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With an installment loan, you receive a lump sum of money up front and then pay it back (plus interest) in a series of fixed payments over the term of the loan. The repayment period can be several months to many years.

There are many types of installment loans, including personal loans, mortgages, and auto loans. Read on to learn exactly how these loans work, their pros and cons, and how they compare to revolving loans.

What Is an Installment Loan?

Simply defined, an installment loan is a type of loan that allows you to receive the full borrowing amount (loan principal) all at once and then repay it in fixed monthly installments over a set period (the loan’s term). Each installment consists of both principal and interest, and the loan term can range from a few months to several years.

Common examples of installment loans include car loans, mortgages, personal loans, and student loans.

Installment loans are also known as closed-ended loans (or closed-ended credit accounts). They differ from revolving loans, like credit cards, which are open-ended accounts. With an open-ended account, you can use and repay funds repeatedly for as long as the account remains open and in good standing.

How Do Installment Loans Work?

When you take out an installment loan, you immediately receive the principal. You then start paying it off — typically with interest — in regularly scheduled payments for a set number of weeks, months, or years. Once the loan is paid back in full, the account is closed.

To better understand how installment loans work, let’s consider an example:

Let’s say you need to borrow $10,000 to cover home repairs. You apply for a personal installment loan with a 5% annual percentage rate (APR) and a loan term of 3 years. If approved, you’ll receive the full $10,000 upfront. Over the next 36 months, you’ll make fixed monthly payments, including principal and interest, until the loan is fully repaid.

Pros and Cons of Installment Loans

To better understand if a personal installment loan is the right fit, let’s look at some pros and cons associated with this type of lending product.

Pros Cons
Provides funds for a large purchase Interest and fees add to your costs
Fixed payments help with budgeting May have long repayment period
May have lower interest rates than other loan products May need good credit to qualify

Pros

•  Helps you cover a large expense Installment loans can give you quick access to the money you need for bigger purchases, such as a house, car, or home renovation.

•  Predictable payments Interest rates are typically fixed and each loan payment is the same throughout the loan term, making budgeting easier.

•  Structured repayment Installment loans have fixed repayment schedules, ensuring you know exactly when the loan will be paid off.

•  Access to larger amounts Installment loans often allow for borrowing larger sums compared to other types of loans.

•  Potential lower interest rates Depending on your creditworthiness, installment loans may offer lower interest rates than credit cards or payday loans.

Cons

•  Interest costs Typically, borrowers need to pay interest on the loan amount, which adds to the total cost.

•  Credit requirements Qualifying for installment loans may require a good credit score, making them less accessible for individuals with poor credit.

•  Potential fees Some lenders may charge origination fees or prepayment penalties, so it’s essential to review the terms and conditions.

•  Not open-ended It’s unlikely you’ll be able to add to your loan amount if you find you need more.

•  Potentially long commitment Some installment loans come with long repayment terms, which means you must commit to making regular payments over a long period of time.

Installment Loans vs Revolving Credit

Installment loans work differently than revolving credit. With revolving credit, you don’t receive a lump sum of money up front and then pay it back (plus interest) on a set schedule. Instead, you get approved for a certain credit limit, then borrow what you need (up to your approved limit) as you need it. You only pay interest on what you borrow and, once you repay what you’ve borrowed, that money becomes available to borrow again.

Here’s a closer look at how installment loans compare to revolving credit.

Installment Loans Revolving Credit
Payment structure Fixed monthly payments Minimum payment due varies monthly
Loan term Predetermined No fixed term
Interest charges Interest applied to entire balance Interest applied to outstanding balance
Credit limit Borrow a lump sum up front Pre-approved credit limit/td>
Interest rates Tend to be lower Tend to be higher

Types of Installment Loans

Installment loans are available for various purposes. Here are some common types.

Auto Loans

Car loans are a common type of installment loan. Typically, you make a down payment on a car, then take out an auto loan to cover the purchase price balance. You then make monthly fixed payments to the lender for the term of the loan, which can range anywhere from 24 to 84 months.

