Newly re-listed for $6,950,000, a meticulously renovated Texas mansion wows with its elegant interiors, generous proportions, and vibrant outdoor areas — all within a short drive from Dallas and Fort Worth.
Located in a prestigious gated community in Flower Mound, Texas, the massive 6-bedroom home has all the charm of a classic English manor. And it pairs its stately exterior with the finest modern finishes, including a Tesla Solar roof, smart home tech, and beautifully updated interiors.
For country music lovers, it comes with the added appeal of being owned by the family of beloved singer-songwriter Loretta Lynn, whose grandson currently owns the property. Ready for a quick tour?
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Set inside a prestigious gated community
Located in southwest Flower Mound on the north shore of Lake Grapevine, the home is part of a prestigious gated community called The Landing, which consists of about 60 homes built in the early 2000s.
Residents who live at The Landing on Lake Grapevine enjoy vibrant greenbelts, a private lake/pond, and equestrian facilities, as well as spacious homes built on lots spanning one to two acres of land.
The Texas mansion has 10,000 square feet of luxurious living space
The home we’re about to tour today sits on a two-acre lot and offers a generous 10,189 square feet of living space with 6 bedrooms, 7 bathrooms, and a host of communal and entertainment-ready spaces.
Listed for $6,950,000 with Damon and Megan Williamson of The Agency Dallas, the stately home also features quite a few smart home tech features, including a Tesla Solar Roof for clean energy and lower electricity bills.
The Texas mansion has ties to country music royalty
The house is being brought to market by Ethan Lyell, the grandson of country legend Loretta Lynn and great-nephew of Crystal Gayle. Lyell, a financial executive at a medical company, is one of 26 grandchildren of Loretta Lynn, a boundary-breaking country music icon who passed away in 2022.
The owners are selling as they’re retiring
Talking to Mansion Global, Lyell said he and his partner are parting ways with their impeccably renovated Texas residence to pursue their longtime plans of moving to Scotland when they retire and have already purchased a 50-acre oceanfront property there.
Recently transformed by its current owners
But before listing their two-acre suburban Texas abode, the couple embarked on a renovation for the ages.
The meticulously renovated home underwent an extensive transformation at the hands of the current owners, said to have cost as much as $5.5 million.
To include the finest finishes
The completely re-envisioned mansion showcases the highest-level finishes, fixtures, and textiles. A great amount of detail went into revamping the 1998-built home to its current elegant style, evident throughout thanks to beautifully honed surfaces, sleek hardware, and intricate light fixtures.
Inside the fully appointed kitchen
The stunning gourmet kitchen was redesigned to include two marble waterfall islands, inset furniture style cabinetry, a butler’s pantry, upscale Wolf appliances, and a Sub-Zero fridge.
The elegant primary bedroom
The Dallas-area home has an opulent owner’s retreat with a chic bath, two closets, two fireplaces, a coffee bar, and a separate den. Nearby we also find several living areas, a library, and a state-of-the-art gym.
With an ultra-stylish bath
A standout space is the polished primary bathroom, which features dual vanities, a freestanding tub, bright marble floors, gold accents and fixtures, and ample storage.
More bedrooms upstairs
Upstairs we find a few more bedrooms, a perfectly appointed game room, and a covered balcony that’s reminiscent of a treehouse, according to an older listing.
See also: Castle-like French estate near Dallas wows with its grand rooms, opulent interiors
Amenities & other rooms
Other notable areas of the house include additional living rooms, a charming library with floor-to-ceiling built-in bookshelves, and a fully equipped gym with a wall of windows that overlooks the backyard.
Modern additions
Behind its stately English manor exterior, the Texas home hides a wealth of modern conveniences and state-of-the-art tech, including a Control4 Smart Home system that controls lighting, audio, video, HVAC, gates, and security, among others.
The house also features a Tesla Solar Roof and six Carrier HVAC units for energy efficiency.
Surrounded by vibrant nature
The Flower Mound property sits on a large two-acre lot adorned with over 5,000 trees, shrubs, and perennials. There’s also a farm-to-table garden for fresh produce.
With plenty of outdoor amenities
With several seating areas and entertainment spaces, a pool and spa, and direct views of the serene Grapevine Lake, the outdoor areas are a private retreat fit for both relaxation and entertaining guests.
This isn’t the home’s first stint on the market
The Flower Mound, Texas mansion has recently been relisted with fresh representation and a $6.95 million asking price after previously being listed for $7.75 million earlier this year. Damon and Megan Williamson of The Agency Dallas now hold the listing.
More stories
Inside a palatial Grapevine Lake mansion with ties to Dallas gambler Herb ‘The Cat’ Noble
Six-time NBA All-Star Jermaine O’Neal’s former Southlake home resurfaces on the market for $12.4M
In Waxahachie, Texas, a massive $10M mansion aims to shatter Ellis County real estate records
FoundersCard, a membership community offering exclusive perks and discounts on travel, business expenses, entertainment and shopping, charges $595 per year for a standard membership. It’s marketed as a VIP pass for entrepreneurs and business executives. But to me, it felt less like a VIP pass and more like a coupon book that takes significant effort to use.
Although FoundersCard sounds like a credit card, it isn’t one. It’s a membership program that gives you elite status to certain airline and hotel brands and access to several discounts, plus business perks like members-only networking opportunities. Unlike the premium credit cards it competes with, you won’t earn a sign-up bonus or ongoing rewards with each purchase. And, notably, it doesn’t come with complimentary lounge access, a benefit travelers often use to justify the price of premium cards.
FoundersCard could be worthwhile for business owners wanting to take advantage of the business-specific benefits or loyalists of some of the participating airlines who spend upwards of $3,500 a year on flights. And if you can access membership for free (like I did) or at a discounted price, it might be a good deal. But at full price, it’s not a good value for most travelers.
What FoundersCard costs
FoundersCard has two membership levels:
Standard: $595 a year.
Elite: $995 per year.
It’s relatively easy to find promotions to test out the program before you pay. As of September 2024, you could receive a six-month free trial through the FoundersCard website. I received a free year of the Standard membership through my Clear membership.
Depending on how you sign up, you may have access to a different rate. For example, I was offered a renewal rate of $395 for the standard membership.
My experience
Once I filled out the application form for FoundersCard, I received an email stating that the membership board would look over my application and get back to me in one to three business days if I was approved. I received my approval email a little less than 24 hours later.
If you decide to accept a membership, you’ll need to provide your credit card information, but you won’t be charged until your trial period ends.
You can’t see the program’s full benefits until you’re approved. Once you are, you’re met with a dizzying amount of discounts, perks and elite status benefits. Here are some things you can expect:
Up to 16% off flights through United Airlines, Alaska Airlines, Virgin Atlantic, British Airways, Etihad Airways, Singapore Airlines, Qantas and Qatar Airways.
Elite status with Marriott Bonvoy (Platinum status), Hilton Honors (Gold status), IHG (Gold status), Omni (Champion status), Sonesta (Gold status), Virgin Atlantic (Silver status), Hertz, Avis and Sixt.
Discounts on select hotels.
Preferred pricing at sporting events, concerts and plays.
Discounts at select retail stores, like Adidas, Mr Porter and COS.
Preferred pricing on gym memberships through Equinox, Crunch Fitness, SoulCycle and CorePower Yoga.
Preferred pricing on electronics through Dell, Apple and Lenovo.
Discounts and credits on business services, like Amazon Web Services, Google Workspace, Stripe, Square and Hubspot.
Discounts on memberships and daily passes at select coworking spaces.
Up to 15% off select phone plans through AT&T.
Some of these benefits can be extremely valuable, especially if you have expenses that match what FoundersCard offers. Others are similar to deals you might get on $0-annual-fee credit cards.
🤓Nerdy Tip
Some of FoundersCard discounts will be automatically applied to your purchase once you click through the link on FoundersCard’s website. But you may need to provide a promo code to receive a discount, which you’ll find once you click on specific benefits.
What I like
As an avid credit card user, I was pleasantly surprised to find perks through FoundersCard that are harder to find on credit cards. Here are a couple of my favorites:
Up to 16% off United Airlines flights
United Airlines is rarely my first choice of airline, but since I live near a United hub, it’s often the best option. So that potential 16% discount on flights would be significant for me. It’s important to note, though, that you’ll only get this discount once you pay for a Standard membership. The trial period I currently have doesn’t come with this offer.
If you pay full price for the Standard membership, you’d need to spend over $3,700 on United flights each year to break even, which is more than most people will spend. But even if it doesn’t cover the entire cost of a membership, it can cover a significant chunk for travelers who often fly United.
Keep in mind the math doesn’t apply to every participating airline with a discount. The discount varies by airline, so you might have to spend even more to break even if you’re a devoted Alaska Airlines flyer (which only has a 5% discount) or British Airways flyer (which only has an up to 10% discount).
Cheaper stays at smaller hotel brands
Don’t get me wrong: I love my hotel rewards. But sometimes it’s nice to stay at a boutique hotel that isn’t connected to a large hotel chain. FoundersCard gives you deep discounts at over 500 hotels, many of them smaller chains. You can often find 20% discounts, and several hotels even waive resort fees.
Up to 15% off Hyatt stays through Hyatt Leverage
FoundersCard gives you automatic Hyatt Leverage, a program designed for small businesses that gives participants up to 15% off qualifying stays. Anyone can sign up for Hyatt Leverage, but if you (or your employees) don’t stay at least 50 nights per year, you could get removed from the program. With FoundersCard, there’s no such requirement. Because of Hyatt’s small footprint, I don’t stay at the brand often. But a 15% discount definitely makes me seek out Hyatt hotels when it’s available.
What I don’t like
Airport lounge access isn’t free
FoundersCard will get you into No1, Plaza Premium and The Club lounges for up to 20% cheaper than the general public pays. That’s not nothing. But considering the price of a membership that touts its premium travel benefits, I’d expect to sip cocktails in a free airport lounge.
Many credit cards — some with significantly lower annual fees — get you into airport lounges at no additional cost. For example, the $395-annual-fee Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card comes with access to Capital One lounges, Priority Pass lounges and Plaza Premium lounges. Even the United℠ Explorer Card, which has an annual fee of $0 intro for the first year, then $95, comes with two free day passes to United Clubs.
Low levels of elite status
FoundersCard offers automatic elite status for several hotels and rental car companies. This is a nice perk, but many hotel credit cards also offer an equivalent or higher level of elite status for a much lower price. For example: My $99-annual-fee IHG One Rewards Premier Credit Card gives me Platinum Elite status for IHG. FoundersCard only comes with Gold.
Lack of transparency
FoundersCard doesn’t provide any meaningful information to prospective members. Sure, it’s relatively easy to get a free trial, but it would be nice to know what you’re signing up for — before you have to provide your credit card information.
Even with my free membership, I can’t view key information that would influence my decision to renew my membership or upgrade to the Elite level. Up to 16% off United flights is a major perk. But I can’t see what the “up to” entails without paying. If I could guarantee 16% off all United flights, it would definitely influence my decision to renew my membership. But what if this rate only applies to certain routes or certain classes? The actual benefit could be much less valuable than I’d hope for.
Inconsistent entertainment discounts
FoundersCard sometimes offers event tickets at a discounted rate. While a great perk, it wouldn’t be a selling point for me.
In September 2024, I looked at tickets to a Texas Rangers baseball game, several broadway shows and a Taylor Swift concert. The Rangers tickets were roughly half the price through FoundersCard. The Broadway shows were the same price or even more than booking through Broadway.com. And Taylor Swift tickets were selling for a whopping $2,000 more than you could book on SeatGeek.
For people who can justify the cost of FoundersCard, potential savings on entertainment is a nice addition. But for the price, I’d expect more guaranteed savings on this spending.
Calculating your potential value is complicated
Unlike many premium credit cards, FoundersCard doesn’t come with statement credits to help you cover the cost of the annual fee. You could luck out and score a great deal on a hotel room or a couple of first class flights to cover the annual fee. But if not, you’ll likely need to add up small, individual savings throughout the year and hope the value outweighs the cost.
Even the $695 annual fee on The Platinum Card® from American Express is easier for me to justify (see rates and fees). The Platinum Card® from American Express comes with complimentary lounge access, which gets me into Centurion Lounges, Priority Pass lounges and Plaza Premium lounges, and it offers the same level of Hilton elite status (enrollment required). Terms apply.
