Buying a home can feel like a cut-throat process. You may find the craftsman style house of your dreams only to be bumped out of the running by a buyer paying in all cash, or moving super swiftly. But fear not, understanding the home buying process and getting a mortgage pre-approval can put you back in the race and help you secure the house you want.
What is Mortgage Pre-approval?
Mortgage pre-approval is essentially a letter from a lender that states that you qualify for a loan of a certain amount and at a certain interest rate based on an evaluation of your credit and financial history. You’ll need to shop for homes within the price range guaranteed by your pre-approved mortgage. You can find out how much house you can afford with our home affordability calculator.
Armed with a letter of pre-approval you can show sellers that you are a serious homebuyer with the means to purchase a home. In many ways it’s competitive to buying a home in cash. In the eyes of the seller, pre-approval can often push you ahead of other potential buyers who have not yet been approved for a mortgage.
Getting pre-qualified for a mortgage is not the same as pre-approval. It’s actually a relatively simple process in which a lender looks at a few financial details, such as income, assets, and debt, and gives you an estimate of how much of a mortgage they think you can afford.
Taking out a mortgage is a huge step and pre-qualification can help you hunt down reputable lenders and find a loan that potentially works for you. Going through this process can be useful, because it gives you an idea of your buying power, or how much house you can afford.
Check out local real estate market trends to help with your home-buying journey.
It also gives you an idea of what your monthly payment might be and is a chance to shop around to various lenders to see what types of terms and interest rates they offer. Pre-qualification is not a guarantee that you will actually qualify for a mortgage.
Getting pre-approval is a more complicated process. You’ll have to fill out an application with your lender and agree to a credit check in addition to providing information about your income and assets. There are a number of steps you can take to increase your chances of pre-approval or to increase the amount your lender will approve. Consider the following:
Building Your Credit
Think of this as step zero when you apply for any type of loan. Lenders want to see that you have a history of properly managing your debt before offering you credit themselves. You can build credit history by opening and using a credit card and paying your bills on time. Or consider having regular payments , such as your rent, tracked and added to your credit score.
Checking Your Credit
If you’ve already established a credit history, the first thing you’ll want to do before applying for a mortgage is check your credit report and your FICO score. Your credit report is a history of your credit compiled from sources such as banks, credit card companies, collection agencies, and the government.
This information is collected by the three main credit reporting bureaus, Transunion, Equifax and Experian. Your FICO score is one number that represents your credit risk should a lender offer you a loan. You’ll want to make sure that the information on your credit report is correct.
If you find any mistakes, contact the credit reporting agencies immediately to let them know. You don’t want any incorrect information weighing down your credit score, putting your chances for pre-approval at risk.
[embedded content]
Stay on Top of Your Debt
Your ability to pay your bills on time has a big impact on your credit score. If you can, make sure you make regular payments. And if your budget allows, you can make payments in full. If you have any debts that are dragging on your credit score—for example, debts that are in collection—work on paying them off first, as this can give your score a more immediate boost.
Watch Your Debt-to-income Ratio
Your debt-to-income ratio is your monthly debts divided by your monthly income. If you have $1,000 a month in debt payments and make $5,000 a month, your debt-income ratio is $1,000 divided by $5,000, or 20%.
Lenders may assume that borrowers with a high debt-to-income ratio will have a harder time making their mortgage payments. Keep your debt-to-income ratio in check by avoiding making large purchases before seeking pre-approval for a mortgage. For example, you may want to hold off on buying a new car until you’ve been pre-approved.
Prove Consistent Income
Your lender will want to know that you’ve got enough money coming in each month to cover a potential mortgage payment. So, they’ll likely ask you to prove that you have consistent income for at least two years by taking a look at your income documents (W-2, 1099 etc.).
For some potential borrowers, such as freelancers, this may be a tricky process since you may have income from various sources. Keep all pay stubs, tax returns, and other proof of income and be prepared to show them to your lender.
What Happens if You’re Rejected?
Rejection hurts. But if you aren’t pre-approved, or you aren’t approved for a large enough mortgage to buy the house you want, you also aren’t powerless. First, ask the bank why they made the decision they did. This will give you an idea about what you might need to work on in order to secure the mortgage you want.
SoFi Mortgage.
The information and analysis provided through hyperlinks to third party websites, while believed to be accurate, cannot be guaranteed by SoFi. Links are provided for informational purposes and should not be viewed as an endorsement. SoFi Mortgages are not available in all states. Products and terms may vary from those advertised on this site. See SoFi.com/eligibility-criteria#eligibility-mortgage for details. Disclaimer: Many factors affect your credit scores and the interest rates you may receive. SoFi is not a Credit Repair Organization as defined under federal or state law, including the Credit Repair Organizations Act. SoFi does not provide “credit repair” services or advice or assistance regarding “rebuilding” or “improving” your credit record, credit history, or credit rating. For details, see the FTC’s website .
You’ve got several factors to consider — ATM access, interest rates, monthly fees, minimum balances, mobile app reviews, and more.
Another factor to consider: bank promotions. These are cash bonuses you can earn when opening a new checking or savings account with a bank or credit union during the promotion window, meeting any specific criteria and keeping the account open at least long enough to earn the extra cash.
While a savings or checking bonus shouldn’t be your top reason to choose a bank, don’t rule it out entirely. After all, wouldn’t it be nice to fund your shiny new account with some extra cash?
Many banks offer such sign-up bonuses, but often, these bonuses aren’t advertised, meaning finding the best bank account bonuses can be tricky. That’s why we did some digging for you and found some hefty cash offers.
Best Bank Promotions of May 2021
We’ve researched the best cash bonuses available this month so you don’t have to. Below, you’ll find our favorite checking and savings account bonuses.
Keep an eye on what it takes to qualify, as well as any limitations. Direct deposit and minimum balances are commonly factors in securing these bonuses. Also pay attention to any monthly fees the account might carry; over time, these could weigh out the actual cash bonus. Otherwise, happy bank bonus shopping!
1. Aspiration Account: $150
Bonus amount: $150
How to get the bonus: To earn your $150, here’s all you need to do: Open your Aspiration account and deposit at least $10. Aspiration will send you a debit card associated with the account. Use the Aspiration debit card to make at least $1,000 of cumulative transactions within the first 60 days of opening your account. There’s no need to spend extra money — just use your card to buy groceries and pay your utilities.
Where to sign up: Enter your email address here, and link your bank account.
When you’ll get the bonus: Allow up to 120 calendar days from account opening to receive the bonus; you must have completed the requirements within the first 60 days.
The fine print: With Aspiration, your money is FDIC insured and under a military-grade encryption. The account offers up to 1.00% APY on savings and allows fee-free withdrawals at more than 55,000 ATMs. There are no hidden fees with Aspiration (monthly fees are on a “Pay What is Fair” policy, and that can be zero every month!), and you’ll earn cash back when you spend at socially conscious businesses (up to 5%).
No offer expiration.
2. Aspiration Plus Account: $200
Bonus amount: $200
How to get the bonus: To earn your $200, here’s all you need to do: Open your Aspiration Plus account during signup or within the first 60 days of enrollment in the regular Aspiration Account. Deposit at least $10. Aspiration will send you a debit card associated with the account. Use the Aspiration debit card to make at least $1,000 of cumulative transactions within the first 60 days of opening your account. There’s no need to spend extra money — just use your card to buy groceries and pay your utilities.
Where to sign up: Enter your email address here, and link your bank account.
When you’ll get the bonus: Allow up to 120 calendar days from account opening to receive the bonus; you must have completed the requirements within the first 60 days.
The fine print: With Aspiration, your money is FDIC insured and under a military-grade encryption. The account offers up to 1.00% APY on savings and allows fee-free withdrawals at more than 55,000 ATMs. Unlike the typical Aspiration Account, there is a $15/month fee (or $12.50/month if you pay annually). However, you’ll earn more cash back when you spend at socially conscious businesses (up to 10%), get monthly out-of-network ATM reimbursement and receive carbon offsets for all gas purchases.
No offer expiration.
3. TD Bank Beyond Checking Account: $300
Bonus amount: $300
How to get the bonus: Open a new TD Beyond Checking account. You must receive a total of $2,500 or more via direct deposit within 60 days of opening your new account.
Where to sign up: Visit this TD Checking page. Click the orange “open account” button, and follow the instructions to open a TD Beyond Checking account.
When you’ll get the bonus: The $300 bonus will be deposited into your account within 140 days of opening.
The fine print: While this bonus offer sounds too good to be true, it is definitely attainable. However, only open the account if you regularly get sizable monthly deposits or can maintain a healthy minimum balance. That’s because the account charges a monthly maintenance fee, but TD will waive the fee if you receive monthly direct deposits of $5,000, keep a minimum daily balance of $2,500 or maintain a combined balance across all your TD bank accounts of a whopping $25,000.
TD fees—and the bank’s capacity for waiving them—extend to ATMs. You won’t face fees for making withdrawals at TD’s own ATMs, and it’ll reimburse all fees for withdrawing at non-TD ATMs as long as you keep your daily balance at $2,500 or more.
No offer expiration.
4. TD Bank Convenience Checking Account: $150
Bonus amount: $150
How to get the bonus: Open a new TD Convenience Checking account. You must receive a total of $500 or more via direct deposit within 60 days of opening your new account.
Where to sign up: Visit this TD Checking page. Click the orange “open account” button, and follow the instructions to open a TD Beyond Checking account.
When you’ll get the bonus: The $150 bonus will be deposited into your account within 140 days of opening.
The fine print: While this bonus offer sounds too good to be true, it is definitely attainable. Unlike the TD Bank Beyond Checking account, this checking account option is easier for financial beginners to manage. You only need to maintain a minimum balance of $100 to have the monthly maintenance fee waived. And if you are between the age of 17 and 23, there are no minimum balance requirements and no monthly maintenance fee.
However, the Convenience Checking account does not earn interest; the Beyond Checking account does.
No offer expiration.
Carmen Mandato/ The Penny Hoarder
5. Bank of America Advantage Banking Account: $100
Bonus amount: $100
How to get the bonus: Open a new Bank of American Advantage Banking account online using the offer code DOC100CIS. You must then set up and receive two qualifying direct deposits, each totaling $250 or more, within 90 days of opening the new account. This offer is only available to new Bank of America personal checking account customers.
Where to sign up: Visit the offer page and use the offer code DOC100CIS when opening the account.
When you’ll get the bonus: Bank of America promises to “attempt” to deposit the bonus into the account within 60 days of satisfying all requirements. Though the “attempt” disclosure seems a little suspect, we could not find traces of reviews citing unpaid bonuses.
The fine print: A qualifying direct deposit means the direct deposit must be regular monthly income, whether through salary, pension or Social Security benefits. Deposits through wire transfer, apps like Venmo or ATM transfers will not qualify.
Advantage Banking accounts come in three varieties: SafeBalance, Plus and Relationship. All three carry monthly maintenance fees that can be waived:
To waive the SafeBalance monthly maintenance fee of $4.95, enroll in Preferred Rewards.
To waive the Plus monthly maintenance fee of $12, receive a qualifying minimum direct deposit, maintain minimum daily balance requirements or enroll in Preferred Rewards.
To waive the Relationship monthly maintenance fee of $25, maintain the minimum combined balance in all linked accounts or enroll in Preferred Rewards.
Offer expires June 30, 2021.
6. Associated Bank Access Checking Account: Up to $500
Bonus amount: Up to $500
How to get the bonus: Open a new Associated Access Checking account with a minimum deposit of $25 and receive direct deposits totaling at least $500 within 90 days of opening your account. Bonus values will vary based on the sum of the average daily balance of all Associated Bank deposit accounts from days 61 to 90:
Average daily balances of $1,000 to $4,999.99 will earn a $200 bonus.
Average daily balances of $5,000 to $9,999.999 will earn a $300 bonus.
Average daily balances of $10,000 or more will earn a $500 bonus.
Where to sign up: Visit this Associated Bank account sign-up page and select the appropriate account.