Mortgages

Mortgages are long-term installment loans used to finance the purchase of a home. You typically make a downpayment (say 20% of the home’s purchase price) and get a loan for the balance at an agreed-upon interest rate. Common mortgage loan terms are 15 or 30 years.

Personal Loans

Personal loans are typically unsecured installment loans that can be used for various purposes, such as debt consolidation, paying for a wedding, or making home improvements. You receive the funds in a lump sum and once you get the cash, you must make payments until the debt has been fully repaid. Terms can be anywhere from one to seven years.

Student Loans

Student loans are a type of installment loan that pay for college and related expenses (including tuition, fees, books, and living expenses). There are two types of student loans — federal and private student loans. Which type you get will determine how your interest rate is calculated and your repayment options.

Buy Now, Pay Later Loans

Buy now, pay later loans allow you to make purchases and pay them off over time, typically interest-free if repaid within a specific period, which is generally a few weeks. If you don’t repay the loan within the set term, however, you can end up paying high interest rates and fees.

Installment Loans and Credit Scores

The typical credit requirements to qualify for an installment loan vary among lenders. Generally, a higher credit score increases your chances of approval and may lead to more favorable loan terms, such as lower interest rates. Lenders may also consider factors like income, employment history, and debt-to-income ratio when evaluating your application.

The Takeaway

Installment loans can provide a helpful financing solution for various needs, offering predictable repayment schedules and the ability to borrow larger sums. However, it’s essential to carefully consider the pros and cons, compare different types of loans, and review credit requirements before applying.

Taking the time to understand installment loans will help you make informed decisions and choose the best financing option for your specific circumstances.

If you are thinking about using a personal installment loan to cover a large expense, you may want to consider a SoFi personal loan. SoFi personal loans offer competitive, fixed rates and a variety of terms. Checking your rate won’t affect your credit score, and it takes just one minute.

See if a personal installment loan from SoFi is right for you.

FAQ

Is there a difference between personal loans and installment loans?

Yes. Personal loans are a specific type of installment loan, but not all installment loans are personal loans. Installment loans, in general, refer to loans that are repaid in fixed monthly installments over a specific period. Personal loans, on the other hand, are installment loans that can be used for various purposes, such as debt consolidation or unexpected expenses.

Which consumer loans are installment loans?

Several types of consumer loans are considered installment loans. Some common examples include:

•  Auto loans

•  Mortgages

•  Personal loans

•  Student loans

•  Buy now pay later loans

These loans are repaid in regular installments over a predetermined period.

Can installment loans hurt your credit score?

Installment loans can potentially impact your credit score. If you make timely payments and manage the loan responsibly, it can have a positive effect on your credit by demonstrating your ability to handle debt. If, on the other hand, you miss payments or default on the loan, it could negatively impact your credit. It’s important to pay each installment in full and on time to maintain a good credit score.

Photo credit: iStock/Delmaine Donson

SoFi Loan Products
SoFi loans are originated by SoFi Bank, N.A., NMLS #696891 (Member FDIC). For additional product-specific legal and licensing information, see SoFi.com/legal. Equal Housing Lender.

Checking Your Rates: To check the rates and terms you may qualify for, SoFi conducts a soft credit pull that will not affect your credit score. However, if you choose a product and continue your application, we will request your full credit report from one or more consumer reporting agencies, which is considered a hard credit pull and may affect your credit.

Disclaimer: Many factors affect your credit scores and the interest rates you may receive. SoFi is not a Credit Repair Organization as defined under federal or state law, including the Credit Repair Organizations Act. SoFi does not provide “credit repair” services or advice or assistance regarding “rebuilding” or “improving” your credit record, credit history, or credit rating. For details, see the FTC’s website .

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Source: sofi.com

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Your house, your rental income and your future.

In the age of Airbnb, listing your home, property or apartment for temporary and long-term renting is a unique way to generate income while stepping into property management shoes. Listing your property, which may initially sound simple, requires meticulous management, organization skills and a general understanding of landlord-tenant law. The worthy feat of generating income through property rental is gaining popularity, particularly in areas where housing is in high demand.

