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When it comes to flying, most people want to avoid sitting in the dreaded middle seat. But how do you choose between an aisle or window seat?

Both seats have distinct advantages depending on how you like to travel. Learn more about the pros and cons of an aisle seat versus the window, things to consider when choosing and tips for getting the seat you want.

Aisle seats vs. window seats

Choosing between a window seat or aisle seat depends on how you like to travel and what you plan on doing during the flight.

While many travelers prefer window seats, aisle seats have a lot to offer as well. In short, the “better” seat is a personal preference and may change based on your travel plans.

Learn more about the pros and cons of the aisle versus window seats so you’ll know which one to pick on your next trip.

Pros and cons of choosing an aisle seat

Pros of aisle seats

  • Unrestricted access to the aisle. The aisle seat has easy access to getting up and sitting down. You don’t need to disturb anyone when heading to the bathroom or stretching your legs.

  • Get off the plane faster. You’re the first one into the aisle when it’s time to disembark. This makes it easier to grab your bag and catch your next flight.

  • Easier to stretch your legs. Seat pitch seems to be shrinking no matter which airline you’re flying. When you’re in an aisle seat, you can stretch your legs into the open space as long as you’re not blocking someone walking down the aisle.

Cons of aisle seats

  • Blocking access to the aisle. When row-mates want to get up to use the bathroom, grab a drink or stretch their legs, you have to get up to let them out.

  • Drink cart and passing passengers can hit you. If your elbow, knee or other body parts stick out into the aisle, you may get hit by the drink cart or another passenger.

  • Possible spills. Flight attendants try to be careful when passing drinks to passengers, but when you’re in the aisle seat, you’re more likely to get spilled on. These spills can damage electronics, ruin papers and harm clothing.

  • Limited view. It’s hard to compete with the window seat’s scenery.

Pros and cons of choosing a window seat

Pros of window seats

  • Better position to sleep. With a window seat on the plane, you can lean your head and body against the window and get some shut-eye. Even better, by sitting next to the window, others in the row don’t need to wake you up if they need to use the bathroom.

  • Incredible views. Aerial panoramas of Earth offer unparalleled views.

  • Control of the window shade

Cons of window seats

  • Harder to get up. If you want to get out of your seat, you need to “ask permission” from other passengers in your row. If they’re sleeping or their tray is full, accessing in-flight services, the bathroom or the overhead bin can be more cumbersome. This limited mobility can be a bummer.

  • Stuck getting off the plane. When it’s time to depart, you’re at the mercy of the speed (or lack thereof) of your seatmates. For travelers with tight timelines, it can be challenging to hurry them up without seeming rude.

  • Temperature variability: The wall of the plane can sometimes be cooler or warmer than the rest of the cabin, leading to potential discomfort.

Other things to consider when choosing a seat

On your next flight, consider these factors before choosing your window or aisle seat.

Is there a cost for seat selection?

Airlines are doing what they can to keep fares down and attract passengers. One strategy to increase revenue is charging for seat selection. On most airlines, the cost to choose your seat ahead of time varies based on how attractive the seat’s location is.

Typically, the added expense focuses on specific rows, but it can be on a seat-by-seat basis as well.

If you have a travel card that covers airline incidental charges as part of its benefits suite, you might not end up paying out-of-pocket for the privilege of seat selection.

Cards with airline incidental credits

The Platinum Card® from American Express

The Business Platinum Card® from American Express

Chase Sapphire Reserve®

on Chase’s website

Bank of America® Premium Rewards® credit card

on Bank of America’s website

Annual fee

Airline incidental benefit

Up to $200 annually with your preferred airline. Enrollment required. Terms apply.

Up to $200 annually with your preferred airline. Enrollment required. Terms apply.

Up to $300 annually. Terms apply.

Up to $100 annually. Terms apply.

Still not sure?

Do you have a tight connection?

If you have a tight connection for your next flight, your seat position can mean the difference between making or missing your flight. When you have limited time between flights, pick an aisle seat that’s as close to the front of the plane as possible.

Some passengers will be kind and let you through, but not everyone is so generous… especially if you’re sitting near the back of the plane in a window seat.

Are you planning to sleep on the flight?

Many travelers choose to sleep during their flight. Whether you’re taking a quick nap or sleeping on a red-eye flight, sitting in a window seat provides a better sleep experience. You’ll control the window shade to make it darker in the cabin, and you can lean against the wall for head and neck support.

There are also fewer disturbances from middle and aisle seat passengers, as well as flight attendants.

Do you use the bathroom often?

Travelers who use the bathroom frequently are better off selecting an aisle seat, since these seats provide easy access to the aisle for a quick getaway when needed.

Additionally, not only do your fellow passengers have to get up when you leave for the bathroom, you have to disturb them again when you return. Shy passengers sitting by the window may be hesitant to bother others and choose to hold it instead.

Will you be working on the flight?

Business hours often extend beyond the normal 9-to-5, especially with Wi-Fi more accessible on flights. If you’re someone who plans on working during the flight, sitting by the window is typically a better option than an aisle seat. You can spread out without fear of having to get up for someone to use the bathroom.

Plus, you can control the window shade if glare is an issue on your laptop or mobile device.

Do you need extra room to stretch out?

With legroom shrinking as airlines try to squeeze extra passengers onto planes, travelers must be strategic in order to stay comfortable while flying. Choosing an aisle versus window seat provides the opportunity to use the aisle to stretch out your legs even more.

The only downside is that your body parts may get bumped.

Tips for getting your seat of choice

Now that you’ve made a decision between a window seat or an aisle seat, follow these strategies to secure your preferred location.

  1. Select seats during the booking process. When booking your flight, you may have the opportunity to select your preferred seat for free or a small fee. This is often your best shot at getting first dibs on a window or aisle seat in a desirable location.

  2. Review the plane’s seating map. Seat maps vary widely across types of planes. Research the plane’s seating map on a site like SeatGuru to find the best seats for your flight, including exit row seats, away from bathrooms and avoiding bad seats.

  3. Sign-up for the airline’s loyalty program. Signing up for frequent flyer programs is free, and your activities may earn you enough miles for a free flight in the future. When you fly enough to earn elite status, you may be able to select your seat before other travelers.

  4. Choose seats without paying fees. If your airline charges a fee for picking a seat ahead of time, wait until check-in time. Typically, the seat selection fees are waived at this point unless you’re trying to pick a seat in a different fare class.

  6. Confirm your selection ahead of the flight. Even though you picked your seat ahead of time, it is wise to confirm your seat selection one or two weeks before your flight. Glitches can happen in the reservation system that cause you to lose your assigned seat.

  7. Watch out for plane swaps. If your flight changes aircraft, your assigned seat may change due to the new plane’s configuration. When this happens, the airline typically assigns you a new seat that may be different than what you want.

The bottom line

Among the travel community, there are strong opinions about whether the window or aisle is best. Both seat locations have a lot to offer, and the ideal seat often depends on what you plan on doing during the flight.

Before making a choice, consider the pros and cons when picking a seat. Then, use our seven tips to increase the chances of getting the seat you want.

To view rates and fees of The Platinum Card® from American Express, see this page.
To view rates and fees of The Business Platinum Card® from American Express, see this page.

How to maximize your rewards

Source: nerdwallet.com

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–

“I used to read Mr. Money Mustache”, 

some people say these days, 

“Until he got all rich and fancy so that he no longer understands the common person’s plight.

Stash probably doesn’t even practice any of these money-saving things he preaches any more!” 

When I read things like this, I can’t help but laugh. Because on the one hand, when you put a bunch of personal life details online like this, being misunderstood is just part of the package. But on the other hand, if the critics could peek in and see our real lives – not just mine but those of all the Mustachians – they would have to give up their conspiracy theories and accept the fact that this stuff just works.

Because really, not much has changed when it comes to the basics. Like many MMM readers over the past twelve years, my total wealth level has increased pretty regularly.  But also like many of us, I haven’t felt the need to change very much about my spending because I was doing my best to live an enjoyable life in the first place.

How have so many people found such great success? I think we Mustachians have something that’s a bit more rare and special than standard financial advice, which is what makes it work so well:

Standard Advice:
Slash your spending and make sacrifices until you reach a certain savings percentage, and beyond that it doesn’t matter, it’s all personal choice. More income? Great, that means you don’t have to sacrifice as much! FatFIRE for everyone!

Mustachianism:
Cultivate a love of efficiency, creativity, self awareness, and self improvement. Use this knowledge to improve your life in all ways, including those which help you live better even as your monthly expense rate drops over time.

So what does this mean in practice? 

Well, I’ll give you some examples from my own present-day life. Things I do because I happen to enjoy them, which also happen to save a lot of money. Some of these are normal, some are silly and may end up in some future gossip magazine hit piece, but all of them happen to work for me, so the critics can be damned.

As I list each item, I’ll include an estimate of how much the activity saves me per decade, because you should always think at least in terms of decades.

To make that calculation yourself, just use the “rule of 172” – take a monthly expense and multiply it by 172 to estimate how much it would compound into over ten years, if invested.

1) Fixing my own House (and everybody else’s too)

Construction projects from recent years, at home and around the state.

I’m a big believer in self-sufficiency, and working to build up the skills to manage the most important parts of your own life without depending on too many things (or people) that are outside of your control. In other words, one giant recipe for a happy life is simply to Become a Producer of the Things You Most Enjoy Consuming.

And in my case, I happen to love houses. I like living in beautiful, functional spaces and sharing them with friends. But most houses are ugly and poorly designed when you buy them, so I realized that I also love solving problems and redesigning old buildings to become new again. I enjoy this process so much that I spend most of my free time doing it – on both my own properties and the homes of friends. 

