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Source of Passive Income	Characteristics	Risks	Requirements
Rental Properties	Steady Income, Property Growth	Market Fluctuations	Initial Investment, Maintenance
Dividend Stocks	Potential Growth, Regular Dividends	Market Volatility	Investment Capital
Peer-to-Peer Lending	Interest Earnings	Default Risk	Platform Registration
Royalties	Income From Intellectual Property	Contractual Risks	Creative Skills, Legal Agreements

Feature	Active Income	Passive Income
Effort Required	Daily, consistent effort needed	Little to no daily effort after initial setup
Time Dependency	Directly tied to hours worked	Not tied to hours; can earn 24/7
Income Type	Wages, salaries, commissions, tips	Rental properties, dividends, royalties
Scalability	Limited by time and energy	Potential for growth without proportional time input
Financial Growth Potential	Often stable but limited in growth	Potential for long-term growth and diversification
Risks & Challenges	Job loss, income stability	Market risk, initial investment required

Benefit	Description or Example
Financial Independence	Reduced Dependence on Active Employment; Flexibility in Lifestyle Choices
Income Diversification	Spreading Income Sources; Reducing Financial Risk
Potential Long-Term Growth	Opportunity for Compounding Returns Over Time

Drawback	Description or Example
Potential Risk and Volatility	Subject to Market or Economic Changes
High Initial Investments	May Require Significant Capital or Effort to Start
Regulatory Challenges	Must Comply With Various Laws and Regulations
Maintenance Requirements	Ongoing Management or Oversight May Be Necessary

Apache is functioning normally

August 15, 2023 by Brett Tams

This article originally appeared on The Financially Independent Millennial and was republished with permission.

In the US, REIT stands for Real Estate Investment Trusts. The real estate industry is booming, which is great news for real estate investment trusts as they grow further. Anyone seeking a career opportunity with a REIT company can enjoy hearing the news that there are plenty of jobs available. How many jobs are available in real estate investment trusts? What kind of roles are available in the REIT industry?

This guide will explain how many jobs are available, how these real estate investment trusts work, and much more.

What Are Real Estate Investment Trusts?

In the United States, there are more than 225 REITs with a combined market capitalization of over $1 Trillion. A real estate investment trust (REIT) is a public investment vehicle and listed on the Stock Exchange. Furthermore, investors can even buy REIT ETFs to spread their investments among many real estate asset classes.

A REIT owns and runs income-generating real estate and related assets. The REIT could own buildings including offices, hotels, resorts, and more. However, real estate bought by the REIT isn’t for future resale. Instead, the property owned by the REIT is for development. Then, the property gets used as part of the investment portfolio to generate income.

Investors can buy and sell these assets easily and at a low cost. REITs also have much better liquidity than traditional real estate investments. Listings for REITs are on the New York Stock Exchange, American Stock Exchange, and the NASDAQ.

Investing in REITs allows groups of investors to make real estate scale investments that otherwise wouldn’t be possible. Smaller real estate investors can get access to larger real estate investments by investing in a REIT.

As the REIT sector continues to grow and diversify, analysts predict that many more jobs will become available in the industry.

How Do REITs Work?

In 1960, Congress created real estate investment trusts. The aim was to give everyone the chance to benefit from investing in income-producing real estate. Investing in a REIT is the same as investing in any other industry. Investors buy stock and shareholders with real estate investment trusts pay the shareholders a share of the income.

When REITs were first created by Congress, there were a set of rules established that REITs must follow. All REITs must be modeled after mutual funds, treated by the Internal Revenue Code as a corporation, and widely held by shareholders.

In addition, REITs must primarily own or finance real estate, and own real estate with a long-term investment horizon.

The Internal Revenue Code stipulates that at least 75% of the corporation’s income is either from rent from real estate, real estate interest, or the sale of real estate assets. The corporation must have at least 75% of its assets in real estate and 95% of the corporation’s income must be passive.

Are REITs a Good Investment?

Anyone wanting to diversify their investment portfolio without increasing the risk too much should consider investing in a REIT. There is still some risk as no investment is perfect. However, there are some good benefits of growing wealth by investing in a real estate investment trust.

The way a REIT works means it doesn’t pay corporate tax. Dividend stocks often face double taxation at the corporate and individual levels. The good news is that REITs are not taxed at the corporate level which means they enjoy a huge tax advantage.

REITs must pay 90% of taxable income to shareholders. Many REITs often have a dividend yield of over 5%, but average stocks have a yield of less than 2%. This makes investing in a REIT ideal for anyone looking for income or more to reinvest.

Real estate values tend to keep growing over time. Thanks to this, many REITs can capitalize by selling valuable properties and using the capital elsewhere. Many REITs provide returns far exceeding the market thanks to these strategies.

REITs Are Ideal for Smaller Investors

Small real estate investors can invest in commercial real estate that would otherwise be inaccessible. Most people can’t buy an office tower or shopping center themselves. Thanks to the creation of REITs by Congress, now anyone can invest in these types of buildings and enjoy receiving a return from them.

A sound financial plan means having a diverse investment portfolio. REITs work just like investing in the stock market, but instead of equities, it’s real estate. Investment advisors recommend owning real estate in an investment portfolio as real estate usually keeps its value even in an economic crisis. Investing in a REIT often means having a steady income.

If someone owns real estate, then it can take a while to sell. However, a REIT investment is easy to buy or sell at the click of a button. Having this level of liquidity makes REIT an attractive proposition.

Real Estate Industry Job Statistics

According to the United States Department of Labor, the need for real estate brokers and sales agents continues to grow. Average wages in the industry are $51, 220 per year with hundreds of thousands of people employed in the industry across the US.

In the REIT sector, average wages far exceed that of real estate brokers. The average analyst earns $106,412 per year which is more than double the amount of real estate brokers and sales agents.

There are 274,000 employees employed on a full-time basis by REIT organizations. An estimated 2.6 million full-time jobs get created indirectly by the real estate investment trust industry.

The good news for anyone seeking a career working for a REIT company is that growth is happening. This means plenty of employment opportunities and the ability to command a significantly higher wage than other parts of the real estate industry.

Types of Jobs Involved with REIT’s

There’s a wide range of jobs available in the REIT industry. To understand this better, here are the job descriptions of the main roles that are available.

Development Roles

Development is responsible for building new projects. Working in this role is ideal for anyone that is looking for project management work. As well as developing new projects this role also involves working with others to finance the development.

Jobs in development are highly sought after as they pay well, are challenging, and highly respected.

Acquisition Roles

An acquisition job is a role that involves sourcing new investment opportunities. And, these roles make sure that deals get done. Further, these roles are in REITs and pay well. The work is heavily finance-related and suits anyone with a degree or background in finance, marketing, business, or capital markets.

Property Management Roles

Property managers are responsible for overseeing the operation of a property–leasing, maintenance, collections, and anything else as required.

There are no minimum requirements to becoming a property manager. Ideal candidates include those that can handle a variety of situations and have good project management skills.

Starting as a property manager in a REIT company is often a great opportunity. This is because when other roles become available within the organization, there’s a good chance for career progression.

Asset Management Roles

Asset Management looks after the operational and financial health of the real estate investment portfolio. An asset manager needs to manage the client assets in line with the investment goals and agreed preferences. Asset managers develop, organize and maintain client portfolios.

A good asset manager will need to be capable of working with a variety of other teams. Acquisitions, accounting, development, and finance all interact with asset managers to work together on achieving results. At the same time, the asset manager must ensure compliance with the SEC, REIT regulations, and Sarbanes-Oxley.

It’s not unusual to start out working in acquisitions or property management, then move up to become an asset manager. Alternatively, anyone with the skills should be able to land an asset management role straight away.

Investor Relationship Roles

Investor Relations are responsible for coordinating and handling all communication with REIT shareholders. The role pays well and is ideal for anyone coming from a finance or accounting background.

The investor relations team will organize the annual meeting and meeting documents which include the annual report and proxy statement. And, all this must get done in accordance with SEC regulations.

Anyone with a background in accounting or finance would make a good candidate to apply for this role.

How Many Real Estate Investment Trust Jobs Are Being Created?

Data from LinkedIn shows that there are currently over 1000 jobs available in the REIT industry. That’s just one site and a great indicator there is lots of opportunity in the field.

The REIT industry is a sector that is growing fast. As well as needing investors, many other support roles need filling regularly.

Conclusion

The real estate investment trust industry is already sizable and continuing to grow. Working for a REIT company means following strict protocols for reporting and regulations. Many of the real estate investment trust jobs available require the applicant to have a background in accounting or finance.

However, other roles are available that don’t have these restrictions. Once working in a REIT organization, it’s then possible to move up to other roles should one become available.

