If you or someone you know has dealt with a collection agency, you know how trying it can be. Debt collection agencies have a long history of harassment and illegal practices. Can a collection agency report to a credit bureau without notifying you? The answer might not be that simple. Knowing illegal debt collection practices can help identify when you’re being treated unfairly.
The Law Protects You
The Fair Debt Collection Practices Act is a federal law that protects consumers against certain unfair collection practices. It applies to only external or third-party debt collectors and only for personal debts. It does not come into play for creditors collecting their own debts. State laws may provide additional protection.
In its annual report to Congress about debt collection complaints, the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau described collection complaints received by the Federal Trade Commission (FTC).
In 2019, the FTC received 75,200 complaints about debt collectors—down from 84,500 in 2018. A complaint does not mean a law has been broken, and some complaints may result from overseas debt collection scammers who harass consumers.
If the FTC finds the complaint to be valid, the agency can ban parties from participating in debt collection. The FTC keeps an up-to-date list of all prohibited parties.
A collection account can significantly affect credit score. If you’ve been contacted by a collector and are worried your credit is being hurt, it might be a good idea to check your credit scores to see if anything has changed.
FTC 2019 Annual Report: Types of Debt Collection Complaints Reported by Consumers
Every year the FTC releases a report discussing the six main types of debt collection complaints from consumers. Understanding these complaints gives you a better idea of your rights as a consumer. If you’ve experienced any of these types of actions from a debt collection agency, you can report them to the FTC.
Before we delve in, a quick note: keep in mind that state laws can vary. So whenever we mention the law, we’re specifically referring to the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act (FDCPA).
1. Attempts to Collect a Debt Not Owed
Percentage of complaints: 45% in 2019
The law: If you don’t think the debt belongs to you, you can send a request in writing within 30 days of receiving the initial notice that you want verification of the debt. You can also request that the debt collector no longer contact you. You may consider making the request in writing so you have proof of the request
Often, this issue arises after identity theft occurs. That’s why it’s essential to keep an eye on your credit report, so you can spot these issues early.
2. Failure to Provide Written Notification of Debt
Percentage of complaints: 18% in 2019
The law: Within five days of initially contacting you, the collector must send written notice of the debt and include:
The amount of the debt
The name of the original creditor to whom the debt is owed
A statement describing your right to dispute the debt
You can file a complaint with the FTC if you believe the debt collector never sent written notice. Most individuals complaining about written notifications (65%) say they didn’t receive adequate information to identify and confirm their ownership of the debt. Additionally, some individuals (30%) complain that their written notice never included their right to dispute the debt.
3. Communication Tactics
Percentage of complaints: 12% in 2019
The law: Collectors are not allowed to call repeatedly just to harass you. However, there is no specific number of calls specified in the FDCPA limiting calls they can make within a given period. That’s for the courts to decide. If you think a debt collector is calling too often, start keeping a record of the time of the call and any messages left. Collectors also may not call before 8 a.m. or after 9 p.m. unless you’ve given them permission or at times you’ve told them are inconvenient.
The majority of complaints surrounding communication tactics are about repeated phone calls (55%), foul or abusive language (12%) or calls outside of the allotted times (5%).
4. Negative or Legal Action, or Threats of It
Percentage of complaints: 12% in 2019
The law: Collectors can’t threaten a lawsuit, criminal prosecution, wage garnishment, jail time, or a poor credit rating unless they have the legal authority to do so and intend to do so.
The most common complaints in this category in 2019were:
Threats or suggestions that a consumer’s credit history would be damaged (34%)
Threats to sue on old debt (28%)
Threats to arrest or jail consumers for not paying the debt (14%)
Lawsuits without proper notification (9%)
Attempts or successful seizures of property (8%)
Attempts or successful collection of exempt funds, such as unemployment benefits or child support (5%)
Lawsuits filed in a different state from where the consumer signed the contract or currently lives (2%)
Threats of turning the consumer in to immigration officials or of deportation (0.2%)
These threats are often in violation of the FDCPA. Usually, collectors must take you to court and win before they can take these kinds of actions—if they even have the right in the first place.
5. False Statements or Representations
Percentage of complaints: 11% in 2019
The law: Collectors can’t use false statements or representations to try to force consumers to cooperate, including:
Claiming to be affiliated with the U.S. government or any state
Purporting to be a law enforcement official or an attorney
Stating that failure to pay will result in imprisonment, seizure of property, garnishment of wages, or other false claims
Implying the consumer committed a crime
These claims are in violation of the FDCPA to make if they are untrue. Sometimes, collectors may be allowed to make a claim if they have taken the consumer to court and received a court-approved judgment.
In 2019, the majority of complaints in this category were for:
Attempts to collect the wrong amount (74%)
Impersonations of an attorney, law enforcement official, or government official (17%)
False statements that the consumer committed a crime by not paying the debt (6%)
Suggestions that the consumer should not respond to a lawsuit (3%)
6. Threats to Contact Someone or Share Information Improperly
Percentage of complaints: 3% in 2019
The law: Collectors can call third parties such as family members, neighbors, friends, or co-workers only once to locate the debtor. When they do, they are not allowed to reveal the debt.. They can only make contact again under specific circumstances.
In 2019, the majority of complaints in this category were for debt collectors who contacted:
A third party about the debt (53%)
An employer (28%)
The consumer after being asked not to do so (18%)
The consumer directly when they were informed to speak with only the consumer’s attorney (2%)
Debt Collection Laws
The federal Fair Debt Collection Practices Act (FDCPA) limits what debt collectors can do and say when attempting to collect a debt. This law covers mortgages, credit cards, medical debts, and any other debt for personal, family, or household purposes.
Unfortunately, the FDCPA doesn’t cover business debt or debt that is owed to the original creditor rather than a collection agency.
As stated earlier, time and place, harassment, and representation are all factored into this federal act. Debt collectors cannot contact you in an unusual place or at a time they know is inconvenient.
Additionally, if collectors are aware you have sought legal representation for the matter, they must immediately stop direct communication with you and, instead, contact your attorney, except for a few exceptions.
Can a Debt Transfer Hands?
Many people ask, “If a debt is sold to another company do I have to pay?” Once your debt is transferred, you owe the money to the current company rather than the original creditor. However, the new collector must still adhere to all the regular debt collection laws. In addition, the company cannot add interest you didn’t agree to or change any other terms of your original contract.
So, when does this happen? Can collection agencies buy from other collection agencies? Yes. Once your debt crosses a threshold that indicates it’s less likely to be paid, your original creditor will send it to a collection agency. After some time, the collection agency might sell your debt to a debt buyer.
If you do choose to pay off your debt, always make sure you pay the party currently holding your debt.
The Fair Credit Reporting Act
Another federal law is the Fair Credit Reporting Act. It covers certain financial aspects, including debt being collected and reported on your credit report.
This law protects consumers from unfair, deceptive, or abusive acts or practices by collection agencies or creditors.
How to Get Help
If you think a debt collector or collection agency has broken the law while trying to collect a debt, you can:
Complain to the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau and your state attorney general
Contact a consumer law attorney — you might be entitled to damages and/or attorney’s fees
Whenever you’re dealing with debt, it’s smart to review your credit reports for accuracy, because errors can unnecessarily damage your credit standing. Should the worst case happen, there are ways to dispute credit report errors.
If you’re ready to improve your credit score, you can begin the process of credit repair. Debt sent to a collections agency doesn’t have to ruin your financial life—you can work to fix your credit report with credit repair. ExtraCredit is offering an exclusive discount to one of the leaders in credit repair, so sign up today.
Have you ever recognized benign habits that you wish you could give up, but they seem pretty harmless? You’re not alone. Many of us have compulsions, addictions, and unhealthy habits that can affect every aspect of our lives—and they’re often overlooked due to their subtle nature. From eating too much sugar or ice cream to checking one’s social media notifications several times a day, the need for instant gratification has taken its toll on society today, leading many people down an unhealthy path without even noticing it.
In this blog post, we’ll be exploring the top 13 addictions and habits that everyone should be aware. If you’ve been looking for ways to make positive changes in your life and reduce stress, then dive into this comprehensive list!
1. Checking the News
One Redditor shared, “NEWS addiction.”
Another replied, “People get addicted to the cortisol hit from getting outraged, so a lot of news outlets realize they just need to keep the cortisol flowing. Edit: Per comments, I changed ‘dopamine’ to ‘cortisol’.”
One commenter added, “It’s neurologically a very similar addiction to gambling. In both cases, it’s less about getting something positive and more about getting something negative and then feeling they have to cancel or counterbalance the negative with a positive… that always seems just out of reach but never seems to come. So they dig themselves a hole of negativity.”
Another user posted, “A few years ago, I realized it was taking a toll on me. The first thing I’d do when I got up was check the news, then periodically check it throughout the day, and it was frequently the last thing I did before falling asleep. So, I just decided I have to check it maybe once or twice to stay informed, but that’s it. I even hid political subreddits, so I won’t see them unless I actively go to them.
“There’s just no reason to be glued to the news all day long. That much anger or depression or whatever is no good for your mental well-being, and it’s very rare that something is going on in the world where you need hourly updates. I think most people would be a lot happier if they cut back on gorging on news and politics.”
“YES! Absolutely. Especially the doom-scrolling and sensationalized side of things. I’ve just written a much longer comment about this, but it creates a physical dopamine dependency and changes habits,” replied another user.
2. Justified Outrage
One user posted, “Outrage is an addiction. Some people seek it out, actively searching for a reason to hate their neighbors just so they can get their hit of dopamine. It feeds news addiction, tribalism, and eventually extremism. It’s the source of so much violence, so many divided houses and ruined lives, but we do nothing to curb it.”
“I remember my uncle, who had a history of domestic violence to my aunt before she passed of cancer, told the family he has an anger problem. My dad said, ‘But you’re able to keep it together every time a cop is around.’ The look on his face and the dead silence… An anger issue is not an excuse,” another replied.
One commenter added, “My Dad was always going on violent outbursts, literally every day. Remember a few times their doorbell would ring, and he’d flip to being charming in a split second. It’d be salespeople, charity collectors, and even Mormons. He was always extremely polite, and they probably saw him as one of the most pleasant people he encountered. Pure sociopathy.”
3. Shopping
“Shopping,” one user posted.
Another user replied, “I just got back this month after being in rehab for 2 months for weed, alcohol, and [other drugs], and at my therapy, they asked me if I noticed any cross addictions. I told my therapist I think I have a shopping addiction, and she told me it’s a common addiction that goes unnoticed way too many times.”
