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Mortgage rates are getting a little relief from the upward pressure that we’ve seen over the past few days. There’s really no telling when they will be in for another surge, though, which is why we’re recommending that borrowers act now on a purchase or refinance. Read on for more details.

Where are mortgage rates going?        

Rates flat today     

There’s been a lot of action this week but so far today things are relatively calm. The big news yesterday was a Bloomberg report that China is looking to cut back on its purchases of Treasurys.

Click here to get today’s latest mortgage rates (Jul. 24, 2023).

Later in the day there was some push back from China’s foreign-exchange regulator that the report wasn’t completely accurate, triggering a slight retreat but not enough to undo all of the day’s shift.

If we take a look at the yield on the 10-year Treasury note (the best market indicator of where mortgage rates are going), we can see that it’s up a little over ten basis points right now.

That puts it at 2.56%, which is up at levels not seen since March. Mortgage rates typically move in the same direction as the 10-year yield, and have been dealing with some significant upward pressure this week.

Here’s the latest data from the Freddie Mac Primary Mortgage Market Survey (PMMS):

  • The average rate on a 30-year fixed rate mortgage is up four basis points this week to 3.99% (0.5 points)
  • The average rate on a 15-year fixed rate mortgage is up six basis points this week to 3.44% (0.5 points)
  • The average rate on a 5/1 year adjustable rate mortgage is up one basis point to 3.46% (0.4 points)

Here is what the Freddie Mac Economic and Housing Research group had to say about rates this week:

“After dipping slightly last week, Treasury yields surged this week amidst sell-offs in the bond market. The 10-year Treasury yield, for instance, reached its highest point since March of last year. Mortgage rates followed Treasury yields and ticked up modestly across the board. The 30-year fixed-rate mortgage averaged 3.99 percent, up 4 basis points from a week ago.”

Rate/Float Recommendation     

Lock now while rates are low

Mortgage rates are moving higher. It’s something that we expect to continue throughout 2018, so we believe the smart decision for borrowers is to take action sooner rather than later.

For many, this will mean locking in a rate on a purchase or refinance, but at the very least you should be figuring out what your next steps are.

It only takes a few minutes online to fill out our Mortgage Builder and get a free rate quote, or a quick phone call to one of our mortgage specialists to get started.

Click here to head to our Mortgage Builder and figure out how much you could save.    

Today’s economic data:           

Jobless Claims 

Applications filed for U.S. unemployment benefits came in at 261,000 for the week of 1/6/18.

PPI-FD 

Producer prices for December fell 0.1%, bringing the year over year reading down to 2.6%. PPI less food and energy also fell 0.1%, putting the year over year reading at 2.3%. PPI less food, energy and trade services rose 0.1% month over month, making it 2.3% year over year.

Get the GreenLight and close in 21 days*     

Notable events this week:           

Monday:

Tuesday:    

  • Fedspeak
  • JOLTS

Wednesday:     

  • Import and Export Prices
  • Fedspeak
  • EIA Petroleum Status
  • 10-Yr Note Auction

Thursday:       

  • Jobless Claims
  • PPI-FD

Friday:      

  • Consumer Price Index
  • Retail Sales
  • Business Inventories

*Terms and conditions apply.

Carter Wessman

Carter Wessman is originally from the charming town of Norfolk, Massachusetts. When he isn’t busy writing about mortgage related topics, you can find him playing table tennis, or jamming on his bass guitar.

Source: totalmortgage.com

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A variety of significant mortgage rates inched upward over the last seven days. The average interest rates for both 15-year fixed and 30-year fixed mortgages both were driven higher. The average rate of the most common type of variable-rate mortgage, the 5/1 adjustable-rate mortgage, also climbed.

As inflation surged in 2022, so too did mortgage rates. To rein in price growth, the Federal Reserve began bumping up its federal funds rate — a short term interest rate that determines what banks charge each other to borrow money. By making it more expensive to borrow, the central bank’s goal is to reduce prices by curtailing consumer spending.

After hiking interest rates 10 times since March 2022, the Fed pumped the brakes at its June meeting. The central bank’s federal funds rate will remain at a range of 5.00% to 5.25% for the time being, although the Fed hasn’t ruled out the possibility of further increases if inflation doesn’t continue to moderate. The Fed will decide whether or not to raise rates at its next meeting on July 26.

The most recent Consumer Price Index, a popular gauge of price growth, shows that the Fed’s string of rate hikes is having its intended effect. Annual inflation is now at 3.0% for the 12-month period ended in June, which is the lowest it’s been in more than two years.

The Fed doesn’t set mortgage rates directly, but it does play an influential role. Mortgage rates move around on a daily basis in response to a range of economic factors, including inflation, employment and the broader outlook for the economy. A lower inflation rate is good news for mortgage rates, but the potential for additional hikes from the central bank this year will keep upward pressure on already high rates.

