusky.
Homes in Sandusky are about 35% less expensive than the national median. Buyers can check out this three-bedroom, two-bathroom for $210,000.
Median list price: $127,425
Of all of the places on our list, Galesburg is the cheapest, with prices 70% below the national average. That’s after about a 25% appreciation compared with before the pandemic, without any real slump in prices over the past year of mortgage interest rate hikes.
This small town is located in the western part of the state, about an hour south of Davenport, IA.
The town has a rich history, having been established in 1837 by abolitionists from New York. It’s named after George Washington Gale, a Presbyterian minister who helped lead the local anti-slavery movement and aided in the escape of fugitive slaves, and it became a stop on the Underground Railroad.
While crime here is higher than the national average, the local economy is relatively diverse, with BNSF Railway, Knox College (also established by Gale), and the local OSF HealthCare hospital topping the list of the area’s main employers.
Buyers can snag a three-bedroom, one-bathroom ranch for just under $80,000. Or they can “splurge” on a three-bedroom, 2.5-bathroom home on the market for $185,000.
Median list price: $287,900
In the northeast corner of South Dakota, Aberdeen is known for its prairie landscape, dotted with parks, lakes, and creeks. The Mina Lake Recreation Area is where locals can find boating, fishing, and camping opportunities.
There are plenty more perks. Aberdeen is home to Northern State University, a small public university, and Presentation College, a private Catholic college. On the northern edge of Aberdeen is Wylie Park, which has “Storybook Land,” a theme park based on storybooks and fairy tales. There’s also Wylie Lake, a minigolf course, bumper boats, and go-karts.
Plus, real estate here costs about half the national average. This three-bedroom, two-bathroom ranch is listed at about $240,000.
Median list price: $280,000
In 2022, Rutland ranked high on our list of great ski towns with homes regular people can afford. It’s just 25 minutes from one of the largest ski resorts on the East Coast: Killington, known as the “Beast of the East.” But homes are about half of what they cost in Killington, VT, at the base of the resort.
Rutland has lots more to offer as well. In the warmer months of the year, the Green Mountains to the east and the Taconic Mountains to the west offer an abundance of hiking and biking trails. The town has a quaint Main Street, dotted with shops and restaurants.
And as this town, like many in the upper Northeast, turns from deep green to burnt umber and red in the fall, Rutlanders can attend the nation’s longest-running Halloween parade (that’s what the locals maintain).
Rutland homes are priced about 35% below the national average, so buyers can still find deals. This three-bedroom, one-bathroom house is for sale for $215,000.
Median list price: $202,450
Iron Mountain is no stranger to our most affordable small towns list. Located on Michigan’s Upper Peninsula and straddling the Wisconsin border, this is our northernmost affordable small town. Homes here cost about 40% less than the national average per square foot.
The area ranks the highest for museums and historical sites, a reflection of the area’s history of mining. Iron Mountain was established during the mining boom of the late 19th century.
Residents can soak up the history at the local Mining Museum, located at the Chapin Mine Steam Pump Engine, a national historic site dubbed “The Cornish Pump.” At 60 feet tall, it’s the largest reciprocating steam-driven engine built in the U.S., created to keep water out of the mines below.
The town is also a regional center for outdoor tourism, including hunting, fishing, and skiing. The Pine Mountain Ski & Golf Resort is located on the northern edge of Iron Mountain, with a small downhill ski mountain and the relatively well-known Pine Mountain Ski Jump, which hosts International Ski Federation competitions.
Median list price: $267,400
Sitting in the Minnesota River Valley, about 90 miles southwest of the Twin Cities, New Ulm is the smallest of any place on our list and one of the most distinct.
New Ulm was founded by German immigrants in 1854, and the German heritage is unavoidable. Classically German half-timbered “Fachwerk” architecture can still be found across the town. New Ulm’s downtown gets a full transformation for Christmas, and the town’s Oktoberfest is a destination for anyone looking for an authentic experience. There’s even a 45-foot glockenspiel, whose chimes can be heard throughout the town during the day, and which is adorned with a rotating stage with figurines depicting characters from the town’s history.
Flandrau State Park, on the southern edge of New Ulm, is where the town’s residents can go for swimming, camping, hiking, or just lounging on the beach.
This century-old, two-bedroom, 1.5-bathroom house has been updated and is on the market for about $215,000.
Median list price: $559,000
Last on our list—and with the most expensive real estate—is Taos. Housing prices here are about 40% more than the national average per square foot, but the area’s museums, historic sites, as well as a devotion to arts and culture earn it a spot on our list.
This small town is rich with Native American culture and Spanish colonial history. The Pueblo de Taos, about a mile north of the modern town, is an ancient dwelling of the Puebloan people who inhabited it for hundreds of years before colonists arrived. It’s estimated to have been built between A.D. 1000 and A.D. 1400, and it’s designated as a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
More recently, Taos has become synonymous with high-desert tourism, recreation, and leisure.
Taos sits at almost 7,000 feet elevation, at the base of the Sangre de Cristo Mountains, where residents and tourists can quickly access hiking and biking trails in the summer and snow sports in the winter. It has become one of the Southwest’s outdoor activity hot spots, year-round.
“People have known us for the skiing and the snowshoeing,” says Ryan Trujillo, an associate broker at Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices in Taos. “But now it’s also whitewater rafting, kayaking, and other water sports.”
Buying a home is a significant investment, and ensuring the house is in the best condition possible is a top concern for any buyer, regardless of whether it’s your first home or investment property. It’s easy to get caught up in the excitement of buying a home, but you’ll want to make sure you include a home inspection in your list of priorities to avoid any potential issues or unforeseen costs as you get further into the homebuying process.
A general home inspection is almost always recommended for anyone buying a home. However, savvy buyers will do their due diligence by scheduling specialty home inspections, especially if the house is older or has specific features. From the roof all the way down to the foundation, there are several specialized types of home inspections you may want to consider before sealing the deal on your dream home.
Do I need a specialized home inspection?
“When discussing the importance of any type of home inspection with a client, I find the analogy of people seeing a doctor helpful,” says Brian Wendorf of Integrated Home Inspections. “Getting a home inspection is like seeing a trusted general practitioner who will evaluate overall health and recommend seeing a specialist when there is a question or concern about something that may be a latent issue. The things we can’t see can expose the greatest concerns to our underlying health. Like our bodies, a house can be seen as a holistic set of systems and structures. It’s important to get a home inspection to help understand the condition, need, and overall viability of a home’s usefulness to provide a happy and healthy place to call home or a sound investment.”
Depending on the home’s age, location, or condition, you might consider special types of home inspections to investigate potential issues common in homes in your area. General home inspections are great at giving you an idea of the overall state of the house at that point in time, but they do not typically test for things like asbestos or mold. “From crawl spaces to foundations, plumbing to HVAC systems, these inspections provide peace of mind, uncover hidden issues, and ensure you’re making a wise investment in a safe and comfortable living space,” says Luis Roses, owner of MIA Inspections. “Don’t settle for uncertainty; let comprehensive inspections protect your investment and bring you lasting peace of mind.”
When it comes to buying a home, you want to make sure you know all there is to know about the property before signing on the dotted line. In fact, here are 16 different types of home inspections you should consider:
1) Roof inspection
Most general home inspections will catch obvious roof problems, such as dark streaks or stains on your ceiling or loose shingles, with a visual inspection from the ground. However, a roof inspector will conduct a more thorough inspection that may reveal issues that aren’t visible to the untrained eye. This can include checking for leaks, unsecured shingles that could allow water to enter the home, and the condition of the gutters.
