Known as the Village of Plainfield, Plainfield, IL, is a thriving community that offers a perfect blend of small-town charm and modern amenities. Nestled in the scenic beauty of the Prairie State, Plainfield boasts a rich history, a welcoming atmosphere, and plenty to do around town. From endless outdoor recreation opportunities to the city’s love of art, you’re sure to find something to love.
But what is Plainfield, IL, known for? If you’re looking at homes for sale in Plainfield or are just curious about what the city has to offer, this Redfin guide has everything you need to know. To give you a taste, read on for 10things to love about Plainfield.
1. Historic downtown
Plainfield’s historic downtown is a true gem that is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. Upgraded in 2009, the city center is a pedestrian-focused haven lined with vintage storefronts, trees, and small-town charm. Visitors and residents alike can explore boutique shops, antique stores, and art galleries. Local cafes and restaurants offer delicious fare, and the area often hosts community events, including farmers’ markets, parades, and live music performances from local bands.
2. Parks and recreation
Plainfield takes pride in its abundant green spaces. With over 80 parks and miles of trails, residents have ample opportunities for outdoor activities.
The most popular park is Settler’s Park, which features a splash pad for kids, picnic areas, trails, and hosts numerous community events throughout the year, including concerts and outdoor movies. Commissioners Park, Van Horn Woods, and Four Seasons Park are other hotspots that host ice rinks, sports fields, forests, and large open spaces for relaxation.
The city is also home to numerous nature preserves, such as the Prairie Bluff Reserve, which is home to over 3 miles of trails for cycling, skiing, and more. Other preserves include the Rock Run Preserve, Eaton Preserve, and Riverview Farmstead Preserve, which all serve important roles in protecting local biodiversity.
3. Lake Renwick Preserve
The largest and most famous natural landmark in the Plainfield area is the Lake Renwick Preserve, which is part of the Lily Cache Creek preservation system. This scenic gem features a 200 acre lake with structures designed to provide nesting homes for birds. The preserve is home to the largest protected nesting location of herons in Illinois, although public viewing is limited during nesting season. Additionally, cycling and fishing are only allowed in certain areas.
There are three ways to access the preserve: through Copley Nature Park, Heron rookery Nature Preserve, or Turtle Lake. Unfortunately, only a few hundred feet from the preserve is a sand and gravel mine, which may impact the local wildlife.
4. The DuPage River
The DuPage River runs through Plainfield, offering picturesque riverfront areas for relaxation and recreation. Fishing, kayaking, and serene waterfront walks are just a few ways to enjoy the natural beauty of the river. The city also recently adopted a Riverfront Master Plan, which aims to further highlight the DuPage River with overlooks, improved shoreline management, and recreation space.
There are numerous trails that follow the river and connect different parks around the city. For example, the 30+ mile Dupage River Trail follows the river through most of Plainfield before heading north to Naperville and south to Shorewood. The trail connects Mather Woods, Renwick Park, Settlers’ Park, and Eaton Preserve. Other trails around the city also follow the river, although they may be disconnected.
5. Historical landmarks
Plainfield boasts a rich history, and several historical landmarks showcase its past. The Naper Settlement offers a glimpse into the region’s history, while the historic Barber House serves as a testament to the town’s architectural heritage. Additionally, the area is home to a historic gas station, a Civil War enlistment center, and an opera house that was originally a church and town hall.
6. Lewis University
Founded in 1932 just 20 miles outside of Plainfield, Lewis University has a rich history of academic excellence and community engagement. Inspired by its Catholic and Lasallian heritage, the university is known for its diverse range of undergraduate and graduate programs, covering fields such as business, aviation, religion, education, healthcare, and the arts.
One of the standout features of Lewis University is its commitment to innovation and technology. The university’s aviation program, for example, is renowned for its state-of-the-art flight simulation facilities and providing students with hands-on experience in aeronautics. The university offers undergraduate and graduate programs, including air traffic control management, aviation maintenance, and unmanned aircraft systems.
The Plainfield Historic Preservation Commission recently created a self-guided walking tour that showcases the area’s history and highlights local architecture and businesses. The tour includes 53 historic properties around the town.
7. Annual events
The town comes alive with a variety of annual festivals and events year-round. Yearly favorites include the seasonal Farmers Market, Irish Parade, Harvest 5k, and Homecoming Parade, which celebrates the new school year and welcoming alumni back to the area. Holiday celebrations are also popular in Plainfield, such as Spooktacular and The Heart of Christmas.
No matter who you are or what you celebrate, you’re sure to find a community event to help you feel at home.
8. Proximity to Chicago
Plainfield’s proximity to Chicago is one of its standout features. Located just 35 miles southwest of downtown Chicago, Plainfield offers residents the best of both worlds – a serene suburban lifestyle with easy access to the vibrant Windy City.
While it’s easiest to drive from Plainfield to Chicago, taking just over an hour, the city does offer two bus routes on weekdays. However, public transportation is minimal in Plainfield, so plan on driving a car.
9. Plainfield tornado of 1990
A devastating F5 tornado struck Plainfield on August 28, 1990, the strongest August tornado in US history and one of the strongest of all time. It remains as one of the most memorable events in the village’s history and led to significant rebuilding and growth in the community.
10. Community spirit
Community spirit is at the heart of what makes Plainfield, IL, a special place to live. Residents actively volunteer at libraries, parks, animal sheltered, and food banks, creating a sense of togetherness. Neighborhood associations also organize events, and local businesses support the town and contribute to its historic roots. Strong community engagement, welcoming neighbors, and ample public services helps make Plainfield a welcoming town open to everyone.
What is Plainfield, IL, known for? Final thoughts
Plainfield, IL, is more than just a suburban town; it’s a thriving community with a rich history, excellent schools, and a strong sense of unity among its residents. From a charming downtown to natural beauty and diverse amenities, Plainfield offers something for people from all walks of life. And, with a convenient location near just an hour outside Chicago, it’s no wonder that Plainfield is a growing city beloved by locals.
So, if you’re considering living in Plainfield and want to buy a home or rent an apartment, you’re sure to find something to love.
The Realtor survey was sent out in late July to 55,751 randomly-selected residential Realtors. NAR received 1,919 responses by the mid-August close date of the survey. The homebuyer survey was conducted by Morning Consult in June 2023. Of the 2,201 respondents, 587 were white, 560 were Hispanic/Latino(a), 533 identified as African-American/Black and 521 identified at Asian American or Pacific Islander (AAPI).
In the realtor survey, Millennials were the largest home buyer generation represented. Forty-two percent of agents reported that they were working with Millennials, followed by Gen X at 22%, Baby Boomers at 12%, Gen Z at 8% and Civics (those aged 78 and older) at 1%.
White homebuyers were the largest racial group represented at 58%, followed by Hispanic/Latino(a) at 11%, African-American/Black at 10% and Asian-American at 3%.