On top of that, it’s easy to calculate the value of the other benefits. I recoup $640 each year with expenses I’m already going to make by taking advantage of three main statement credits:
$200 airline incidentals fee credit.
$200 Uber credit.
$240 entertainment credit.
Terms apply.
That leaves just $55 to make up throughout the year — significantly less than the $395 (or $995) I’d need to justify with FoundersCard.
Is FoundersCard worth it?
If you can find a free trial, it’s worth opening an account to try out the benefits. Business owners will probably get the most use out of the membership, but most travelers would probably be better off applying for a credit card with rewards and perks that match their lifestyle.
To view rates and fees of The Platinum Card® from American Express, see this page.
Though the Halepuna Waikiki by Halekulani hotel sits in the heart of tourist-packed Waikiki on the island of Oahu, it’s quiet and relaxed. The 284-room boutique hotel offers a refreshing alternative to the sprawling resorts that dominate the area.
But the real standout about this boutique oasis? No resort fees.
I visited Halepuna Waikiki for two nights, as part of a longer trip to Oahu. The resort initially caught my attention for its lack of resort fees. I grew even more interested when I learned about how much it included. Notably, it offered complimentary access to multiple museums that I had long been yearning to visit given my family’s Hawaiian heritage.
Though nightly rates typically run over $300 a night (slightly higher than Oahu’s average nightly hotel room rate of $272, based on May 2024 data from the Hawai‘i Tourism Authority), the free museum access alone went a long way in justifying it. Without that complimentary access, my travel companion and I otherwise would have spent more than $150 combined on museum tickets.
That made the decision easy — and it didn’t hurt that the hotel was quite fancy, too.
About the Halepuna Waikiki
Halepuna Waikiki by Halekulani is the sister property of Halekulani, On the Beach at Waikiki —one of the oldest (and most famous) Waikiki beach hotels. As for the Halepuna Waikiki, this property is relatively new. It opened in October 2019, but closed for more than a year during the COVID-19 pandemic.
The hotel reopened in April 2021 with several awards and titles to its name. That includes a AAA Four Diamond Award, which is a prestigious award recognizing hotels for their upscale style, amenities and service.
Features include a rooftop infinity pool with ocean views, plus a sleek lobby designed with custom light fixtures, vaulted ceilings and floor-to-ceiling windows that offer up a light and airy aesthetic.
The Halepuna Waikiki location
The Halepuna Waikiki offers the best of both worlds in that it has ocean views without sitting directly on the beach. That means you can still get a great view without the exorbitant beachfront price tag.
The hotel sits just one block from the beach on one side, and one block from Kalakaua Avenue — Honolulu’s main shopping street — on the other side. Since the hotel sits tucked away on a side street, it tends to be a little quieter than most other Waikiki hotels, and it usually won’t have as many non-hotel guests wandering through the lobby.
Halepuna parking is available, but it’s not cheap. Whether you opt for valet or self-parking, you’ll pay $50 per day. Given the hefty parking fee coupled with the hotel’s prime, walkable location, you might not actually want a rental car in Honolulu anyway.
To get there from the airport, it’s usually best to take a taxi or rideshare. Ubers generally cost about $30 to $40 between Honolulu’s Daniel K. Inouye International Airport and the hotel.
Halepuna Waikiki rooms
Halepuna Waikiki by Halekulani has 284 guest rooms and four suites. The best views are from the oceanview rooms on higher floors (floors 19 through 23), as they’re not obstructed by the buildings in front.
These Deluxe Ocean View rooms tend to cost about 15% more than the Ocean View rooms with obstructed views and about 30% more than the standard Waikiki view rooms.
The rooms have modern amenities, like a bedside and dress charging station with ports for USB and HDMI, plus a Bluetooth connection. Shades are remote controlled, and bathrooms have nice features like a lighted vanity and magnifying mirror.
The rooms also have some nods to the local culture. For example, each room has a unique photo taken by a local photographer, and the bath amenities use locally-sourced Hawaiian oils and extracts.
All rooms also have a refrigerator and coffee maker. The complimentary refillable water bottles make for a great souvenir.
Key amenities at the Halepuna Waikiki
The rooftop infinity pool on the hotel’s eighth floor is remarkable.
The area also has a hot tub, plenty of lounge chairs and cabanas available for rent. Conveniently, complimentary sunscreen is available for hotel guests.
A rooftop garden and grass turf space adjacent to the pool is a nice place to sunbathe outside of the pool deck.
The eighth floor also offers a gym, which offers fairly standard equipment like cardio machines and dumbbells.
One unique feature caters to the workcation crowd — the business center and hospitality suite. This room offers work desks where hotel guests can post up with no reservations required. If you do need to reserve a private space, there’s also a separate, bookable meeting room that accommodates up to 24 people.
One underrated amenity is a coin-operated laundromat, which is also located on the eighth floor.
In addition to the on-property amenities, the Halepuna offers some free events and tickets. For example, guests can participate in complimentary, daily surf demonstrations held on the beach in front of Halekulani.
Halepuna guests also receive complimentary admission at the biggest museums in the state, including the Bishop Museum and Honolulu Museum of Art. Given that general adult admission costs $34 to the Bishop Museum and $25 to the Honolulu Museum of Art, that alone could go a long way in justifying the hotel room rate.
Halepuna Waikiki restaurants
The Halepuna has two restaurants:
Halekulani Bakery: This morning spot serves coffee and pastries, and it’s most famous for its Halekulani Coconut Cake.
Umi By Vikram Garg: This seafood-centric restaurant open for breakfast and dinner is located in the hotel lobby. Each dish uses high-end and unique ingredients, such as fried rice made with seafood, bacon and koshihikari rice. Even the pancakes are elevated; the “Mai Tai Pancake” is served with caramelized pineapple and a rum-coconut essence.
Halekulani restaurants
Dining options are slim at Halepuna, but that’s where Halekulani, its sister property across the street, shines. The hotel has about a half-dozen different places to eat, and Halepuna guests can charge purchases made at Halekulani back to their room.
La Mer: The award-winning La Mer serves French cuisine with ‘flavors of Hawaii.’
Orchids: Though it’s open all day, Orchids is a great spot for Waikiki brunch in particular, as well as Waikiki afternoon tea given its ocean views and diverse menu that embraces both Asian and American cuisine.
House Without A Key: Then there’s one of the most famous restaurants in Waikiki: House Without A Key. Though it’s not fancy, it’s still an elevated spot for lunch, dinner or drinks. Don’t plan on rushing through a meal here, as the draw is enjoying the Hawaiian music and hula performances held in front of the restaurant’s century-old kiawe tree.
It’s all outdoor seating, though there’s an expansive, covered area offering an open-air, indoor-like place to eat.
The food is just as good as the vibes. There’s all sorts of burgers, fish and flatbreads. The highlight, though, is found on the sunset cocktail menu: kabayaki fries. With this dish, fries are doused in the famous Japanese sauce, and then topped with furikake, garlic, onions and kewpie mayonnaise. Don’t miss it.
Who is the Halekulani Waikiki best for?
The Halepuna Waikiki by Halekulani offers the perfect combination of modern yet luxurious touches, a tucked-away atmosphere plus a prime Waikiki location – all at a competitive price, especially considering the absence of resort fees.
The complimentary cultural access and exclusive privileges at the Halekulani elevate the experience even further. For travelers seeking a luxurious and intimate escape in Waikiki, the Halepuna Waikiki is one of the best hotels in Waikiki.
Booking the Halekulani Waikiki
There are a few ways to pay for your stay, so compare prices before booking. Booking options include:
Direct through Halepuna: When you book directly on Halepuna’s website, you can take advantage of exclusive offers. These vary by time of year, but often include deals like free breakfast for two.
I Prefer Hotel Rewards: The free-to-join hotel loyalty program doesn’t have a huge presence in the U.S., but it serves hundreds of hotels and resorts worldwide. Like most hotel loyalty programs, members can rack up points to exchange for free nights. Plus, members have access to exclusive rates, early check-in and space-available room upgrades.
The hotel also usually appears on American Express Travel, where it’s part of the issuer’s Fine Hotels + Resorts® program. Cardholders who pay with their The Platinum Card® from American Express can get up to $200 in statement credits per calendar year on prepaid bookings through Fine Hotels + Resorts® or The Hotel Collection bookings through American Express Travel. (The Hotel Collection requires a minimum two-night stay.) Though that card has an annual fee of $695 (see rates and fees), the statement credits can go a decently long way in justifying it. Terms apply.
Plus, AmEx cardholders who book through FHR are eligible for space-available room upgrades, complimentary breakfast, a $100 property credit and late checkout. Terms apply.
To view rates and fees of The Platinum Card® from American Express, see this page.
You likely already know it can be wise to save money every month. Whatever your income or age, putting money aside for the future can help you maintain financial stability and achieve your goals.
But how much of your paycheck should you save each month? Financial professionals often recommend putting at least 20% of your monthly take-home income into savings for future financial goals, such as buying a home and funding your retirement.
Exactly how much you should save each month, however, will depend on your income, current living expenses and financial obligations, as well as your goals.
Here are some guidelines to help you figure out how much of your income you may want to set aside each month, plus some simple ways to jump start (or build) your savings.
Key Points
• Financial advisors often suggest saving at least 20% of your monthly take-home income for future goals.
• A common budgeting technique is using the 50/30/20 rule: putting 50% of income toward essentials, 30% toward non-essentials, and 20% toward savings.
• One easy way to increase savings is to automate recurring transfers from checking to savings accounts.
• Funneling windfalls into savings and using roundups – a tool that autosaves the difference between a purchase price and the nearest dollar — can also boost savings.
• One of the most effective ways to save money is to determine your near-term and long-term financial goals and to track spending and progress in a budget.
Knowing What You’re Saving For
It can be difficult to know how much money you should save each month without having a sense of what you are saving for. Setting a few financial goals can also help motivate you to save, rather than spend all of your income.
There are some savings goals that can make sense for everyone. If you don’t already have at least three to six-months worth of living expenses stashed in an emergency fund, for example, that can be a good place to start. By this measure, many Americans don’t have enough emergency savings, according to SoFi’s April 2024 Banking survey of 500 U.S. adults.
Amount in emergency savings
People who have saved that amount
Less than $500
45%
$500 to $1,000
16%
$1,000 to $5,000
19%
$5,000 to $10,000
9%
More $10,000
10%
Source: SoFi’s April 2024 Banking Survey of 500 U.S. adults
Without a solid contingency fund, any financial set-back -– such as a job layoff, large medical bill, or costly home or car repair — can throw you off balance and cause you to rely on high interest credit cards.
Many people will also want to save for retirement. At the very least, savers may want to take advantage of company matches offered in their workplace retirement plan by contributing the maximum amount the company matches.
After emergency savings and retirement, goals may start to look different from person to person. One person may want to save up for a down payment on a home, another may want to save up to start a business, and yet another may be interested in college savings. Fifty-two percent of the respondents to SoFi’s survey said they are using their savings accounts to save for a specific goal.
Goals People Save For in a Savings Account
Short-term and long-term goals
40%
Short-term goals like a vacation or holiday spending
35%
Long-term goals like a child’s college education or a house
26%
Source: SoFi’s April 2024 Banking Survey of 500 U.S. adults
How Much to Save Each Month
A rule of thumb that is sometimes used in personal financial planning is a spending/saving breakdown of 50/30/20. Using this guideline, you would spend 50% of your take-home income on essentials (including minimum payments towards debts), 30% on nonessential (or “fun”) spending, and 20% on savings goals, including debt payments beyond the minimum.
To use the 50/30/20 method to determine how much you should save, you can simply calculate 20% of your monthly after-tax pay. For example, if you earn $3,000 each month after taxes, $600 would go towards savings or other short term financial goals.
You may want to keep in mind that your 20% savings goal can include the money you’re saving for retirement. You can determine how much you’re putting toward retirement each month by looking at your pay stub or electronic payment record. If your employer is automatically depositing money into your 401(k), you may be able to put less into savings each month.
While the 50/30/20 can be a helpful guideline, how much you should — and can afford — to save each month will ultimately depend on your individual circumstances, such as your current income, monthly expenses, and future goals. If the cost of living is high in your area, for example, you may not be able to swing 20% savings each month.