“Mortgage rates will continue to ebb and flow week to week, but ultimately, I think rates will stick to that 6% to 7% range we’re seeing now,” said Jacob Channel, senior economist at loan marketplace LendingTree.

Rather than worrying about mortgage rates, though, homebuyers should focus on what they can control: getting the best rate they can for their financial situation.

To increase your odds at qualifying for the lowest rate available,take the steps necessary to improve your credit score and to save for a down payment. Also, be sure to compare the rates and fees from multiple lenders to get the best deal. Looking at the annual percentage rate, or APR, will show you the total cost of borrowing and help you make an apples-to-apples comparison among lenders.

30-year fixed-rate mortgages

The 30-year fixed-mortgage rate average is 7.19%, which is an increase of 1 basis point from one week ago. (A basis point is equivalent to 0.01%.) Thirty-year fixed mortgages are the most frequently used loan term. A 30-year fixed rate mortgage will usually have a smaller monthly payment than a 15-year one — but often a higher interest rate. Although you’ll pay more interest over time — you’re paying off your loan over a longer timeframe — if you’re looking for a lower monthly payment, a 30-year fixed mortgage may be a good option.

15-year fixed-rate mortgages

The average rate for a 15-year, fixed mortgage is 6.52%, which is an increase of 1 basis point from seven days ago. Compared to a 30-year fixed mortgage, a 15-year fixed mortgage with the same loan value and interest rate will have a bigger monthly payment. But a 15-year loan will usually be the better deal, as long as you can afford the monthly payments. You’ll usually get a lower interest rate, and you’ll pay less interest in total because you’re paying off your mortgage much quicker.

5/1 adjustable-rate mortgages

A 5/1 ARM has an average rate of 6.25%, a rise of 6 basis points compared to a week ago. You’ll usually get a lower interest rate (compared to a 30-year fixed mortgage) with a 5/1 ARM in the first five years of the mortgage. But since the rate changes with the market rate, you might end up paying more after that time, as described in the terms of your loan. For borrowers who plan to sell or refinance their house before the rate changes, an ARM may be a good option. If not, changes in the market could significantly increase your interest rate.

Mortgage rate trends

Mortgage rates were historically low throughout most of 2020 and 2021 but increased steadily throughout 2022. Now, mortgage rates are well above where they were a year ago. Fewer buyers are willing to jump into the housing market, driving demand down and causing home prices in some regions to ease. But that’s only part of the home affordability equation.

“Interest rates have been much higher in the past and people bought homes and financed homes at those rates,” said Daniel Oney, research director at the Texas Real Estate Research Center at Texas A&M University. “But it’s been hard for people to react to such a rapid increase in just a short amount of time.”

Even though the Fed hit pause on rate hikes in June, mortgage interest rates will continue to fluctuate on a daily basis. That’s because mortgage rates aren’t tied to the federal funds rate in the same way other products are, such as home equity loans and home equity lines of credit, or HELOCs.

As long as inflation continues to trend downward, though, mortgage rates should decline slightly towards the end of 2023. The most recent housing forecast from Fannie Mae calls for the average 30-year fixed mortgage rate to close out the year at around 6.3%.

“Mortgage rates have been volatile for some time now and while they could eventually start trending down over the next six months to a year as inflation growth continues to cool, their path is probably going to be bumpy,” Channel said.

We use data collected by Bankrate to track changes in these daily rates. This table summarizes the average rates offered by lenders across the country:

Current average mortgage interest rates

Loan type Interest rate A week ago Change
30-year fixed rate 7.19% 7.18% +0.01
15-year fixed rate 6.52% 6.51% +0.01
30-year jumbo mortgage rate 7.21% 7.20% +0.01
30-year mortgage refinance rate 7.34% 7.33% +0.01

Rates as of July 24, 2023.

How to find the best mortgage rates

You can get a personalized mortgage rate by connecting with your local mortgage broker or using an online calculator. When looking into home mortgage rates, think about your goals and current financial situation.

Things that affect the mortgage rate you might get include: your credit score, down payment, loan-to-value ratio and your debt-to-income ratio. Generally, you want a good credit score, a higher down payment, a lower DTI and a lower LTV to get a lower interest rate.

The interest rate isn’t the only factor that affects the cost of your home. Be sure to also consider other costs such as fees, closing costs, taxes and discount points. Be sure to speak with multiple lenders — like local and national banks, credit unions and online lenders — and comparison shop to find the best mortgage loan for you.

How does the loan term impact my mortgage?