When you’ll get the bonus: You will receive the bonus as a deposit to your account within 120 days of account opening.
The fine print: Must be a new Associated Access Checking customer. If easy access to a physical branch is important to you, note that the bank has locations in Illinois, Minnesota and Wisconsin, but members have free access to MoneyPass ATMs nationwide. Account must remain open for a minimum of 12 months; if you close it early, Associated Bank reserves the right to deduct the paid out bonus before account closure.
The account requires a minimum deposit of $25, charges $4 a month if you require paper statements and does not earn interest.
Offer expires May 31, 2021.
7. Associated Bank Balanced Checking Account: Up to $500
Bonus amount: Up to $500
How to get the bonus: Open a new Associated Balanced Checking account with a minimum deposit of $100 and receive direct deposits totaling at least $500 within 90 days of opening your account. Bonus values will vary based on the sum of the average daily balance of all Associated Bank deposit accounts from days 61 to 90:
Average daily balances of $1,000 to $4,999.99 will earn a $200 bonus.
Average daily balances of $5,000 to $9,999.999 will earn a $300 bonus.
Average daily balances of $10,000 or more will earn a $500 bonus.
Where to sign up: Visit this Associated Bank account sign-up page and select the appropriate account.
When you’ll get the bonus: You will receive the bonus as a deposit to your account within 120 days of account opening.
The fine print: Must be a new Associated Balanced Checking customer. If easy access to a physical branch is important to you, note that the bank has locations in Illinois, Minnesota and Wisconsin, but members have free access to MoneyPass ATMs nationwide. Account must remain open for a minimum of 12 months; if you close it early, Associated Bank reserves the right to deduct the paid out bonus before account closure.
The account requires a minimum deposit of $100 and does not earn interest.
Offer expires May 31, 2021.
8. Associated Bank Choice Checking Account: Up to $500
Bonus amount: Up to $500
How to get the bonus: Open a new Associated Choice Checking account with a minimum deposit of $100 and receive direct deposits totaling at least $500 within 90 days of opening your account. Bonus values will vary based on the sum of the average daily balance of all Associated Bank deposit accounts from days 61 to 90:
Average daily balances of $1,000 to $4,999.99 will earn a $200 bonus.
Average daily balances of $5,000 to $9,999.999 will earn a $300 bonus.
Average daily balances of $10,000 or more will earn a $500 bonus.
Where to sign up: Visit this Associated Bank account sign-up page and select the appropriate account.
When you’ll get the bonus: You will receive the bonus as a deposit to your account within 120 days of account opening.
The fine print: Must be a new Associated Choice Checking customer. If easy access to a physical branch is important to you, note that the bank has locations in Illinois, Minnesota and Wisconsin, but members have free access to MoneyPass ATMs nationwide. Account must remain open for a minimum of 12 months; if you close it early, Associated Bank reserves the right to deduct the paid out bonus before account closure.
The account requires a minimum deposit of $100. This account is the only Associated option that earns interest and offers complimentary checks.
Offer expires May 31, 2021.
9. Citizens Bank Student Checking Account: Up to $400
Bonus amount: Up to $400
How to get the bonus: Open a new Student Checking account with Citizens Bank. Receive a direct deposit of $500 or more within the first 60 days to earn a $300 bonus.
Earn an additional $2 for every debit card purchase you make within the first 60 days, up to $100 total rewards (50 purchases).
Where to sign up: Visit this promotional page for Citizens Bank and choose “Open Your Account” button for the Student Checking account. The promotion only applies when opening the account via this page.
When you’ll get the bonus: If you open the account this month (May 2021), your bonus will be paid by September 30, 2021.
The fine print: Cannot have had a Citizens Bank account in the six months prior. Qualifying debit card transactions must be in person, on an app or on a merchant site; online bill payments and ATM payments do not qualify. While the account advertises a $0 monthly maintenance fee, you must be under 25 for this to apply. This account does not offer an APY.
Offer expires May 13, 2021.
Getty Images
10. Citizens Bank One Deposit Checking from Citizens: Up to $400
Bonus amount: Up to $400
How to get the bonus: Open a new One Deposit Checking from Citizens. Receive a direct deposit of $500 or more within the first 60 days to earn a $300 bonus.
Earn an additional $2 for every debit card purchase you make within the first 60 days, up to $100 total rewards (50 purchases).
Where to sign up: Visit this promotional page for Citizens Bank and choose “Open Your Account” button for One Deposit Checking from Citizens. The promotion only applies when opening the account via this page.
When you’ll get the bonus: If you open the account this month (May 2021), your bonus will be paid by September 30, 2021.
The fine print: Cannot have had a Citizens Bank account in the six months prior. Qualifying debit card transactions must be in person, on an app or on a merchant site; online bill payments and ATM payments do not qualify. There is a monthly maintenance fee of $9.99; to waive it, make one deposit each statement period. This account does not offer an APY.
Offer expires May 13, 2021.
11. Citizens Bank Platinum Checking: Up to $400
Bonus amount: Up to $400
How to get the bonus: Open a new Citizens Platinum Checking account. Receive a direct deposit of $500 or more within the first 60 days to earn a $300 bonus.
Earn an additional $2 for every debit card purchase you make within the first 60 days, up to $100 total rewards (50 purchases).
Where to sign up: Visit this promotional page for Citizens Bank and choose “Open Your Account” button for the Platinum Checking account. The promotion only applies when opening the account via this page.
When you’ll get the bonus: If you open the account this month (May 2021), your bonus will be paid by September 30, 2021.
The fine print: Cannot have had a Citizens Bank account in the six months prior. Qualifying debit card transactions must be in person, on an app or on a merchant site; online bill payments and ATM payments do not qualify. There is a monthly maintenance fee of $25; to waive it, you must have a combined monthly balance (across all Citizens deposit and investment accounts) of $25,000 or more. This account offers an APY with a variable rate, but it is quite low compared to typical online bank APYs.
Offer expires May 13, 2021.
12. Citizens Bank Platinum Plus Checking: Up to $400
Bonus amount: Up to $400
How to get the bonus: Open a new Citizens Platinum Plus Checking account. Receive a direct deposit of $500 or more within the first 60 days to earn a $300 bonus.
Earn an additional $2 for every debit card purchase you make within the first 60 days, up to $100 total rewards (50 purchases).
Where to sign up: Visit this promotional page for Citizens Bank and choose “Open Your Account” button for the Platinum Plus Checking account. The promotion only applies when opening the account via this page.
When you’ll get the bonus: If you open the account this month (May 2021), your bonus will be paid by September 30, 2021.
The fine print: Cannot have had a Citizens Bank account in the six months prior. Qualifying debit card transactions must be in person, on an app or on a merchant site; online bill payments and ATM payments do not qualify. There is a monthly maintenance fee of $25; to waive it, you must have a combined monthly balance (across all Citizens deposit and investment accounts) of $25,000 or more and make a deposit of at least $5,000 in your checking account each statement period OR maintain an average daily balance in the checking account of $10,000 or more. This account offers an APY with a variable rate, but it is quite low compared to typical online bank APYs.
Offer expires May 13, 2021.
13. PNC Virtual Wallet Account: $50
Bonus amount: $50
How to get the bonus: Open a new PNC Virtual Wallet account online or in a branch. Receive qualifying direct deposits of $500 within the first 60 days.
Where to sign up: Visit this promotional page for PNC and choose “Apply Now” for the Virtual Wallet account (either with Spend, Reserve and Growth or just Spend).
When you’ll get the bonus: After meeting the bonus criteria, you will receive the bonus (labeled “Cash Trans Promo Reward” on your monthly statement) within 60 to 90 days.
The fine print: Cannot have a current PNC account or have closed an account within the previous 90 days. Qualifying direct deposits include paychecks, Social Security, pension or other recurring monthly income that is electronically deposited by your employer or an outside agency into your account. The account carries a $7 monthly service charge that can be waived if 1) you have $500 or more in monthly direct deposits in the associated Spend account, 2) you maintain $500 or more between associated Spend and Reserve accounts, or 3) are 62 or older. This account does not earn interest.
Offer expires June 30, 2021.
14. PNC Virtual Wallet with Performance Spend Account: $200
Bonus amount: $200
How to get the bonus: Open a new PNC Virtual Wallet with a Performance Spend account online or in a branch. Receive qualifying direct deposits of $2,000 within the first 60 days.
Where to sign up: Visit this promotional page for PNC and choose “Apply Now” for the Virtual Wallet with Performance Spend account (either with Spend, Reserve and Growth or just Spend).
When you’ll get the bonus: After meeting the bonus criteria, you will receive the bonus (labeled “Cash Trans Promo Reward” on your monthly statement) within 60 to 90 days.
The fine print: Cannot have a current PNC account or have closed an account within the previous 90 days. Qualifying direct deposits include paychecks, Social Security, pension or other recurring monthly income that is electronically deposited by your employer or an outside agency into your account. The account carries a $15 monthly service charge that can be waived if 1) you have $2,000 or more in monthly direct deposits in the associated Spend account, 2) you maintain $2,000 or more between associated Spend and Reserve accounts, or 3) have at least $10,000 across all consumer PNC accounts.
Offer expires June 30, 2021.
15. PNC Virtual Wallet with Performance Select Account: $300
Bonus amount: $300
How to get the bonus: Open a new PNC Virtual Wallet with Performance Select account online or in a branch. Make qualifying direct deposits of $5,000 within the first 60 days.
Where to sign up: Visit this promotional page for PNC and choose “Apply Now” for the Virtual Wallet with Performance Select account (either with Spend, Reserve and Growth or just Spend).
When you’ll get the bonus: After meeting the bonus criteria, you will receive the bonus (labeled “Cash Trans Promo Reward” on your monthly statement) within 60 to 90 days.
The fine print: Cannot have a current PNC account or have closed an account within the previous 90 days. Qualifying direct deposits include paychecks, Social Security, pension or other recurring monthly income that is electronically deposited by your employer or an outside agency into your account. The account carries a $25 monthly service charge that can be waived if 1) you have $5,000 or more in monthly direct deposits in the associated Spend account, 2) you maintain $5,000 or more between associated Spend and Reserve accounts, or 3) have at least $25,000 across all consumer PNC accounts.
Offer expires June 30, 2021.
Getty Images
How to Search for Bank Bonuses on Your Own
In the spirit of not listing approximately 193 bank promotions, we kept this list short and sweet — only highlighting the best bank promotions for checking and savings accounts.
But maybe you’re interested in banking with your local credit union, opening up a small business checking account or finding the perfect investment account? There are often bonus offers attached to these account openings, too.
The banks don’t always make finding these promotions easy, so here are a few tips to help you get your hands on that cash bonus.
Check the bank’s website first. Sometimes it’ll advertise its promotions right there. This is rare, but it’s worth a quick check — it could save you a ton of time.
If you don’t have any luck, reach out to the bank’s customer service team through phone, email or chat. Let them know you’re shopping for a new account, and you’d like to know if it’s running any promotions. More often than not, the nice representative will send you a special link.
If this doesn’t work, turn to your trusty friend Google. Look for the best bank account bonuses. Because you’ll likely dig up some offers from third-party sites, you’ll want to take a few minutes to make sure the offer:
Hasn’t expired.
Is legitimate. Make sure the bank is FDIC-insured and has a positive Better Business Bureau rating. You can even read some online reviews.
Doesn’t require outrageous qualifying activities. For example, it might not be realistic for you to maintain an average daily balance of $50,000 and carry out 60 qualifying debit card purchases or receive five direct deposits before the end of your first 30-day statement cycle.
You can also reach out to your family, friends and social network to crowdsource bank recommendations. Sometimes banks have impressive referral programs, so both you and your friend could benefit from you signing up.
Overall, be smart. Don’t let that promise of an account bonus blind you. Also, read the fine print so you don’t get stuck paying high monthly fees, interest rates or closing penalties.
Will Opening a Bank Account Hurt Your Credit Score?