Explore the comprehensive guide below to understand the process of renting your house and assist in developing an efficient property management strategy. These step-by-step instructions are tailored to assist both novice and seasoned property owners in maximizing the benefits of the significant endeavor that is the rental game.

Renting out your house: a step-by-step guide

Follow these steps to ensure you and your potential renters gain the most from the renting experience. In addition to optimizing your earnings, acquire the know-how to increase your visibility, ensure compliance with legal regulations and cultivate essential management abilities.

1. Understand local laws and regulations

Before you embark on your property management journey, it’s imperative to research and familiarize yourself with local laws and regulations around renting. Here are some rules, regulations and definitions to understand concerning renting out your house while playing by the rules.

Fair Housing Act: This federal law prohibits discrimination against housing applicants on the basis of race, color, religion, national origin, disability, sex, age or familial status (e.g., women who are pregnant, families with small children or teenagers, etc.).

Fair Credit Reporting Act (FCRA): Credit and criminal background checks are subject to federal regulation known as the Fair Credit Reporting Act (FCRA). Its many provisions include the following requirements:

  • You must notify applicants in writing and get their written permission before running any check on them.
  • If you decide to reject an applicant based on the findings of a credit report or background check, you must notify the applicant of your intent in writing, furnish them a copy of the report and give them a reasonable amount of time (a week suffices) to respond with a correction or explanation of the report’s findings.
  • After that period, upon consideration of any response you get from the applicant, you may notify them in writing of your final decision.

“Fair chance” laws: This isn’t a federal law, but a growing number of states and cities have enacted these measures to prevent discrimination against persons with prison records. Specifics vary by jurisdiction, but most of these laws forbid asking about past criminal convictions or incarceration on housing applications.

Protect yourself by consulting your legal advisor to see whether any fair chance laws apply to you, and how they might affect your tenant-screening process. Avoid exposing yourself to legal liability as well by utilizing professional background-check companies or consulting legal advice further.

2. Prepare your property

Staging your property and making it suitable for renters is the next step. Ensure any broken appliances are fixed, messes tended to and any recommended enhancements are made. Completing some market research to see similar rental properties to yours (properties that have similar offerings like bedroom and bathroom numbers or properties in the same location) can be helpful in terms of improvements or enhancements to make to your rental property.

Secure landlord insurance as a part of your preparation step. Landlord insurance is a specialized policy that safeguards property owners from potential financial losses and liabilities when renting out their residential properties to tenants. It typically covers property damage, liability protection and loss of rental income due to covered events.

3. Set a competitive rental price with our rent estimator tool

Continue your market research in this step to determine the ideal price range for renting out your property to temporary tenants. Utilize this rent estimator tool to assist you in valuing your property for rent price.

4. Draw up a lease agreement

Draft a comprehensive lease agreement that clearly outlines the terms and conditions of the rental, including rent amount, security deposit, lease duration and any rules or policies for the property. Ensure that it complies with local and state laws.

5. Create your listing

Once you know what you’re charging for rent, you’re ready to get to the heart of marketing the property online: putting together a listing that will entice tenants into renting out your home.

The key to a great listing is communicating the unique advantages of your property in a way that attracts the right kind of tenant. Namely, a tenant who will be dependable and take care of your property as if it were their own.

A Rent. survey found that most seekers of single-family rental (SFR) properties are married or in domestic partnerships (62 percent), have children (61 percent) and have pets (54 percent).

Regardless of who you are renting out your home to, it’s important to highlight what’s most likely to resonate with your ideal tenant. Here are some potential features to consider when renting out your home.

