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Accounting, Digital, Broker Comp Tools; FHA, VA, USDA Developments; Why Rates are Stubborn

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Accounting, Digital, Broker Comp Tools; FHA, VA, USDA Developments; Why Rates are Stubborn

By:
Rob Chrisman

4 Hours, 13 Min ago

Imagine my surprise at finding tag (like on the playground) is an organized sport. Imagine my surprise at finding two gas stations at the same intersection yesterday in Truckee, California with two different prices for unleaded! Rather than wait for the CFPB to tell me that I could save money by going to the cheapest station, as it did by paying for a study on how different lenders have different mortgage prices, I actually reasoned, all by myself, that I could, and did, buy the least expensive gasoline. Switching gears, but continuing on with the thinking vein, a lot of reasoning went into determining that a) the earth is round, and b) globes are not some newly invented conspiracy theory. Someone needs to let Georgia’s current GOP district chair Kandiss Taylor know globes are globes. What the heck am I missing by subscribing to the round earth concept? And how about this for sensationalist headlines from Auction.com: One-Third of Buyers Expect Home Prices to Decline. Really? “Despite rising expectations for a home price correction in 2023, 87% of buyers said they planned to increase or keep the same their property acquisitions for the year, up slightly from 86% in 2022.” (Today’s podcast can be found here and this week’s is sponsored by Built Technologies. Join Built Technologies on June 20th at 12 PM CST for an exclusive webinar that will dive into proactive portfolio monitoring as Built’s experts share best practices for achieving greater visibility into your construction portfolio.)

Broker and Lender Services and Software

Quorum Federal Credit Union has upgraded its Borrower Paid Broker Compensation Program. The program offers partners the opportunity to earn up to 2.00 percent borrower paid broker compensation on the entire line amount, up to $5,000, for all HELOC products. Primary and Second Home HELOCs offer no minimum draws, no early termination fees, and no annual fees. With minimum loan amounts at $25,000, Quorum offers financing up to $350,000. Investment Property HELOCs also offer no minimum draws and no early termination fees with minimum loan amounts at $50,000 and financing up to $250,000. Contact your Account Executive, visit the Quorum Partner Portal or email [email protected] for more information.

“Unite your mortgage process with an end-to-end digital closing solution. Initially, American Federal implemented the Mortgage Suite without Blend Close, but later realized our digital closing solution aligned with their growth strategy. Find out how they were able to speed up the borrower’s journey, close loans faster, and save more time. Dive into their case study.”

For independent mortgage banks coping with shrinking production volumes and rising costs per loan, outsourcing accounting is an elegant solution to what’s become a very common challenge. Whether you have no accounting expertise in-house or you have a new team with no mortgage experience, you can tap the Richey May Client Accounting and Advisory Services (CAAS) team for the support you need. This team is stacked with mortgage industry experts who can tailor your solution to meet your most pressing needs in a volatile time, with no training needed. Need help transitioning to loan level accounting? Need a fully outsourced function? You got it! Need industry training for your controller? We can do that. In this article, Richey May’s expert Kim Dittmer answers all your most frequently asked questions around outsourced accounting as a mortgage bank.

Ginnie, USDA, FHA, and VA Updates

The industry’s applications include about 25 percent VA, FHA, and USDA. These products continue to garner the lion’s share of production for underserved and, let’s face it, low-quality borrowers. These are the borrowers targeted by the Biden Administration. Freddie and Fannie (the GSEs) ask seller-servicers for these “mission loans” but LOs know that there are few cases where a lender could or should advise a consumer to take out a conventional loan versus FHA/VA. Let’s see what’s going on out there.

Anyone making a living on refinancing FHA or VA loans is in for a rough road. Overall, roughly 33% of all American homeowners wrapped into 30-year agency mortgage bonds are paying 3% or less on their home loans. Chris Maloney with BOKF writes, “Breaking that down across the three segments for how much of the universe is paying 3% or less on their mortgages as of the end of May, for conventional 30-year borrowers that comes to 32%, for FHA 30-year borrowers 21.9% and for VA borrowers 50.7%. And using the Optimal Blue lending rates as a guide, the amount of the 30-year universe that is out-of-the-money (defined as not having at least 50 basis points of incentive) finds 99.6% of the conventional 30-year and FHA borrowers in that state while for the VA borrowers it’s 99.5%.”

FHA posted a draft of Mortgagee Letter (ML), Payment Supplement Partial Claim, on its Single-Family Housing Drafting Table (Drafting Table) for public feedback. The draft ML proposes a new loss mitigation option, the Payment Supplement Partial Claim (Payment Supplement PC), to assist struggling borrowers that are delinquent on their mortgage payments and are unable to obtain a significant payment reduction with other available loss mitigation options. This option will be particularly useful for borrowers who have below market interest rates. View the FHA Press Release for details.

Don’t forget that the FHA is seeking comments on its proposed HECM Mortgagee Default Requirements. FHA recently posted a draft Mortgagee Letter (draft ML) that would expand FHA’s processes related to actual or anticipated mortgagee default on obligations to a borrower under Home Equity Conversion Mortgages (HECMs) insured by FHA.

At the end of May, The Community Home Lenders of America (CHLA) commended FHA Commissioner Julia Gordon for the announcement that FHA is proposing a program to create a flexible partial claim loan modification option for defaulted borrowers, which avoids having to take the underlying loan out of a Ginnie Mae loan pool. CHLA was the first national association to ask FHA to develop such a program option, in a letter to FHA last August.

All Participants Memorandum (APM) 23-08, Ginnie Mae announced updates to the adoption of Single Family and Manufactured Housing Program pooling into the new Single Family Pool Delivery Module (SFPDM) in MyGinnieMae. This transition from GinnieNET to the SFPDM application will enhance user experience and align Ginnie Mae with mortgage industry standards by using the MISMO-compliant Pool Delivery Dataset (PDD).

USDA Rural Development posted a bulletin on 05/30/2023, Interest Rate Decrease for SFH Direct Programs.

FHA announced the availability of 203(k) Rehabilitation Mortgage Program fact sheets for consumers and aspiring and current FHA203(k) Consultants. These materials are designed to help increase awareness and understanding of the features and benefits of the program. The fact sheets include a program overview with features, benefits, and requirements, as well as additional 203(k) Program resources.

PRMG Product Update 23-29, includes Investor Solution update on AirDNA requirement for short term rentals on a purchase. Clarification on UT Utah Housing FHA for wholesale loans regarding the allowance of In-House and Third-Party Processing Fees charges, and multiple clarifications on CO CHFA FirstStep Plus.