If you’re worried that opening a new bank account or closing an old one will hurt your credit score, don’t be. Your bank accounts are not included in your credit report and therefore have no effect on your credit score, unless you have an outstanding negative balance that the bank turns over to a collection agency.
Sometimes when you go to open a new bank account, banks will do a soft credit check. However, that won’t affect your credit score.
Now, go enjoy your fresh new bank account and that nice cash bonus you’re about to pocket. Add it to your savings account, put it toward student loan payments or, heck, treat yourself!
Editorial Disclosure: This content is not provided by the bank advertiser. Opinions expressed here are the author’s alone, not those of the bank advertiser. This site may be compensated through the bank advertiser Affiliate Program.
The brilliant city of Philadelphia is a wonderful place to work and play. But city living isn’t the life for everyone.
Fortunately, the region – known as the Delaware Valley — has a slew of options for incredible boroughs, towns and cities near Philadelphia in which to live. These spots offer a wide range of entertainment, dining, nightlife, recreation and comfortable apartments.
Of all the incredible places to live within easy commuting distance of Philadelphia, it’s hard to narrow down to a top 10. But we are sure you’ll find these 10 cities near Philadelphia — all within five to 25 miles of Center City and listed by distance from the city — perfect places to call home.
Haddon Township, NJ
Ardmore, PA
Conshohocken, PA
Hatboro, PA
King of Prussia, PA
Langhorne, PA
Phoenixville, PA
West Chester, PA
Wilmington, DE
Doylestown, PA
Distance from downtown: 7.0 miles
One-bedroom average rent: $1,530 (down 3.38 percent since last year)
Two-bedroom average rent: $1,713 (down 13.88 percent since last year)
In New Jersey, townships are full-fledged municipalities, and Haddon Township is one of the region’s best cities near Philadelphia. Just 10 or so minutes from the Ben Franklin Bridge to Center City Philadelphia, the township offers both the quiet of a suburb and a main street that rivals any in the state for drinking and dining options.
Bustling Haddon Avenue in the downtown Westmont section is a mile-long stretch featuring some bakeries, cheesesteak joints, pasta shops, pizza places, taquerias, bars and taverns. Farther out, chain dining and big box stores line White and Black Horse pikes.
Haddon also offers plenty of green space, from Cooper River Park in the north along the lake to Newton Lake Park and Saddler’s Woods on the south.
Public transportation into Philly is a snap with Westmont Station a direct link via PATCO with park-and-ride facilities.
Find apartments for rent in Haddon Township Buy a house in Haddon Township
Photo source: Apartment Guide / One Ardmore Place
Distance from downtown: 7.7 miles
One-bedroom average rent: $1,357 (down 61.90 percent since last year)
Two-bedroom average rent: $2,552 (down 35.50 percent since last year)
Among swanky locales like Bryn Mawr, Villanova and Gladwyne, Ardmore is the iconic Philadelphia Main Line’s most accessible city to everyday folk.
Ardmore’s median income comes in at a tenth that of some of the region’s richest communities and is a much cheaper home value. But Ardmore is also less insular. The city is a destination for visitors and day-trippers from across the Delaware Valley.
Ardmore splits down the middle between Montgomery and Delaware Counties and Haverford and Lower Merion Townships. Its backbone is busy Lancaster Avenue that offers retail shopping, trendy restaurants and the 500-capacity Ardmore Music Hall, one of the area’s top concert clubs.
While other Main Line towns shun outsiders, the hum of Lancaster Avenue feels welcoming to all.
And on the north end of town is one of the region’s best spots for retail therapy or even just window shopping. Suburban Square is a six-square-block upscale outdoor shopping plaza. Dating back to the 1920s, the square is one of the nation’s oldest planned shopping centers.
Find apartments for rent in Ardmore Buy a house in Ardmore
Photo source: Conshohocken Borough / Facebook
Distance from downtown: 12.6 miles
One-bedroom average rent: $1,705 (down 7.82 percent since last year)
Two-bedroom average rent: $2,265 (up 7.69 percent since last year)
Throughout its history, Conshohocken has always held an important geographic location. Sitting at one of the largest bends of the Schuylkill River, the land was originally a large milling region along rail and shipping lines.
As interstates went up, the region morphed into a factory industrial center. As manufacturing declined, it was those same highways that turned “Conshy” into one of the most desirable suburban-chic and cosmopolitan residential commuter communities in the city.
Conshohocken lies between the I-476 Blue Route and I-76 Schuylkill Expressway at the “Conshohocken Curve.” As industry left, easy access to the region’s two major highways transformed it into a hub for upper-middle-class commuters into the city, especially as apartment complexes and mid-priced high-rise rental towers rose.
And as the population increased, so did the enclave which features shopping and dining spots and many glittering hotels.
The shoreline also features a section of the running and biking Schuylkill River Trail path.
Nearby, Conshohocken’s Fayette Street main street is popular among its young professional population, with a median age of 32 with 63 percent single. The downtown strip offers a selection of quaint boutiques, eateries and cafes, as well as a variety of notable bars.
Find apartments for rent in Conshohocken Buy a house in Conshohocken
Two-bedroom average rent: $1,695 (up 9.18 percent since last year)
Eastern Montgomery County has just a few towns with true main streets, but one of the best of the bunch is Hatboro. The borough sits along the Bucks County border, a suburban town settled among some residential communities.
Hatboro is known for its plethora of parks and green spaces, including the popular Hatboro Memorial Park and Memorial Pool. But its growing notoriety as a suburban craft beer lovers’ destination is what’s gaining prominence.
In the heart of the Craft Beer Trail of Greater Philadelphia, Hatboro offers Crooked Eye Brewery and Artifact Brewing, both opened within the last several years.
The breweries sit along York Road, Hatboro’s main street. The corridor also offers many bars and gastropubs, vintage clothing stores, hoagie shops and produce grocers, cafés and popular bakeries and Daddypops diner, a favorite of Food Network’s Guy Fieri.
The borough is also convenient for commuters, with Hatboro station along the Warminster Line to Center City just off York Road.
Find apartments for rent in Hatboro Buy a house in Hatboro
Distance from downtown: 16.9 miles
One-bedroom average rent: $2,204 (up 5.44 percent since last year)
Two-bedroom average rent: $2,544 (up 0.81 percent since last year)
To speak like a true Philadelphian, pronounce the name of the city of King of Prussia the proper way, “Kingaprusha.”
If you’re familiar with the western Montgomery County city, it’s most likely for one thing: its megamall. The King of Prussia mall is massive, at 2.8 million square feet and 450 stores. It’s the third-largest mall in the nation behind only the Mall of America and the new American Dream in New Jersey.
This central town nestles right along the Schuylkill River — between four major thoroughfares: the Pennsylvania Turnpike, I-76 Schuylkill Expressway, and U.S. Routes 202 and 422. Sitting between renowned Valley Forge Historical Park and county seat Norristown, King of Prussia is both a popular commuter city and an important edge city in its own right.
One key location in KOP is the King of Prussia Town Center. Opened in 2016, the large planned lifestyle development has become a hub of residential activity in town. Acting as the city’s downtown, Town Center offers a bevy of apartments and townhouses at Village at Valley Forge with mixed-use and office space, upscale department stores and a Wegman’s grocery, retail shops and several new restaurants and bars.
Nearby are several office parks, Upper Merion High School and the Valley Forge Casino Resort.
The area is growing so quickly, local transportation authority SEPTA is developing a $2 billion regional rail line to directly connect King of Prussia with University City and Center City Philly.
Find apartments for rent in King of Prussia Buy a house in King of Prussia
Distance from downtown: 22.0 miles
One-bedroom average rent: $1,413 (down 1.55 percent since last year)
Two-bedroom average rent: $1,691 (up 6.72 percent since last year)
One thing you can have living in the suburbs that you usually don’t in the middle of a city is an amusement park down the street. That’s one of the features of living in the borough of Langhorne and adjoining Middletown Township. Here you’ll find Sesame Place, the Sea World-owned young children’s Sesame Street theme park.
Langhorne borough proper and surrounding Middletown Township are collectively referred to as Langhorne.
The area is an important business and shopping center along Neshaminy Creek in charming Bucks County. Along with numerous national chains and big box stores, a myriad of service centers, retail shops and old-school restaurants line Pine Street and Maple Avenue.
In addition, the borough features a quaint historic district dating back to the 19th century. Sitting just off the I-295 beltway, Langhorne is a popular bedroom community for commuters to Trenton as well as Philadelphia.
The expansive Middletown Country Club splits the borough, with the multistory Oxford Valley Mall out in the Township. And surrounding Lake Luxembourg is the expansive 1,200-acre Core Creek Park. The region offers a variety of housing options, from affordable apartments to large suburban mansions.
Several locations still offer 1950s style tract housing leftover from the expansion of the nearby Levittown planned community.
Find apartments for rent in Langhorne Buy a house in Langhorne
Photo source: Borough of Phoenixville / Facebook
Distance from downtown: 23.9 miles
One-bedroom average rent: $1,229 (down 14.82 percent since last year)
Two-bedroom average rent: $1,426 (down 12.71 percent since last year)
In 1958, a large gelatinous alien creature was let loose and devoured dozens of residents of Phoenixville, Pennsylvania. That of course only happened on screen, in the Steve McQueen horror classic “The Blob,” which filmed and took place in the Chester County suburb.
The movie features a famous scene where terrified residents flee the alien out the Colonial Theater’s doors. That real-life theater is the centerpiece of Phoenixville’s Bridge Street main street as well as the annual Blobfest which celebrates the landmark film.
But as important as the film is, younger residents will tell you it’s the craft beer scene that makes Phoenixville special. After languishing for years as a rundown mill town, a revitalization plan included a call for brewers to set up shop. Today the city of just 17,000 offers 10 craft breweries.
On Bridge Street alone are four breweries, along with a tap house, a distillery and three winery tasting rooms. That collection gives downtown Phoenixville the distinction of having the most breweries per square foot of any place in the nation.
For residents, Phoenixville is more than just beer and blobs. Its absolutely teeming downtown along Bridge Street has boomed with pizzerias and bistros, coffee and smoke shops and boutiques and galleries.
Phoenixville Area High School offers a high ranking and a 15:1 student-teacher ratio. And many parks and green spaces dot the region, including the large Black Rock Sanctuary wildlife refuge along the Schuylkill River bend that also features Basin Trail for hiking and biking. The Schuylkill River Trail also crosses the borough, along French Creek.
Find apartments for rent in Phoenixville Buy a house in Phoenixville
Distance from downtown: 25.0 miles
One-bedroom average rent: $1,631 (down 1.23 percent since last year)
Two-bedroom average rent: $2,095 (up 7.54 percent since last year)
A little under 25 miles from Center City, West Chester is a more affordable alternative to the nearby Main Line. The seat of Chester County offers a selection of bars, restaurants and shops in its surprising downtown along Gay and Market streets.
Local businesses are accessible, catering to the borough’s young, affluent residents as well as budget-conscious clientele. Need proof? West Chester’s downtown sits on the top-three list of “Great American Main Streets.”
West Chester is a more affordable, younger enclave surrounded by old-money communities like Malvern, Kennett Square and Chadds Ford, with swaths of an urban-rural buffer.
The borough offers high-ranked schools and an average age of just 24.9 years old. A vibrant part of that young community is West Chester University, ranked a Top 10 Public Regional University by U.S. News.
Why is West Chester attractive to young professionals? Perhaps it’s the borough’s title as “Most Exciting Place” in all of eastern Pennsylvania. It’s a locale to meet new people, as the state’s second-most densely populated city, fifth-best for nightlife and fifth-best spot to lead an active lifestyle.
Or maybe it’s because it’s the world headquarters of the QVC shopping network.
Find apartments for rent in West Chester Buy a house in West Chester
Distance from downtown: 26.2 miles
One-bedroom average rent: $1,186 (down 14.08 percent since last year)
Two-bedroom average rent: $1,477 (up 1.09 percent since last year)
Look behind Pennsylvania and New Jersey to find the best cities near Philadelphia — don’t forget about Delaware!