Source: credit.com

Apache is functioning normally

August 15, 2023 by Brett Tams

A number of investors trade stocks and bonds through an investment broker. What is a broker? A broker — or brokerage firm — is the middleman between the buyer and seller and can help make a transaction go smoothly.

But an investment broker is not strictly necessary. Some companies offer a direct stock plan, allowing investors to purchase shares straight from the company without a broker.

In order to decide if you need an investment broker, it’s essential to know how a broker works, what exactly they do, and how to shop around for one that fits your needs.

What Is an Investment Broker?

Investment brokers enable individuals to buy and sell financial securities, like stocks or bonds, on an exchange market.

What does a broker do? Reputable brokers act as a boon to both buyers and sellers: They ensure that each party actually has the money to buy assets or the assets to sell.

Brokers settle trades by delivering securities and payments to each party, while also taking care of all the bookkeeping and tax-related documentation required. In many cases, going through a brokerage firm is the easiest and most accessible way for individuals to get started with investing.
💡 Quick Tip: Did you know that opening a brokerage account typically doesn’t come with any setup costs? Often, the only requirement to open a brokerage account — aside from providing personal details — is making an initial deposit.

Pros and Cons of Using an Investment Broker

As with any financial service, there are both benefits and drawbacks to using a brokerage firm to facilitate your trades.

Pros of Using a Broker

Accessibility

Thanks to the internet, you can open a brokerage account in minutes and start trading stocks as soon as your account is funded. That means employing a financial broker is one of the easiest ways to start an investment journey as quickly as possible.

Simplicity

When you buy and sell through a broker, a lot of the tedious footwork — like keeping tabs on your interest earnings for tax purposes — is taken care of for you. Depending on the type of brokerage firm you go with, you may also have access to professional financial advice and other advisory services that could help you make the most of your portfolio.

Cons of Using a Broker

Fees and Commissions

Although they’ll vary based on the specifics you choose and the type of account you open, some brokers charge maintenance fees and trade fees — also known as commissions — which can eat away at your nest egg. In fact, the average stock broker commission charged by brokerage firms is usually 1% to 2% of the value of the total transaction.

That said, you can minimize your investment fees, or even eliminate them, by shopping around for brokers with the lowest costs. For example, many online brokers offer no commission trading.

Required Portfolio Minimums

Although it’s not true of every brokerage firm, some require you to keep a minimum amount of money in your account to use their services. These minimums might be $1,000 or more, which can be a barrier to entry for some beginner investors.

Recommended: What Is Broker Call Rate?

Two Types of Brokerage Accounts

If you’re still asking yourself, what does a broker do?, it’s important to understand that not all brokers are created equal. There are many kinds of brokerage accounts to choose from. For instance, you may want to choose between a brokerage account vs. a cash management account, both of which are offered by brokerages.

The best product for you will depend on your individual financial goals and your budget. Here’s what you need to know to help make an informed decision.

1. Full-service Brokerage Accounts

Along with the ability to buy and sell assets, a full-service brokerage account might also include advice from human financial planners and portfolio management to help you make the best investment decisions possible.

However, these perks don’t come cheap. Full-service brokerage accounts and wealth-management companies usually calculate their charges as a percentage of your total portfolio, and may have account minimums as high as $250,000. They may also collect trade commissions and annual management fees.

2. Discount Brokerages

Discount brokers offer less consultation and guidance, allowing you to DIY your investment portfolio cheaply. Many have $0 account minimums and may charge less than $10 per trade — or even offer commission-free assets trading.

Both full-service and discount brokerages typically offer both cash and margin accounts. In a cash account, you’ll need the actual cash to buy your assets. In contrast, in a margin account, the broker will lend you some capital to make purchases, using the securities you already own as collateral.
💡 Quick Tip: If you’re opening a brokerage account for the first time, consider starting with an amount of money you’re prepared to lose. Investing always includes the risk of loss, and until you’ve gained some experience, it’s probably wise to start small.

Regulations for Investment Brokers

Investment brokers are regulated by the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA). Brokers must register with FINRA, and they are required to follow a standard of conduct known as the suitability rule. Under this rule, brokers need to have suitable grounds for recommending particular investments to clients.

The rule also encompasses something called “know your customer,” which spells out the various steps brokers need to use to identify clients and their goals for savings, including making a reasonable effort to ascertain a client’s financial and tax situation when recommending investments.

Different Types of Investment Accounts

Aside from deciding what type of brokerage you’d like to do business with (and how much you’re willing to pay for financial services), you’ll also need to decide what type of investment account works best for your goals.

Maybe you’re investing for a shorter-term objective, like purchasing a house — or perhaps you’re trying to ensure you’ll have a comfortable retirement. Either way, specific investment account types, or “vehicles,” are designed to help you get there.

Recommended: Understanding a Taxable Brokerage Account vs an IRA

Taxable Brokerage Account

Think of this as a default investment vehicle. It may be a good choice if you’re looking to grow wealth and want to be able to add or withdraw funds on your own terms without waiting to reach a certain age or life circumstance. However, you pay taxes on earnings, so there are no tax advantages to this type of account. If you don’t make any specific investment vehicle choices when you open your brokerage account, this is most likely the one you’re getting.

Individual Retirement Account (IRA)

An individual retirement account, or IRA, is a type of investment account designed specifically for retirement goals and is available to self-employed people and those working for a company. IRAs carry specific tax incentives; for example, contributions to traditional IRAs are deductible, while Roth IRAs allow for tax-free distributions. However, you can’t access the funds without paying a penalty until you reach age 59 ½ or meet certain circumstantial requirements, such as purchasing your first home.

A broker may offer other savings or investment vehicles, such as a 529 college savings plan, a tax-incentivized plan to help people save for educational costs. For full details on the type of accounts available, it makes sense to check with your broker directly.

Alternatives to Investing With a Broker

Although using a broker to invest in the stock market might be a smart money move for some, there are other ways to get started with investing, including the following options.

Recommended: Buying Stocks Without a Broker

Automated Investing

Automated investment products, or robo-advisors, are platforms that utilize a combination of computer algorithms and human financial planners to create and manage diversified portfolios at low costs to users.

Your funds will be invested in a diversified portfolio, and the platform typically offers goal-planning tools and rebalancing services to help keep your funds moving in the right direction.

If you don’t want to pay the high prices for a full-service broker, but self-managing your portfolio makes you more than a little nervous, a robo-advisor may be right for you.

Buying Stocks and Fractional Shares Directly

Depending on whose stocks you’re interested in purchasing, you may be able to buy them directly from the issuer without needing to go through a brokerage firm.

It pays to read the fine print, however: Buying stocks directly may save you money on trade commissions, but you may also be subject to proprietary fees from the company or minimum purchase amounts. And if you’re buying fractional shares (fractions of shares of stock), you need to have an investment account, such as one with an online broker or robo-adviser.

Diversifying your assets can still be helpful for investors who buy stocks directly. If all of your investments are tied up in a single company, you may not be in a great position if that company begins to falter. In contrast, if you’ve invested in several different firms and other asset classes, you will likely have a wider margin for error.

Choosing Alternative Investments

Although the stock market is one of the most popular and generally low-effort ways to invest, there are plenty of other ways to try turning your money into more money.

You might consider exploring alternative investments. For example, you could invest in real estate and sell the property at a profit or turn a condo into a passive income source by putting it up for rent. Or you might invest in art; the value of paintings is not necessarily correlated with the behavior of the stock market, giving it the potential to rise even during a stock market crash.

That said, many alternative investments require significantly more time, work, and know-how than crafting a diversified portfolio of stock market assets. And as always, every investment involves risk. There’s no such thing as a sure thing.

Controlling Your Investments With SoFi

If you’ve decided stock market investments are the right move for you and your money, going through a broker can be a relatively simple and low-cost way to gain access to the market. However, if you’d rather avoid potential downsides, like fees or required account minimums, you may want to consider the option to invest directly. The choice is yours.

Ready to invest in your goals? It’s easy to get started when you open an investment account with SoFi Invest. You can invest in stocks, exchange-traded funds (ETFs), and more. SoFi doesn’t charge commissions, but other fees apply (full fee disclosure here).

Invest with as little as $5 with a SoFi Active Investing account.

FAQ

What is the role of a stock broker?

A stock broker is a financial professional who buys and sells stocks on behalf of clients. A broker generally earns a fee or commission for their services.

How do brokers make money?

Brokers typically work on commission. The average stock broker commission is usually 1% to 2% of the value of the total transaction.

Why do people use brokers?

People use brokers to help them buy and sell stocks and bonds. Brokers also handle the necessary bookkeeping and tax-related documentation. For many individuals, using a broker is the easiest way to start investing.