AmeriHome Mortgage General Announcement 20230512-CL summarizes previously published changes made during May, additional changes made with the announcement, and recent Agency and regulatory news.

Capital Markets

Why did rates improve Thursday, and this week, especially when there is no “big” data? Well, initial jobless claims, which are a leading indicator, hit their highest level since November 2021. That connotes some softening in the labor market which the Fed would like to see, and which could tip it toward holding, rather than raising, the overnight Fed funds rate.

Supply is also on the radar screen but expected. Investors remain cautious ahead of next Wednesday’s Federal Open Market Committee meeting and fears about the impending sale of $1 trillion of Treasury bills is also not helping sentiment: With the debt ceiling deal in place, the Treasury will issue more than $1 trillion in short-term debt to keep the lights on. This will push up short term rates at least in the near-term, which won’t help those looking for mortgage rate relief.

In addition to rate worries, as mortgage-backed security spreads remain at the widest levels since the 1980’s, home prices continue to move higher. Lower mortgage rates earlier in the year likely played a role in the uptick, however scarce supply of desirable homes continues to add to price pressures. A strong job market helps housing demand, particularly in the face of challenging affordability and last week’s release of the May employment report generally showed a healthy labor market, with the headline reading coming in around 145k above analysts’ estimates to register at 339k. Despite that new robust employment data, downward revisions to earlier numbers suggest a broad cooling trend remains intact. The numbers now show the US added an average of 182k private sector jobs in the past three months, the fewest since January 2021.

Despite a strong labor market, consumer sentiment also slipped in May to register down 9.1 percent from April, according to the University of Michigan Consumer Sentiment Survey. Inflationary expectations for the near term fell, while longer-term expectations rose to 3.2 percent, the highest level in 12 years. The Fed pays close attention to the UM inflationary expectations, so this is bad news for those hoping for rate cuts this year and does not bode well for those hoping for a sudden window of billions of dollars’ worth of mortgages coming into refinance incentive again

Lastly, while we’re waiting for all those recession predictions to come true, yield curve inversion has increased over the past couple of weeks as the market continues to capitulate to the Fed’s “higher rates for longer” message. The latest run up in rates over the past couple of weeks was a function of the market correcting its Fed Funds “hike, pause, cut” path. That upward pressure on the front-end of the yield curve immediately re-flattened the yield curve back into deeply negative territory.

Moral of the story: the Fed is not set to cut rates anytime soon as inflation remains an issue and investors have been forced to unwind bets that rate cuts will be in store later this year. As recently as a couple of weeks ago, three rate cuts were expected before year end. With no economic data on today’s schedule, we begin a slow news Friday with Agency MBS prices worse about .125 and the 10-year yielding 3.74 after closing yesterday at 3.71 percent; the 2-year’s up to 4.55 on continued inflation worries.

Employment

Village Capital & Investment is excited to announce that Pete Tamoney has recently been hired to help grow its Correspondent Lending division. Pete has been in correspondent sales for 20 years, most recently with Northpointe Bank. Village Capital is a GNMA buyer with no overlays and a consistently strong execution. You can contact Pete.

“Equity Resources is pleased to continue our expansion throughout our 19 states along the east coast and mid-west. We are an independent and family-owned mortgage banker that is proudly celebrating our 30th anniversary this year, continuing to create incredible opportunities for our team members, Realtor partners, as well as our B2B partners. We are currently searching for talented and career-focused loan officers that have a demonstrated “self-sourced” business philosophy. Equity Resources is an agency direct lender that offers an exceptional compensation and marketing platform for our loan officers, including a media and video production team, an underwriting “hotline,” a talented marketing and social media group, and an exceptionally tenured leadership team. We offer a full suite of loan products and programs (including several specialty lending programs). To learn more about “Why Equity Resources” and to join our award-winning team, please contact Tom Piecenski, EVP of Sales and Development (614.327.5353).”

“Are you frustrated as a retail loan officer or mortgage banker with the lack of flexibility to provide custom loan options? Take control: follow the lead of over 24,000 MLOs like you who have joined the wholesale channel in the last year. Whether you open your own independent mortgage brokerage or join a team as a loan officer, you’ll have the ability to provide your clients with the personalized solutions they need. Contact our team at BeAMortgageBroker.com today and you’ll be well on your way to a more fulfilling tomorrow.”

A Louisiana based full-service, independent mortgage banker averaging $1 billion in production annually is searching for a proven retail sales leader to run all business development initiatives. The Sales, Recruiting, and Marketing departments will report directly to this head of business development role, and the role will report directly to the CEO. The ideal candidate will have a demonstrated track record of hiring and managing multiple production offices across several states. The IMB is well capitalized, has agency direct approvals, offers niche products, significant technology advancements and a world-class operations team with experienced, tenured sales and fulfillment employees. For confidential consideration, please email resume to Chrisman LLC’s Anjelica Nixt for forwarding.

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

Source: mortgagenewsdaily.com

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This year’s down market has shifted what mortgage lenders are seeking from their technology partners, because the spare dollars for nice-to-haves are no longer around. The booming housing market the past few years brought with it a surge in mortgage tech adoption, and while this movement towards innovation has been welcomed by mortgage parties, now more than ever lenders are looking at the data behind these mortgage tech claims. Return on investment and cost savings around must-haves are now the focus in a lot of tech partnerships. 

To learn more about this shift in mortgage tech needs and the changing dynamic in vendor-lender partnerships, HousingWire interviewed John Hedlund, California Mortgage Bankers Association (CMBA) chairman and chief operating officer at AmeriHome Mortgage Company and Wes Iseley, CMBA board president of residential and senior managing director of Carrington Holding Company.

California is home to some of the largest lenders which allows the association to keep a very strong pulse on the needs and trends in housing. The associations’ annual Mortgage Innovators Conference in Anaheim, California in June is designed to explore the revolutionary world of mortgage technology and helps attendees gain valuable insights from experienced industry professionals. 

“The Mortgage Innovators Conference is unique in our space because there’s more of a conversation and interaction with lenders and technology companies, or innovators. It was part of our goal to not just have a bunch of booths where people are pushing products and instead where they’re solving problems that lenders have today,” said Hedlund.

“The beauty of the Mortgage Innovators Conference, and what we’re trying to build there, is really more of that two-way dialogue. The companies that are coming are listening and trying to enhance, improve and develop their products, and will reposition what they’ve already built or are in the process of building,” he said.

This collaborative mindset is what will define the lenders and tech providers that grow. In the following Q&A, Hedlund and Iseley discuss what innovation looks like today, the current table stakes in mortgage tech, what tech companies should keep in mind when talking to lenders and more. 

HousingWire: What are some of the biggest areas that lenders are looking at technology to solve?