Wilmington is certainly having a moment. While the previous president spent his weekends at swanky Mar-a-Lago or Bedminster golf club, the current chief executive has been taking his off weekends back in his home state of Delaware. President Biden famously grew up in and around Wilmington and is known to have commuted back to his residence weekly dating back to his earliest days as the Diamond State’s senator.
Wilmington, despite being the largest city in a completely different state, is just a half-hour drive from Center City Philly. But it’s the finance industry that fuels the economy of the Corporate City.
The 1980s Financial Center Development Act liberalized financial regulations in Delaware, removing usury laws and interest rate caps. This caused financial and insurance corporations from around the world to set up shops in Wilmington.
An attractive city to big money employers is an attractive city to its white-collar workers. And one of the favorite locals is the Christina River waterfront. Popular waterfront spots include the Blue Rocks’ Frawley Stadium, the Delaware Children’s Museum, a convention center, a movie theater, parks, trails, hotels and a slew of cafes, restaurants and bars.
And for those concerned about Wilmington’s less-than-stellar crime safety record, there is good news. The city reports being “safer now than it’s ever been.” The city is noting its lowest crime rate in recent history.
Find apartments for rent in Wilmington Buy a house in Wilmington
Photo source: Doylestown Township / Facebook
Distance from downtown: 27.2 miles
One-bedroom average rent: $1,408 (up 25.06 percent since last year)
Two-bedroom average rent: $1,999 (up 9.93 percent since last year)
Gateway to the colonial-estate-and-covered-bridge tourism lands of Upper Bucks, Doylestown is the charming exurban seat of Bucks County.
The borough offers a slew of cultural and entertainment options not usually found in a town of under 9,000, about an hour commute from Center City by either train or car.
Doylestown has one of the densest gatherings of museums out of all of the cities near Philadelphia. James Michener Art Museum (named for the native son author), the Moravian Pottery and Tile Works, the Mercer Museum and Oscar Hammerstein II Farm (the final residence of its namesake) can all be found here.
Just off the center of town is the historic art deco movie house County Theater which shows blockbusters and arthouse films alike.
Elsewhere in Doylestown’s downtown along State and Main streets are quaint thrift shops, big city-worthy restaurants, bookstores, coffee shops and brewpubs.
For those seeking a more natural setting, just as appealing is the natural beauty of rural Bucks County just outside of town, packed with hiking trails, bike paths, water recreation and nature watching. Favorite spots include urban 108-acre Central Park and wooded 1,500-acre Peace Valley Park.
Find apartments for rent in Doylestown Rent a house in Doylestown
Make one of these cities near Philadelphia your next home
No matter where you decide to call home, you can’t go wrong with any of the amazing cities near Philadelphia you might choose.
Whether in Bucks, Montgomery, Chester or Delaware Counties, across the river in South Jersey or down I-95 in Delaware, you’ll have tons to do all within a short commute into the city.
Rent prices are based on a rolling weighted average from Apartment Guide and Rent.com’s multifamily rental property inventory of one-bedroom apartments in April 2021. Our team uses a weighted average formula that more accurately represents price availability for each individual unit type and reduces the influence of seasonality on rent prices in specific markets.
The rent information included in this article is used for illustrative purposes only. The data contained herein do not constitute financial advice or a pricing guarantee for any apartment.
I’m an entrepreneur and just so happen to be in the business of providing other entrepreneurs with financial advice. But I don’t typically offer up the usual status quo advice that tells you to do things that aren’t always in alignment with growing your business.
My views originate from my experiences and at times are contrarian to what’s being recommended by the usual tax preparer and other financial advisers, because I am in the trenches running a business just like you. I know what it takes to grow a business, make payroll, deal with IRS notices and manage cash flow.
The truth is that being an entrepreneur can be isolating at times as a result of being wrapped up in the day-to-day of running your business. When you are hyper-focused on your business, it is difficult to also be an expert at managing the profits of the company. You may be great at making money, but once it’s made, what do you do with it?
Thinking differently about your company and how you will use it to build wealth is the key to true financial success.
In this article, I’ll outline five ways you can shift your mindset about money to transform how you define and operate your business and approach your financial decisions. It will help you identify what you really want to achieve: A Self-Managing Company®, a term coined by Dan Sullivan of Strategic Coach.
Mind Shift No. 1: Understand that Retirement Savings Plans Don’t ‘Lower’ Your Tax Bill
As a business owner, you are probably time-starved and used to making fast decisions. And you may be tempted to make fast decisions at tax time, especially when your tax preparer suggests that tax-deferred investments are the answer to lower your tax bill and save some money for retirement. Easy enough, right?
This is what I like to call a half-truth. It’s true that you’ll get the deduction for that year’s taxes. But the other half of the story uncovers the problem with the use of SEP IRAs, 401(k)s and other tax-deferred options to “lower” your tax bill. The reality is that you are taking money from your business where you have some level of control and redirecting those dollars into the stock market where you have absolutely no control. The money is tied up until you are 59½ years old and face potentially higher tax liabilities than you previously owed with no access to your cash if it is needed for growing or sustaining your business.
When you own a business, the half-truths you hear from many finance professionals and the mainstream media can at times negatively impact your ability to grow your business and protect your interests. I have found there are other, more productive ways to build wealth outside of your business, beyond the base-level concepts of investing or putting money in an IRA or 401(k).
Mind Shift No. 2: View Your Company Not as Your Job, but as a Tool for Building Your Wealth
If you run a healthy business, you have a long-term strategy. You know what the end-goal is. You think about the business as a whole, rather than focusing on simply the day-to-day tasks.
We’ve all heard the old adage: Work on your business, not in your business. That’s because if you’re working in your business all the time, you’ve only created a job for yourself. The goal is to build systems and develop people to slowly work yourself out of the role you have and allow the business to run on its own. The sooner you shift your mindset to this way of thinking, the sooner you can begin to experience the results.
First, carve out the time in your day to think about your business. Many business owners I talk to don’t do this, because they are buried in the work. Take time to talk to your future self about what you want your life to look like in the future. What would your future self say to you about the decisions and choices you are making? It helps to outline your thinking time, keep a journal of your discoveries, meditate to de-stress, and use the time to reflect on what you are trying to accomplish in the business.
Next, think about your business as a piece of your financial plan. How much time and capital are you investing into the business, and what are you getting out of it? What is your ROI? I’ve found that a business can offer the biggest opportunity to build wealth, and in many cases — depending on your results — it can offer more than what you might get from investing in the market.
Finally, think with the end in mind. At the end of the day, what are you trying to get out of your company? To build wealth through your business, you must identify what will build its value.
Building value revolves around creating a self-managing company, one that runs without you and has a strategy to sustain itself into the future. This allows you to sell it for maximum value, or even create a passive income stream without actually having to work in the business.
Shifting your mindset is important, because you probably didn’t start your business that way. Many business owners don’t, and that’s OK while you’re getting things up and running. But it’s important to remember that what got you started will not get you to the next level and will not build the wealth needed to successfully exit the business.
Mind Shift No. 3: Master Your Cash Flow
I tend to bust a lot of myths when it comes to financial matters, and one of them has to do with cash flow. This is especially important to understand as an entrepreneur. Your cash flow is not there to simply pay your bills. Yes, you must pay your bills of course, but there is more to it than simply making payroll.
Cash flow is a tool to help you build wealth and the value of your company. Healthy cash flow allows for you to control your money, and there are strategies you can explore to help you maximize it.
I recently spoke with a partner of a business who was earning a W-2 salary of $400,000 per year. In working with his CPA, we were able to rework his partnership agreement, removing him as an employee and adding him as a consultant of his own LLC. While this simple strategy reduced his tax liability by $20,000, implementing this strategy was about more than just lowering taxes. This was about cash flow – everything is always about cash flow. By making this little tweak, he increased his cash flow by $1,666 per month.
I’m not a CPA and don’t provide tax advice, but I ask a lot of questions and propose many scenarios for the tax professionals to consider – scenarios that can increase cash flow for business owners. Increasing and optimizing your cash flow should be a top priority for your business.
Mind Shift No. 4: Be Your Own Bank
Companies with cash are able to do many things without having to rely on a bank or other source of funding. In essence, they can be their own bank. Think about it. When you have cash, you can use it to work on your wealth-building strategy. You could buy a company, invest in equipment, hire more people (maybe even a replacement for yourself who can run the company while you collect passive income), buy property, or take advantage of any other opportunity that may come your way.
But there is another way you can be your own bank. Maybe you’ve heard of the concept of “BUILD Banking™,” a cash flow strategy using a specially designed life insurance contract. It’s a strategy that I use personally and with many of my clients who want to have greater control of their cash flow. It frees them from dependence on banks for capital infusions and avoids government red tape when they need to access their money.
For more information about BUILD Banking™, visit www.buildbanking.com.
This strategy enables business owners to grow assets tax-free and have access to those funds whenever they’re needed. In essence, you’re accessing cash when it is needed while having uninterrupted compounding growth for your future.
Mind Shift No. 5: Understand Your Legal Exposures and Protect Yourself
You likely have some form, or forms, of insurance in place for your business. And you may believe that these policies have you covered. Well, they may, and they may not. The coverage you need goes far beyond liability, even extending into punitive damages.
It’s important to work with an insurance professional who specializes in business coverage to ensure that you have the right type of policies and the proper level of protection for your specific business.
There are also certain types of insurance policies (including the BUILD Banking strategy I’ve described above) that can serve a strategic purpose for your business. It’s common, and valuable, for business owners to have a life insurance contract as part of their succession plan, acting as a funding mechanism for the beneficiary to purchase the deceased owner’s share of the business.
Again, you will want to have a collaborating team of insurance professionals who have expertise in their vertical and who understand your business, your goals and what you are trying to accomplish. It’s also a good idea to include your CPA, attorney and financial planner in on those discussions.
These five financial planning tips and mindset shifts will help you use your business as a tool to start building wealth (or build greater wealth). They may be things you’ve never thought about, or things you’ve considered but haven’t been able to implement. Putting these ideas to work can get you on the path to true business success.
Results may vary. Any descriptions involving life insurance policies and their use as an alternative form of financing or risk management techniques are provided for illustration purposes only, will not apply in all situations, may not be fully indicative of any present or future investments, and may be changed at the discretion of the insurance carrier, General Partner and/or Manager and are not intended to reflect guarantees on securities performance. Benefits and guarantees are based on the claims paying ability of the insurance company.
The terms BUILD Banking™, private banking alternatives or specially designed life insurance contracts (SDLIC) are not meant to insinuate that the issuer is creating a real bank for its clients or communicating that life insurance companies are the same as traditional banking institutions.
This material is educational in nature and should not be deemed as a solicitation of any specific product or service. BUILD Banking™ is offered by Skrobonja Insurance Services LLC only and is not offered by Kalos Capital Inc. nor Kalos Management.
BUILD Banking™ is a DBA of Skrobonja Insurance Services LLC. Skrobonja Insurance Services LLC does not provide tax or legal advice. The opinions and views expressed here are for informational purposes only. Please consult with your tax and/or legal adviser for such guidance.
This article was written by and presents the views of our contributing adviser, not the Kiplinger editorial staff. You can check adviser records with the SEC or with FINRA.
Founder & President, Skrobonja Financial Group LLC
Brian Skrobonja is an author, blogger, podcaster and speaker. He is the founder of St. Louis Missouri-based wealth management firm Skrobonja Financial Group LLC. His goal is to help his audience discover the root of their beliefs about money and challenge them to think differently to reach their goals. Brian is the author of three books, the Common Sense podcast and blog. In 2017 and 2019 Brian received the award for Best Wealth Manager and in 2018 the Future 50 St. Louis Small Business.
Picture this: You’re cruising down the street one day, and you spot two garage sales on the same block. The first has racks of clothes, bins of books and records, and a few high-value items prominently displayed near the curb. The second features jumbled, messy piles and boxes scattered across the yard.
Which one would you stop at?
Presentation is crucial to a successful yard sale. You can and should advertise your sale, but you also want to encourage passers-by to stop and look at your wares. If your sale doesn’t make a good first impression, most will just keep going.