Third-Party Brand Mentions: No brands, products, or companies mentioned are affiliated with SoFi, nor do they endorse or sponsor this article. Third-party trademarks referenced herein are property of their respective owners.

Financial Tips & Strategies: The tips provided on this website are of a general nature and do not take into account your specific objectives, financial situation, and needs. You should always consider their appropriateness given your own circumstances.

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The information provided is not meant to provide investment or financial advice. Also, past performance is no guarantee of future results.
Investment decisions should be based on an individual’s specific financial needs, goals, and risk profile. SoFi can’t guarantee future financial performance. Advisory services offered through SoFi Wealth, LLC. SoFi Securities, LLC, member FINRA / SIPC . SoFi Invest refers to the three investment and trading platforms operated by Social Finance, Inc. and its affiliates (described below). Individual customer accounts may be subject to the terms applicable to one or more of the platforms below.
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Source: sofi.com

Apache is functioning normally

August 14, 2023 by Brett Tams

When college freshmen step foot on campus, they may go to an activity fair and see members of sororities and fraternities encouraging recruits to join. They might want to know that becoming part of Greek life can have its upsides and downsides.

Whether or not students decide to let their Greek flag fly depends on their personality, their specific situation, and their goals while they are in school. Some may find Greek life incredibly enriching, and others could decide it’s a waste of their time.

Here’s a look at what Greek life is like and pros and cons you may want to consider when deciding if joining a fraternity or sorority is right for you.

What Is Greek Life in College?

Greek life is made up of communities of students who live together, volunteer for different organizations, pursue networking opportunities, and much more. The communities consist of sororities for women and fraternities for men.

Sororities and fraternities may have various objectives, but overall they exist so that students can make meaningful connections with one another, develop leadership skills, and give back.

Roughly 15% of men join fraternities at U.S. colleges, while about 18% of women join sororities.

Students who are interested in becoming members must apply and then go through an initiation process. Once accepted, they will live with their sorority or fraternity, usually in a house on campus, and participate in activities like sports, dances, parties, and community service opportunities.

Sorority and fraternity names consist of two or three Greek letters, like Phi Kappa Theta, Sigma Pi, or Delta Zeta, a nod to the first U.S. Greek letter society, Phi Beta Kappa, founded in 1776 at the College of William and Mary as a literary, debating, and social club.

Many students only know about sororities and fraternities from pop culture references like “Revenge of the Nerds,” “Animal House,” “Legally Blonde,” and “Old School,” which depict a perennial party.

While that is certainly true in some instances — and fraternities have come under fire for their alcohol use and hazing rituals — Greek life can be much more meaningful and beneficial than these portrayals.
💡 Quick Tip: SoFi offers low fixed- or variable-interest rates. So you can get a private student loan that fits your budget.

Upsides of Greek Life

Joining a fraternity or sorority comes with a number of advantages. Here’s a look at some of the perks.

Friends

When new students first get to college, they may not know where to turn to make connections. If they become part of a sorority or fraternity, they could make many new friends right away, bond with them through different activities and social events, and remain friends for life.

Networking Opportunities

Students will also have the chance to network with their new peers. When they’re searching for internships or jobs, these connections can prove to be highly valuable.

Plus, if a job hunter lists their sorority or fraternity on a resume and a recruiter is a Greek life alumnus, that could open up a conversation and make a candidate stand out.

Recommended: 3 Summer Jobs Ideas for College Students

Possibly Cheaper Housing

Living in college dorms can be pricey. If students are sharing a house with many members of a sorority or fraternity, they could potentially save money.

They may also save money by having access to a full kitchen, where they can make meals instead of purchasing a meal plan or eating at restaurants all the time.

Recommended: 20 Ways to Save Money in College

Development of Leadership Skills

Sororities and fraternities need leaders who will come up with ideas for activities, pilot volunteering efforts, and recruit members.

If members step up and decide they want to become leaders, then they are taking on new responsibilities and developing crucial skills that will be valuable when they graduate from college and start to look for jobs.

Volunteering Opportunities

Fraternities and sororities are often focused on philanthropy.

Students can participate in different volunteer projects with their fellow Greek life members and contribute to making the world a better place.

Not to mention, this will look good on a resume because it shows that a student is passionate about certain causes and wants to do their part to improve the lives of others.

Recommended: College Freshman Checklist for the Upcoming School Year

Potential Downsides of Greek Life

Like a toga, Greek life isn’t a good look for everyone. Here are some possible cons.

Cost

You typically need to pay membership dues each year you are a member of a fraternity or sorority. The cost varies depending on the school and fraternity/sorority you join but, on average, you can expect to pay around $2,000 to $3,0000 for the first year.

Local and national chapter fees are not always covered in the regular monthly dues.

And if fraternities or sororities get into trouble, members could be fined as well.

Recommended: What Is the Cost of Attendance in College?

Reputation

Fraternities and sororities have gotten a bad rap from movies and TV.

Worse, students have died in hazing accidents throughout the years, leading colleges to take administrative action against fraternities especially.

Some fraternities and sororities do emphasize parties and drinking, which is all fun and games until someone begins to flunk out, becomes addicted, is involved in an assault, or is injured.

It’s best, of course, to socialize responsibly and always make academic studies the priority.

Time Commitment

Because Greek life involves so many events, and members are expected to participate, joining a sorority or fraternity means a huge time commitment.

Spending too much time on Greek life activities and not enough on studying or working at internships could have a negative impact on a student’s future.

Recommended: College Planning Guide for High School Students

Determining Whether or Not to Join Greek Life

Joining a fraternity or a sorority can be a great decision, especially for freshmen who may not know anyone on campus. If they are a part of Greek life, then they will stay busy, make friends, network, and contribute.

On the flipside, if they are in a campus family that is constantly throwing parties and not interested in enriching members’ lives in a meaningful way, then joining might not be a good idea.

If you’re concerned about being able to afford the cost of joining a fraternity or sorority, keep in mind that there are a number of ways to cover the cost of college tuition and living expenses, including grants, scholarships, subsidized and unsubsidized federal student loans, and private student loans.
💡 Quick Tip: It’s a good idea to understand the pros and cons of private student loans and federal student loans before committing to them.

The Takeaway

A sorority or fraternity can provide camaraderie and enduring connections, and enhance a call for service and leadership. It can also be time consuming, expensive, and distracting. Greek life isn’t for everyone, but some will find it a life-changing college choice.

If you’ve exhausted all federal student aid options, no-fee private student loans from SoFi can help you pay for school. The online application process is easy, and you can see rates and terms in just minutes. Repayment plans are flexible, so you can find an option that works for your financial plan and budget.

Cover up to 100% of school-certified costs including tuition, books, supplies, room and board, and transportation with a private student loan from SoFi.

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Third-Party Brand Mentions: No brands, products, or companies mentioned are affiliated with SoFi, nor do they endorse or sponsor this article. Third-party trademarks referenced herein are property of their respective owners.

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Source: sofi.com

Apache is functioning normally

August 14, 2023 by Brett Tams

Do you dream of learning how to get paid to travel? Your dream doesn’t have to seem like a fantasy — there are many people who turned their dreams of globe-trotting adventures into an attainable reality. For me, I love being able to travel and work at the same time. I have been able to…

Do you dream of learning how to get paid to travel? Your dream doesn’t have to seem like a fantasy — there are many people who turned their dreams of globe-trotting adventures into an attainable reality.

For me, I love being able to travel and work at the same time. I have been able to visit many new places and really learn about the areas I’m visiting because I get to spend more time in each place I visit. Plus, I am still able to pay all of my expenses and save fully for retirement with no worries.

Whether you want to learn how to get paid to travel for a few months at a time or become a full-time digital nomad, there are many ways to make your dream a reality.

The biggest things holding people back from traveling are money and travel expenses, but this is something that many people can work around. There are many different types of income streams that you may be able to start.

Over the years, I’ve met people who have learned how to get paid to travel and have made it their life. There have been people who have saved up to travel for an extended amount of time, those who are retired, those who find odd jobs on the road, those who have found paid travel opportunities (like the ones I’m about to tell you about), and more.

You’re probably thinking to yourself: “You have to be a professional travel blogger in order to get paid to travel.”

But that’s not true at all!

If you want to learn how to get paid to travel, there are many other excellent ways to make your dreams happen.

In fact, the majority of people I have met while traveling are not travel bloggers, on TikTok, or have a Youtube channel. I know you see a lot of that online, but the reality is that most people hold normal jobs that allow them to travel.

In today’s article, I will be highlighting the many different excellent ways to learn how to get paid to travel the world.

Related content on how to get paid to travel:

How to get paid to travel the world

1. Create a travel blog

A travel blog, or any type of blog or Youtube channel, may allow you to get paid to travel the world.