2) Chimney inspection
A chimney inspection can alert you of any potential problems in the firebox or flue, buildup, or blockages that you can bring to the homeowners to fix before closing on the home. Like all inspections, the inspector will perform a visual assessment for exterior cracks or damage in the mortar and clear the chimney of any buildup of creosote (a byproduct of burning wood) that can combust if left untreated. This type of home inspection aims to prevent chimney fires and smoke or odors from seeping inside the home when the fireplace is lit during the colder months.
3) Attic inspection
The roof may look sound and secure from the outside, but there may be signs of structural damage in the attic that can be easily missed with a general inspection. If you’re planning to look for your dream home in Phoenix, AZ to enjoy sunny weather year-round, you can expect to have your air conditioning running day and night, which can easily add to your energy bill. An attic inspection will let you know if there’s sufficient or damaged insulation that needs to be remedied. Moreover, a trained specialist will have the equipment necessary to identify signs of mold or moisture that can compromise the foundation’s integrity.
4) Electrical inspection
Regardless if you’re looking at a new construction or an older home, making sure the wiring is up-to-date and complies with city codes will help you avoid any troubles later on. Safety, comfort, and improved energy-efficiency are a few of the benefits you will gain from having your electrical systems inspected by a professional. Wires can become frayed and damaged from regular wear-and-tear and pose a dangerous fire hazard to your home and family.
5) HVAC inspection
A strange sound or smell could indicate an underlying issue that could affect your HVAC system, leading to increased heating and cooling costs, or worse, needing to replace it with a whole new system. An HVAC inspection provides a clearer picture of the home’s heating and cooling system, and can even give you recommendations for repairs or energy-efficient upgrades.
6) Mold inspection
Just because you can’t see mold doesn’t mean there isn’t any lurking away in your dream home. In fact, a mold problem could indicate that the home is harboring larger issues such as water damage, leaks, or even flooding. A specialist trained in mold remediation will typically conduct a visual assessment and sample the air and surfaces in the home to determine the type of mold present. This type of home inspection may even use thermal imaging to locate damp or cold spots behind walls where mold tends to thrive.
7) Pest inspection
Termites and other wood-loving pests can cause irreparable damage to the property that is costly to replace. A general home inspection may show areas of damage that might attract these unwanted guests, but only a trained specialist can definitively identify if there is continuing presence of pests, such as termites, carpenter ants, rodents, spiders, in your home’s exterior and interior, how large the infestation is, and how long the pest has been there. Not only will it save you a headache from dealing with a potential infestation, getting a pest inspection conducted early on will let you know you’re investing in a pest-free home.
8) Lead-based paint inspection
Older homes built before 1978 – and even some after – could contain lead-based paint and are highly recommended to be tested by a trained professional. Even low levels of lead-based paint may cause health issues and can be hazardous if you’re buying a home with young children. A specialist will check for peeling or chipped paint around the house and collect samples to be tested in a lab for the presence of lead.
9) Plumbing inspection
A plumbing emergency is never convenient. To prevent issues like a sewer backup or a failing water heater from becoming a homeowner’s nightmare, investing in a plumbing inspection before making the down payment can bring underlying issues to light. A professional will either conduct a visual inspection or use a diagnostic camera to verify that fixtures and appliances are installed properly and check for signs of water damage under or behind appliances.
10) Septic inspection
Like plumbing emergencies, a malfunctioning septic system can spell costly repairs (and unpleasant odors) if not caught before you’re under contract. A trained professional will locate and assess the septic tank, sludge layer, and absorption area to ensure all components are in working order and that the tank is the right size for the home. You definitely wouldn’t want to buy a home with a failed septic system, so consider a septic inspection if you’re buying a home with a septic tank.
11) Radon inspection
If you’re looking for your future home in regions where basements are common, requesting a radon test as part of the home’s overall inspection can help bring you peace of mind. Nearly 1 out of every 5 homes in the United States has elevated radon levels, and the EPA recommends that all houses be tested for radon levels during the point of sale. In most cases, you can request the seller’s previous radon test results as part of the home inspection and use that as a point of comparison.
12) Asbestos inspection
If you’re buying a home that was built before 1975, there’s a chance asbestos may be present in one or more of its construction materials. An asbestos inspection should be conducted by a certified asbestos removal company. Keep in mind that while asbestos tests take time, the entire home is inspected to ensure no asbestos-containing materials remain in the home you want to purchase. If the inspector recommends a removal, make sure this is addressed before signing off on the contract.
13) Pool or spa inspection
A pool is a great outdoor amenity, but not inspecting the pool’s structure and equipment systems, such as its pumps, heaters, and filters, could cause many problems down the road. Beyond being leak-free and solid, the pool’s plumbing system needs to be inspected to ensure the water is draining properly, and that the safety covers and hardware are sufficient to secure the pool when not in use.
14) Soil stability inspection
The state of the soil around the property can play an important role in determining if the home’s foundation adequately supports the soil that surrounds it. After all, you don’t want part of the hill your future home is sitting on to slide away during a rainstorm. A soil analysis by a trained professional can help prepare you for the potential issues of hillside living and will test for the probability of erosion, gillies, or mudflows due to the soil shifting.
15) Foundation inspection
Whether you’re a seasoned or first-time homebuyer, a foundation inspection can easily be overlooked when going through the types of home inspections you should consider. Large cracks in the exterior and interior walls, uneven floors, gaps between walls and the ceiling, or even doors that won’t close properly are potential warning signs that there may be bigger foundational issues that have gone unnoticed. A structural engineer can identify these problems, and you may be able to bring these up to the seller to fix during negotiations – saving you time and money by preventing the conditions from worsening.
“A foundation inspection is crucial in telling the story of a house,” says Dave Tague of Tague Home & Property Inspections. “An issue with the foundation will affect the structure above it. There will likely be angled cracking above doors and windows, and even the brick veneer on the outside of certain homes. Doors may rub and not close correctly. Supporting structures in the attic may show signs of foundation movement. A complete home inspection is always a good investment, but it all starts with the foundation.”
16) Crawl space inspection
Homes with crawl spaces in areas where there’s high humidity, like Seattle, WA, should be strong contenders for a crawl space inspection. As moisture condensates on surfaces in the crawl space, mold, wood rot, and even termite infestations can occur due to the space becoming increasingly humid. A professional will identify signs of a rotting crawl space and save you from making a costly mistake.
“It’s imperative this space is inspected,” says Richard Gaines of San Diego’s Home Inspector. “Issues such as cracked foundation walls, plumbing leaks, old electrical wiring, mold…health and safety are my main concern and all these issues directly affect the health and safety of the home and its occupants.”
17) Phase inspections
Phase inspections are a crucial aspect of the construction process for new houses. These inspections are conducted at various stages of construction, typically encompassing three key phases: pre-drywall, pre-closing, and final inspections. Phase inspections for new houses are vital to guarantee the quality and safety of the construction, providing homeowners with peace of mind and assurance that their new home meets all necessary requirements.
“Phase inspections are like checkpoints in a construction video game,” says Didya Bianchi of Bianchi Home Inspections. “By getting inspections during each phase, such as foundation, framing, and final inspections, you’ll catch any glitches or construction snafus before they become full-blown disasters.”
18) Sewer inspections
Sewer inspections play a crucial role in ensuring the functionality and integrity of the sewer system in new homes. These inspections involve a comprehensive assessment of the sewer lines and components to identify any potential issues or defects.