John Hedlund: In 2021, business was crazy good, and lenders had more money. You had a lot of vendors and startups selling, for lack of a better term, bells and whistles. They were, in my opinion, nice-to-haves and didn’t really move the needle. You’d have an LO come over to your company, saying that they need a certain software because they’re comfortable with it, so lenders would buy it because they could afford it. We’re in a different world now. Most lenders lost money last year.

So when I think of technology today, I talk to our providers about how they need to show their economic value add more than ever. How do you take costs out of my business? How have you proven that, factually?

When I talk to clients and ourselves, I focus on “what do we really need that moves the needle?” And, “What is just nice to have?” I’m getting rid of the nice-to-haves, and we’re finding other vendors that want to come in.

For most of the guys today, it’s all bottom-line driven. They need to be liquid, and they don’t know what’s next with rates.

Wes Iseley: There are some real issues that are still out there with speed to close. The first thing with speed to close, anything we can do to income verifications, which we have come a long way in bringing that in. There are different models out there trying to bring in income verification quickly.

The second one would be from a compliance standpoint — wire fraud. Everybody has to have that compliance and quality in place because that will drive costs up. 

So the whole time we’re speeding things up, and at the same time, we need to have our protections in place so we don’t have surprise losses. There’s a lot of work going on the front and the back end from a compliance perspective.

HW: What are the new table stakes when it comes to technology?

JH: There’s always way more ideas than are actually going to ever catch on. It’s hard to carve out a new niche where there’s really a value add, but ultimately, that’s where I would start. What is my value proposition? And, it has to be somewhat hard today; it can’t be soft. By soft, I mean that it’s a nice-to-have. I think of an economic value-add. If followed all the way through the process, does it move the needle somewhere? 

WI: Right now, if you can’t make it easy for the customer, that customer is going to get frustrated and go away. It’s tough out there right now. This includes the ease of use for the customer and the communication in keeping all people involved in that transaction informed as it goes along. Especially in a purchase money close, you can’t mess up the close when the moving truck is outside. Keeping everybody informed as the process goes is a must.

HW: What should mortgage tech companies keep in mind when talking to lenders?

JH: There’s a lot of value in talking to a variety of different lenders in different markets, and testing, tweaking and revising your business model when it needs change. If you want to have something that isn’t a niche product, it has to ring true with the masses. 

When we started AmeriHome, our mindset wasn’t to chase shiny objects. From the start, our goal was to be a top-five correspondent lender, and so we built the company with scale in mind and our value prop very simplistically became, “How are we going to add value to our clients?” 

I see a lot of tech vendors that have great ideas in isolation that aren’t ever going to necessarily be at scale because it’s a niche-type model. In most cases, I wonder if they’ve vetted that and spent, not an hour, but weeks or months finding out what their clients really need and solving a problem versus creating a product to try and find a problem.

HW: What does housing innovation look like in today’s market?

WI: The big issue out there is affordable housing. While there are modular homes, manufactured homes and factory-built homes, there are so many restrictions. In California for example, there’s a fee to transport the manufactured house, which adds $25,000 to $30,000.

You need to get down state by state and say what are the restrictions? I think factory-built housing and the precision of the building itself is of a higher quality and that’s a way to solve for affordable housing. You’re not going to affect land price, so it’s the build. This is a big solution that everybody should be working on.

Source: housingwire.com

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Higher education could soon become more affordable for more than 700,000 of the incarcerated people in the U.S. Starting July 1, they’ll become eligible for Pell Grants for the first time in nearly 30 years, regardless of sentence length or conviction.

Pell Grants are a type of need-based financial aid from the federal government that gives recipients up to $7,395 per academic year to cover college costs like tuition, books and other fees. Unlike a loan, the grants never need to be repaid; students qualify based on financial need.

Incarcerated people — those in juvenile justice facilities and local, state and federal correctional facilities — will be able to use these Pell awards to pay for prison education programs (PEPs), which can lead to credentials like a professional certificate, an associate degree or a bachelor’s degree from a partner university.

Though the change is effective July 1, students may not be able to enroll in a PEP using Pell Grants immediately, says Ruth Delaney, associate initiative director at the Vera Institute of Justice focused on education reform in prisons. Some programs may start this fall, she says, but even then, enrollment won’t begin until later in the summer.

Here’s what you need to know about the Pell Grant expansion for prison education programs and how incarcerated students can access these funds.

Impact of Pell expansion for incarcerated students

Without access to Pell Grants, higher education has been virtually out of reach for most incarcerated people, who earn an average minimum wage of 86 cents per hour in typical prison jobs, according to a 2017 analysis by the Prison Policy Initiative, a nonprofit public policy think tank. There were nearly 800 PEPs in the early 1990s, but after a 1994 crime bill blocked incarcerated students from receiving Pell Grants, the number of PEPs shrank to eight by 1997, according to the Vera Institute, a nonprofit that supports criminal justice reform.

Obtaining a higher education degree or certificate can help incarcerated students find stable careers and better pay when they reenter the workplace. People who participate in correctional education are also 43% less likely to return to prison within three years than those who don’t participate, according to a 2018 report by the Rand Corp., a public policy research organization.

Some incarcerated students have been able to access Pell Grants for years as part of an experimental program called Second Chance Pell established by President Barack Obama in 2015. As of 2022, incarcerated students had earned more than 7,000 credentials through the program. For example, Georgetown University launched its Prison Scholars Program in 2018 to bring higher education to incarcerated students in Washington, D.C., and Maryland.

“Financial aid is one piece of this puzzle,” says Rachel Rotunda, director of government relations at the National Association of Student Financial Aid Administrators. “This is a big change for students, but it’s also a big change for institutions and really the whole higher ed prison education community.”

Submit FAFSA to qualify for a Pell Grant

To be considered for a Pell Grant, incarcerated students must fill out and submit the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA).

Because correctional facilities may offer limited or no internet access, students may need to submit a paper copy of their FAFSA application to partner college representatives at their facility. Then the partner college will submit the FAFSA on the student’s behalf to the office of Federal Student Aid, which will evaluate the application and determine the student’s eligibility and grant amount.

“A lot gets facilitated through the college, which means that the prospective student likely already knows what college they’re going to be applying to,” Delaney says. “The other side to that is that it’s rare to see more than one college program at a single prison.”

Though incarcerated students can legally submit the FAFSA as early as July 1, they may need to wait until their facility’s education staff is ready to accept applications and a PEP course is slated to begin.

Incarcerated students shouldn’t worry about filing the FAFSA months ahead of time; they’ll likely need to submit the FAFSA around the time they’re slated to enroll in a PEP, Delaney says. Deadlines will vary by program.