One important factor to consider when choosing a mortgage is the loan term, or payment schedule. The mortgage terms most commonly offered are 15 years and 30 years, although you can also find 10-, 20- and 40-year mortgages. Another important distinction is between fixed-rate and adjustable-rate mortgages. For fixed-rate mortgages, interest rates are stable for the life of the loan. Unlike a fixed-rate mortgage, the interest rates for an adjustable-rate mortgage are only stable for a certain amount of time (usually five, seven or 10 years). After that, the rate adjusts annually based on the current interest rate in the market.

When choosing between a fixed-rate and adjustable-rate mortgage, you should consider how long you plan to stay in your house. Fixed-rate mortgages might be a better fit for people who plan on living in a home for a while. While adjustable-rate mortgages might have lower interest rates upfront, fixed-rate mortgages are more stable in the long term. However, you may get a better deal with an adjustable-rate mortgage if you only intend to keep your house for a couple years. There is no best loan term as a general rule; it all depends on your goals and your current financial situation. It’s important to do your research and understand what’s most important to you when choosing a mortgage.

Source: cnet.com

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The average 30-year fixed rate mortgage managed another dip last week, falling two basis points to 2.94%, according to Freddie Mac‘s PMMS. Since the most recent peak in April, mortgage rates have declined nearly a quarter of a percent and have remained under 3% for the past month.

Despites last week’s rates mirroring closer to what was seen in February, Sam Khater, Freddie Mac’s chief economist isn’t convinced they will last.

“The low mortgage rate environment has been a boon to the housing market but may not last long as consumer inflation has accelerated at its fastest pace in more than twelve years and may lead to higher mortgage rates in the
summer,” Khater said.

The Mortgage Bankers Association reported on Wednesday that borrowers finally got wise to the continued drop in rates and pushed mortgage applications up 2.1% after weeks of declines. So much so, the decline in rates helped the refinance index reach its highest level in eight weeks, driven by a 4% increase in conventional refis.

“Low rates offer homeowners an opportunity to lower their monthly payment by refinancing and our most recent research shows that many borrowers, especially Black and Hispanic borrowers, who could benefit from refinancing still aren’t pursuing the option,” said Khater.

Here’s what to expect in the mortgage application process

Buying your dream home starts with being a well-prepared buyer and beginning the mortgage application process before you even look at homes.

Presented by: Citi

A Wednesday research note from Freddie Mac’s economic and housing research group found that nearly 40% of all surveyed households could save at least $100 per month from refinancing at today’s mortgage rates ― this percentage is nearly 50% for Black and Hispanic borrowers and 38% for White borrowers. Moreover, nearly 15% of all borrowers could save at least $200 per month from refinancing, and this percentage is nearly 20% for Black and Hispanic borrowers and 13% for White borrowers.

A quarter of a drop in rates is significant when it comes to ushering borrowers through the refi door. In April, a 10-basis point drop gave 2 million high quality candidates the potential to save at least $300 a month, according to Black Knight. That’s a potential $3.6 billion back in to homeowners pockets.

Source: housingwire.com

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Care homes operators have warned that a recent surge in mortgage rates and a delay to government reforms will sound a “death knell” for some UK providers.

The number of registered care homes fell to 12,224 on May 31 from 12,280 at the start of the year, according to data shared with the Financial Times by carehome.co.uk, a care home review site.

The rate of closures in England slowed in the first half of 2023, compared with the same period in 2022. However, a rise in mortgage rates threatens to increase the burdens on the care sector, compounding rising food and fuel prices and funding shortfalls.

“We are facing some extremely challenging times,” said Nadra Ahmed, chair of the National Care Association, a professional body. “There are vulnerable providers out there right now and there are a lot [of homes] that will be on the market.”

The challenges encountered by some operators would make their businesses “unviable”, she added, citing Pelham House in Kent as one of the latest to hit financial trouble. “Sadly they had to make the decision after 40 years to shut their doors,” she said.

“If you’ve got mortgages that’s going to have an impact on your ability to repay your borrowings.”

The Bank of England increased interest rates by 0.5 percentage points to 5 per cent in June in an effort to tame inflation, leading to rises in monthly mortgage repayments for borrowers on variable rates.

While interest rates are not expected to climb by as much as previously estimated following better than expected June inflation data last week, care providers are already feeling the heat.

Jay Dodhia, chief executive and co-founder of Serene Care, which he established with his wife Palvi

Jay Dodhia, chief executive and co-founder of Serene Care, established with his wife Palvi, renovates and runs failing care homes. He said its model had been resilient but cautioned that rising interest rates could be particularly challenging for new builds.

“Most care homes are [on] variable rates — even when rates were very low it was very hard to get fixed rates on care home mortgages,” he said. “As the variable rate or the underlying BoE rate crept up, so have our interest payments.”

“Everything in isolation will affect you, if you put it all together — the rising inflation, utilities, food costs, staffing challenges . . . it could be a death knell for several [providers],” said Dodhia.