“Sewer line maintenance is often overlooked yet can be extremely expensive to repair or replace,” says Amanda Ables of Noble Property Inspections. “A sewer scope is a visual examination into the plumbing and sewer systems to identify any defects or damage. Common problems discovered during a sewer scope can include breakage, leaks, bellying, collapsing and clogs of the sewer lines.”
By conducting sewer inspections before the purchase or occupancy of a new home, potential buyers or homeowners can uncover any hidden sewer issues that may require immediate attention or future maintenance. Early detection of problems through sewer inspections helps prevent costly repairs and ensures a smooth and uninterrupted wastewater disposal system in the new home.
Are these different types of home inspections worth the investment?
While they could add up in costs and time, specialized home inspections can give you peace of mind in the long run. “Just like a good lawyer can save you thousands down the road, a thorough home inspection can save you the heartache of unexpected repairs and replacements,” says Kyler Piedra of Kore Home Inspections. “A home inspection helps mitigate your risk and inform your purchase decision.”
“While waiving a home inspection may provide a competitive advantage in a competitive housing market, it can also expose you to significant risks,” adds Stephen Roberts of Boston Light Home Inspections. “Without a professional inspection, you might miss important information about the property, which could lead to unforeseen expenses or potential safety hazards down the line.” These types of home inspections help reveal problems in-depth that a general home inspection might only highlight as a possible issue. You can notify the current owners as soon as possible to get the repairs underway in case you want to continue with the home purchase. Addressing these issues early on in the home buying process is key to saving you money down the road.
Additionally, inspections can give you an upper hand when negotiating a sale. “Buying a home is probably the most significant investment you will make,” says Jeff Longaker of Inspect Pro LLC. “Protecting it is critical. A home inspection is an essential step in the home buying process. The inspection can uncover vital information about the house’s condition, so you are making an informed decision. Having a home inspection empowers the buyers to negotiate in certain market conditions.”
Everyone knows times are tough, especially for college graduates just entering the workforce.
And though some prefer to be “funemployed,” others may be looking for opportunities; the Department of Housing and Urban Development seems to have them.
Yesterday, HUD Secretary Shaun Donovan told summer interns that 43 percent of the current workforce is eligible for retirement, freeing up nearly 6,000 positions in the next few years.
So if you’re interested in solving the current housing woes, or perhaps making the world a greener place, you may want to take a look at HUD.
“If you’re interested in stopping the foreclosure crisis putting the American Dream at risk for millions of families, HUD is the place for you,” said Donovan in prepared remarks posted on the HUD website.
“If your passion is green jobs, alternative energy and sustainable development, then HUD is the place for you.”
“Indeed, with 40 percent of our carbon emissions coming from our homes and buildings, HUD is going to be a big part of President Obama’s efforts to address climate change.”
They may also need you to figure out what to do about all those FHA loans sailing toward default, what with their market share approaching two-thirds of all single-family loans.
Oh, and Donovan noted that the population is expected to grow by another 50 percent in the first half of this century, requiring another 200 billion square feet of homes, office space, and other construction.
So maybe that inventory hangover isn’t as bad as we thought…
Avid readers tend to have a book problem. You don’t think you’re buying an excessive amount of titles until it’s time to move. Packing books is heavy work, and one box doesn’t often cut it. But, book lovers need not worry. You can keep your precious hardcovers and paperbacks safe so all your books go back on the shelves in your new home in perfect condition.
Ready to pack your books easier? Let’s get started.
First whittle down your library
So, the first question to ask yourself is “how many books do I have?” When you answer “a lot,” or “too many,” it’s time to decide what really makes sense to keep. Even if you have quite a collection, chances are you don’t need to keep all the books currently in your possession.
You can set any criteria you like to whittle down your book collection. Maybe you only want to keep titles you’ll read again. Maybe you just keep the books that really spoke to you. However you want to do it, start the packing process by really thinking about the books you want to keep and which you can live without.
Once you’ve made your two piles, you have a few options as to how you pass along the books you don’t need to keep yourself.
Sell back your books to a used bookstore
Give books away to friends and family who may enjoy specific titles
Donate books to a local charity
Charities can include your local library, spreading them out among a few Little Free Libraries in your area or locating a specific organization that’s accepting book donations.
When to start packing
Since you don’t need access to all your books on a regular basis, get those moving boxes out early. Books are a great item to jumpstart packing all together.
Packing boxes full of books early is often not as frustrating as packing clothing or fragile items. There’s not any folding or wrapping in bubble wrap required to pack books (most of the time.) There’s also typically no risk you’ll accidentally pack something you need.
So, get ahead in the packing process and start at least a month out with those book boxes. If you can, pile them up in the corners so the boxes are out of the way as you get everything else ready to move.
What’s the best way to pack books in a box?
How you pack your books is as important as the packing materials you use. You need the right box and lots of packing tape.
Use a box made of thick cardboard, with strong sides and corners. Don’t reuse a box that looks like it’s in less-than-perfect condition. Even on a moving truck, boxes can get knocked around and packed books can easily rip a worn box.
Make sure to add reinforcement to any box when you’re using it to store books. To do that, it’s all about packing tape. From the outside, reinforce the bottom of the box by laying an extra layer of tape around all the seams and folds. You should also add a strip of tape across the bottom seam inside the box before you begin packing in the books for increased durability.
A layer or two of packing paper or newspaper in the bottom provides extra cushioning and protects those bottom books that will bear all the weight of the rest of the box.
Once a box is full, reinforce the top by adding extra tape parallel to the seam as you close it up. It helps keep the flaps taped to the box even if the center strip comes off.
1. Watch your weight
To properly pack books for moving, you have to think about weight. Books are heavy in general, and it’s not just because of the actual heavy books — those hardcovers with hundreds of pages.
Starting with small boxes when it comes to moving books will help you keep the weight down. If you’re going to carry these boxes yourself, try to keep the weight at or below 40 pounds. If movers are helping out, they usually have dollies or carts specifically for heavy items, so you can probably max out the weight of your book boxes at 50 pounds.
Even with movers doing the bulk of the heavy lifting, though, you may need to pick up your book boxes once they’re in your new home. Keep that in mind when thinking about the weight of these boxes.
2. Label clearly
After you’ve packed these heavy boxes, make sure everyone knows there are books inside with a nice big label. Think of it as a way to identify what’s in the box, as well as a warning that there’s something heavy in there.
3. Lift the heavy boxes safely
As you pack books for moving, make sure you’ve refreshed yourself on how best to lift heavy items. General tips are helpful like wearing comfortable clothing that lets you easily bend at the knee, but to move heavy boxes, remember to:
Wear closed-toe shoes
To lift, face the box and bend at the knee to squat down; don’t hunch over
Grip the box at opposite corners
Stand slowly and lift with your legs
Move slowly and carefully to wherever you’re taking the box
To put the box down, work in reverse, bending at the knee again slowly to set the box down while protecting your back from having to manage all that weight.
How do you pack books so they don’t get damaged?
The essential question when you pack books is how to get them into boxes so they stay safe and remain intact.
There are a few different ways to position books to fill a box, but most will leave you with gaps that could cause books to shift. To protect covers, book spines and even the pages of your favorite reads, use any of these strategies.
1. Sort by size
The first trick to filling book boxes is to sort your books by size. This makes it easier to get even piles as you pack, and decreases the amount of wasted space in a box.