“There tends to be a bit more of a condensed timeline for enrollment [in prisons] compared to the more community-based timeline,” Delaney adds.

Other grants and scholarships to pay for prison education programs

Incarcerated students are blocked from receiving federal student loans, which can provide undergraduates with up to $12,500 in funds each year that must eventually be paid back.

But if a Pell Grant award is not enough to cover the cost of a prison education program, students may turn to other funding sources. This may also be necessary if a student embarks on multiple degrees or takes extra time to finish a program because Pell Grants can be used for no more than six years.

And in many cases, the colleges running PEPs are putting their own resources into making them affordable, Rotunda says, “to ensure that they’re able to offer high-quality programming and to provide students the same level of support that they would be providing for any other student.”

Where to get answers to your questions

If you’re incarcerated and have questions about the FAFSA, Pell Grants or PEPs, you can reach out to the following resources:

A financial aid administrator or other education representative at your correctional facility:

Varies by correctional facility.

Send questions to the Education Department by mail. Address letters to:

U.S. Department of Education

c/o Prison Education Programs

400 Maryland Ave SW

Washington, DC 20202

If you have internet access, send questions to the Education Department by email:

Incarcerated students with defaulted student loans

If you’ve defaulted on student loans in the past, you can sign up for a temporary government program called Fresh Start. This program will return your loans to good standing, allowing you to submit the FAFSA and receive a Pell Grant while incarcerated.

If you now have a loan in default, you’ll need to send a letter to:

P.O. Box 5609

Greenville, TX 75403

In your letter, include your full name, Social Security number, date of birth and the following statement: “I am a confined or incarcerated individual. I would like to use Fresh Start to bring my loans back into good standing.”

Source: nerdwallet.com

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Are you considering term life insurance?

If so, then you are probably considering the amount of time that you should take for the extent of the term. Of the 20, 25 and 30 year term policies, for most people the 25 year term life insurance is going to be the best for the overall benefits.

20 and 30 year term life insurance is generally for more specialized cases and they do have their uses, but 25 year term life insurance fits more people overall, especially younger families who are just starting out, although, they can benefit people in different age groups as well.

Term life insurance is very important to handle the financial burden of a loved one who passes away. The needs of the family are still present when the breadwinner is no longer around.

If you’re like most Americans, if you were to pass away, you would leave your family with thousands of dollars in debt. The majority of families would have no way to pay for all of these unpaid expenses, but that is where life insurance comes in. It can give your family the resources they need to get through this difficult time without adding financial stress.

Choosing the right length for your type of life insurance needs to be geared towards the expected financial burdens which include paying the mortgage, auto loans, and other bills while covering the funeral expenses. It’s important that you find a balance between choosing the right term length and the perfect premium amount.

What follows are the advantages gained from choosing a 20, 30 or 25 year term life insurance policy.

20 year term vs. 25 year term

A 20 year term life insurance policy works well for middle aged and older people in covering the remaining expenses on their mortgages. These are the groups of people that in the next decade, they won’t have any children relying on their income.

Plus, with the children having grown up, making sure that the funeral expenses are covered.

However, a 25 year term policy may be just as beneficial depending on the circumstances, especially if their children have not quite left home yet. Those extra few years can make a difference in terms of coverage.

So, for 20 year term vs. 25 year term, the advantage for most people falls to the 25 year term policies.

25 year term vs. 30 year term

The 30 year term policy is generally more suited for young couples just starting out, especially if they have just purchased their first home on a 30 year mortgage.

This will ensure that if anything were to happen to them, they will be able to pay off the mortgage and not have to worry about losing the roof over their heads.

A 25 year policy is generally more suited for people who have already started paying on their mortgage for a few years or have taken out a shorter-term mortgage.

Again, depending on your circumstances you should choose the policy that extends your coverage just enough past your mortgage and kids growing up and leaving home.

For many, the 25 year term life insurance policy is more than enough while the 30 year term leans more towards longer commitments.

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Expenses

You should not only consider the length of the term life insurance, but the amount as well to cover all of your expenses that incur if the breadwinner of your family should pass away.

These expenses include;

  • Mortgage
  • Funeral
  • Household Bills for the next 6 months
  • Cash reserve for unexpected expenses

These are only a few of the factors that you should consider when deciding how large of a policy you need to purchase.

25 Term Term Life Quotes

Here are some sample quotes on a 25-year term life insurance policy for a female.  It should be noted that not all of the top life insurance companies offers the 25-year option.

Sex AGE $250,000 Term Life Insurance Policy Cheapest Quote 1 Cheapest Quote 2 Cheapest Quote 3
Female 30 Face amount $250,000 SBLI $15/mo Protective $15/mo American General $16/mo

Female 40 Face amount $250,000 SBLI $22/mo Protective $23/mo American General $24/mo

Female 50 Face amount $250,000 SBLI $48/mo Protective $49/mo American General $53/mo

Here’s a screenshot that shows sample quotes for a 25-year term policy for a 30-year-old male.

As you can see, the quotes don’t have banner life insurance company in the mix, but some other great carriers are there.

The final amount should be to cover what you either may not have considered or for unexpected situations such as the family member dying away from home and needing transportation.

All in all, covering your expenses with term life insurance can greatly ease the immediate financial burden and bring about a little peace of mind when it comes to the financial situation.

You should also consider how much income your family would lose if you were to pass away and how would they replace that income? If you’re the main income-earner, your family could struggle to replace your salary. It’s important that your policy gives them enough time to find another source of income.

There is no “magic number”, but most insurance experts suggest that you purchase a policy that is around ten times your annual salary. This will give your loved ones plenty of time to recover and get back on their feet.

With such a large policy, a lot of applicants think they won’t be able to afford a policy that is ten times their salary but don’t worry, in most cases the policy premiums are much cheaper than you might think.

There are several ways that you can get a more affordable insurance policy without having to sacrifice any of the quality or coverage amount. The best way is to compare all of your insurance options before you make a decision. More than likely, the first company that you call isn’t going to have the lowest monthly premiums. Because there are so many companies that sell life insurance, it could take several days for you to call them and receive insurance quotes for your policy. Instead of wasting your time, let us bring the lowest rates to you. Simply fill out the quote form on the side with your information and we will provide you with the best rates.

We are independent agents, which means that we don’t work for one specific company. Instead, we represent some of the best-rated companies across the United States.  Because we don’t work for one company, we are committed to bringing you the best policy to fit your needs, regardless of which company sells it.

Aside from comparing policies, there are several other ways that you can save money on your life insurance policy. One of those ways is to improve your health and kick your bad habits.