And I love teaching other people to gain power over their own houses too. It’s amazing how great people feel as they lose their fear and dependence on outside contractors, and gain the ability to fix and maintain things with their own two hands.

Savings: An average of $20,000 per year = $287,000 per decade

2) Craigslist and Community

Members of our coworking space, swapping valuable free stuff every day.

You know what’s great? Having so much money that you can buy whatever you want – high quality things which get delivered to your front door the very next day. 

You know what’s even better? Not buying some of those new things, and instead finding ways to share, repurpose and buy equally high quality items from other people who don’t need them any more. All while building up your own community and creating new friendships in the process.

Craigslist, Facebook Marketplace, and even NextDoor all have Buy Nothing groups for most areas. In the MMM-HQ community, we run a Discord server with about 200 local people, who chat around the clock on a wide range of subjects. They help each other with major projects in one channel called #diyhowto, and give away and sell things on #forsale and #buynothing. 

Although our private Discord group is my favorite, I also use Craigslist regularly, and probably save (and earn) a few thousand every year thanks to the habit:

Savings: About $42,000 per decade

3) Bikes over Cars

Sure glad I’m not stuck in a Jeep on these off-road trails!

We all know that Mr. Money Mustache’s biggest contribution to personal finance is to insist that bike transportation is the best way to get around. And I still feel this way. As we learned in The True Cost of Commuting, cars cost at least 50 cents per mile to operate, while bikes are much cheaper, mainly due to reduced depreciation and maintenance costs (which are even bigger than the gas savings).

I do still use bikes (or walking) for at least 95% of my local trips these days, but because I live in the center of a small city, my life is pretty local. So this still only adds up to about 2000 miles per year, a savings of “only” $14,000 per decade.

But when you choose active transportation, there’s much more to the picture than just cutting your car expenses. You’re changing everything about your physical and mental health picture for the better, which brings us to the next point of…

4) Muscle over Motor

Digging out the crappy old window wells to build a bigger terraced garden.

Although I’m no competitive athlete, whenever I see an option to make my body work a bit harder, I usually take it. Stairs instead of elevators, running the golf course instead of using a golf cart, moving my own furniture and appliances instead of calling a mover, shoveling snow and raking leaves instead of using a machine. 

When I face a decision like this, I simply ask myself the question:

“Well, Mustache. Do you want MORE health and fitness, or LESS?”

Putting it in that context makes the answer obvious.  Every bit helps, because when it comes to your body, the rule is pretty much use it or lose it.

But how much money does this save? There’s no real way to calculate it exactly, but I like to think of it this way: The US average health care spending is about $13,000 per person per year. My lifetime costs due to illness or medication so far have been just about zero, plus I know I’ve had more energy and greater productivity due to being healthy. Let’s just put it very conservatively and set the estimated savings and benefits at $10k per year which means

Estimated Savings:  $140,000 per decade.

5) Saving Energy by Running my home like a Glamping Retreat

Outdoor cooking, showering, laundry and even a homemade gym? Why not?!

Here’s where things get a bit silly, but my level of joy is actually at its greatest. 

My personality type is probably a weird combination of an engineer, a carpenter, an artsy hippie, and a mad scientist. Oh, and a devoted homebody too. Because of this, my favorite activity most days is to just run around my house taking care of things and trying new little experiments and improvements.

Sometimes I’ll cut a few big holes on on the South side of the house and install sliding doors and big windows to allow nice sunbeams and passive solar energy to get into my house and give me free heat in the winters. Other times it’s just smaller things to save energy and live more at at one with the seasons of my area:

  • optimizing the use of air conditioning by running fans at night and building heat tolerance during the days (we set the A/C to only kick on at about 80F)
  • Enjoying most of my showers outside, with free hot water from the 100 foot garden hose that happens to be coiled in a sunny spot
  • Cooling myself and get free energy boosts by jumping in the “cold plunge”, which is simply an unheated hot tub I have set up in my back yard
  • Doing most of my cooking and dining outdoors with an induction cooktop, gas grill, espresso machine, and mini convection toaster oven deal that I keep set up outside during the warmer months of the year
  • Drying 99% of my loads of laundry out on the line instead of using the clothes dryer
  • I even charge my car with a little off-grid array of solar panels set up in the driveway (from Craisglist, of course!), which gives me free electricity for driving without going through the permit-hell hassle of a full grid-tied system in my city’s currently solar unfriendly environment.

Even taken all together, these things are pretty small – the average combined gas and electric bill for my area is about $250 per month, while my usage adds up to about $75. So while we’re only saving about $30,000 per decade for what sounds like a lot of work to most people, I consider this to be the biggest win because I enjoy living in “MMM’s Energy Efficiency Playground” so much.

6) Local Living over Constant Travel

This little lake right behind my house is a great daily “vacation” which allows me to savor home life more and travel a bit less.

“Hey, we’re having a big back yard pool party next weekend to celebrate Amy’s graduation from kindergarten, can you make it?”

“OH NOOOO!!! We will be off in at Disneyland that whole week! We planned the trip months ago, I wish we could make it!

As I type this in the height of the summer season, I really feel this effect at its fullest: almost all of my friends are off on trips, and my guest suite here at home is almost constantly full. People are traveling a lot, and many of them sound like they wish they could spend a few more of their precious summer weeks and weekends at home.

I’ll let you in on a little secret: you can! The trick is saying, “no thanks” more often to plans that involve you being away, and “yes please” to things that let you stay at home. The benefits are numerous:

  • You nurture your local friendships more and meet new people who live nearby
  • You spend way less money on plane tickets, hotels, restaurants gasoline, and car repairs
  • Your levels of health and fitness can go way up because you aren’t missing workouts and spending hours sitting in plane and car and bus seats. And you can better control your meals – more salads with grilled salmon, less McDonald’s and Pizza Hut 
  • You sleep better 
  • And you have more time to take care of projects around your house where you learn more skills which compound for life

Estimated Savings: Even if you replace just two weeks of travel for a family of four, with equivalent time at home you might save $5,000 per year in direct costs and a further $5,000 per year in incidental benefits like the health and local friendships. This would work out to a shocking $143,000 per decade of wealth increase! 

Of course, travel is generally a good thing for broadening the life experience of you and your kids. It’s worth spending on, lavishly at times. But the key is to balance it out and be discerning, keeping the most enriching trips and pruning a few off the bottom of the list. And remembering that home time is valuable and healthy too.

And Whoa! We’ve already built up a huge list and I feel like I was just getting started. 

Cutting a friend’s hair at a group event: entertainment, education and free haircut in one!

Taken all together, we’ve already detailed things that compound to $656,000 every decade, which already more than double the median wealth that most American seniors have as they cruise nervously into their retirement years – after over 40 years of work!

And now that I’ve been writing this blog for over ten years myself, I can safely say that over $656,000 of even my most recent worth increases are directly attributable to these simple habits. The same ones many of us have been enjoying and preaching about all along, both before and after our retirement dates.

If money is in genuinely short supply, you could go a lot further than the examples in this article. And indeed, there’s a lot more laid out in this blog or the MMM Boot Camp email series.

But one of the points of Mustachianism is that you usually don’t have to try all that hard. Just tweaking your lifestyle to be slightly less ridiculous and more efficient than average is usually all it takes. 

—

In the comments: what are your quirks and frugal indulgences? The things you do now to save money, or things you still do even after it’s no longer about the money? I often wonder how widespread this frugality-just-for-fun is. But since we Humans are a naturally curious and problem solving species in our natural state, I suspect there are many more of us out there.

Source: mrmoneymustache.com

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While he may not have secured a spot on Team USA for the Paris Olympics, Boston Celtics shooting guard Jaylen Brown is fresh off a legacy-defining season.

The eight-year NBA veteran made his third All-Star team, won Eastern Conference finals MVP and Finals MVP, and helped the Boston Celtics win their first NBA championship since 2008.

And while he’s winning big on the court, he’s hoping to bank a personal win too. He just listed an industrial-style penthouse with a historic vibe he owns on Melcher St. in Boston’s Fort Point neighborhood for $4,750,000.

One of the highest-paid small forwards in the NBA, Jaylen lives in a sprawling 7-bedroom mansion in Wellesley, bought back in 2020 for $7.8 million. So he likely hasn’t lived in the Fort Point condo for quite a while.

Nevertheless, the Melcher Street penthouse reflects the sartorial icon’s style and features open-concept, industrial-yet-warm interiors that perfectly complement the building’s historic appeal. Let’s take a closer look, shall we?

Set in a Fort Point building on Melcher St.

Photo credit: Surette Media Group / Douglas Elliman

The stylish 2,964-square-foot penthouse sits atop a 1916-built brick building at 49 Melcher St. in Fort Point, the former industrial district along Fort Point Channel filled with historic lofts, art studios, and galleries.

The building is also home to a popular local steakhouse called Mooo…. Seaport.

It has 3 bedrooms and 2.5 bathrooms

Photo credit: Surette Media Group / Douglas Elliman

The unit consists of 3 bedrooms, 2 full bathrooms, and 1 half-bath, and a spiral staircase that leads to a generously sized rooftop deck.

It has a luxurious primary suite with a walk-in closet, and an en-suite bathroom with a double vanity and walk-in shower.

The MVP of townhouses

Photo credit: Surette Media Group / Douglas Elliman

“It’s the MVP of town houses. It really is,” real estate agent George Sarkis — who shares the listing with Manny Sarkis of The Sarkis Team at Douglas Elliman — says of the $4.75 million Fort Point penthouse.