One user confirmed, “My hoarder mother 1000% has a shopping addiction.”
Another Redditor said, “My MIL is a hoarder, and it is ridiculous; she has 3 storage units (one she’s had for 20+ years), her home, and my husband’s grandmother’s garage full of her sh-t. We have tried to help clean out the garage, but MIL always has to be there when we try and has to go through every single box/bag/etc, and physically touch every single item. 9 years and the garage still has not been cleaned out.”
4. Video Games
One online user shared, “I always laughed at the idea of video game addiction. It sounded so overblown until I met a guy who honestly defined it for me. We used to chat and hang out weekly. He quit his job and now just lives at home with his mum, mooching off her to sit in his room and play games for close to 16 hours a day. After refusing to hang out long enough, I just gave up on him.”
Another user exclaimed, “FINALLY, I found someone who mentioned video games. I grew up gaming, I absolutely loved playing them throughout my entire childhood and into adulthood, but I have seen addiction to video games absolutely destroy people. Part of me is glad that I simply don’t have the time to play them much anymore. Maybe an hour or two a week. But I know adults in their 30s and 40s who are still obsessed, to the point of not wanting to do anything else.”
5. Addiction to Phones
“Phone addiction—no explanation needed,” one Redditor shared.
Another user added, “My stomach drops every time I see my daily average screen time. It’s hard to realize how much time you spend scrolling until you actually see the numbers.”
One commenter said, “That’s why I turned screen time off. I don’t need that type of negativity in my life, lmao.”
Another user added, “My phone addiction varies based on my mental health state. I’ve been in a depression that has apparently become a downward spiral, according to my therapist. I’m capable of doing the bare minimum to keep my kid alive, and then I live on my phone the rest of the time. I’m even on it at work. My therapist wants me to be an inpatient, but the idea of not having my phone for even the three-day minimum stay has me freaking out.”
6. Sleeping to Escape
One user shared, “When my depression is terrible, I’d say sleep. It’s a free, safe way to escape but ultimately feeds the depression, becoming a destructive cycle. It doesn’t sound that bad, but it’s consuming. Edit: Some people are confused, so I’ll clarify. It’s not because of a lack of rest. It’s not the sleep itself; it’s the dreaming (aka escape). A different ‘reality’ that feels very real and isn’t this one. Maybe I’m just not explaining it right, but yeah.”
Another user replied, “Thank you for saying this! I was labeled as a typical ‘lazy teenager,’ and it wasn’t till I was in my final year of uni that a friend asked if I was OK and explained oversleeping as a symptom of mental health issues.
“The truth was I was so miserable I just didn’t want to be conscious and experience it. Better to be asleep with a teeny tiny hope that I might feel a bit better when I woke up. I had virtually no awareness of mental health issues then and therefore had no vocabulary to articulate how I felt. I feel sad for that lost time, but at least I can recognize it now for what it was.
“Edit to add: this has, unfortunately, resonated with a few people. Keep your chin up; it can and does get better eventually. Get help from your support network of friends and family and professional help. I hope you feel better soon.”
“Well said. There are days I can sleep 4-5 hours, be productive and alert, and just kill it. Then there are days when I sleep at least 11+ hours and on my phone the other 13 while doing the BARE minimum to skate by, realizing that. Hey! You’re not eating better; the 50ish pounds you lost in 3 months is from depressively not eating. I hate being depressed and all the extra stuff it brings that makes life even harder than it is,” one user responded.
7. Workaholism
One Redditor posted, “Work Addiction—most people will say they dislike working extra, but the responsibility you feel towards your co-workers and the purpose work gives your life can make you work more than you should. Source: addicted to work.”
One added, “I worked for one manager who literally had an addiction to work so bad it was ruining her life. She was a recovering drug addict, and I guess staying busy helped her cope, but she just traded one addiction for another.
“We worked for a corporate retail chain; she would be the first one there and the last one to leave every day, and she never scheduled herself a day off. She would clock herself out when she hit her 40 hrs to avoid getting flak from her management, but she was easily working 110+ hours a week, and more than half of that was unpaid.
“Her family, her ex-husband, and her kids would come by periodically and try to get her to go home, and her entire staff, including me, constantly tried to get her just to go home, but she was afraid the place couldn’t run without her present for even a second. It was really sad because we could all see her obsession with being there was destroying her mentally and physically, as her sleep had to have been horrendously impacted since she was there 15-16 hours a day.
“I spoke with HR about it, and they said they had already been aware of it for some time and that they weren’t going to do anything about it. That incredible amount of incredulity and not giving a shit about the super illegal and dangerous fact that they were letting an employee work for free for 70+ hours a week were obviously huge red flags for me, so that was my last day.
“A couple of years later now, she still works there, and this is still happening.”
8. Addiction to Junk Food
One user shared, “Junk food. Sugar. Soda. I am addicted to these things and wish to break that habit.”
Another confirmed, “I quit smoking quite easily, but I cannot for the life of me quit sugar. So much harder, in.”
“I think I just swapped my after-dinner cigarette for after-dinner chocolate. Doesn’t matter how satisfying the meal was. I still crave some chocolate later,” one user replied.
Another user shared, “Apologies in advance for the unsolicited advice, but your comment hit a chord with me. Is it specifically chocolate you crave? ’cause I used to crave chocolate constantly. It got to the point where I’d buy the cheapest milk chocolate bars from my grocery store and eat a couple of pieces every day, trying to limit how much chocolate I was eating but also trying to stop the constant craving for it.
“Supposedly being low in magnesium can cause chocolate cravings. I figured more magnesium couldn’t hurt, so I started eating more food with magnesium, and the craving went away! I still have a massive sweet tooth, and I love chocolate, but that never-ending chocolate craving has stopped, thank goodness.
“Maybe something to try if it seems relevant to you? I know this is just a very unscientific anecdote; maybe it was something else going on with me that just naturally stopped. Maybe the slight changes in my diet I made solved it in some other way. Who knows!”
9. Social Media
“Social media addiction,” one user responded.
Another user replied, “Including Reddit. Source: Reddit addict.”
“Yup. I spend way too much time on this stupid app,” one user confirmed.
One user commented, “I tell myself I’m learning new stuff every day. Then my wife asks me to tell her something new and interesting I found on Reddit, and I can’t think of a single thing.”
10. Dermatillomania
One Redditor commented, “Skin picking, aka, dermatillomania. It’s so overlooked that our society has glorified it. We have a show called Dr. Pimple Popper! Wtf!”
Another user commented, “I wish I could replace that [terrible] habit somehow.”
One user replied, “Same. I don’t get the Dr. Pimple Popper thing. Mine is picking at any skin that is not smooth on my skin. On the scalp, around my nails, blemishes on my face, arms, and chest. If I have a scab, that will take forever to heal because I do it subconsciously on occasion and even do it at night when I’m asleep, no matter where it is on my ‘pick zones.’ Something in my mind says if I pick it, I may reveal healed areas beneath it… and then it starts all over again once it starts bleeding. Looking at it typed out is really disturbing, tbh. But I’m proud that I stopped picking at my lips!!!”
11. Tribalism
“Tribalism. People become indoctrinated and too engrossed to realize it. People become so addicted they choose to kill over sports, vehicle types, religion(s), politics, etc… and it’s by design. People act less intelligent when they’re a part of a group. (Mob mentality).
“Edited because syntax/grammar police attacked my auto-fill. Proofread everything, kids,” one user shared.
One Redditor replied, “Outrage is the addiction; tribalism is just one of the many crack pipes through which it is consumed. People are seeking Outrage. Tribalism gives a sense of legitimacy to the Outrage.”
12. Nasal Spray Addiction
A user posted, “Nasal spray. There are plenty of other, much worse things I could shove up my nose, but still. I can’t breathe through my nose without it, and I can’t stand that it’s like this.”
One user replied, “I’ve been there! It’s pretty fast to reverse the dependency, though—you can switch to saline or Neti pot for a couple of days to get you over the hump, but I’ve found my nose clears up after 2-3 days without it. 2-3 VERY uncomfortable sleepless days, mind you.”
The OP responded, “I’ll have to give that a shot! Thanks!!”
13. Addiction to the Gym
One of the online users shared, “Gym addiction. It’s the only thing keeping me sane these days. Started because I wanted to gain muscles, now the thought of taking a prolonged rest is quite dreadful.”
Another user replied, “The rest is so true. It’s so difficult to let yourself rest, even if it’s just for a week. Interestingly, sometimes you end up coming out of the rest week stronger than if you’d kept lifting through it, too!”
“This is something I learned while I was a soldier. I struggled at first with my PT tests, so I worked out all the time. Eventually, someone told me that rest and recovery were basically as important as working out and that I NEEDED to let my body rest and heal. Lo and behold, I was stronger and faster after rest breaks because my body was actually recovered and I could properly use the strength and speed I had been working on building in the gym,” one Redditor commented.
Do you agree with the things listed above? Share your thoughts in the comments!
Source: Reddit.
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When it comes to moving into a new apartment, few things are more important than feeling safe. With first-floor apartments being more accessible to the outside world, it’s easy to wonder, are first-floor apartments safe? The answer is yes, but there are a few things that responsible first-floor apartment dwellers do to improve their safety and feel more at home in their street-level pad.
Do first-floor apartments get broken into more often?
The short answer is yes. This is one of the reasons that it often costs less to live in a first-floor apartment compared to an identical unit on a higher floor.
The fact that first-floor apartments are more easily accessible shouldn’t deter you from signing the lease, however. That’s because it is possible to curb the risk of attracting unwanted guests.
Read on for some of the most practical and effective methods you can use today to secure your first-floor apartment and prevent anyone from entering your home against your wishes.
What makes first-floor apartments less secure?
With street-level convenience comes street-level exposure.
Easier access
The most obvious reason that a first-floor apartment is less secure than those on higher floors is that it’s easier to gain access.
It’s easier to gain visual access through ground-level windows. This makes it possible for criminals to make a more educated guess about whether they’re home or not or likely to return soon.
It’s also easier for criminals to gain physical access to your apartment. This is because first-floor apartments are the only units that are accessible from the street and don’t require an elevator trip or lengthy walk up the stairs and down a hallway.
Easy in, easy out
Along with easier access comes easier escape. If a burglar doesn’t have to struggle to get into your apartment, they also won’t have to work very hard to make it out unseen and without causing any sort of disturbance.