2. Order by weight
Next, you need to group your books, already in their same-size piles, by weight. The heaviest books always go on the bottom of a pile, with the lightest books on top. This also often means your hardcovers are sitting at the base of any given pile. Even if they’re the same size, hardcovers can withstand the weight of all your other books much better, protecting the more delicate books.
3. Find the proper position
There are three safe positions for packing books — flat, vertically and horizontally. Each works depending on the type of book you’re packing.
A flat stack of books works best with paperbacks. Putting one on top of another ensures the covers don’t get creased. Make sure stacks are lined up so the spines are all on top of each other.
Going vertical means mimicking how books sit on the shelf. This is better positioning for hardcover books, but make sure the spines face the sides of the box.
Horizontal positioning really only works for the bottom layer of books in smaller boxes where the second layer of books won’t fit. For this method, lay the books spine down along the bottom, then, layer something lighter on top to protect the pages.
For valuable books, make sure to wrap them in packing paper before positioning them.
No matter which position you pick when you pack books, the spines should always face the box. Whether that means it faces the sides or the bottom varies but putting books spine-to-spine in a line, whether it’s a stack or a line like they sit on a shelf, keeps them safer.
4. Mind the gaps
No box will get perfectly filled with books. There will always be gaps to fill, which means having packing paper on hand. You don’t want books to shift in their boxes during a move, so any open space should get filled with balled-up packing paper.
Resist the urge to put books in at odd angles to fill a space. Doing so can weaken the spine of the book and even lead to a page or two falling out.
5. Skip boxes altogether
Now that you have all these packing tips for how to get your books into those moving boxes, here’s how to bypass all this effort.
Suitcases make for great book storage, and rolling suitcases means no heavy lifting.
You’re more likely to get more books into a suitcase than one small box anyway, even with some packing paper padding. Plus, you have to move all your luggage anyway, so why not put some of your stuff in them, too? This is a great opportunity to save a little money on packing supplies.
Books on the move
Most likely the heaviest thing you’ll move, furniture aside, your book collection can go with you without being a burden to pack and transport. Following these tips will help, but don’t forget to leave a title or two out to accompany you to your new home. After all, you may decide to unpack your sheets and dishes first, and then, what will you read in your downtime?
A codicil is a legal document that modifies, amends or revokes all or part of a will without replacing the existing will. Codicils allow people to make small changes to a will without having to write a whole new will.
What is the purpose of a codicil?
A codicil allows you to change your will easily and quickly when your life situation changes. The original will remains valid (unless the codicil revokes it)
Cornell Law School Legal Information Institute. Codicil. Accessed Jul 11, 2023.
.
Some modifications that a codicil might address include:
Removing beneficiaries who died or became estranged.
Replacing an executor who died or whom you no longer trust.
Adding or removing property, or changing who will inherit your property.
Taking into account a marriage, divorce, separation or name change.
Changing how you’d like your business divided.
Changing your minor children’s guardian.
If you need to make sweeping major changes to your will, or you’ve lost or damaged your original will, it may be wiser to create a new will. Additionally, multiple codicils may lead to confusion during probate, so at some point you may want to draw up a new will rather than create more codicils every time you want to update your estate plan.
Best for: Ease of use. Cost: One-time fee of $159 per individual or $259 for couples. $19 annual membership fee thereafter.
Best for: Users who want an all-inclusive experience. Cost: $99 per year for Starter plan. $139 per year for Plus plan. $209 per year for All Access plan.
Best for: State-specific legal advice. Cost: $89 for Basic will plan. $99 for Comprehensive will plan. $249 for Estate Plan Bundle.
How to write a codicil in 8 steps
Here are the basic steps to creating a valid codicil:
Decide what you’d like to change about your will.
Find an estate planning attorney or online will maker to draft the codicil. Some states may have forms you can download. Be sure you understand your state’s laws and that your codicil meets your state’s requirements in order to be valid and enforceable.
Include your name, address and the current date in your codicil document.
State in the document that it’s a codicil to your existing will and that it overrides your existing will.
State in the document that you’re of sound mind.
State clearly and precisely in the document which parts of the will you’re changing and explain in detail exactly how you want things changed. Be specific.
Sign your codicil. Your state may also require notarization and/or a certain number of unbiased witnesses.
Store your codicil with your original will in a safe, secure place where your executor can find it.
🤓Nerdy Tip
Crossing out portions of or writing notes on your existing will, known as a holographic codicil, can create confusion and legal challenges. Holographic codicils also aren’t always legal in all states.
What are the pros and cons of codicils?
Advantages of codicils
Easy and fast way to change your will. Codicils typically don’t require the time or expense that most wills do.
Offers flexibility to make many different kinds of changes. A codicil can cover a lot of ground with relatively little effort.
Helps keep your estate plan up to date. A codicil can ensure that your wishes reflect your current family and financial situation. It can also address any outdated legal language in the original will.
Legally compliant way to make a change. A codicil is a more official way of updating your will compared with scribbling notes in the margins or on the back of your will.
Provides a paper trail. A codicil creates a record of what you want, which can prevent squabbles or misunderstandings later.
Disadvantages of codicils
Needs to be kept with the will. If your codicil becomes separated from your will, people might not implement your changes.
Could open the door to a will contest. A codicil that isn’t written properly or that unintentionally conflicts with the original will increases the risk that someone might contest your will.
Might create uncertainty. If you have multiple codicils, they might contradict each other or create confusion about what you want.
To mark the 10-year anniversary of Detroit’s historic July 18, 2013, municipal bankruptcy filing, the Free Press is examining what has changed, what hasn’t, and why. Find more coverage atfreep.com.
Alease “Cookie” Moore loves her Cornerstone Village neighborhood.
It’s the simple things. Walking the streets, saying hi to neighbors sitting on their porches, planting crops at the community garden — beets, corn, sweet potatoes, herbs. She loves supporting the East Warren Farmers Market and local businesses like the Detroit Pepper Company, a Warren Avenue carryout spot that opened in 2019. She attends neighborhood meetings and advocates for her community as secretary of the Cornerstone Village Community Organization.
the city promised to crack down on blight by suing landlords.
10-year, $1.7 billion reinvestment plan.
Did it work? Are we better off?
retirees. Under state law, the city’s budget reserve is required to hold at least 5% of its projected recurring expenditures each fiscal year to cover a potential financial disaster or reduction in revenues. Detroit’s reserve was 11% of its expenditures in its latest adopted budget.
“Right after the bankruptcy, revenues certainly stabilized, and we’re starting to show some modest growth,” said Detroit Budget Director Steve Watson. “It was in the years just prior to the pandemic, income taxes really started to take off and show much more robust growth … where the bankruptcy assumed somewhere around a 2% growth rate per year in revenues, we’ve instead vastly exceeded that.”
At the end of the 2022 fiscal year, city income tax revenue was about $400 million — up from less than $250 million in 2014. The bankruptcy plan of adjustment — the court-approved document that charted a path forward as the city exited bankruptcy in 2014 — assumed that income tax revenue would be about $300 million in 10 years, Watson said. Increased revenues generated a surplus, which is now funding various initiatives, while allowing money to be set aside for rainy day and retiree protection funds. Watson said the developments have put the city in a stronger financial position in the long term.
Citizens Research Council. At the end of the 2022 fiscal year, Detroit reported more than $544 million in cash on hand, or more than 200 days’ worth of expenditures.
criminal record expungement that could boost employment opportunity in the city.
“Programs that are expunging (criminal) records on job applications, combined with skills training and increased apprenticeships, will go a long way to reduce crime by giving men in their late teens and early 20s hope and meaning,” Metzger said.