After you complete the paperwork for your applications, the company is going to send out a paramedic to complete a simple medical exam. During this exam, the company will look at your basic vital signs, like blood pressure, heart rate, cholesterol, weight, and they will also take a blood and urine sample. The medical exam doesn’t take long, but it will have a huge impact on your chances of being accepted for the policy and how much you’ll pay every month. If you want to save money, take the time to improve your health. If you think that your health is too poor or you have serious health complications, you can always choose a no-exam medical policy. You can get the coverage without the exam, but you will pay more for the plan.

The other sure-fire way to save money is to kick your bad habits like smoking cigarettes. A smoker buying life insurance is going to pay twice as much (sometimes three times as much) regardless of the rest of their health. If you want to get a policy for the most affordable rates, it’s time to kick those bad habits and enjoy some extra money in your pocket every month.

Source: goodfinancialcents.com

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Home Decor Market in the U.S Set to Surpass $158,929.1 million ;

According to a new report published by Allied Market Research, titled, “U.S. Home Decor Market by Product Type, Income Group, Price, Distribution Channel & Category: Opportunity Analysis and Industry Forecast, 2020-2027,” The U.S. home decor market size was valued at $125,813.0 million in 2019, and is estimated to reach $158,929.1 million by 2027, registering a CAGR of 8.0% from 2020 to 2027. In 2019, the floor covering segment accounted for significant contribution in the U.S. home decor market share, and is expected to grow at a CAGR of 8.4% throughout the forecast period.
The U.S. home decor market has witnessed significant growth over the years, and is expected to grow at a steady pace during the forecast period. This is attributed to the fact that market players are focusing on developing eco-friendly products, owing to rise in environment awareness. The floor covering segment occupied the largest share in the overall home decor market in 2019, and is expected to maintain its leading position throughout the forecast period, owing to the wide adoption of floor coverings,

The home decor market in U.S. is driven by surge in disposable income and improvement in living standards. Moreover, the rise in affinity of consumers toward consumer-friendly home décor products are anticipated to boost the demand for home decor products. However, availability of low-quality and counterfeit products and fluctuations in the prices of raw materials used to manufacture these products restrain the market growth. Conversely, surge in demand for trendy and unique furniture is anticipated to provide lucrative opportunities for the U.S. home decor market growth.

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The U.S. home decor market is segmented based on product type, distribution channel, price, income group and category. Depending on product type, the market is divided into furniture, home textile, and floor covering. By distribution channel, it is fragmented into supermarkets & hypermarkets, specialty stores, e-commerce, and others. Based on the price, the market is segmented into premium and mass. Based on the income group, the market is segmented into lower-middle income, upper-middle income, and higher income. Based on category, the market is segmented into eco-friendly and conventional.

According to the U.S. home decor market analysis the floor covering segment generated the highest revenue in 2019, and is expected to remain dominant throughout the forecast period. The flooring segment is also expected to witness the highest growth rate of 8.4% from 2020-2027.

According to the U.S. Home Decor market forecast based on distribution channel, the specialty stores segment was the highest contributor to the U.S. market in 2019 and is expected to remain dominant through 2020-2027. However, the E-commerce segment is expected to grow at a higher growth rate through the forecast period.

Based on the price, the mass segment was the highest contributor to the U.S. home decor market in 2019 and is expected to remain dominant through 2020-2027. However, the premium segment is expected to grow at a higher growth rate through the forecast period

Based on the income group, the higher income segment was the highest contributor to the U.S. home decor market in 2019 and is expected to remain dominant through 2020-2027. The upper-middle income segment is expected to grow at a notable growth rate through the forecast period.

Based on the category, the conventional segment was the highest contributor to the U.S. home decor market in 2019 and is expected to remain dominant through 2020-2027. The eco-friendly segment is expected to grow at a highest growth rate through the forecast period

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Key findings of the study

The U.S. home decor market was valued at $125,813.0 million in 2020 and is estimated to reach $158,929.1 million by 2027, growing at a CAGR of 8.0% through the forecast period.
Based on product type, the floor covering service segment would witness the fastest growth, registering a CAGR of 8.4% during the forecast period.
In 2019, based on distribution channel, the specialty stores segment held the highest share, accounting for nearly half of the U.S. home decor industry.
In 2019, based on the price, the mass segment was the most prominent segment and is expected to grow at a significant CAGR throughout the forecast period.
Conventional segment was the dominant segment in 2019, accounting for a considerable share in the U.S. market.

Reason to Buy:
✅ Save and reduce time carrying out entry-level research by identifying the growth, size, leading players, and segments in the U.S. home decor market .
✅ Highlights key business priorities in order to guide the companies to reform their business strategies and establish themselves in the wide geography.
✅ The key findings and recommendations highlight crucial progressive industry trends in the U.S. home decor market , thereby allowing players to develop effective long-term strategies in order to garner their market revenue.
✅ Develop/modify business expansion plans by using substantial growth offering developed and emerging markets.
✅ Scrutinize in-depth global market trends and outlook coupled with the factors driving the market, as well as those restraining the growth to a certain extent.
✅ Enhance the decision-making process by understanding the strategies that underpin commercial interest with respect to products, segmentation, and industry verticals.

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Get yourself a place in the nation’s capital with the perfect outdoor spot.

There are so many great things to see in Washington, D.C., from the majesty of the monuments to the unique architecture of the everyday buildings, D.C. is filled with opportunities to soak up the sun and enjoy the great outdoors.

To ensure your search for a Washington, D.C. apartment delivers the best results, make sure you check out any and all outdoor spaces before signing your lease. A quality on-site garden or courtyard can take your time in D.C. to the next level and truly make your apartment feel like home.

To help you feel inspired, the 10 amazing apartments featured below have been hand-selected as having some of the best courtyards and gardens in the D.C. area. Find your favorite and fill out an application today.

Fresh herbs in an on-site garden at Gables Dupont Circle

Source: Rent. / Gables Dupont Circle

While the full outdoor space at Gables Dupont Circle is big and beautiful, this little garden-esque spot is a real hidden treasure. Fresh herbs creep up the stone flower bed, while other greenery surrounds the space. Nearby seating, under stringed lighting, gives this space a special ambiance as well.

Set in the quieter Northwest Washington neighborhood, this area boasts spectacular views while also being super walkable. It’s just steps away from great galleries and museums as well as some of the city’s best restaurants, delis, cafes and coffee shops. To keep that outdoor vibe going, there’s no shortage of parks nearby either.