Criminals will try to avoid video evidence
Depending on your setup, your apartment unit is one of the few places within your building that isn’t under some degree of video surveillance. This fact will make your apartment more appealing to potential criminals. The good news is that many apartment complexes nowadays do have adequate video surveillance in the areas around first-floor apartment entrances.
No downstairs neighbors
In apartment buildings, noise travels much more effectively downward than it does up. An upstairs neighbor hears a lot less from downstairs neighbors than vice versa. If your downstairs neighbors know you’re out of town until Thursday night and they hear a bunch of footsteps above them on Wednesday afternoon, they may feel compelled to investigate. If there’s no one below you to hear those footsteps, your apartment is automatically a more attractive target.
Simple things you can do to make your first-floor apartment safer
There are a number of simple ways to secure your first-floor apartment.
Check out the entrance
Scope out the entrance before you sign the lease. Whether it’s in person or through Google Street View, you should check out the entrance to your specific unit before signing anything. Try to check out the entrance at night. If you don’t feel safe, you probably shouldn’t make the move.
In the circumstance that you’re only able to check out the entrance in the daylight or online, make sure to check the immediate area for camera coverage, dark alleys, etc.
While the immediate area outside your door doesn’t define the safety status of your apartment, it’s a good indication of what you should expect to encounter when you head out each day and what is outside when you go to bed at night.
Lock it up
By no means is this an “insider tip.” It’s more common sense, but still worth mentioning. The basic rule to follow here is that if you’re not actively using the door, you should lock it. It doesn’t matter if you’re sitting two feet away from it on the couch on a Sunday morning. If you’re not using your door, keep it locked.
Another thing to think about when it comes to first-floor apartment living is your keys. If you lose your keys, alert your landlord immediately and let them know that you’ll need the locks changed that day. Beyond that, make sure your keys don’t have anything on them that could identify your apartment building, especially your specific unit.
The last thing you need to remember is sliding glass doors. If you’re living in a first-floor apartment and you have sliding glass doors, lock them. Many burglars look for these doors specifically because many people forget to lock them up in comparison to standard doors.
Cover it up
Regardless of whether you’re home or not, you don’t want random people knowing your daily routine or your comings and goings.
The best way to prevent someone from casing your apartment and taking advantage of your routines is by not allowing them to look inside your place. That’s not to say that you need to have your blinds closed at all times. You just need to shut the blinds at night, while you’re gone and any other time you’re not craving natural light or aren’t interested in having a glimpse into the outside world.
Put it on video
There are many companies that make cheap and easy-to-install doorbell cameras or above-door cameras. If your apartment allows it, install a camera in a position that gives you full coverage of your front door. Many of these stream to your phone and will allow you to check on any oddities outside without having to unlock your door.
A more cost-effective option, if your apartment doesn’t let you install your own security camera, is to get a professional-looking sticker or sign notifying passersby that your door is under video surveillance (whether true or not).
Even if there’s no evidence of a camera, a sign is possibly enough to convince a potential criminal to go elsewhere. The potential of a camera, in many cases, are as effective as actually having a camera.
Get to know your neighbors
If you have a good relationship with your neighbors, they’re more likely to report anything strange or suspicious and they’re more likely to help you out if you need it. This is not only good advice for safety, but it’s also a surefire way to get the most out of your time in your apartment. So, be neighborly!
Get a dog
Whether it’s a rottweiler, a chihuahua or anything in between, as long as your dog makes noise when someone unexpectedly comes through the door, it’s good to have. A loud dog is as effective as a dangerous dog for home protection, especially in densely populated apartment buildings.
If you’re looking for an excuse to get a dog, you’re welcome.
Make the move
If the only thing keeping you from renting an apartment is its first-floor location, reconsider. While they’re slightly easier to gain access to, they’re also perfectly safe places to live, provided you follow the advice above.
A native of the northern suburbs of Chicago, Carson made his way to the South to attend Wofford College where he received his BA in English. After working as a copywriter for a couple of boutique marketing agencies in South Carolina, he made the move to Atlanta and quickly joined the Rent. team as a content marketing coordinator. When he’s off the clock, you can find Carson reading in a park, hunting down a great cup of coffee or hanging out with his dogs.
The Jefferson Avenue commercial district in Buffalo, New York, is anchored by a supermarket.
There are dozens of other businesses and services along the 12-block corridor — a couple of bank branches, a library, a coffee shop, gas stations, a small plaza with a dollar store and a primary care clinic and a business incubator for entrepreneurs of color.
But Tops Friendly Markets, the only grocery store on Buffalo’s vast East Side, is the center of activity. More than just a place to buy food, pick up medications and use an ATM, the store is a communal gathering space in a predominantly Black neighborhood that, for generations, has been segregated, isolated and disenfranchised from the wealthier — and whiter — parts of the city.
Which explains how it came to be the site of a mass shooting on a spring day in May of last year. On that Saturday, a gunman, who lived 200 miles away in another part of the state, drove to Jefferson Avenue and went into Tops, and in just a few minutes killed 10 people, injured three and inflicted mass trauma across the community.
It is a scenario that has sadly, and repeatedly, played out in other parts of the country that have experienced mass shootings. But this one came with a twist: The gunman’s intention was to kill as many Black people as possible.
To achieve that, he specifically targeted a ZIP code with one of the highest percentages of Black residents in New York state. All 10 who died that day were Black.
“The mere fact that someone can research, ‘Where will the greatest number of Black people be … on a Saturday morning,’ that’s not by chance,” said Franchelle Parker, a community organizer and executive director of Open Buffalo, a nonprofit focused on racial, economic and ecological justice. “That’s not a mistake. It’s a community that’s been deeply segregated for decades.”
The day of the shooting, Parker, who grew up in nearby Niagara Falls, was driving to Tops, where she planned to buy a donut and an unsweetened iced tea before heading into the Open Buffalo office, which is located a block away from Tops. The mother of two had intended to complete the mundane task of cleaning up her desk — “old coffee cups and stuff” — after a busy week.
She saw the news on Twitter and didn’t know if she should keep driving to Jefferson Avenue or turn around and go back home. She eventually picked the latter.
When she showed up the next day, there were thousands of people grieving in the streets. “The only way that I could explain my feeling, it was almost like watching an old war movie when a bomb had gone off and someone’s in, like, shell shock. That’s how it felt,” said Parker, vividly recounting the community’s collective trauma in a meeting room tucked inside of Open Buffalo’s second-story office on Jefferson Avenue.
Almost immediately following the May 14, 2022, massacre, which was the second-deadliest mass shooting in the United States last year, conversations locally and nationally turned to the harsh realities of the East Side and how long-standing factors that affect the daily life of residents — racism, poverty and inequity — made the community an ideal target for a white supremacist.
Now, more than a year after the tragedy, there is growing concern that not enough is being done fast enough to begin to dismantle those factors. And amid those conversations, there are mounting calls for the banking industry — whose historical policies and practices helped cement the racial segregation and disinvestment that ultimately shaped the East Side — to leverage its collective power and influence to band together in an effort to create systemic change.
The ideas about how banks should support the East Side and better embed themselves in the neighborhood vary by people and organizations. But the basic argument is the same: Banks, in their role as financiers and because of the industry’s history of lending discrimination, are obligated to bring forth economic prosperity in disinvested communities like the East Side.
I know banks are often looked upon sort of like a panacea, but I don’t particularly see it that way. I think others have a role to play in all of this.
Chiwuike Owunwanne, corporate responsibility officer at KeyBank
“Banks have been very good at providing charitable contributions to the Black community. They get an ‘A’ for that,” said The Rev. George Nicholas, an East Side pastor who is also CEO of the Buffalo Center for Health Equity, a four-year-old enterprise focused on racial, geographic and economic health disparities. “But doing the things that banks can do in terms of being a catalyst for revitalization and investment in this community, they have not done that.”
To be sure, banks’ ability to reverse the course of the community isn’t guaranteed — and there is no formula to determine how much accountability they should hold to fix deeply entrenched problems like racism. Several Buffalo-area bankers said that while the Tops shooting heightened the urgency to help the East Side, the industry itself cannot be the sole driver of change.
“There are a lot of institutions … that can certainly play a part in reversing the challenges that we see today,” said Chiwuike “Chi-Chi” Owunwanne, a corporate responsibility officer at KeyBank, the second-largest bank by deposits in Buffalo. “I know banks are often looked upon sort of like a panacea, but I don’t particularly see it that way. I think others have a role to play in all of this.”
A long history of segregation
How the East Side — and the Tops store on Jefferson Avenue — became the destination for a racially motivated mass murderer is a story about racism, segregation and disinvestment.
Even as it bears the nickname “the city of good neighbors,” Buffalo has long been one of the most racially segregated cities in the United States. Of the 114,965 residents who live on the East Side, 59% are Black, according to data from the 2021 U.S. Census American Community Survey. The percentage is even higher in the 14208 ZIP code, where the Tops store is located. In that ZIP code, among 11,029 total residents, nearly 76% are Black, the census data shows.
The city’s path toward racial segregation started in the early 20th century when a small number of job-seeking Black Americans migrated north to Buffalo, a former steel and auto manufacturing hub at the far northwestern end of New York state. Initially, they moved into the same neighborhoods as many of the city’s poorer immigrants and lived just east of what is today the city’s downtown district. As the number of Blacks arriving in Buffalo swelled in the 1940s, they were increasingly confronted with various housing challenges, including racist zoning laws and restrictive deed covenants that kept them from buying homes in more affluent white areas.
Black Buffalonians also faced housing discrimination in the form of redlining, the practice of restricting the flow of capital into minority communities. In 1933, as the Great Depression roiled the economy, a temporary federal agency known as the Home Owners’ Loan Corporation used government bonds to buy out and refinance mortgages of properties that were facing or already in foreclosure. The point was to try to stabilize the nation’s real estate market.
As part of its program, HOLC created maps of American cities, including Buffalo, that used a color coding scheme — green, blue, yellow and red — to convey the perceived riskiness of making loans in certain neighborhoods. Green was considered minimally risky; other areas that were largely populated by immigrant, Black or Latino residents were labeled red and thus determined to be “hazardous.”
“The goal was to free up mortgage capital by going to cities and giving banks a way to unload mortgages, so they could turn around and make more mortgage loans,” said Jason Richardson, senior director of research at the National Community Reinvestment Coalition, an association of more than 750 community-based organizations that advocates for fair lending. “It was kind of a radical concept and it has evolved over the decades into our modern mortgage finance system.”