“The open concept, the feel of it, the brick and beam,” Sarkis told Boston.com. “To see this at about a 3,000-square-foot scale is very hard to come by. Having one of Boston’s steakhouses in the building is a big bonus.”

The unit retains many of the building’s original features

Photo credit: Surette Media Group / Douglas Elliman

Much like the other historic homes and converted buildings around Fort Point, the building retains its most coveted original features.

Brown’s penthouse has exposed brick walls, oversized factory windows that flood the open floorplan with natural light, and a 12-plus-foot ceiling with the original wood beams. 

Open-concept penthouse living

Photo credit: Surette Media Group / Douglas Elliman

The historic elements are beautifully complemented by modern additions throughout the open-concept floor plan, particularly in the kitchen, which has been equipped with top-of-the-line appliances and an eat-in island.

The large living area — comprised of living, dining, and kitchen — can easily be configured differently, should the future owner choose to do so.

The penthouse has a generously sized rooftop deck

Photo credit: Surette Media Group / Douglas Elliman

Heading up a spiral staircase, future residents and their guests can enjoy a private 400+ square-foot roof deck to take in the bustling city life below.

See also: Michael Jordan’s house is still on the market, 12 years after it was first listed for sale

Nowadays, Jaylen Brown lives in the suburbs

Photo credit: Surette Media Group / Douglas Elliman

As for where Jaylen Brown is heading next, we’re guessing he already made his choice years before listing his penthouse in the city.

Brown has been famously living in the posh Boston suburb of Wellesley, Massachusetts, known as one of the most expensive towns in the country.

Where he owns a 7-bedroom mansion bought in 2022

Photo credit: Surette Media Group / Douglas Elliman

Back in 2020, Jaylen Brown scored a $7.8 million deal for a massive 10,099-square-foot home in Wellesley that had previously been listed for $11 million.

Sitting on 1.53 acres of land, the mansion has 7 bedrooms, 9 baths, and boasts a farmhouse style with modern aesthetics.

His Boston penthouse is now on the market for $4,750,000

Photo credit: Surette Media Group / Douglas Elliman

Since he’s nice and settled in the suburbs, Jaylen is now parting ways with his Melcher St. penthouse, and has hired Douglas Elliman top producers George and Manny Sarkis of The Sarkis Team to help him offload the city residence.

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Tour two-time NBA All-Star Kiki VanDeWeghe’s house, as seen on ‘Buying Beverly Hills’

Source: fancypantshomes.com

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HMDA Data, Correspondent and Wholesale Products; Inflation and Rate Updates

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HMDA Data, Correspondent and Wholesale Products; Inflation and Rate Updates

By:
Rob Chrisman

Fri, Jul 12 2024, 11:37 AM

“I’m sorry, but you can’t always be ‘experiencing a higher volume of calls than average.’ That’s not how averages work.” The “average” person has a student loan, or a car loan, or credit card debt, or all three. Throw in mortgage interest rates around 7 percent, homeowner’s insurance of possibly thousands of dollars, utilities, property taxes, maintenance, mortgage insurance…you get the picture. Home affordability has deteriorated due to all those reasons, not the least of which is mortgage rates, sidelining many prospective buyers from entering the housing market. But even with tight credit standards and high interest rates continuing to constrain lending growth, most homeowners (67 percent) feel that purchasing a home is still attainable, especially as consumers become less downbeat about the effect of inflation on their household finances. Expert advice can help ease the stress of buying: about 40 percent of homeowners are unfamiliar with mortgage affordability/loan programs. Certainly that’s something that good originators can help with. (Today’s podcast is found here and this week’s is sponsored by nCino, makers of the nCino Mortgage Suite for the modern mortgage lender, uniting the people, systems, and stages of the mortgage process. Hear an interview with Loan Atlas’ Tim Braheem on the best formal education platform for individuals in the mortgage space, covering sales, time management, customer service systems, marketing, leadership, and much more.)

Lender and Broker Software, Services, and Products

Empower self-employed borrowers by maximizing Bank Statement loans and unveiling market opportunities! With this program your borrowers can use up to 85 percent of deposits from business bank statements, without a CPA letter, helping them to qualify with no hassle! No tax returns or 4506C required! Why choose Kind for non-QM? “Our programs are equipped to meet complex finances with flexible terms to help a wider range of borrowers who fall outside conventional lending criteria. We understand that every client is unique and with the dedicated support of our seasoned mortgage professionals and streamlined broker technology, we ensure a smooth and simple process in every aspect of your deal.” Ready to learn more about Kind’s Bank Statement Loan program and how it can help your borrowers who don’t meet the requirements for standard mortgages? Connect with your Kind AE! If you’re not yet a partner with Kind, visit here.

Lenders are fighting to keep their businesses afloat. Advantage Credit gets it. Advantage truly values and appreciates the mortgage professionals out there who are grinding away to make it through this storm. Advantage simply wants everyone to know that they are here to listen and to help in any way that they can. Advantage offers a Services Review (for FREE) to see if they can identify ways to be more efficient and even save some money. It isn’t a silver bullet but it’s what they can do. If nothing else, they want you to know that they are here to listen if anyone just needs an ear to bend and commiserate with. Just fill out this form and let them know a good time to reach out to talk. “We are all in this together and are hopeful for an eventual positive outcome for everyone.”

Symmetry is extremely grateful for our partners! Service, Speed, & Simplicity. And now with better Piggyback HELOC Pricing & Comp options. Margins now as low as Prime +0 percent. Now offering 1 percent borrower paid comp option on their Piggybacks. 1.5 percent borrower paid comp still available on stand-alone HELOCs. Reach out to your Symmetry AE today.

OCMBC, Inc. acknowledges the dramatized lawsuit filed by Home Mortgage Alliance Corporation (HMAC) and firmly denies all allegations. The lawsuit, which lacks merit, is an attempt to engender fear and distract from the true motivations behind it. The FHFA order mandates an indefinite cessation of business relationships with various individuals that have been suspended by FHFA. (FHFA Document). OCMBC maintains that the transitions of employees were made independently and lawfully. All procedures are robustly followed to ensure compliance with legal and regulatory requirements. OCMBC’s strong industry reputation is evident, as it remains a top wholesale lender and a leading NonQM originator in the nation. This lawsuit is seen as a groundless attempt by a less reputable entity to extract financial gain. OCMBC is committed to defending itself vigorously and maintaining its stellar reputation. For more information and full press release, please visit www.OCMBC.com.

FHFA and Vantage Score 4.0

The Federal Housing Finance Agency (FHFA) announced that Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac (the Enterprises) are making historical VantageScore® 4.0 credit scores available to approved users to support the transition to updated credit score and credit report requirements. The historical credit scores for each Enterprise are associated with single-family loans purchased by that Enterprise from April 2013 through March 2023. This comprehensive release reflects the period for which trended consumer credit data is reliably available across the three nationwide consumer reporting agencies. These scores will provide market participants the ability to better analyze and understand the new credit score models that have been validated and approved for use by the Enterprises. The historical credit scores are available for download at the Enterprises’ respective websites. “The release of historical credit scores on tens of millions of loans provides an extensive resource to help market participants prepare for this transition,” said Director Sandra L. Thompson. “The use of these modernized credit score models will enhance risk management while furthering sustainable access to credit for consumers.” In October 2022, FHFA announced the validation and approval of modernized credit score models for use by the Enterprises. At the same time, FHFA announced that the Enterprises would permit lenders to deliver loans with either tri-merge credit reporting, in which credit reports from each of the three nationwide consumer reporting agencies are used, or bi-merge credit reporting, in which credit reports from two of the nationwide consumer reporting agencies are used.

Mortgage QC Trends and Industry Insights

Don’t miss the latest QC webinar presented by ACES Quality Management’s President, Phillip McCall, and EVP, Nick Volpe on July 17th. In this highly anticipated webinar, these industry experts will cover an in-depth analysis of ACES’ recent Mortgage QC Industry Trends Report, deep dive into mortgage quality control trend reporting and how it aligns with the current state of the industry; and discuss how to best navigate through the volatile financial landscape. Walk away with a better understanding of what’s to come and how you can best prepare for the future. Register for the webinar.

You tell your borrowers that you’re different than the other guys, but then use the same software as everyone else to manage your borrower portal? Differentiate your borrower experience with LiteSpeed by LenderLogix. A+ borrower experience at a price tag your CFO will appreciate.

As lenders continue their mission of increased efficiencies in the origination process, including shorter closing timelines, inspection-based appraisal waivers should be at the top of their implementation list. Thanks to innovations made across the industry, including programs and solutions put in place by the GSEs, inspection-based appraisal waivers are here to stay. When used accordingly, these can result in massive time savings for lenders. However, one hurdle continues to be some confusion around how they work. To help with this, Class Valuation will be hosting a webinar Tuesday, July 30th, titled “Inspection-Based Appraisal Waivers: Everything You Need to Know.” Expert panelists will provide a clear and actionable guide to understanding the options available to lenders and how to properly work them into your operations. You will learn the benefits of inspection-based appraisal waivers for lenders, when a loan is eligible, the ins and outs of property data collection, and much more. Register here

HMDA Data Released

The Federal Financial Institutions Examination Council published data on 2023 mortgage lending transactions reported under the Home Mortgage Disclosure Act (HMDA) by 5,113 U.S. financial institutions, including banks, savings associations, credit unions, and mortgage companies. The HMDA data are the most comprehensive source of publicly available information on mortgage market activity. The Snapshot National Loan-Level Dataset released contains the national HMDA datasets as of May 1, 2024. Key observations include: For 2023, the number of reporting institutions increased by about 14.6 percent from 4,460 in the previous year to 5,113. The 2023 data include information on 10 million home loan applications, a decrease from the 14.3 million reported in 2022. Among them, 7.7 million were closed-end (e.g., a home mortgage loan) and 2.1 million were open-end (e.g., a home equity line of credit). Another 266,000 records are from financial institutions making use of statutory partial exemptions and did not indicate whether they were closed-end or open-end.