The number of councils in England reporting care home closures in their area rose to about 44 per cent at the end of May 2023, according to the Association of Directors of Adult Social Services, a charity.

Natasha Curry, deputy director of policy at the Nuffield Trust, said in 2019, before the coronavirus pandemic, the level was about a third.

“With borrowing rates also rocketing, it’s not a surprise that we’re seeing more closures of care homes and I think it’s inevitable that trend will continue,” said Curry.

Natasha Curry, deputy director of policy at the Nuffield Trust, said the trend would continue © Emile Holba

During the Covid crisis, an injection of emergency government funding had helped to stabilise the market, cushioning the impact of falling occupancy rates. But that funding had ended.

Cathie Williams, joint chief executive of the Association of Directors of Adult Social Services, said councils had a duty to provide “continuity of care” for residents if a home closed.

But a decade of austerity, Brexit, the pandemic and staff shortages compounded by surging living costs had contributed to “a considerable lack of resilience” in the sector.

Where care places existed, “it tends to be because they’re in the wrong place or the wrong kind of care home or the quality is not good enough”, she added.

Health leaders warned of the effect of diminishing capacity in social care on the wider health system. Matthew Taylor, chief executive of the NHS Confederation which represents health organisations across the UK, said health leaders knew “all too well the impact that a lack of social and residential care has on the NHS”.

The support provided to residents in care homes could prevent avoidable hospital admissions. Moreover, a lack of available care home places for patients who could otherwise have been discharged from hospital could create “a log jam effect in A&Es with long ambulance waits”, Taylor added.

“The good news is we can see the rate of closures slowing in England and Wales although unfortunately Scotland has seen a rise,” said Richard Stebles, head of business intelligence at carehome.co.uk.

“In order to stay sustainable, we are likely to see care providers trying to attract more privately funded residents who pay higher fees than those funded by the local authority.”

Dodhia said the average fee for publicly funded social care bed should be £900 per week. But local authorities are often paying about £600 to £700 a week; some are willing to spend just £490 a week.

Care home operators had hoped for more funding from local authorities following a “cost of care exercise” that sought to generate a shared understanding of the cost of adult social care. But some councils struggled to increase payment and reforms were pushed back to October 2025.

Providers have also fought to access the £200mn earmarked for the NHS crisis plan, which aimed to move patients from hospitals to care homes.

A “winter discharge fund” had been announced, said Dodhia, but “local authorities didn’t really want to spend it”. He added: “They knew that as soon as that funding ran out then the residents would be left vulnerable, because they can’t continue to fund [the scheme].

“We heard about all these great support plans but we didn’t see any of it,” he said.

The Department of Health and Social Care said it was investing up to £7.5bn in social care over the next two years — “the biggest funding increase in history” — to boost capacity in social care, including £1.4bn that local authorities could use flexibly, including to pay social care providers more.

It added: “Despite the pressures the adult social care market faces, the number of adult social care locations registered with the Care Quality Commission has remained stable, and there are 6,600 more home care agencies in England now compared to 2010.”

Source: ft.com

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In the Get Rich Slowly forums, DannyBoy has a question that I think many people face: “What can I do if my girlfriend isn’t serious about money?” He writes:

I’m the sort of person who essentially looks into every area of his life to save, start investing, and be smart about money as much as possible. Do you think that somebody like myself, who cares so much about where his money goes, can be happy with a girlfriend who doesn’t? Everything else between us is cool, fun, etc, But I don’t want the money issue to turn me off her.

We’re both young: I’m 19 and she’s 23. She says she doesn’t want to save for retirement because we could all die in a second, therefore it’s a waste of time and money to save if the worst should come around. I don’t really agree with this. I mean, chances are most of us will make it to retirement. (Unfortunately, some won’t.) How do you think I should handle the situation?

Should I talk to her again about how I feel towards this? Should I let it bother me? I’m into her, and I want to remain to be into her, but I don’t want something so simple as saving to get in the way of what could be. Should I grow out of it, get out of it, or just accept it?

It’s relationship questions like this that make money so complicated. What do you do when you’re in love with somebody, but you don’t see eye-to-eye on money? (Or any other issue, for that matter.)

The standard reply to a situation like DannyBoy’s is that this relationship probably won’t work in the long-term. If both partners are not on the same page financially, there’s trouble in the future.

On the other hand, Kris and I are proof that it’s possible to have a fantastic relationship despite initial differences. When we were married, Kris did all the right things with money. I did all the wrong things. (This is one of the reasons we maintained separate finances.) Eventually, I came around. Not everybody does.

Obviously, DannyBoy and his girlfriend are young yet. Is it too early for him to worry about money differences? Should he worry about them at all? Is there anything he can (or should) do to open his girlfriend’s eyes?