The Federal Housing Administration, which was established as a permanent agency in 1934, used similar methods to map urban areas and labeled neighborhoods from “A” to “D,” with “A” considered to be the most financially stable and “D” considered the least. Neighborhoods that were largely Black, even relatively stable ones, were put in the “D” category.
The result was that banks, which wanted to be able to sell mortgage loans to the FHA, were largely dissuaded from making loans in “risky” areas. And Buffalo’s East Side, where the majority of Blacks were settling, was deemed risky. Unable to get loans, Blacks couldn’t buy homes, start businesses or build equity. At the same time, large industrial factories on the East Side were closing or moving away, limiting job opportunities and contributing to rising poverty levels.
“Today what we’re left with is the residue of this process where we’ve enshrined … a pattern of economic segregation that favors neighborhoods that had fewer Black people in them and generally ignores neighborhoods that had African Americans living in them,” Richardson said.
Case in point: Research by the National Community Reinvestment Coalition shows that three-quarters of neighborhoods that were once redlined are low- to moderate-income neighborhoods today, and two-thirds of them are majority minority communities.
Adding to the division between Blacks and whites in Buffalo was the construction of a highway called the Kensington Expressway. Built during the 1960s, the below-grade, limited-access highway proved to be a speedy way for suburban workers to get to their downtown jobs. But its construction cut off the already-segregated East Side even more from other parts of the city, displacing residents, devaluing houses and destroying neighborhoods and small businesses.
As a result of those factors and more, many Black residents have become “trapped” on the East Side, according to Dr. Henry Louis Taylor Jr., a professor of urban and regional planning at the University at Buffalo. In 1987, Taylor founded the UB Center for Urban Studies, a research, neighborhood planning and community development institute that works on eliminating inequality in cities and metropolitan regions. In September 2021, eight months before the Tops shooting, the Center for Urban Studies published a report that compared the state of Black Buffalo in 1990 to present-day conditions. The conclusion: Nothing had changed for Blacks over 31 years.
As of 2019, the Black unemployment rate was 11%, the average household income was $42,000 and about 35% of Blacks had incomes that fell below the poverty line, the report said. It also noted that just 32% of Blacks own their homes and that most Blacks in the area live on the East Side.
“Those figures remain virtually unchanged while the actual, physical conditions that existed inside of the community worsened,” Taylor told American Banker in an interview in his sun-filled office at the center, located on the University at Buffalo’s city campus. “When we looked upstream to see what was causing it, it was clear: It was systemic, structural racism.”
Banks’ moral obligations
As the East Side struggled over the decades with rampant poverty, dilapidated housing, vacant lots and disintegrating infrastructure, banks kept a physical presence in the community, albeit a shrinking one. In mid-2000, there were at least 20 bank branches scattered across the East Side, but by mid-2022, the number had fallen to around 14, according to the Federal Deposit Insurance Corp.’s deposit market share data. The 14 include four new branches that have opened since early 2019 — Northwest Bank, KeyBank, Evans Bank and BankOnBuffalo.
The first two branches, operated by Northwest in Columbus, Ohio, and KeyBank, the banking subsidiary of KeyCorp in Cleveland, were requirements of community benefits agreements negotiated between each bank and the National Community Reinvestment Coalition. In both cases, Northwest and KeyBank agreed to open an office in an underserved community.
Evans Bank opened its first East Side branch in the fall of 2021. The office is located in the basement of an $84 million affordable senior housing building that was financed by Evans, a $2.1 billion-asset community bank headquartered south of Buffalo in Angola, New York.
Banks have been very good at providing charitable contributions to the Black community. They get an ‘A’ for that. But doing the things that banks can do in terms of being a catalyst for revitalization and investment in this community, they have not done that.
The Rev. George Nicholas, an East Side pastor who is also CEO of the Buffalo Center for Health Equity
On the community and economic development front, banks have had varying levels of participation. Buffalo-based M&T Bank, which holds a whopping 64% of all deposits in the Buffalo market and is one of the largest private employers in the region, has made consistent investments in the East Side by supporting Westminster Community Charter School, a kindergarten through eighth-grade school, and the Buffalo Promise Neighborhood, a nonprofit organization focused on improving access to education in the city’s 14215 ZIP code.
Currently, Buffalo Promise Neighborhood operates four schools. In addition to Westminster, it runs Highgate Heights Elementary, also K-8, as well as two academies that serve children ages six weeks through pre-kindergarten. Twelve M&T employees are dedicated to the program, according to the Buffalo Promise Neighborhood website. The bank has invested $31.5 million into the program since its 2010 launch, a spokesperson said.
Other banks are making contributions in other ways. In addition to the Jefferson Avenue branch and as part of its community benefits plan, Northwest Bank, a $14.2 billion-asset bank, supports a financial education center through a partnership with Belmont Housing Resources of Western New York. Meanwhile, the $198 billion-asset KeyBank gave $30 million for bridge and construction financing for Northland Workforce Training Center, a $100 million redevelopment project at a former manufacturing complex on the East Side that was partially funded by the state.
BankOnBuffalo’s East Side branch is located inside the center, which offers KeyBank training in advanced manufacturing and clean energy technology careers. A subsidiary of $5.6 billion-asset CNB Financial in Clearfield, Pennsylvania, BankOnBuffalo’s office opened a month after the shooting. The timing was coincidental, but important, said Michael Noah, president of BankOnBuffalo.
“I think it just cemented the point that this is a place we need to be, to be able to be part of these communities and this community specifically, and be able to build this community up,” Noah said.
In terms of public-private collaboration, some banks have been involved in a deeper way. In 2019, New York state, which had already been pouring $1 billion into Buffalo to help revitalize the economy, announced a $65 million economic development fund for the East Side. The initiative is focused on stabilizing neighborhoods, increasing homeownership, redeveloping commercial corridors including Jefferson Avenue, improving historical assets, expanding workforce training and development and supporting small businesses and entrepreneurship.
In conjunction with the funding, a public-private partnership called East Side Avenues was created to provide capital and organizational support to the projects happening along four East Side commercial corridors. Six banks — Charlotte, North Carolina-based Bank of America, the second-largest bank in the nation with $2.5 trillion of assets; M&T, which has $203 billion of assets; KeyBank; Warsaw, New York-based Five Star Bank, which has about $6 billion of assets; Northwest and Evans — are among the 14 private and philanthropic organizations that pledged a combined $8.4 million to pay for five years’ worth of operational support, governance and finance, fundraising and technical assistance to support the nonprofits doing the work.
Laura Quebral, director of the University at Buffalo Regional Institute, which is managing East Side Avenues, said the banks were the first corporations to step up to the request for help, and since then have provided loans and other products and education to keep the program moving.
Their participation “is a signal to the community that banks cared and were invested and were willing to collaborate around something,” Quebral said. “Being at the table was so meaningful.”
Richard Hamister is Northwest’s New York regional president and former co-chair of East Side Avenues. Hamister, who is based in Buffalo, said banks are a “community asset” that have a responsibility to lift up all communities, including those where conditions have arisen that allow it to be a target of racism like the East Side.
“We operate under federal charters, so we have an obligation to the community to not only provide products and services they need but also support when you go through a tragedy like that,” Hamister said. “We also have a moral obligation to try to help when things are broken … and to do what we can. We can’t fix everything, but we’ve got to fix our piece and try to help where we can.”
In the wake of a tragedy
After the massacre, there was a flurry of activity within banks and other organizations, local and out-of-town, to respond to the immediate needs of East Side residents. With the community’s only supermarket closed indefinitely, much of the response centered around food collection and distribution. Three of M&T’s five East Side branches, including the Jefferson Avenue branch across the street from Tops, became food distribution sites for weeks after the shooting. On two consecutive Fridays, Northwest provided around 200 free lunches to the community, using a neighborhood caterer who is also the bank’s customer. And BankOnBuffalo collected employee donations that amounted to more than 20 boxes of toiletries and other items that were distributed to a nonprofit.
At the same time, M&T, KeyBank and other banks began financial donations to organizations that could support the immediate needs of the community. KeyBank provided a van that delivered food and took people to nearby grocery stores. Providence, Rhode Island-based Citizens Financial Group, whose ATM inside Tops was inaccessible during the store’s temporary closure, installed a fee-free ATM near a community center located about a half-mile north of Tops, and later put a permanent ATM inside the center that remains there today. And M&T rolled out a short-term loan program to provide capital to East Side small-business owners.
One of the funds that benefited from banks’ support was the Buffalo Together Community Response Fund, which has raised $6.2 million to address the long-term needs of the East Side.
Bank of America and Evans Bank each donated $100,000 to the fund, whose list of major sponsors includes four other banks — JPMorgan Chase, Citigroup, M&T and KeyBank. Thomas Beauford Jr., a former banker who is co-chair of the response fund, said banks, by and large, directed their resources into organizations where the dollars would have an immediate impact.
“Banks said, ‘Hey, you know … it doesn’t make sense for us to try to build something right now. … We will fund you in the work you’re doing,'” said Beauford, who has been president and CEO of the Buffalo Urban League since the fall of 2020. “I would say banks showed up in a big way.”
Fourteen months later, banks say they are committed to playing a positive role on the East Side. For the second year, KeyBank is sponsoring a farmers’ market on the East Side, an attempt to help fill the food desert in the community. Last fall, BankOnBuffalo launched a mobile “bank on wheels” truck that’s stationed on the East Side every Wednesday. The 34-foot-long truck, which is staffed by two people and includes an ATM and a printer to make debit cards, was in the works before the shooting, and will eventually make four stops per week around the Buffalo area.
Evans has partnered with the city of Buffalo to construct seven market-rate single family homes on vacant lots on the East Side. The relationship with the city is an example of how banks can pair up with other entities to create something meaningful and lasting, more than they might be able to do on their own, said Evans President and CEO David Nasca.
The bank has “picked areas” where it can use its resources to make a difference, Nasca said.
“I don’t think the root causes can be ameliorated” by banks alone, he said. “We can’t just grant money. It has to be within our construct of a financial institution that invests and supports the public-private partnership. … All the oars [need to be] pulling together or this doesn’t work.”
‘Little or no engagement with minorities’
All of these efforts are, of course, welcomed by the community, but there is still criticism that banks haven’t done enough to make up for their past contributions to segregating the city. And perhaps more importantly, some of that criticism centers on banks failing to do their most basic function in society — provide credit.
In 2021, the New York State Department of Financial Services issued a report about redlining in Buffalo. The regulator looked at banks and nonbank lenders and found that loans made to minorities in the Buffalo metro area made up 9.74% of total loans in Buffalo. Overall, Black residents comprise about 33% of Buffalo’s total population of more than 276,000, census data shows.