The share of mortgages originated by non-depository, independent mortgage companies accounted for 68.8 percent of first lien, one- to four-family, site-built, owner-occupied home-purchase loans in 2023, up from 60.2 percent in 2022. In terms of borrower race and ethnicity, the share of closed-end home purchase loans for first lien, one- to four-family, site-built, owner-occupied properties made to Black or African American borrowers rose slightly from 8.1 percent in 2022 to 8.2 percent in 2023. The share made to Hispanic-White borrowers increased from 9.1 percent to 9.9 percent, and the share made to Asian borrowers increased slightly from 7.6 percent to 7.7 percent. In 2023, Black or African American and Hispanic-White applicants experienced denial rates for first lien, one- to four-family, site-built, owner-occupied conventional, closed-end home purchase loans of 16.6 percent and 12.0 percent respectively. Denial rates for Asian and non-Hispanic-White applicants were 9.0 percent and 5.8 percent respectively.

Capital Markets

Warning, rate cuts may be coming soon, even if the Fed isn’t quite ready to admit it publicly. A drop in gasoline prices and housing costs led the way for inflation to cool broadly last month to the slowest pace since 2021. Yesterday morning’s CPI report, in which consumer prices declined by 0.1 percent month-over-month, is arguably the most encouraging inflation print that the FOMC has received since it began its fight against inflation nearly two and a half years ago. Excluding food and energy, the core CPI increased by just 0.06 percent (unrounded), the smallest increase since January 2021. Bonds rallied on the reading across the board to lows last seen in March.

With Fed Chair Powell expressing optimism that the uptick in inflation earlier this year was just a speed bump, this reading will likely go a long way toward giving the FOMC the confidence needed to cut rates, likely starting in September (93 percent implied certainty). Traders are pricing in another 25 basis point reduction of the fed funds rate in December. However, some people are skeptical, asking if the U.S. economy needs stimulation. Policymakers will have a chance to signal such moves after meeting later this month, especially with unemployment having risen for three consecutive months. Unemployment, while still low, is steadily moving higher; Job and wage growth are steadily moderating.

After the consumer price index report dominated headlines yesterday, it is producer prices’ turn today. Today’s economic calendar kicked off with June PPI coming in higher than expected (+0.2 percent month-over-month) and Core PPI (up 0.4 percent month-over-month) with upward revisions to previous months. The only other data point today is Preliminary July University of Michigan Consumer Sentiment, due out later this morning. Bank earnings also get under way with JP Morgan, Citigroup and Wells Fargo reporting before the open. We begin Friday with Agency MBS prices and the 10-year yielding 4.22 percent after closing yesterday at 4.19 percent; the 2-year is at 4.51 percent.

Employment

Evergreen Home Loans is excited to announce a leadership transition within its production team. Don Zender, a 30-year company veteran and President of Production for the past three years, has passed the baton to Robert Lipston, effective July 2, 2024. Robert joined Evergreen in 2022, bringing significant growth and a fresh perspective. Don Zender successfully led the team through challenging market conditions, supported by Todd Miles, Joe Moley, and Robert Lipston. Under their leadership, the team thrived, finding opportunities in adversity. Robert Lipston, with his extensive industry experience, is now poised to lead Evergreen’s next growth phase. Don will remain President of Production through 2024, aiding Robert in the transition and continuing to support Evergreen’s values of Integrity, Family, Fun, Growth, and Creativity. In 2025, Don will focus on the Bellevue Washington Region and drive new growth initiatives across the company. If you’re ready to grow with Evergreen, visit Careers.

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

Source: mortgagenewsdaily.com

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Best Efforts Trading, DPA Options, Marketing, Dashboard, Online App Tools; Correspondent and Wholesale Products

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Best Efforts Trading, DPA Options, Marketing, Dashboard, Online App Tools; Correspondent and Wholesale Products

By:
Rob Chrisman

Wed, Jul 10 2024, 11:48 AM

“The only time I get asked for sex is on application forms.” Ba-dum-ching! Speaking of applications, most lenders will agree that the loan officer should be the first point of contact for a home buyer, not the real estate agent. But over the years real estate agents have done a great job of becoming the starting point of a homebuyer’s quest. But heck, how much house can they afford, what with current rates, homeowner’s insurance, utilities, etc.? Yes, good originators know the psychology of their clients under the “Know your borrower” basic tenant, especially first time home buyers: most homebuyers remain homeowners and the FHFA tells us that the persistence has increased over time across all homeowner demographics like race or ethnicity, regions of the country, and mortgage lending submarkets. (Today’s podcast is found here and this week’s is sponsored by nCino, makers of the nCino Mortgage Suite for the modern mortgage lender, uniting the people, systems, and stages of the mortgage process. Hear an interview with attorney Peter Idziak on last week’s Supreme Court vote to overturn the Chevron doctrine that called on judges to rule in favor of government agencies in instances where the law is ambiguous, and its impact on the mortgage industry.)

Lender and Broker Software, Services, and Products

Curious about what’s new in Encompass® by ICE Mortgage Technology®? ICE recently shared an article which dives into new innovations within the platform that are enabling the lending community to improve both productivity and efficiency. Read the full article here.

nCino and Talk’uments team up to provide lenders with multilanguage tools to more effectively reach more borrowers! Talk’uments, the premier digital language and limited English proficiency (LEP) technology provider for the mortgage industry, announced its integration with nCino’s Mortgage Suite technology solution. At a time when emerging markets like LEP continue to grow, this new partnership enhances multi-language resources to nCino’s users to provide borrowers with seamless, multi-language resources from originations to the final closing. Ben Miller, EVP of U.S. Mortgage for nCino, summed it up best. “We are proud to continue pioneering transformation in the financial services industry with the addition of Talk’uments to our Mortgage Solution, using multilanguage tools to help our customers and their applicants understand, access and trust the process and overcome a key challenge in buying a home.” For more information on Talk’uments’ capabilities, visit talkuments.com.

Have you been using expensive third-party tools for sales automation or paying your CRM extra money? Usherpa just changed all that with Pipelines, exciting new functionality that offers built-in, best-practice marketing and lead generation workflows that can easily be customized. Usherpa users get Pipelines at no extra cost and can build as many as they want. “The nation’s top LOs consistently outperform their peers because they have a better sales process. Now, every LO can have a winning process and win more business,” said Usherpa CEO Chris Harrington. Corporate stakeholders can create Pipelines with call scripting and push to their LOs. Usherpa delivers the daily tasks to loan officers via in-platform dashboard, email, and mobile app, and provides detailed reporting on each LO’s usage for management purposes. Schedule a demo with Usherpa to see this groundbreaking new tech.

You know how annoying it is when you have to create an account to buy something online? That’s how “Checkout as Guest” was born. Now imagine how annoyed your prospective borrowers are when you force an account on them as the FIRST STEP of an online mortgage application. So annoyed they might not do it? Probably, and it’s costing you business. Check out the world’s most borrower-friendly online application with LiteSpeed. Beautifully integrated with Encompass® by ICE Mortgage Technology™, no more account creation headaches or lost business.

“Are you trying to do more with less? Leverage a business intelligence platform to see how you’re performing in vital production and operational areas in comparison to your peers and highlight where you can reduce costs. For half the cost of a full-time employee, with RM Analyze + Peer View Ops you’ll gain access to a strong bench of mortgage industry experts and a suite of pre-built dashboards completely customizable to your needs. Our latest enhancements allow you to schedule email reports, so the most relevant KPIs are delivered straight to your inbox on a regular cadence so you don’t miss a beat. Use our valuable industry data to understand where to focus your efforts to be more effective and achieve sustainable growth. Empower your efforts, contact Spencer Smoot today!”

“With Total Expert, it’s significantly faster and easier for our loan officers to develop outreach emails and find flyers and social media posts for the individualized marketing they do on behalf of Castle & Cooke Mortgage,” said Scott Kirkessner, Castle & Cooke Mortgage Vice President of Marketing and Business Development. And that’s just scratching the surface of how Total Expert is helping Castle & Cooke build deeper customer relationships, uncover more loan opportunities, and drive growth in a stubborn market. Read our full Castle & Cooke Mortgage case study to learn more.

During Disability Pride Month in July, Down Payment Resource challenges lenders to help more home buyers with disabilities and their family caregivers qualify for a mortgage with the help of down payment assistance. Eighteen programs within DPR’s extensive database of 2,300+ offer funds ranging from $2,000 to $117,000 to help people with disabilities fund down payments, closing costs, pay down their interest rate or make accessibility modifications. Many can be combined with other homebuyer assistance programs, providing individuals with disabilities with additional financial support and resources. DPR can help you unleash this power with its suite of lender tools that provide easy access to DPA programs in your footprint. Schedule a demo today to learn more.