I know this because my blog, Making Sense of Cents, allows me to travel!

Blogging means I have a flexible schedule, allowing me to enjoy many of the places I visit.

There are several ways to earn money blogging, including:

You can learn more in How To Earn Money Blogging: Your Top Questions Answered, where I give in-depth explanations of each monetization method.

You can create your own blog here with my easy and quick tutorial. You can start your blog for as low as $2.75 per month, plus you get a free domain name when signing up through my guide.

Related content: How To Start a Blog Free Course

2. Teach English as a foreign language

Teaching English is a very popular way to get paid to travel. Whether you’re teaching English online or if you find a school in a foreign country (such as China, South Korea, or United Arab Emirates), teaching English is one of the best ways to make money while traveling because it’s very in demand.

You do not need to be a teacher to teach English online or speak another language, which is great. You only need to speak English. You are often asked to be a native English speaker and have a bachelor’s degree (in any subject).

Typically, you can earn around $15 to $25 per hour. However, pay varies based on the country, and some places pay more than others, such as South Korea and the United Arab Emirates.

ESL teachers occasionally have their housing paid for or free food when working in other countries.

Another option would be to become a teacher overseas. You can learn more at How We Made Over $100,000 Teaching Overseas.

3. Become an au pair

Au pairs are like nannies, but they live abroad with a family in a foreign country so they can learn the language, experience the culture, and travel. Au pairs don’t usually get paid a salary, but their host family pays for food and stay and gives the au pair some spending money.

If you enjoy working with kids and want to learn how to get paid to travel, working as an au pair or travel nanny can be a fun option for younger adults.

My sister was an au pair in Italy a few years ago. It was an interesting experience, and she had both positives and negatives from it.

In the blog post linked below, my sister writes about:

How much an au pair can earn
How to get paid to travel to Europe as an au pair
The positives and negatives of being an au pair
Tips to find a host family to work for
Questions to ask your host family

You can read more at How To Become An Au Pair And Travel The World.

4. Become a digital nomad

With a remote job, you may be able to become a digital nomad and travel the U.S. or even the world.

Remote jobs are far more common these days, and the best remote opportunities allow you to eliminate your commute (which may save you hours each week!), travel more, and sometimes even have a more flexible schedule.

Plus, many times all you need is a laptop and an internet connection.

A remote job is a job you can work from anywhere. You may be able to work from your house, apartment, in an RV, on a sailboat, while in another country, at a co-working office, and so on.

Of course, some companies do have rules regarding travel, so you will want to clarify that before you fly around the world.

Here are some examples of remote jobs:

You can learn more at How To Find A Remote Job (Best Sites, Tips, & More).

5. Travel photographer

Even since we started traveling, we’ve met some amazing photographers, and I’ve always thought this would be one of the most fun travel jobs.

There are so many different kinds of photographers that make a living traveling the world. These include National Geographic photographers, people who travel around the world chasing crazy races and taking pictures of them, people publishing amazing photos on Instagram, people who take photos of sharks, and so on.

Travel photography is a very creative job that many people dream of.

If you’re interested in this option, you’ll definitely need a camera to start, and you may want to take some courses on photography.

6. Become a park ranger

Choosing to become a park ranger as your travel career choice can allow you to travel across the U.S., transferring from park to park.

The website ParkRangerEdu.Org is a great place to learn more. According to the site, it’s recommended that you have a college degree in a relevant major such as Earth science, forestry, conservation, biology.

Park rangers help protect the park, wildlife, visitors, and more, and they may work at the visitor center, as law enforcement, protecting animals, guiding tours, and so on. It all depends on the position that you fill.

This would be one of the best ways to get paid to travel for people who love to be outdoors and want to help improve the parks that they love.

7. Travel nurse

A travel nurse may be able to earn more than $3,000 per week. They tend to make much more than a nurse who has a permanent job at a hospital or other facility.

Travel nurses are RNs (registered nurses) working short-term positions at healthcare facilities. Whenever there are nursing shortages, which happen often, travel nurses help healthcare facilities fill these roles.

I have had several friends become travel nurses, and I’ve also met a few travel nurses while traveling.

Travel nurse jobs usually last around 3 months and can come with many benefits.

8. Become an Airbnb Experience Host

As an Airbnb Experience Host, you may be able to make money in different areas by hosting tours, classes, etc. This can be a fun way to meet tourists, as well as better get to know an area.

No, you don’t need to own an Airbnb rental in order to become an Airbnb Experience Host. This is completely different!

Whether you want to host cooking classes, guide a walking tour, lead a bike ride in your area, host a pub crawl, or something else, there are many different types of Airbnb experiences you can host.

You could do this as a side gig or even a full-time job. It simply depends on your availability and what your goals are.

If you have questions, such as:

How much do Airbnb experience hosts make?
What are some examples of Airbnb experiences that I can host?
How do I start an Airbnb hosting experience?
Is hosting an Airbnb experience worth it?

You can learn more at How to Make Money as an Airbnb Experience Host.

9. Campground worker (workamper, campground host, etc.)

Campground workers or workampers are people who work at a campground in exchange for free stay and sometimes pay. There are many campgrounds across the country looking for workampers, and this can be an excellent way to earn more travel money.

You can work at beautiful campgrounds on the beach, in national parks, state parks, forests, and more. I have seen hiring signs in some of the most beautiful campgrounds!

While full-time RVing, I met many happy workampers who enjoy their jobs, and it’s something that I would definitely do myself!

After all, you get to stay for free, and many times you’re even paid to stay in some of the most beautiful places in the world. It’s a great way to make RVing work full-time.

As a work camper you may be:

Answering questions on the phone
Making reservations for campers
Cleaning campsites, bathrooms, community rooms, and more
Selling firewood
Making sure campers follow the rules

Workampers can be paid with an RV site to stay in, at an hourly rate, or a mixture of the two.

Many times, campgrounds prefer a couple as well so that the duties can be split amongst two people, so this is a great option if you want to learn how to get paid to travel as a couple.

Related content: How To Make Money While RVing

10. Find items to resell online

If you are a full-time traveler, you may come across items you could sell online.

I’ve met people who travel the country in vans or RVs and pick up items as they travel. They sell their inventory online and ship items out from wherever they’re staying.

Etsy, eBay, Craigslist, and countless others are great places if you decide to sell items online.

You can learn more at How I Made $40,000 In One Year Flipping Items.

11. Find a cruise ship job

Working on a cruise ship means that you will be working while traveling! You can work and travel on a cruise ship through the Caribbean, Mediterranean, and more.

Plus, there are cruise ships that even circumnavigate the globe, which would be really fun.

If you want to learn how to get paid to travel, there are many different types of opportunities to find on a cruise line, including:

Childcare worker
Cleaning crew
Boat crew, such as officers, electricians, and engineers
Yoga instructor
Photographer
Salon/spa workers
Fitness center jobs
Restaurant server, cook, or bartender
Entertainment, such as being in a band, technicians, and more

Those are just a few of the jobs you can find on a cruise ship, and there are over 300 cruise ships in the world, and hundreds of workers on each cruise ship.

With a job on a cruise ship, you would live on the cruise ship and many of your travel expenses, such as room and board, may be paid for by the cruise ship company. You may also make a salary and tips.

To find cruise ship jobs, I recommend heading to cruise ship websites and finding their jobs page. For example, Carnival Cruise Ships has a special job page, which you can find here. On their website, you can even sign up for job alerts so that you can be emailed when a job is added to their website.

12. WWOOFer

WWOOF stands for Worldwide Opportunities on Organic Farms, and it’s an organization that connects visitors with organic farms around the world.

WWOOF allows volunteers to choose an area and country to travel to and volunteer in at a farm. The stay can range from a few days to several months, depending on what is agreed upon.

In return for your food and provided accommodations, you are expected to work 4-6 hours a day on the farm.

You may be asked to cut wood, pack items, feed animals, make food, sow seed, make compost, help care for a garden, and more – anything helpful to the farmer.

This is one of the best ways to get paid to travel if you are looking for an affordable way to travel the world. You won’t make a full-time income, but it sounds like a fun way to visit new areas.

In most cases, you will need to be 18 or older in order to start WWOOFing.

13. Outdoor guide or instructor

If you’re the adventurous type, then becoming an outdoor guide or instructor can be a great way to learn how to get paid to travel.

You must be highly skilled to safely do this, of course. And that’s because you’ll be responsible for teaching others skills that may be dangerous.

Outdoor guide or outdoor instructor jobs may include:

Hiking guide
Rock climbing guide
Scuba diving guide
Wilderness and survival guide
Kayaking/rafting guide
Fishing guide
Surfing instructor
Hunting guide
Tour guide
Travel guide

And more! You may even be able to carve out your own specialty as well.