The department said its investigation showed the lower percentage was not due to “excessive denials of loan applications based on race or ethnicity,” but rather that “these companies had little or no engagement with minorities and generally made scant effort to do so.”
“The unsurprising result of this has been that few minority customers or individuals seeking homes in majority-minority neighborhoods have made loan applications … in the first instance.”
Furthermore, accusations of redlining persist today, even though the practice of discriminating in housing based on race was outlawed by the Fair Housing Act of 1968.
In 2014, Evans was accused of redlining by the New York State Attorney General, which said the community bank was specifically avoiding making mortgage loans on the East Side. The bank, which at the time had $874 million of assets, agreed to pay $825,000 to settle the case, but Nasca maintains that the charges were unfounded. He points to the fact that the bank never had a fair lending or fair housing violation, no specific incidents were ever claimed and that the bank’s Community Reinvestment Act exam never found evidence of discriminatory or illegal credit practices.
The bank has a greater presence on the East Side today, but that’s because it has grown in size, not because it is trying to make up for previous accusations of redlining, he said.
“Ten years ago, our involvement [on the East Side] certainly wasn’t what you’re seeing today,” Nasca said. “We were looking to participate more, but we were participating within our means and our reach. As we have grown, we have built more resources to be able to do more.”
Shortly after accusations were made against Evans, Five Star Bank, the banking arm of Financial Institutions in Warsaw, New York, was also accused of redlining by the state Attorney General. Five Star, which has been growing its presence in the Buffalo market for several years, wound up settling the charges for $900,000 and agreeing to open two branches in the city of Rochester.
KeyBank is currently being accused of redlining by the National Community Reinvestment Coalition. In a 2022 report, the group said that KeyBank is engaging in systemic redlining by making very few home purchase loans in certain neighborhoods where the majority of residents are Black. Buffalo is one of several cities where the bank’s mortgage lending “effectively wall[ed] out Black neighborhoods,” especially parts of the East Side, the report said.
KeyBank denied the allegations. In March, the coalition asked regulators to investigate the bank’s mortgage lending practices.
Beyond providing more credit, some community members believe that banks should be playing a larger role in addressing other needs on the East Side. And the list of needs runs the gamut from more grocery stores to safe, affordable housing to infrastructure improvements such as street and sidewalk repairs.
Alexander Wright is founder of the African Heritage Food Co-op, an initiative launched in 2016 to address the dearth of grocery store options on the East Side, where he grew up. Wright said that while banks’ philanthropic efforts are important, banks in general “need to be in a place of remediation” to fix underlying issues that the industry, as a whole, helped create. (After publication of this story, Wright left his job as CEO of the African Heritage Food Co-Op.)
Aside from charitable donations, banks should be finding more ways to work directly with East Side business owners and entrepreneurs, helping them with capital-building support along the way, Wright said. One place to start would be technical assistance by way of bank volunteers.
“Banks are always looking to volunteer. ‘Hey, want to come out and paint a fence? Want to come out and do a garden?'” Wright said. “No. Come out here and help Keshia with bookkeeping. Come out here and do QuickBooks classes for folks. Bring out tax experts. Because these are things that befuddle a lot of small businesses. Who is your marketing person? Bring that person out here. Because those are the things that are going to build the business to self-sufficiency.
“Anything short of the capacity-building … that will allow folks to rise to the occasion and be self-sufficient I think is almost a waste,” Wright added. “We don’t need them to lead the plan. What we need them to do is be in the community and [be] hearing the plan and supporting it.”
Parker, of Open Buffalo, has similar thoughts about the role that banks should play. One day, soon after the massacre, an ATM appeared down the street from Tops, next to the library that sits across the street from Parker’s office. Soon after the ATM was installed, Parker began fielding questions from area residents who were skeptical of the machine and wanted to know if it was legitimate. But Parker didn’t have any information to share with them. “There was no outreach. There was no community engagement. So I’m like, ‘Let me investigate,'” she said. “I think that’s a symptom of how investment is done in Black communities, even though it may be well-intentioned.”
As it turns out, the temporary ATM belonged to JPMorgan Chase. The megabank has had a commercial banking presence in Buffalo for years, but it didn’t operate a retail branch in the region until last year. Today it has four branches in operation and plans to open another two by the end of the year, a spokesperson said.
After the Tops shooting, the governor’s office reached out to Chase asking if the bank could help in some way, the spokesperson said in response to the skepticism. The spokesperson said that while the Chase retail brand is new to the Buffalo region, the company has been active in the market for decades by way of commercial banking, private banking, credit card lending, home lending and other businesses.
In addition to the ATM, the bank provided funding to local organizations including FeedMore Western New York, which distributes food throughout the region.
“We are committed to continuing our support for Buffalo and helping the community increase access to opportunities that build wealth and economic empowerment,” the spokesperson said in an email.
In the year since the massacre, there has been some progress by banks in terms of their interest in listening to the East Side community and learning about its needs, said Nicholas. But he hasn’t felt an air of urgency from the banking community to tackle the issues right now.
“I do experience banks being a little more open to figuring out what their role is, but it’s slow. It’s slow,” said Nicholas. The senior pastor of the Lincoln Memorial United Methodist Church, located about a mile north from Tops, Nicholas is part of a 13-member local advisory committee for the New York arm of Local Initiatives Support Coalition, or LISC. The group is focused on mobilizing resources, including banks, to address affordable housing in Western New York, specifically in the inner city, as well as training minority developers and connecting them to potential investors, Nicholas said.
Of the 13 members, seven are from banks — one each from M&T, Bank of America, BankOnBuffalo, Evans and KeyBank, and two members from Citizens Financial Group. One of the priorities of LISC NY is health equity, and the fact that banks are becoming more engaged in looking at health disparities is promising, Nicholas said. Still, they have more work to do, he said.
“I need them to think more on how to strengthen and build the economy on the East Side and provide leadership around that, not only to provide charitable things, but using sound business and banking and community development principles to say, ‘OK, if we’re going to invest in this community, these are the types of things that need to happen in this community,’ and then encourage their partners and other people they work with … to come fully in on the East Side.”
Some bankers agree with the community activists.
“Putting a branch in is great. Having a bank on wheels is great,” said Noah of BankOnBuffalo. “But if you’re not embedded in the community, listening to the community and trying to improve it, you’re not creating that wealth and creating a better lifestyle for everyone.”
What could make a substantial difference in terms of banks’ impact on the community is a combination of collaboration and leadership, said Taylor. He supports the idea of banks leading the charge on the creation of a comprehensive redevelopment and reinvestment plan for the East Side, and then investing accordingly and collaboratively through their charitable foundations.
“All of them have these foundations,” Taylor said. “You can either spend that money in a strategic and intentional way designed to develop a community for the existing population, or you can spend that money alone in piecemeal, siloed, sectorial fashion that will look good on an annual report, but won’t generate transformational and generational changes inside a community.”
Banks might be incentivized to work together because it could mean two things for them, according to Taylor: First, they’d have an opportunity to spend money in a way that would have maximum impact on the East Side, and second, if done right, the city and the banks could become a model of the way to create high levels of diversity, equity and inclusion in an urban area.
“If you prove how to do that, all that does is open up other markets of consumption all over the country because people want to figure out how to do that same thing,” Taylor said.
Some of that is already happening, at least on a bank-by-bank case, said KeyBank’s Owunwanne. Through the KeyBank Foundation, the company is able to leverage different relationships that connect nonprofits to other entities and corporations that can provide help.
“I see this as an opportunity for us to make not just incremental changes, but monumental changes … as part of a larger group,” Owunwanne said “Again, I say that not to absolve the bank of any responsibility, but just as a larger group.”
Downstairs from Parker’s office, Golden Cup Coffee, a roastery and cafe run by a husband and wife team, and some other Jefferson Avenue businesses are trying to build up a business association for existing and potential Jefferson-area businesses. Parker imagined what the group could accomplish if one of the banks could provide someone on a part-time basis to facilitate conversations, provide administrative support and coordinate marketing efforts.
“In the grand scheme of things, when we’re talking about a multimillion dollar [bank], a part-time employee specifically dedicated to relationship-building and building out coalitions, it sounds like a small thing,” Parker said. “But that’s transformational.”
Ready to get your start in real estate? If so, don’t miss today’s podcast with Amy Rogers, an agent who started selling homes after investing in them herself. On this episode, Aaron and Amy discuss the transition from buying homes to selling them, offer advice to new agents, and cover strategies for growing market share in a shifting market. Amy also explains why a morning routine should be a part of every real estate agent’s day and how to apply what you learn by listening to the show.
Listen to today’s show and learn:
Why Amy Rogers decided get into real estate [2:38]
Amy’s start as a real estate agent [3:44]
How Amy found her first clients [6:10]
Amy’s first year in real estate [10:35]
Focusing on market share in 2023 [12:51]
Strategies for growing market share [15:34]
Amy’s opinion on CRMs and follow up [20:03]
Why Amy is focusing on social media in 2023 [22:27]
What Amy wishes she knew as a new real estate agent [23:48]
When Amy started listening to Real Estate Rockstars [26:04]
Taking action on what you learn [27:49]
Amy’s favorite real estate transaction [31:34]
The importance of a powerful morning routine [35:04]
Amy’s real estate investments [37:44]
Why Amy loves North Dakota [42:06]
Amy’s advice for people thinking about real estate [43:18]
Where to find and follow Amy Rogers [45:18]
Amy Rogers
As a real estate investor and real estate agent, Amy understands the importance of the best buy at the right time. As a military spouse and mother of four, she understands the significance of cultivating a home and putting down roots.
After bouncing between five states in six years and landing in Minot during a record-breaking blizzard, Amy was ready to call a place home. And Minot did not disappoint! Within hours of our arrival, with the help of new neighbors, they were unpacked, had fresh Christmas cookies and a snow cleared driveway.
In the five years Amy’s family has gotten to claim Minot as their own, “Minotians” have cared for their special needs son, supported her vintage furniture refinishing business, and supplied her with multiple opportunities to reinvent shabby properties into beautiful investment homes.
Whether Amy is transforming an old shuffleboard table into a kitchen island, rehabbing a 100-year-old bungalow, or serving the wonderful people of “NoDak” as their friendly real estate agent, she does so with care, skill, and an eye for value.
No matter if you are searching for your first home, your forever home, a flip, the next property in your portfolio, or the home of your dreams, Amy can help you with that!