Source: getrichslowly.org

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Offers came quickly for an adobe house in Driftwood, TX. The uniquely beautiful space is listed for $1.37 million and pending sale.

“You don’t see a lot of Santa Fe-style homes in the Texas Hill Country and that, paired with all of the landscaping, it’s an outstanding property,” says listing agent Nayeli Cutler, with Twelve Rivers Realty.

Cutler notes that the original owners built the 2,106-square-foot, Southwest-style house in 1988 with the help of New Mexico architect Mike Fischer, in hopes of enticing their daughter to move back to Texas from Santa Fe.

“They thought she moved there for the architecture,” Cutler explains. “So they built her a home to try and woo her back, but it didn’t work out.”

Exterior

(Bradford King)

Open living space

(Bradford King)

Aerial view

(Bradford King)

More than five acres

The two-bedroom, two-bath property has had a few owners, and this is the second time Cutler is selling it. She previously represented the home in 2009, when it last changed hands.

“The current owners have improved the landscape,” she says, adding they acquired a back parcel of land to bring it to its current 5.7-acre size. The property has agricultural and wildlife exemptions, including one for beekeeping, which is a boon for owners.

“When you own land in Texas, having these exemptions on your property saves you thousands of dollars in property taxes,” Cutler says.

Den

(Bradford King)

Bedroom

(Bradford King)

Southwest style

With its three kiva fireplaces, tiled floors, stained glass, and wood-beamed ceilings, the house indeed looks like it belongs in New Mexico—the space abounds with the hallmarks of Southwest-style.

Another appealing attribute is the home’s indoor-outdoor connection.

“It has two courtyards and lots of windows that look out into those courtyards,” Cutler says.

Courtyard

(https://www.realtor.com/realestateandhomes-detail/13700-FM-150-W_Driftwood_TX_78619_M72935-07302)

Land with corrals

(Bradford King)

Hollywood comes calling

In 2008, the house caught the eye of the production crew filming the HBO movie, “Temple Grandin.” Much of the 2010 biopic starring Claire Danes was filmed in Austin, as a stand-in for an Arizona ranch.

This house “was her aunt’s house in the movie,” Cutler says. “They approached the owner at the time to see if they would be able to film there. And they actually put in all of those corrals for the movie.”

The property is just outside of Austin, about 30 minutes to downtown, and right across the street from the breweries and wineries of the Hill Country area.

“It’s truly very unique,” Cutler notes. “I call it country life with city convenience. You are surrounded by so many small towns that you can visit in a day trip, but you’re so central, and it’s just outside of the Austin fray.”

Trailer

(Bradford King)

Bathroom

(Bradford King)

Kitchen

(Bradford King)

Guest set-up

A restored, 1967 trailer in the back of the house can be used as guest quarters. Both the trailer and the wood-burning hot tub convey with the sale.

“It is just a fun place for your guests to kind of have a glamping vacation when they come and visit you,” Cutler says, noting that it’s tucked away from the main house to allow for some privacy.

The unusual property clearly stood out to buyers. After just a few days on the market, there were offers on the table.

“We priced it very aggressively in order to get the most traction possible and for it to move quickly,” Cutler says.

Interior

(Bradford King)

Source: realtor.com

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Disney World and Disneyland are some of the most well-known landmarks in the United States. Even if you’re not a fan of its animated films, Disney’s property runs the gamut from Marvel movies to the Star Wars universe.

You’ll find characters from many of Disney’s hits at the theme parks, though exactly what rides you’ll encounter and whom you’ll meet will vary depending on where you go.

Let’s look at Disneyland versus Disney World, including tickets, resorts, locations and attractions.

The main difference between Disneyland vs. Disney World is …

Disneyland comprises two theme parks and three hotels, while the Walt Disney World Resort complex includes four theme parks, two water parks, 31 hotels and a golf course.

Disneyland vs. Disney World location

Disneyland is in Anaheim, California. It’s 35 miles from Los Angeles International Airport (LAX), though traveling to the park can take a while because of traffic.

If you’re flying in, there are other airport options in the Los Angeles area, including:

  • John Wayne Airport (SNA).

  • Long Beach Airport (LGB).

  • Ontario International Airport (ONT).

Walt Disney World, meanwhile, is in Orlando, Florida. Its nearest airport is Orlando International Airport (MCO), which is about 16 miles away from the resort.

Disneyland vs. Disney World theme parks

Disneyland and Walt Disney World have two very different vibes, in part because of the theme parks each contains.

Disneyland Resort

Disneyland is the first theme park Walt Disney opened, doing so in 1955. Inside, the park features nine distinct lands, all of which include different theming and attractions:

Disneyland lands

  • Adventureland.