Over half of the Realtors (51%) reported they their buyers were first-time buyers. In the buyer survey, 71% of white respondents reported they currently own a home, while 67% of African-American/Black responses said they do not currently own a home. In addition, 89% of Hispanic/Latino(a) buyers, as well as African-American/Black buyers said they will be first-time buyers, compared to just 65% of white respondents.
When broken up by race or ethnicity, white buyers are more likely than other races to report not yet having a purchased a home mainly due to lack of availability in their budget, while Hispanic/Latino(a) buyers are more likely to be hampered mainly by the inability to save a sufficient down payment. AAPI buyers are most likely to be waiting for prices to drop and African-American/Black buyers are most likely to report trouble getting approved for a loan due to credit issues as the main reason they have not bought yet.
Generationally, Gen X (12%) and Baby Boomer (11%) buyers are more likely than other generations to be waiting for prices to drop (only 9% of Gen Z buyers and 6% of Millennial buyers are waiting for prices to drop). However, Baby Boomers are the least likely to be concerned about competing with all-cash buyers, with just 24% listing this as a concern compared to 34%-42% for the other generations.
Exploring finance options
According to the Realtor survey, 77% of their prospective buyers who have applied for a loan, have been approved, while 6% have applied but been denied. Of those who have been denied, 12% report it is due to low credit score and 9% report it was due to insufficient down payments.
Black/African-American buyers who have not been approved for a loan are more likely than other racial or ethnic groups to have been denied due to low credit scores, at 32% versus 17% or less for the other racial and ethnic groups.
Realtors reported that 68% of their buyers were considering a conventional loan, 38% were considering an FHA loan, 8% were considering a VA loan and 7% said their buyers did not need home loan financing. FHA loans more likely to be considered by African-American/Black and Hispanic/Latino(a) buyers than white and AAPI buyers, and white and AAPI buyers were most likely to not need financing, at 8% and 9% respectively, compared to 4% or less for other racial and ethnic groups. Broken down on generational lines, 25% of Baby Boomers report not needing financing, compared with just 8% or less for younger generations.
First time buyers (54%) are more than twice as likely as repeat buyers (22%) to consider an FHA loan. Divided among racial and ethnic groups, African-American/Black buyers (62%) and Hispanic/Latino(a) buyers (57%) are more likely to consider FHA loans than other groups (34% or less). Generationally, younger buyers are more likely to consider FHA loans with 57% of Gen Z buyers reporting they have considered an FHA loan, compared to 11% of Baby Boomers.
Among buyers who were eligible for FHA or VA loans, 20% of realtors said their buyer clients have not considered VA or FHA because they do not want to pay private mortgage insurance (PMI) (21%) or they are worried their offers will be less competitive with these options (19%).
According to the survey, 53% of realtors say that at least one issues is holding their latest buyer back from saving a competitive down payment, with 23% reporting current rent or mortgage payments holding buyers back, 17% reporting credit card balances or payments, 12% reporting student loan debt and 11% citing car loans.
First-time buyers are significantly more likely to struggle with these challenges than repeat buyers, with twice as many first-time buyers reporting that they are struggling with credit card payments (22% vs. 11%), and student loan debt (17% vs 7%). When broken down via race and ethnicity, AAPI (52%) and white buyers (52%) were more likely than African-American/Black buyers (31%) and Hispanic/Latino(a) buyers (36%) to report that nothing was holding them back from saving for a down payment. Along generational lines, younger buyers are more likely to be held back by student loan debt (20% of Gen Z, 15% of Millennials, and 8% or less for older generations), car loans (16% of Gen Z vs. 3% of Baby Boomers) and childcare expenses (12% of Gen Z, compared to 2% of Baby Boomers). Overall, the older the buyer the more likely that none of the above issues are holding them back from saving for a down payment, with 70% of Baby Boomers reporting that none of these issues are holding them back compared to 40% of Gen Z buyers.
Despite their challenges, only 23% of Realtors reported that their buyers dealing with these challenges have applied for down payment assistance programs, while 12% of consumers reported that they were unaware of these programs.
The number one reason, at 30%, Realtors cited as to why their buyers who were aware of down payment assistance programs did not apply was that their income was too high. This was followed by 19% who said their buyers didn’t know enough about the programs and 17% who were worried about the competitiveness of their offers in a multiple bid situation.
First time buyers were three times more likely to have applied for down payment assistance programs than repeat buyers at 30% compared to 10%. Similarly, the younger the buyer, the more likely they are to have applied for a program, with 36% of Gen Z buyers reporting they had applied versus 11% of Baby Boomers.
Among racial groups, AAPI buyers were the least likely to have applied to a down payment assistance program at 13% versus 22%-31% for other groups. In addition, they were the most likely to say they were unaware of the programs at 26% compared to 8%-13% for other racial groups.
Location, Location, Location
When determining the location of their future home, 71% of realtors reported that their buyers were determining the location of their next home base on the location of their job or the job of someone in their household. Of the remaining roughly 30%, 16% said their buyer work fully remote and 14% reported that they buyers are retired. They are typically looking for 30 minutes or less of driving time (consumers reported 25 minutes or less).
Baby Boomer were the most likely to be retired at 61% compared to 2%-9% of other generations, while Gen X buyers were the most likely to work fully remotely at 24% versus 9% to 14% for other generations. Millennials (84%) and Gen Z buyers (86%) are the most likely to determine the future location of their home based on the location of their job (28% to 67% for older generations), and similarly, first-time buyers (83%) are more likely than repeat buyers (57%) to determine location based on the location of their job.
Compared to other racial or ethnic group, Hispanic/Latino(a) buyers were most likely to determine the location of their future home based on the location of their jobs, at 82%, compared to 69% to 74% for other groups. White (16%) and African-American/Black buyers (12%) were the most likely to be retired or not workings (other groups ranged from 7% to 8%).
Nearly half (49%) of Realtors said their buyers have no preference between existing and new construction, however white buyers were significantly more likely than other racial groups to prefer existing homes at 46% compared to 27% to 35% for other groups.
The vast majority of Realtors (89%) said their buyer clients were buying a primary residence, while 6% reported they were buying an investment property and 5% said they were buying a vacation or rental home.
Discrimination remains under reported
Of the Realtors surveyed, 1% of Realtors reported that their buyer experienced discrimination during buying process, while 13% were unsure. Among the 14 Realtors who reported that their buyer experienced discrimination, the most common form of discrimination came in the form of loan products offered by the lender (43%) or that the buyer did not receive a call back from the lender (29%). Realtors who reported that their clients experience discrimination, said the most common reason was race (57%), followed by age (29%), and familial status (21%).
Other common sources of discrimination reported were color, religion and national origin (all at 14% each), as well as sex, disability and sexual orientation (all at 7% each).
