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You could risk it, but why? Starting October 12th, when you list with Homie, you get six months of seller home warranty protection for free. Even the first $65 service charge is waived. 

What is a Seller Home Warranty?

A seller’s warranty covers the seller in the event that something like an appliance breaks or the water heater goes out while a home is on the market. It gives both seller and buyer peace of mind while progressing through the real estate transaction.

Raychel Johnson, from America’s Choice Home Warranty, explains that homes covered by a seller’s warranty increases the perceived value of a home in three ways.

  1. Sellers with a home warranty are more apt to fix problems ASAP, so prospective buyers may not notice a malfunctioning dishwasher when they look at the house.
  2. If the buyer or home inspector finds a new problem, it’s fixed quickly with a deductible payment rather than through renegotiations.
  3. A buyer who knows that a seller’s warranty is covering the home during the listing period feels their future investment is protected from harm. Not only has the home been well maintained in the past, but if something goes wrong between offer and closing, it will be fixed by the warranty.

To sign up for a free seller policy, call 888.495.2249 and tell them you’re with Homie.

How you use your Homie seller’s home warranty

Financially speaking, a seller’s home warranty coverage is a smart move. From the first day you start showing your home, plus the entire time you’re under contract, all the way until possession of the home transfers to a new owner, you’re responsible for keeping everything in prime operating condition—including plumbing, electrical, and appliances.

With the America’s Choice Home Warranty (free to all Homie sellers), all you pay is a $65 service call fee to have covered items repaired—far cheaper than replacing appliances or lowering the sale price. With America’s Choice Home Warranty, you can choose your own professional repair person, which beats telling prospective buyers to ignore the mess in the bathroom while you finish snaking the toilet. And you can even use it to do a tuneup of the heating and/or air conditioning unit. It’s all covered.

One more thing: don’t confuse a home warranty with homeowner’s insurance. While homeowner’s insurance covers major problems such as fires, hail, property crimes and certain types of water damage that could affect the property, a home warranty covers specific components within the home. Your homeowner’s insurance policy will never pay to repair a broken dishwasher.

Adding a buyer’s home warranty

A buyer’s home warranty lets buyers know that if something goes wrong after they move in, they don’t need to come up with the cash to fix it. 

“The buyer’s home warranty protects the buyer after they complete the purchase,” said Johnson. “Many sellers make this investment for the buyer. The low price—between $300 and $500—makes the situation much less stressful for both buyers and sellers.”

The addition of a buyer’s home warranty typically equates to:

  • An increase in the final selling price
  • Shorter time on market
  • A boost in traffic to an older home

That said, Johnson indicates the age of a home shouldn’t determine whether it has a buyer’s home warranty or not. “Even if the appliances are covered under a manufacturer’s warranty, buyers still have a possibility of a pipe leak or something happening to the sump pump or electrical system in a newer home. Or you might just want an AC tune-up,” she said.

Most buyer’s home warranties cover the first 12 months after purchase, although America’s Choice Home Warranty gives Homie buyers (and sellers purchasing for buyers) an optional second year for 25% off, if you purchase the warranty through Homie’s Provider Marketplace.

Protect your home and your sanity. Call 888.495.2249 for your free seller warranty and ask about your options for a buyer’s warranty today.

Source: homie.com

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Now in its third year, company initiative provides $100K, mentorship and resources to support qualifying high-potential Black entrepreneurs MILWAUKEE, May 4, 2023 /PRNewswire/ — Northwestern Mutual, in partnership with gener8tor, today announced the addition of five promising tech startups to its innovative Black Founder Accelerator program. An extension of the company’s Sustained Action for Racial … [Read more…]

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Editor’s note: This is a recurring post, regularly updated with new information and offers.

TPG staffers are huge fans of the Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card, happily paying its annual fee each year and listing it as one of the cards we can’t live without. We love that this card earns bonus points on travel and dining and allows us to transfer our points to valuable transfer partners.

And in 2021, Chase added some new perks to the card to make it even more valuable. One of these benefits is a 10% anniversary points bonus, giving cardholders a 10% bonus based on their total spend during the account anniversary year at a rate of 1 point for each $1 spent. So, for example, if you spent $100,000 on your Sapphire Preferred during your cardmember year, you would get 10,000 bonus points at the end of the year.

Since TPG values Ultimate Rewards points at 2 cents each, earning 10,000 bonus points would be like getting $200 in value. The more you spend, the more you’ll earn, and this one perk alone could help make up for some (or all) of the card’s $95 annual fee.

Let’s dive into the specifics of this benefit and how you can track your progress on the Chase Sapphire Preferred’s 10% anniversary bonus.

About the Chase Sapphire Preferred 10% anniversary bonus

Without reading the fine print, this new perk can initially sound slightly misleading. Here are the details:

10% anniversary points bonus: Each account anniversary year, you’ll earn bonus points that equal 10% of your total spend in points from purchases made with your credit card during the previous account anniversary year at a rate of 1 point for each $1 spent. “Account anniversary year” means the year beginning with your account open date through the anniversary of your account open date, and each 12 months after that.

You shouldn’t mistake this as earning 10% back of the points you earned in a given year. Instead, you’re earning 10% more points based solely on the dollars you spend during your given account anniversary.

You can think of this as simply adding 0.1% to the existing bonus categories on the Chase Sapphire Preferred. As a reminder, here’s the earning rate on the card:

So in your mind, you could add 0.1% to all of the multipliers above. In other words, you’re earning 5.1 points per dollar on Lyft purchases (through March 2025), 3.1 points per dollar on dining, 2.1 points per dollar on other travel purchases — the list goes on.