No matter how much good stuff your sale has, it won’t bring in shoppers who can’t see it easily. People passing on foot only have your sale in their sights for a couple of minutes at most, and drivers on the street see it for as little as a couple of seconds.
To draw them in, you must show off your sale items so effectively their first glimpse convinces them to take a closer look.
Garage Sale Tips for Presentation
A garage sale has two purposes. It’s a way to declutter your home and bring in some extra cash. And the best way to achieve both goals is to attract as many customers as possible.
When you’re trying to draw in shoppers, pricing isn’t the most crucial factor. Yes, yard sale shoppers love bargains, but if your garage sale items don’t look appealing, no one will even stop to look at the price tags.
So before you even get out the price stickers, you need to spend some time thinking about how to set up your yard sale display to catch the eye.
1. Clean Your Items
Suppose you’re shopping yard sales looking for outdoor furniture. You come across a set that looks sturdy, but the chair arms and backs are coated in grime and their cushions are mildewy. Would you buy them or keep looking for a set in better condition?
That illustrates how important cleaning is. Something that’s otherwise in perfectly good shape becomes a complete turn-off for buyers if it’s covered in dirt. Even if you haven’t used something in years, it can come out of storage sporting a thick coat of dust that makes buyers pass it over.
So before you even think about how to display pieces, give each of them a quick touch-up with a dusting cloth. If anything is especially dirty, take the time to scrub it down with soap and water.
Some garage sale items need more specific cleaning treatment. Run clothes through the washer and dryer to remove dirt and odors, and give shoes a quick polish to remove scuff marks. If you have purses or other bags to sell, clean out dirt and debris from their interiors (and while you’re at it, make sure there’s nothing of value left inside).
2. Show Off the Good Stuff
Shoppers get their first glimpse of your garage sale from either the street or the sidewalk. If all they can see in that first look is a bunch of cheap junk, many will keep moving instead of stopping to browse.
There may be some real gems hidden toward the back of your yard or garage, but many prospective buyers will never see them.
If you want to hold a successful garage sale that attracts as many buyers as possible, put your most appealing merchandise front and center. In my experience, the best yard sale items for attracting buyers include:
Antiques of any kind — furniture, houseware, jewelry
Appliances
Board games
Clothing and accessories in good condition, such as shoes and purses
Electronics like TVs and stereos
Furniture
Musical instruments
Sporting equipment, including bicycles and camping gear
Tools, including garden tools like lawn mowers
In general, large items have more curb appeal than small ones. For one thing, they’re easier to see from the street. Also, little things like cheap toys and kitchen utensils aren’t that expensive to buy new, so they don’t offer the potential for a major bargain.
Another helpful strategy is to display merchandise likely to appeal to men, such as golf clubs or power tools, as close to the road as possible. In my experience, women are more likely to stop at a garage sale than men, so you don’t need to go to as much effort to reel them in.
By displaying things that typically appeal to them most prominently, you’ll attract men as well as women to your sale.
3. Group Like Items Together
Once you’ve drawn customers to your sale, you want to keep them there as long as possible. It might seem like the way to do that is to place everything randomly so shoppers looking for specific finds have to hunt through every table at the sale to discover them. But that strategy is likely to backfire.
As a shopper, I always find it frustrating when a yard sale has no clear layout. If I’m looking for something in particular, such as clothing or books, I want to see all the clothing or books available in one place. If they’re scattered across all the tables at the sale, I’m likely to get frustrated and walk away.
To make shopping easy for your buyers, group similar items together. Make one table for clothing, one for books, one for housewares, and one for toys, for example. That way, people can go directly to the table that interests them and start browsing.
If you have a lot of one type of product, sort it into narrower categories, such as children’s books and adult books.
To make it easier for yourself, sort your merchandise into boxes by category before your sale. On the day of the sale, you can simply bring each box to its own table and start laying everything out.
4. Keep Everything Visible
The easiest way for you to sort goods into categories is to leave them in their boxes. But that isn’t easy for your buyers. No one wants to bend over a box pulling out one baby onesie after another until they find the size and color they’re after.
Haphazard piles of stuff aren’t appealing either. I’ve walked away from more than one rummage sale because all the clothes were in massive, unsorted piles on the tables. Digging through them all to find the few outfits in my size would have taken hours with no guarantee I’d find anything I liked.
To make your sale appealing, lay your wares out in ways that make them easy to see at a glance. There are multiple ways to display different types of merchandise, depending on how much of it you have and what condition it’s in.
Clothing
The best way to display clothing is on hangers on a portable clothes rack. That keeps garments off the ground and makes them easy to sort through. If you don’t have a clothing rack, look for a makeshift alternative, such as an old ladder or a sturdy clothesline strung between two trees.
If there’s no way to hang clothes, the next best option is to arrange them in neatly folded piles on a table. That’s also a suitable way to display clothes for babies and small children.
But note your neatly folded and stacked garments will invariably get unfolded and strewn about as the day goes on, so you have to tidy up your piles from time to time.
Whichever method you choose, try sorting clothes by size, type, and gender. That makes it still easier for buyers to find what they want. A nice added perk is to display garments like coats with their extra buttons if you still have them.
Accessories
There’s nothing more frustrating than finding one shoe in your size and then having to hunt around for the other before you can try them on. You can significantly increase your shoe sales by taking the time to line pairs up together, either on a table or on a sheet or blanket on the ground.
You can display purses and bags on tables, on the ground, or neatly lined up in boxes. Or if you have a large tree handy, you can make an eye-catching display by hanging handbags from its limbs.
Jewelry is a high-value commodity, so it’s worth making an extra effort to display it well.
Wrap a piece of cardboard in fabric, then stick in pins or small nails to hang necklaces, earrings, and bracelets. You can pin brooches directly to the fabric. If you have coordinating pieces, such as necklace-and-earring sets, display them together.
Books & Recordings
Books are easiest to see if they’re arranged side by side with their spines facing out so people can view the titles at a glance.
The easiest way to accomplish that is to line them up on a bookcase or shelf. But don’t use a bookcase you’re also planning to sell because if someone buys it, you’ll have to remove all the books in a hurry and find a new location for them.
You can also display books by lining them up in a box with their spines facing up. Or if you have a smaller selection of books, you can fan them out on a table faceup so shoppers can see their covers.
Whatever you do, don’t stack books in boxes or pile them on tables so shoppers have to lift each one out of the way to see what’s below it. For all but the most dedicated book buyers, that’s simply too much work to be worth it.
These same display ideas work well for audio or video recordings, including CDs, DVDs, video game cartridges, records, and cassettes. (Yes, there are still people who have held onto their old boomboxes and are willing to buy tapes if they’re cheap enough.) Make the titles visible, and don’t force your buyers to dig.
Furniture & Home Goods
When displaying furniture at a yard sale, consider what type of buyer it would appeal to.
Place sturdy pieces suitable for families near the street, where they’ll draw buyers in. Older, worn-out pieces might appeal to students furnishing a dorm room or DIY fans looking for pieces to make over. Display these pieces farther back but with prominent labels indicating their low prices.
Antique furniture creates a bit of a dilemma. On one hand, it’s an appealing item that can attract shoppers. However, if you place a lightweight piece too close to the street, an ambitious thief could snatch it when you turn your back. Large and heavy furnishings can go in the front, but it’s best to place smaller ones close to the checkout where you can keep an eye on them.
For smaller home decor, consider maximizing its visual appeal by creating little vignettes.
For instance, you can toss a bedspread over a couch to show off its pattern and add a couple of matching throw pillows. To sell a set of dishes, lay out one whole place setting on a table, complete with a napkin and flatware, and keep the rest stowed in a box.
Finally, if you’re selling old electronics, make sure you have all their parts — remotes, cords, and the manual if you have it — bundled along with the primary equipment. You can wrap them up and stash them in a clear plastic bag taped to the side.
Customers will appreciate being able to see at a glance that the equipment has all the necessary parts. And if they want to test the device to make sure it works, all the pieces they need are available. Consider running an extension cord to the house for testing purposes or at least having one handy for shoppers to use.
5. Make Space for Everything
Ideally, most of the goods at your yard sale should be on tables, so shoppers don’t have to bend down to look at them. If you don’t have enough tables to display your wares, borrow from neighbors or friends.
Also, look for ways to create more “table” space from scratch. For instance, you can lay plywood over a pair of sawhorses, milk crates, or even cardboard boxes. You can also use any naturally elevated surfaces in your yard, such as porch steps or retaining walls.
If you’ve tried all these tricks and still don’t have enough table space for everything, prioritize. Reserve your table space for high-value merchandise you really want buyers to see and delicate pieces that could break if left on the ground. Everything else can go on blankets or tarps.
Set out comfortable chairs for yourself and any helpers so you don’t have to spend the whole day on your feet. Set them near a small table or another surface you can use for making change and bagging purchases.
6. Promote Your Sale
No matter how good your yard sale looks, it won’t attract customers if no one comes close enough to see it. That’s why even the best yard sale needs adequate signage.
Before putting up signs, check to see if your town has any regulations about them.
For instance, it might regulate how many signs you can put up, how large they can be, what materials you can use, and where you can display them. It may also have rules about how long before the sale you can put signs up and how long you have after the sale to take them down.
While you’re at it, check all the other local regulations.
Some towns require you to get a garage sale permit, and others limit you to a certain number of sales per year. Putting up signs puts you on the local authorities’ radar, so make sure you’re not running afoul of any rules. Otherwise, the fines could eat into if not exceed your profits.
Once you have any necessary permits and are clear about the signage rules, it’s time to set about making them.
Good yard sale signs are large, clear, and easy to read. Include the address as well as an arrow to point passing motorists in the right direction. If your town allows it, hang signs at all the busiest intersections near your house. From there, leave a trail of signs all the way to your house, pointing shoppers the right way at every turn.
Ensure your yard sale signs include the date and times of your sale as well. I always find it frustrating to see a sign that says, “garage sale,” with an address and no date because I never know if the sale is coming up, currently going on, or already over.
Listing the date and taking down signs once the sale is over ensures shoppers don’t show up on the wrong day.
You can advertise your sale online as well. Sites like Garage Sale Finder exist specifically for this purpose. Many local Craigslist groups have a section for garage sale advertising as well. Other places to put the word out include social media sites like Facebook and Nextdoor.
Final Word
A well-organized garage sale takes more work to set up than a haphazard one.
But putting in this extra effort maximizes the chances your sale will succeed once it gets going. Shoppers are more likely to stop for an attractive sale, and those who stop are more likely to stick around long enough to find something they want to buy.
By taking the time to display your goods well and price them right, you can host a great yard sale instead of just an OK one. And that helps you turn more of your clutter into cash.
Starting a business is an opportunity to be your own boss, make money and grow your skill set.
There are also the not-so-great, somewhat messy and complicated parts about operating a business. If you start off solo or small, you’ll be tackling a lot of tasks yourself.
But don’t worry. In this article, we’re going to address something relatively simple in the business world: the best business checking accounts.
We’ll go into why you need one, what you should look for and several of the best ones available, both in-person and online-only.
Wait, Do I Really Need a Business Checking Account?
The purpose of a business checking account is to keep your business finances separate from your personal finances.
Technically, you might not need one depending on the legal structure of your business.
For example, if you’re a freelance writer who established a sole proprietorship and is starting slowly, you could use your personal checking account to get off the ground. But you’ll want to be extremely organized about keeping track of your business money for tax time. (Nothing will damper your momentum like getting audited.)
The type of business you’re running makes a difference here. If it’s transaction-heavy — or a particular legal structure, like a limited liability company — you might need a business checking account, full stop.
But if you’re starting any kind of business, it’s probably in your best interest to open one.
Business checking accounts make it easier to track profits, expenses and deductions, and help establish your operation if you file for business credit cards or loans down the line.