  • Critter Country.

  • Fantasyland.

  • Frontierland.

  • Main Street, U.S.A.

  • Mickey’s Toontown.

  • New Orleans Square.

  • Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge.

  • Tomorrowland.

Disney California Adventure is the second theme park within the Disneyland Resort. Just across the walkway from Disneyland, this park is home to a more adult atmosphere than its sibling. You’ll find bigger rides, such as a looping roller coaster and a drop tower, as well as far more opportunities for purchasing alcohol.

Walt Disney World Resort

Walt Disney World debuted in 1971, roughly 16 years after Disneyland’s launch. Clear across the country, Disney World is far larger than Disneyland — and its four theme parks reflect this.

Magic Kingdom: Built similarly to Disneyland Park, Magic Kingdom offers a central hub ringed by different lands. These are much the same and include Fantasyland, Adventureland and Tomorrowland, among others.

Epcot: The second of Walt Disney World’s parks, Epcot focuses on two things: world culture and the future. This can be seen from rides such as Mission: Space, which simulates a trip to Mars. It can also be seen via the World Showcase, whose 11 pavilions highlight global food and culture.

Disney’s Hollywood Studios: With a focus on the movie and film aspects of Disney’s property, this park has attractions such as Mickey and Minnie’s Runaway Railway, Toy Story Land and Star Wars: Rise of the Resistance.

Disney’s Animal Kingdom: A wholly unique park in that it blends live attractions, such as a safari, with more standard fare like roller coasters.

Walt Disney World vs. Disneyland tickets

Disneyland and Walt Disney World tickets start at a similar price range: Disneyland’s tickets start at $104 for a one-day ticket, while Walt Disney World’s tickets begin at $109 per day.

However, Walt Disney World tickets will vary in price according to demand no matter what type of ticket you’re purchasing; this is true for single-day and multiday tickets. For example, a four-day ticket for a visit in late August will cost $485.

At Disneyland, multiday tickets are a fixed price. You’ll be able to visit anytime and pay the same cost, no matter how busy it is. A four-day ticket to visit Disneyland costs $395.

Both theme parks offer annual passes, though a Disneyland Magic Key pass is more costly than one for Walt Disney World. For 2023, a top-tier Inspire Key Pass for Disneyland will run $1,599 — and that pass still includes blockout dates.

Walt Disney World’s most expensive annual pass is the Disney Incredi-Pass, which costs $1,399 and allows you access to all of its parks every day of the year.

Walt Disney World vs. Disneyland resorts

The Walt Disney World and Disneyland resorts have their own hotels on property. However, Disneyland’s options are much more scarce than Walt Disney World’s. Within Disneyland, you’ll find just three options from which to choose, with price points that vary based on luxury.

At Walt Disney World, there are a whopping 31 on-site hotels. All of these feature incredible theming — such as overwater villas — and also run the gamut for pricing depending on where you stay.

Is Disneyland or Disney World better?

Which is better, Disneyland or Disney World? The one you prefer is going to come down to the type of vacation you enjoy. Because Disneyland is so much smaller, it’s easier to pack more into your day. This also means it’s possible to explore everything within the Disneyland Resort within a couple of days.

Walt Disney World has twice as many theme parks as Disneyland but also has other activities, which means that if you’d like to thoroughly explore the resort, it can easily take you more than a week to do so.

Walt Disney World and Disneyland feature theme parks with rides, characters and classic Disney favorites, but at their heart, they’re distinct. Before visiting either of these theme parks, you’ll want to do some research to see which is right for you.

Disneyland is smaller, features fewer theme parks and hotels and costs less than Walt Disney World. Walt Disney World is a sprawling complex that encompasses four theme parks, more than two dozen hotels and other attractions to boot.

(Top photo courtesy of Disneyland Resort)

How to maximize your rewards

You want a travel credit card that prioritizes what’s important to you. Here are our picks for the best travel credit cards of 2023, including those best for:

Source: nerdwallet.com

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Voya Financial, Inc. is a combination of insurance, retirement, and investment product and services conglomerate. The company serves the financial needs of approximately 13 million customers – both business and consumer – throughout the U.S.

The vision of Voya is to become America’s Retirement Company – and it is well on its way, as the firm helps its customers to meet the challenges of saving for retirement through its more than 7,000 dedicated employees.

Need help finding a different form of insurance coverage, such as burial insurance plans, auto insurance coverage or health insurance, we can help find the best company to work with according to your needs!