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While not a huge difference, it can certainly add up to a significant number of bonus points at the end of your cardmember year.

Related: 7 Chase Sapphire Preferred benefits you might not know about

How to track your progress for the 10% anniversary bonus

If you don’t know your account anniversary date already, visit the Ultimate Rewards portal to find this date as well as your progress toward your 10% bonus.

CHASE.COM

Click on “Rewards Activity” and you’ll find a summary of your spending, points earned, and your progress under “10% Anniversary points boost.”

CHASE.COM

My account anniversary just reset, so I haven’t yet earned many points toward my new 10% bonus. That number will increase significantly as I spend more over the coming year.

Another important thing to note here is that you won’t receive your bonus points until 60-90 days after your anniversary period is over. This is likely because Chase wants you to pay your annual fee for the next year before awarding you these bonus points.

CHASE.COM

Regardless, there’s no extra work involved for you to activate this benefit. The points will automatically accrue and deposit to your account once your anniversary resets. If you want to track your progress, you can do so under the “rewards activity” of the Ultimate Rewards portal. Otherwise, let the points fly in.

Related: How to use the Chase Sapphire Preferred hotel credit

Bottom line

If you don’t put a huge amount of spending on your card, this 10% anniversary points bonus isn’t necessarily monumental. Still, it’s another benefit that makes the Chase Sapphire Preferred a card worth getting and keeping.

For more details, check out our full review of the Chase Sapphire Preferred.

Official application link: Chase Sapphire Preferred with an 80,000-point sign-up bonus after spending $4,000 on purchases in the first three months of account opening.

Additional reporting by Emily Thompson.

Source: thepointsguy.com

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In The Little Book of Bull Moves in Bear Markets (which I recently reviewed), author Peter Schiff provides a list of the best jobs to beat the economic collapse he predicts is just around the corner. “I foresee the following as the 10 strongest professions and industries over the coming decade and beyond,” he writes. His list:

  1. Engineering, because the abandoned U.S. industrial base will need to be re-tooled.
  2. Construction, to rebuild the American infrastructure.
  3. Agriculture, as we wean ourselves from imported foodstuffs.
  4. Merchant marine, to transport goods to foreign markets.
  5. Commercial fishing, because demand for fish is increasing in the U.S. even as foreign supply is declining.
  6. Energy, because we’ll need to develop alternatives to fossil fuels.
  7. Computers and high technology, one field in which the U.S. continues to lead.
  8. Entertainment, another industry in which the U.S. should continue to dominate the world market.
  9. Automotive repair, small appliance repair, and the like. It’s going to become more costly to replace items, making repair a viable option.
  10. Tailoring and textiles, because imported clothes will become scarcer and more expensive.

This list is predicated on Schiff’s belief that the U.S. economy is in massive collapse. He also lists job sectors he believes will decline sharply: the service economy, banking and finance, real estate, health care, travel and tourism, and retailing. If you have a job in one of these industries, Schiff recommends planning for a career change.

Schiff’s advice made me curious. What do other experts think are the safest jobs for riding out this recession? I did some digging to find out.

A Second Opinion

There’s actually a new book out on this subject called 150 Best Recession-Proof Jobs by Laurence Shatkin, a career information consultant. His top ten recession-proof jobs are:

  1. Computer systems analyst
  2. Network systems and data communications analyst
  3. Network and computer systems administrator
  4. Registered nurse
  5. Teacher, postsecondary (i.e., college professors)
  6. Physical therapist
  7. Physician and surgeon
  8. Dental hygienist
  9. Pharmacist
  10. Medical and health services manager

The San Diego Union-Tribune recently featured a profile of Shatkin and his book, in which he explains that he derived his list from government statistics. Contrast this with Schiff’s list, which is based not on past data, but on his prediction of the future. It seems to me that these men are coming at the problem from different angles, and their lists reflect that. They’re nearly opposites.

Challenger, Gray and Christmas

There are other experts with their own ideas about which jobs are best in a recession. Representatives from the outplacement firm Challenger, Gray and Christmas made the rounds earlier this year with their list of recession-proof jobs, which included the following rising professions:

  1. Education
  2. Energy
  3. Health care
  4. International business
  5. Environment
  6. Security and law enforcement

They also note a few jobs in which the prospects are declining:

  • Anything related to housing (including real estate, investment banking, engineering, and architecture)
  • State and local government
  • Industries dependent on discretionary spending (e.g. restaurants and retail)

The advice from Challenger, Gray and Christmas is slightly different than that of either of the first two lists. The only real agreement among these three different sources is that industries related to housing and to discretionary spending are in for hard times.