On the other hand, if you make a significant amount more than you need to live on each month, you may want to put away more than 20%, especially if you’re working towards a large short-term savings goal, such as buying a home in the next couple of years.
Recommended: Cost of Living by State Comparison
Where Should You Put Your Savings?
The best account for building savings will depend on what you are saving for.
If you are saving up for retirement, for example, you’ll likely want to use a designated retirement account, like a 401(k) or IRA, since they allow you to contribute pre-tax dollars (which can help lower your annual tax bill).
You may want to keep in mind, however, that there are annual contribution limits to retirement funds.
For an emergency fund or other short-term savings goals (within three to five years), you may want to open a separate savings account, such as a high-yield savings account, money market account, or a checking and savings account. These savings vehicles typically offer more interest than a traditional savings account, yet allow you to easily access your money when you need it.
Easy Ways to Boost Savings
Below are some strategies that can help make it easier to start — and build — your monthly savings.
Automating Savings
One great way to make sure you stick to a money-saving plan is to automate the process. You may want to set up a recurring transfer from your checking into your savings account on the same day each month, perhaps the day after your paycheck clears. Even setting aside just a small amount of money each month now can, little by little, add up to a significant sum in the future.
Putting Spare Change to Work
There are apps that will automatically round-up any amount paid on a credit or debit card and then put that little bit of extra money into savings accounts or even invest it. This “pocket change” can add up over time.
Using Windfalls Wisely
If a lump sum of cash, such as a bonus or monetary gift, comes your way, you may want to consider funneling all or part of it right into savings.
Or, if you get a percentage raise on your salary, you might want to boost your automatic monthly transfer from your checking account to your savings account by the same percentage.
Reviewing Your Budget
If you feel like your budget is too tight to save anything at the end of the month, you may want to review your monthly and habitual expenses. You can do this by combing through your checking and credit card statements and receipts for the past few months. Or, you may want to actually track your spending for a month or two.
You can then come up with a list of spending categories and determine how much you are spending on average for each.
There are online tools that can help make this process easier — in fact, 23% of people use budgeting tools offered by their bank, SoFi’s survey found. And of the 20% of respondents who have used AI to help manage their finances, 31% have used automated budgeting suggestions.
Once you can see exactly where your money is going each month, you may find places where you can fairly easily cut back, such as getting rid of streaming subscriptions you rarely watch, quitting the gym and working out at home, or cooking more and getting take-out less often.
The Takeaway
The right amount to save each month will be unique to you and includes factors such as your financial goals, how much you earn, and how much you spend each month on essential expenses.
One of the most important keys to saving is consistency. No matter how much of your income you choose to set aside each month, depositing small amounts regularly can build to a large sum over time to achieve your goals.
Interested in opening an online bank account? When you sign up for a SoFi Checking and Savings account with direct deposit, you’ll get a competitive annual percentage yield (APY), pay zero account fees, and enjoy an array of rewards, such as access to the Allpoint Network of 55,000+ fee-free ATMs globally. Qualifying accounts can even access their paycheck up to two days early.
Better banking is here with SoFi, NerdWallet’s 2024 winner for Best Checking Account Overall.* Enjoy up to 4.30% APY on SoFi Checking and Savings.
The SoFi Bank Debit Mastercard® is issued by SoFi Bank, N.A., pursuant to license by Mastercard International Incorporated and can be used everywhere Mastercard is accepted. Mastercard is a registered trademark, and the circles design is a trademark of Mastercard International Incorporated.
SoFi members with direct deposit activity can earn 4.30% annual percentage yield (APY) on savings balances (including Vaults) and 0.50% APY on checking balances. Direct Deposit means a recurring deposit of regular income to an account holder’s SoFi Checking or Savings account, including payroll, pension, or government benefit payments (e.g., Social Security), made by the account holder’s employer, payroll or benefits provider or government agency (“Direct Deposit”) via the Automated Clearing House (“ACH”) Network during a 30-day Evaluation Period (as defined below). Deposits that are not from an employer or government agency, including but not limited to check deposits, peer-to-peer transfers (e.g., transfers from PayPal, Venmo, etc.), merchant transactions (e.g., transactions from PayPal, Stripe, Square, etc.), and bank ACH funds transfers and wire transfers from external accounts, or are non-recurring in nature (e.g., IRS tax refunds), do not constitute Direct Deposit activity. There is no minimum Direct Deposit amount required to qualify for the stated interest rate. SoFi members with direct deposit are eligible for other SoFi Plus benefits.
As an alternative to direct deposit, SoFi members with Qualifying Deposits can earn 4.30% APY on savings balances (including Vaults) and 0.50% APY on checking balances. Qualifying Deposits means one or more deposits that, in the aggregate, are equal to or greater than $5,000 to an account holder’s SoFi Checking and Savings account (“Qualifying Deposits”) during a 30-day Evaluation Period (as defined below). Qualifying Deposits only include those deposits from the following eligible sources: (i) ACH transfers, (ii) inbound wire transfers, (iii) peer-to-peer transfers (i.e., external transfers from PayPal, Venmo, etc. and internal peer-to-peer transfers from a SoFi account belonging to another account holder), (iv) check deposits, (v) instant funding to your SoFi Bank Debit Card, (vi) push payments to your SoFi Bank Debit Card, and (vii) cash deposits. Qualifying Deposits do not include: (i) transfers between an account holder’s Checking account, Savings account, and/or Vaults; (ii) interest payments; (iii) bonuses issued by SoFi Bank or its affiliates; or (iv) credits, reversals, and refunds from SoFi Bank, N.A. (“SoFi Bank”) or from a merchant. SoFi members with Qualifying Deposits are not eligible for other SoFi Plus benefits.
SoFi Bank shall, in its sole discretion, assess each account holder’s Direct Deposit activity and Qualifying Deposits throughout each 30-Day Evaluation Period to determine the applicability of rates and may request additional documentation for verification of eligibility. The 30-Day Evaluation Period refers to the “Start Date” and “End Date” set forth on the APY Details page of your account, which comprises a period of 30 calendar days (the “30-Day Evaluation Period”). You can access the APY Details page at any time by logging into your SoFi account on the SoFi mobile app or SoFi website and selecting either (i) Banking > Savings > Current APY or (ii) Banking > Checking > Current APY. Upon receiving a Direct Deposit or $5,000 in Qualifying Deposits to your account, you will begin earning 4.30% APY on savings balances (including Vaults) and 0.50% on checking balances on or before the following calendar day. You will continue to earn these APYs for (i) the remainder of the current 30-Day Evaluation Period and through the end of the subsequent 30-Day Evaluation Period and (ii) any following 30-day Evaluation Periods during which SoFi Bank determines you to have Direct Deposit activity or $5,000 in Qualifying Deposits without interruption.
SoFi Bank reserves the right to grant a grace period to account holders following a change in Direct Deposit activity or Qualifying Deposits activity before adjusting rates. If SoFi Bank grants you a grace period, the dates for such grace period will be reflected on the APY Details page of your account. If SoFi Bank determines that you did not have Direct Deposit activity or $5,000 in Qualifying Deposits during the current 30-day Evaluation Period and, if applicable, the grace period, then you will begin earning the rates earned by account holders without either Direct Deposit or Qualifying Deposits until you have Direct Deposit activity or $5,000 in Qualifying Deposits in a subsequent 30-Day Evaluation Period. For the avoidance of doubt, an account holder with both Direct Deposit activity and Qualifying Deposits will earn the rates earned by account holders with Direct Deposit.
Members without either Direct Deposit activity or Qualifying Deposits, as determined by SoFi Bank, during a 30-Day Evaluation Period and, if applicable, the grace period, will earn 1.20% APY on savings balances (including Vaults) and 0.50% APY on checking balances.
Interest rates are variable and subject to change at any time. These rates are current as of 10/8/2024. There is no minimum balance requirement. Additional information can be found at http://www.sofi.com/legal/banking-rate-sheet.
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Pittsburgh, PA is a city with a fascinating industrial history and a breathtaking skyline, but it’s also full of unique experiences just waiting to be explored. Beyond the usual tourist spots, this lively city has a wealth of activities that highlight its eclectic culture and creative energy. Whether you’re wandering through hidden art installations, checking out quirky museums, or enjoying delicious bites at local favorites, the Steel City invites visitors and locals alike to dive into its dynamic neighborhoods.
Whether you’re looking to rent a house in Pittsburgh, looking for an apartment in the area, or buying your first home in the city, read on to uncover some of the most unique things to do in Pittsburgh, ensuring your time here is anything but ordinary.
1. Go on a Mac Miller self-guided tour
Pay tribute to the legendary Pittsburgh-born rapper Mac Miller by touring some of the locations that inspired many of the musician’s lyrics and albums. Mac Miller’s legacy continues to thrive through his music and the many tributes and landmarks around Pittsburgh that honor his influence.
Blue Slide Park
Located in Pittsburgh’s Squirrel Hill neighborhood, Blue Slide Park is infamous as the inspiration for Miller’s independently distributed debut album of the same name. The album is laced with reflections of Miller’s experience as a youth in Pittsburgh, and Blue Slide Park serves as place of tribute for the late rapper, reflecting themes of nostalgia and home – plus, it actually has a blue slide.
Frick Park Market
The title of a popular song from Miller’s first album, Frick Park Market is where the rapper worked once upon a time in Pittsburgh. The neighborhood deli is still around today, and the owners have taken great care to keep the energy of Miller alive in the shop. Stop by for a story while enjoying delicious fresh sandwiches for a fan experience you won’t forget.
Mac Miller murals
Serving as vibrant tributes to the beloved rapper, you can find notable murals memorializing the artist throughout the city. One of the most famous murals resides along the wall of ID Labs, the recording studio Mac Miller often recorded at. You can find other murals celebrating the life of Miller in the Lawrenceville neighborhood, inside the Monroeville Mall, and in East Liberty.
2. Quench your thirst at some of the best breweries in the country
“Pittsburgh has some of the best beer in the country – so much so that it is difficult to find a bad local craft beer,” confides Eric Truscott, co-founder of Acrospire Brewing Co, a much-loved Pittsburgh establishment. “They all have their own specialty and personality, but are welcoming and excited to show off their best brews.”
Eric’s hot tip for getting the most out of your Pittsburgh brewery experience? “Try something new and take a recommendation from the beertender. It may open you up to a whole new world of flavor. Beertenders are also a great resource for finding things to do in the ‘Burgh that are off the beaten path.”
If you’re still having a hard time deciding on which spots to try in the area, make sure you add these unique Pittsburgh breweries to your list.
Pittsburgh Brewing
“Exploring all that Pittsburgh has to offer wouldn’t be complete without a visit to the hometown brewery, Pittsburgh Brewing,” shares Rachel Semelbaur of the historical venue.
The brewery has been in the community for 160 years, and its new location on the Allegheny River boasts state-of-the-art brewing facilities amongst the bones of an old factory. Exposed steel beams and old red brick nod to the Iron City’s industrial history.
To top it off, the grounds double as an event venue, so you can grab a cold Iron City Beer and see your favorite artist perform in the fresh air. Make sure you catch a tour of the facility to really get a feel for the brewing process and glean more into Pittsburgh’s infamous distilling history.
Velum Fermentation
If you’re looking for a unique brewery experience in Pittsburgh, look no further than Velum Fermentation. More than just one of the newest breweries on the block, Velum Fermentation is also a bustling community hub. Their Southside Pils boasts 100% Pennsylvania-grown ingredients, and is just the icing on the cake. While you enjoy your beer, immerse yourself in the adult playground that is the Velum taproom.
Indoor/outdoor seating frame pickleball courts, event spaces, lawn games, and a pinball arcade, making Velum the perfect neighborhood brewery spot for your midweek brewski. Grab some friends and a beer to make the most of all the activities Velum has for you to enjoy.
The Church Brew Works
“And on the eighth day, man created beer,” exclaims the coasters at this unique Pittsburgh spot for beer. Housed inside the glorious walls of a former church resides The Church Brew Works, an award-winning restaurant and microbrewery. With remnants of church history scattered throughout, you likely haven’t enjoyed a cold one in a place quite like this. Nestled amongst stained glass and worn wooden pews, enjoy a holy experience of wood-fired pizza, an eclectic food menu, and fresh craft beers, brewed right on the altar.