The principal businesses of Voya include Insurance Solutions, Investment Management, and Retirement Solutions. Each component has a very specific focus. These are broken out as follows:

  • Insurance Solutions: The Insurance Solutions component of Voya is considered to be a top-tier provider of term policies, as well as a top-ten provider of medical stop-loss insurance coverage in the United States. On the individual life insurance side, Voya currently has more than $2 billion in gross premium via its term, universal, and variable life insurance products. This component of the business also consists of Employee Benefits whereby Voya currently serves nearly 4.5 million individuals.
  • Investment Management: On the investment management side, Voya holds in excess of $207 billion in assets under management for both external and affiliated institutions and for individual investors. The company has a focus on investment solutions, with a clear emphasis on fixed income, equities, and multi-asset income strategies.
  • Retirement Solutions: Retirement Solutions is a leading provider of retirement products and services in the United States. This section of Voya’s business has roughly $375 billion in assets under management and administration and it serves approximately 47,000 institutional clients, and more than 5 million individual retirement plan investors. In addition, more than 2,300 financial advisors are also served in this area, as well as more than 417,000 retail fixed annuity product customers.

History of Voya Life Insurance Company

In the scope of financial services companies, Voya is quite new. It actually made its debut in April 2014 – and completed its overall re-branding in September. The company’s name originated as an abstract name that was coined from the word “voyage,” and it reflects both momentum and optimism.

The company actually came from the former ING US – and after two years of transforming the strategy, the financial profile, and the culture of the company, ING began to trade as a public company on the New York Stock Exchange under the ticker symbol VOYA in 2014.

While it has only a short history, Voya has strived to impress. In 2014, the company was named one of the World’s Most Ethical Companies by Ethisphere Institute, as well as a top-five retirement plan provider based on number of plans, participants, and assets. In addition, the company is also a top-tier independent broker dealer network in the U.S. a top-tier provider of life insurance, and a top-10 medical stop-loss coverage provider in the United States.

Products Offered By Voya

Voya offers a wide range of insurance and financial products. For individuals, the choices include life insurance, annuities, IRAs, workplace retirement plans, employee benefits, and college savings options.

On the life insurance side, options include the following:

  • Term Life – Term life is the most basic of all coverage options. This is because term provides just pure death benefit protection only, with no cash value or investment build up. Term life is also typically the most economical form of life insurance protection, especially for those that are needing a larger death benefit amount such as a 1 million dollar life insurance policy. This can especially be the case when the applicant for coverage is young and in good health at the time of application. If you are not in the best of health and feel a no exam life insurance policy would be best for you, we can help find the carrier to best suit your needs. Term coverage is sold for a set period of time – typically a certain number of years. Voya offers several term life options, including the Voya TermSmart, and the Voya ROP (Return of Premium) Endowment Term.
  • Universal Life – Universal policies are a type of permanent life insurance protection. This means that the policy is not sold for a set period of time but rather, it will last for the entirety of the insured’s life – provided that the premium is paid. Universal coverage offers both a death benefit and a cash value. Cash value growth is tax deferred, meaning that the policy holder does not have to pay any income tax on the cash while it accumulates inside of the policy. Universal policies are also quite flexible in that the policy holder is allowed to adjust the frequency of premium payments in order to meet his or her changing needs. The death benefit of the policy can also be adjusted up or down, within certain guidelines, as well.
  • Indexed Universal Life – Indexed universal policies provide death benefit protection, as well as the ability to build funds inside of the policy based upon increases in underlying market indexes. Even if the indexes perform poorly, however, the policy holder is safe based on the policy’s guaranteed minimum interest rate. Like other types of permanent coverage, the funds that are inside of the policy are allowed to grow tax deferred. For indexed universal life insurance, Voya offers the Voya Indexed Universal Life – Global Choice, and the Voya Indexed Universal Life – Guaranteed Death Benefit products.
  • Variable Universal Life – Variable universal coverage provides death benefit protection and the flexibility of universal life insurance plans. Policy holders also have the ability to build funds in their policy using variable investment options from the market. Funds in these policies can also grow on a tax deferred basis. Voya offers the Voya Variable Universal Life – CV, and the Voya Variable Universal Life – DB plans in the area of variable universal life insurance.
  • Survivorship Life – A survivorship policy insures the lives of two people – and the death benefit is paid out when the second person passes away. These policies are oftentimes used for estate planning strategies. They can be especially beneficial as the premium on a survivorship policy is generally less costly than that of two separate policies. Voya offers the Strategic Accumulator Survivorship Universal Life policy, as well as the Voya Survivorship Variable Universal Life-CV plan.

Financial Strength Ratings

Voya is a strong company, and it has been provided with very good ratings from the ratings agencies. These marks are as follows:

A.M. Best Fitch Ratings Moody’s Investor Services Standard & Poor’s

A A- A3 A-

Advantages and Disadvantages

Although not at the very top of the list, Voya is considered to be an extremely strong contender in the life insurance arena. The company has very strong ratings in terms of financial ability for paying out claims, and it offers a nice array of different products for meeting a diverse mix of client needs.