Despite experiencing discrimination only 7% of the agents said their clients reported the discrimination to a government agency or legal aid organization.
In the consumer study, roughly one in six prospective buyers reported experiencing discrimination during their home buying process, with more than half of Black, Asian, and Hispanic buyers reporting that this was due to their race or ethnicity. White buyers are equally likely to report discrimination but are more likely than others to say this was based on factors other than race or ethnicity. NAR reported that based on both studies is believes that most of this discrimination goes unreported.
Consumers who experience discrimination reported that this most often manifested in their being steered towards or away from specific neighborhoods and in stricter requirements. Among successful buyers 50% of Hispanic/Latino(a) buyers experienced steering, compared to 29% of white buyers and 12% of African American/Black buyers, while 17% of AAPI buyers, 24% of White buyers and 12% of African American/Black buyers reported stricter requirements.
What a long, strange couple of months it’s been for me. On the blog, things have been quiet. Behind the scenes, I’ve been as busy as I’ve ever been.
The good news is that this busy-ness will (eventually) lead to a number of interesting articles. I’ve been reading Cal Newport’s Deep Work, for instance, and have some thoughts on it. I’ve been thinking about the concept of “no speed limits”. Shocking but true: I’m going to write an article about my primary credit card. And I’ve been reading and writing a lot about “doing nothing”.
Today, though, I want to clear my head (and my inbox) by sharing five short financial anecdotes.
In the past month, I’ve had probably twenty deep discussions about personal finance and personal values. While some of these conversations lead to bigger things (like the three articles I mentioned above), most don’t. But they still produce intertesting concepts and ideas. They sometimes lead me to make changes.
Here are a five money-related topics that don’t (yet) warrant articles of their own, but which I still find interesting (and worth sharing).
Going With Google
During my ten days in Portugal for the FI chautauqua, cell phone service was a common topic of conversation. Some folks didn’t have any. Others were paying a small fortune just to get a tiny bit of data from their provider.
There were two types of people who didn’t have any trouble with their cell service in Portugal: those who use T-Mobile and those who use Google FI.
“What’s Google FI?” I asked. I’d never heard of it.
“It’s Google’s cell service,” Owen said. “It’s cheap and has lots of features, but you can’t use it with Apple phones.”
“Actually, you can,” Bill said.
“But the website says it doesn’t work with iPhones,” said Owen.
“The website is wrong,” said Bill. “I’ve been using it with my iPhone for months with no problems — even here in Portugal.” He showed us his phone and explained how much he liked Google FI.
“I’ll look into,” I said. And I did. Here’s what I learned:
Kim and I currently spend $117 (plus taxes and fees) for our shared T-Mobile plan. This gives us a limited amount of high-speed data (although plenty for normal needs), plus service for my Apple Watch. (When the watch dies, I don’t plan to replace it, so eventually that’ll save us ten bucks per month.)
If we were to move to Google FI, it’d cost us $120 per month (plus taxes and fees). That’s roughly the same price, obviously, with no real advantages. (We’d have access to more high-speed data, although we rarely need that. Plus, we’d get Google One, whatever that is.) And it doesn’t include service for my watch.
My conclusion? For T-Mobile customers like us, moving to Google FI doesn’t make much sense. But I suspect many people ought to consider their service.
Meanwhile, we’ve been struggling with our wireless network here at home. Although Apple no longer makes wireless networking equipment, our network is built with routers from when they did sell the stuff. Some of these routers are now a decade old (or possibly older). We have four of them.
For whatever reason, our network is constantly going down. It’s frustrating. It’s quite common that three of the routers will be up while a fourth will arbitrarily decide to stop working for a few days. (And when we changed the network name last spring? Nightmare!)
While visiting MMM HQ last weekend, I noticed that Pete uses the Google Mesh system to provide service in his co-working space. “Do you like it?” I asked. “I’ve heard other people rave about Google Mesh, but I don’t know anything about it.”
“It’s awesome,” he said. “Totally trouble-free.” So, I’ve ordered a starter set of Google Mesh devices. They’ll arrive tomorrow. I have high hopes that this will cure our wifi headaches.
Taming the Email Beast
After returning from my nineteen-day trip to Portugal, Wisconsin, and southern California, my email inboxes were swamped. (I have five separate gmail accounts. Crazy, right?)
Naturally, I complained about the situation on Facebook. My friend Charlotte sent me a private message: “Do you have time to hop on a video call?” she asked. “I’ll show you a way to tame your email.”
Charlotte spent twenty minutes walking me through an email system she recently adopted. It effectively divides your gmail inbox — and yes, you have to be using gmail — into five different inboxes, each of which is themed. Once a day, you tackle your main inbox, routing messages to sub-inboxes. Then, when you have time, you work through the other inboxes.
This is a minor change to the way I do things (and admittedly it mostly delays messages to later), but it’s effective.
I send myself email twenty times each week. It’s my note-taking system. It’s how I offload things from my brain. This is great…except that my inboxes tend to get flooded with book recommendations, article ideas, and reminders of upcoming events. It’s a mess. Using this system, I can still send myself messages, but I’m now able to flag these messages so they’re routed to the appropriate sub-inbox.
I’ve been following Charlotte’s advice for two weeks now, and I like it. It hasn’t solved my email woe, but it’s mitigated the problem substantially.
Dozens of Credit Cards
Last weekend, Kim and I flew to Colorado to celebrate the birthday of a certain mustachioed friend. While there, I had several memorable conversations.
For instance, I chatted with Amy from Go With Less about how she and her husband play the credit-card game. They have an insane number of cards — 34? 43? I can’t remember the exact count — and over three million credit-card points.
While our conversation touched on topics like manufactured spending (a concept that blows my mind and angers card issuers), I was more interested in how and why Tim and Amy juggle dozens of credit cards. Doesn’t this hurt their credit score? Turns out: No. Because they pay bills on time and never cancel cards, they have nearly perfect credit.
Here’s a video in which they address this topic:
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I wanted to ask Tim and Amy more about their crazy credit-card fueled lifestyle, but I didn’t have the chance. I look forward to picking their brains more in the future, though.
Health Shares for the Non-Religious
Last weekend, I also had a conversation with Ben, who famously gets his cars for free. Ben is super smart and doesn’t accept the status quo. He’s always looking for ways to challenge the system in order to make the most of his money.
Lately, he’s been doing this with healthcare.
For many people who have retired early, health insurance is thorny issue. It’s expensive. Take my case, for example. I pay $403 per month for shitty coverage. This year, I’ve met my $7900 out-of-pocket max, which means I’ll have spent $12,736 (plus co-pays and prescriptions) when the dust settles. I hate the U.S. healthcare system. It’s insane.
Well, Ben too thinks it’s insane. Rather than complain about it, though, he’s been seeking creating solutions.