  • Schools: Each Rent. listing automatically displays GreatSchools.org ratings for schools closest to each property. If nearby schools get high marks, consider highlighting them in your property description and noting if any are within walking distance.
  • Parks or playgrounds: If there are parks or playgrounds nearby, mention them and how long it takes to walk or bike to them. If you pique any rental seekers’ curiosity, they can use the map embedded in the Rent.com listing to explore via Google Street View.
  • Pet-friendliness: If you plan to allow pets on the property, make sure you include this in the listing, along with any breed restrictions info. Call out relevant details that will be of interest to pet owners (e.g., nearby pet-friendly parks, fenced-in yards, doggy doors, etc.).
  • Neighborhood highlights: Call out nearby landmarks, much-loved hangouts or transportation conveniences like a train or subway stop and include a picture. Don’t forget to call out the distance from your property.

6. Market your property

Share your listing across ILS networks to cover a lot of the heavy lifting, but you can also share links to your Facebook and Instagram accounts. Try using Facebook Marketplace to limit the post geographically (and to reach potential tenants you aren’t friends with on Facebook).

Once you’ve posted one and shared it across multiple ILS sites and social media, you’ll likely be moving on to the next phase of the rental process: choosing the best tenant from among the applicants who are interested in your rental listing.

7. Screen and collect

Develop a tenant screening process that includes background checks, credit checks and references. This will help you select reliable tenants who are more likely to pay rent on time and take care of your property. Once you find a suitable tenant, collect a security deposit and the first month’s rent from your tenants before they move in. Make sure you follow local laws regarding the handling of security deposits.

Once tenants are inhabiting your rental property, it’s imperative to stay responsive to maintenance requests from your tenants. Timely repairs and maintenance will help keep your property in good condition and your tenants satisfied.

8. Maintain your rental property

Regular maintenance tasks include keeping the property in good repair, addressing maintenance requests promptly and conducting routine inspections to identify and address issues before they become major problems. Timely maintenance is important because it minimizes the risk of costly repairs down the road. Make sure to stay up to date with local regulations and safety standards as well to ensure that your rental property remains compliant and safe for renting out.

Renting our your house made easy

Renting out your home, in the age of Airbnb and VRBO, is an exciting time and journey to embark on. Once you estimate your home using our rent calculator tool, draw up your lease and prepare your property, the rest of the process involves meeting and vetting potential tenants. Sharing your home, community and amenities is a unique job that just about anyone can do, using this article.

The information contained in this article is for educational purposes only and does not, and is not intended to, constitute legal or financial advice. Readers are encouraged to seek professional legal or financial advice as they may deem it necessary.

Wesley is a Charlotte-based writer with a degree in Mass Communication from the University of South Carolina. Her background includes 6 years in non-profit communication and 4 years in editorial writing. She’s passionate about traveling, volunteering, cooking and drinking her morning iced coffee. When she’s not writing, you can find her relaxing with family or exploring Charlotte with her friends.

Source: rent.com

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Inside: Intuit bought its popular Mint app and now it shutting down leaving users scrambling to find an alternative. This guide will help you understand Intuit’s decision to move Mint to Credit Karma and provide a list of alternatives for personal finance management.

In an era where personal finance apps are thriving more than ever, the shutdown news of Intuit’s Mint app comes as a shock for many.

When I heard the news, I couldn’t believe my ears… moving Mint’s feature to Credit Karma – a credit repair app?!?!

Once I got over the shock, I knew you wanted the best information out there to decide on what to do next.

Our guide here is dedicated to helping Mint users navigate the ongoing changes and prepare for what’s next in their personal finance journey.

This post may contain affiliate links, which helps us to continue providing relevant content and we receive a small commission at no cost to you. As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases. Please read the full disclosure here.

The Downfall: Intuit’s Decision to Shut Down Mint

Mint has always been a beacon in the realm of top budgeting apps; mostly due to the fact it was free.

However, Intuit’s decision to close Mint marks the end of an era. Yet, there is a teaser… Mint is propelling people to Credit Karma.

Here is a statement in the Mint App News:

“Credit Karma is thrilled to invite all Minters to continue their financial journey on Credit Karma, where they will have access to Credit Karma’s suite of features, products, tools and services, including some of Mint’s most popular features.”