Classically beautiful courtyard at The Lansburgh in Washington DC

Source: Rent. / The Lansburgh

An absolutely stunning courtyard awaits at The Lansburgh. This space has everything, including an eagle statue. Vibrant greenery rings the multi-tiered space with a combination of trees and bushes. At the far end, a decorative pergola also offers some shade. You’ll find a lovely fountain and plenty of seating throughout this amazing area as well.

Living within walking distance of four Metro stations makes it easy to access all D.C. has to offer from this central location. Within the Downtown – Penn Quarter – Chinatown neighborhood itself, you’re also close to just about everything, from entertainment to restaurants to historic monuments.

Outdoor ping pong at Ava NoMa in DC

Source: Rent. / AVA NoMa

The courtyard is a busy place at AVA NoMa, but each section has its own special flair. For those who love outdoor games, this area features two ping-pong tables. For those who want to chill, there’s also a nice outdoor lounge with a fire pit. There’s even a small dog park for you and your furry friend to check out. Modern, metallic touches mix with hardscaping and slender trees to create a nice look and good vibes.

Providing you with easy access to downtown, finding a home in H Street-NoMa must mean food is on your mind. This is thanks to the neighborhood’s Union Market, which is within walking distance from AVA NoMA. Here, over 40 local vendors show off their culinary creativity to satisfy any palate.

Capitol View on 14th zen fountain

Source: Rent. / Capitol View on 14th

Even if it’s not huge, most people can use a Zen garden in their lives, especially one with a trickling fountain. At Capitol View on 14th, this little pocket of relaxation comes with shaped greenery, nice seating and a multi-tiered fountain trickling down into a tranquil pool. The sound will instantly relax you and let you transition from your busy day to a chill evening.

The rest of the amenities in this Northwest Washington community don’t disappoint either. First, there are the views. You can see the Capitol building as well as other monuments from the rooftop, which is also where you’ll find the pool. There’s a great open-air kitchen up there as well and a year-round fireplace. Between these two areas, it may be hard to find a reason to come inside when the weather is nice.

Yellow umbrellas in the green courtyard at Camden South Capitol

Source: Rent. / Camden South Capitol

Bright yellow umbrellas add a happy pop of color to the courtyard at Camden South Capitol. They also ensure you’ll always have a shady spot to hang out in if you need it. Underneath one umbrella is a great lounge space with ample seating. The other shades the outdoor dining area, should you want to dine al fresco. This partially grassy area is also nicely landscaped.

For sports fans, living in Southwest – Waterfront has the added benefit of keeping you close to the action. You can easily head to Nationals Park for some baseball and Audi Field for some soccer. If you’re already out and exploring, make sure you head down to the waterfront for some excellent views of the Potomac River as well.

Aerial view of the lush courtyard at Camden Noma in D.C.

Source: Rent. / Camden Noma

Looking down onto the courtyard at Camden Noma is the best way to see just how impressive it really is. Altogether, this is a huge space, with sectioned-off areas for chilling, playing, food prepping and relaxing. A close-clipped lawn meets bushy patches of robust trees to create an inviting space whether you’re playing table tennis or grabbing a lounge chair to curl up with a good book.

You’ll find Camden Noma in the H Street – NoMa neighborhood. It’s a stress-free, luxurious community that uses modern elements to help residents feel right at home. Living here puts you near the highway, a number of parks, shops and so much more, making it an ideal spot for young professionals.

Funky chairs in the garden at The Flats at Dupont Circle

Source: Rent. / The Flats at Dupont Circle

With green space and a brick walkway both contained in the courtyard, The Flats at Dupont Circle has ideal hangout areas for everyone. For those who want to grab a lounge chair or slide into a hammock, stick to the manicured green space. For friends who want to gather and socialize, grab a cushy seat on the fringes. This is also where you’ll find the grill and outdoor eating space.

Another Northwest Washington community, living here means the luxury extends far beyond the courtyard to include an outdoor pool with sundeck and a state-of-the-art fitness center. There are even personal TV’s at each exercise machine and a separate pilates/yoga studio. The clubroom takes the fun from the courtyard indoors with its TV and kitchen to keep things popping.

Sprawling on-site garden at Waterside Towers in Washington D.C.

Source: Rent. / Waterside Towers

For the perfect garden to walk through, make a date to explore Waterside Towers. The winding green space is full of grassy spots and excellent landscaping. Trees, bushes and small plants come together to make this whole space pop, giving you an outlet for a relaxing stroll whenever you need it. Benches throughout give you the opportunity to sit and absorb the natural beauty all around as well.

This Southwest-Waterfront community also has an impressive pond right nearby, complete with sprouting fountains, mature, bushy trees and an easy path to walk on. Living here also puts you close to all the waterfront fun beside the Potomac River where there are great restaurants and shopping right at The Wharf.

Fire pit under string lights at the Ava H Street courtyard

Source: Rent. / AVA H Street

A roaring fire draws the eye into the courtyard at AVA H Street. Covered to keep the flames contained, this funky and modern fire pit will keep anyone warm on a cold D.C. night. Part of the area’s lounge space, the courtyard is also where you’ll find a dual grilling station with a built-in bar and eating space. Additional groupings of seats enable a variety of large groups to gather here and enjoy themselves simultaneously.

A busy area, full of great bars and cool places to eat, Near Northeast is a neighborhood that combines culture and history with lots of shopping and fun. Living here, you’re close to the Smithsonian’s National Postal Museum, the Atlas Performing Arts Center and plenty of shopping. It’s also worthwhile to swing by the famous fountain in Columbus Circle for a photo op.

Alban Towers courtyard on a sunny day

Source: Rent. / Alban Towers

A classic building with access to a wonderful green space, living at Alban Towers mixes old and new together in just the right way. The park-like garden features a rectangular strip of grass surrounded by a pebbled hardscape. Mature and lush trees line up around the edges to create a calming and isolated space for a little meditation. Additional landscaping keeps the area green and happy.

Keeping with the green theme of moving out into the Northwest Washington neighborhood, this community is close to Rock Creek Park. Another great outdoor space to explore, this 1,7540-acre city park provides a peaceful refuge as well with more beautiful trees, recreational activities and even a little wildlife. You’ll also find varying historical remnants from Civil War fortifications to colonial houses.

Grab an apartment with one of the best gardens in D.C.

There are so many special facts locals know to be true about Washington, D.C., one of which is knowing how to pick the right place to live. You need the right combination of amenities and location, and that should always include a usable outdoor space. No matter where you live in Washington, D.C., you can count on a sweet courtyard or garden if you pick an apartment from this list.

Featured Image Source: Rent. / The Flats at Dupont Circle

Source: rent.com

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Good times happen in small spaces.