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It might go without saying, but I’m going to say it anyway: We really value listeners like you. We’re constantly working to improve the show, so why not leave us a review? If you love the content and can’t stand the thought of missing the nuggets our Rockstar guests share every week, please subscribe; it’ll get you instant access to our latest episodes and is the best way to support your favorite real estate podcast. Have questions? Suggestions? Want to say hi? Shoot me a message via Twitter, Instagram, Facebook, or Email.
Still working from home, post-COVID? It’s probably time to turn that living room workspace into something more functional and stylish.
The COVID-19 pandemic sent a lot of workers scurrying into work-from-home situations to escape the madness and otherwise stay safe. Although many have since returned to the workplace, plenty of others are still working from home, often in makeshift office quarters. In a home with limited space, like the typical apartment, this can blur the lines between the living area, office area and everything in between.
It’s time to carve out a dedicated office space (if you haven’t already)
At the beginning of the pandemic, it seemed like sudden work-from-home situations would be temporary. But as the days dragged into weeks, months and beyond, a lot of employers and staff realized the tremendous benefits of remote work. No one enjoys a painful and time-consuming commute, and it’s simply much more comfortable to take a conference call in pajamas than in heels or pointy-toed dress shoes and a pantsuit.
Once the whole thing was mostly behind us, a lot of employees continued to work remotely, even if only on a part-time basis. Unfortunately, upgrading to a place with more square footage is not in the cards for many people, forcing workers to live, work and play in the same small area. Since it’s better for sleep quality to keep business out of the bedroom, that leaves the living room space as the front-runner for most home offices. And while many people have been using laptops on the couch for a while now, the problem is that the lack of a designated work area can affect job performance.
Dedicated workspaces promote concentration
It’s so easy to get distracted when working in the middle of your living room, leading to reduced productivity and possibly an upset boss. While you’re sitting in sight of that stack of mail, an annoying pile of unfolded laundry or whatever other chore needs doing, it’s likely to worm its way into your brain, pulling it away from critical work functions.
It’s tough to unplug after work hours are over
The flipside is also true of working from a couch. When the laptop is in full view, it’s easy to plug back in on the weekend or during the evening off hours. This is a problem because overworking can cause everything from neck and shoulder stiffness to stress or even serious health problems. Having time to rest and recharge is critical to one’s personal wellness. Work-life balance is no joke and trickier than it may seem.
Productivity goes up in a dedicated workspace
People are more efficient when they have a routine and a place that forces them to focus. Working in some sort of dedicated office space gets employees in the mind-frame that it’s time to get the job done, not surf the internet or watch reality television. Plus, no one wants all of that office-related clutter to take up valuable living space.
Key ways to create a living room and office combo
It’s easy enough to create a functional and effective office space in one’s living room with a few tools and an open mind. Take these critical steps toward making your home office into the most productive space possible.
Carve out a corner
Take a measured look at the living area and identify any pieces of furniture that are simply taking up space. Relocate, sell or store such items and rearrange the remaining bits so that your office can fit neatly into a corner. Bonus points if it faces a window because natural light is always a plus!
Invest in functional office furniture
There are certain pieces that no office would be complete without, including a desk, an ergonomically friendly chair and a filing cabinet (or some other storage space). If you’re concerned that you’re not getting your steps in around a conventional office, try a standing desk with an adjustable height option or even one that attaches to a treadmill to keep moving. Or, stick with a conventional desk and take calls on your feet whenever possible to stretch your legs.
Invest in the right equipment
Since video conferencing is here to stay, consider a professional-grade conference room camera (some even hook up to your television) and set up a ring light to put you in the best possible lighting. Don’t forget a pair of noise-canceling headphones to block out any rowdy neighbors, garbage trucks or other miscellaneous background distractions.
Another idea for designating a space is using an attractive and portable divider, like this privacy screen in rustic barnwood style to section the space off from the rest of the room. This will allow you to focus on work without a wandering eye, plus it’ll keep professional items attractively out of sight from the living area. No one wants a printer visible from the coffee table, right?
Lastly, add in a couple of pretty green desk plants and some colorful artwork for inspiration. This doesn’t mean that you can never use a lap desk on the couch again, but it does offer a vastly more professional and productive space to work from when the situation calls for it.
Get the job done right in the ideal home office
For many, the switch to remote work has been a positive one that they wouldn’t trade for anything. So set yourself up for success with a workspace that illustrates your commitment and capabilities. Find your dream apartment today!
A freelance writer based out of the Atlanta area, Alia has penned articles during her decade+ career for such sites as HowStuffWorks, TLC, Animal Planet, Zillow and many more. Her favorite things to write about include fitness, nutrition, travel, healthcare and general lifestyle topics. A graduate of the University of Georgia, Alia’s an avid Dawg, but she also loves reading, sewing, eating all things chocolate and playing sports with her husband, three boys and beloved border collie, Flash.
Buying a home is an exhilarating and life-changing milestone, and likely a purchase you’ll only complete a few times in your lifetime. Before you start on such a momentous journey, you’ll want to know what to do, when you should do it and what to expect along the way. Here’s a helpful guide about the entire homebuying process, broken into ten simple steps.
Step 1: Check Your Credit and Do Your Research
Although it’s possible to buy a home with cash, most homebuyers do so with the help of a mortgage. There are various types of mortgages available with different interest rates, down payment options, and other terms to consider.
Your FICO score will impact the interest rate and types of loans you qualify for, so getting your credit into great shape is an investment that can bring great returns.
Obtaining your existing credit report is a smart first step in your journey. This will help you to identify any items that need addressing or correcting before you apply for a home loan.
This step is easily done and shouldn’t cost you anything, since the law states you are entitled to one free credit check per year, per reporting agency.
Step 2: Determine Your Budget
Your homebuying budget will be impacted by your household finances and the market you are searching in. Hopefully, you’ll be able to settle on an ideal home price range that gives you both a monthly payment you can afford, and a large number of homes to choose from in your preferred neighborhoods. In order to determine your estimated monthly payment amount, choose a few sample home listings you like, and run them through a customizable loan calculator.
Step 3: Get Pre-Screened for Your New Mortgage
Once you have an idea of what you want within your budget, it’s time to find a lender and get pre-screened for a mortgage to finance your new abode. Getting pre-qualified will ensure that you’re on the right track with your plans and will save you a lot of time and worry. Once you know your financing limit, you won’t fall in love with a home only to realize that you can’t get the loan you need to buy it.
There are several steps involved in becoming pre-screened for a mortgage, but it is a quick and easy process that your lender will guide you through. Getting this first step in the loan process completed before you start looking at homes will ensure that you are ready to make an offer (and have a better chance of succeeding with that offer) when you find your perfect home. Plus, some sellers will only consider offers from buyers who have been pre-screened by a lender for a specific loan amount, so it’s best to set yourself up for success with this easy move.
Some lenders, such as Pennymac, will allow you to lock in your home loan rate at this stage in the process. This can allow you to protect yourself from rising rates while you shop for your new home. Ask a Pennymac Loan Expert about the Lock & Shop program* and how to get started on your mortgage pre-screening.
Step 4: Find the Right Real Estate Agent
The help and guidance provided by a real estate agent or REALTOR® can be priceless, particularly for first-time homebuyers or those searching in an unfamiliar area. From negotiation experience to neighborhood knowledge, the right agent can successfully guide you through one of the biggest purchases you will ever make.
An added bonus is that agents don’t cost the home buyer anything; they’re compensated mainly via a commission from the seller of the home. Despite the value that they can offer, it is not required that homebuyers use a real estate agent, and some buyers do choose to handle the process on their own. But be sure you’ve done your research before opting out of using an agent.
If you need help choosing the right agent, you can be connected with a verified, top-producing agent through Pennymac’s exclusive nationwide agent network, Pennymac Home Connect. You can even earn between $350 and $9,500 at closing should you buy or sell a home with that agent.1
Step 5: Begin Looking at Homes
Now that you’ve done your research and prepared financially, it’s time to start the fun and exciting process of looking at homes.
You will most likely start your house hunting process with a list of must-have features. Once you find several homes that pass the first test, it’s time to evaluate them individually. Here are two categories of deal-breaker (or negotiation-worthy) features to consider while searching.
Some things to consider when you inspect a prospective home:
Plumbing: Run the showers and sinks to observe the water pressure. You’ll also want to look under sinks and appliances for any evidence of leaks. And don’t forget to check the age of the hot water heater.
HVAC: Be sure to get all of the essential questions answered. Such as, how old are the heating and air conditioning units? When was the last time they were serviced? Would you have to add ductwork or remove extensive old systems to install the features you want?
Exterior: What is the age, condition, and composition of the roof, siding, and windows? These are expensive items to replace, and unexpected issues like siding tear-off or the presence of asbestos can make them even more costly.
Electricity: Are there switches and light fixtures where you want them? Fixtures are easy to update, but running new electrical wiring in areas where it doesn’t yet exist can be a much bigger project.
Appliances: Are they included in the home sale? How old are they, and how well do they work? A set of new appliances for a home, even on the low end, can run $3,000 or more.
What to look for around your prospective new home:
The street: Is it noisy? What about on weekends or at rush hour? If you or your guests will need to park on the street, is there enough space available?
Your new neighbors: How do the other homes on the block look? Are they updated and well maintained? Does the neighborhood seem safe and friendly?
The location: How close is the home to your job, schools, shopping, public transportation, and other important places you will need to visit frequently?
Step 6: Make Your Offer
Once you’ve found a house with the location and features you want, it’s time to make an offer. Each home and market are different, but your agent should be able to guide you toward a reasonable offer. Not all offers are accepted on the first go-around — the seller may counter, and you may counter again in return. Once you’ve mutually agreed upon a price, you and the seller will be under contract, also known as being in escrow.
To learn more about escrow accounts, read our article: The Role of Escrow Accounts in Real Estate Transactions.
Step 7: Schedule a Home Inspection (and Other Tests)
The escrow period is a time for you to get more information on your prospective new home, including consulting with various experts. The first thing that most homebuyers do is to schedule a home inspection. During an inspection, nearly all features and systems of your home will be checked and evaluated, with both the homebuyer and seller receiving a report on the home inspector’s findings. The results of these findings can trigger additional negotiations, especially if repairs or updates are needed.
Step 8: Lock In a Rate & Loan Program With Your Lender
Most homebuyers have multiple options to compare when they’re shopping for a mortgage. Whether your priority is a low down payment, a great interest rate, or a particular loan term, your lender should be able to explain the different home loan choices available to you, and how each one impacts your monthly budget and long-term financial goals.