The Jobfox list

Finally, Jobfox, a job-matching website, has been sharing its list of the top 20 in-demand jobs based on statistics for the past year. Forbes published a version of the list, as did Business Week, which created a slide show including median salaries for these careers:

  1. Sales representative/business development ($65,000-$75,000)
  2. Software design/development ($85,000-$95,000)
  3. Nursing ($35,000-$45,000)
  4. Accounting & finance executive ($65,000-$75,000)
  5. Accounting staff ($45,000-$55,000)
  6. Networking/systems administration ($65,000-$75,000)
  7. Administrative assistant ($35,000-$45,000)
  8. Business analysis (software implementation) ($85,000-$95,000)
  9. Business analysis (research) ($65,000-$75,000)
  10. Finance staff ($65,000-$75,000)
  11. Project management ($85,000-$95,000)
  12. Testing/quality assurance ($65,000-$75,000)
  13. Product management ($85,000-$95,000)
  14. Database administration ($75,000-$85,000)
  15. Account/customer support ($35,000-$45,000)
  16. Technology executive ($115,000-$125,000)
  17. Electrical engineering ($65,000-$75,000)
  18. Sales executive ($85,000-$95,000)
  19. Mechanical engineering ($65,000-$75,000)
  20. Government contracts administration ($55,000-$65,000)

This list points to three broad paths for those wishing to avoid the effects of the recession: management, computer science, and accounting. But again, this list is very different from the others.

Aside: Looking at these median salaries makes me a little envious. During 2007, the median salary for guys named J.D. employed by small family box factories in Oregon was $42,000 a year. I wonder how much sooner I might have repaid my debt if I’d done something else for a career…like become a “technology executive”.

Four Experts, Four Opinions

What conclusion do you draw from looking at these lists? The top lesson I get is that nobody can agree on which jobs are best for riding out a recession. As we’ve seen time and again when people try to predict the future, everybody has a different methodology, and everybody comes to a different conclusion. Nobody will be 100% correct.

I believe that in general, the most recession-proof job is the one you already have. If your current career is fulfilling and pays well, then do what you can to make yourself indispensable. Develop your skill-set. Be a valuable contributor. Keep a positive attitude. Network your way to job security. These things won’t help if your company undergoes massive lay-offs, but they will protect you from casual culling.

Source: getrichslowly.org

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* Lead image credit: Amazon Studios

Anne Hathaway’s home in the new Amazon Prime series Modern Love is now up for grabs; the posh 2 bedroom co-op, set in NYC’s historic Astor Memorial School at 256 Mott Street has recently hit the market with a $3.5 million ask.

If you haven’t yet had the chance to check it out, Modern Love is Amazon’s eight-episode anthology series that brings the stories of a beloved New York Times column to life, complete with a star-studded cast and iconic New York backdrops.

Each episode is based on a real person’s essay, with the third in the series being centered on Lexi, an entertainment lawyer played by Anne Hathaway who’s been hiding her bipolar diagnosis from everyone in her life.

This episode leads us into Lexi’s apartment, set in a boutique, self-managed co-op in Tribeca — a fittingly intimate and stylish pad to suit Hathaway’s character story.

256 Mott Street, New York. Image credit: Donna Dotan / Compass

Apart from Hathaway, Modern Love also stars Tina Fey, Julia Garner, Catherine Keener, Dev Patel, Andrew Scott, John Slattery and Andy Garcia, among others.

“Since its debut just last week, the reaction to ‘Modern Love’ from viewers has been incredible. It’s a show with so much emotion and warmth — every episode touches the heart in a different way,” said Jennifer Salke, head of Amazon Studios.

And if you’re a big fan of the series and just so happens to be hunting for a home in NYC, you can now buy Hathaway’s apartment — provided that your pockets run $3.5 million deep.

256 Mott Street, New York. Image credit: Donna Dotan / Compass
256 Mott Street, New York. Image credit: Donna Dotan / Compass
256 Mott Street, New York. Image credit: Donna Dotan / Compass
256 Mott Street, New York. Image credit: Donna Dotan / Compass

Available for sale for the first time in 15 years, this mint-condition parlor residence features 14 windows, 4 exposures, approximately 1,800 square feet of living space, 2 bedrooms, and 2 bathrooms.

Soaring 11’7” ceiling heights and remarkable original details which have been masterfully restored make this one of the most special homes to ever hit the market in prime Nolita.

The master bathroom is crisp and beautifully appointed with a deep soaking tub, a large walk-in shower, marble mosaic tiling throughout and two large windows.

There is a wall of closets in the master, an antique Italian crystal chandelier, and a door that provides direct access to 256 Mott’s outdoor mews, which can be used by any resident in the building.

To learn more about the property or to schedule a tour, get in touch with the listing’s agents: Compass’ Todd Lewin and Michael Rubin.

More homes from movies and TV shows

All the Glamorous Penthouses, Suites, and Lofts in Gossip Girl
The Story Behind Carrie Bradshaw’s Apartment in “Sex and the City”
We Are the Ones Who Knock — on Walter White’s Fictional Door in Breaking Bad
The Real-Life House from Netflix’s ‘The Stranger’

Source: fancypantshomes.com

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“You don’t have to be world-class great to make a great living doing what you love,” Jonathan Fields writes in Career Renegade, “if you are willing to step outside the box, approach your passion differently, find innovative ways to mine that passion for money, and work like crazy to make it happen.”

In Career Renegade, Fields draws upon his own experience, as well as that of others, to provide a blueprint for those willing to take that entrepreneurial leap of faith.

Career Renegade is an odd book. Its title and marketing might lead you to believe it’s about careers. As I write this, it’s the number one book in Amazon’s “job hunting” category, which is baffling. Career Renegade isn’t about job hunting or changing careers. It’s about taking your passion and turning it into a business. It’s about entrepreneurship. As long as you expect this going in, it’s a great book.

Profiting from your passion
Career Renegade starts by exploring the relationship between what we do and what we love. Fields encourages readers to examine their own lives to discover what it is they’re passionate about. His message is that although it might seem impossible, although it might take some hard work, you can turn your dreams into a career.