As a guide or instructor, you may work for yourself, work for a park, a summer camp, or for another company.

Guides may be paid via tips and a flat fee for taking people out on a guided trip.

14. Sell printables on Etsy

This might surprise you, but you can travel while earning a somewhat passive income stream selling printables online.

Printables are digital files that can be bought and sold nearly indefinitely, and because they are delivered online, you don’t have to ship anything or store physical products.

This can be a great way to earn passive income while you travel for years down the line. You might be able to travel for longer, and you’ll have more free time to enjoy the places you visit.

Some examples of travel-related printables include:

Vacation packing checklists
Travel planners, such as travel itinerary printables
Vacation grocery shopping checklists
Luggage tags
Bucket lists printables
Road trip activity printables
Travel journals
RV checklists

You can learn more at How I Make Money Selling Printables On Etsy.

15. Flight attendant

A popular way to get paid to travel the world is by becoming a flight attendant.

There are strict requirements for becoming a flight attendant, but you may receive highly discounted flights for you and companions. This can be a great way to travel while you’re working, and when you’re not on duty as a flight attendant, you can explore new cities and countries.

Flight attendants can make a good income, and the benefits can’t be beat if you want to travel more. Flight attendants make anywhere from around $40,000 to over $100,000 a year.

You can learn more at How To Become A Flight Attendant And Make $61,640 Each Year.

16. Boat crew jobs

Working as part of a yacht crew is a fun way to travel the world and experience life on the water. People are always looking for help on their boats, whether it’s a small 30-foot sailboat or a 200-foot mega yacht.

My husband has delivered two sailing catamarans for a total of around 4,000 miles (that doesn’t even include the amount of sailing he’s done on our boat), and we’ve both been offered boat crew jobs on several other occasions as well.

As yacht crew, you may be working as the:

Captain
Hostess
Mechanic or engineer
Server
Chef
Cleaner
Crew

Working on a boat means you get to travel around the world, to new countries, or you may be staying in one area. It really just depends on the boat and what their itinerary is.

Now, working on a boat is not easy. It’s usually quite hard work, but it can be extremely rewarding.

If you’re interested, a lot of it is about networking. Simply hanging around the docks may help you find work, there are websites that connect crew to boats, and agencies that can help you find yacht crew jobs too.

17. Deliver vehicles

Like the last option, you can get paid to travel around the country delivering vehicles for individuals and dealerships. You might be towing or driving the vehicle depending on the arrangement.

You’ll need to have a clean driving record if you want to learn how to get paid to travel delivering vehicles. Delivery drivers can make $300 to $400 per vehicle.

18. Public speaker or coach

This can be a very lucrative option, but you will need to establish yourself as an expert or authority in a certain topic. Fortunately, there are many options to choose from – health, parenting, fashion, exercise, entrepreneurship, finances, marketing, life coaching, and much more.

You can make in the range of $1,000 to $50,000+ per event as a public speaker.

Are there companies that pay you to travel?

Yes, there are some companies that pay their workers to travel across the country or around the world.

Besides some of the opportunities talked about in this list, jobs in sales, HR, trainers, and more may send you to different cities and countries as part of your job.

How to get paid to travel the world – Summary

As you can see, there are many different ways to get paid to travel the world. There are, of course, positives and negatives to each option.

This is because everyone is different, we all have different skills, different ideas of what travel looks like, and so on. It’s all about finding which way interests you the most.

Again, here are the best ways to can get paid to travel:

Create a travel blog
Teach English as a foreign language
Become an au pair
Travel photographer
Become a digital nomad
Become a park ranger
Travel nurse
Become an Airbnb Experience Host
Campground worker (workamper)
Find items to resell online
Find a cruise ship job
WWOOFer
Outdoor guide or instructor
Sell printables on Etsy
Flight attendant
Boat crew jobs
Deliver vehicles
Public speaker or coach

So, whether you want to travel across the US and visit all 50 states, circumnavigate the world by boat, or fly to many different continents and countries, there are so many different ways to get paid to travel.

Traveling is the best way to see the world, but it can also be expensive. Depending on your situation, there are dozens of ways to get paid to travel, whether you want to travel on a backpacker’s budget or if you want to splurge on fancy resorts.

Whether you are looking for seasonal jobs, you want to become an online freelancer, or if you even want to find a way to make money from your hobby without working long hours, there are many ways to experience a new culture and may even be able to score free travel.

Have fun traveling!

Do you want to get paid to travel the world?

Source: makingsenseofcents.com

Apache is functioning normally

August 13, 2023 by Brett Tams

Broker Pricing and Non-QM Products; Seminars and Conferences; Rates Higher on Producer Prices

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Broker Pricing and Non-QM Products; Seminars and Conferences; Rates Higher on Producer Prices

By:
Rob Chrisman

Fri, Aug 11 2023, 10:22 AM

As the MMLA conference wraps up (congratulations to Dan Grzywacz, CMB, and nearly 40-year industry vet, who was this year’s James T. Barnes Award winner), the conversations still involve some seemingly endless topics. One of which is W2 versus 1099. There’s been a lot of “quacking:” about whether originators can be paid as independent contractors (1099) or need to be employees (W-2). Mortgage Muser and attorney Brian Levy has some new thoughts on this topic that are worthwhile even if he “ducks” providing legal advice in his entertaining and insightful mortgage blog. View past editions of the Mortgage Musings and subscribe to get emailed about new postings for free here. Another is sticky higher interest rates, and today at 3PM ET, Skylar Olsen, Zillow’s Chief Economist, will be co-hosting The Mortgage Collaborative’s Rundown, covering current events in the economy and mortgage market for 30-45 minutes. And there’s volume. According to Curinos, July 2023 funded mortgage volume decreased 30% YoY and 13% MoM. Curinos sources a statistically significant data set directly from lenders to produce these benchmark figures. (Today’s podcast can be found here and is sponsored by SimpleNexus, an nCino Company, developer of mortgage technology uniting the people, systems, and stages of the mortgage process into one seamless, end-to-end solution. Hear an interview with Equifax’s Joel Rickman on leveraging income and employment verifications during the home equity line of credit (HELOC) origination process.)

Lender and Broker Software, Products, and Services

“Brokers can now shop, lock, and deliver on one platform that seamlessly connects brokers, lenders, and originators. In this market, hustle is everything. You can’t afford to waste a single deal… Or a single minute. That’s why ReadyPrice has launched its innovative new Shop, Lock & Deliver loan exchange platform, designed to help independent mortgage brokers like you save time and money. Now you can shop competitive loan offerings from multiple lenders, get rate lock guarantees in real time, receive underwriting findings, and deliver the borrower’s complete loan file to lenders, and all on a single platform, at no cost to brokers. It’s the industry’s most powerful universal delivery portal, and it’s already helping thousands of brokers around the country thrive and compete in even the toughest market environments. Multiple lenders. One platform. Zero b.s. Come check us out today.”

Mega Capital Funding is proud to be a 25 yr. partner to the broker community. The team at Mega Capital continues to grow and expand across the US. Mega has recently added another 10 outside AEs across the country to further support the broker community. The team at Mega is also expanding our products this month with additions to our Non QM suite. ITIN is new and improved along with our Expanded DSCR options which also includes a No Ratio DSCR. We at Mega are looking to continue to be a destination for brokers and bankers to find all their lending needs under one roof. Conv, FHA, VA, USDA, Jumbo and Non QM. Mega Capital is also excited to be at NAMB this year. Please come by and see us in Vegas.

Looking Ahead to Conferences and Training

A good place to start is here, and click on “events.”

The Mississippi Mortgage Bankers Association is holding its fall conference September 7-8 in Jackson. Our theme for this year is “Building a Strong MS” We are focusing on building relationships, strategies, and opportunities for the real estate housing industry in MS. Our fall conference is open to loan originators, realtors, and other industry affiliates. Realtors will receive Continuing ED (CE) credits for attending the Fall Conference.

Save the dates of September 10-12 and join lending professionals from the Pacific Northwest at the Riverhouse in Bend, Oregon, for the Pacific Northwest Lenders Conference. This event promises to be a catalyst for professional growth, offering a unique platform to expand knowledge, build valuable connections, and elevate lending businesses in the region.

Prepare to be amazed and delighted when you swing by the Plaza Home Mortgage® booth at the NAMB National Conference, September 8-11, at Caesars Palace in Las Vegas.

Register for free with the code PLAZAFREE and pop by Plaza’s booth #607 or schedule a meeting with us at [email protected].

Zelman’s Virtual Housing Summit is September 18-21, though not exactly in person.