Mint App News1

Mint’s commendable service, free albeit with ads, which has been helping many people manage their finances effectively, will be missed by Minters—time to understand why this happened.

Why is Mint Shutting Down?

Credit: Intuit MintLife 1

A surprising fact is that a free personal finance app like Mint isn’t a sustainable business. Most free apps have marginal direct costs associated with their services, unlike personal finance apps. They heavily rely on expensive data aggregators to gather the necessary financial data, causing a steady revenue loss for Mint per free user.

Intuit’s model has never been able to cover these costs leading to a revenue crisis. That was a key reason why I believe Intuit decided to shut down Mint. While Intuit denied Mint’s expenses being material in their quarterly earnings calls in 2023, they did note however they are looking to grow their consumer base across all of their products. 2

The Controversy Surrounding Mint’s Shutdown

While the financial reason behind Mint’s closure is understandable, this decision has provoked a wave of consternation among the users. Massive user outcry on Reddit underscores the integral role Mint played in their lives, and some even accuse Intuit of abandoning its commitment to free financial management resources.3

Given the fairly recent acquisition of Mint into Intuit, this may be surprising for many including these Twitter users.10

When is Mint shutting down?

Yes, Mint is being shut down. Mint’s curtains will be drawn on January 1, 2024.

From this date, users will no longer be able to access their accounts or use any Mint services as we know them today.

So, don’t be caught off-guard; stay prepared and choose the right alternative before Mint bids adieu. We have other options below to help you guide this transition.

Mint User’s Guide: Next Steps to Credit Karma

Okay, one piece of advice I always give at Money Bliss is to plan and carve your own money journey. So, let’s move from panic to planning:

What should Mint users do now?

It’s natural to feel perturbed by Mint’s shutdown. Yet, the smart step is to immediately switch to planning mode.

Some crucial actions include exporting your transactions from Mint for future use and deleting your account once you have secured all necessary information.

In this interim period, also make sure to explore personal finance app alternatives, considering their features and support services, to find one that fits your needs perfectly.

Starting Afresh: Alternatives to Mint App

In light of recent events, here are the best apps available for Minters.

Switching to a new personal finance app might feel daunting initially, but there’s no need to worry. This era offers a wide array of options, many of which employ advanced technology and provide a user-friendly experience.

Look for apps that offer seamless data importation from Mint with a CSV file, comprehensive financial overview, dependable security features, and preferably, competitive pricing as well.

Diving into Details: A Comparison of Mint Alternatives

When comparing Mint alternatives, consider factors such as user interface, functions, cost, and customer feedback. Each app has its unique strengths.

For instance, YNAB stands out for budgeting, and Quicken shines in terms of portfolio management, while Simplifi offers a user-friendly interface. You may pick a budget app based on your budgeting preference, such as budget by paycheck or zero based budgeting.

Research thoroughly to find the app that delivers your personal financial needs the best.

YNAB

YNAB, or You Need a Budget, stands out for its award-winning budgeting system. It’s not a clone of Mint, but rather, it takes a unique approach to helping people proactively track spending and work towards financial goals.

YNAB stands out in personal finance management since it allows for utmost user control with its four simple pillars:

  1. Give Every Dollar a Job
  2. Embrace Your True Expenses
  3. Roll with the Punches
  4. Age Your Money

Additionally, YNAB presents flexible customization options for category names, a feature that enhances user experience, along with an open-source toolkit for extensive reporting while maintaining supreme user data privacy.

  • Learning Curve: YNAB requires diligence and customization in its early stages, but offers a robust set of personalized budgeting tools once users cross the learning curve.
  • Import Existing Mint Transactions: Yes 4
  • Price: Free 34 day trial and then a subscription-based model of $14.99 monthly or $99 annually.

Most people struggle with YNAB because of the steeper learning curve as well as getting one month ahead on their money. This is YNAB’s rule #4 to age your money, which is a smart money move and one we do personally.

No need to compare YNAB vs Mint anymore.