“The paths to transforming a moneyless passion into a lucrative future are limited only by your own creativity,” Fields writes. Career Renegade suggests seven possible paths for turning passion into profit:

  1. Redeploying your passion in a hungrier market. Do what you love in an area where there’s high demand.
  2. Refocusing and mining the most lucrative micro-markets. Sometimes the solution is to narrow your market, to focus on doing something valuable for a select group of people.
  3. Exploiting gaps in the information needed to excel at an activity. Fields argues that one way to succeed at doing what you love is to provide information that nobody else offers, or to offer it in a way that others don’t. Get Rich Slowly is an example of following this path.
  4. Exploiting gaps in education. Beyond just providing information, some people can profit by directly teaching others.
  5. Exploiting gaps in gear or merchandise. Using this path, you turn your passion into a product. You “build a better mousetrap”, so to speak.
  6. Exploiting gaps in community. People value networks, and if you’re the first or best to create one devoted to your subject, you can become the leader in the field. Fields mentions Ladies Who Launch as an example of taking a passion for community-building and it into a career.
  7. Exploiting gaps in the way a pursuit is provided. The final path is to make it easier for people to do what you love (and what they love).

Fields writes that it’s possible to “turn your passion loose in unexpected places”. He cites the example of Liv Hansen, a young woman just out of school who couldn’t find a job in the art world. She went to work at her mother’s bakery, and began to create fanciful designs on the wedding cakes and cupcakes. Though this may not have been how she had planned to use her art degree, it turned out to be profitable and fulfilling work.

While the first half of Career Renegade is devoted to helping you find your passion, the second half is all about developing an entrepreneurial mindset and marketing your idea.

What if you’re not an entrepreneur?
Many of my friends love their jobs and have no desire to become self-employed. They use hustle, passion, and patience to make the most of working for somebody else. It’s very possible to make a great living doing what you love without striking out on your own.

My wife, for example, just isn’t an entrepreneur. Kris loves her job as much as I love mine. She enjoys her co-workers and the workplace culture. She has no desire to work for herself. What does Career Renegade have to offer folks who don’t want to become entrepreneurs? I asked the author to comment on this. Jonathan Fields responded:

I lean strongly toward taking more control and being an entrepreneur. And, most of the people in my book seem to be wired that way, too. But that’s not necessarily true.

There will still be some people that just want to keep working for someone else. The cool thing is, you can tap many of the market research strategies that I lay out in the early part of the book to not only test your idea, but identify other people and companies to connect with. They’ll reveal companies who are doing something similar, then you can:

  • approach them for a job, or
  • build your personal brand online to showcase your abilities in the area of your passion, then tap social media to find key influencers and hiring managers and make them aware of your showcase

That whole process is largely what the second half of the book is about.

All the same, I’d hesitate to recommend Career Renegade to somebody simply hunting for a new job. I don’t think it’s appropriate.

Career Renegade also suffers from one of the same flaws as The Power of Less [my review]: it’s tech-centric. Its examples and suggestions are based on the assumption that you can leverage the web and social media to make your business succeed. This isn’t always true. My father’s passion was to start a small manufacturer of custom boxes. There is nothing that Twitter could offer my family’s box factory. Podcasts and blogs won’t help either. It’s not that sort of business.

The bottom line
Career Renegade is not a bad book — not at all! It is, however, a book aimed a narrow target audience, one much narrower than the cover and title might lead you to believe. Entrepreneurs are a subset of the general population. This book is written for a subset of entrepreneurs.

There’s a lot of fine information here for those interested in launching a business in which the internet will play a key role. I love the case histories that Fields uses to flesh out his topics. I never tire of reading how other people have managed to turn their passion into a business. I can learn a lot, for example, from reading how Anita Campbell moved from lawyer to blogger at Small Business Trends.

Career Renegade is a great book — for a certain type of person. If you believe you might enjoy working for yourself — even if you don’t know what it is you’d do — this book is worth reading. If you are looking to start your own business and if that business requires a strong online presence, this book is a tremendous resource. But it’s not the next What Color is Your Parachute?

Source: getrichslowly.org

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Check out the great views waiting for you when really look close in Charlotte.

There’s no shortage of beautiful properties across the Queen City. However, finding the right place for you in Charlotte will most likely come down to the amenities. Do you need an awesome rooftop to serve as your regular hangout? Do you need a sparkling pool to keep up with your tan?

As you think about all your must have’s, don’t forget about one very important feature for your next home — the view. What you see from your window, the roof or even poolside matters, so make sure you take a minute to scope out the view before signing a lease.

To give you a jump start on your search to find the best view in Charlotte, check out the apartment communities featured below.

Source: Rent. / Hazel SouthPark

Once you settle down on your balcony and look out, you may never want to leave. That’s how good the view is at Hazel SouthPark. Tightly knit, bushy trees give you so much greenery, with just a few building tops in the background. You’ll feel like you’re living in a nature oasis rather than a busy city.

Set within the vibrant suburban SouthPark neighborhood, there’s as much to do around here as there is to see. Shopping ranges from high-end designer shops to independent boutiques. The local dining scene is eclectic too, with everything from posh bars to sushi spots and cool cafes. For a little something special to listen to, make sure to catch a performance by the Charlotte Symphony Orchestra.

Source: Rent. / Camden Grandview

See an unobstructed city skyline from your balcony at Camden Grandview. The tall buildings of Charlotte sit in the background, giving you all the urban vibes you could want as you relax in your own little quiet spot. This is an ideal way to live close enough to see the city, but far enough way to step into a little peace at the end of the day.