Home values
It wasn’t exaggeration or urban myth.
Buyers were picking up houses for the price of a cheap couch in areas of Detroit following the Great Recession.
Those bargain basement prices helped deflate the median owner-occupied home value to just under $43,000 in 2013. That’s according to U.S. census estimates in 2021 dollars from the annual American Community Survey.
But the rebound has been considerable, experts say, with help from an overall real estate market recovery paired with Detroit’s post-bankruptcy reinvestment in basic city services stirring more demand.
The most recent estimate shows that median owner-occupied home values rose to $69,300 in 2021, a nearly 62% increase since 2013. (The data is based on survey respondents’ estimates of how much the home is worth.)
according to the mayor’s office.
New mortgage loans in Detroit still remain low compared with other cities, according to research by Detroit Future City, with only 3,211 home purchase loans made in 2022. And Black applicants were denied home loans in the city at twice the rate as white applicants, the group found in 2020.
Williams Clark said it’s important to make sure the city continues to have a “diversity of price points,” where a wide range of people can buy into the American Dream of homeownership.
“So that people who are existing residents and other residents can benefit from that wealth creation, but there is also still opportunity for people to have access to those homeownership dreams and goals,” she said.
Poverty
Detroit has seen major gains in its households moving out of poverty.
So much that it has surpassed the improvement in most large industrial cities in the Midwest and Northeast since 2012, researchers say. One expert went as far as to call the progress “remarkable.”
“This is real success,” said Luke Shaefer, director of Poverty Solutions, an initiative at the University of Michigan that partners researchers, policymakers and community members toward alleviating poverty. “That’s transformational.”
In 2013, 40.7% of Detroiters were considered living below the poverty line, according to the U.S. Census estimates from the annual American Community Survey. But that number dropped to 30% as of 2021.
announced the city’s unemployment rate had dropped to its lowest level since the Bureau of Labor Statistics started tracking monthly jobless levels in the city in 1990.
Detroit’s unemployment rate in April was 4.2%, according to BLS figures. That rate has risen slightly since then, to 6.4% in May, but is still much lower compared with an average rate of 18.8% in 2013.
Study finds Detroit’s unemployment rate was 16% in March when including a group called “labor force rebounders:” residents who are retired, disabled, students, have family or personal obligations or otherwise choose not to work, but report actively searching for a job in the past month. This group of residents in other surveys may not be considered unemployed because they chose not to work and weren’t laid off recently.
DMACS’ surveys show that the jobless rate has improved from the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic — when unemployment spiked to 43% — and from September 2021, when DMACS said the jobless rate in the city was 25%. The jobless rate is still higher, though, than its estimated pre-pandemic unemployment rate of 8%.
Lydia Wileden, author of the University of Michigan DMACS report, said the differences between BLS and DMACS data “suggests something about the employment situation is potentially being missed.”
High school graduation rates
While Michigan’s four-year graduation rate has hovered around 80%, Detroit’s has continually lagged behind.
Just before Detroit filed for bankruptcy in 2013, 64.6% of Detroit Public Schools seniors graduated, according to state data, compared with 77% of Michigan seniors. The school district’s four-year graduation rates for students has since ticked up to a high of 78.3% in the 2015-16 school year, and dropped again to 64.5% in 2020-21, at the height of the coronavirus pandemic, as students struggled to show up to school in-person.
signed a $617 million state bailout of the district. The deal restructured the district into two entities: One retired district to exist for debt retirement, and a new community school district with a locally elected board and revenue to operate.
District Superintendent Nikolai Vitti, who took the helm in 2017, has touted academic progress since then, including improved attendance. However, the pandemic set students back considerably, and Detroit continues to rank last among major city school districts in reading and math scores.
‘What about the neighborhoods?’
It’s difficult for many Detroiters to rejoice in the progress that has been made, with much left to be desired.
Karen Knox, an east-sider and executive director of the Eden Gardens Community Association, has noticed that police have been quicker to respond in emergencies, and there are far more working streetlights since the bankruptcy.
But she said she isn’t seeing enough businesses opening, or houses being built in lots where blighted properties were demolished. Illegal dumping, flooding and blight persist. She has seen long wait times for buses, and crime remains a top concern.
“Where did the money go?” asked Knox, 62. “Downtown is booming, but what about the neighborhoods? … No one is talking to neighborhoods and asking them what they want — look how we’re living.”
It’s a familiar sentiment. Detroiters were making the same complaints 10 years ago. But the tone is different. There doesn’t appear to be the same level of anger and desperation. And with poverty and unemployment way down, home values up and a city budget with some breathing room, the outlook appears far less bleak.
With sparkling blue waters, lush lakefront parks, towering skyscrapers, famous theme parks, and endless sunny days, Orlando is a fabulous place to live in Florida. Whether you’re moving to or have lived in the area for some time, you may be wondering if now is the time to buy versus rent a home in Orlando. In addition to Orlando’s real estate market conditions, there are always pros and cons to renting and buying, making your decision a little more difficult.
If you’re considering buying a home in Orlando, you’ll see the current median sale price for a home is $370,000, as of June. According to Redfin’s recent study, the estimated median monthly mortgage cost is $2,966 while the average rent price in Orlando is $2,566. For many potential homebuyers, this means renting a home costs less than buying a home in today’s market. However, it’s important to keep in mind there are still plenty of reasons why buying a home right now may be the right choice for you.
Ultimately, the decision between buying a house or renting an apartment in Orlando is personal and depends on several factors. Whether that’s your desire for flexibility or stability, your financial goals, or which one of the Orlando neighborhoods you want to live in, there is plenty to consider. We’ll help guide you along the way as you make the decision between renting vs buying in Orlando. That way, you can make the best decision for your goals.
Advantages of buying a home in Orlando
Buying a property in Orlando can offer several compelling advantages over renting. Let’s dive into some of the main advantages of buying in the current market.
Building equity
Firstly, homeownership provides long-term stability and the opportunity to build equity. Instead of paying rent that provides no return on investment, homeowners can invest in their own property and potentially benefit from appreciation in the real estate market.
Tax benefits
As a homeowner, there are a few potential tax benefits you may be eligible to receive. For example, mortgage interest and property tax payments may be tax-deductible, providing potential financial benefits. Speaking with a financial advisor or tax consultant can help you identify any possible tax benefits you may qualify for.
Freedom to design space
Owning a home also offers the freedom to personalize and modify the property to suit individual preferences without seeking permission from a landlord.
Market conditions
Finally, as Orlando continues to experience growth and development, homeowners can potentially capitalize on the area’s thriving real estate market. By purchasing a property in Orlando, individuals can secure a long-term asset while enjoying the benefits and pride that come with homeownership.
Disadvantages of buying a home in Orlando
High demand and competitive market
Orlando’s real estate market has experienced significant growth and demand in recent years, which can lead to increased competition among buyers. This high demand may result in bidding wars and inflated prices, making it more challenging to find affordable housing options. Additionally, limited inventory and a seller’s market can make it more difficult to find a property that meets your specific needs and budget.
Property insurance costs
Florida, including Orlando, is at risk of natural disasters like hurricanes. As a result, the state often experiences higher property insurance costs compared to other regions. Homeowners in Orlando may need to pay higher insurance premiums to adequately protect their property against potential storm damage or other weather-related risks. These increased insurance expenses can add to the overall cost of homeownership in the area.