Network and collaborate with your industry colleagues while learning the latest updates on mortgage industry standards at MISMO’s Fall Summit, September 18 – 21 in Washington, DC

New To MISMO? Check out this 20-minute presentation “Intro to the MISMO Summit Experience” to learn what to expect and how to best prepare so that you get the most out of the Summit.

AzAMP Annual EXPO, Luncheon, and 8-Hour NMLS CE Class, September 27–28, at the We-Ko-Pa Resort and Casino. Begin your experience on Wednesday, Sept. 27 with Part 1 of NMLS CE class. Full day of events begins on Thursday, September 28 including NMLS CE class Part 2, Luncheon with Keynote Speakers Allen Beydoun, UWM Executive Vice President and Rob Chrisman, The Chrisman Commentary Daily Mortgage News, followed by the AzAMP Expo.

Watch on demand, at your leisure: Millennials and Gen Zers represent the largest group of first-time homebuyers. In less than 10 years, 3.1 million will have entered the market. Of these buyers, roughly 75 percent of them report checking social media daily. Making social media a necessary strategy for loan officers. Join Homebot’s VP of Marketing, Ashley Remstad and Mortgage Advisor Sosi Avila as they discuss key strategies and tactics for using social media to your advantage. Register for the webinar here.

It’s time to register for the New England Mortgage Bankers two-day Conference, September 13-14 in Portsmouth NH. Multiple venues all within walking distance for a new NEMBC experience.

Register for the AzAMP Annual EXPO, Luncheon, and 8-Hour NMLS CE Class on September 27th and 28th at the We-Ko-Pa Resort and Casino. Don’t miss Luncheon Speakers Allen Beydoun, UWM EVP, and Rob Chrisman, The Chrisman Commentary Daily Mortgage News. Stay the night at the resort and attend all the events.

Registration for the NCEO 2023 Fall Forum in Houston, September 26-28 is now open. Featuring top industry experts and thought leaders, the forum will update you on the latest trends and best practices in employee ownership. Network with other employee owners and industry professionals from across the country, sharing ideas, challenges, and successes.

Secure early-bird pricing through June 23rd. From close-knit conversations to invigorating keynotes, the forum is the place to rocket your company into the stratosphere.

MBAC 67th Annual Convention Oct 1-4, 2023 at the Francis Marion Hotel, Charleston, SC.

Sponsorship opportunities available, reserve your room at the Francis Marion Hotel use Promo Code MBAC2023 for special rate, Last Day to reserve at this rate, September 11, 2023.

Mark your calendars and make plans for ACUMA’s 2023 Annual Conference! Registration is now open for the biggest event tailored for the credit union mortgage professional. This year’s theme, Make Your Mark, is the largest and most comprehensive event on ACUMA’s education calendar and is scheduled for Oct. 1-4 at the Gaylord National Resort in National Harbor, Maryland, just down the Potomac River from Washington, D.C. Make plans now to attend this year’s largest gathering of mortgage lenders, and plan to continue to Make Your Mark in credit union mortgage lending! Here’s the link to register! ACUMA 2023 Annual Conference.

At Turning Stone Casino & Resort, Verona, NY., October 4th at 12:00 PM – October 6th at 12:00 PM (EDT), NYMBA 2023 Annual Convention & Golf Tournament, a premier event that brings together industry leaders, professionals, and innovators in the mortgage banking sector. This convention serves as a platform to foster collaboration, share knowledge, and explore emerging trends, ultimately shaping the future of the mortgage banking industry in New York and beyond.

As we celebrate America’s independence, we have many other reasons to celebrate as well. This October 15-18, we’re taking the original gathering of real estate finance professionals to the birthplace of our country, and we’re celebrating some of the reasons you’re going to love it: MBA’s Annual Convention & Expo 2023.The largest annual gathering of real estate finance professionals, this is the one event you need to gain access to the industry’s power players and innovators. Be inspired and get informed by engaging speakers on the Main Stage. Meet with dozens of exhibitors in THE HUB and get hands-on access to the latest products and services. Dive deep into Breakout Sessions to get the insight you need on all the facets of the business.

There’s only one venue where you can get timely updates on where the reverse mortgage industry is headed, the 2023 Annual Meeting & Expo, October 23-25 in Nashville, TN.

Get the latest news on the HECM program. Learn about proprietary product opportunities. Find out what other regulatory changes are forthcoming. Pre-sale registration, the lowest registration rate, expires at midnight (Eastern Time) on Tuesday, August 22.

The kind of news you want to know, VIBE 2023, a very important broker exchange, is here! What is VIBE 2023?* The biggest growth mindset event for Mortgage Brokers featuring a VIP lineup of some of the most influential speakers in the country! Join us at the Westin South Coast Plaza in Costa Mesa, CA on 10/24/2023. Register to attend using your UNIQUE CODE**, provided by your Kind Account Executive. Learn more by visiting here. *VIBE 2023 event is open to all licensed Mortgage Brokers in the United States. No commitments to establish a partnership with Kind Lending are required to attend. **Unique Codes are provided by your Kind Lending Account Executive. If you do not have an account executive or are not yet working with Kind TPO, email us to learn more.

TMBA is working through the summer planning outstanding events including the 6th Annual Mortgage Symposium, November 6-7 at the Westin Dallas Southlake Hotel in Southlake TX. The Texas Women Mortgage Bankers event will be held on November 6 at the Westin Dallas Southlake Hotel.

October Research, LLC is happy to bring back the Women’s Leadership Summit (WLS) for its second year. It will be held November 6-7 at the Naples Grande Beach Resort in Naples, FL. We are now accepting registrations and speaker nominations! Built around the four pillars (Develop, Grow, Support and Empower) WLS provides attendees with the tools for success in a fun and supportive environment. Attendees come from across the country to learn from our visiting experts and each other about how to meet their goals. Visit OctoberResearchWLS.com for more information.

Capital Markets

Not only do the earth’s temperatures keep going higher, but inflation does as well, but at a slower pace! It was revealed yesterday that the consumer price index rose a temperate 0.2 percent in July and 3.2 percent year-over-year, matching consensus expectations. That marked the smallest back-to-back gains in more than two years, adding to a steady wave of disinflation in recent months. Excluding the volatile food and energy components, the “core” index rose 4.7 percent year-over-year versus 4.8 percent in June. The index for shelter accounted for 90 percent of the increase, but is almost back to pre-pandemic levels and will continue to moderate after home price appreciation peaked last year.

While the recent trend is encouraging and confirms that inflation is headed in the direction the FOMC wants, it’s likely premature to get overly excited about a sustained return to the Fed’s 2 percent inflation target. The Fed’s fear is that a pause will reignite home price appreciation, exacerbate the affordability problem, and push inflation higher. Look for the Fed to leave interest rates unchanged at the next policy meeting in September, but add the caveat that the job isn’t done yet. Initial claims also moved in a direction last week to corroborate the thinking that there is some softening in the labor market, which is what the Fed expects and hopes to see. However, bond yields rose by the day’s close after the U.S. Treasury closed out this week’s auction slate with a weak $23 billion 30-year bond offering.

Today’s calendar kicked off with MBA reporting that the delinquency rate for mortgage loans on one-to-four-unit residential properties decreased to a seasonally adjusted rate of 3.37 percent of all loans outstanding at the end of the second quarter of 2023, down 19 basis points from the first quarter of 2023 and down 27 basis points from one year ago. The percentage of loans on which foreclosure actions were started in the second quarter fell by 3 basis points to 0.13 percent.

We’ve also received the July Producer Price Index, which increased .3 percent month-over-month and .8 percent years-over-year versus 0.2 percent month-over-month and 0.6 percent year-over-year expectations and both 0.1 percent month-over-month and year-over-year previously. Core PPI rose (), +2.7 year over year. The only other release scheduled for today is at 10AM ET with the preliminary August Michigan sentiment. We begin the day with Agency MBS prices worse .125-.250 from last night and the 10-year yielding 4.13 after closing yesterday at 4.08 percent.

Employment and Transitions

“Keith McKay, CEO of Prime Choice Funding, invites you to participate in reshaping the mortgage industry. Our mission for 2023 is to become the top mortgage broker in the nation. Join our team and expand your professional horizon with our diverse loan programs, flexible compensation plans, and a unique opportunity to earn extra by offering solar solutions to your clients. Backed by comprehensive marketing resources, cutting-edge platform, and robust operations support, your potential for growth is limitless. With a history dating back to 2007, Prime Choice represents stability and innovation in finance and sustainability. Register for our webinar today and explore these rewarding opportunities.”