“Have you looked at health-sharing ministries?” Ben asked me on Sunday morning. “They can be a great way to cut costs.”
“I have,” I said. “But they all require a statement of faith, which I’m not able to give.”
“I had the same problem,” Ben said, “so I searched for alternatives. I found Sedera. It’s basically the same as a health-share ministry. You still have to agree to abide by certain principles, but they’re not based on a religion.”
“Is it affordable?” I asked.
“Yes,” he said. “I’m paying $200 per month per person for my wife, my daughter, and myself.”
“That’s not bad,” I said.
“But here’s the thing,” Ben said. “Sedera is designed to work with a direct primary care physician.”
“A what?” I said.
“A direct primary care physician is just what it sounds like. It’s a doctor that you work with directly without a third-party intermediary. That means the doctor bills you directly, not an insurance company. When you combine this with a health-sharing program like Sedera, it’s a cost-effective alternative to traditional insurance.”
“Kim and I have an appointment to talk with an insurance broker next week,” I said. “I’ll have to look into this as an alternative.”
“Do it,” Ben said. “You won’t regret it.”
Downgrading My Motorcycle
Lastly, here’s a topic that comes from several different conversations and a lot of soul-searching on my part.
When Kim and I started dating, I was surprised to learn that she was a motorcycle enthusiast. After she bought her father’s bike from him, I decided to learn to ride myself.
I started with a low-power Honda Rebel, which was perfect for my needs. Then, a couple of years ago, I made an impulse purchase: I upgraded to a Harley-Davidson Street 750. The new bike gave me the power to keep up with Kim on long trips. (The little Rebel was always falling behind on the highway.)
Turns out, though, that for day-to-day riding, I wish I had my Rebel. Kim and I don’t make many long trips — about one per year. And when we do, I’m fine falling behind. I’d rather have a quick and easy bike for running errands or zipping downtown. My Street 750 is not the right bike for this. It takes a long time to gear up and get the Harley ready to go.
I’ve spent the past year trying to figure out my best move. I’ve talked with a lot of friends and considered several options. Do I just stick it out with the motorcycle I have? Do I buy a new Rebel? Do I do something else?
After much thought and contemplation, I’ve decided that my best plan for the motorcycle situation is three-fold:
Sell the Street 750. Use the proceeds to purchase two replacements.
Buy a (used?) scooter to use for errands and running downtown. Kim plans to sell her motorcycle, so long trips are no longer an issue. I want something quick and easy to ride. I want to be able to get on the bike and go.
Buy an electric bike for use around home. I already own a bike, but as I’ve mentioned before, I don’t ride it. For one, I am fat. For another, we are surrounded by hills. MMM has urged me to look into Rad Power electric bikes.
Making this move — which likely won’t happen until the spring, when people are looking for motorcycles — is much more aligned with my values and lifestyle. Currently, my motorcycle mostly gathers dust. I ride it maybe 1000 miles per year. I’d ride the scooter more often, and the electric bike would get me out slicing through these hills for exercise!
What about you? What financial conversations have you been having with your friends? What minor money moves are you making in your life?
It’s important to understand your rights as a renter.
The landlord-tenant relationship is complex. Each party’s responsibilities can vary by city, state and lease agreement. But federal, local and state laws secure renters’ rights.
The first step in exercising your tenants’ rights is to understand what those rights (and the laws that protect them) actually are. The second is to learn how to take action if someone violates your rights.
In this guide:
The right to fair housing
The Fair Housing Act of 1968 makes it illegal for landlords to discriminate based on race, sex, age, religion, nationality, family status or mental or physical disability. The Fair Housing Act applies to most rental units. There are exceptions for small rental properties, private clubs and religious organizations.
The law protects current renters and prospective tenants from discrimination for any of the reasons listed above. This discrimination can take many forms.
Federal Fair Housing Act protections
Sex, race, family status, age, religion, disability or national origin are examples of protected classes under the FHA. Landlords can’t refuse to rent to or negotiate with someone because of their protected status. They can’t set different terms or conditions, ask a renter to move out or force them to pay different fees or higher rent.
It’s against the law to state that only renters with particular physical and mental abilities or familial status can rent an apartment. The same goes for people of a certain age, race, sex or nationality. This applies to verbal statements and advertising, too. It’s also illegal for landlords to harass, intimidate, bribe or interfere with a renter’s right to equitable accommodation.
Definition of familial status
A landlord can’t refuse to rent to families with kids under 18 or discriminate against people seeking custody of children under 18. Landlords can’t deny legal guardians or pregnant women a home unless there’s a legal reason to do so.
Definition of sex
It’s against the law to only rent to men or women. Landlords also can’t discriminate because of a renter’s sexual orientation or gender identity. The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) offers resources, especially for LGBTQ+ renters.
Other protected classes
Certain state laws extend additional protections. Some make it illegal to discriminate because a renter receives alimony, child support or public assistance. Others ban discrimination based on physical characteristics like tattoos and piercings.
Search by state to learn about the laws in your area. If someone violates your rights, contact an organization on this list, reach out to an attorney or law firm or file a claim with HUD.
Rights for disabled tenants
The FHA and the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) protect renters with physical and mental disabilities. Under these laws, landlords must provide safe and accessible rental homes to residents with disabilities.
The ADA requires that common spaces are accessible. The FHA requires that most apartments, rental homes and condos built after March 13, 1991, include wheelchair-accessible doors, hallways and living spaces. Homes built before that date must have grab rails, accessible outlets and light switches, TTY phone systems, visual alarms and other accessible features put in place. Learn more about your rights in our accessible apartment guide.
If a landlord won’t rent to you or refuses to make reasonable accommodations so you can live in your home, you could file a complaint. Contact a Fair Housing Assistance Program (FHAP) or file a claim with HUD. Hiring an attorney with experience in discrimination claims can increase your chance of success.
The right to a habitable home
You have the right to a habitable home. That means the home you rent is a clean, safe space with access to heat and water. It’s structurally sound and free from pests.
A habitable home isn’t a threat to your physical health. A landlord must provide working safety measures like fire extinguishers, carbon monoxide and smoke detectors and fire alarms in your apartment. Most states require landlords to tell renters about environmental hazards like asbestos or mold before signing a lease.
The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and HUD also require landlords to tell prospective renters about lead paint in buildings built before 1978. Both parties must acknowledge the presence of lead paint in writing before the tenants move in. Landlords aren’t obligated to remove lead-based paint, just acknowledge it.
In most other cases, the landlord or property management team is responsible for removing toxins and making the rental home safe to live in. This doesn’t apply to damage caused by the current tenant.
Tenant rights include access to timely repairs and maintenance. A landlord will often include a timeframe for completing repairs. The lease may provide additional details about timing.
The right to privacy and notice for landlord visits
This is one of the most common landlord-tenant issues. Thankfully, renters’ rights are quite clear on the subject.