Determining if you are ready to buy a house in Orlando
Deciding if buying a home in Orlando aligns with your goals can be a complicated question to answer. You’ll have to consider many factors such as your desired location, finances and budget, as well as the housing market conditions. Here are some of the main factors to consider:
1. Financial stability and affordability: Before beginning your homebuying journey, evaluate your financial situation and affordability. Consider factors such as mortgage interest rates, your credit score, and your ability to make a down payment. Lower interest rates can make homeownership more affordable, while higher rates could impact your purchasing power.
2. Long-term plans:Consider your long-term plans and how they align with buying a home in the greater Orlando area. If you plan to live in the area for a significant period, buying a home can be a good investment. However, if you’re uncertain about your future plans or have short-term goals, renting might be more suitable.
3. Housing market conditions:Consider the current state of the housing market in terms of supply and demand. If there is low inventory and high demand, it may indicate a seller’s market, which could lead to increased competition and potentially higher prices. On the other hand, if there is a higher inventory and less demand, it may be more favorable for buyers.
4. Housing preferences: Evaluate the type of property you’re looking for, such as single-family homes, condos, or townhouses, and assess their availability and affordability in the area. Consider factors like neighborhood amenities, school districts, and proximity to your workplace or desired locations.
5. Location: Orlando is a diverse metropolitan area with various neighborhoods and suburbs. Consider your preferred proximity to amenities, schools, workplaces, and entertainment options. Research the different neighborhoods to find the one that aligns with your lifestyle and preferences.
6. Employment opportunities: If you’re moving from out of the area, another factor to consider is employment. Orlando is known for its tourism industry, but it also has a diverse economy with opportunities in healthcare, technology, education, and more. Research the local job market to ensure there are opportunities in your field or industries of interest.
7. Climate: Orlando experiences a subtropical climate with hot and humid summers and mild winters. Take into account your preferences for weather and seasonal changes when deciding to move to the area.
Is it competitive to buy a home in Orlando?
If you’re considering buying a home now, you can expect to encounter some competition in the real estate market. Here are a few factors that can contribute to the competition among buyers:
Low housing inventory: One common factor driving competition is a shortage of available homes for sale in many areas. If there are fewer homes on the market, it means more buyers are vying for the same properties, which can increase competition.
High demand: Strong demand from buyers, coupled with low interest rates, can create a competitive environment. Factors such as population growth, job opportunities, and popular neighborhoods can drive up demand for housing, leading to increased competition among buyers.
Multiple offers: In a competitive market, it’s not uncommon for sellers to receive multiple offers on a property. This can lead to bidding wars, where buyers try to outbid each other to secure the home. In such situations, you may need to act quickly and offer competitive terms to increase your chances of success.
Cash offers and pre-approved financing: Buyers who can make cash offers or have pre-approved financing may have an advantage over others. Cash offers are attractive to sellers as they eliminate the risk of financing falling through, while pre-approved buyers have already taken steps to secure financing, making their offers more reliable.
Location and desirable features: Homes in highly sought-after locations or with desirable features like good school districts, proximity to amenities, or unique characteristics may attract significant competition. Buyers looking for properties with these qualities may face additional competition from others seeking similar homes.
Real estate market conditions: Market conditions can vary regionally, and some areas may be more competitive than others. It’s important to research and understand the local market dynamics, as they can greatly impact the level of competition you may encounter.
To navigate a competitive market, it’s essential to work with a knowledgeable real estate agent who can guide you through the process, help you make competitive offers, and identify suitable opportunities. Being prepared, flexible, and financially ready can also increase your chances of success in a competitive buying environment.
Advantages of renting a home in Orlando
If you’re contemplating renting a home or apartment in the Orlando area, there are a few advantages to consider:
Flexibility
Renting provides greater flexibility and mobility compared to buying a house. If you’re unsure about your long-term plans or expect to move frequently, renting allows you to easily relocate without the burden of selling a property or dealing with the real estate market. This flexibility is particularly advantageous for individuals who prioritize mobility due to job changes, lifestyle preferences, or other personal circumstances.
Lower upfront and ongoing costs
Renting typically involves lower upfront costs compared to buying a house. When you rent, you generally only need to provide a security deposit and possibly pay for any application or administrative fees. On the other hand, buying a house involves significant upfront expenses such as a downpayment, closing costs, home inspections, and potential repairs. Additionally, as a renter, you’re generally not responsible for major maintenance and repair costs, which can save you money and the hassle of dealing with unexpected expenses.
Disadvantages of renting a home in Orlando
Lack of long-term financial benefits
When you rent a house, you don’t build equity or gain potential long-term financial benefits like homeownership. Rent payments don’t contribute towards ownership or potential property appreciation. Instead, your money goes towards the landlord’s investment, providing no return on investment for yourself.
Limited control and restrictions
Renting a house often means you have less control over the property. You may face restrictions on making modifications or personalizing the space to suit your preferences. Additionally, your lease terms may subject you to rules and regulations set by the landlord or property management company. This lack of control can limit your ability to truly make the rental property feel like your own home.
Renting vs buying in Orlando: A real estate agent’s final thoughts
Historically, the greater Orlando area has been a popular destination for homebuyers due to its warm climate, attractions, employment opportunities, and overall quality of life. As you make the decision between renting vs buying in Orlando, make sure to consider the market conditions, your financial situation, long-term plans, and housing preferences.
Remember, real estate markets can be dynamic and subject to change. It’s crucial to conduct thorough research, consult with local experts, and assess your personal circumstances before making any decisions. At the end of the day, whether you decide to rent an apartment or buy a home, the Orlando area is a fantastic place to call home.
The Palos Verdes Peninsula — a land of rolling hills, jagged cliffs and sweeping views of the city and ocean — boasts some of the most beautiful terrain in Southern California.
It’s also long proven to be some of the most dangerous.
For hundreds of thousands of years, the peninsula has been plagued by an ancient landslide complex that slowly reshapes the topography. The earth lurches and warps, sometimes slowly, sometimes rapidly, destroying homes and infrastructure along the way.
The latest damage was dealt to Rolling Hills Estates, where a major ground shift led to 12 homes being evacuated after a fissure snaked its way through the neighborhood. Foundations cracked, walls collapsed and some homes were visibly leaning as the hillside upon which they were perched slowly descended into a canyon.
Land movement is a stubborn, if periodic reality for much of California, particularly the coastal hills of the South Bay and Orange County.
Advertisement
Laguna Beach, Laguna Niguel and San Clemente have dealt with destructive slides. In the 1920s, a handful of homes in San Pedro slid into the ocean, creating what’s now known as the Sunken City. A mile south of Rolling Hills Estates, the city of Rancho Palos Verdes is hatching plans to avoid a similar fate.
“This remains an active situation,” said Rolling Hills Estates Mayor Britt Huff at a city council meeting on Tuesday, adding that due to a break in a sewer main, five additional houses were ordered to evacuate earlier that day.
At the meeting, the council declared a state of emergency in order to access broader resources from state and federal agencies.
“No one expected this. Landslides don’t really happen in this area,” said resident Lisa Zhang.
A landslide-prone peninsula
The peninsula’s bout with landslides is well-documented in the geological record, stretching back millenniums but coming to a head 67 years ago when an L.A. County road crew accidentally reactivated an ancient slide complex while building an extension of Crenshaw Boulevard in Rancho Palos Verdes.
Advertisement
The crew dug up and shifted thousands of tons of dirt, throwing things off balance enough to send the land in the Portuguese Bend into a super-slow-motion descent and activating a landslide.