Wholesale and Correspondent Products

“Citi Correspondent Lending is thriving in 2024! While remaining dedicated to the support of diverse markets and continued responsible, sustainable growth, we’re seeing record production volume. With a growing product suite that includes expansion of our Community Lending platform, a robust set of CRA incentives, and a quality-focused pre-purchase loan review process, Citi is well positioned to help you grow your business. Complete our Prospective Correspondent Questionnaire or schedule some time with a Citi Account Executive at the Western Secondary Market Conference coming up next month. We would welcome the opportunity to chat with you about all that Citi Correspondent Lending has to offer.”

LoanStream wants you to heat up your pipeline this summer with specials on Prime with 25 BPS price improvement on all Conventional loans >= to $400,000 including High Balance/Super Conforming and 25 BPS Price Improvement on FHA/VA/MaxONE (DPA) loans 620+ FICO (excludes CalHFA), plus 50 BPS price improvement on Non-QM Purchase (excludes Non-QM select), and a 25 BPS price improvement on all Closed End Seconds. Restrictions apply, specials are valid for loans locked 7/1/24 through 7/31/24. Talk with your AE for details. Non-QM Specials also available through our Correspondent lending channel, Home – LoanStream Mortgage Correspondent (lscorrespondent.com), contact your Regional Sales Executive for more information. Plus, make a Splash by closing more Non-QM loans, join LoanStream’s NEW Bank Statement and P&L Webinar. Reserve your spot for this informative webinar for you or your entire team.

FHA, VA, Government Program and Policy Updates

As the USDA Mortgage Recovery Advance (MRA) is a federal lien, USDA Rural Development issued a bulletin on 07/03/2024 providing guidance for servicers completing foreclosures impacted by the 8th Circuit “Show Me” ruling.

USDA is offering up “Top Tips for Successfully Navigating Appraisal and Property Requirements” tomorrow. “Don’t miss this LIVE, virtual training opportunity! This training is available at no cost to all USDA Single Family Housing Guaranteed Loan Program (SFHGLP) lenders and real estate agents.”

The Federal Housing Administration (FHA) is announced updates to its FHA Connection (FHAC) system and an industry stakeholder briefing webinar as part of the implementation of its Appraisal Review and Reconsideration of Value Updates Mortgagee Letter (ML) 2024-07 published on May 1, 2024. The ML established standards for appraisal reviews and FHA’s Reconsideration of Value (ROV) policies, including requirements for a process by which borrowers may request an ROV if they identify a problem with the appraisal. The ML required mortgagees to offer a borrower-initiated ROV process meeting certain minimum requirements, including delivery of disclosures to borrowers at loan application and upon delivery of the appraisal with instructions on how to request an ROV.

Recall that the FHA issued a proposal, in the form of a draft mortgagee letter, to update its origination defect taxonomy to include fraud or misrepresentation involving sponsored third-party originators. The FHA suggested that if the FHA determines a mortgagee knew or should have known that an employee of the mortgagee or its third-party originator was involved in fraud or should have questioned red flags in a loan file, it will be considered a Tier 1 severity and subject to penalties of that severity level. “Based on this update, FHA will seek life-of-loan indemnification from mortgagees when there is evidence of fraud or material misrepresentation involving a sponsored TPO, regardless of whether FHA identifies specific red flags that should have been questioned at underwriting.”

FHA is updating guidelines to expand and clarify requirements and expectations for gift funds transferred prior to settlement and gift funds transferred at settlement. These changes may be implemented immediately but are required for casefiles assigned on or after August 19, 2024. Pennymac is aligning with these changes effectively immediately, view Pennymac Announcement 24-66 for more information.

Capital Markets

An exclusive Conforming investor is joining the MAXEX loan exchange next week, but that’s just the start. On July 15, MAXEX sellers will have access to multiple investors offering up to 90 percent LTV for agency-eligible second home loans, and 85 percent LTV on NOO loans, without being subject to punitive Agency LLPAs. MAXEX offers best efforts flow trading, mandatory bids and works with many popular hedging platforms to give you plenty of ways to trade. Take a closer look at the MAXEX Conforming program and get better execution today.

No one owns a crystal ball… Without any market-moving economic data yesterday, Fed Chair Powell’s semi-annual testimony before the U.S. Senate took center stage. His appearance was a rather lackluster affair, as he was careful not to send any signals about the timing of future monetary policy actions. Sticking to the recent Fed script, he stated that while he was encouraged by recent signs of disinflation, there needs to be further evidence before the FOMC pivots towards a more accommodative monetary policy. He was careful not to offer a timeline for rate cuts, which investors are currently betting will begin in September.

Overall, inflation remains on a downward trajectory through the month-to-month noise. It dovetails nicely with the cooling employment picture in the overall narrative that the Fed is almost ready to cut rates. Average employment growth over the last three months slowed to the lowest since the start of 2021, there has been a sharp decline in job openings this year, and a growing number of people filing for unemployment benefits.

Measures of consumer confidence remain low and are tied largely to uncertainty surrounding this year’s presidential election. Small business sentiment remains sour amid a downshift in economic momentum. We learned yesterday that the NFIB Small Business Optimism Index improved modestly in June. However, high uncertainty and poor economic outlooks have cemented the index below its 50-year average.

Chair Powell is back on the Hill today, this time before the House Financial Services Committee. Other Fed speakers around the country include Governor Bowman, Chicago President Goolsbee, and Governor Cook. The economic calendar began with mortgage applications decreasing 0.2 percent from one week earlier, according to data from the Mortgage Bankers Association. Last week’s results included an adjustment for the July 4th holiday. Later today brings wholesale inventories and sales and a couple of Treasury auctions that will be headlined by $39 billion reopened 10-year notes. We begin the day with Agency MBS prices a few ticks better than Tuesday’s close, the 10-year yielding 4.28 after closing yesterday at 4.30 percent, and the 2-year down to 4.61.

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

Source: mortgagenewsdaily.com

Apache is functioning normally

Holland America Line’s current fleet includes 11 ships, which are mostly midsize. They visit all seven continents, with stops in the Caribbean, Tahiti, the Mediterranean, Antarctica and more. Its Alaska presence is especially strong, and Holland America claims it has visited Glacier Bay National Park more than any other cruise operator.

Holland America’s parent company is Carnival Cruise Line, which acquired Holland America in 1989. But while Carnival touts offerings like the “first roller coaster at sea” on its flagship brand, Holland America is for folks with — let’s call it — more refined tastes.

Here’s your guide to Holland America, including amenities, costs and how you might save money on your next sailing.

Is a Holland America cruise right for you?

Many ships feature a library. (Photo by Sally French)

Here are some types of people best suited for Holland America:

Travelers ready for relaxation rather than partying

Though open to travelers of any age (infants must be at least six months old to embark on most cruises), Holland America caters to the mature set.

Unlike Disney Cruises or Royal Caribbean ships, which are laden with waterslides, flashy designs and high-energy shows, Holland America is more subdued. Its most lively entertainment includes a casino, trivia nights and live music. Children or adult travelers seeking maximum stimulation might be less enthused.

But relaxed cruisers seeking peace might find it here.

Cruisers who prefer a ship that’s not too big yet not too small

The salon. (Photo by Sally French)

Every Holland America ship has a gym, portrait studio, sports courts, a spa, salon and multiple pools. On a short three-night cruise, you could eat three meals a day at a different restaurant and never hit them all. The largest ship has 10 restaurants, not including snack spots like the café and gelato shop.

Still, Holland America ships are relatively small. While Royal Caribbean’s behemoth Icon of the Seas ship has more than two dozen restaurants and a capacity for 5,610 guests, Holland America’s largest ship, Rotterdam, accommodates 2,668 guests.

Holland America destinations

Holland America covers almost 100 countries or territories and more than 470 ports, including stops in the Amazon and Antarctica.

For its 2025-26 cruise season, Holland America will operate in 11 countries in Asia alone. The primary focus is Japan, where it will dock in 24 ports around the country.

Mexico and Panama Canal cruises are also big. The 2025-26 cruise season adds a new stop at the port of Acajutla, El Salvador, on most Panama sailings. Meanwhile, two ships will offer Mexico itineraries with stops including Cabo San Lucas and Puerto Vallarta.

(Photo courtesy of Holland America)

The 2025-26 season brings an iconic Pacific Northwest itinerary that hasn’t been offered in decades. Dubbed the “Great Bear Rainforest,” the seven-day itinerary departs from Seattle and includes stops in Ketchikan, Alaska. Expect to see whales, eagles and potentially bears.

Holland America ships

Here’s a breakdown of all 11 Holland America ships, sorted by largest to smallest guest capacity:

Staterooms

Suites feature whirlpool bathtubs. (Photo by Sally French)

The smallest, two-guest rooms are about 143 square feet, though suites are easily double that. The smallest suite, the Vista Suite, ranges from 260-356 square feet. For maximum space (and service), book the Pinnacle Suite, which fills roughly 1,290 square feet. High-end suites include frills like whirlpool bathtubs, vanities, dressing rooms, decks and floor-to-ceiling windows.

Holland America also caters to solo travelers by offering single-person staterooms that are as small as 127 square feet.

Whether you choose a lavish suite or an inside stateroom, expect fairly upscale accommodations.

Holland America food

Larger ships have a dozen or more eateries. Some restaurants operate on every ship, such as Canaletto (a casual Italian restaurant) and Lido Market (which serves meals in an all-you-can-eat, cafeteria-style setting).

All you can eat

Meals at The Dining Room are included with your cruise fare — a rare exception for fine dining restaurants on Holland America. (Photo by Sally French)

Most casual restaurants are complimentary and all-you-can-eat, included in your cruise fare.

While most restaurants cost extra, the exception is The Dining Room. Its multicourse dinners feature rotating, elevated menu items (such as lamb loin). As part of a partnership with Masaharu Morimoto, The Dining Room serves dishes similar to those in Morimoto’s restaurants.