Step 9: Get Your Home Appraised
An important step to protect your investment and obtain appropriate financing is the appraisal. An appraiser uses data from comparable property sales, as well as key features of the home you’re looking to buy in order to come up with a fair current value for your future home.
Because the appraiser is a member of a third-party company (and not directly associated with you, the seller, or the lender), their opinion of your home’s value is accurate and neutral. This ensures that you are not paying too much, and that your lender is not lending you more than a home is actually worth.
Step 10: Nail Your Paperwork and Close the Sale
Once you have fulfilled all of your lender’s documentation requests, it’s time to close escrow on your loan. The actual paperwork that you need to complete and sign will vary based on your loan type and even the location of your home, but closing is typically a straightforward process that your lender, agent, and title company will guide you through. Typically, you will walk out of your closing appointment with the keys to your new home, ready to step into an exciting new chapter of your life.
Get Started on the Path to Your New Home Today
Now that your journey has been broken down into ten simple steps, it’s easy to see that buying a home is a fairly straightforward (as well as fun and exciting) experience. No matter which step you’re currently on, talking to a Pennymac Loan Expert or getting started online can help you succeed on your path to a new home.
*Lock & Shop Program allows consumers pre-approved for a purchase loan with Pennymac to lock a rate prior to locating a property. The program requires a non-refundable fee of $595 due at the time of the rate lock. Consumers pre-approved for a purchase loan with Pennymac must meet appropriate underwriting conditions to obtain a mortgage loan. Consumers may choose between a 60-day, 75-day or 90-day lock period. Consumers must initiate a mortgage loan application for a specific property and be under purchase contract for the property at least 30 days prior to lock expiration in order to extend the locked rate. All rate lock extensions are subject to Pennymac’s standard rate lock extension fees. After the rate lock and subject to favorable market conditions, consumers may be eligible for a one-time reduction in rate once the loan application for a specific property has been initiated (0.50 % maximum reduction in interest rate allowed). Eligible loan products are Conventional Fixed, Conventional ARM, FHA Fixed and VA Fixed. Program excludes Jumbo, refinance, third-party and in-process loans. Program subject to termination in Pennymac’s sole discretion and without notice.
1Pennymac Home Connect is offered in partnership with HomeStory Real Estate Services, a licensed real estate broker. HomeStory Real Estate Services is not affiliated with PennyMac Loan Services, LLC, and PennyMac Loan Services, LLC is not responsible for the program provided by HomeStory Real Estate Services. Obtaining a mortgage from PennyMac Loan Services, LLC is optional and not required to participate in the program offered by HomeStory Real Estate Services. The borrower may arrange for financing with any lender.
Qualifying for the reward requires using a real estate agent that participates in HomeStory’s broker to broker agreement to complete the real estate buy and/or sell transaction. You retain the right to negotiate buyer and or seller representation agreements. Upon successful close of the transaction, the Real Estate Agent pays a referral fee to HomeStory Real Estate Services. All Agents have been independently vetted by HomeStory to meet performance expectations required to participate in the program. If you are currently working with a REALTOR®, please disregard this notice. It is not our intention to solicit the offerings of other REALTORS®. A reward is not available where prohibited by state law, including Alaska, Iowa, Louisiana and Missouri. A reduced agent commission may be available for sellers in lieu of the reward in Mississippi, New Jersey, Oklahoma, and Oregon and should be discussed with the agent upon enrollment. No reward will be available for buyers in Mississippi, Oklahoma, and Oregon. A commission credit may be available for buyers in lieu of the reward in New Jersey and must be discussed with the agent upon enrollment and included in a Buyer Agency Agreement with Rebate Provision. Rewards in Kansas and Tennessee are required to be delivered by gift card.
HomeStory will issue the reward using the payment option you select and will be sent to the client enrolled in the program within 45 days of HomeStory Real Estate Services receipt of settlement statements and any other documentation reasonably required to calculate the applicable reward amount. Real estate agent fees and commissions still apply. Short sale transactions do not qualify for the reward. Depending on state regulations highlighted above, reward amount is based on sale price of the home purchased and/or sold and cannot exceed $9,500 per buy or sell transaction. Employer-sponsored relocations may preclude participation in the reward program offering. PennyMac Loan Services, LLC is not responsible for the reward. The reward is valid for 18 months from the date of enrollment. After 18 months, you must re-enroll to be eligible for a reward. Offer subject to change or cancellation without notice.
PennyMac Loan Services, LLC ( Lender NMLS 35953 ) does not perform any activity that is or could be construed as unlicensed real estate activity, and PennyMac Loan Services, LLC is not licensed as a real estate broker. Agents of PennyMac Loan Services, LLC are not authorized to perform real estate activity.
PennyMac Loan Services, LLC loans subject to credit approval. Offer subject to change or cancellation without notice.
The trademarks, logos and names of other companies, products and services are the property of their respective owners.
The real estate market is starting to get really, really weird.
Recently, an open house was actually shut down by the police after more than 100 people showed up in just 45 minutes, according to a recent article by CNBC.
Channing Real Estate agent Catherine Luther told the publication that she got “shut down,” the first time that’s ever happened to her after 30 years in the business.
The open house took place on a Saturday in suburban Belmont, which is in the Boston, Massachusetts area.
After less than an hour, the sheer number of attendees was enough to block the street, prompting neighbors to call the police.
Of course, after witnessing that kind of buzz, they might be better off calling their real estate agent instead…
The next day, Luther was back at it (always be closing), but this time she hired an off-duty police officer to direct traffic flow and avoid another shut down.
The officer apparently counted more than 150 cars. And just three days later, the 3-bedroom colonial home was under contract.
I’m assuming there was a nice little bidding war, not to mention that it will probably go well above asking.
What the Heck Is Going On?
This might be the first time the police have had to intervene at an open house, at least for capacity concerns, but it’s not the first time an open house has looked more like a block party.
The CNBC article cites another recent open house in Seattle, which apparently attracted more than 100 prospective home buyers.
And a recent episode of Portlandia even poked fun at the now very joke-worthy real estate fad. In that episode, which counted Zillow as an advertiser and made many references to Zillow, which annoyed some people, an open house turned into a similar circus.
After viewing the home, the main characters, who happened to be first-time home buyers, were urged to write a cover letter explaining why they wanted the home so bad, and of course they were selected by the sellers, or rather, their agent.
But upon hearing the word “escrow,” which Portlandia jokingly claimed was based on “Eye-scroh,” the Egyptian god of waiting 30 days, they nervously backed out.
Minutes later, the home was sold to a pair of overzealous amateur house flippers instead.
Interestingly, this latest housing craze is a bit different than the one that preceded it. The prior boom and subsequent crisis was fueled by loose lending, namely 100% financing on purchases and cash-out refinances with little or no documentation.
We aren’t quite back to those days, though it’s still pretty easy to buy a home with next to nothing thanks to the FHA and 97 LTV loans.
But today it’s more about a lack of inventory, which is fueling insane demand, whether it’s rational or not. There’s also the fear of “missing out,” which I wrote about in a prior post.
Put simply, this lack of inventory, paired with mortgage rates that are still historically very, very cheap, is making people go bonkers.
It’s times like this when people should stop and ask themselves why they really want to buy a home, and determine if they’re ready for such a commitment.
Despite Portlandia’s supreme silliness, they do make a good point about the current state of affairs in the real estate world. It’s bizarre and nonsensical.
Real estate agents and brokers, if you could choose where your next listing is coming from, wouldn’t you always answer, “repeat or referral business?”
Of course, you would.
Repeat and referral clients are easier to work with. They already know, love and trust you. You’re probably not going to compete for their business. And, they are less likely to throw objections at you! Also, they don’t ask you to cut your commission or shoot them a kickback.
So if you wish to boost your repeat and referral business ASAP, it’s time to embrace three specific steps:
Create a database
Have an organized database with names, numbers, email addresses, LinkedIn, Facebook, Instagram and other contact information on each client. You don’t need a fancy CRM. Call each person to update the rest of their profile. It’s a great excuse to make that first — or next — contact. Use your F-O-R-D (family, occupation, recreation, dreams) conversation outline to make these calls fruitful. Refer to our podcasts and other articles about how to speak with your sphere of influence.
Speak with all of your contacts regularly.
That means face-to-face or voice-to-voice real contact. A contact is a conversation with a decision-making adult about real estate. For example, if you have 200 people in your database and you speak with 10 per day on work days, you can actually speak to 100% of your list every single month. What would that do to your repeat and referral business? If 10 is too many, start with five contacts per day and you will speak with 100% of your list every sixty days.
Expand your center of influence systematically.
10% of the people in your database will do business with you or refer business to you every year, assuming you communicate with them. If your database is 100 people strong, you’ll have 10 transactions from them yearly. 200 people could mean 20 transactions, and so forth. Smaller is better. Don’t dump random leads into your database. Past clients, friends, family, neighbors and people in your sphere of influence belong on this list. You can have a second list of your professional center of influence that includes lenders, title professionals, painters, insurance representatives etc.
To expand your center of influence contacts, try these three approaches:
a) Things you like to do anyway
This list could include your hobbies, sports teams, arts and culture events, fitness routine or going on organized hikes. You’ll be around like-minded people, talking about mutual interests. Use MeetUp.com to find things that interest you. Try out new clubs to expand your contacts.
b) Business networking
For the sake of networking. Business Network International, the Chamber of Commerce, Toastmasters, entrepreneurs club, investors clubs, and more are all great ways to meet new professional contacts.
c) Charitable events.
Auctions, food drives, toy drives, fundraisers, school and church events are all great for a multitude of reasons. You’ll be around philanthropic-minded wealthy patrons of these events, expanding your sphere into neighborhoods you may not yet be working in, meeting interesting people and networking at a high level.
It’s also important to get into the habit of immediately adding new contacts to your smartphone contacts, then emailing their name to yourself so you can get them into your CRM. Add a note in your contacts to remind yourself how you met them. For example: ‘Sherry Seller. Met at Orange Theory. Married, three kids, and a fish. Moved to Austin from Chicago.’
Most importantly, remember that in order for these tips to become predictable, duplicatable sources of business, you add more contacts and touch base with them more frequently to achieve that flow of leads.
Tim and Julie Harris host a podcast for real estate professionals. Tim and Julie of Premier Coaching have been real estate coaches for more than two decades, coaching the top agents in the country through different types of markets.