3. Stay active with fitness with a twist
While Pittsburgh is known for its industrial history, intricate architecture, and vibrant cultural scene, there’s even more to do in the city than wander amongst the bridges, nature, and food and beverage scene. Try these unique ways to stay active while living in Pittsburgh.
FireWALL Dance
Why not spice up your time in Pittsburgh with a drop-in dance class? At FireWALL Dance Theater, you can choose from a wide variety of dance styles as a fun way to move your body. From contemporary to ballet to jazz to hip hop, even twerking, there’s something for everyone. You can even get a group together for a Sip N Get Sexy night, where you and your pals can knock back a bev to a themed dance class.
“Nestled in the vibrant heart of the city, our inclusive studio fosters a warm and supportive atmosphere that keeps you coming back for more,” describes FireWALL Dance Studio manager Hanna Rubin. “Whether you’re a local resident or just visiting for the weekend, you’ll be embraced with open arms and encouraged to express yourself through movement.”
ASCEND Climbing
If you’re looking for an active challenge, add ASCEND Climbing to your list. This indoor climbing gym offers routes for all skill levels, whether you’re a seasoned climber or just starting out. With towering walls, bouldering areas, and friendly staff ready to help you out, climbing at ASCEND is a fun way to move your body and experience local community events. Plus, it’s a great place to meet other climbers and maybe even make some new friends. Bring your own gear or rent some on-site, and after, grab a beer from Velum Fermentation, located beneath the Southside location.
Level Up Studios
Unleash your creativity through movement and community through this hip-hop inspired studio in Pittsburgh. “Level Up Studios offers a range of dance and creative arts experiences,” shares the Level Up team. “Our space also doubles as a community hub, where local artists, musicians, and cultural enthusiasts come together to learn, grow, and express themselves.”
From K-Pop to hip-hop to even Bollywood dancing, Level Up brings a diverse range of dance options. If you can’t catch a class, make sure to check out one of the frequent community events that feature live music, art exhibitions, dancing, and their annual Level Up Block Party to get creatively inspired.
4. Explore some of the coolest neighborhoods in Pittsburgh
Another unique thing to do in Pittsburgh is explore the many neighborhoods. Pittsburgh’s neighborhoods each possess a distinct personality that reflects the city’s rich history and cultural diversity. From the hustle and bustle of the Strip District to the independent vibe of Lawrenceville, here are three of Pittsburgh’s hot spots you should be exploring.
The Strip
“Once the center for the region’s wholesale produce industry, this now restored historic landmark offers a curated collection of retail, fitness, entertainment, and restaurant options,” shares Megan Warmouth, representing the Terminal in the Strip District neighborhood. “Start your day with a workout class or brush up on your golf game then treat yourself to a facial before doing some shopping. Afterwards, stop by one of The Terminal’s ten eateries for a taste of the city’s best culinary offerings.”
“As a new resident of Pittsburgh, exploring the historic Strip District neighborhood is a must, with wholesale ethnic grocers, gourmet food shops, and delicious restaurants,” agrees Gina Vensel, owner of Easy Street Promotions. “Explore the independent businesses located at The Pennsylvania Market, and new shops and restaurants at The Strip District Terminal including City Winery and Pitt Shack. The Strip has something for everyone.”
Despite all of the amazing places to explore in this iconic neighborhood, what are Vensel’s can’t-miss spots in The Strip? “Get a taste of Italy at La Prima Espresso Co. and Colangelo’s Pizza,” she shares. “Catch elders sitting al fresco playing cards and eating cannolis. The Strip exudes the vibrant mix of Pittsburgh‘s culture — a city blended with rich history and hip new development.”
Bloomfield
Initially settled by Italian immigrants, Bloomfield is Pittsburgh’s version of Little Italy. “A visit to Pittsburgh isn’t complete without exploring the Bloomfield neighborhood,” says Juan from P*Town Bar, a premiere destination bar and community hub for the LGBTQ+ community. “Dive into the rich blend of traditional and contemporary Italian cuisine and the vibrant bar scene that the city has to offer.”
Make sure you come hungry – in Bloomfield, you can shop at authentic Italian grocers, sample delicious Italian cuisine, and explore a wide variety of eclectic spots that have popped up over the years. Grab a bite at D’s Six Pax & Dogz, an award-winning hot dog eatery in the area, or browse for your next favorite book with a beer in hand at the independently-owned White Whale Bookstore. Catch a drag show, karaoke night, or themed party at the welcoming P*Town Bar, or just spend the day wandering the streets of Bloomfield, enjoying the variety of local shops and businesses in the area.
Lawrenceville
If you’re after Pittsburgh’s hippest art district, look no further than Lawrenceville. Old-world charm meets modern flair in a mish-mash of historic row houses interspersed with new urban dwellings. Home to artists, entrepreneurs, and one-of-a-kind businesses, Lawrenceville encapsulates a neighborhood feel with its emphasis on supporting small and local.
Stop by the many galleries, dining options, and boutiques, but make sure you don’t miss this Pittsburgh hidden gem in Lawrenceville: The Confidant Speakeasy. Only open Friday and Saturday nights, the tropical-themed bar is found down an alleyway known as Eden Way off Butler Street. You know you’re there when you see the green light illuminating the doorway. Small and intimate, The Confidant is the perfect date night or after-dinner spot for a clever cocktail or rotating pint.
5. Try wine tasting at these unique Pittsburgh vineyards
Pittsburgh hasn’t always had a flourishing wine scene – it’s only in recent years that the Steel City has begun to grow its appreciation for both local and international wines. Vineyards local to the western Pennsylvania region give you the chance to indulge in homegrown vino, while increasing urban wineries are focusing on intimate environments and global offerings. Here are two unique Pittsburgh wineries that give you the chance to try the local harvest and wines from afar.
Deer Creek Winery
If you’re on the hunt for unique experiences in Pittsburgh, Deer Creek Winery is a gem that deserves a spot on your itinerary. Nestled in the scenic countryside, this winery offers a relaxing escape from the city’s hustle and bustle. With a diverse selection of wines crafted from locally sourced grapes, you’ll find everything from crisp whites to rich reds to adventurous options that are released every few weeks.
“There are a lot of fun wineries to explore while in the Pittsburgh area, but only one that brings out different flavors every couple of weeks; at Deer Creek Winery, we call these our FUNTIME wines,” raves Rhonda Brooks, owner of Deer Creek Winery.
Brooks continues, “If you go a little further from the city, you can visit the historic winery and B&B at the Watson Estate in Uniontown, PA where you can not only taste wine, but have lunch or dinner, host a party or wedding or even just spend the night in the 1800s farmhouse.”
The inviting tasting room of the winery features a cozy atmosphere, perfect for sipping and savoring each pour. Plus, the outdoor patio provides stunning views of the surrounding landscape, ideal for a leisurely afternoon. Keep an eye out for special events, like live music and seasonal festivals, or extend your experience by treating yourself to a room at the scenic inn on site.
Refucilo Winery
At Refucilo Winery, you have the unique chance to experience high-quality Argentinian wine right in Pittsburgh. The Northside hidden gem is Dr. Juan Lora and his wife Cecilia Lora’s passion project, inspired by days in the Dominican Republic sailing on his uncle’s boat, Refucilo. Longtime home winemakers, the couple eventually decided to purchase a vineyard in the Uco Valley of Argentina to bring their passion to their current home of Pittsburgh.
“The Malbec and Torrontes grapes are meticulously harvested by hand, transformed into award-winning wines, and transported to the intimate tasting room where specialists pair the wine with tapas,” confirms Christine Whispell of Refucilo Winery. “We suggest finishing the night with a unique malbec sorbet. But whether you’re looking for herbal, light and refreshing; plum, velvet and chocolate; or rich, ripe, tobacco, and spice, all of the wines at Refucilio are fermented dry and will leave you wanting more.”
6. Check out the unique Pittsburgh art scene
Another unique thing to do in Pittsburgh is explore the diverse art scene. From iconic establishments like the Andy Warhol museum to lesser-known finds amongst the city, Pittsburgh offers something for everyone. Tours, murals, neighborhood art crawls, and festivals are just the tip of the emerging Pittsburgh art scene.
The Mattress Factory
Despite its name, the Mattress Factory now resembles nothing of the sort; rather, the old factory building houses both permanent and rotating contemporary art over three city blocks. Featuring works by both established and emerging artists, the museum focuses on site-specific installations that engage with the unique spaces of the museum. You won’t find walls of paintings here. Instead, you’ll find yourself immersed in sound baths, reflecting in rooms of mirrors, and wandering decrepit grounds, thoroughly expanding the bounds of avant-garde.
Monthly art crawls
Otherwise known as “Unblurred,” wander the streets of the Arts and Commercial District in Garfield the first Friday of every month to explore art galleries, pop-up shops, live music, and more. Unblurred grew out of the Penn Avenue Arts Initiative, which was an effort to revitalize the street with art galleries and studios. Though it’s evolved over the years, Unblurred has been around since 1998, one of the longest-running art initiatives in the state. The summer months are the best time to experience the event, where you can wander the lively streets, duck in and out of galleries, and partake in the Garfield Night Market, which runs adjacent to Unblurred and features a variety of local vendors and artists.
Yearly events
Be sure to make room in your schedule for these unique art experiences in Pittsburgh. From live music, glowing exhibits, and interactive hobby classes, here are a few must-try events that only happen once a year.
Art All Night
Art All Night is a 22-hour grassroots art festival, featuring live performances, films, community-submitted works of art, and lots of food. Hosted throughout different buildings in Pittsburgh April each year, you can expect anything from drum circles to fiery tubas to provocative sculptures; everything and everyone is represented in this one-day arts festival. Submissions range from drawings by children to professional artists, an art show that is truly for the people, by the people.
Creative Arts Festival
Don’t just admire the local craft, but learn a new hobby if you happen to be in town during Pittsburgh’s yearly Creative Arts Festival, which is often hosted each year at the end of August. Focusing on textile experiences such as knitting, crocheting, jewelry making, and many others, the Creative Arts Festival celebrates the long-standing art of handmade crafts.
“Be sure to add the Pittsburgh Creative Arts Festival to your agenda!” raves Laura Regan, a longtime participant of the festival and now heads the initiative. “We are a 3-day festival with a vibrant marketplace and 70 classes in many creative arts: knitting, crochet, sewing/quilting, polymer clay, weaving and much more. We look forward to getting your creative juices flowing while having lots of fun.”
7. Visit an array of weird local spots
These unique local spots in Pittsburgh embody funky, making them a must-do if you’re after a one-of-a-kind, unusual experience in the city.
The Zenith
Vegetarian cuisine meets art gallery meets antique shop at this eclectic Pittsburgh restaurant. At the Zenith, shop vintage wares while enjoying an affordable meal in the city that focuses on seasonal and locally sourced ingredients, and stay for the variety of events the space hosts, from music and poetry to art shows.
Bayernhof Museum
Located inside a historic mansion, the Bayernhof Museum showcases the elaborate music collection of its former long-term resident, Charles B. Brown III. These aren’t just any instruments, however; the collection consists of a large amount of functional, self-playing instruments. Besides housing historic musical machines, the mansion itself features ancient stone walls and a feature wall of windows, providing sweeping views of the river below. Interspersed throughout are numerous wet bars and secret passageways that you’ll encounter throughout your time in the museum, reflecting the eccentric nature of its former owner.
Trundle Manor
A self-proclaimed tourist trap, Trundle Manor is probably one of the most unique places to visit in Pittsburgh. The manor is actually the residence of artist couple Anton and Rachel Miriello, who acquired the home over 15 years ago and have since filled the space with their private collection of oddities. Inside, you’ll find all things creepy and ghoulish, from vintage taxidermy to smiling knick-knacks, to a singing tumor in a jar (yep, you heard that right).
8. Unique things to do in Pittsburgh for all ages
From educational experiences to outdoor adventures to local attractions, Pittsburgh has plenty to explore that caters to a variety of interests and ensures that everyone can find something unique to do in the area.
Get out on the trails
If you’re looking for a unique summer activity in Pittsburgh that gets the kids immersed in nature, why not try mountain biking?