YNAB

Enjoy guilt-free spending and effortless saving with a friendly, flexible method for managing your finances. 

Pros:

  • Comprehensive approach to budgeting, helping you plan monthly budgets based on your income.
  • Offers expert advice, making it suitable for those who require an in-depth, forward-thinking budgeting strategy.
  • Superior synchronization skills make it the winner in this area.
  • YNAB has extra features like goal setting for budgeting, shared budgeting tools for partners.
  • Option to manually add and upload transactions from accounts each month.
  • YNAB prioritizes user privacy.

Start 34 Day Free Trial

YNAB vs Mint

Simplifi

Simplifi by Quicken is a budgeting app that strikes a fine balance between complexity and simplicity.

Cheaper than a gallon of gas per month, Simplifi by Quicken a great bargain that offers a clean, intuitive, and clutter-free interface. It allows users to effortlessly track their spending, monitor savings goals, capture bills, and more.

  • Learning Curve: Simplifi is smooth due to its user-friendly interface and detailed instructions
  • Import Existing Mint Transactions: Yes 6
  • Price: Starting at $2.39/ month for new users

Simplifi has been rated as a preferred choice for people who want a fuss-free app to manage finances.

simplifi

Manage your money less in 5 minutes each week.

Reach your money goals with confidence!

“The easiest, most comprehensive way to both see where your money is going and plan for future expenses.”

Start FREE Trial

Quicken

This is the personal finance software I have been using for over 25 years.

Quicken offers robust personal finance management tools that make it easier to track expenses, income, and investments. Many people complain their budgeting feature isn’t up to par, but their cash flow reporting overcomes this as you can see your spending and plan accordingly.

  • Quicken Classic Deluxe: Robust & feature-rich | Best for power users
  • Quicken Classic Premier: Robust & feature-rich including investment| Best for serious users
  • Quicken Classic Business & Personal: Best-in-class business features integrated with our flagship personal finance product

Quicken might be the most suitable option for current Mint users due to its compatibility and ease of use. Unlike Mint, Quicken is not free, but its expansive features such as detailed expense tracking, report generation, and robust investment tracking arguably justify the cost. Plus you can add attachments of receipts into the transactions.

  • Learning Curve: Quicken may present a significant learning curve for beginners.
  • Import Existing Mint Transactions: Yes 5
  • Price: Starts at $4.19/ month for Quicken classic for new users. All plans have a 30 day money back guarantee.

It’s a perfect match for anyone requiring a comprehensive personal finance tool. You can sync between multiple devices as I covered in my Quicken review.

Quicken

Personal finance and money management software allows you to manage spending, create monthly budgets, track investments, retirement and more.

I have used this platform for over 20 years now.

Pros:

  • Birds-eye view of your complete financial picture.
  • Conveniently download your spending activities, and automatically categorize them (Quicken connects to over 14,000 financial institutions).
  • Track investments with it’s features like portfolio analytics, retirement goals, and market comparison.
Cons:

  • Little complex to use at first, the learning curve is moderate.
  • Yearly subscription-based model to use the platform.

Save 40% on New Memberships

Our Review

Monarch Money

Monarch Money’s unique selling point is its robust data connectivity. Armed with state-of-art financial transaction infrastructure that integrates with various data aggregators, Monarch promises effective budgeting and financial planning. It’s not free but offers a 7-day free trial to test its features.

Its subscription charges are $14.99 per month or $99.99 per year, a fair trade for its impressive service.

This is the latest top budget app to surface as true competition.

  • Learning Curve: Monarch Money boasts an intuitive and user-friendly interface, making the learning curve minimal and easy for new users.
  • Import Existing Mint Transactions: Yes 7
  • Price: Try Monarch Premium for free for 7 days. Then choose between the $14.99/month or annual $99/year plan.

Monarch Money facilitates financial planning with goal setting and forecasts, allows Mint transactions importation for history preservation, has customer-driven rapid development, provides a multi-user platform for collaborative financial management, is available across multiple platforms, and provides efficient customer service.