Lively and fun, when you live in South End, you’re close to lots of dining and entertainment. With a strong nightlife reputation, this neighborhood offers up the complete package of things to do. You’ll find craft breweries alongside artisan shops and art galleries. It’s even a hit with outdoor enthusiasts thanks to the Charlotte Rail Trail, which attracts runners and cyclists of all levels.

Source: Rent. / Avalon Hawk

Massive windows throughout every unit give you access to amazing views when you call Avalon Hawk home. These window walls allow you to see out across the vibrant and historic Wilmore neighborhood. It’s a mix of trees and classic architecture, with the tall buildings of the Uptown area off in the distance. It’s like getting all of Charlotte in a single shot.

Calling Wilmore home means you’re surrounded by unique architecture that you can’t find everywhere in the city. They give this space its own, more classic vibe, but there’s still plenty to enjoy living here. The variety of restaurants is a good place to start, and offerings come in all shapes and sizes. You can find a good fit for an entire family or a place that provides the perfect romantic atmosphere for that special someone.

Source: Rent. / SouthPark Morrison

Grab a seat under the small cabana at SouthPark Morrison and settle in for a tranquil courtyard view. Neatly landscaped and exuding a garden-like quality, this vantage point provides trees, flowers and bushes all neatly organized for your viewing pleasure. Enjoy a quiet moment in this natural setting, without leaving home.

Another cool community in the SouthPark neighborhood, this cozy and stylish spot sits to the south of the city. The welcoming atmosphere and ample amenities will give you vacation-like vibes whether you’re at the pool, the fitness center or the courtyard.

Source: Rent. / Solis Midtown Apartments

The fun and funky lounge at Solis Midtown Apartments combines unique lighting with modern furniture and, of course, an amazing city view. Windows that stretch from the floor to the ceiling reach up two stories for a complete look at the city’s stunning skyline. You also get plenty of sky, which means an insane amount of natural light is pouring in constantly throughout the day.

Deciding to live in the heart of Charlotte doesn’t mean exactly what you think. Yes, Dilworth is geographically in the middle of it all, yet it still holds onto a quaint charm. Accented by calm, tree-lined streets, this area has plenty of shops and restaurants. It’s also close to museums and contains Freedom Park, whose walking trails are pretty popular on nice days in Charlotte.

Source: Rent. / Harris Pond

Not only can you see the pond from the outdoor patio at Harris Pond, but it’s also the view you can enjoy from your private balcony. There’s even a walking trail around the pond should you want to get up and close and personal with this beautiful space.

Surrounding the University of North Carolina at Charlotte campus, University City is one of those neighborhoods that really caters to college students. Although Harris Pond is toward the edge, about 11 minutes from campus, you can still take full advantage of the professional opportunities, green spaces and special activities this area has to offer. Some favorites include the botanical garden on UNCC’s campus as well as catching some college football at Jerry Richardson Stadium.

Source: Rent. / Residences at Brookline

If you love living in Charlotte but need a break from the urban cityscape at the end of the day, check out the view from the balcony at Residences at Brookline. Look out onto manicured landscaping with short-cropped grass and tall trees to really get a neighborhood vibe. The design of the balcony enhances this feel with its brickwork and white-painted railing. You almost feel like you’re living in the country with a setup like this.

Situated perfectly for commuters, this Westside community makes it easy to get around Charlotte without sitting in too much traffic. This ease of moving about makes it a great hub to explore the city from as well. Divide your time between finding your favorite eats, locally owned shops and entertainment venues. Toss in all the museums and green spaces and you’ll easily keep yourself busy during your down time.

Source: Rent. / The Lexington Dilworth

Create a cozy spot on your own balcony at The Lexington Dilworth and take in the view. You’ll either get a smattering of trees or see the city off in the distance. Maybe, you’ll nab a unit that has a little bit of both. Altogether though, this community gives you the best pieces of Charlotte, the urban and suburban vibes all rolled into one.

Another great spot in Dilworth, skyline views are just the start. This community boasts six courtyards, all with grilling areas, and oversized balconies mean expansive views for all. Additional outdoor spaces have water features for a little added zen on the property as well. You’ll also find a saltwater swimming pool, open-air sky lounge, 24-hour fitness studio and boutique pet spa in this luxury-filled location.

Source: Rent. / Kaleido Noda

Everything within Kaleido Noda is worth seeing. The design choices and architectural style make this a cool, hip and fun space. Inside you’ll find funky light fixtures, pops of color and so much artistic detail. Wood panels surround the mailboxes and adorn the wall beside two colorful booths. The best spot, though, is the indoor dining space. Turquoise accents give you a massive dining space with an epic view of the pool. Two stories of windows open this already large space up so that you’ll feel like you have infinite room to enjoy a meal, relax and have fun.

Providing excellent city views across the whole neighborhood, The North End is one area of Charlotte that’s seeing a lot of growth and development. This is great for apartment dwellers who like to be the first to try something new. With a combination of industrial buildings and tree-lined streets, you really get an urban-suburban vibe from this versatile and welcoming community.

Source: Rent. / Camden Gallery

With a rooftop lounge that’s luxe to say the least, there’s no shortage of sweet spots to settle into and check out the city skyline at Camden Gallery. This chill spot has plush chairs and couches spread all around, with covered and open areas for your ideal hangout location. See the tops of nearby buildings and all the way down to the tall cluster of downtown buildings for a postcard-perfect picture of Charlotte.