What You Need to Open a Business Checking Account
To open an account, you’ll typically need the following:
Social security number (SSN) or employee identification number (EIN)
Valid driver’s license or state ID
An initial deposit
How easy it is to open a business checking account will depend on your business. If you’re a sole proprietor, the process might feel similar to opening a personal checking account. If you have a different legal business structure, you’ll likely have to provide additional documentation (like your articles of incorporation). Requirements will vary from bank to bank.
What You Should Look for in a Business Checking Account
Before you peruse accounts, get a handle on your business needs and wants. For instance, do you make a lot of transactions? Do you want a business credit card ASAP? Do you prefer a big bank where you can pop into a different branch every half mile?
There are other considerations. Do you want your bank, credit union or financial institution to…
Offer free bank statements?
Have an app?
Offer free online banking and/or bill pay?
Have in-person locations?
Offer comprehensive customer service, i.e., allow you to talk to someone online and on the phone 24/7?
Have integration with tools, like invoicing software?
Offer multiple products, such as business credit cards, small-business loans, etc.?
There are lots of banks for small businesses to choose from, but you want one that will give you the most options. And ideally, save you some money and headaches in the process.
To choose the best business checking accounts, we focused on accounts that:
Require a low minimum initial deposit ($1,000 or less — most require only $25).
Offer a certain number of transactions for free.
Either have no monthly service fee or make it easy to have the fee waived.
We also focused on checking accounts for small and medium businesses. If you’re looking for accounts to manage a higher volume, many of the traditional institutions on our list have them, too.
Pro Tip
Check out our current list of bank promotions for a chance to gain a monetary bonus when signing up for a new business checking account.
The 5 Best Business Checking Accounts for May 2021
We chose five institutions and a couple of different checking account options for each where available.
1. Chase: Best for 24/7 Customer Service and Overall Accessibility
Chase is a well-known brand with many physical branches and flexible options for business owners. It’s a good choice if you want to be able to find a chain easily and talk to someone in person. Chase also offers 24/7 support, so you can call and email them anytime of day. From personal experience, if you send them a secured online message, they typically follow up within 24 hours. To learn more, read our Chase Bank review.
Number of branches: Approximately 4,700
Number of ATMs: 16,000
Here’s the lowdown on Chase Business Complete Banking and Chase Performance Business Checking.
Chase Business Complete Banking
Chase Business Complete Banking (for small businesses) at a glance:
Sign-up bonus: $300 for new customers who meet certain criteria
Minimum initial deposit: $25
Monthly service fee: $15; waived if you maintain a minimum daily balance of $2,000 or link a qualifying Chase account
Cash deposits per month: Up to $5,000 without an additional fee
Free transactions per month: 100
Other benefits:
Access to Chase online and mobile banking
Get same-day deposits on card payments at no additional cost
Chase Performance Business Checking
Chase Performance Business Checking (for medium-sized businesses) at a glance:
Sign-up bonus: None specified
Minimum initial deposit: $25
Monthly service fee: $30; waived if you maintain a minimum daily balance of $35,000 or more in qualifying accounts
Cash deposits per month: Up to $20,000 without an additional fee
Free transactions per month: 250
Other benefits:
No charge for all incoming wires and two outgoing domestic wires per statement cycle
Interest-bearing option availableChase has business saving account, lending and credit card options, too. Chase offers several small-business credit cards, all with new card member bonuses, which include $750 cash back to 100,000 bonus points depending on the card.
Tina Russell/The Penny Hoarder
2. Wells Fargo: Best for Small Business Owners Just Getting Started
Wells Fargo is another strong choice for your business checking account needs. It has many branch locations and you can call them 24/7. Its website is also easy to navigate and lets you find answers to your questions without clicking on a ton of links. Check out our Wells Fargo Bank review for more information.
Number of branches: Approximately 7,200
Number of ATMs: Over 13,000
Wells Fargo Initiate Business Checking
Initiate Business Checking (for new and small businesses) at a glance:
Sign-up bonus: None specified
Minimum initial deposit: $25
Monthly service fee: $10; waived by having a minimum daily balance of $500
Cash deposits per month: Up to $5,000 for free
Free transactions per month: 100
Other benefits:
Customized business debit card
24/7 fraud monitoring
Mobile deposit
If you’re just getting started with your small business and don’t expect to scale right away, Initiate Business Checking is a solid, affordable account to open.
Wells Fargo Navigate Business Checking
Navigate Business Checking (for small- to medium-sized businesses) at a glance:
Sign-up bonus: None specified
Minimum initial deposit: $25
Monthly service fee: $25; waived by having a minimum daily balance of $10,000 or an average combined business deposit balance of $15,000
Cash deposits per month: Up to $20,000 for free
Free transactions per month: 250
Other benefits:
Customized business debit card
24/7 fraud monitoring
Mobile deposit
Wells Fargo also offers small-business lending and credit card options.
3. U.S. Bank: Best for Simple, Fee-Free Banking
While primarily located in the Midwest, this chain has lots of locations across the country. That’s great news if you’re a small-business owner looking for a simple checking account.
U.S. Bank has no monthly service fees for its Silver account, so no worries about meeting certain criteria to have the fee waived. You can also go to its website and take a short quiz to determine which account would work best for your needs.
Number of branches: 3,106
Number of ATMs: 4,842
U.S. Bank offers Silver, Gold, Platinum and Premium business checking accounts, and we’re going to outline the first two.
U.S. Bank Silver Business Checking
Silver Business Checking (best for newer or smaller businesses) at a glance:
Sign-up bonus: None specified
Minimum initial deposit: $100
Monthly service fee: $0
Cash deposits per month: 25 for free
Free transactions per month: 120 per statement cycle; 50 cents per excess transaction
U.S. Bank will charge you $5 for paper statements, so stick with online ones to save money and the planet.
Other benefits:
Online and mobile banking
Discount on first check order
Small Business Visa credit card
Card payment processing
U.S. Bank Gold Business Checking
Gold Business Checking (for businesses with moderate transaction levels) at a glance:
Sign-up bonus: None specified
Minimum initial deposit: $100
Monthly service fee: $20; waived by satisfying one of several criteria listed on its website
Cash deposits per month: 100 for free
Free transactions per month: 300 per statement cycle; 45 cents per excess transaction
Other benefits:
Online and mobile banking
Remote check deposits
Discount on first check order
Small Business Visa credit card
Card payment processing
Silver and Gold are good options for small businesses looking for free business checking accounts (as long as you stay within the limits). And in general, Chase, Wells Fargo and U.S. Bank are all good options for an LLC.
4. BlueVine: Best for Fee-Free, Online-Only Banking
Want to open an account on your phone and manage it entirely online? Welcome to 2021… and to BlueVine.
BlueVine boasts no hidden fees and unlimited transactions. Members can pay vendors, schedule one-time and recurring payments, and earn an impressive 1.0% on their checking account balance up to $100,000. Deposits are FDIC-insured (up to $250,000) through The Bancorp Bank.
Number of branches: 0
Number of ATMs: Users can withdraw cash fee-free at over 38,000 MoneyPass® locations in the U.S.
BlueVine at a glance:
Sign-up bonus: None specified
Minimum initial deposit: $0
Monthly service fee: $0
Cash deposits per month: Unlimited. You can deposit cash at close to 100,000 retail locations through a partnership with Green Dot. A $4.95 fee, per deposit, applies.
Free transactions per month: Unlimited
Other benefits:
A BlueVine Business Debit Mastercard®
Access to a business line of credit
Two free checkbooks
Phone and email customer support
Getty Images
5. Axos Bank: Best for Business Interest Checking
Axos Bank is another online-only bank. In addition to business checking accounts that earn interest, customers can take advantage of surcharge-free ATMs across the U.S.
Number of branches: 0
Number of ATMs: You can use any ATM in the U.S. and you’ll be reimbursed for the fees
Axos Bank offers Basic Business Checking, Business Interest Checking and Analyzed Business Checking. We’re going to look at the first two.
Axos Basic Business Checking
Basic Business Checking at a glance:
Sign-up bonus: $!00 if you incorporated after June 1, 2020
Minimum initial deposit: $1,000
Monthly service fee: $0
Cash deposits per month: Up to 60 items with remote deposit
Free transactions per month: 200; afterward, 30 cents each
Other benefits:
Pay bills with no charge through the app
First set of 50 checks is free
Compatible with QuickBooks
Axos Business Interest Checking
Business Interest Checking at a glance:
Sign-up bonus: $100 if you incorporated after June 1, 2020
Minimum initial deposit: $100
Monthly service fee: $10; waived if there’s an average daily balance of $5,000
Cash deposits per month: Up to 60 with remote deposit
Free transactions per month: 50; afterward, 50 cents each
Other benefits:
Earn up to 0.81% APY
First set of 50 checks for free
Axos Bank also offers saving accounts and Business CDs, but no credit cards.
Regional Business Checking Account Options
Here’s a glance at three smaller, regional options for business checking accounts. If your area isn’t listed, you can research credit unions and banks near you.
America First Credit Union
This institution has branches in Nevada and Utah. America First offers four types of business checking accounts: Basic, Premier, High-Yield and Non-Profit.
The Basic Business Checking offers 250 free monthly transactions, free online bill pay, access to money market savings, lines of credit and Business Visa credit card.
First Horizon
This bank has branches in Tennessee, Florida, North Carolina, South Carolina, Virginia and Texas. First Horizon offers BizEssentials Checking (Value, Basic, Standard and Interest) and Business Interest Checking Account, which combines the benefits of a checking and interest-earning savings account.
The Business Interest Checking Account has no minimum balance requirements, plus you’ll earn interest on your balance and have access to a Visa Business debit card.
SunTrust, Now Truist
This bank has branches in Alabama, Arkansas, Washington, D.C., Florida, Georgia, Maryland, Mississippi, North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee and Virginia. SunTrust offers three types of business checking accounts: Simple Business Checking, SunTrust Primary Business Checking and SunTrust Business Advantage Plus Checking.
SunTrust Primary Business Checking has a $15 monthly fee that’s waived in the first two statement cycles and after that when you have a $1,000 minimum daily balance. Each month, you’ll get 150 free transactions and $5,000 cash processing.
What’s the Right Business Checking Account for You?
The best business checking account for you will depend on your business and needs. Whether you’re just starting out or looking to level up, there are plenty of options out there, online and off. Start your search now, so your future self — and CPA, come tax time — will thank you later.
Contributor Kathleen Garvin (@itskgarvin) is a personal finance writer based in St. Petersburg, Florida, and former editor and marketer at The Penny Hoarder. She owns a content-writing business and her work has appeared in U.S. News, Clark.com and Well Kept Wallet.
Capital One got its start in 1994 in Richmond, VA, thanks to Richard Fairbank, who is still the acting CEO today. In the almost three decades of existence, the bank has grown tremendously, now managing over $390 billion in assets.
Savings APY
0.40%
Min. Deposit
$0
J.D. Power Rating
2/5
SimpleScore
4 / 5.0
SimpleScore Capital One 4
Savings APY 3
Customer Satisfaction 2
Product Variety 5
The Capital One 360 savings account is an attractive option that checks many of the major boxes needed to earn the title of a great savings tool. The accounts are available with no minimum opening deposit, no monthly service fee and all from a bank that’s been in service for almost three decades. Cap that off with one of the highest APY rates in the entire industry for savings accounts, and you may have found a winner.
Find High-Yield Savings Accounts
View our top-rated partners and find the best rates today. It’s quick and easy.
In this article
Capital One at a Glance
Bank
Min. Deposit
APY
Fees
Key Benefit
Capital One
$0
0.40%
$0
Industry-leading APY rate
What we like about it
There are four main reasons we love the Capital One savings account — no fees, no minimums, an incredible APY and a tech-savvy mobile app. Unlike most other banks, Capital One charges $0 for you to open and maintain a savings account. On top of that, there is no requirement for a minimum deposit to open an account or keep it open. This is welcomed news for new savers and people not interested in seeing all of their savings disappear to fees.
The Capital One savings rates are also some of the highest in the industry at 0.40%. The best part? You get that rate regardless of how much money you have in your account. The bank’s mobile app is also a great perk made available to any Capital One customer free of charge. The app offers complete flexibility across the board with all accounts, including savings accounts.