A landlord or property owner might own your apartment, but they can’t just barge in whenever they want. Landlords can only enter under certain circumstances. These include making or assessing repairs and showing rental units to insurance or mortgage professionals and prospective renters.
Landlords don’t need permission to enter during emergency situations like a fire or natural disaster. They can also come in if they think a tenant abandoned an apartment.
Most states require a landlord to give advance notice before entering an apartment, usually 24-48 hours. Rental agreements may provide more details.
Tenants have the right to request another date or time for a landlord’s visit. But they can’t deny them access if they have a valid reason to enter.
The right to fair credit reporting
The Fair Credit Reporting Act of 1970 gives renters the right to know what’s in their credit reports. If a property manager or landlord rejects your application, they have to disclose where they got the information. They also have to tell you how to contact the issuer. You just need to request this information from your landlord in writing.
This protects tenant rights because landlords have to provide evidence of bad credit. They can’t just deny your application for no reason. It can also catch clerical errors and alert you to possible identity theft.
Rights regarding notice of evictions
Evictions are one of the most difficult landlord-tenant issues. Landlords can legally evict a tenant for several reasons. These include nonpayment of rent, violating the terms of the rental agreement, significant property damage and failing to move out after a lease ends. The eviction process and eviction laws vary from state to state.
A landlord must follow the law in their state. Renters have the right to receive an eviction notice that details the reason for eviction. It must also provide a time frame for the eviction process. Residents should respond in writing and offer a solution that resolves the problem, if possible. (Eviction resources are available.) Once an eviction goes to court, the process is more difficult to stop.
If landlord-tenant communication breaks down and the issue isn’t resolved, the case goes to eviction court. If bad landlords try to evict tenants without an eviction court order, renters can get damages. Contact a lawyer or law firm immediately.
An eviction can damage your credit and make it hard to find a home in a safe location. Hiring a lawyer can help.
“Nationwide, only 10 percent of tenants are able to secure representation in eviction cases, compared to 90 percent of landlords,” Emily Benfer of the Princeton University Eviction Lab explains. “Where tenants are not represented, the vast majority lose their case.”
The right to recover a security deposit
Renters also have the right to have their security deposit returned at the end of a lease. Many rental agreements require security deposits to fix damage caused by residents or a pet. Security deposits are also used to cover incomplete rent payments.
Landlords can use a security deposit to fix the damaged rental unit or to pay off unpaid rent. But they need to provide the renter with an itemized list of expenses for which the landlord used the security deposit. They also need to return the unused portion of the security deposit to the tenant.
A renter should know local laws since some states limit how you can use security deposits and how large they are. Certain security deposits (like pet security deposits) aren’t refundable. Check your lease for the details.
The right to quiet enjoyment
Residents have the right to quiet enjoyment, called “Covenant of Quiet Enjoyment” in a lease. It guarantees residents the right to enjoy their rental property without “substantial interference” from a landlord.
If a landlord starts hammering nails in the middle of the night or fails to enforce quiet hours or no-smoking rules, they could be in violation. Refusing to repair a rental unit until it becomes uninhabitable, revving engines or throwing loud parties would be a violation, too.
A renter who can prove their landlord acted in bad faith could earn monetary damages or a full or partial rent refund. A lawyer who specializes in landlord-tenant issues will be an important ally.
Protect your rights
Now that you’ve reviewed your rights, you understand the protections provided by the law and your lease. If you’re a victim of discrimination or another legal issue, there’s more work ahead.
You may need to report a renters’ rights violation or file a landlord-tenant dispute. You might need to file a claim, challenge an eviction or take legal action.
Read the rental agreement
If you’re not sure if your landlord has violated your tenants’ rights, re-read your lease carefully. It can provide evidence to support your case or clarify a legal issue.
In a perfect world, you received a copy of your lease when you signed it. Some states must provide a copy of your lease agreement after you move in and after every annual renewal.
Otherwise, you can request a copy of your rental agreement from your landlord or management company in writing. That’s a good habit to get into for all landlord-tenant communications.
Document everything
Get everything in writing when documenting a legal issue. You need clear evidence and an organized system for keeping track of all the details.
“Documentation is important, whether you’re talking to a lawyer, going through the court system or going through a housing discrimination case,” says Kelly Gorz, Associate Director of High Plains Fair Housing Center in Grand Forks, North Dakota.
“Keep track of any kind of communication you have with your landlord — any emails, texts, receipts. Keep a notebook. If you talk to them in person, write down the date, what you asked for and what they said. Take pictures at move-in and walk-out. Take videos. Definitely don’t pay in cash. Make sure you have some kind of record of payment, whether that’s a check or certified mail.”
Study tenant rights in your state
Legal protections for renters vary widely by state and territory. They can even vary from city to city, so research the laws in your location thoroughly.
“Contact local fair housing offices and your city planning and development offices, too,” suggests Gorz. “They are very connected to their local community resources.”
Renters in HUD housing can call 1-800-MULTI-70 (1-800-685-8470). Assistance is available in English and Spanish. HUD also details tenant rights organizations and services by state and territory.
Some state attorney general websites also have information for renters. Enter your state to learn if yours is one of them.
Report discrimination to a partner agency
Reporting discrimination can feel overwhelming. Filing a claim with a community organization that specializes in FHA issues can make the process feel more manageable.
A renter can usually work directly with an organization in its own state. Staff members serve as advocates for renters who are filing an FHA claim, facing an eviction notice or dealing with another legal issue. Some can provide a lawyer or other legal services, while others provide free education and outreach.
Report FHA violations to HUD on the phone
Renters can also report housing discrimination complaints directly to HUD by calling 1-800-669-9777. The TTY is 1-800-927-9275. It’s always free to call.
Provide your name and address, as well as the name and address of the person who discriminated against you. Include the date the violation occurred, the address of the rental property and a brief description of the incident.
If HUD finds evidence of discrimination against a renter and the case goes to court, HUD will provide a lawyer for free. A renter can also retain their own attorney.
Report discrimination to HUD in writing
Tenants can also provide these details in writing. File an online complaint in Spanish or English on the HUD website.
Or, download this form and mail or email it to the closest regional office. The form is also available in Arabic, Spanish, Chinese, Korean, Russian, Somali, Cambodian and Vietnamese.
Retain an attorney
If you’ve been a victim of discrimination, you’ll need a lawyer that specializes in discrimination cases. If you’re challenging an eviction or you’re in the middle of a landlord-tenant dispute, select an experienced landlord-tenant attorney.
Free legal help is also available. Search by state to find a pro bono attorney or law firm in your area.
Challenge unmade repairs
If a landlord doesn’t make necessary repairs or the apartment is uninhabitable, renters have options. First, submit a request for repairs in writing and document any response.
Next, check your city and state’s maintenance laws. Information is often available at the local housing or building authority office. The health departments or fire stations might also provide help.