That’s just one ancient landslide complex. According to El Hachemi Bouali, assistant professor of geosciences at Nevada State University who co-authored a report on the Portuguese Bend landslide complex, there are areas all across the peninsula at similar risk.
Due to precipitation and geology, the hills are uniquely susceptible to movement. Layers of clay — bentonite and montmorillonite, to be specific — are found beneath the ground, interspersed between layers of bedrock. When water absorbs into the earth, it expands and lubricates the clay until it’s slippery enough for the land to ride downward with the force of gravity. Even thick layers of bedrock will slip.
Water infiltrating the earth is the most common cause of landslides, according to Brian Collins, a research civil engineer with the U.S. Geological Survey. In California, these types of landslides are typically triggered during a big rainy season.
But there is another factor at play. The Palos Verdes Peninsula — like Laguna Beach and San Clemente — is packed with people. Those people have sprinklers, gutters, irrigation systems and leaky pipes that all add water to the earth.
Inland, an area as hilly and craggy as the Palos Verdes Peninsula might not be expected to house roughly 65,000 people. But anywhere with a view of the ocean, with secluded canyons to hike and ride horses in, will always be attractive — especially right next to L.A.’s flat sprawl.
Advertisement
What caused the slide?
There’s no official diagnosis on what caused the landslide. According to city officials, a geologist will study the site and draw a conclusion from there, reviewing both the history of the area and any recent changes to the land.
But geologists and structural experts have suggested a few likely culprits: land grading, rainfall or something as simple as a broken pipe.
The townhomes destroyed in the landslide were built in the 1970s, and according to Kyle Tourje, a structural assessor with Alpha Structural, much of the land was graded and reshaped to make room for buildable lots starting in the 1950s.
So even though lots might be relatively flat, if land was moved in order to make it flat, the soil might not be as compact as it should be. When soil is looser, it’s more susceptible to water.
Tourje said the record rainfall of winter and spring didn’t help, but he thinks the slide was likely caused by a concentrated water source such as a broken pipe or sewer drain.
“On a big graded tract like this, one line that feeds one sink of one single house can affect the soil,” he said. “Next month, your water bill is extremely high. Next thing you know, your house is at the bottom of the canyon.”
Advertisement
Tourje works on landslide damage every week but only comes across slides of this magnitude a few times per year.
“This is a total loss. These homes will have to be completely demolished,” he said.
Bouali, on the other hand, says unless a smoking gun appears, such as a burst pipe or a resident’s $1,500 water bill for June, he’s leaning toward rainfall as the primary culprit.
“My guess is that there has been a slow decrease of the slope’s resisting forces due to infiltration of precipitation into the clay layers,” Bouali said, adding that even though the rain fell in the spring, it might take until July for the water to flow through the layers of clay.
He points to California’s Landslide Susceptibility map, which shows almost the entire peninsula as highly susceptible. Given the area’s geological makeup, as well as the roughly 20-degree downward slope upon which the homes were perched, the landslide didn’t necessarily come as a surprise.
Since the ‘70s, regulations have become stricter with limits on how steep builders can grade lots and requirements for more subsurface drainage systems and more compact soil.
Advertisement
But those measures might not help if the slippery layer is 60 feet underneath all the grading and maybe several strata of bedrock, according to Tony Lee, a local geologist who has worked in the area for 30 years.
Lee said most of his clients come from other areas of the peninsula where slides are more prevalent, but he’s already received multiple calls from homeowners in Rolling Hills Estates wanting to get their properties checked.
The allure of living in a landslide zone
Common sense might suggest that the land is uninhabitable — that building homes on terrain prone to landslides will inevitably lead to disaster.
But California is a beautiful place, and Californians love looking at it. It’s the same reason that hillside homes are perched on stilts in a region that deals with devastating earthquakes. The same reason buyers flock to the fire-prone hills of Malibu or the Western Sierra or cram beach houses onto the sand as ocean levels rise.
“I’ll be here until I can’t be here anymore. I’ll slide away with the land,” said Claudia Gutierrez, a longtime resident of Portuguese Bend, an area about a mile southeast of the slide site that has been dealing with landslide issues of its own.
Advertisement
If the Rolling Hills Estates landslide is the hare, moving quickly and aggressively, then the Portuguese Bend landslide is the tortoise, with the land slowly shifting roughly eight feet per year for the last 15 years.
It has caused chaos in the community, with houses sliding across property lines and roads warping into roller coasters. But according to Gutierrez, that hasn’t kept people away.
“We had homes in the middle of the active landslide zone that sold for more than $2 million last year,” she said. “I’m amazed.”
For newcomers, the peninsula offers not only great views but stellar schools, cool coastal weather, larger lots and a more relaxed, rural feel compared to the bustling cities surrounding it. And for longtime residents, even though they’d be able to sell their houses, the peninsula has become home — even if that home is slowly slipping out from under them.
According to local real estate agents, the landslides have never been a major concern to residents of Rolling Hills Estates.
Advertisement
“People think this was an isolated incident,” said Mingli Wang, a longtime real estate agent in the area. “People believe their homes are safe. They don’t think it’ll happen to them.”
She noted that during home sales in the city, sellers disclose natural hazards such as the area being high-risk for fires or a dormant earthquake zone. But landslides are not part of the disclosure.
Wang is a resident herself, and she’s not concerned about the community’s safety going forward.
Steve Watts of Vista Sotheby’s International Realty said that landslides are never part of the conversation during a sale in the city.
“If your house is hanging off the edge of a cliff, they’ll sometimes get a soil report to check how deep the bedrock is. But it’s very minor,” he said.
Watts said the gated neighborhood where the homes slid into the canyon might see a slow market in the short-term, but sales will be back to normal before long.
Advertisement
Zillow puts the median home value in Rolling Hills Estates at $1.918 million, nearly double the $1.067-million mark set in 2015. Many homes in the city face Torrance, missing many of the ocean views featured elsewhere on the peninsula, but still fetch prices north of $5 million. The cheapest single-family home currently on the market is offered at $1.8 million.
When Bouali, the geologist, leads classroom discussions about hazardous areas, the conversation inevitably leads to the question, “Why do people even live there?”
He said it often comes down to the cost of moving. And Southern California has an additional factor: most of the region deals with some sort of natural disaster risk, whether it’s a landslide, flood, wildfire or earthquake. Pick your poison.
That said, he added that he wouldn’t personally live on the peninsula.
Whether you’ve been a single mom since day one or are in the process of becoming a solo parent, raising a child on your own can be expensive. Housing, essentials, and extracurriculars add up. Add in unplanned days off for childcare, major expenses like dental work and medical insurance, or expenses like legal bills during a separation, and you may find yourself with your finances stretched thinner than you’d like.
One option to consider is a personal loan. This type of loan provides a lump sum of money up front you then pay back (plus interest) in monthly installments over time. You can use the funds from a personal loan for virtually any purpose, whether it’s making a large purchase, covering living expenses, or paying down other, higher-interest debt.
Read on for a closer look at personal loans for single moms, including their pros and cons, how to qualify, plus other funding options you may want to explore.
Why Might a Single Mom Need a Personal Loan?
There are many reasons why a single mother — or any parent — might consider applying for a personal loan. These include:
1. Consolidating debt
2. Covering the cost a move
3. Paying tuition or extracurricular expenses for children
4. Stopgap during times of unemployment
5. Covering housing costs, such as rent or a mortgage
6. Paying for a home remodeling project
7. Buying a car
8. Purchasing major appliances
Recommended: What Is a Personal Loan? How Do Personal Loans Work?