The Maryland office of USA Mortgage has added nationally prominent Loan Officer, Sam Rosenblatt, to its roster. Rosenblatt joins William “Bill” Sohan in his venture to expand USA’s national footprint. Active in the mortgage industry since 1995, Rosenblatt was the #1 producer in units in Maryland in 2021, filing 978 closed loans valued at $338,087,603, and is among the top 50 originators in the nation. “I’m excited to join USA Mortgage because they have great loan options for my clients, state-of-the-art marketing, and cutting-edge technology that makes the mortgage process as efficient and smooth as possible”, he said. Founded in St. Louis in 2001, USA has offices in 34 states and is licensed in 49 states plus the District of Columbia. For a confidential conversation about joining USA, contact Brooke Anderson at 609-500-1520.

Switching gears, Michael Dresden, the President of Dart Appraisal, sent the sad news that Tim Laden, Dart’s Chief Appraiser, passed away. “Tim impacted so many appraisers across the country through his love for coaching and mentoring. Tim was such an asset to Dart and helped us elevate many areas of our business. We’re better because of Tim.”

Download our mobile app to get alerts for Rob Chrisman’s Commentary.

Source: mortgagenewsdaily.com

Apache is functioning normally

August 13, 2023 by Brett Tams

In the wake of the Covid-19 pandemic, we’ve seen a seismic shift towards retail investing occur around the world. The arrival of lockdowns and government stimulus packages provided investors with an unprecedented combination of time and financial windfall to explore the markets and to buy into the stocks and shares that would begin their investment journey.

However, the months that followed showed that this new influx of retail investors continually traded shares across different markets with increasing frequency.

(Image: Financial Times)

As Financial Times data shows, retail investor interest fluctuated wildly across 2020 and 2021, with the dominant presence of ETFs giving way to travel, growth, ESG, and meme stocks at various stages.

Not only does this show that retail investors can be unfocused in their investment decisions, but the rise in popularity of WallStreetBets favorites like the meme stocks GameStop and AMC, shows that investors are increasingly eager to turn a quick profit.

According to a Natixis report published in June 2021, an expectation gap has emerged between investors and the returns that they hope to achieve on their portfolios. The survey of 8,550 retail investors found that those with more than $100,000 in investable assets largely believed that they could continue to draw on the success of 2020’s stock market rally and post annual returns of 13% above inflation by the end of the year.

In reality, the final quarter of 2021 was a difficult time for global stock markets as record-breaking inflation and fears regarding new Covid-19 variants led to large-scale sell-offs of growth stocks and meme favorites alike.

With this in mind, expectation management is essential for anybody looking to enter into the world of investment. Let’s explore three ways that you can manage your expectations when starting out as an investor:

1. Set Clear Goals

First and foremost, new investors must have an idea of why they’re investing in the first place. If you don’t know what your goals are, how are you going to plan the construction of a portfolio to achieve them?

Although 2021 was certainly the year of the meme stock, it’s worth asking whether buying into sentiment-driven stocks for short-term results is consistent with the things that you hope to accomplish. Building wealth in a measured way with more limited levels of risk means taking a longer-term approach. If, say, you’re looking to save money for a mortgage, this is generally more effective than a more risky approach.

However, if your financial goals are to generate more money for a pension that you can access long into the future, it may be worth taking on more risk and balancing it out with growth stocks. This means that you can attempt to build a nest egg whilst buying into more tried and tested risk averse stocks.

Fundamentally, setting yourself goals can help you to better understand where to look and what stocks to invest in as a means of generating the wealth that you want.

Related Read: Stock Trading: How to Get Started and Make More Money

2. Create a Plan

You’ll also need to figure out a way to manage the building of your investment. By gaining an understanding of how much money you’ll be investing each month, you can better forecast your financial growth.

Many open banking platforms can offer insights into how you can expect your portfolio to grow over the short, mid, and long-term. It all revolves around you sparing only the money you can afford to keep your investments working.

“First, set aside enough money in the form of cash and for investments, emergencies and immediate tasks,” explains Maxim Manturov, head of investment research at Freedom Finance Europe. “Then, you can use the following rule of thumb: subtract your age from 100 and put the remaining percentage in stocks and the rest in bonds. In other words, if you’re 20 years old, put 80% of your assets in stocks and 20% in bonds.”

These plans can help you to invest at a consistent pace that doesn’t negatively impact your daily life. Although every investor is different, plans like the 50/30/20 rule can help to manage your outgoings in an easy-to-follow way. The rule is that 50% of your monthly salary goes on essential expenditure, 30% is reserved for non-essential purchases, whilst the remaining 20% goes on the paying of debt or investments.

Related Read: First Investments for Beginners and Everyone Else

3. Adopt a Bigger Picture Outlook

If you’re new to the world of investing, one of the first and most important things to understand when learning to manage expectations is that stocks can go down as well as up.

When you make an investment, it’s essential that you avoid selling dips and buying peaks. If you’ve conducted your research and bought a stock that you believe will perform well over time, don’t sell it if you wake up to find it down 5%. While it’s important to know when to sell an underperforming investment, it’s generally a bad idea to rotate your wealth between stocks too frequently.

Be sure to adopt a bigger picture outlook that’s consistent with your financial goals. If you’ve bought a stock that you believe will come to fruition over the next five years, don’t panic if it underperforms for a quarter as long as its fundamentals remain the same.

Although the world of investing can seem like a daunting place, it’s the best ecosystem for allowing users to build their wealth–provided that they enter the space with the right goals and expectations for what they can achieve.

Source: credit.com

Apache is functioning normally

August 12, 2023 by Brett Tams

Government-sponsored enterprises Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac, two of the largest investors in the U.S. mortgage market, would experience combined credit losses of $35 billion in the event of a severe financial downturn, according to a report from the Federal Housing Finance Agency released Thursday.

The annual Dodd-Frank Stress test, which examines how balance sheets of high-value federally regulated entities would be impacted in the event of a global recession, reflected a staggering increase in estimated losses from last year, when the same test initially projected they’d be more than $17 billion. (The 2022 stress test number for credit losses underwent a slight downward revision earlier this year after Fannie identified some errors in its model and adjusted for them, bringing that number slightly below $17 billion.)

While the credit losses in the stress tests, defined as net charge-offs plus foreclosed property expenses, were markedly higher than a year ago, the FHFA found Fannie and Freddie would generally be sufficiently capitalized to withstand the shock. Notwithstanding adjustments for allowances on deferred tax assets, both would generate positive comprehensive income under the stressed scenario.

That means Fannie has the capacity to absorb more than $21 billion in credit losses modeled while Freddie would be able to take on almost $14 billion. Under revised numbers for last year, Fannie would have taken on somewhere between $10 billion and $11 billion in credit losses in a stressed scenario, and Freddie would have taken on more than $6 billion.

However, Fannie’s number for total comprehensive income after a severely adverse stress, at $6 billion, was about half of that seen in last year’s revised numbers. Freddie’s TCI, $4 billion, was around two-thirds of what it produced under the stresses modeled for 2022.

And with reserves set aside to offset potential losses on deferred tax assets, both enterprises would be in the red under the stressed scenario this year. Fannie would record a total comprehensive loss of $7.8 billion. Freddie would record a smaller loss of $600 million. Freddie remained profitable even with an allowance for deferred tax assets in place last year.

Provisions for credit losses remain the largest modeled expense at both enterprises. Mark-to-market losses became the second largest at Fannie. The impact of a global market shock with a counterparty default continued to be the second largest expense at Freddie.

The Dodd-Frank Act mandates that FHFA conducts annual stress tests for the enterprises in order to assess their capacity to withstand severe economic downturns. FHFA advises each government sponsored institution through the tests to ensure uniformity and comparability of results.

These tests — which the FHFA noted are not a forecast, but rather a tool to evaluate the enough capital to weather serious financial shocks — are now in their ninth iteration.

The most recent scenario — which had a testing “horizon” spanning nine quarters from December 2022 to March 2025 — simulates what could happen when economic downturns trigger distressed real estate markets, alongside challenges in corporate debt markets

Stresses modeled for that period included a decline in inflation-adjusted U.S. gross domestic product by nearly 8.75%, with a trough the first quarter of 2024 before recovering. The tests also looked at what would happen if unemployment soared by 6.5 percentage points and peaked at 10% in the third quarter of 2024. They additionally modeled an annualized consumer price index rate of inflation falling from below 3.25% to roughly 1.25% in the third quarter of 2023 before gradually rising to 1.5% by the end of the period.

Commercial real estate and home price declines of 40% and 38%, respectively, were applied to the financials of the two enterprises, up from 29% and 35% in last year’s scenario.

Debt market developments the modeled scenario examined included the three-month Treasury rate reaching nearly zero by the third quarter of 2023. The model also had the 10-year yield falling nearly 3.25 percentage points by the second quarter of this year and exhibiting a gradual climb later in 2023 to around 1.5% by the end of the scenario’s timeline.