If the problem violates building or health codes or the apartment isn’t safe to live in, contact local authorities. Inspectors may order the landlord to fix the problem.
Knowledge is power
Every renter should know and understand their rights. That’s the first step to preserving them. And if your landlord violates your rights are violated, take the necessary steps to resolve the issues so you can enjoy a safe and happy home.
A lot rides on a home appraisal, whether you’re trying to sell a house, refinance your mortgage or tap into your home equity.
An appraisal may come in lower than you expected because property values dropped or because you’ve overestimated your home’s market value. But the appraisal process isn’t foolproof, and there are options if you think the appraiser got it wrong, or you suspect that you’ve been subject to appraisal discrimination.
Here’s what to do if your home appraises for less than you think it should.
Understand how an appraisal affects home equity
A home appraisal is a licensed appraiser’s opinion of home value, based on research, analysis and professional judgment. Lenders require an appraisal for most kinds of home loans because the property serves as collateral for the loan — they don’t want to lend more than the property is worth. Lenders plug the appraised value into a formula called the loan-to-value ratio (LTV) — the loan balance divided by the home value. A combined LTV includes the balance of the mortgage plus the amount of a home equity loan or line of credit. The ratio affects the amount you can extract in home equity and whether you can refinance.
Here’s an example of how the appraised value would affect borrowing from your home equity. Say, for instance, a lender’s maximum combined LTV is 85%. You’d like to borrow $100,000 through a home equity loan and currently owe $200,000 on your mortgage.
If your home appraised for $375,000, your combined loan-to-value ratio (300,000 divided by 375,000) would be 80%, and you might qualify. But if the home appraised for $325,000, the LTV (300,000 divided by 325,000) would be 92%, too high to meet the lender’s requirement.
Check the appraisal report for accuracy
The lender is required to send a free copy of the appraisal report to the loan applicant at least three days before the loan closes. So you’ll get one if you’re refinancing or applying for a home equity loan. But in a home sale, the buyer will receive it as part of the mortgage process. If you’re the seller, work with your real estate agent to get a copy of the report from the buyer.
The appraisal report documents a slew of property details that the appraiser considered in the valuation. Even the best appraisers can make mistakes, so scour the report to make sure all the particulars are correct, such as:
Number of bedrooms and bathrooms.
Square footage.
Amenities, including fireplaces, patios and pools.
Garage type and condition.
Condition of roof, furnace or other major systems listed on the report.
Additional features, such as energy-efficient systems.
Evaluate the ‘comps’
To help determine home value, appraisers consider prices of comparable homes that were recently sold in the area, known as real estate comps.
Check which homes were used. Were they truly comparable? How nearby are the homes, and how recently were they sold?
You may want to ask a friendly real estate agent familiar with your neighborhood — or your agent, if you’re working with one — for a list of recent comparable sales.
🤓Nerdy Tip
Understand that appraisals are different from online home value estimates. The appraisal isn’t wrong just because it’s lower than the ballpark figure you saw online. Home appraisals take more details into account than home-search algorithms can, so use online estimates as guidelines only.
Submit a ‘Reconsideration of Value’
Promptly document any mistakes or missing information from the appraisal report, as well as any additional information about comparable sales that you think should be considered. If you’re the loan applicant, then submit that written information as part of a “reconsideration of value” to your lender.
If you’re the home seller, ask your real estate agent to communicate those issues to the buyer and ask the buyer to submit the information to their lender.
Although the loan applicant ultimately pays for the appraisal, the appraiser actually works for the lender. So any feedback about the appraisal should go to the lender, not the appraiser.
The lender will pass along the information to the appraiser. The information you provide could prompt the appraiser to revise the valuation, but only if the additional details are relevant and significant enough to move the needle.
A loan applicant could also ask for a second appraisal or start over with a different lender. But appraisals typically cost at least a few hundred dollars, and there’s no guarantee the next appraisal will come in higher.
File a complaint if you suspect discrimination
Under the U.S. Fair Housing Act of 1968, home appraisers aren’t allowed to discriminate based on someone’s race, color, religion, sex, disability, family status or national origin. Yet many media reports in recent years have highlighted instances in which properties appraised for more when Black homeowners hid evidence of their race. Although the stories were new, the concept of “white-washing” a home to get a fair value has a long and painful history in the Black community.
Another option is to file a fair housing complaint. You can do that directly with the Department of Housing and Urban Development’s Office of Fair Housing and Equal Opportunity or get help through your local fair housing center. Funded through HUD’s Fair Housing Initiatives Program, fair housing centers do preliminary investigations and help people navigate the complaint process. You can find a fair housing organization near you on the HUD website.
Refinance programs that don’t require appraisals
If you have a mortgage backed by the Federal Housing Administration or the Department of Veterans Affairs, you may be able to refinance without getting an appraisal. These programs, however, don’t let you cash out any of your home equity:
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Being a landlord isn’t all lounging around in designer sweatpants while the rent checks roll in.
If you’re managing your property yourself, you’ll find there’s more than a little legwork involved. Whatever your reasons, (and there are plenty, ranging from investing in property to getting stuck with a house you don’t want to live in), buckle up. We’ll be walking you through how to be a landlord.
How to price your rental
A lot of factors go into pricing a rental, but in the end, it’s all pretty simple. If you don’t hit the sweet spot, it’s either going to sit empty or cost you money.
Either way, you lose.
Here are the most important things to keep in mind:
1. What are your costs? Before anything else, do the math and find out how much you need to charge to not actively lose money. Take into account your mortgage payment, housing taxes, HOA fees, upkeep and repair costs, and anything else that will eat into your profit.
It’s okay to not pull in much extra cash right away, so long as you’re in the rental business for the long term. With time—and smart money management—you’ll pay off the mortgage and get your rental income (mostly) free and clear.
2. Timing is important. Just like the housing market, the rental market has slow and busy times of the year. Generally, they match up pretty closely. Demand is highest in the summer, when schools are out and the weather is good. You’ll be able to charge slightly higher prices in the warm months than the dead of winter.
3. High rent is not worth a bad tenant. Sure, the goal of a rental property is to make you money. But there’s more to it than setting your rent as high as you can and accepting anyone who’ll pay it. A good tenant—one who sticks around for multiple years, pays rent on time, and doesn’t damage your property or suck up your free time—is worth more than an extra few hundred dollars.
4. How much are other apartments going for? When in doubt, take a gander at comparable units on the sites you’ll be using to advertise your property. Just remember to take more than zipcode into account. Other factors include:
Nearness to amenities
Appliances (washer, dryer, dishwasher)
Renovations
Square footage
Layout
Carpet vs hardwood
5. Tenants will pay for something that looks like a good value—even if it really isn’t. Ever seen rental listings advertising things like “heat and water included?” This is a tactic used to attract renters without costing you money.