Tiller Money

Tiller Money might be the perfect solution for spreadsheet enthusiasts. This unique budgeting tool uses spreadsheets to manage finances and daily transaction updates. It is highly customizable with categories and reports to help you stay on top of your spending.

Tiller Money is a definite contender in the personal finance app scene.

  • Learning Curve: While Tiller Money requires a basic understanding of spreadsheets, users can easily customize it to suit their personal budget needs.
  • Import Existing Mint Transactions: Yes 8
  • Price: Starts with a free trial for 30 days and then charges a reasonable annual fee of $79.

A notable feature is its ability to pull and categorize credit card transactions, providing an in-depth view of spending habits.

Tiller Money

Your financial life in a spreadsheet, automatically updated each day. 

Tiller is the fastest, easiest way to manage your money with the unlimited flexibility of a spreadsheet.

Update your finances in one place, so you can take control of spending, optimize cash flow, and confidently plan your financial future.

Pros:

  • Tiller automatically updates Google Sheets and Microsoft Excel with your latest spending, balances, and transactions each day.
  • No more tedious data entry, CSV files, or logging into multiple accounts.
  • You can customize everything and finally track your money, your way.

Try Tiller Free

Empower

Empower, formerly known as Personal Capital, is a comprehensive personal finance app that provides tools for managing income, expenses, assets, and liabilities.

With its intuitive interface, Empower users can seamlessly track their spending, create custom budgets, and even get insights into their net worth which can be updated on a monthly basis, thereby aiding in effective financial management. Additionally, their retirement planner is one of the best available – plus for free.

  • Learning Curve: Empower has a relatively intuitive interface, making the learning curve fairly manageable for new users.
  • Import Existing Mint Transactions: No 9
  • Price: Free to use

The downfall is Empower provides wealth management services, so there is a heavy sales pitch to bring assets under management.

Empower

Empower offers powerful tools to help you plan your investment strategy along with basic budgeting features and a great net worth tool.

As a free app, Empower can help you to save money, save time, and even make more money.

Get Started

Empower Personal Wealth, LLC (“EPW”) compensates Money Bliss  for new leads. Money Bliss  is not an investment client of Personal Capital Advisors Corporation or Empower Advisory Group, LLC.

How to Move From Mint to Credit Karma?

Yep, I gave you the alternatives to Mint first.

Yet, the goal for Intuit is to move to Credit Karma. The core issue right now is while we do know which features will be transferred from Mint to Credit Karma. We are not sure as Minters if we will like the new layout and features offered with Credit Karma.

Right now, the budgeting feature will not be offered at Credit Karma, which I know for many Money Bliss readers is a big feature lost.

Learn more on how to move from Mint to Credit Karma.

Intuit’s Current Portfolio of Products

Intuit buying out Mint in 2020, you may be wondering about the current products offered by Intuit. 10

Intuit offers a range of financial and tax preparation products, including

Most notable is the success of TurboTax and Credit Karma.

Frequently Asked Questions

Once Mint shuts down, it’s crucial to know that Intuit will no longer have access to your financial data. All account and transaction information associated with your Mint profile will be deleted permanently from Mint’s databases.

To prevent any loss of important financial information, make sure to export all your transactions from Mint before the shutdown date arrives.

This highlights the importance of regularly backing up financial data as you may not know the next steps a company has for their product.

Yes, you can migrate your Mint data to a different personal finance app before Mint shuts down.

After you export your transactions from Mint, you can then import them to your new finance management app, ensuring you seamlessly carry over all essential financial information and continue managing your finances smoothly. However, bear in mind that the steps to do this may vary depending on the app you choose as your next financial companion.

Coping with the Closure: Dealing with the Loss of Mint

For long-time Minters, Mint’s shutdown can feel like losing a trusted companion. It’s natural to feel a sense of loss and uncertainty. I completely understand. That is why I haven’t switched from Quicken because of the long-term history.

However, remember that technology promises continual growth and evolution. There are numerous other personal finance apps out there, likely even better ones suited to your needs.