Have you rearranged your furniture countless times in an attempt to create a comfortable and inviting living room in a small space? The good news is that, with a bit of ingenuity, you can enjoy the living room of your dreams regardless of size. From bright and eclectic to minimalist and warm, you can incorporate many of today’s design trends into a small living room using our collection of small living room ideas.

The most important aspect of creating a space you love is ensuring it aligns with your vision and lifestyle. As Billy Baldwin, an icon in interior design, said, “Be faithful to your own taste because nothing you really like is ever out of style.”

Whether using decor tricks to create the illusion of a larger room or designing a cozy space for relaxation and entertainment, these apartment small living room ideas can take you there.

Let’s explore the many ways to make your small space shine!

1. Furniture to fill your space

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While it may seem contrary, integrating larger furniture, such as a sectional, can make the room appear more expansive. The key is choosing a color that blends in with the walls and opting for low-level, armless pieces. Another innovative option is selecting a couch with raised legs, creating a sense of space.

From there, carefully consider each piece of furniture, enhancing negative space while ensuring a living room designed for your lifestyle. Do you need a side table? Would nesting tables work as coffee tables and double as side tables when friends are over? Placing furniture in a close, conversational layout creates a cozy atmosphere for entertaining.

2. Cleverly placed mirrors

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The strategic use of mirrors is one of the best techniques for making rooms look bigger. Placing a large, beautiful mirror opposite windows brings in more natural light and brightens the entire room. Unless you’re going for a vintage look, simpler frames are generally a better choice when creating a sense of spaciousness.

You can also add dimension and atmosphere by placing a mirror close to a light source, like a table lamp or candle. Even mirrored furniture, such as a side table, reflects light, contributing to the illusion of more space. You can also go big with mirror panels. According to Architectural Digest, mirrored walls are in, yet again.

3. Color to the rescue

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Image Source: Rent. / Bahama Bay

You’ve probably heard that painting walls white creates the illusion of a bigger room. Any lighter color, however, such as soft neutrals and pastels, can have the same effect. You can even go bold if you stick to a limited palette.

From natural wood tones to deep greens or blues, rich hues offer a cozy, enveloping feeling, and complementary shades provide a cohesive look that can make a room look bigger.

If your rental agreement doesn’t allow painting, you can still add bursts of color with pillows, throws and artwork. One large painting creates a focal point, drawing the eyes upward while adding intrigue and contrast. Add a sizeable color-coordinated area rug big enough for all your furnishings to sit on, and you have the anchor that ties the room together. Need some inspiration? Check out these popular paint colors and decorating styles that range from art deco to bohemian and Japandi.

4. Lightweight window coverings

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Floor-to-ceiling window coverings add height and dimension but can make a room look smaller when made of heavy material. On the other hand, sheer fabrics provide a light and airy feeling while letting natural light infuse the room.

5. Layers of light

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While layered lighting is important in every room, this approach is particularly critical in small spaces. It combines ambient, task and accent lighting, drawing your attention to specific features while creating depth and intrigue.

Consider wall sconces, hanging pendant lights and strategically placed lamps. LED strips under shelving provide light from an unseen source, setting the mood by changing colors with one touch of a button.

6. Go vertical

Are you having trouble finding space for your bookcase and much-loved artwork? Consider a shelf at a height you can just reach that encircles the room.

This shelf can appear to float when painted the same color as the walls. Deliberately placed books, plants and artwork offer texture and functionality while drawing the eyes upward and making the room appear larger.

7. Purposeful living

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A small living room gives you the opportunity to embrace purposeful living. One way to achieve this is ensuring large pieces provide multi-functionality. An ottoman can double as a coffee table, hidden storage space and a footrest. A bench may offer storage for blankets. There are even bookcases with fold-down tables you can use as a desk.

8. Pay attention to the corners

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Image Source: Rent. / The Link

Adding houseplants, a beautiful lamp or strategic shelving to a few corners brings attention to every area, making your living room seem bigger. Not only do plants enhance your living space, but several studies show they also improve air quality, boost productivity and even reduce stress.

Some good options for darker corners include peace lilies, Boston ferns, philodendrons and spider plants. With indirect light, lush parlor palms and monstera plants can fill a corner.

9. Clutter-free

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Marie Kondo, developer of the KonMari Method for decluttering and star of two Netflix series, suggests that “Life truly begins only after you have put your house in order.” Tidying also creates a minimalist, clutter-free zone that does wonders for increasing a sense of space. Consider a few baskets or decorative boxes to hide remotes and other random items.

10. Bring the outdoors in

small living room ideas

Image Source: Apartment Guide / MAA Gardens

Natural light offers many gifts, including reduced energy usage and improved sleep. It also makes a space feel more expansive and filled with life. Installing a curtain pole extending past the windows allows you to draw curtains fully back, revealing more light and making your windows appear wider.

11. A space for book lovers

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Creating a cozy reading nook is often a top priority for book lovers. Fortunately, a window seat or corner chair with a soft blanket and throw pillows is often all it takes. Add a wall sconce or pendant light that saves space, and enjoy.

Are you ready to create a comfortable, more spacious living room where you relax with friends and family? Use these design tips to steer you in the right direction.

Still looking for your own cozy space to decorate? Start here.

Source: rent.com

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Whether you’re in the process of creating your bucket list or you’ve already checked off most experiences, we have another one you’ll likely want to add: watching the total solar eclipse from a cruise ship deck in 2024.

Trust me on this. A total solar eclipse trip is a once-in-a-lifetime experience — even if you’re not an astronomy geek.

On Aug. 21, 2017, I climbed to the top of the Green Ridge Lookout in Bend, Oregon’s Deschutes National Forest in the early morning hours to wait for the moon to pass between the sun and Earth. At approximately 10:19 a.m. PDT, I witnessed one of the most amazing events of my life while donning solar eclipse glasses and sipping Champagne on a mountaintop as the sky darkened around us.

For cruise news, reviews and tips, sign up for TPG’s cruise newsletter.

This awe-inspiring experience is even better at sea. Discover the best solar eclipse cruises setting sail in 2024 and why they are the places to be when the moon blocks out the sun’s light.

When and where is the total eclipse in 2024?

A total solar eclipse over water and mountains. LG0RZH/GETTY IMAGES

The total eclipse on April 8, 2024, will occur in North America, beginning in the South Pacific Ocean. It will pass over Mexico, the U.S. and Canada, with Mexico’s Pacific Coast predicted to be the first locale to experience totality at 11:07 a.m. PDT. The eclipse path will extend from Texas to Maine and then exit off the Atlantic coast at Newfoundland, Canada, at 5:16 p.m. NDT.

Why book a cruise to watch the eclipse?