How?
It’s pretty simple.
If you’ve rented out this particular property in the past (or can get in touch with someone who knows what’s what), then you have a good estimate of what the monthly utilities cost—and that you can use in your favor. Say electricity usually costs about $70 a month. By rolling that into the monthly rent at $80 or $90 a month, you get a little extra cash and an attractive offer for renters.
How to advertise your rental
Once you’ve figured out your pricing strategy, it’s time to start attracting potential tenants. Back in the dark times, that meant putting an ad in the classified section of your local newspaper and hoping for the best.
These days, though, renters tend to start their search online, and that means you need to know where and how to put your best foot forward.
First, pictures. To really sell your property, you’re going to want to use recent pictures of your (clean!) rental. When writing the description, make sure to include all your good features. If there are one or two negative things about your rental, don’t try to hide them. Being honest can actually help you build trust with potential renters.
Which sites you use depends on your needs. Landlords generally agree, for instance, that Craigslist gets them a lot of attention, but that Zillow delivers the better quality tenants.
Here’s a quick list of some of the sites you should consider using:
Of course, some old school techniques like yard signs and referrals are definitely worth trying out. Test out your options. Soon you’ll find a combination that works best for your area and clientele.
How to screen potential tenants
Attracting the tenants is the easy part—it’s the picking that takes some time and energy.
1. Ask for a rental application. You can find templates online. Look for one that asks for current and previous employers, income level, contact info of previous landlords, number of occupants, number of pets, and personal references.
2. READ that application. Okay, so this is probably a no-brainer, but you should be able to weed out a lot of applicants at this stage. So they aren’t employed? Don’t have a (net!) monthly salary that’s at least 3 times the rent and can’t get a cosigner? Have previous evictions or references that don’t check out?
Those are all very good reasons to not rent to an applicant.
3. Run a credit and/or background check. Once you have your handful of maybes, it’s time to dig a little deeper. All three off the credit bureaus (Experian, TransUnion, Equifax) offer credit screening for landlords, and some even do background checks, too. They each had different offerings, so take a look at each before deciding.
Remember, though: a credit check doesn’t tell the whole story. While they’re usually a pretty good barometer when it comes to judging a person’s fiscal responsibility, there are situations where they don’t show you the whole picture. After all, filing for bankruptcy 5 years ago and staying current with your payments ever since is a little different than, say, skipping out on your last 4 credit card bills—both of which can tank your score.
4. Meet for the in-person walk through. Don’t be afraid to go all Sherlock on prospective tenants in-person. There are plenty of questions to ask yourself in order to get a sense for what sort of tenant a person will be.
Did they show up on time?
Is their car well-cared for?
Are their children well-behaved?
Do they know what kind of questions to ask about your property?
Have they tried to lie about their credit score or job?
Just make sure not to base your decision on age, gender, race, religion, or disability—that’s against the law and can get you sued (plus, it’s generally agreed upon to be pretty gross).
How to write a rental contract
First things first—are you a lawyer?
If the answer is no, don’t write your own lease.
As we’ll get into later, there are a lot of laws surrounding housing agreements, and when you’re not familiar with all of them, it’s alarmingly simple to get yourself into trouble.
To get started, you can find templates online for your state or city.
From there, though, it’s worth the money to have a lawyer look over it, especially if you’d like to customize it. If you do it right, it should be a one-time cost for a lease agreement you can use over and over.
How to figure out your rights as a landlord
Did you know that you can’t enter your rental without giving the tenant advance notice?
Or that you can’t evict a tenant by changing the locks—even if they haven’t paid rent in months?
A long list of laws govern the relationship between landlord and tenant, and it’s part of your new job to know them.
The tricky part is that many of these laws vary from state to state. While there’s no replacement for consulting a lawyer if you run into trouble, this resource on state landlord/tenant laws is a great place to educate yourself before you get started.
Useful tips for first time landlords
If you found your way here, I’m going to take a guess: you haven’t been at this landlord thing long. Heck, maybe you’re in the middle of buying your first rental property right now.
Here are a few things the pros already know:
1. Set your available hours. Unless you’re okay with tenants calling you to fix their toilet at 10pm, find a window of time that works for both of you and agree to it ahead of time.
2. You can collect rent payments online. Technology, amiright? These days, you collect rent from anywhere in the world—awesome if you don’t live near your property or choose to interact with your tenant as little possible. There are plenty of services available (Rentpayment.com, Cozy, and ClearNow are just a few). Do your research to find one that fits your needs.
3. Be wary of renting to family and friends. You’ve probably heard that sage advice to never do business with family or friends. Well, you probably don’t want to rent to them, either. If you value the relationship, it’s best to keep money out of the equation.
4. Your tenants don’t need to know you’re the owner. Think about it: instead of telling your tenant they can’t paint the kitchen chartreuse and facing their resentment, you play property manager and blame the owner for being a spoilsport. This is an especially helpful (and legal) tip if you’re not great at confrontation or have any reason to be extra conscious of your safety. Just remember: if your business contains your name, you’ll need to change the name of the LLC so paperwork won’t tip off your tenants.
5. Document the state of your property before and after each tenant. It’s possible to wind up with a wild animal of a tenant no matter how well you screen. By knowing exactly what sort of damage has been wrought upon your property—and having the pictures to back it up in court—you’re in a much better position to hold onto your money.
6. Document any agreement you make. You’re probably noticing a pattern here: when in doubt, document. That holds especially true for any changes you agree to make to your standard lease after it has been signed. In this case, what you need is called an “addendum to a lease.” You can find templates online, but it can pay to use a lawyer.
7. Consider insurance. Landlord insurance may not be required by law, but it can definitely be worth it in the event of property damage or accidents.
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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Housing discrimination continues to be a serious problem plaguing renters, homebuyers, and homeowners throughout America.
There were more than 31,200 fair housing complaints filed in 2021, the most recent year where data was available, according to the National Fair Housing Alliance’s 2022 Fair Housing Trends Report. That was the most complaints filed in at least 25 years. The majority, 82%, involved rentals.
“Housing discrimination is pervasive in housing markets across the country,” says Morgan Williams, general counsel of NFHA. “Discrimination is significantly underreported. It’s hard to get good data.”
In 1968, the federal Fair Housing Act was passed to make the rampant discrimination in the housing market illegal. It initially protected people based on race, color, national origin, and religion. Familial status, disability, and sex, which includes sexual orientation and gender identity, have since been added as protected classes.
This is meant to ensure that everyone is treated equally when renting or buying homes, receiving home loans or insurance, and having their homes appraised. However, people are still being denied housing based on their race or sexual orientation, and pregnant women are being denied mortgages.