This fantastic Wilmore community is close to dining and shopping. Public transportation isn’t far away either, should you want to head into the city. On the property, you’ll find great amenities like five different courtyards, a private dog park and a picnic and barbecue area. There’s a saltwater pool with adjoining outdoor space and a 24-hour fitness center with a virtual trainer and yoga studio. Seems like calling this spot home ensures you won’t want for anything.

Make sure you have the best view in Charlotte

You should really love where you live in Charlotte, and that means finding an apartment that checks all your boxes. As you tic off the amenities you can’t live without, pause for a moment to peek out the window. If you can get all the features you need, and the best view in Charlotte to boot, you’ll really be all set.

Featured Image Source: Rent. / Camden Grandview

Source: rent.com

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There are five sleeps left until Christmas. Are you as unprepared as I? There’s no shame in that game. Life is just too busy sometimes. If you can’t squeeze in an IRL shopping trip (though the slow-shopping experience is actually rather uplifting), thankfully things like Prime have been invented. There are always those last second gifts that leave you a little stumped. Stocking stuffers, the gift for that last Christmas cocktail party, your best friend who already has everything. But you don’t have to resort to cheesy mugs, bad t-shirts or other tchotchkes. With just a little extra online sleuthing you can, in fact, find some pretty dang looking gifts that will get to your front door with just enough time to wrap up and get them under that tree. Btw, if you think this shopping list might be self-serving because it represents everyone I still need to shop for, you might be right.

1. Showing up at a Christmas party empty handed is a major faux pax, but showing up with a bad bottle of wine is even worse. Why not gift something your host can enjoy long after all of the holiday trimmings are put away. An oversized marble candle is a nice step up from any old candle that you see everywhere. ($29)

2. I’m always hunting for the perfect little stocking stuffer that isn’t just total cheap crap. This lip tint by the organic skincare line Herbivore has purdy packaging and a universally flattering color. ($28)

3. There’s nothing I enjoy more than girl talk over good wine with a best friend. These rose gold tripped wine glasses would be a welcome addition to anyone’s bar. ($65)

4. If you know a cooking enthusiast, it can be tough to find them something interesting, but this cookbook featuring traditional Venetian dishes from famed restaurant Polpo would offer any home-cook a fun challenge. And I’m not just saying that because I honeymooned in Venice and am obsessed with food there and might want this book to show up under my own tree! ($34)

5. There are a lot of flasks out there. This is not a new nor groundbreaking idea for gifts for the guys, but if you’re serious about you guy having a little nip, give him a serious flask. This flask, sold at retailers like REI, is designed for the outdoorsman. It’s made of stainless steel, is leakproof and has a lifetime warranty. Leave those wanna be flasks at Urban Outiftters alone. ($16).

6. Moms seem to always love Christmas decor, but instead of another set of cheesy hand towels, why not give her a piece of cool modern holiday decor like this christmas tree will add cool touch to next year’s holiday trimmings. ($32)

7. Everyone loves cute animals, but they’re particularly fabulous in a nursery. This art print of a highland cow is so dang cute, I’d be happy seeing it anywhere in my house but I think a new mom would be so excited for something that lasts longer than a onsie or an overpriced pair of baby moccasins. ($25)

8. A salt and pepper shaker can be a pretty ho-hum gift, but this set designed by modern home furnishing brand Menu, shows you didn’t just grab something off the discount isle at Target – aka, you care . ($70)

For rest of our Gift Guides, including for Kiddos, Neat Freaks, Coffee Aficionados, Art Lovers, Dinner-Party Throwers, the Hostess with the Mostest, Decorators, Workaholics & Fashionistas, CLICK HERE

I’m also pinning more of my favorite gift picks HERE

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Source: apartment34.com

Apache is functioning normally

Whether you like to pedal around on city bike paths or log several miles a week in training, there are cities where you can pursue the passion of cycling within easy reach of your rental.

Cycling for recreation and fitness has really taken off in the United States in the past ten years. American cities are not only reacting to but also planning for residents’ desire for safer and more plentiful bike paths, bike lanes and cycling opportunities.

Here are some cities to check out if you love cycling, and why you’ll love living there . . .

Austin

Texas’ own Music City has long attracted folks who love the outdoor lifestyle, its temperate winter climate and natural water features all part of the draw. Add to that a rolling terrain and multiple bike trails and you’ve got a recipe for happy cyclists. The Lance Armstrong Bikeway shares its moniker with the city’s most famous resident, while the Shoal Creek Bike Trail and Southern Walnut Creek Bike Trail offer additional pedaling opportunity. Austin’s south side is home to the 3-mile Veloway. Loop 360 is also easy and affords beautiful views, as does the Willow City Loop, which bursts with spring bluebonnets. Serious cyclists head for workouts on FM 2222, a 10-mile challenge that will have you bragging if you successfully make the climb. A host of cycling events keep calendars full, for riders of all skill levels.

Check out Austin apartments.