“Trail Adventures offers exciting and engaging youth mountain biking clinics and summer camps for interests and abilities from mild to wild,” shares the outdoor adventure founder Cody Pletz. Classes take kids through the trails of North Park and Hartwood Acres, all while developing necessary skills like trail etiquette and bike technique in the great outdoors.
“Our goal is to spark passion for a wonderful sport that will keep kids exploring, active, and healthy for life,” promises Pletz.
Shop for a new book – for free
Give the kids an experience they won’t forget by taking them to B is for Books, a free children’s bookshop. Located right beside Pittsburgh’s waterfront shopping complex, the Ready Ready Pittsburgh initiative opened the bookstore in early 2024 as a way to give high quality reading materials back to the community.
“Every child ages birth to 18 that comes through our door can choose three free books to take home and keep – we aren’t a library.” says Mark Sepe from Reading Ready Pittsburgh. “There are no income requirements, and you can come as many times as you please. The bookstore also offers helpful resources, a reading nook, and plenty of activities to enjoy.”
A weekend itinerary for Pittsburgh with kids
“As a mother of two, these are some of our favorite things to do in Pittsburgh,” reveals Emily Papa, a publisher for the event calendar Macaroni KID.
Papa recommends: “Spend a day at Kennywood Amusement Park, enjoy an afternoon on one of our three rivers (whether it be kayaking or on a Gateway Clipper Cruise), explore our incredible local parks (Mingo Creek Park is a favorite), grab a slice of pizza from Fiori’s Pizza, and sweeten the day with a $5 box of candy from Grandpa Joe’s. There are always so many events happening, so we always check the Macaroni KID event calendar to help find fun!”
9. One day in the Steel City
If you just have one day in Pittsburgh, why not see the best views and make the most of your time sampling the local cuisine? For a jam-packed day full of nature, make sure you check out these Pittsburgh bucket list spots.
“When you’re in Pittsburgh, our two must-do experiences are the National Aviary and the Phipps Conservatory and Botanical Gardens, where you can spend a whole day wandering the gardens,” suggest Scott and Melissa Barronton of the travel blog Sunshine Travelers. “Since these spots are both indoors, you don’t have to worry about the weather.”
Must-visit food spots for your day in Pittsburgh come highly recommended from the Sunshine Travelers as well. “Get lunch at The Porch at Schenley, located between the Aviary and Gardens. After, ride the Duquesne Incline and have dinner at Monterey Bay Fish Grotto, but be sure to get reservations ahead of time. For a treat, don’t miss brunch or cocktails at The Speckled Egg in the beautifully renovated Union Trust Building.”
Unique things to do in Pittsburgh, PA: Final thoughts
Pittsburgh is brimming with unique experiences that go beyond the typical itinerary, offering an eclectic mix of art, adventure, places to explore, and is also a great place to live. Whether you’re a longtime resident or a first-time visitor, there’s always something new to discover in this historic city. From hidden art gems to Pittsburgh’s vibrant neighborhoods, the Steel City invites you to explore and connect with its local spirit.
Welcome to NerdWallet’s Smart Money podcast, where we answer your real-world money questions. In this episode:
Learn what it truly means to work with a certified financial planner (CFP) and how personalized advice can help you set and achieve your financial goals.
What should you know before working with a certified financial planner? What strategies can help you navigate societal pressures and make personal financial choices? Host Sean Pyles talks to Magda Doemeny, a certified financial planner with NerdWallet Advisors, to discuss the power of personalized financial advice and behavioral budgeting to help you understand how to align your financial goals with your personal values. They begin with a discussion of the role of certified financial planners, including the fiduciary responsibility of CFPs, the specialized knowledge they bring to areas like estate planning, and common strategies for cutting through societal noise to focus on personal priorities. They also discuss the innovative concept of behavioral budgeting, which involves creating sustainable financial habits like limiting dining out.
NerdWallet Advisory LLC, dba NerdWallet Advisors, is an SEC-registered investment advisor and wholly owned subsidiary of NerdWallet Inc. The advice provided in this episode of Smart Money was for illustrative purposes only and not intended as financial or investment advice specific to your personal facts or circumstances.
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Episode transcript
This transcript was generated from podcast audio by an AI tool.
Sean Pyles:
Welcome to NerdWallet’s Smart Money Podcast, where you send us your money questions and we answer them with the help of our genius Nerds. I’m Sean Pyles. This episode, we’re going deep into financial planning, what it actually means to work with a financial planner, how working with a planner can improve your finances and why we sometimes have such a hard time changing our financial behaviors.
Over the last few months, we’ve shared a series of conversations between our listeners, a certified financial planner from the NerdWallet Advisors platform and me. In these conversations, our advisor, Magda Doemeny, has given a range of advice to our listeners. Today, we’re going to hear Magda’s philosophy around financial planning, who might benefit from working with a CFP and how people can better their finances on their own. Magda, welcome back to Smart Money.
Magda Doemeny:
Thanks, Sean.
Sean Pyles:
We’ve talked about this before, but give us that refresher. What is NerdWallet Advisors and what is your role there?
Magda Doemeny:
I’m an advisor on the NerdWallet Advisors team and we offer affordable financial planning memberships, which gives you access to a certified financial planner like myself for a low monthly cost. What we’ll do is we’ll go ahead and take a look at your financial situation and come up with a financial plan and give you some bite-sized action items for you to try and accomplish your goals. That will give you unlimited access to myself or your advisor, and we’ll check in periodically, but ultimately you can access us by scheduling a call or sending us a message at any time.
Sean Pyles:
All right, so let’s start with financial planning 101. What does it mean to be a certified financial planner? What is the financial planning process like? Give our listeners the intel.
Magda Doemeny:
The financial planning process is diverse, just like everyone’s financial situation is diverse. And so ultimately, the high-level process starts with understanding somebody’s current financial picture and their goals. You can have two people who have the exact same financial makeup and different goals and they would have wildly different advice given to them, because there are some people who want to spend the last penny on the day they die. And there are some people who want to accumulate so much wealth, they can pass it on for generations.
And so the advice you might give to somebody would look very different from that perspective. But really, what you’re trying to do is figure out what somebody is trying to accomplish with their money, whether it’s pay down debt, purchase something large like a home or a car, or make sure they can retire at a certain age, and then help them come up with the right ways to accomplish that via savings vehicles or investment vehicles or certain types of accounts that might work better for their situation.
Sean Pyles:
What sort of information do you need to take in from a client before you can really understand what they’re working with financially and how you might be able to help them?
Magda Doemeny:
The most basic part that you want to take in is their current financial picture. Probably pretty straightforward, but all of their assets. So how much money they have today and what types of accounts it’s in, how much money they’re making, if anything, and any debts that they may have, whether it’s credit card or mortgage. We want to get that full picture, but we also want to know their personal situation. We want to know if they’re married, if they have children, if they’re divorced, do they have grandchildren? And then we also want to know again, those goals related to those types of things.
So it’s a pretty robust introductory process when you’re going through this, whether it’s for the first time or just with somebody new because it’s important that we understand your full picture. And the other important aspect of this I find with many people, especially those who maybe have debt, is really understanding what money means to them and how they think about money, because that may impact how we suggest doing certain types of financial planning.
Sean Pyles:
A lot of quantitative hard numbers like what’s your budget look like? Are you saving for retirement? And then the qualitative stuff, what do you feel about money? What do you want from your money?
Magda Doemeny:
Exactly. A perfect example is that for an emergency fund, traditionally on paper we would say if you have a dual-income household, which means there are two people in your household that are earning an income, you only need three months worth of expenses in a high-yield savings account for an emergency. Why? Because the likelihood of both of you losing your job at the exact same time is fairly unlikely. And so that three months of expenses plus the secondary salary should be enough to get you through getting a job again.
However, you can sit down next to somebody who says they’re very anxious about money, they’re worried they’re going to run out of it, and they are just hoarding as much cash as they possibly can. Now while I don’t want them to have that much cash and I might tell them that we should do something with it, I might suggest they have six months worth of expenses because I know that getting three months would just cause too much anxiety and that’s not worth it.
Sean Pyles:
Okay. Now let’s talk a bit about what it means to be a certified financial planner. We talk about CFPs a lot in the personal finance space. I’ve been going through the education process to get my CFP certification, so I know a lot about this, but some people may wonder what’s the big deal? So Magda, what’s the big deal?
Magda Doemeny:
The biggest deal is that we have an obligation as fiduciaries to do right by the client.
Sean Pyles:
Fiduciary, meaning you put their interest first.
Magda Doemeny:
That’s exactly right. So we’re not intended to sell them a product or give them something that isn’t in their best interest. So that’s really important. The secondary is that we’ve gone through the training to understand the intricacies of the financial system.
The value you can find here is you can get a broad, a CFP that has a broad range of information and you can get folks who specialize in certain areas that might be niche. That can be really helpful because you know that that person has spent a good amount of their career deep diving into a specific area like maybe estate planning or something like that.
Sean Pyles:
And CFPs can also connect you with people in the state attorney to help you draft those documents. They’re really your one-stop shop for other things in the financial world, getting your estate plan set up, finding insurance that you need, et cetera.
Magda Doemeny:
Exactly. It’s another thing on the list that’s important to us is telling you what we don’t know. So it’s important that we always say, “This is outside of my scope of work, but happy to point you in the right direction of where you could get that piece of your financial picture taken care of.”
Sean Pyles:
So thinking back over your 10-plus years of being a financial planner, what do you think makes the difference between someone who is able to really benefit from your relationship, what a financial planner brings to their life, and someone who doesn’t really have a successful relationship with a financial planner, you or someone else?
Magda Doemeny:
I do think to start, it’s really important that for better or worse you jive with your financial planner. You need to make sure, kind of like a therapist, that when they’re speaking, you’re listening and they need to know that. This isn’t all about dollars and cents. Like we talked about, part of it is emotional. Money can bring out emotions in people, so you want to make sure that you are able to communicate well with your financial planner. Outside of that, I think the other really important aspect of being successful is making sure that you can commit to the process that is set forth.
A lot of financial planners are creating a plan in some capacity. The plans can look different, some can be long, some can be short and one might work better for you than the other. But when they set forth the plan, the intention is to try to take those actions and then check in regularly, whether it’s every three to six months or so to make sure that the plan can get adjusted, because life happens and things change. You may change jobs or get a pay raise or get married or what have you. And all those things impact how you might think about your finances.
Sean Pyles:
I think people may underestimate the amount of work that they have to do when it comes to working with a financial planner. They might want a planner to do all of these things for them. But I, much like therapy, see the need to actually enact uncomfortable change sometimes to get what you want out of your finances. And that can be hard for people to grapple with. But I do want to talk about some through lines in the conversations that we had with our listeners over the past few weeks. One thing that stood out to me really is how similar financial planning is to therapy.
As a somewhat broad generalization, I’ve noticed two main camps of people who go to therapy. I say as someone who’s been to therapy myself, there are clients who want a therapist just to give them permission to do what they want and justify their emotions and behaviors. And there are maybe also in the other camp clients who want to be directed and given guidance around how to change. I did see that in our conversations with listeners. Some people wanted guidance, others just wanted your stamp of approval. Is that common in financial planning relationships?
Magda Doemeny:
I do think it’s common depending on their situations. The idea of stamp of approval, those tend to be folks who are maybe underspenders and they’re sometimes so knowledgeable about their finances that it’s a hindrance to their personal life. And so they may want you to say, “Hey, loosen up a little bit. It’s okay. You can afford that thing.”
Sean Pyles:
Right. It’s like our conversation with Sean who had over a million dollars in assets and was afraid to really use it to enjoy his life.
Magda Doemeny:
Exactly, exactly. Then there are other folks who come looking for guidance, whether or not they actually, they might actually be looking for you to tell them it’s okay. And the hardest part, but also the most gratifying part of our job is being able to, in this gentlest way possible, tell them that they do have to stop doing that thing or maybe they can’t accomplish the goal the way they thought they wanted to accomplish the goal and we do need to actually change the behaviors. And so whether or not those folks are always open to coming in wanting a stamp of approval and not getting it is one thing.
But I do think making sure that you can take somebody who wants a stamp of approval and change them into somebody who can take action is really empowering and a really fun part of the job. But there are definitely people who come in here in this planning process ready to make a change. They just don’t know what to do. And that’s amazing, because their eyes are open. They’re looking for not the answers, because we’re not going to give you the answers, but looking for the structure to be able to start to make good or different financial decisions.