The NFHA commissioned a report in 2004 that estimated that there were likely more than 3 million fair housing violations against Black, Hispanic, Asian, and Native Americans in the rental and for-sale housing market. This didn’t include violations against other protected groups or in the mortgage, appraisal, and other facets of the real estate industry. When adding those in, he expects there are more than 4 million victims of housing discrimination a year.
Much of the discrimination goes unreported. Many people don’t realize they are victims or are unaware of how to file a fair housing complaint. Those who do often face an uphill battle in proving that they are victims. And some worry about losing their housing if they complain.
“It is a real problem in the market,” says Williams.
What are the most common fair housing complaints?
The bulk of the fair housing complaints received in 2021 were related to disability, according to the NFHA report. These made up about 54.2% of complaints. It was followed by race, familial status, sex, national origin, color, and religion. The report captured complaints filed with nonprofit fair housing organizations and government agencies, including the Department of Housing and Urban Development.
“There is still a tremendous amount of ignorance, as well as conscious and unconscious bias regarding people who are differently abled,” says Stephen Beard. He is an Oakland, CA, real estate agent with Keller Williams who specializes in working with people with disabilities. “Some landlords and other decision-makers do the minimum they can get away with.”
Some of the issues faced by those in the disabled community include being denied rentals because of the way they are perceived, not receiving reasonable accommodations for ramps, chairlifts, and closer parking spaces, as well as landlords not allowing service support animals. Sometimes light fixtures and countertops are out of reach for those in wheelchairs, or kitchens aren’t wide enough to accommodate a chair.
“There simply is not enough accessible housing stock for people with physical challenges, as well as bias against people with cognitive challenges such as autism or who have mental health issues,” says Beard. Many people “can’t find housing. If they have housing, they sometimes can’t afford to move or make their own homes accessible.”
Securing housing is also often a challenge for members of protected classes. For example, families might report that their landlords illegally prohibit their children from accessing amenities in their complexes. People of color are denied mortgages or charged higher fees for loans compared with white borrowers with similar financial pictures. Transgender renters report being evicted due to their gender identity.
“Housing affects absolutely everything you do,” says Marlene Zarfes, executive director of Westchester Residential Opportunities. The civil rights agency works on fair housing complaints in Westchester County, NY, which is located just north of New York City. “If you don’t have suitable housing, how do you get to your job? How do your kids go to school?”
In 1973, Burton Malkiel published A Random Walk Down Wall Street, in which he argued that a blindfolded monkey could pick stocks as well as a professional investor. Though I bought a copy of Random Walk for $3.99 at the local Goodwill last year, I haven’t read it. It looks dense. I know it’s written for the layman, but it still seems rather academic.
In 2003, Malkiel published The Random Walk Guide to Investing, “a book of less than 200 pages in length that boils down the time-tested advice from Random Walk into an investment guide that [is] completely accessible for a reader who knows nothing about the securities markets and who hates numbers.”
Several patient GRS-readers have been recommending this book for the past year. When I stayed home sick yesterday, I finally found time to read it. I’m impressed. Malkiel has produced an easy-to-read straightforward investment guide that I’m happy to recommend to anyone. His philosophy matches my own:
The advice in this book is both simple and realistic. There is no magic potion in the investment world because the truth is that one doesn’t exist. There is no quick road to riches. And if someone promises you a path to overnight riches, cover your ears and close your pocketbook. If an investment idea seems too good to be true, it is too good to be true. What I offer are ten simple, time-tested rules that can build wealth and provide retirement security. Think of the rules as the proven way to get rich slowly.
Malkiel’s rules are familiar. We’ve discussed most of them here before:
Start saving now, not later. Don’t worry about whether the market is high or low — just begin investing. “Trust in time rather than timing,” Malkiel writes. “The secret to getting rich slowly (but surely) is the miracle of compound interest.”
Keep a steady course. “The most important driver in the growth of your assets is how much you save,” writs Malkiel, “and saving requires discipline.” To develop discipline, the author recommends that you learn to pay yourself first (invest before anything else, even paying bills), implement a budget, change spending habits, and pay off debt.
Don’t be caught empty-handed. Malkiel recommends that readers open an emergency fund. He doesn’t specify how much should be set aside, but he does cover a variety of places to put the cash: money market accounts, certificates of deposit, and online savings accounts. He also recommends purchasing term life insurance.
Stiff the tax collector. Make the most of tax-advantaged savings: Open an Individual Retirement Account, contribute to your company’s retirement plan, take advantage of tax-free savings for your child’s education, buy your home rather than rent. All of these things help to reduce the bite that taxes take out of your money.
Match your asset mix to your investment personality. Based on your risk tolerance and your investment horizon, choose the best mix of cash, bonds, stocks, and real estate. (Malkiel encourages investors to buy each of these through mutual funds.)
Never forget that diversity reduces adversity. Don’t just buy stocks — buy stocks, bonds, and other investments classes. Within each category, diversify further. And don’t just buy one stock — buy mutual funds of many stocks. (Malkiel makes his case with the stark example of a 58-year-old Enron employee who had a $2.5 million 401k — of Enron stock. When Enron went bust, the employee not only lost her job, but her retirement savings vanished completely.) Finally, the author recommends “diversification over time” — making investments at regular intervals using dollar-cost averaging.
Pay yourself, not the piper. Interest and fees are drags on your wealth. “Paying off credit card debt is the best investment you will ever make.” Avoid expensive mutual funds. “The only factor reliably linked to future mutual fund performance is the expense ratio charged by the fund.” In fact, the author advises that costs matter for all financial products.
Bow to the wisdom of the market. “No one can time the market,” Malkiel says. It’s too unpredictable. Professional money managers can’t beat the market, financial magazines can’t beat the market — nobody can beat the market on a regular basis. The best way to earn consistent gains is to invest in broad-based index funds. It’s boring, but it works.
Back proven winners. After Malkiel has preached the virtues of index funds, presumably converting the reader to his religion, he spends a chapter suggesting possible index funds and asset allocations.
Don’t be your own worst enemy. Malkiel concludes by admonishing readers to stay the course, warning them against faulty thinking. He discusses the sort of money mistakes I’ve mentioned before: overconfidence, herd behavior, loss aversion, and the sunk-cost fallacy.
Ultimately, Malkiel’s advice can be stated in a few short sentences: Eliminate debt. Establish an emergency fund. Begin making regular investments to a diversified portfolio of index funds. Be patient. But the simplicity of his message does not detract from its value. The Random Walk Guide to Investing is an excellent book because it sticks to the basics:
It’s short.
It’s written in plain English — there’s no jargon.
It’s easy to understand — concepts are simplified so the average person can grasp them.
It’s filled with great advice.
This book refers often to other books to bolster its arguments, and includes quotes from financial professionals like John Bogle and Warren Buffett. Though the advice may seem elementary, it’s advice that works. If you want to invest but don’t know where to start, pick up The Random Walk Guide to Investing at your local library.