Boulder, Colorado’s Chautauqua Park has trails

Boulder

With the Flatiron Mountains as a backdrop, scenic Boulder has a vibrant bike culture you simply can’t miss. Mountain biking, road cycling, infamous community events, bike share programs, gorgeous trails, and even 24-hour bicycle-related vending machines are all part of the package. If you live here, you can be part of the massive community which commutes by cycle, thanks to the city’s temperate climate. The leisurely Boulder Creek Path winds its way along the city’s namesake creek, toward Boulder Canyon, while mountain bike options are really exciting. Check out Marshall Mesa with its Flatirons views; the Canyon Loop Trail, with views of Boulder Canyon; and the steep challenges of Walker Ranch Loop, west of the city. Cyclists of all skills levels – even toddlers – can have fun on two wheels at Valmont Bike Park.

See all Boulder apartments.

Boston

Lovely Boston now brims with recently-created opportunity for cyclists. The Charles River Esplanade (aka the Dr. Paul Dudley White Bike Path) is a stunning urban greenway with views galore – of the Boston skyline, local boats, and the famous colleges of Cambridge. The city has its own bikeshare program if you can’t yet purchase your own bike. Boston’s enticing cycling destinations include the rolling 3.5 mile Franklin Park loop; the gorgeous Emerald Necklace and The Fens (designed by Fredrick Law Olmstead of Central Park fame); the 7-mile run from Audubon Circle to Chestnut Hill Reservoir; the 5-mile Southwest Corridor to Jamaica Plain; and the 7.7 mile stretch from the JFK Museum to scenic Castle Island.

See all Boston apartments.

Chicago

Chicago’s 200 miles of bike lanes and its 18.5 mile Lakefront Trail help contribute to the city’s reputation as a great city for cycling. Chi-town has seriously invested in cycling as part of its infrastructure, offering residents a wildly popular bikeshare program, more than 13,000 bike racks and sheltered bike parking at its metro rail stations. Off-road dedicated routes include the North Shore Trail, the Dawes Park Trail, the Northerly Island Park Trail and the city’s signature Lakefront and Riverfront Trail, which stretches for scenic mile after mile.

Check out Chicago apartments.

Denver, Colorado attracts cycling enthusiasts

Denver

More than 85 miles of paved trails connect Denver cyclists with local attractions, beautiful parks and even hundreds of miles of dirt trails. Move here with your bike and The Greenway Trail will probably become a big part of your life: it runs for an astounding 30 miles, linking some outrageous riverside parks that line the South Platte River. Denver’s Cherry Creek Bike Trail is popular and pretty, its 40 miles containing the Front Range Trail, an off-road trail which will (sit down for this one) eventually stretch from Colorado’s northern border with Wyoming to the New Mexico state line.

Find Denver apartments.

Greenville

The smallest metro on our list, beautiful Greenville, SC has been making all sorts of national lists. Cycling is huge here, thanks in part to  renowned champion cyclist resident George Hincapie (former training partner of Lance Armstrong) whose own Gran Fondo event attracts thousands of cyclists each fall. Local terrain is rolling, due to being in the foothills of the Blue Ridge Mountains. The countryside is hard to beat for pleasure rides, but the city’s paved Swamp Rabbit Trail stretches for 15 miles from Greenville Technical College through Cleveland Park and downtown, to Furman University, the quaint town of Travelers Rest and on toward the North Carolina state line. Cycling events happen throughout the year, and support for the sport is obvious by the number of relevant local shops (find Pedal Chic) and social clubs.

Tons of new apartments are opening downtown in 2017; check Greenville apartments.

Indianapolis

It might be more famous for its four-wheeled vehicles but Indianapolis is very popular with the cycling crowd. Indycog, the city’s bicycle advocacy, has created a cool map that not only shows the bike lanes and greenway trails, but also ranks each of the city streets in terms of accessibility, traffic and other factors affecting cyclists. A panoply of community and competitive bike events stud the summer calendar; the most memorable might be July’s 19-mile N.I.T.E. Ride, its after-party lasting until the wee hours. And if you like pedaling from brewery to brewery, you will love living in Indianapolis.

Check out Indianapolis apartments.

Minneapolis

Prince’s hometown has actually been ranked as high as #2 for Bicycling Commuting Cities in the USA.  Summers and fall are fantastic for cycling, and with the right clothes, you can enjoy your sport in spring, too.  (Fatbike events even happen in January!) The Minneapolis Bike Map – available in bike shops and libraries across the city – is heavily laced with options for pedaling: off-street bicycle trails, on-street bike lanes, shared lanes. Bike shops are plentiful and cycling events from May through October are too numerous to count.

Find Minneapolis apartments.

Portland is a bike-friendly city

Portland

The City of Portland has published a killer bicycle map, clearly showing dedicated and shared bike lanes, neighborhood greenways, no-car paths and even tricky intersections. The most popular bike path is undoubtedly the one lining both sides of downtown’s Willamette River, and traversing both the Hawthorne and Morrison Bridges. Several bike clubs organize rides and special social events, while bikeshare programs and bike shops are plentiful. Currently, 350 miles of bikeways exist and 50 more miles are planned. Over 7% of Portland commuters do so by pedaling: the highest rate of any U.S. city.  Bicycling magazine and the League of American Biyclists have both ranked this city #1 for cycling.

Check out Portland apartments.

San Francisco

The hills of San Francisco are easier to navigate on bike with the handy-dandy map offered by the San Francisco Bicycle Coalition. Shared and protected bike lanes are clearly marked, thanks to a true dedication to the cycling community. “The city by the bay” has also installed bike corrals on several of its streets. Best of all, San Francisco has even timed its street lights to about 12 mph, slowing cars so cyclists can pedal the full length of busy routes without a hassle. What more could you want? Fast and friendly” cyclists will be welcomed to the San Francisco Cycle Club, which races other clubs when it’s not planning or hosting its own social events.