No matter your cabin class, 24-hour room service is complimentary, delivering items such as salads and sandwiches.

With beverages, the free stuff is generally limited to the basics like water, tea and coffee. Sodas, specialty coffees, mocktails and alcohol cost extra.

What food costs extra?

Aside from The Dining Room, waiter-service restaurants cost extra. Some operate an à la carte model, such as Nami Sushi. There, entrees cost about $15, while sushi rolls run about $5 each.

Others charge fixed prices. For example, dinner at Pinnacle Grill, a steakhouse, costs an additional $46 per person. Certain items also have an additional charge (caviar costs an extra $50).

Though the additional charges might be annoying, they can be considered a deal relative to dining at a steakhouse on land.

In addition to fancy restaurants, some casual dining options (including the cafés and gelato shop) incur an extra fee.

🤓Nerdy Tip

For free ice cream, head to Lido Market, where you can DIY dessert at the ice cream station.

Holland America drink packages

On Holland America, you’ll need to purchase a drink package to sip from these soda machines. (Photo by Sally French)

For beverages beyond the basics, buy them individually or through a drink package.

The soda-only package entails unlimited fountain drinks for $8 per person, per day.

The Quench package costs $17.95 per person, per day and includes sodas, premium coffee (like lattes), juice, mocktails and bottled water. It’s technically not unlimited, but there’s plenty to go around with a 15-drink daily limit.

For packages with alcohol, you’ll owe at least $55 per person, per day (premium spirits cost more). Again, there’s a 15-drink daily cap.

Is the food any good?

Food quality varies. Lido Market is your run-of-the-mill buffet but other restaurants are generally excellent (just note the surcharge).

For example, dinner at Canaletto costs $25 extra per person and includes pasta and gelato — both made fresh on board.

Holland America also has some food options from famous chefs. The first Morimoto By Sea opened aboard the Nieuw Amsterdam, bringing the award-winning restaurant chain to sea.

A spread of items served at a Morimoto pop-up restaurant on the Koningsdam. (Photo by Sally French)

Holland America activities

The art gallery on the Koningsdam. (Photo by Sally French)

Holland America activities are pretty tame, such as live music and wine tasting.

A music venue. (Photo by Sally French)

Every ship features World Stage, a theater hosting entertainment like expert lecturer talks and dance performances. Ships also have at least one lounge or club, such as Rolling Stone Rock Room or B.B. King’s Blues Club.

A shuffleboard court on the Koningsdam. (Photo by Sally French)

Every ship has a casino, spa, fitness center and outdoor sport courts, including pickleball courts. After all, Holland America is the exclusive cruise line partner of the Professional Pickleball Association.

Holland America Kids Club

Most cruises offer a kids club with crafts, video games and scavenger hunts.

Kid-friendly offerings are extremely limited (especially compared with competitors like Royal Caribbean and Disney Cruise Line) so don’t expect many kids onboard. Many cruisers consider the lack of kids one of Holland America’s best features.

Which Holland America ship is best?

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Because amenities are so similar on every ship, it’s hard to pick one best ship. But here are some factors to consider:

  • If you want the most options: Rotterdam is the largest (and has the most restaurants).

  • If you want the newest ship: The Rotterdam is also the newest ship, which first set sail in 2021. Newer ships often (though not always) mean better layouts and up-to-date fixtures.

  • If you prioritize smaller ships: Volendam and Zaandam are the smallest.

  • If you want to live on a ship: Two ships, Volendam and Zuiderdam, carry out the Grand Voyages and World Cruises, which sail around the world for months. Zuiderdam is slightly larger than Volendam — offering more guest rooms and entertainment venues.

The Crow’s Nest offers a lounge for relaxing and panoramic views. (Photo by Sally French)

Holland America: How much does it cost?

According to a NerdWallet analysis of more than 100 Holland America cruise itineraries through 2024, the average seven-night, inside stateroom starts at $646 per person. That figure assumes double occupancy (so a couple sharing a room would owe about $1,300), but doesn’t account for extra fees, including taxes and gratuities, or optional add-ons like beverages or Wi-Fi.

Suites can easily cost double that (or far more). For example, the average Vista Suite (the lowest class of suites), averaged $1,322 per person for a seven-night trip. The fanciest of the suites, the Neptune Suite, averaged $2,766 per person.

An inside stateroom on the Koningsdam. (Photo by Sally French)

Prices can also vary widely by region. Here were the average prices per person for seven-night journeys (assuming inside staterooms with double occupancy), broken down by major regions:

  • California coast: $349.

  • Alaska: $413.

  • Caribbean: $609.

  • Mediterranean: $909.

  • Northern Europe: $972.

Other costs

The dessert spread at the Morimoto pop-up restaurant on the Koningsdam. (Photo by Sally French)

That’s the base fare, but anticipate other expenses, including:

  • Taxes, fees and port expenses: Holland America passes on fees and taxes imposed by governments or port operators. Expect a few hundred dollars added to your base rate. 

  • Gratuity/tip: An automatic $17 ‘Crew Appreciation’ charge is added per stateroom guest, per day. For guests in suites, it’s $19. Though automatically added, you can adjust the figure upon settling your bill at checkout.

  • Service charge: Add-ons like beverages, speciality meals and spa services incur an 18% service charge.

  • Ability to choose your stateroom: For those who want to sleep closest to the best deck on a cruise ship, there’s an additional fee to select your specific stateroom, though prices vary by cruise.

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  • Some activities: Certain activities incur extra costs, such as spa treatments. 

  • Shore excursions: Upon docking, you’re free to exit the ship and roam around on your own, but Holland America sells curated shore excursions, too, that easily cost more than $100 per person. Prices vary by excursion. In Maui, you can tour a pineapple plantation for $190, while a behind-the-scenes tour of the Maui Ocean Center costs $560. Although you can book excursions through third parties, beware. Benefits of booking through Holland America include early departure and a guaranteed return.

  • Wi-Fi: Wi-Fi starts at roughly $22 per day depending on cruise length. More robust Wi-Fi (such as streaming capabilities) costs more than $30 per day.

  • Specialty dining and drinks: Specialty restaurants — as well as most beverages beyond basics such as coffee, tea and water — cost extra.

Is the Have It All premium cruise package worth it?

For the latter three items — shore excursions, Wi-Fi, speciality dining and drinks — the Have It All premium cruise package may be worth it.

Packages vary depending on the cruise length. Here’s what’s included:

NerdWallet analyzed dozens of Holland America cruise fares. On average, here’s how much money you would save, depending on the cruise length:

In every data point in NerdWallet’s analysis, the Have It All package ended up cheaper than buying all of those things a la carte. But consider what you really need. If you only drink one alcoholic beverage per day, the $55 beverage package probably isn’t worth it.

How to save on a Holland America cruise

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Cruise last-minute: The Last Minute Cruise Deals page lists discounted sailings within the next 60-90 days. However, don’t overlook other costs such as potentially-expensive, last-minute airfare.

Scout out promotions: Holland America’s general deals page is the spot for Black Friday cruise deals or other seasonal promotions.

Refer a friend: Holland America regularly runs a referral program where you might get a cruise credit if your friend enters your name in the referral form.

Become an AARP member: AARP members can earn up to $200 in stateroom credits. Actual amounts depend on room type and cruise length. Considering AARP membership costs $16 annually (and potentially less if you commit to more than one year), joining pays for itself based on the cruise credit alone.

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Should you purchase travel insurance for a Holland America cruise?

Holland America sells a cancellation protection plan, which allows you to cancel your cruise for any reason. It’s called the Holland America Line Cancellation Protection Plan (CPP). Unlike traditional insurance plans that require proof (e.g., a doctor’s note confirming illness) or have tons of fine print around reasons the insurer doesn’t have to pay out, CPP is convenient because it lets you cancel for truly any reason.

Plans start at $79, but can run higher depending on coverage and trip length.

The cheapest plan, Standard, requires you cancel at least 24 hours before departure. The Platinum Plan lets you cancel any time up to departure. Neither gets you a full refund though. The Standard Plan refunds up to 80% of your total cost, and Platinum refunds up to 90%.

The Platinum Plan also covers potential costs such as emergency medical and dental care, coverage for lost or delayed bags and trip delay insurance.

Is the Holland America credit card worth it?

The Holland America Line Rewards Visa® Card has a $0 annual fee, so it’s hard to knock it. It earns 2 points per $1 spent on Holland America purchases and 1 point per $1 spent everywhere else. There are also no foreign transaction fees.

Top travel cards

Chase Sapphire Reserve®

on Chase’s website

U.S. Bank Altitude™ Reserve Visa Infinite® Card

Bank of America® Premium Rewards® credit card

on Bank of America’s website

Citi Strata Premier℠ Card

Annual fee

Rewards earn rate

• 10 points per $1 on Chase Dining, hotel stays and car rentals purchased through Chase.

• 5 points per $1 on air travel purchased through Chase.

• 3 points per $1 on other travel and dining not booked with Chase.

• 1 point per $1 on other purchases.

• 5 points per $1 on prepaid hotels and car rentals booked directly in the Altitude Rewards Center.

• 3 points per $1 on eligible travel purchases and mobile wallet spending on Apple Pay, Google Pay and Samsung Pay.

• 1 point per $1 on all other purchases.

• 1.5 points per $1 spent.

• 10 ThankYou® points per $1 spent on hotels, car rentals and attractions booked through the Citi Travel site.

• 3 points per $1 on air travel and other hotel purchases.