Things to consider
Consumers looking for an in-person banking touch will not be able to get that through Capital One. The bank runs all operations completely online. You will find several helpful customer service options with real people to talk to. The only difference, though, is you won’t have the luxury of walking into a branch location.
What you need to know
The APY on a Capital One 360 savings account is 0.40% regardless of your balance, making it one of the best high-interest savings accounts. You’ll also find no account fees to worry about, which really sets this account apart from many of the competitors. If you do have other accounts at Capital One, you are able to link them to your savings account for things like overdraft protection.
Opening a Capital One savings account is easy and must be done online.
1. Gather the documentation you will need. You’re going to need your name, birthdate, SSN, physical address and employer information (if you currently have one). Having all this together will make the process go much quicker.
2. Visit the Capital One website and fill out the application. Take the information from the documents you collected and input them into the Capital One savings account application. It’s an easy-to-follow and streamlined process. If you do have any trouble, there is a customer service phone number on every page that you can call for help.
3. Fund your Capital One savings account. While you don’t need any money to open your account, you won’t be earning anything extra until you fund your account. Follow the prompts on the website or through the mobile app to make your first deposit.
Fees and charges
Capital one does not charge any fees on any of its savings account products. Additionally, there are no charges if your savings account is used for overdraft protection on another Capital One account. Some banks will use your savings account to pay the overdraft amount and then charge you a fee, but not Capital One. Once you set up the protection, it works free of charge to keep you from running into declined charges and extra fees.
Mobile app platform
The Capital One mobile app scored well in both the App Store and the Google Play store with a user review rating of 4.7/5.0 in both marketplaces. The app gives users full abilities to manage their online banking accounts from anywhere. Some of the different tasks you can complete include viewing and exporting statements, sending money with Zelle, tracking your savings growth in real-time and making payments on loan accounts if you have any through Capital One.
Other products and tools
Capital One offers a host of other banking and financial products through its 100% online interface. These services include things like credit cards, checking accounts, car loans, business services and commercial accounts.
For savings, the bank offers three other types of savings accounts in addition to the standard Capital One high yield savings account. These accounts are the kid’s savings account, a Roth IRA savings account and a traditional IRA savings account.
Additionally, credit monitoring is available completely free of charge from the bank through its Credit Wise program.
How do I pick the best savings account?
When selecting where to start saving, it’s critical you look at all of the important factors that affect the quality of a savings account to find the best option. These include the account’s APY, fees, the ability to link your savings to other accounts, customer service options and if the company has a quality mobile app. By looking at the whole picture and not just the APY rate, you can get a better account for now and the future.
Compare top bank accounts
Too long, didn’t read?
Hands down, the Capital One savings account is one of the best high-yield savings accounts on the market. With no account fees, no minimum balances and an impressive APY regardless of your balance, it’s a great option for people from all walks of life. The only small drawback is there are no branch locations for Capital One. If you’re okay with online banking, though, you can cash in on some great savings perks.
We welcome your feedback on this article and would love to hear about your experience with the checking accounts we recommend. Contact us at inquiries@thesimpledollar.com with comments or questions.
Today’s retirees face many obstacles, from an unpredictable market to a lack of guaranteed income in retirement. While these are important challenges to address, they would be remiss to ignore their future tax burdens. We’ll likely see increased taxes in the future, and this will affect today’s retirees more than tax increases have affected retirees in the past.
Retirement Then vs. Now
Today’s retirees are the first IRA generation: Whereas previous generations could primarily rely on Social Security benefits and pensions to cover their retirement expenses, many of today’s retirees find themselves having to fund a much larger portion of their retirement through their own pre-tax retirement accounts. And while retirement accounts such as 401(k)s and IRAs have significant benefits, they also come with downsides, namely that all of the withdrawals in retirement are taxable as ordinary income at the current tax rates in our country.
This means that if tax rates were to rise, the retiree living off of IRAs will have to pay more in taxes and therefore live off of less after-tax income. Previous generations saved their money in after-tax accounts, meaning if tax rates were to rise, it would not affect them the same way it will for this IRA generation. When we look at the history of taxes and the Biden administration’s tax-increasing proposals, it’s clear that retirees need to have a tax-minimization plan.
Could We See Taxes Increase?
We need to plan for the tax rates of the future, not the present. Previously, tax increases primarily affected wage earners. The Social Security payroll tax and income tax increases had little effect on Social Security beneficiaries and retirees who saved in after-tax accounts. However, those who take distributions from a tax-deferred retirement account and who invest in the market are affected by both income tax increases and new taxes.
These could include:
The possible elimination of the favorable long-term capital gains taxes rates for the wealthiest investors. This could mean those with incomes of $1 million or more might pay up to 39.5% on their gains, rather than the current top rate of 20%.
Lowering of the current standard deduction. Many retirees don’t itemize their deductions and rely on the standard deduction. Therefore, if the current standard deduction is lowered, people’s taxes could go up.
Imposing the Social Security payroll tax on workers or households earning over $400,000 annually. This tax — in which employers and employees each pay 6.2% and the self-employed pay the full 12.4% — helps pay for Social Security benefits.
Lowering the federal estate tax exemption amount, which could affect estates above about $5 million.
Retirees should note that we may be experiencing tax rates at 100-year lows now, and that this could end in light of recent increased government spending. Our already large national debt increased during the pandemic, with the CARES Act of 2020 costing $2.2 trillion and the American Rescue Plan Act of 2021 costing $1.9 trillion. We will have to pay for this eventually, and retirees with large tax-deferred IRAs could be the ones to do it.
When we look at history, we see that after a period of increased government spending during World War II, income tax rates in the following decades were much higher than they are now. In 1944, the top rate peaked at 94%, and by 1964 it had only gone down to 70%. This doesn’t mean that an individual’s tax bracket will go from 22% to 70%, but there is a lot of room in between where retirees could feel the effects.
When running a financial plan, retirees need to calculate how much taxable income they will have and how much of that will be left after taxes. If tax rates rise, retirees could need to withdraw more from their taxable retirement accounts to be left with the same amount of income, ultimately drawing down their savings faster.
RMDs
Taxes on retirement income can become more burdensome starting at age 72. Most retirees must take RMDs (required minimum distributions) from their traditional retirement accounts starting at age 72, and the amount they must withdraw is based on their age and account balance.
RMDs could force someone to withdraw more than they normally would from their tax-deferred retirement account, causing them to jump into a higher tax bracket. Retirees under the age 72 should look to do careful planning that may minimize this effect by the time they reach this age. (Keep reading for an idea on how to help do that below.)
Taxes and Your Legacy Goals
RMDs can also potentially increase a beneficiary’s tax burden due to the SECURE Act passed in 2019. It ended the “stretch IRA,” which allowed beneficiaries to stretch out distributions from an inherited retirement account over their lifetimes. Now, most non-spouse beneficiaries must empty traditional accounts within 10 years of the original owner’s death.
Those who want to pass on their retirement accounts should consider tax minimization strategies when creating an estate plan. One possibility is a charitable remainder trust.
What Can Retirees Do Now to Prepare for Higher Taxes Later?
Those who will draw a significant portion of their retirement income from taxable retirement account should take note, and work to minimize their overall tax burden. There are many strategies they can employ, including converting part or all of their traditional 401(k) or IRA to a Roth IRA. This involves paying tax on the amount converted and eventually withdrawing it from the Roth tax-free. If we see taxes increase in the future, a Roth conversion at today’s rates could potentially be a good strategy for those whose tax burden won’t substantially decrease in retirement.
In addition to providing tax-free income, a Roth is also exempt from RMDs. This means that the money in a Roth IRA can continue to grow throughout the owner’s lifetime tax-free. When it’s inherited, the beneficiary will have to drain the account in 10 years, as with a traditional IRA. However, distributions from traditional IRAs, distributions from Roth IRAs are not taxable and will not incur an early withdrawal penalty as long as the account is at least five years old.
The Bottom Line for Retirees
Retirees who have both traditional and Roth IRAs can strategically withdraw from each to avoid going into a higher tax bracket, continue to reap the tax-advantage benefits of a retirement account after age 72, and pass on potentially tax-free wealth to their beneficiaries. Those who think tax hikes are on the horizon and who don’t plan to live on significantly less income in retirement should consider tax-minimization strategies such as a Roth conversion.
Investment Advisory Services offered through Epstein and White Financial LLC, an SEC Registered Investment Advisor. Epstein & White Retirement Income Solutions, LLC is a licensed insurance agency with the state of California Department of Insurance (#0K53785). As of March 31, 2021, Epstein and White is now a part of Mercer Global Advisors Inc. Mercer Global Advisors Inc. (“Mercer Advisors”) is registered as an Investment Adviser with the SEC. The firm only transacts business in states where it is properly registered or is excluded or exempted from registration requirements. The information, suggestions and recommendations included in this material is for informational purposes only and cannot be relied upon for any financial, legal, tax, accounting, or insurance purposes. Epstein and White Financial is not a certified public accounting firm, and no portion of its services should be construed as legal or accounting advice. Please consult with your own accountant and financial planning professional to determine how tax changes affect your unique financial situation. A copy of Epstein & White Financial LLC’s current written disclosure statement discussing advisory services and fees is available for review upon request or at www.adviserinfo.sec.gov.
This article was written by and presents the views of our contributing adviser, not the Kiplinger editorial staff. You can check adviser records with the SEC or with FINRA.
Founder and CEO, Epstein and White Retirement Income Solutions
Bradley White is founder and CEO of Epstein and White. He’s a Certified Financial Planner™ and has a bachelor’s degree in finance from San Diego State University. He’s an Investment Advisor Representative (IAR) and an insurance professional.
The information provided on this website does not, and is not intended to, act as legal, financial or credit advice. See Lexington Law’s editorial disclosure for more information.
Paying taxes as a freelancer can be a bit more involved—and expensive—than paying taxes as a W-2 employee. When you’re a freelancer, you’re the boss. That’s great if you want some flexibility, but it also means you’re self-employed, so you are responsible for both the employer and employee parts of employment taxes.
When you work for someone else, your paycheck amount is your pay minus all appropriate deductions. That includes deductions for federal and state income taxes as well as Medicare and Social Security contributions.
But what you might not realize is that your employer covers part of the Medicare and Social Security amounts. As a self-employed individual, you have to pay the total amount yourself. That’s 12.4 percent for Social Security and 2.9 percent for Medicare—a total of 15.3 percent of your taxable earnings, not including federal and other income taxes.
When Do I Have to Start Paying Taxes as a Freelancer?
According to the Internal Revenue Service, if you earn $400 or more in a year via self-employment or contract work, you must claim the income and pay taxes on it. The threshold is even lower if you earn the money for church work. If you earn more than $108.28 as a church employee and the church employer doesn’t withhold and pay employment taxes, you must do so.
What Tax Forms Should I Know About?
Freelancers report their income to the IRS using a Form 1040, but they may need to include a variety of Schedule attachments, including:
Schedule A, which lists itemized deductions
Schedule C, which reports profits or losses from their freelancer business
Schedule SE, which calculates self-employment tax
These are only some of the forms that might be relevant to a freelancer filing federal taxes. Freelancers must also file a tax form for the state in which they live as well as with any local governments that require income tax payments.
If you’re planning to do your taxes on your own as a freelancer, it might be helpful to invest in DIY tax software. Look for options that cater specifically to home and business or self-employment situations. These software programs typically walk you through a series of questions designed to determine which forms you need to file and help you complete those forms correctly.
Six Tips for Doing Your Taxes as a Freelancer
As a freelancer, chances are you spend a lot of your time attending to clients and getting production work done. You may not have a lot of time for business organization tasks such as accounting. But a proactive approach to paying taxes as a freelancer can help you prepare to do your taxes and pay what can be a surprisingly big bill each year.
Here are six tips for handling taxes as a freelancer.