Check out San Francisco apartments.

Seattle

Seattle’s Cascade ­Bicycle Club has a whopping 14,000 members: the largest cycling club in the USA. While road and path cyclists cross all demographic lines, the mountain bike scene is also alive and well, thanks to a couple of killer urban parks. Seattle’s not flat, but dedicated two-wheel commuters comprise 4% of the population. Seattle is bursting with bike shops, bike rental companies and bikeshare programs. Summer brings a wealth of cycling events, and residents love the Burke-Gilman Trail, a 20-mile-long former rail bed along Lake Washington’s shoreline. Several gorgeous regional cycling routes are reachable via public transportation.

Check out Seattle apartments.

Washington, D.C.

A champagne introduction might start with a DC Cycling Concierge tour. But you’ll also enjoy simply exploring Rock Creek Park Trail, the Anacostia River Trail, the Capital Crescent Trail, the Custis Trail and the W&OD Trail. The bike-friendliest neighborhoods, each winning a Washington Area Bicyclists Choice Award for 2017, are Capitol Riverfront / Yards Park; NoMa; and Golden Triangle (in D.C.); and Crystal City (in adjacent Virginia). Social and competitive rides happen throughout much of the year, and several local businesses – including District Taco, The Java Shack and Vigilante Coffee Company – cater to two-wheeling patrons.

Check out D.C. apartments.

SEE ALSO:  Which Cities Give You the Most Bang for your Buck

Apache is functioning normally

By Peter Anderson 7 Comments – The content of this website often contains affiliate links and I may be compensated if you buy through those links (at no cost to you!). Learn more about how we make money. Last edited January 11, 2012.

Last week I talked about a new Lending Club video training course that was just launched by Peter Renton of Social Lending Network. The course goes in depth about how to make wise investing decisions when using Lending Club, and how you can optimize your holdings to get the best possible returns.

If you follow his advice to the T, I’m pretty sure that you’ll be seeing some good positive returns in your account.   If you do in fact make interest and fees in your account, one thing you’ll need to think about is how you’ll be paying taxes on that interest income when it comes to tax time. Remember, you DO have to pay taxes on those earnings!

I’ve been thinking about this lately as I have made more with my account this year than in previous years. Figuring out how much you’ll need to pay in taxes on those earnings can be confusing. So today I thought I’d look at Lending Club and taxes.

Lending Club: Is It Taxable Income?

If you’re using Lending Club, the first question we need to ask is whether or not the interest income is taxable at all.  The easy answer is that yes, the income is in fact taxable.  Depending on when your loans in your account originated, you may be getting a 1099-INT or a 1099-OID to report it.  You may not be getting either of those forms – which is where this gets confusing.  We’ll go into which loan types and origination dates have which reporting forms in a moment.

To get started, however, you’re going to need a few things from your Lending Club account’s statements page.

  • Your monthly account statements
  • Your yearly account statements
  • Your tax statements

How Will Interest Income Be Reported For Lending Club?

Depending on when your loans originated you could be receiving either a 1099-INT or a 1099-OID.

  • If you’ve been investing for a while and your loan(s) originated prior to October 14, 2008, you will receive a 1099-INT if the total interest you earned in 2010 for all these loans was greater than $10.
  • If your loans originated after October 14, 2008 you will receive a 1099-OID (Original Issue Discount) to report interest income received on notes where the total interest on that note is in excess of $10.

Here’s where things can get confusing. If you have diversified your holdings across a variety of $25 loans like I have within your Lending Club account, you may not receive either a 1099-INT or 1099-OID at all as you may not have reached the $10 threshold on interest earned on that particular loan.  That, however, doesn’t mean that you shouldn’t be reporting that interest income.  Just that you won’t be getting a 1099 to give you a quick and easy number to report doesn’t mean the IRS won’t come after you if the unreported income comes to light.

How To Report Interest Income From 1099-OID

If you do in fact receive a 1099-OID, you’ll need to report that income on your taxes.

You can report it on Schedule B, Line 1. Want more details about reporting that income, you can find specific details in publication 1212. Page 6 has a section called “how to report”.

Once you get the 1099-OID you’ll want to reconcile the numbers on that form with your year end statement mentioned above to make sure they match.  If they don’t  (and they probably won’t if you invest in individual $25 loans like I do) you’ll need to add on any additional earnings to Schedule B that weren’t reported when you do your taxes.

How To Tabulate Net Earnings

So how do you tabulate your net earnings from your Lending Club account?  You need to take the total of your interest income (reported and non-reported) plus income from fees,  minus losses from charged off loans and minus the servicing fees.

  • Taxable earnings = Interest income + late fees – defaults or charge offs – servicing fees.

To figure out your taxable earnings you’ll just need your year end statement  to get the interest income, late fees and defaults.

The servicing fees, however, aren’t included on the year end statement. For that you’ll need to go to each of your monthly account statements (page 2) and get the servicing fees from there.  It would be nice if they reported that on the year end statement as well, but they currently don’t.

If you had charge-offs (which I don’t), I’ve read elsewhere that you can claim the capital loss on Schedule D by reporting it as a bad personal debt.  As with anything – verify this information for yourself before completing your taxes.

Haven’t Opened A Lending Club Account Yet? Do It Here.

Have you reported interest income on a Lending Club loan before? Tell us your experience in the comments.

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Source: biblemoneymatters.com