Ohio pulses with vibrant cities, quaint small towns, robust industry and natural wonders.
Each corner of Ohio echoes a different rhythm and a unique character, painting a picture of diversity that’s as intriguing as it is inviting. Finding the best places to live in Ohio is not just a matter of preference, but an exploration, an adventure into the heartland of America’s Midwest.
Let’s explore seven of the best places to live in Ohio and the specific attributes that make these cities such special places to call home in the Buckeye State.
When it comes to the best places to live in Ohio, Columbus emerges as an undeniable beacon of culture and character.
Columbus teems with life. German Village (pictured above), is a study in preservation, where meticulously refurbished brick houses whisper tales of a German past, and the aroma of freshly baked pretzels wafts in the air. Contrast this with the urban fabric of Short North, where art galleries jostle for space with trendy boutiques and eclectic eateries on every corner.
Ensconced in the city’s heart is The Ohio State University, a gargantuan center of education that attracts young minds from around the globe. The Buckeye spirit, more than just collegiate loyalty, permeates throughout the city, crafting a sense of community and camaraderie that ignites on football Saturdays.
What truly anchors Columbus among the best places to live in Ohio, however, is its diversity. Columbus is a city where multiple cultures coalesce yet maintain their distinct identities. It is here where an annual celebration of Asian culture thrives within the same city that hosts one of the largest Pride parades in the Midwest.
Columbus is a city where histories are preserved, cultures are celebrated and futures are crafted. It is undeniably a city that promises not just a place to live, but a place to truly belong. It is the reflection of the American spirit, an emblem of the state of Ohio and indisputably one of the best places in the state to call home.
There is an undercurrent of vibrancy and a spirit of resurgence that permeates Cincinnati. It’s a city where tradition entwines seamlessly with innovation, where century-old buildings host start-ups, microbreweries and gourmet coffee roasters. There is a renaissance unfolding in Cincinnati. Its heart is beating at a different pace than ever before and it’s no wonder that this city is quickly rising the ranks among the best places to live in Ohio and the country.
Cincinnati is a city of neighborhoods, each with its distinct character, charm and flavor. The historic Over-the-Rhine district, once a 19th-century German enclave, hums with craft breweries, artisan shops and music venues set in Italianate architecture. The newly revitalized Cincinnati riverfront, now home to Smale Riverfront Park, provides an open space where families and friends gather for picnics, concerts and to take in views of the sparkling river.
Despite being Ohio’s third-largest city, Cincinnati retains a small-town charm. This is a city where people pause to greet their neighbors, and where community festivals and farmers markets serve as social gathering spots. Among the bustle of city life, there’s a deep sense of community. That sense of connection is Cincinnati’s lifeblood and most admirable attribute.
And the city’s strengths extend beyond cultural richness and community spirit. A growing economy, with a strong presence in finance, healthcare and education, provides an abundance of job opportunities. The city is home to more than ten Fortune 500 companies, a testament to its thriving business climate. Moreover, Cincinnati’s education system is robust, boasting well-regarded public and private schools and esteemed universities like the University of Cincinnati and Xavier University.
The cost of living in Cincinnati is another compelling factor. Housing is notably affordable compared to other major U.S. cities, making homeownership attainable for many. The city’s mix of grand, old-world mansions, stylish downtown condos and family-friendly suburban neighborhoods offers something for everyone.
When you dive deep into Cincinnati’s heart, you understand why it is a contender in the list of the best places to live in Ohio. It is a city that embraces its rich history while looking forward to its promising future. A city that provides a bounty of life, work and play opportunities for its residents. Cincinnati is a city that has carved a unique identity and married its Midwest charm with a broader urban appeal. Cincinnati is not merely a city—it’s a thriving community offering an enviable lifestyle.
An undercurrent of tenacious vitality courses through the arteries of Cleveland. It’s one of those places that finds its way into the contours of your memory and as such, should be a prime contender in any discussion regarding the best places to live in Ohio.
The city’s history is as diverse as its population. It has always been a city of industry, with roots embedded deeply in the steel and healthcare industries. And, with NASA’s Glenn Research Center right at its doorstep, Cleveland also actively writing its own legacy of space exploration.
Yet, it would be misleading to suggest that life in Cleveland is purely an industrious affair. The city boasts a culture that could rival cities twice its size. The Cleveland Orchestra is recognized as one of the finest in the world, gracing the beautiful Severance Hall with symphonic melodies that reverberate in the hearts of its listeners. The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame is here too, a modern-day shrine to music legends, offering a tangible connection to the pulse and rhythm of America’s musical heart.
The city’s green spaces provide a welcome respite from the urban sprawl. The Cleveland Metroparks system, known as the ‘Emerald Necklace,’ encircles the city with a chain of beautiful parks, gardens and hiking trails. These spaces provide a welcome sanctuary for those seeking tranquility in nature’s beauty away from the bustle.
Community is the lifeblood of Cleveland. It is a city built on neighborhoods, each with its unique personality and charm. From the edgy and artsy aura of Tremont to the multicultural haven that is Ohio City, the city pulses with a profound sense of camaraderie.
With a quiet charm that takes its time to reveal itself, Akron stakes its claim as one of the best places to live in Ohio. Nestled within the heartland of the Buckeye State, this once-industrial powerhouse has gracefully evolved into a vibrant hub of culture, innovation and greenery.
The allure of Akron is not just in the present but deeply rooted in its past. It sprang to life during the height of the American Industrial Revolution, earning the moniker “Rubber Capital of the World”. That history has left a legacy in Akron’s architectural cityscape, with the old factories repurposed into lofts, art studios and breweries, painting a picture of the city’s resiliency and innovative spirit.
It’s impossible to overlook the city’s commitment to green spaces. The jewel in this emerald crown is the Cuyahoga Valley National Park, straddling the edges of Akron. With 125 miles of hiking trails and ample opportunities for outdoor exploration, it presents a picture of Ohio at its natural best.
The city’s culinary landscape is a kaleidoscope of flavors. Authentic Polish and Italian establishments rub shoulders with trendy farm-to-table restaurants and vegan bistros, a true testament to Akron’s forward-thinking ethos. The city even has a growing craft beer scene, where old rubber factories are now home to innovative breweries.
Yet, beneath the wealth of amenities, the real charm of Akron lies in the warmth of its people. Students, artists, entrepreneurs and families—all residents of Akron—unify with a deep-seated sense of community and pride in their city. Neighbors greet each other by name, support local businesses and celebrate community events together, creating a strong sense of connection. Sounds like one of the best places to live in Ohio if you ask us.
Dayton is deeply rooted in innovation and invention. It’s a town where two humble bicycle mechanics dared to dream of humans taking flight. Here, in this unassuming spot, the Wright brothers leaped into history. The echoes of this ingenuity and perseverance still resonate in Dayton’s spirit today, cultivating a culture that values creativity and technological advancement equally.
The pulse of life in Dayton beats strongly, fueled by its robust economy. A significant hub for aerospace and defense industries, healthcare and education, Dayton offers a wide range of career opportunities, contributing to its relatively low unemployment rates. Its cost of living, significantly below the national average, adds to its allure, making a higher quality of life attainable even for young families.
Dayton is home to various museums, art galleries, theaters and music festivals. The Dayton Art Institute showcases exhibitions that crisscross time, geography and genre.
In Dayton, you’ll find more than just a place to live. You’ll find a living, breathing community that hums with the rhythms of work and play, tradition and innovation, solitude and camaraderie. Indeed, in the understated charm of Dayton, Ohio, the extraordinary often resides in the ordinary.
There’s something about Toledo that simply captures the heart. Ranked among the best places to live in Ohio, its charm is undeniable. In Toledo, industry and nature dance an unexpected waltz, and you’ll find a distinctive Midwestern magic humming along its streets, in its people and within its nooks and crannies.
Known as “Glass City,” Toledo is a city where centuries-old artistry coexists with the cutting-edge innovations of tomorrow. Its glass industry, a beacon of technological prowess, offers a counterpoint to the rugged industrial atmosphere of the town. Yet, in the same breath, it acts as a mirror, reflecting Toledo’s shimmering skyline over the Maumee and subtly underscoring the city’s synergy of innovation and tradition.
Toledo, in its modest Midwestern way, is a cultural titan. The Toledo Museum of Art, with its wide-ranging collection, attracts admirers from across the globe. Meanwhile, the city offers an ongoing feast, each dish a testament to the community’s diversity, and local favorites like Tony Packo’s Cafe give residents and visitors alike a taste of Toledo’s unique flavor.
Toledo holds the promise of comfortable living at an affordable cost. Its real estate market offers options that suit every budget and lifestyle, while the presence of strong educational institutions like the University of Toledo provides excellent opportunities for personal growth and professional development.
Toledo doesn’t need to boast its merits. Its strength lies in its quiet confidence, its symbiosis of contrasts and the unassuming charm that makes it not just a great city in Ohio, but a reflection of the heartland itself. For anyone seeking the best places to live in Ohio, Toledo is a city that sings a compelling song.
Bathed in the pastel hues of the setting sun, Youngstown emerges like a silent symphony playing on the strings of rustic charm and urban pulse. Tucked away from the frantic pace of larger cities, this quaint corner of the Buckeye State cradles within its city limits a melting pot of culture, history and a refreshing sense of community spirit. The city, once dubbed the ‘City of Homes’, stands as an unsung anthem in the list of best places to live in Ohio.
What’s most fascinating about Youngstown, is its simultaneous nod to its robust history and its thrust into a promising future. The city bears the mementos of its industrious past with dignity. Mahoning Avenue, once the nerve center of a bustling steel economy, now blossoms with local businesses, boutiques and restaurants that act as a living representation of the city’s ongoing rebirth.
Adding to Youngstown’s appeal is its cost of living, significantly lower than the national average. This affordability coupled with the city’s excellent education system, epitomized by Youngstown State University, makes the city attractive to families and recent graduates alike.
In its quietude, Youngstown murmurs an enchanting tale of resilience, renewal and community. Whether it’s the history lover, the culture enthusiast, the nature aficionado or those yearning for the close-knit community spirit, the city welcomes all with open arms. That’s why, in the landscape of the best places to live in Ohio, Youngstown firmly defends its place on the list.
Find the best place to live in Ohio
Hopefully, this expedition through the best places to live in Ohio has painted a vivid picture of a state rich in history, laden with opportunities, blessed by nature and enriched by community spirit. These chosen locales, each with its unique rhythm, create an enchanting symphony that is Ohio. Explore Ohio apartments today!