• 3 points per $1 on supermarkets.

• 3 points per $1 on gas stations and EV charging stations.

• 3 points per $1 on restaurants.

• 1 point per $1 on all other purchases.

Travel credit benefit

$325 annual credit.

$100 in airline incidental statement credits.

This card does not offer a travel credit benefit.

Still not sure?

Is cruising with Holland America worth it?

The casino. (Photo by Sally French)

Holland America offers a traditional and elegant cruise experience. The emphasis on high-quality dining makes it good for foodies — just note that the best restaurants cost extra. Crowds are mature, which is a pro or a con depending on the level of entertainment, nightlife and energy you seek.

Families or people seeking high stimulation and constant entertainment should skip it. Additionally, budget travelers might find the additional charges aggravating (though additional charges are common across pretty much any cruise line).

In short, cruisers who value sophisticated service, delicious food, and exploration may love Holland America.

(Top photo courtesy of Holland America)

How to maximize your rewards

Source: nerdwallet.com

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Social Media Compliance, Client Retention; Freddie/Fannie Changes; Square Footage Stats

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Social Media Compliance, Client Retention; Freddie/Fannie Changes; Square Footage Stats

By:
Rob Chrisman

Mon, Jul 8 2024, 11:48 AM

During a recent password audit, it was found that a blonde was using the following password: “MickeyMinniePlutoHueyLouieDeweyDonaldGoofySacramento”. When asked why such a long password, she said she was told that it had to be at least 8 characters long and include at least one capital. What’s today? It’s “change every password you have” day. Money is the focus of a lot of evil activity on the internet (look at credit union Patelco), but what about useful, constructive monetary activities? Location, location, location. What new home buyers get for their money varies by region. The median price and square footage of new single-family homes sold in 2023, according to the Census Bureau, was $760,700 and 2,430 square feet in the Northeast, $396,300 and 2,172 square feet in the Midwest, $388,800 and 2,335 square feet in the South, and $536,200 and 2,170 square feet in the West. (Today’s podcast is found here and this week’s is sponsored by nCino, makers of the nCino Mortgage Suite for the modern mortgage lender, uniting the people, systems, and stages of the mortgage process. Hear an interview with Candor’s Mark Hinshaw on expectation versus reality when it comes to AI in the mortgage industry.)

Lender and Broker Software, Services, and Products

With high interest rates keeping more people in their homes, new revenue opportunities will come from places that don’t fit the typical servicer playbook. ICE has identified four key areas where technology can help set servicers up for success in today’s low-movement housing market. Explore how you can retain customers, capitalize on your existing portfolio, and streamline your back office in ICE’s complimentary new white paper, Technology helps servicers find opportunities in unusual places.

ActiveComply is excited to be part of the Mortgage Bankers Association’s RegTech Demo Day event on Thursday, July 11th at 12:00pm ET. Register to see the latest technologies, services, and insights from leading technology providers in the industry. This session is specifically for compliance professionals, legal counsel, and risk officers, among others. See high-level overviews of vendor technology that may provide value to your organization and help you succeed in an increasingly complex and competitive environment. See how ActiveComply identifies other language advertising as part of your LEP initiatives, consumer complaints on social media, & brand reputation concerns current events and political movements (just in time for an election year). Don’t miss these power-hour sessions designed to help decision-makers clarify the rapidly changing mortgage tech ecosystem. This event, normally priced at $399.00, is free to MBA members. Register today!

Winning Agent Business: The lender’s guide to building a strong referral network updated for 2024. The new rules mandated by the NAR settlement go into effect August 17th. That means agents are more incentivized than ever to show their clients value—and they’re actively looking to partner with top-tier lenders in their market. Want to take advantage and grow your referral business? Maxwell just updated its Winning Agent Business eBook with new tips straight from agents to help you better network to create a strong funnel of referral leads. Download your free copy to learn qualities agents value in their lending partners, networking dos and don’ts, ways to become a go-to lender, and more.

Agency News and Updates

Freddie Mac published the company’s annual Sustainability Report, which provides details about the company’s 2023 sustainability strategy, activities and performance. The report also includes the company’s Sustainability Accounting Standards Board (SASB) Index and Metrics for the years 2021-2023, as well as a Taskforce on Climate-Related Financial Disclosures (TCFD) Index.

Many families are looking into properties with ADUs for multi-generational living to offset rising housing expenses. Others are seeking a balance between caregiving for aging parents and providing a space for privacy and independence. Whatever the reason, ADUs have been on the rise. Many borrowers are looking to purchase or refinance homes with these units or build one on their existing property. Approximately one quarter of borrowers and homeowners that show interest in ADUs are caregivers or anticipate being a caregiver. Learn more about the benefits Freddie Mac offers for financing ADUs.

In recognition of National Homeownership Month, Freddie Mac is encouraging borrowers to benefit from CreditSmart® Homebuyer U, a free course within Freddie Mac’s CreditSmart ® suite of educational resources. It’s designed to empower them with skills and knowledge.

Freddie Mac updated Stable Monthly Income FAQ for Employed Income Calculation with a new question (Q5) concerning calculating the income average for fluctuating hourly earnings and/or additional employed earnings (e.g., bonus, overtime, tips) if there is an occurrence that prevented the borrower from working and/or earning full income for a period of time.

Freddie Mac Single-Family Seller/Servicer Guide (Guide) Bulletin 2024-9 announces updates pertaining to rental income requirements to provide additional flexibility. Shared amenities requirements for residential projects. Aligning the Guide with treatment of documentation provided, but was not required, in Freddie Mac’s quality control review.

Fannie Mae is continuing its work with Freddie Mac to create standardized subordinate documents, publishing documents for Ohio, New Jersey, and Pennsylvania. Learn about efforts to expand access to down payment assistance.

Fannie Mae issued a Request for Proposal (RFP) to evaluate qualified interested industry participants for potential inclusion in its Title Acceptance pilot and other suppliers that have viable solutions to reduce borrowers’ closing costs. Vendors can respond to the RFP in ProcureOne. The RFP market interest period closes on July 26, 2024.

Fannie Mae posted the June Appraiser Quality Monitoring (AQM) list to Fannie Mae Connect™. The monthly list will also be available on the AQM page through July 30, 2024, when Fannie Mae Connect will be required for viewing.

FHFA published updated aggregate statistics from the National Mortgage Database (NMDB®) and launched the NMDB Aggregate Statistics Dashboard, a new data visualization tool for the NMDB Outstanding Residential Mortgage Statistics. The release describes outstanding residential mortgage debt at the end of the first quarter of 2024. FHFA Releases Data Visualization Dashboard for NMDB Outstanding Residential Mortgage Statistics has been posted.

Capital Markets

There was plenty of economic data released over last week’s holiday-shortened week. The U.S. economy is based on jobs and housing, and last week it was jobs’ turn to be center stage. The focus was on employment stats for June which saw nonfarm payrolls increase by 206k in June. Despite the increase, the previous two months were revised down by a combined 111k which brought the average increase over the second quarter to 176k per month. The unemployment rate rose from 3.96 percent to 4.05, the first time above 4 percent since January 2022. Labor force participation also increased slightly.

As the labor market continues to become more balanced the upwards pressure on wages has eased and average hourly earnings were down 0.2 percentage points on a year-over-year basis to 3.9 percent. The other major data out last week was the Institute of Supply Management indices which both came in below economists’ expectations. The Personal Consumption Expenditure deflator eased to 2.6 percent over the last twelve months in May as well. Sustained easing of inflation as well as a looser job market bode well for a potential rate cut in September. Following last week’s data, the odds of a cut in September are nearly three-in-four.

This week’s economic calendar includes some Treasury auctions of notable duration (3-year, 10-year, 30-year), May Wholesale Inventories, CPI and PPI, as well as preliminary July University of Michigan Consumer Sentiment. The only data point on today’s calendar is May Consumer Credit, due out this afternoon. We begin the 5-day work week with Agency MBS prices little changed from Friday, the 10-year yielding 4.29 after closing Friday at 4.27 percent, and the 2-year at 4.62.

Jobs

Seeking growth capital, equity, debt, or strategic alternatives? An IMB consultant with 34 years of executive management experience in the mortgage space is available to support your efforts! E-mail industry veteran Steve Landes for more information on helping you grow your business.

Top Producing Loan Officer Alex Rayner Partners with Service First Mortgage to Launch Haymaker Home Loan! Alex Rayner has partnered with Service First Mortgage to launch Haymaker Home Loans, a company dedicated to supporting top producers. “This collaboration provides access to cutting-edge technology, products and services, ensuring loan officers thrive in a competitive industry,” Rayner said. Earning an MBA from the University of Houston, Alex is dedicated to providing exceptional service. His industry acumen and skill with client relations set him apart. For loan officers looking to start their own mortgage company, Rayner advises exploring options with Service First Mortgage. “Starting a mortgage company from scratch is a daunting task,” Rayner said. “By partnering with Service First Mortgage, you gain immediate access to essential resources, advanced technology, and a support team. This allows you to focus on what you do best, e.g., originating loans and serving clients, without the overhead and operational challenges of building a company from the ground up.” Inquiries should be directed to James Wallace!

“ACC Mortgage is coming off its 2nd best month in its 25-year history. 2024 is shaping up to be our best year ever! How many mortgage companies can claim that? Are you planning for your next 25 years? ACC is seeking four (4) well-qualified Account Executives or a team that is looking for support, pricing, culture and stability. ACC makes Non-QM easy. Recent articles discuss ACC’s vision. For example, ACC’s Senko talks non-QM outlook! Send a resume for confidential interview.“

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

Source: mortgagenewsdaily.com

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Create unforgettable spaces with the best interior design software. Whether you’re a professional interior designer or a home design enthusiast, these are the top tools for bringing 2D and 3D spaces to life. 