Sean Pyles:
They’re open to change, which is a huge thing.
Magda Doemeny:
Sean Pyles:
What you were just saying reminds me of our listener, Jim from Milwaukee, who is interested in cashing out his retirement account to move to San Diego. He seemed to want that stamp of approval from you, and you and I were both kind of turned off by the idea about him cashing out his retirement. And so you did have to do a really careful pivot of what his financial goals were and say, “Hey, how can you make some more money where you are now and fund that move in a less risky way?” So that’s an interesting part of financial planning too. It’s about exploring alternative ways to get to where they want to go. Because there are so many options available to people and they may not really even realize that.
Magda Doemeny:
I do think a lot of it is about being creative and meeting them where they are. You do have to recognize maybe where your living situation is could impact their ability to execute on something that we’re suggesting. I might say, “Hey, your rent is too high.” And they may say, “Yep, that’s as cheap as it’s going to get here.” And so you have to find a way to, is there something else we can do to have the same result, which is increase your overall savings.
Sean Pyles:
Another common theme in our conversations was the idea of external pressure that people feel about the things that they quote should be doing with their money. One listener knew that she was spending too much on discretionary purchases, but felt like it was what she should be doing to have a certain lifestyle, even though it was causing trouble for her financially.
And she could fully acknowledge that, which was so fascinating to see. How can people cut through the noise and the shoulds and find out what they really want from their money and make sure that it’s a goal that they personally truly care about, not what other people expect of them?
Magda Doemeny:
It’s hard. I think in the environment that we have today with easy ways to spend your money and seeing easy ways to know how much everyone else has and/or not has, but how they spend their money doesn’t mean they have it, I do think that is a very big challenge for a lot of people. But I think giving yourself the space a couple of times a year, maybe every six months, you could call it new and you can call it over summer. It’s something you can work with a financial planner on to sit down and really ask those questions. What are you trying to accomplish?
Because I’ve noticed when folks come in here, they have these goals, but when you sit down and you ask them, does that thing that you bought or that thing that you said you wanted, is it more important than your retirement? Most of the time, they say no. Right? And so working with somebody to help you put your goals into context can be really helpful.
But I do think it’s hard to do that alone, but you should spend every six months or at least every year thinking about, “Okay, what’s changed in my life? What are the things that I’m trying to accomplish? Do I want to get married now? Has that changed from the year before? Do I want to buy a house?” I have folks all the time say they’ve been wanting to buy a house for years, and all of a sudden they said, “You know what? I don’t want to do that anymore.”
And that’s great. If that’s the decision that you’ve come to, we can adjust your finances to move, shift your money to do something different, travel more expensively now. So I think it’s tough, but-
Sean Pyles:
I think having the dialogue with a financial planner can be really helpful, especially in the beginning because I try to keep a running almost meta-narrative of my financial decisions where I ask myself, why did I do that? Why did I buy whatever? Why did I want to go on this specific trip? Why am I saving so much for retirement when all my friends are like the world’s burning? Why bother? And getting really clear on what it means for me to be making these decisions helps me feel more confident that I’m doing the right thing for myself. But it’s hard to get to that place of having that sort of higher level conversation without some guidance, at least initially.
Magda Doemeny:
Yeah, and I do think it’s really important to not spend too much of your time comparing yourself directly to the people, whether you know them or not, because what you don’t know is what’s behind the curtain. Somebody could be living a very lavish lifestyle and be in debt up to their eyebrows, and you would have no idea. That’s not how it looks, but that could be the reality.
And so I think that’s why it’s so important to talk to somebody about it, because we can pull you out of that world and look at your world and where your income is and where your expenses are, and ask you what lifestyle you truly want to lead and figure out how we can bridge the gap between all of those things.
Sean Pyles:
All right. Well, I want to go a little bit deeper into your personal financial philosophy. From our conversations, I know that you’re really into what you call behavioral budgeting. Can you describe what that is for us?
Magda Doemeny:
Behavioral budgeting is something that’s done in conjunction with exact budgeting or traditional budgeting, as you may have it. Traditional budgeting is putting down all your expenses with the dollar amounts and setting a goal that is dollar-based. You only want to spend $500 a month eating out. That type of budgeting is really important because you do need to know the dollars in and dollars out. But I have found that sometimes if you don’t incorporate behavioral budgeting in addition to that, you tend to fall off after a period of time, because it can be a lot of work to pay attention to every dollar that’s coming in and out every month for the rest of your life. Even just saying that out loud seems daunting.
So instead, I found that behavioral budgeting can help in that you can actually create a behavior in your life that could be more permanent and acts as a budgeting tool. That would be something like you only eat out twice a week. I’m not putting a restriction on the dollar amount that you can purchase when you eat out, but I’m taking somebody whose lifestyle was three or four or who knows, and asking them to check every week that they pick just two days. It’s a short timeline.
It’s usually a lot of the behavioral goals are weekly, so you can do it in your head. You don’t need a tool, you don’t need to write it down. You can say by Sunday or Monday, I did it or I didn’t do it. And it will naturally bring down how much you’re spending, and in theory, can be permanent. You get in the habit in order to execute on dining out only twice a week. It’s not just, “Oh, I can do that.” You actually have to learn how to plan. So every Sunday, you have to figure out what you want to eat for the week.
You have to make your grocery list, you have to go to the store, and maybe you have to do some meal prep, because if you don’t do those things, you will end up eating out more than twice a week. And so eventually, it becomes a habit. Sundays are my, do not bother me from three to five P.M. because I’m executing on my plan for the week.
Sean Pyles:
I think habit is such a key word here. You have to build up the routine of doing certain things in a certain way and being more intentional about it, especially in the beginning.
Magda Doemeny:
Absolutely.
Sean Pyles:
Okay, so Magda, as you know, despite many people’s best efforts, folks can really struggle to change their financial behaviors, like overspending or not setting aside money for retirement. What do you think it really takes to change financial behaviors?
Magda Doemeny:
I do think it does take a level of, I don’t know if discipline is the right word, motivation might be it. It’s not too dissimilar from other types of goals that I think many people can relate to, whether it’s health and nutrition goals. You’re thinking you’re not healthy, so you commit to finally going to the doctor for them to decide what is it? Or you buy a gym membership or you start working with a nutritionist.
All of those are the first steps in the process, but if you’re not able to actually be determined enough to learn and execute on the step-by-step of that process, which is for the gym, you got to come every three days and you got to do these workouts or the doctor’s going to say, “Okay, well, we need you to start eating these types of foods and we need you to adjust this,” and you have to actually execute on that. Your finances are the same thing, right? Coming to a financial planner helps be the person that tells you, here are some of the next steps you need to take.
But you do have to come into it with a mentality that it might not be easy, right? It’s not you’re going to come in here and somebody’s going to say, “Just do these two things. They’re all ten-minute exercises and voila, you’re a millionaire.” It’s not like that. It’s a slowly, but surely, you’re learning more about your finances, you are learning some techniques of things you can do differently, and you’re checking in somewhat regularly to make sure that we’re still on track for those things. And so I do think the fix it quickly is just not the mentality that you can have to be successful.
Sean Pyles:
Yeah. Have realistic expectations about what it means to change.
Magda Doemeny:
Sean Pyles:
And why you’re changing.
Magda Doemeny:
Sean Pyles:
Okay. Well, I want to talk about who might not need to work with a financial planner, because as we know, CFPs typically outside of platforms like NerdWallet Advisors can be quite expensive to work with. So who do you think is fine doing it on their own, maybe working with a financial coach or someone else?
Magda Doemeny:
I do think that it will depend on what they’re looking for. CFPs, in particular, do specialize in looking at very specific aspects of financial planning. And so I do think that folks who might be in very severe debt could benefit from working with a financial coach first. That could be somebody who is helping them just really hone in on their budget and potentially looking at some alternatives to their debt management, like credit counseling or something like that.
But I do think that it’s all, in general, access to a financial planner is usually cost prohibitive, which is what’s so great about NerdWallet Advisors is that it’s a low monthly fee, and so it does give you access to, gives financial planning access to the masses really. And I do think that there are some folks who might want something a little bit more robust on investing their assets and so that, you would want to have an investment manager look at your assets.
Sean Pyles:
Okay. Well, Magda, if you could give one piece of advice, and only one, to our listeners, what would that be?
Magda Doemeny:
I think it would be to give yourself a break from the exhaustion of trying to be perfect as it relates to your finances, but also not to give up on finding a path to success for yourself. Whatever that first step might be, whether that’s reaching out to a financial planner or at minimum, getting your expenses in order so you can really look at it in the mirror and figure out where your spending is, I think you should take that next step.
Sean Pyles:
Give yourself some grace, do the work.
Magda Doemeny:
Sean Pyles:
Great. Well, Magda Doemeny from NerdWallet Advisors, thank you so much for talking with me.
Magda Doemeny:
Thank you.
Sean Pyles:
And that’s all we have for this episode. Remember, listener, that we are here to answer your money questions. So turn to the Nerds and call or text us your questions at 901-730-6373. That’s 901-730-N-E-R-D. You can also email us at [email protected]. Also, visit nerdwallet.com/podcast for more info on this episode. And remember that you can follow the show on your favorite podcast app, including Spotify, Apple Podcasts, and iHeartRadio, to automatically download new episodes.
Here’s our brief disclaimer. I am not a financial or investment advisor. This nerdy info is provided for general educational and entertainment purposes and may not apply to your specific circumstances.
This episode was produced by Tess Vigeland and myself. A special thanks to Magda Doemeny, Georgia McIntyre, and Emily Canedo. And a big thank you to NerdWallet’s editors for all their help. And with that said, until next time, turn to the Nerds.
NerdWallet Advisory LLC, dba NerdWallet Advisors, is an SEC-registered investment advisor, and wholly owned subsidiary of NerdWallet, Inc. The advice provided in this episode of Smart Money was for illustrative purposes only and not intended as financial or investment advice specific to your personal facts or circumstances.
Looking to head down south for football, cowboy culture, and great barbecue? How about Dallas-Fort Worth Metroplex? These cities are named two of Texas’ best places to live with their relatively affordable housing and rental prices.
Searching for an apartment can be tough, so we’ve put together a list of some of the best apartments in Dallas-Fort Worth to make it easier. Once you’ve determined how much rent you can afford and set your budget, you’re sure to find a place you’ll love, no matter what your criteria are.
Living in Dallas is a perfect blend of big-city excitement and Southern hospitality. You’ll find great job opportunities, affordable living, and endless things to do—whether you’re into art, food, sports, or exploring the outdoors.
Gateway Oak Cliff
Neighborhood: Oak Cliff/Bishop Arts District Walk Score: 88 Floor Plans: Studio, 1, 2, and 3 bedrooms Square Footage: 602 – 1,274 sq ft Starting Price: $1,093
The Gateway Oak Cliff is ideally located in the vibrant Oak Cliff neighborhood of Dallas, TX, less than a mile from downtown and within walking distance of the lively Bishop Arts District. With a high Walk Score of 88, this community offers unbeatable walkability to the trendy Bishop Arts District and is just minutes from downtown.
Choose from a variety of floor plans, including studio, 1-bedroom, 2-bedroom, and 3-bedroom apartments, all available at competitive rates ranging from $1,000 to $2,750. Each home boasts desirable features such as a balcony, patio, or deck, and access to top-tier amenities like a fitness center, swimming pool, controlled access, and more. Plus, enjoy the convenience of air conditioning, dishwashers, and some paid utilities. Perfectly located near shopping, dining, and entertainment, The Gateway Oak Cliff is your next home in one of Dallas’ most dynamic neighborhoods.
The Lofts at Mockingbird Station
Neighborhood: Downtown Dallas Walk Score: 88 Floor Plans: Studio, 1, 2 bedrooms, and penthouses Square Footage: 612 – 2,649 sq ft Starting Price: $1,829
The Lofts at Mockingbird Station offers a unique living experience in a historic downtown building. Whether you’re looking for a studio, 1-, or 2-bedroom apartment—or even a spacious penthouse—each home offers incredible views of downtown Dallas and SMU. With high ceilings, modern kitchens featuring granite or quartz countertops, brick backsplashes, and stainless steel appliances, these lofts are designed with both comfort and style in mind.