Approximately 31 million U.S. residents live inside the path of totality for the 2024 eclipse, 2.5 times more than the 12 million residents that lived within the path of totality in 2017, according to GreatAmericanEclipse.com. So, if you can witness the eclipse from land, why would you want to head out to sea to watch it?

First, you’ll sail with a small group of like-minded eclipse enthusiasts and have access to astronomy and space exploration experts. You can also avoid the crowds and traffic on land with people driving to the viewing spots and jockeying for the best places to park and watch the show.

Additionally, a cruise ship positioned off the coast of Mazatlan, Mexico, will provide four minutes and 26 seconds of totality, close to the maximum viewing anywhere along the eclipse path.

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Related: Travel to these places to see the total solar eclipse in April 2024

“Many people think that a large ship rocks too much to view a solar eclipse. But they’re actually steady enough to do high-quality photography,” said J. Kelly Beatty, senior editor of Sky & Telescope, a print and online magazine for avid sky and stargazers.

Beatty explains that a ship’s maneuverability and weather instrumentation are essential since they provide the flexibility to sail to another location for optimal visibility. Also, if you’re sailing with astronomy experts, they can help guide the crew on the bridge to reposition the ship so all passengers have the best views of the eclipse.

Only a few cruise lines and professional groups are planning festivities for the big event. So, book your spot soon for the ultimate total solar eclipse viewing party in North America. Below are the best solar eclipse cruises for 2024.

Holland America Line

HOLLAND AMERICA LINE

Holland America Line offers two sailings where the ships will be positioned in Mexico for the total eclipse. A representative for the line says they will host special events for the sailings, although the line hasn’t released specific details yet.

The line’s 14-day Solar Eclipse & Mexican Riviera itinerary on the 1,432-guest Zaandam sails round trip from San Diego on March 30, 2024. The ship will call on eight ports in Mexico, including Mazatlan, where it will be positioned the day before for optimal viewing of the eclipse from the ship’s wraparound deck.

Konigsdam’s 22-day Solar Eclipse & Hawaii Circle voyage departs from San Diego on April 5, 2023, for Mexico, where the ship will also be positioned off the coast of Mazatlan for the eclipse. Following a stop in Puerto Vallarta, the 2,650-passenger Koningsdam will sail across the Pacific Ocean to Hawaii, disembarking in Hilo on April 20.

Related: The 5 best destinations you can visit on a Holland America ship

Princess Cruises

Princess Cruises’ 10-day Mexican Riviera with Total Solar Eclipse cruise is already sold out for the rare event aboard the 3,660-passenger Discovery Princess.

Due to the popularity of the solar eclipse-themed cruise, the line added another sailing with a different itinerary — a 15-day Panama Canal cruise aboard the 3,080-guest Emerald Princess. This ocean-to-ocean extended voyage from April 5 to 20 will depart from Los Angeles and end in Fort Lauderdale.

Highlights of the voyage include six ports of call, six days at sea and total solar eclipse viewing between Cabo San Lucas and Huatulco, Mexico, on April 8. An astronomy and space exploration enthusiast, Fred Cink, will be on board to answer questions. Guests will also enjoy eclipse-themed drinks and bites while watching the rare phenomenon.

Prices start at $1,999 per person for an inside stateroom with Princess’ “no frills” cruise fare, which includes core experiences — accommodations, dining and entertainment.

Related: The ultimate guide to Princess Cruises ships and itineraries

Sky & Telescope and Insight Cruises

If you want to go all in on the eclipse theme, consider booking with a special interest group. Sky & Telescope and Insight Cruises have partnered to offer S&T’s 2024 Total-Eclipse Cruise aboard Holland America’s Zaandam, departing on March 30, 2024. You could book the sailing on your own, as noted above, but if you want to be part of a group of like-minded travelers and have access to special events and educational programming, it’s worth paying more to go with Sky & Telescope.

The themed cruise’s optional speaker program has an impressive lineup of experts, including Sky & Telescope’s Rick Fienberg, whom Beatty refers to as the “expert’s expert.” Other special guests include actor and singer Tim Russ and former astronauts Jeffrey Hoffman and Garrett Reisman.

Beatty says he anticipates their group will be the largest organized solar eclipse group on the ship, with about 200 attendees.

Prices for the cruise vary, depending on the stateroom category and add-ons like beverage packages and specialty dining. The entire conference program for the event is $1,750 per person, which includes a one-hour cocktail party package every night of the cruise.

The mini-conference option is $750 per person and allows passengers a one-time admission to each speaker’s presentation. Traveling companions who don’t want to attend either conference will be charged a “facility fee” of $200 per person, which includes invitations to the group’s private parties (beer and wine included) and access to the group’s exclusive viewing area during the solar eclipse.

UnCruise Adventures

Safari Voyager at sunset in Granito de Oro, Mexico. UNCRUISE ADVENTURES

UnCruise Adventures is offering a seven-night eclipse sailing aboard its 66-passenger Safari Voyager.

The round-trip voyage departs on April 6 from San Jose del Cabo, Mexico, and features several days at sea, including time spent whale and dolphin watching on the beautiful Sea of Cortes. Expert guides and fellow umbraphiles will be on board to share in the excitement of this adventure at sea.

The ship will position northwest of Mazatlan for the eclipse, and the crew will be on hand to provide viewing and photography tips to best capture the once-in-a-lifetime moment. Afterward, guests can celebrate with a glass of Champagne or other beverage.

Stops include Isla San Francisco, Isla Partida and Bahia de la Paz, where passengers can opt to swim whale sharks.

Prices start at $7,150 per person and include all meals, excursions and alcoholic and nonalcoholic beverages. Gratuities are an additional expense.

Ring of Fire Expeditions and Eclipse Tours

Ring of Fire Expeditions and Eclipse Tours are hosting a nine-night land and cruise package that begins on April 1. The itinerary features a one-night stay in Acapulco, Mexico, an eight-night voyage on Swan Hellenic’s new ship Diana, an eclipse expedition in Mazatlan and a solar eclipse briefing at sea before eclipse day.

Ring of Fire Expeditions has an exclusive charter for the 196-passenger ship. The memorable voyage features science experts Paul D. Maley of NASA’s Johnson Space Center Astronomical Society and Michael Shara from the American Museum of Natural History. This sailing will be Maley’s 84th solar eclipse trip and Shara’s fourth total solar eclipse adventure.

Prices cover most expenses, including a pre-cruise hotel stay, pre- and post-cruise transfers, a welcome dinner at the hotel, all meals and an onboard open bar, complimentary Wi-Fi, all excursions and gratuities.

Passengers will disembark in La Paz, Mexico, on April 10.

Planning a cruise? Start with these stories:

Source: thepointsguy.com