Are Personal Loans for Single Mothers Special?
In a word, no. The process of applying for a personal loan is the same for everyone. However, there may be particular approval hurdles to overcome as a single parent.
One is income. If you’re newly single, you may not have a steady income, which can make it more difficult to get approved for a personal loan. Another is your credit. If you’ve had to rely on credit cards to cover the cost of divorce or the transition to single parenting, your credit may not be what it used to be. The amount of debt you owe on your credit cards is one of the biggest factors affecting your credit score.
However, these obstacles aren’t insurmountable (more on that below).
Benefits and Risks of Personal Loans for a Single Mother
A personal loan can offer a single mom a valuable lifeline to meet immediate needs, such as unexpected expenses, education costs, or debt consolidation. However, taking on any type of debt generally comes with costs, as well as risks. Here’s a look at the pros and cons of getting a loan as a single mom.
Pros
Cons
Flexibility in fund usage
Interest and fees add to your costs
Quick access to funds
Risk of overborrowing
Fixed repayment schedule
Missed or late payments can negatively impact your credit
Interest rates are typically lower than credit cards
Can add to your debt burden
Pros of Personal Loans for Single Mothers
• Flexibility Personal loans provide flexibility in how you can use the borrowed funds. Whether it’s covering medical bills, home repairs, or summer camp tuition, personal loans can be used for a wide range of purposes.
• Quick access to funds Personal loans often come with a streamlined application process and relatively quick approval. You may be able to access the funds quickly, enabling you to address urgent financial needs promptly.
• Fixed repayment schedule Personal loans usually come with fixed monthly payments over a specified term. This predictability can make it easier for you to budget and plan your finances effectively.
• Potential for lower interest rates Depending on the borrower’s creditworthiness, personal loans can offer competitive interest rates compared to other types of borrowing, such as credit cards or payday loans. Single mothers with a good credit history may benefit from more affordable repayment terms.
Cons of Personal Loans for Single Mothers
• Interest and fees On top of interest, some lenders charge fees for personal loans, which increase the overall cost of borrowing. It’s important to carefully evaluate the terms and conditions to make sure you can comfortably manage the repayments without straining your budget.
• Risk of overborrowing As a single mom, you likely want to avoid overborrowing or taking on more debt than they can reasonably repay. Overcommitting to loan payments may lead to a cycle of financial stress and difficulty in meeting other essential expenses.
• Impact on credit score Taking out a personal loan creates a new line of credit, and if not managed properly, it could negatively affect your credit profile. Late or missed payments can damage creditworthiness, potentially impacting future borrowing opportunities.
• Debt burden A personal loan will add to your existing financial obligations as a single mother. Before opting for a loan, you’ll want to be certain to assess the long-term implications and consider whether the loan repayments align with your income and financial goals.
Is Getting a Personal Loan With No Income Possible?
If you’re a single mother with no job or you’ve been a stay-at-home-mother with little or no income of your own, it may be difficult, though not impossible, to qualify for a personal loan.
Lenders typically want to see proof of a regular income. However, that does not necessarily have to be job-related income. You may be able to count these other sources of income:
• Unemployment
• Alimony
• Child support
• Investment income
• Rental income
• Pension or annuity income
• Freelance work
• Gig work
If you don’t have much income to speak of, then you might consider a cosigner or co-applicant for your loan. This a person who agrees to make the loan payments if the main borrower cannot or does not. For some borrowers, family members have the financial flexibility to cosign on a loan, but it can be a good idea to have a conversation about expectations and potential hypotheticals if you were no longer able to pay back the loan.
Another option is to secure a personal loan with collateral. This is an asset of value, such as a vehicle or money in a savings account, you use to back the loan in case you default. Should you become unable to repay the loan, the lender can seize your collateral to recover their losses. This lowers risk for the lender, making steady income (or less-than-stellar credit) less critical.
Also keep in mind that if you have no income but excellent credit, you may still find a lender who is willing to offer you an unsecured personal loan.
You’ll also want to be wary, however, of lenders who advertise “No-Income Loans,” as these loans may come with sky-high interest rates, short repayment terms, and low loan amounts.
Alternatives to Personal Loans for Single Mothers
There are other alternatives to personal loans, depending on your financial circumstances and your needs. Here are some you might consider.
Home Loans for Single Mothers
If you own your home, using your home as a financial asset may be one way to borrow funds at a reasonable cost. If you have built up equity in your home, you may be able to tap that equity by getting a home equity loan or a home equity line of credit (HELOC). Just keep in mind that the loan is backed by your home. Should you have difficulty repaying the loan or credit line, you could potentially lose your home.
Government Resources for Single Parents
If your income is low, you may be eligible for one or more government assistance programs. Some options you may want to explore include:
• Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC)
• National School Lunch Program
• Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF)
• Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP)
• The Emergency Food Assistance Program
You can find more resources at enefits.gov.
Educational Aid for Single Mothers
If you’re considering going back to school, below are some programs that can help make it more affordable (or even free):
• Pell Grants
• Teach Grants
• Women’s Independence Scholarship Program (WISP)
There also may be private scholarships and grants for single parents available from the institutions you’re interested in. Speaking with the financial aid office may help you see the breadth of options available to you.
Other Financial Help For Single Mothers
Becoming a single mother, either by choice or circumstance, can feel overwhelming. But there is support out there. It can help to talk to other single parents in your community — you may be surprised by all the resources that are available. Other opportunities may include:
• Financial aid or tuition assistance If your children are in private school or extracurricular programs, there may be financial aid available to help lower the cost. Even if there’s not a formal program, it can’t hurt to explain your situation and ask what may be available.
• Employer-based programs Your human resources department may have certain programs, such as childcare coverage, free legal consultations, and access to financial planning and debt counseling, for eligible workers. Talk to your HR representative or look through their materials to assess what’s available.
• Family and friends People close to you may be willing to provide support, or there may be creative ways to trade services, such as babysitting, to get more financial help. If a friend or family member offers to loan you money, it can be helpful to put an agreement in writing, including any interest you will pay and the terms of repayment, so there is no confusion that can cause a rift in your relationship.
Recommended: Options for When You Can’t Afford Your Child’s College
The Takeaway
As a single mother, there are avenues that can help you manage your finances and achieve your financial goals, including taking out a personal loan. This type of financing can provide financial relief and flexibility, but it is important to weigh the pros and cons, compare options from different lenders, and assess your ability to manage repayments responsibly.
Think twice before turning to high-interest credit cards. Consider a SoFi personal loan instead. SoFi offers competitive fixed rates and same-day funding. Checking your rate takes just a minute.
SoFi’s Personal Loan was named NerdWallet’s 2023 winner for Best Online Personal Loan overall.
Photo credit: iStock/RyanJLane
SoFi Loan Products SoFi loans are originated by SoFi Bank, N.A., NMLS #696891 (Member FDIC). For additional product-specific legal and licensing information, see SoFi.com/legal. Equal Housing Lender.
Checking Your Rates: To check the rates and terms you may qualify for, SoFi conducts a soft credit pull that will not affect your credit score. However, if you choose a product and continue your application, we will request your full credit report from one or more consumer reporting agencies, which is considered a hard credit pull and may affect your credit.
External Websites: The information and analysis provided through hyperlinks to third-party websites, while believed to be accurate, cannot be guaranteed by SoFi. Links are provided for informational purposes and should not be viewed as an endorsement.