Prices start at $1,766, and you’ll enjoy great perks like a rooftop pool with amazing skyline views, a 24-hour fitness center, and easy access to the DART Light Rail and Central Expressway 75. Plus, you’re close to everything—Uptown, downtown, shopping, dining, entertainment, and even the Katy Trail for outdoor adventures. The Lofts at Mockingbird Station are more than just a place to live—they’re a place to feel at home.
Armstrong at Knox
Neighborhood: Knox Henderson Walk Score: 94 Floor Plans: 1 and 2 bedrooms Square Footage: 750 – 1,565 sq ft Starting Price: $2,629
Located in the desirable Knox-Henderson area, The Armstrong at Knox offers contemporary, boutique-style 1- and 2-bedroom apartments. The units are designed with modern elegance, featuring stunning quartz countertops, sleek wood flooring, private balconies, and spacious walk-in closets for that extra touch of luxury. As for amenities, this complex has a fully equipped fitness center, a resort-style pool, a community fire pit, and an outdoor kitchen for grilling. Plus with a Walk Score of 94, you’re just steps away from amazing shopping, dining, and the Katy Trail, so everything you need is right at your doorstep.
Easton
Neighborhood: Vickery Place Walk Score: 80 Floor Plans: Studio, 1, and 2 bedrooms Square Footage: 501 – 1,193 sq ft Starting Price: $940
Located in Vickery Place right off Interstate 75, with a Walk Score of 80, Easton is just minutes away from Dallas’s top shopping, dining, and entertainment options. Choose from a variety of floor plans, including studios, 1-bedroom, and 2-bedroom apartments, with prices starting at $1,269. Some units have personal balconies or patios, vaulted ceilings, walk-in closets, and natural gas fireplaces. The community amenities are equally inviting, with charming courtyards with barbecue grills, a well-equipped fitness center, a community center, and a resort-style pool.
Vue Live Oak
Neighborhood: Deep Ellum Walk Score: 88 Floor Plans: Studio, 1, and 2 bedrooms Square Footage: 488 – 1,389 sq ft Starting Price: $1,108
Located in the desirable Deep Ellum neighborhood, Vue Live Oak boasts a fantastic Walk Score of 88, putting amazing restaurants, shopping, and entertainment just steps away. You can choose from studio, 1-, and 2-bedroom floor plans, with prices starting at $1,100. Your new home will feature vaulted ceilings, a private balcony or patio, modern kitchen cabinets, granite countertops, washer and dryer connections, and spacious walk-in closets. The complex also offers an incredible community area complete with outdoor grills and a resort-style pool and lounge area, perfect for relaxing or entertaining friends.
Living in Fort Worth offers a laid-back vibe with a strong sense of community and Texas pride. Known for its rich Western heritage, the city combines small-town charm with modern amenities. With great job opportunities, affordable housing, and a thriving arts and entertainment scene, it’s a great place to call home.
The Palo
Neighborhood: Storia Walk Score: 1 Floor Plans: Studio, 1, 2, and 3 bedrooms Square Footage: 750 – 1,451 sq ft Starting Price: $1,400
The Palo is a newly built, boutique community that combines rustic charm with modern elegance. Here, you’ll find a range of options from 1- to 3-bedroom apartments, as well as 3-bedroom townhomes in the Storia neighborhood of Fort Worth, TX. Each home includes thoughtful touches like a chef-inspired kitchen with stainless-steel appliances, a private yard or patio, and an in-home washer and dryer. Conveniently located off I-35W, The Palo puts you close to great shopping and dining, plus attractions such as Texas Motor Speedway, the Fort Worth Stockyards, and The Golf Club at Champions Circle.
Madera at Leftbank
Neighborhood: West 7th Street Walk Score: 60 Floor Plans: Studio, 1, 2, 3, and 4 bedrooms Square Footage: 395 – 4,899 sq ft Starting Price: $1,269
Experience contemporary interiors and thoughtful amenities in Fort Worth at the Madera at Leftbank. This complex offers studio to 4-bedroom apartments with elegant quartz countertops, wood-grain flooring, and spacious layout. As for amenities, you’ll have beautiful patios, a modern fitness center, and a luxurious swimming pool and sundeck. With a Walk Score of 60, The Madera is also at a prime location. Living here you’ll find yourself nearby Trinity Trails, cultural spots in West 7th, and a variety of dining options. With a blend of world-class sports and outdoor activities, you may have just found your next home.
Hillwood – Paloma Village
Neighborhood: North Fort Worth Walk Score: 30 Floor Plans: 1, 2, and 3 bedrooms Square Footage: 556 – 1,972 sq ft Starting Price: $1,085
Located in North Fort Worth, Paloma Village is Hillwood’s latest community of modern apartments at Alliance Town Center, offering modern 1- to 3-bedroom units designed for comfortable living. The spacious floor plans and top-notch amenities make every day feel like a retreat, including a dog park for your furry friends and a barbecue area perfect for gathering with friends. Plus, with shopping and dining just steps away, you’ll have everything you need right at your fingertips, making Paloma Village the perfect place to call home.
Living in Garland, TX, offers a friendly suburban atmosphere just minutes from Dallas with diverse communities, plenty of parks, and affordable housing,
Rye Bunker Hill
Neighborhood: Garland Walk Score: 4 Floor Plans: 1, 2, and 3 bedrooms Square Footage: 578 – 1,436 sq ft Starting Price: $1,455
At Rye Bunker Hill, you’ll find a new level of apartment living that feels both modern and comfortable. They offer a range of one, two, and three-bedroom homes designed with stylish touches like hardwood-style flooring in the main areas, soft carpet in the bedrooms, and spacious closets with built-in shoe racks. The community also provides a variety of amenities to make life easier and more enjoyable like the valet trash service, coffee bar, private work pods, pickleball courts, and resort-style saltwater pool with sun shelves and a spacious poolside cabana.
Grand Prairie, TX, combines suburban charm with a convenient location between Dallas and Fort Worth. The city offers a variety of parks, shopping centers, and entertainment options, there’s always something to enjoy.
The Duvall
Neighborhood: Grand Prairie Walk Score: 23 Floor Plans: Studio, 1, and 2 bedrooms Square Footage: 626 – 1,419 sq ft Starting Price: $1,595
Located in the heart of Grand Prairie, The Duvall provides a variety of studio, 1-bedroom, and 2-bedroom apartments. This new community combines modern style with thoughtful amenities and attentive service. Each apartment is designed for comfort and style, featuring high-quality appliances, stylish finishes, and stunning views. Residents can take advantage of amenities such as a resort-style pool, a modern fitness center, and outdoor grilling stations.
If you decide Melissa, TX is home, you’ll enjoy a peaceful lifestyle with access to parks and outdoor activities, all while being just a short drive from the amenities and attractions of the Dallas-Fort Worth area.
The Waldon
Neighborhood: Melissa Walk Score: 0 Floor Plans: 1, 2, and 3 bedrooms Square Footage: 620 – 1,671 sq ft Starting Price: $1,215
Once a cherished local hotel, The Waldon has now been reimagined into a cozy retreat with a blend of classic charm and modern style. Featuring craftsmanship from a bygone era, each space delivers a sense of luxury and nostalgia with flexible layouts and stylish finishes that feel both current and classic. You’ll feel a balance of relaxation and connection with top-notch amenities like a private fitness center, outdoor kitchen, resort-style pool, and yoga studio. Plus, its location near Melissa, McKinney, Fairview, and Frisco makes it easy to explore everything the area has to offer.
Frisco has a welcoming small-town vibe but offers all the perks of city life. There are plenty of restaurants, shops, and entertainment options to explore, and if you enjoy the outdoors, you’ll love the parks and trails. Plus, Dallas is just a short drive away, making it easy to enjoy the city.
The Links on PGA Parkway
Neighborhood: Frisco Walk Score: 1 Floor Plans: 1, 2, and 3 bedrooms Square Footage: 639 – 1,452 sq ft Starting Price: $1,612
The Links on PGA Parkway is a fantastic place to call home in Frisco, offering a range of 1- to 3-bedroom apartments each designed with high-end finishes. It’s conveniently located near top employers, schools, dining, shopping, and even the Toyota Stadium and Dr. Pepper Ballpark. The community has great amenities, including a fitness center, a resort-style pool with cabanas, and a clubhouse with Wi-Fi. Inside the apartments, you’ll find modern finishes, stainless steel appliances, granite countertops, and roomy walk-in closets.
Presidium Frisco Square
Neighborhood: Frisco Walk Score: 49 Floor Plans: Studio, 1, 2, and 3 bedrooms Square Footage: 532 – 1,808 sq ft Starting Price: $1,499
Frisco’s Presidium Frisco Square offers a mix of comfort and modern style with its well-designed studio and 1- to 3-bedroom apartments to accommodate your lifestyle. You’ll find features like keyless entry and smart light switches for a touch of convenience. The amenities are pretty impressive, too. Sharpen your skills with the golf simulator, or unwind with friends on the rooftop terrace. Take advantage of the resort-style pool, pet park, and outdoor pavilion. And when the Texas heat kicks in, retreat indoors to the resident clubroom or cinema lounge.. Plus, the location is really convenient—just a short walk to great dining, shopping, and close to Frisco ISD.
Known as the “Peach Capital of Texas,” Weatherford offers a relaxed lifestyle with beautiful parks, friendly neighborhoods, and a rich history. The town’s charm comes from its farmers’ markets, unique shops, and tasty eateries. And, with easy access to Fort Worth, you can enjoy Weatherford’s tranquility while staying close to city excitement.
Mustang Ridge
Neighborhood: Weatherford Walk Score: 56 Floor Plans: 1, 2, and 3 bedrooms Square Footage: 567 – 1,151 sq ft Starting Price: $1,150
Located just 25 minutes from Fort Worth and in the heart of Weatherford, Mustang Ridge apartments are a luxury community providing modern and comfortable spaces. Each apartment has roomy living spaces, high ceilings, granite countertops, stainless steel appliances, and stylish lighting. The amenities are top notch, where you can enjoy the resort-style pool, dog park, and grill stations. Plus, the convenient location near restaurants, shops, and bars, with easy access to I-20, makes getting around the Dallas-Fort Worth area a breeze.
Celina, TX is currently the fastest growing suburb just north of Dallas, offering the best of both worlds. This city has a small-town vibe with a tight-knit community feel, great parks, and fun events throughout the year.
One Preston Station
Neighborhood: Celina, TX Walk Score: 17 Floor Plans: 1, 2, and 3 bedrooms Square Footage: 638 – 1,234 sq ft Starting Price: $1,190
One Preston Station brings a fresh vibe to small-town living in Celina, Texas, offering 1-, 2-, and 3-bedroom apartments starting at $1,200. The apartments are designed to balance comfort and privacy, with features like ceiling fans, plenty of closet space, scenic patios or balconies, and in-unit washers and dryers. The community is eco-friendly and includes a pool, a well-equipped fitness center, a community garden, and a beautiful outdoor kitchen. Plus, it’s in a rapidly growing part of the city, so you’ll find new workplaces, dining, and entertainment options popping up all the time.
Plano has a lot to offer, from its diverse dining options to beautiful parks that invite outdoor exploration. You’ll appreciate the community spirit here, with plenty of events and festivals throughout the year that foster connection among residents. Plus, with convenient access to major highways and the DART rail system, commuting to Dallas for work or leisure is effortless.
The Beacon
Neighborhood: Plano Walk Score: 41 Floor Plans: Studio, 1, and 2 bedrooms Square Footage: 583 – 1,250 sq ft Starting Price: $1,341
As a part of The Billingsley Collection, living at The Beacon is sure to enhance your daily life in Plano, TX. The building’s diverse architectural style blends Parisian influences with Southeast Asian touches, creating a unique and memorable environment. The exterior reflects historic Philadelphia brick structures, while the lively interiors bring fresh energy to the area. The community offers extensive amenities to enhance your living experience. Enjoy two resort-style pools, beautifully landscaped courtyards, and covered bungalows for a peaceful retreat. With its lively community, convenient retail options, and wide range of amenities, you’re sure to love relaxing, connecting with others, and staying active – all while living here.