As with some of the other life insurers, however, if an applicant has any type of adverse health condition, he or she may be at an impasse in terms of how to proceed through the “traditional” application channels – especially if applying directly through the company. In this regard, it is best to instead work with an agency or company that specializes in higher risk insurance cases.

Obtaining Life Insurance Quotes

Any time you are seeking coverage, it is always best to obtain quotes from several different insurance carriers. This will allow you to review various policies, as well as premium prices, and to truly see what types of plans are available to you.

Just as with other types of important purchases, you wouldn’t typically opt for the first and only item that you see. So, with life insurance, it is important to keep in mind that this is in most cases going to be the financial security that your loved ones will be counting on to pay their living expenses, erase large debts, or eliminate substantial tax obligations. With that in mind, you will want to ensure that you are obtaining the very best coverage that you can.

When you’re ready to begin shopping for policies, our recommended partner, Root Financial, can help. They work with the top life insurance carriers in the nation today, and can get you all of the information that you need in order to make a well informed decision. They can also assist you with decisions such as:

  • What type of coverage to purchase – term, whole life, or universal
  • Determining how much benefit will be enough
  • Finding the best carrier that will meet your protection needs, as well as your premium budget

In addition, should you have any type of adverse health condition, Root financial specializes in helping people find the carriers that are more apt to cover various applicants. So whether you are a smoker, a diabetic or just in good health, this can save you countless hours of time and frustration throughout the application process. Use the form on this page to get started with your own set of quotes.

Source: goodfinancialcents.com

Apache is functioning normally

Our shoes reveal a lot about who we are, and there are many situations in which we need a wide selection of different shoe styles and colors; for work, for socializing, or just a casual pair to feel comfortable in.

If you have a small closet and a growing footwear collection, fear not. It’s totally possible to organize shoes in small spaces, you just need some space-saving shoe organizing methods and a few products to help.

small closet to allow for further purchases. 

Try these organization methods at home to free up shoe space in your closet

After organizing your clothes in a small closet, the next task is always your shoes. The last thing you want to do is to dirty, damage, or even lose your most-loved shoes.

These tips will save you space and time searching for your favorite pair.

(Image credit: Go Modern Furniture)

1. Declutter and prioritize

The first step is to start decluttering your shoe collection, you need to know exactly where all of your shoes are, their condition, and how many you have and need.

Take out all your shoes and assess which ones you truly need and wear regularly. If you notice that there are some damaged shoes or pairs that no longer serve you, put them in separate piles for donating or discarding.

Once you have been through all of your footwear, you will have freed up space in your closet which will make organizing the space easier.

2. Utilize vertical space

Often because we have a small closet we automatically assume that there is no room in it, but that is not always the case. Vertical potential is often overlooked and instead, it should be used to our advantage.

Vertical space is especially useful when it comes to organizing shoes, not only does it allow us to see our shoe collection easily, but it also helps us take up space that would otherwise be unused. 

A shoe riser is an effective and simple way to use up your vertical space in the closet and essentially increases the amount of shoe storage space you have on your shelves.

Professional organizer Caroline Guntur says that she relies on shoe risers, available at Amazon, and uses them in all small closets for her clients: ‘It allows both pumps and flats to be stacked instead of just side by side, this automatically increases the amount of shelf space available for your shoe collection.’

Caroline Guntur

Camilla Frederico, one space that is often overlooked is the closet door itself.

‘If the back of your closet door is bare, an over-the-door shoe organizer can make the most of this space,’ she says. ‘They also happen to store several pairs of shoes at once. Additionally, they can also double as storage for accessories!’

Over-the-door organizers, at Wayfair, will help take the clutter away from inside the closet, conjuring up space from nowhere and making it much easier to see everything.

Camilla Frederico

Relaxing Space. ‘It will maximize your storage and you can easily see which shoes you have.’

Stackable clear shoe boxes, at Amazon, not only save space but also protect your shoes from dust. Furthermore, the clear view allows you to simply locate the shoes you want at any time.

Aleesha Dane

Inspire Clean. ‘Store out-of-season shoes in a separate location, such as under-bed storage or a different closet, and swap them out as the seasons change.’

Rotating your shoes seasonally allows you to align your footwear to the clothes in your closet. For example, you are more likely to wear your summer sandals versus winter boots during the warmer months. 

Consider how often you are going to be wearing each type of shoe and create space by removing the pairs not needed for now.

Nathaly Viera

washing machine; however, those made with leather, suede, rubber, or vinyl should not be placed in the washer.

When you organize a closet that has limited space, you have to keep in mind that each closet is different, it is best to choose the storage and organizational solution that works for you and your space. These organization ideas will set you up for having a manageable and functional closet in no time.

Source: homesandgardens.com