Our expert team of reviewers have tested the best architecture software or the best 3D modeling software, so we know what you want to check out when choosing your next interior design app, and which ones really measure up. 

best landscape design software for crafting eye-catching exterior spaces. 

The best interior design software of 2024 in full:

Why you can trust TechRadar

We spend hours testing every product or service we review, so you can be sure you’re buying the best. Find out more about how we test.

Below you’ll find full write-ups for each of the entries on our best interior design software list. We’ve tested each one extensively, so you can be sure that our recommendations can be trusted.

The best interior design software overall

(Image credit: Floorplanner)

Best interior design software overall

Specifications

Operating system: Browser

Plan: Free, Subscription

Reasons to buy

+

Free plan available

+

Intuitive and easy to use

+

Broad use from interior designers to real estate

+

Numerous customization options

Reasons to avoid

–

Some limitations with the free account

–

No desktop app

Floorplanner is an online interior design app for individuals and companies, letting you redesign everything from a single room to an entire floor, or even a whole building. You can also plan out how your furniture will fit in your new home. 

This is a web-based home interior design tool, so you can achieve dazzling designs through the browser. There’s also online collaboration for editing and presenting projects in the cloud.

In our hands-on review, we felt the best home design software “is an excellent online service, designed to help you create rooms and furnish them with great accuracy. Working with it is fluid and easy, and we didn’t observe any discernible glitches. The fact there’s a free option means many amateur designer will happily use it to configure a room, but there are limitations to that option.”

Working in Floorplanner is fluid and simple – allowing you to create and furnish rooms with real accuracy. Best of all, if your needs are modest, using the program is free. 

That makes it ideal for amateur designers or those learning the art of interior design. If you find the free account too limiting, there are several subscription options available to you. Business pricing starts at $59 a month for teams. Individual pricing starts at $5. You’ll also find a credit system. As you earn credits, you can unlock extra features not typically associated with your plan.

It’s all browser-based designing, however, so needs a constant inter connection. There is an Android app available, but this is designed for presenting designs created on the website. 

Read our full Floorplanner review.

The best interior design software for architects

(Image credit: Chief Architect)

Best interior design software for architecture

Specifications

Operating system: Windows, macOS

Plan: Subscription, Perpetual license

Reasons to buy

+

Easy to learn 

+

Multi-platform

+

Limitless possibilities

Reasons to avoid

–

Can appear daunting at first

–

3D views don’t always respond as expected

Home Designer Suite delivers professional-style interior design software – which makes it powerful but also increases the learning curve. It’s not too steep as to be unnavigable, although it might overwhelm first-timers. Stick with it.

If you’re looking for meticulous planning, precise editing and customizing tools, and everything else, right down to the material required for specific jobs, this is the best interior design software for you. 

We praised the home design software in our review for its “highly detailed customisation options while at the same time, automating many processes to ease the creation process. It’s a great balance that help you create detailed environments quickly and easily.”

The interior design program is very full featured. You have full control over pretty much everything, including landscaping your dream garden. Despite its apparent complexity, there are many automatic tools that do a lot of the work for you, enabling you to focus on the details, to turn a design into a house.

Available for both Mac and Windows, you have in your digital hands everything you need to build the home of your dreams.

Read our full Home Designer Suite review.

The best interior design software for indoor/outdoor spaces

(Image credit: NCH Software)

Best interior design software for indoor and outdoor spaces

Specifications

Operating system: Windows, Mac

Plan: Subscription, Perpetual license

Reasons to buy

+

Easy to use

+

Multi-platform

+

Work on multiple levels

+

Can easily import 3D objects

Reasons to avoid

–

Not all objects installed initially

–

Occasionally awkward navigation

DreamPlan is the best home design software if you want powerful tools and simplicity of use. 

The interior design program, out for Windows and Mac, helps you create buildings on multiple levels, furnish them with a library of 3D models, and customize homes inside and out. Yes, that even includes landscape design. It’s built to let you easily make modifications and alterations.

But, in our review, what we really liked about one of the best home design software tools is that it’s “designed to make it easy to make modifications, and even goes out of its way to help you understand the app’s inner workings.”

Trace Mode will be especially handy for those with existing floorplans. These can be imported into the home design software and turned into a 3D model.   

DreamPlan features commercial and home licensing options – priced at $50 and $40 respectively, but check for regular discounts. So, it has a powerful enough toolset to use on a professional basis. But it’s intuitive enough for beginners. 

For those just starting out with the best interior design software, the built-in video tutorials help you understand the inner workings of the app – just look for the subtle blue camera icon. 

Read our full DreamPlan review.

The best browser-based interior design software

(Image credit: Dassault Systemes)

The best interior design app when you’re on-the-go

Specifications

Operating system: Browser, Android, iOS

Plan: Free, Subscription

Reasons to buy

+

Simple to use

+

Huge customisation

+

Can design an entire house for free

Reasons to avoid

–

3D pan can make some objects temporarily disappear

–

Long rendering times for low res photorealistic images 

HomeByMe is one of the best interior design apps for when the ideas are racing. It’s browser-based – even mobile browsers are supported – and has Android and iOS apps, so you can map out thoughts for your home whenever and wherever inspiration strikes.

Since the interior design tool is cloud-only, you’ll need to stay connected to use it. During our time with the home design software, we were impressed that “HomeByMe offers a very affordable service with a myriad of options. We particularly appreciated the fact that the free plan doesn’t appear to limit your design options, and lets you work on up to three different projects.” 

However, we were less impressed with the time it took to render low-res images. Worse, we found the free account pastes a giant watermark all across the image, rendering the effect pointless. HD images are rendered in minutes, and don’t have that watermark.

The platform offers three packages: free, one-time purchase, and monthly subscription. It’s a good way to see which works for you, as the free plan doesn’t appear to limit your design options, and lets you work on up to five projects. 

The limit on the number of HD photorealistic images (1920x1080px) is somewhat compensated by offering an unlimited number of lower quality ones (640x360px). You can also place real-world, branded products in your rooms for extra realism. 

HomeByMe has a lot to offer. If you’re not too fussed about those images, you can explore and create very complex designs with ease.

Read our full HomeByMe review.

The best interior design software for mobile

(Image credit: MagicPlan)

Best interior design software for Android and iOS

Specifications

Operating system: Browser, Android, iOS

Plan: Subscription

Reasons to buy

+

Easy to use

+

Free mobile app

+

Two free projects

+

Professional Report and Estimate tools

Reasons to avoid

–

AR appears to struggle when furniture is in the way

–

No desktop app

MagicPlan is one of the best interior software kits for busy creatives and contractors. 

When we reviewed the home design app, we liked its “easy to use features, an interesting AR option, and an original way of generating estimates for work needed to be done. The monthly subscriptions could pay for themselves if designing if your business, and it also offers you two free projects for casual users to explore as well.” 

Like HomeByMe, it lets you build designs from your browser, or within the Android and iOS apps. The free solution lets you design two projects. A monthly subscription is needed to unlock MagicPlan’s full capabilities.

You’ll find three tools in one: Sketch, Report, and Estimate. Essentially, tiered subscription packages that offer additional features. 

Sketch lets you create interior designs – and, for home users, that’s likely enough. Professional designers will appreciate the inclusion of reporting and estimating tools. Enterprise licensing is also available. 

One of the best interior design software tools here is the AR-enabled ‘Scan with Camera’. This lets you scan and measure the room you’re in – although we suspect this augmented reality feature would function a lot better in an unfurnished space. 

Read our full MagicPlan review.

Best interior design software: FAQs

What is interior design software?

best 3D printers. 

Time is a considerable factor. Even some of the best interior design software takes a long time to render concepts, especially when using photorealistic images. It’s a natural price to pay for high-resolution 3D designs. For some, speed may trump quality.

Check the system requirements for the software  In certain cases, highly professional interior design computer programs require high-performance computers. In this case, you may need a machine comparable to the best laptops for architecture students or the best laptops for engineering students.  These are build to smoothly run complex CAD designs. 

Check the price (and pricing model), too. Some options, like HomeByMe, offer free, paid-for, and subscription versions of its home design software. Others offer only one pricing model, so choose the one that best suits your creative budget.

How we test the best interior design software

We’ve tested a massive range of creative apps, including the best digital art and drawing software and the best graphic design software. But whether we’re testing out the top tools for 3D design or the best software for interior decorating, we follow the same fair and rigorous review process. 

When testing the best interior design software for homes, we’re looking to see how easy the experience is, how powerful the tools are, and how well the software performs. Designing in 3D can often take its toll on computers, after all. 

Asset library sizes are a factor — interior design tools should make your creative ideas a reality, not just a loose approximation. We’re also reviewing these design apps based on use. Unlike consumer software, professional-grade tools offer more advanced features, but might also have steeper learning curves and more expensive pricing models. So, we assessed how well the interior design program delivers for its intended market – whether they’re professionals or personal users. 

Essentially, when we test the very best interior design software for ourselves, we expect to see it work for its intended audience — whether they’re professional interior designers or creative enthusiasts. 

During our tests across the best home design software tools, we first set up an account with the relevant software platform, whether as a download or online service. We then tested each app using a handful of files to see how the software for interior design could be used for creating indoor spaces from scratch, bearing in mind issues such as ease-of-use, professional viability, and performance.

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Source: techradar.com