The stress test outcomes provided an insight into the ongoing room for improvement at both Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac, who reported to Congress they ended 2022 critically undercapitalized under a different measure linked to conservatorship goals.

Source: nationalmortgagenews.com

Apache is functioning normally

August 12, 2023 by Brett Tams

A 401(k) is a retirement savings plan sponsored by your employer. It allows for pre-and post-tax dollars to be removed directly from your paycheck and deposited into investment accounts. These accounts are typically managed through a third-party investment firm, such as Vanguard or Fidelity.

These types of accounts are common methods for saving for retirement. Get seven tips below for maximizing your 401(k) savings to help cover your future lifestyle.

Does Having a 401(k) Help Your Credit Score?

Before we dive into the nitty-gritty, let’s answer a quick question: does having a 401(k) help your credit score? Quick answer: no. Because your 401(k) isn’t being reported to any of the credit bureaus and isn’t on your credit report, it won’t negatively or positively impact your credit score.

Know How Much You Can Put into Your 401(k) in 2021

One of the best ways to maximize your 401(k) savings is by maxing out your annual deductions if you can. You can invest up to $19,500 in your 401(k) in 2021, plus an additional “catch-up” contribution of up to $6,500 if you’re age 50 or older. If you wish to invest more than this amount, you’ll have to consider other savings and post-tax options such as an IRA, mutual funds, CDs or other investment vehicles.

You’ll also want to understand what you can afford to put into your 401(k). Don’t invest in retirement at the expense of missing payments on your bills today, for example. That can hurt your credit and make it difficult to access financial tools in the future.

Maximize Employer Match

Many employers offer to match funds to encourage their employees to save for retirement. These employers offer up to a certain percentage of your salary as a match.

For example, you might put 10% of your paycheck into your 401(k) and your employer might offer matching funds up to 3%. That means you’ll receive the full 3% from your employer as an investment into your 401(k). However, if you’re only contributing 2% of your salary, your employer will match only that 2%. That’s why it’s important to know what your employer’s matching amount is so you can take full advantage of these additional retirement funds.

Know When You’re Vested

Vested means you own the plan or contributions to it. You’re immediately 100% vested in the contributions you make yourself. But it can take up to six years to become 100% vested in the contributions your employer makes.

When you become vested depends on the type of vesting your employer uses. With Graded Vesting, for example, you’re 20% more vested for each year of service you complete after the first. If you leave the company after three years, you’re only 40% vested. That means you only get to keep 40% of the employer’s contributions to your 401(k).

Knowing when you become fully vested can help you plan career moves to protect your retirement. If you only have one year to go, for example, you might wait to make a move depending on how much employer contribution you stand to gain.

Understand the Tax Advantages

The money you contribute to your 401(k) up to the IRS allowed amount each year is pre-tax. That means it’s taken out of your paycheck before taxes are calculated and withheld. Since taxes are only calculated on the lower amount, you pay fewer taxes than you would if you weren’t contributing to your 401(k).

Yes, you’ll eventually pay taxes on the money in your 401(k) when you withdraw it as income during retirement. But with the tax savings today, you can work toward even greater financial stability in the future by paying off debt or making other positive financial decisions with the money you might otherwise have paid in taxes.

Don’t Borrow or Withdraw the Money Early

It’s easy to see a 401(k) savings as a savings account. But that’s far from the truth. When you withdraw from your 401(k) early, you may pay a 10% penalty tax on top of any other taxes owed on the withdrawal.

In some cases, you can borrow from the plan via a loan that you pay back with interest. However, that means the money isn’t in your 401(k) investment account earning interest—usually at a higher rate than you’re paying back. So, even borrowing the money can negatively impact your future retirement savings.

Instead of relying on your 401(k) as an emergency savings account, consider budgeting to build an emergency savings instead. That way, you don’t have to dip into your retirement account if something comes up.

Plan Rollovers Carefully

Since 401(k) accounts are employer-sponsored, you can’t typically keep them as-is when you change employers. But you can plan a rollover that allows you to maintain your retirement funds and tax-deferred savings status.

If you’re moving to a new employment opportunity immediately, you might consider rolling an old 401(k) into one offered by your new employer. If not, you may be able to roll your savings into an IRA. Talk to both HR departments involved or a financial analyst about your options.

Have a 401(k) Investment Strategy

Don’t just set and forget your 401(k). Educate yourself about the markets so you can choose a strategy that’s right for you or work with a retirement planning analyst. It’s a good idea to know when you should switch from risky investments to more stable ones, for example. Risky investments when you’re younger may be okay because you have time to recover funds, but as you approach retirement, you may want to play it safe with what you have.

Having a strategy can help you weather issues and market forces, too. For example, the COVID-19 pandemic caused a lot of upheaval in markets. That did impact people’s 401(k) investments, and some people panicked with actions such as early withdrawals. Having a 401(k) strategy can help you hang on through market upheaval by understanding the big picture of your investment goals.

It’s Never Too Early to Start

There’s never a bad time to start learning more about and saving for retirement. In fact, if you have kids, you may want to start teaching them about retirement investing so they can get a head start on the process.

Whether you’re starting early or not, understanding what you need for retirement and how to maximize your savings now is a great place to begin.

Source: credit.com

Apache is functioning normally

August 12, 2023 by Brett Tams

[Editor’s note: This is an excerpt from the conclusions from the category product review series for the small landlord property management software sector. It answers two of the questions posed in the introduction. Originally published in the Geek Estate Mastermind.]

Are backend landlord tools and front-end rental search products in conflict with each other?

These two will continue converging into one another. Zumper and Zillow are starting from the search side, while Avail and Cozy are on the flip side. Airbnb is a different animal altogether. There are areas where goals conflict. For instance, first in and banned evictions are both loved by tenants but hated by landlords. That said, those are both regulation issues. One area where they align is that tenants want to search a comprehensive supply and landlords want to reach the largest possible renter audience (as long as they are qualified).

Will Cozy and Avail end up adding a search experience or syndicating to more partners?

I believe both will continue to focus on syndication, particularly Avail because it does not have the benefit of a large audience on its own (Zumper, Zillow, and Cozy all have access to leverage). Given Cozy operates inside the confines of CoStar, it is far more likely to be built out as a benefit to the company’s customers already using its broad search assets (especially following the acquisition of RentPath), rather than trying to win a syndication battle.

Source: geekestateblog.com

Purpose and Importance

EXPERT TIP:

How Passive Income Works

Table of Contents

Sources of Passive Income

Automation and Minimal Active Involvement

Tax Considerations

Active vs Passive Income

What is Active Income?

Passive Income Contrasted to Active Income

Comparison and Significance

Benefits/Advantages/Pros of Passive Income

Financial Independence

Flexibility and Freedom

Diversification of Income Streams

Potential Long-Term Growth

Drawbacks/Disadvantages/Challenges/Limitations/Cons of Passive Income

Potential Risk and Volatility

High Initial Investments or Skills Required

Regulatory and Compliance Challenges

Maintenance Requirements

Building a Passive Income Portfolio

Choosing the Right Passive Income Streams

Strategies and Planning

Monitoring and Adjustments

The Bottom Line – Passive Income Explained

FAQs – What is Passive Income?

About the Author

You Might Also Enjoy

What Are Real Estate Investment Trusts?

How Do REITs Work?

Are REITs a Good Investment?

REITs Are Ideal for Smaller Investors

Real Estate Industry Job Statistics

Types of Jobs Involved with REIT’s

Development Roles

Acquisition Roles

Property Management Roles

Asset Management Roles

Investor Relationship Roles

How Many Real Estate Investment Trust Jobs Are Being Created?

Conclusion

What Is an Investment Broker?

Pros and Cons of Using an Investment Broker

Pros of Using a Broker

Accessibility

Simplicity

Cons of Using a Broker

Fees and Commissions

Required Portfolio Minimums

Two Types of Brokerage Accounts

1. Full-service Brokerage Accounts

2. Discount Brokerages

Regulations for Investment Brokers

Different Types of Investment Accounts

Taxable Brokerage Account

Individual Retirement Account (IRA)

Alternatives to Investing With a Broker

Automated Investing

Buying Stocks and Fractional Shares Directly

Choosing Alternative Investments

Controlling Your Investments With SoFi

FAQ

What is the role of a stock broker?

How do brokers make money?

Why do people use brokers?

What Is Greek Life in College?

Upsides of Greek Life

Friends

Networking Opportunities

Possibly Cheaper Housing

Development of Leadership Skills

Volunteering Opportunities

Potential Downsides of Greek Life

Cost

Reputation

Time Commitment

Determining Whether or Not to Join Greek Life

The Takeaway

How to get paid to travel the world