1. Keep Track of Your Income
Track your income so you know how much you may need to pay in taxes every year. Keeping track of your numbers also helps you understand whether your business is profitable and how you’re doing with income compared to past years.
You can track your income in a number of ways. Apps and software programs such as QuickBooks and Wave let you manage your freelance invoices and track income and expenses. Some also help you generate financial reports that might be helpful come tax time.
Alternatively, you can track your income in an Excel spreadsheet or even a notebook, as long as you’re consistent with writing everything down.
2. Set Money Aside in Advance
It’s tempting to count every dollar that comes in as money you can use. But it’s wiser to set money aside for taxes in advance. Depending on how much you earn as a freelancer, you could owe thousands in federal and state taxes by the end of the year, and if you didn’t plan ahead, you might not have the money to cover the tax bill.
That can lead to tax debt that comes with pretty stiff penalties and interest—and the potential for a tax lien if you can’t pay the bill.
3. Determine Your Business Structure
Make sure you know what your business structure is. Many freelancers operate as sole proprietorships. But you might be able to get a tax break if you operate as an LLC or a corporation. Talk to legal and tax professionals as you set up your business to find out about the pros and cons of each type of organization.
4. Know About Relevant Deductions
As a freelancer, you may be able to take certain federal tax deductions to save yourself some money. Tax deductions reduce how much of your income is considered taxable, which, in turn, reduces how much you owe in taxes. Here are a few common deductions that might be relevant to you as a freelancer.
Home Office
You can take the home office deduction if you’ve set aside a certain area of your home for use by the business. The IRS does have a couple of stipulations.
First, you have to regularly use the space for your business, and it can’t be something you use regularly for other purposes. For example, you can’t claim your dining room as a home office just because you sometimes work from that location.
Second, the home has to be your principal place of business, which means it’s where you do most business activity. You can’t claim the deduction if you normally work outside the home but sometimes answer work emails while you’re in the living room.
Equipment and Supplies
You can also deduct the cost of equipment and supplies that you buy for your business. That includes software purchases and relevant subscriptions, such as if you pay monthly for Microsoft 365 or annually for a domain name.
Make sure you have backup documentation for any business expenses you deduct. That means keeping receipts that show what you purchased so you can prove that the expenses were for business. You also have to be careful to keep business and personal expenses separate—art supplies for your child’s school project, for example, wouldn’t typically be considered valid business expenses.
Travel and Meals
Meals and travel expenses that are related to your business may be tax deductible. If you stay in a hotel, book a flight or incur other travel expenses that are necessary for the running of your business, you can claim them as a deduction. The same is true for 50 percent of the value of meals and beverages that you pay for as a necessity when doing business.
The IRS does set an “ordinary and necessary” rule here. For example, if you’re traveling to meet with a client and you need to eat lunch, that is likely to be considered necessary. But if you opt for a very lavish meal for no other purpose than to do so, it might not be allowed under the “ordinary” part of the rule.
Business Insurance
If you carry liability or similar insurance for your business, you can deduct it as a cost of doing business. You may also be able to deduct the cost of other insurance policies if they are necessary for your trade.
5. Estimate Your Taxes Quarterly
The IRS offers provisions for estimating your employment taxes on a quarterly basis. Self-employed individuals, including freelancers, can make these estimated tax payments, too. Paying as you go means you won’t owe a large sum every April, and if you overestimate, you may get a tax refund.
Quarterly payments are due in April, June, September and January. They can be mailed or made online. Depending on how much you earn, you may need to make quarterly estimated tax payments to avoid a penalty at the end of the year.
6. Consult a Tax Professional
As you can see just from the basic information and tips above, paying taxes as a freelancer can get complicated quickly. Consider talking to a tax professional to understand what all your obligations are and how best to reduce your tax burden using legal deductions. You might be missing a major deduction every year that could save you a lot of money.
And remember that as a freelancer, you’re running your own small business. That means paying attention to all your finances, including your credit report. If you ever want to take out a business loan or seek other funding to grow your business, you might need to rely on your good credit score.
Check your credit score, and if you find inaccurate negative information making an impact on your score, contact Lexington Law to find out how to get help disputing it.
Reviewed by Cynthia Thaxton, Lexington Law Firm Attorney. Written by Lexington Law.
Cynthia Thaxton has been with Lexington Law Firm since 2014. She attended The College of William and Mary in Williamsburg, Virginia where she graduated summa cum laude with a degree in International Relations and a minor in Arabic. Cynthia then attended law school at George Mason University School of Law, where she served as Senior Articles Editor of the George Mason Law Review and graduated cum laude. Cynthia is licensed to practice law in Utah and North Carolina.
Note: Articles have only been reviewed by the indicated attorney, not written by them. The information provided on this website does not, and is not intended to, act as legal, financial or credit advice; instead, it is for general informational purposes only. Use of, and access to, this website or any of the links or resources contained within the site do not create an attorney-client or fiduciary relationship between the reader, user, or browser and website owner, authors, reviewers, contributors, contributing firms, or their respective agents or employers.
For decades, sellers and their agents have been using open houses to help generate interest in their listings. Open houses give the general public the chance to view a home without scheduling a private showing. While open houses do get a lot of curious neighbors and casual browsers, they can be a good opportunity for serious buyers to decide if a home is worth pursuing further, or a way to get a better grasp on neighborhood home values.
In fact, 59% of home buyers attended an open house during their shopping process last year and 43% of buyers said attending the open house was very or extremely important to determining if the home was right for them.* On average, home buyers attended 2.6 open houses before buying.
Whether you’re a sincere buyer or simply curious about the inside of a home, you should know how open houses work and understand how you can be a good open house attendee.
Note: If open houses are restricted or unavailable due to public health concerns, work with your agent to arrange a private tour or video tour. All Zillow-owned homes include a self-tour option — just use our app to unlock the door and tour at your convenience.
What is an open house?
An open house is an event during which potential buyers can tour a home that’s on the market. It’s usually hosted by the seller’s listing agent, or by the seller themselves, in case of a for-sale-by-owner (FSBO) listing. Open houses usually take place on weekends, during a set range of hours — typically midday.
Open house benefits for buyers
No scheduling required: Unlike a private showing, you don’t need to set up a specific appointment to see a home. Simply show up during the open house hours and view the home at your own pace.
Scope out the competition: If you’re interested in a home, attending the open house can help you gauge interest from other buyers. This can be helpful when determining how quickly you need to submit an offer and how much you should offer.
Understand current home values: Seeing what homes are selling for in your area and what you can buy at a particular price point can be helpful if you’re just starting your search.
Redefine your nonnegotiable home features: Checking out homes in person can help you redefine your list of must-haves: Do you really need that extra bedroom? What does a backyard of this size really look like?
How do open houses work?
Not every seller or listing agent will hold one, but here’s the typical process for sellers setting up an open house:
The seller and their agent determine a day and time for the open house.
The agent lists the open house on the local MLS.
The agent advertises the open house on social media, online and with print ads or flyers.
The agent prepares for the open house — purchasing refreshments, printing flyers, setting up signs and adding little touches to make the home feel welcoming to buyers. (Yes, as a shopper, you can eat the cookies.)
The agent hosts the event, greeting buyers and answering questions about the property and community.
Buyers remove their shoes, tour the home, take pictures and video (if allowed) and jot down important notes.
Any buyer who liked the house will contact their own agent. They’ll then set up a private showing to see the home again or they’ll submit an offer right away — the latter is common in fast-moving real estate markets.
Who hosts an open house?
The person hosting an open house could be any one of the following:
Listing agent: As the person hired to sell the home, the listing agent should be an expert on the property.
Listing agent’s team member or associate: A busy listing agent may also send another agent in their place — either someone on their team or another agent in their office. They should be experts in the local market, but may not be as familiar with the individual home.
Homeowner: If a home is for sale by owner (FSBO), the homeowner will be hosting their own open house. They’re undoubtedly the expert on the home, but their local market expertise may be limited.
How to prepare for an open house
There are times when you might just stumble upon an open house while you’re on a walk or running errands. But if you’re intentionally looking for open houses as part of your home-buying strategy, try these tips.
Seek out relevant open houses
If you plan to visit multiple open houses in one day, make sure you’re focusing on listings that fit your criteria for budget and location. It’s not worth wasting time looking at homes outside your budget or those that are too far from your work or school.
Tip: With Zillow’s home search tool, buyers can filter by homes with upcoming open houses (this filter can be applied in addition to other search filters like price, bedrooms, bathrooms, square footage and location). When you use the open houses filter in conjunction with filters for your other criteria, you can easily find the right open houses for your search.
You can also tour most Zillow-owned homes any time between 6 a.m. to 8 p.m., any day of the week — just select the tour option on the listing. Although the listing agent will not be present, you can avoid a busy open house and rest assured the property is in move-in ready condition.
Do research on the market beforehand
With help from your agent or on your own, find out how each home you’re planning to visit stacks up against others nearby. Is the price in line with similar listings in the area? Are there any defects? Has it gone under contract recently and then returned to the market? Are there a lot of other interested buyers? Has it been sitting on the market for a long time? (“Days on market” is an indicator of a stale listing, but the standard number of days on market can vary based on where you live.)
Stay open-minded
If you’re searching on a tight budget in a hot neighborhood, there’s a good chance that the home that fits the bill will need some TLC. Fortunately, attending an open house can give you a better idea of the home’s condition and potential, while also giving you the opportunity to ask renovation-related questions — e.g., the location of load bearing walls and the details of local regulations.
How to attend an open house
Now that you’ve done your research and are prepared to add some open houses to your home search, here’s what you should do once the day arrives.
Ask questions
An open house is your best opportunity to ask the listing agent (or their associate) your questions — don’t be shy. Ask questions that you wouldn’t be able to answer just by reading a home’s listing description, such as:
What are the HOA restrictions?
Has the seller done a property tax appeal?
Have there been any recent renovations or repairs?
Tip: If you’re not currently working with an agent and you ultimately decide you aren’t interested in a particular home you tour, the open house could help you see if the listing agent might be the right person to represent you — many agents represent both buyers and sellers.
Be honest
If anyone other than the listing agent or the homeowner is hosting the open house, they’re likely an agent hoping to find potential buyer clients. If you’re already working with an agent (or if you have no real interest in buying), be honest.
Check for damage and disrepair
Professional or edited photos can make a home look a lot better online than it is in person. At an open house, take the opportunity to closely evaluate a home’s condition and take note of any potential defects that would factor into your offer price.
Assess the windows: Look for flaking paint, misaligned sashes and condensation due to air leaks. These could be signs of windows that need replacement.
Check for water damage: Look for warped baseboards, ceiling stains and musty smells.
Make note of cracks: Noticeable cracks in the ceiling or drywall could indicate foundation issues.
Test functions: Open cabinets, doors and drawers. Run the faucets. Check the water pressure. An open house is a good opportunity to make sure every part of the home is in good working order.
Gauge potential renovation needs: Home improvements can really add up. As you walk through a home, keep an eye out for urgent renovation needs like floors, fixtures or large repainting projects.
Open house tips for buyers
Whenever you attend an open house, put yourself in the seller’s shoes — you’re letting a bunch of strangers walk through your home while you’re not there. While every seller wants their open house to net a buyer, they also want to keep their home safe and their furnishings free of damage.
Do
Take off your shoes or wear booties if requested.
Greet the host and provide your name.
Sign in if necessary or requested (this is a safety issue for the seller and their agent).
Take notes on your phone about your likes, dislikes and follow-up questions.
Ask if you can capture a video (if the listing doesn’t already include a video).
Respect other buyers and guests.
Wait for others to exit a room before you enter.
Provide feedback if requested.
Thank the person hosting the event.
Don’t
Refuse to comply with an agent or homeowner’s house rules.
Criticize the home or the owner’s style.
Listen in on other visitors’ conversations.
Touch the owner’s belongings.
Let kids run around without supervision.
Bring food or beverages in (except water).
Reveal information that would compromise your negotiating power, like your budget or level of interest in the home.
Bring pets.
*Zillow Group Consumer Housing Trends Report 2019 survey data