LVL 29
Neighborhood: West Plano Walk Score: 48 Floor Plans: 1, 2, 3, and 4 bedrooms Square Footage: 681 – 3,588 sq ft Starting Price: $2,194
Every apartment in LVL 29 is thoughtfully designed for a unique living experience. Enjoy stylish kitchen islands with pendant lighting, serene private balconies, luxurious freestanding tubs, charming interior and exterior fireplaces, and premium stainless steel kitchen appliances that enhance your cooking. Residents can take advantage of a fully-equipped fitness center, relax in the poker and sports lounge, enjoy the resort-style swimming pool, or unwind in the outdoor heated spa. With its prime location in the Legacy West area, you’ll enjoy the plethora of dining, entertainment, and business options nearby.
Coppell, TX, stands out as a great place to call home, offering the best of both worlds—small-town warmth with easy access to urban conveniences. You’ll find a charming selection of local restaurants and shops that foster a strong sense of community, where neighbors become friends.
Hastings End
Neighborhood: Coppell Walk Score: 28 Floor Plans: 1 and 2 bedrooms Square Footage: 597 – 1,318 sq ft Starting Price: $1,429
Located at the tip of the Sound Peninsula, Hastings End offers a unique blend of luxury, comfort, and lakeside living in Coppell, TX. Part of The Billingsley Collection, this thoughtfully designed neighborhood offers 1- and 2-bedroom apartments that showcase stunning architecture and sophisticated interiors. Each unit features gourmet kitchens with stainless steel appliances and expansive outdoor patios and balconies, extending your living space to enjoy the beauty of lakeside living. This complex offers amazing amenities like an inviting private clubroom, a Moroccan-inspired courtyard, a hedge-lined pool, and a scenic events lawn overlooking North Lake, which are perfect for any gathering.
Dane Park Grapevine
Neighborhood: Grapevine Walk Score: 53 Floor Plans: 1 and 2 bedrooms Square Footage: 750 – 1,163 sq ft Starting Price: $1,464
Looking for a community where both you and your pup will feel right at home? Dane Park Grapevine is the top dog-friendly apartment in the United States, offering the ultimate convenience with onsite doggy daycare and even concierge services. With 1- and 2-bedroom floor plans, each unit is designed to meet the needs of both you and your furry friend, offering comfort and style. The community also boasts top-notch amenities, including an entertainment lounge, a modern gym, and even an indoor basketball court.Alongside the pet-friendly atmosphere, this complex is in the perfect location, just moments away from popular attractions like the vibrant Main Street food scene, Downtown Grapevine, Grapevine Lake, wineries, and more.
Just minutes from Dallas, Red Oak offers the benefits of a close-knit community, beautiful parks, and excellent schools without sacrificing access to city life. Its charming local spots and friendly atmosphere make it an inviting place to settle down while still being connected to everything the metroplex has to offer.
The Ovilla at Legacy Square
Neighborhood: Red Oak, TX Walk Score: 27 Floor Plans: 1, 2, and 3 bedrooms Square Footage: 619 – 1,212 sq ft Starting Price: $1,383
If you’re looking for a community that feels like home, The Ovilla at Legacy Square is the perfect place for you. Choose from spacious 1-, 2-, or 3-bedroom floor plans, with prices ranging from $1,300 to $2,150. The units feature thoughtfully selected finishes and flexible layouts that truly enhance your living experience. When it comes to amenities, you’ll love the coffee bar for your morning brew, the state-of-the-art fitness center, and the yoga studio to help you unwind. Plus, there’s a resort-inspired pool that’s perfect for relaxing on warm days. And let’s not forget about the fantastic location—you’re just a short distance from shops, restaurants, and entertainment options, making it easy to enjoy everything the area has to offer.
The World of Hyatt Credit Card has a limited-time welcome offer for new cardholders that could help with travel goals in the next year.
Those who apply and are approved for the card through Oct. 31, 2024, get this sign-up bonus: Earn five category 1-4 Free Night Awards to use at Hyatt hotels after spending $4,000 in the first three months of opening the account. This offer includes domestic and international properties.
Compared with the card’s previous sign-up offer, this bonus is much more straightforward and easier to attain — although it’s also less flexible. Here’s why.
The card’s former offer enabled you to earn up to 60,000 bonus points, but in two different tiers: It awarded you 30,000 points after spending $3,000 on purchases in the first three months of opening the account. And then, for the first six months, you earned 2 points per $1 on spending that would otherwise have earned only 1 point, on up to $15,000 spent.)
The new offer of five free nights is certainly less complicated. But depending on how you book at Hyatt, the previous offer might have allowed you to redeem those 60,000 points for even more than five nights, assuming you booked lower-category properties.
Even so, if the Hyatt family is your hotel group of choice, you should easily be able to extract enough value from this new offer to more than make up for the card’s $95 annual fee. As a cardholder, you’ll also earn ongoing rewards in a variety of categories:
4 bonus points per $1 spent with your card at Hyatt hotels, including participating restaurants and spas. Properties under the Hyatt umbrella include the Park Hyatt, Miraval, Andaz and Hyatt Place. (On top of that, you’ll earn 5 points per dollar spent at Hyatt hotels by being a member of the World of Hyatt loyalty program.)
2 points per $1 on dining at restaurants, airline tickets purchased through the airline, fitness club and gym memberships, and local transit and commuting.
1 point per $1 on all other purchases.
You can redeem points for hotel stays, room upgrades, eligible purchases at select Hyatt locations and more.
In addition to the sign-up bonus, the card also offers a free night at any category 1-4 Hyatt hotel or resort every year after your cardholder anniversary, and an extra free night in a similar property if you spend $15,000 in a calendar year. As a cardholder, you’ll also get automatic Discoverist status, which makes you eligible for a 10% bonus on points earned on eligible purchases, an upgrade to a preferred room (if available), late checkout (if available) and waived resort fees on Free Night Awards.
Chase is offering a bonus of five free night certificates, good on category 1-4 properties when you spend $4,000 on purchases in the first three months of account opening on the Chase World of Hyatt card.
Card Basics
This product is available to you if you do not have this card and have not received a new cardmember bonus for this card in the past 24 months
Annual fee of $95
Card earns at the following rates:
4x points per $1 spent on Hyatt hotels (they advertise this as 9x, but it’s 4x plus the 5x you normally get anyway)
2x points per $1 spent on local transit and commuting (including taxis, mass transit, tolls and ride-share serivces)
2x points per $1 spent on restaurants, cafes and coffee shops
2x points per $1 spent on airline tickets purchased directly from the airlines
2x points per $1 spent on fitness clubs and gym memberships
1x points per $1 spent on all other purchases
Receive up to two free nights annually:
One free night at any category 1-4 Hyatt property every year after your card member anniversary
An additional free night at any category 1-4 Hyatt property if you spend $15,000 during your card member anniversary year
Status:
World of Hyatt Discoverist status for as long as the card is open
5 qualifying night credits towards your next tier status every year
An additional 2 qualifying night credits towards your next tier every time you spend $5,000 on the card (no limit)
Our Verdict
Previous best offer was 65,000 points. If you redeemed all five nights on a category four property that would come out to 90,000 points so this bonus is significantly better but you obviously lose the ability to stay at properties category 5 or above. This offer also requires a lot less spend. I think this offer is worth doing if you have a 5/24 spot and will be added to the best credit card bonuses.
In the scenic mountains near Tannersville, New York, a 31-acre property with a storied history, breathtaking natural surroundings, and oodles of rustic charm is now up for grabs.
The historic Catskills house dates back to 1903 and was once home to a beloved stage actress who turned it into a gathering ground for art lovers and creative minds, taking advantage of the home’s proximity to the famed artist and writers’ retreat, Onteora Club.
Known as Caddam Hill, the 31-acre Catskills property is a luxury retreat with a distinctly rustic feel, unlike anything we’ve seen recently — and it’s now up for grabs for $3,450,000.
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Newly listed for $3,450,000
The Catskills house is now being brought to market for $3,450,000 by the Coldwell Banker Village Realty office in Windham, N.Y., with Sharon Knudsen and Nadine Bechle in charge of the listing.
Public records show that the home last sold for $1,400,000 almost two decades ago, in 2005.
A peaceful retreat that transcends time
Located at 863 County Road 25 in Tannersville, New York, the 31-acre property is anchored by an 8,500-square-foot home with 6 bedrooms and 5 baths.
But its merits cannot be reduced to a list of specs, as the property’s generous acreage also comes with majestic mountain views, a trail system, a spring-fed pond, and sparkling streams.
“This estate transcends time,” says agent Sharon Knudsen. “The majestic mountain views and sparkling streams surrounding this Catskills home have made it a peaceful retreat for more than a century. You can just sit on the deck, watch the sunset, take in the quiet and breathe. That’s a comfort that never gets old.”
Built at the turn of the 20th century
The home traces its history all the way back to 1903, and its standout architecture hints at its storied past.
According to Nadine Bechle, “Caddam Hill was constructed by renowned architect George Reid with a beautiful mix of Arts & Crafts and Country French styles. His client was stage actress Maude Adams, whose fame in her time rivaled stars like Scarlett Johansson today.“
Once home to one of America’s greatest stage legends
Locally, the house is well-known as the former home of Maude Adams, recognized as one of America’s greatest stage legends (and one of the highest-paid actresses of her time).
A lauded producer and theatrical designer, Adams also worked with General Electric to invent new lighting technologies that were used both on-stage and off. She was most celebrated during her life for her stage portrayal of Peter Pan in the 1905 Broadway production.
It was part of the storied Onteora Club, the original Catskills artists’ retreat
The house was once part of the storied Onteora Club, the original Catskills artists’ retreat which, according to one of its founders, Frank Thurber, “grew by an accident of friendship, the human instinct for congenial companionship, the desire to draw people whom we loved into an almost unknown realm of beauty… Where we could build a camp or cabin and live the wild life for a little space.”
Maude Adams was a member of their club, pioneering the spirit of nature-inspired creativity that still characterizes the Catskills region today alongside other famous artists and writers, including Mark Twain.
Modern upgrades have not taken away from the house’s rustic charm
While the house has seen its share of upgrades over the years, it retains its historic and rustic charm.
“The history is very much present in this home, but it has been seamlessly updated for modern comfort and practicality in every way imaginable, without losing any of its prodigious original character,” listing agent Nadine Bechle tells us. “You can live there like a star in any era.”
Rustic meets luxury
Stepping inside the 8,500-square-foot home, wood-clad spaces and towering beamed ceilings greet residents and their guests with a timeless approach to luxury.
The great room retains the original woodwork
Caddam Hills’ stunning great room wows with its original woodwork, wooden beams, gleaming oak floors, and antique windows that take in the spectacular mountain views. Adding to the charm is a stone fireplace that completes the timeless design.
A well-appointed chef’s kitchen anchors it firmly in the 21st century
A tasteful kitchen brings a note of modernity without disrupting the home’s overall rustic design and features luxe appliances, vaulted ceilings, and a large kitchen island, with balcony doors opening to the home’s wrap-around deck.
More modern amenities
Other standout spaces and amenities include a billiards room, media room, gym, and a cozy bar.
See also: 13 of our all-time favorite Midcentury Modern houses (and some of their famous past owners)
An exquisite primary suite
Our favorite part of the house is the oversized primary suite, an elegant space that emanates warmth despite its size.
With several seating areas and a fireplace
Here, we find two extra seating areas, a stone fireplace, and generously sized windows to take in the beautiful surroundings.
Spaces to gather, reflect, and create
Throughout the 8,500-square-foot home, we find places that invite rest and introspection, with many of them hinting at a time long gone when technology and devices didn’t command our attention at every corner.
Just as many spaces to entertain
But there are also countless spaces meant to entertain guests and friends, from the charming bar to the sizeable dining room or billiards room.
Close to the biggest attractions in the Catskills
Caddam Hills is conveniently located close to some of the biggest attractions in the vibrant four-season Catskills community, including Kaaterskill Falls, Twilight Park, Hunter Mountain Ski Resort, the trails of Catskill Park, Colonial Country Club, Colgate Lake, and more.
It’s also within proximity to performing arts venues and celebrated restaurants, including the highly rated Deer Mountain Inn, located a few minutes away from the house.
Neighboring the Mountain Top Arboretum and the Hunter Foundation
The property’s acreage connects to the Mountain Top Arboretum (156 acres of protected land), the Hunter Foundation (136 acres), and the Onteora Club where Maude Adams once mounted theatricals with friends.
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