So, take a deep breath, do your research, and move on to the next chapter of your financial journey with confidence.

Source

  1. Intuit MintLife. “Intuit Credit Karma welcomes all Minters!” https://mint.intuit.com/blog/mint-app-news/intuit-credit-karma-welcomes-minters/. Accessed November 1, 2023.
  2. Intuit. “Event Details – Intuit Investor Day 2023.” https://investors.intuit.com/events-and-presentations/event-details/2023/Intuit-Investor-Day-2023/default.aspx. Accessed November 1, 2023.
  3. Reddit. “Thoughts on the Mint shutdown from Monarch CEO (and first Mint product manager.” https://www.reddit.com/r/mintuit/comments/17llnbu/thoughts_on_the_mint_shutdown_from_monarch_ceo/. Accessed November 1, 2023.
  4. YNAB. “File-Based Import: A Guide.” https://support.ynab.com/en_us/file-based-import-a-guide-Bkj4Sszyo. Accessed November 1, 2023.
  5. Quicken. “Quicken for Windows: Importing Address Book Records From Another Program.” https://www.quicken.com/support/quicken-windows-importing-address-book-records-another-program. Accessed November 1, 2023.
  6. Quicken Simplifi. “How to Manually Import Transactions.” https://help.simplifimoney.com/en/articles/4413430-how-to-manually-import-transactions. Accessed November 1, 2023.
  7. Monarch. “Move data over from Mint to Monarch.” https://help.monarchmoney.com/hc/en-us/articles/4411877901972-Move-data-over-from-Mint-to-Monarch. Accessed November 1, 2023.
  8. Tiller. “How to Easily Export Mint Transactions to a Spreadsheet.” https://www.tillerhq.com/exporting-mint-transaction-data-into-a-google-sheet-spreadsheet/. Accessed November 1, 2023.
  9. Empower. “Am I able to see more than 3 months of data in Empower Personal Dashboard after I first link my account?” https://support-personalwealth.empower.com/hc/en-us/articles/201170160-Am-I-able-to-see-more-than-3-months-of-data-in-Empower-Personal-Dashboard-after-I-first-link-my-account-. Accessed November 1, 2023.
  10. Intuit MintLife. “Intuit to Acquire Mint.com.” https://mint.intuit.com/blog/press/intuit-to-acquire-mint-com/. Accessed November 1, 2023.

Know someone else that needs this, too? Then, please share!!

Did the post resonate with you?

More importantly, did I answer the questions you have about this topic? Let me know in the comments if I can help in some other way!

Your comments are not just welcomed; they’re an integral part of our community. Let’s continue the conversation and explore how these ideas align with your journey towards Money Bliss.

Source: moneybliss.org

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LO Jobs; Production Efficiency, HELOC, Database Mining Tools; FHA, VA, USDA Changes; Freddie’s $2.7 Billion in Profits

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LO Jobs; Production Efficiency, HELOC, Database Mining Tools; FHA, VA, USDA Changes; Freddie’s $2.7 Billion in Profits

By:
Rob Chrisman

3 Hours, 10 Min ago

The talk here in Missoula is about general inflation, and continued reductions & cutbacks as our biz hunkers down. Yet a mortgage publication just raised its subscription prices, only telling readers, “Good news, you don’t need to take any action,” then something about “auto renew… we’ll simply charge the payment method on file…” We all try to save money wherever possible. And price changes are wide-ranging… think global. Yesterday I flew into Montana and enjoyed, in my seat at 22D, a can of Minute Maid Apple Juice, produced by the Coca Cola Company. What could be more American?! Think again. A glance at the ingredients showed the can contained apple juice from the U.S.A, Argentina, Chile, China, Turkey, Hungary, Austria, Poland, and Italy. I kid you not. No wonder world events impact the price of goods here. Looking for less amenities and a higher monthly payment in your next home search? Well, Lending Tree recently released a report on just how costly buying a house in a town can get, “micropolitan” style. Of towns with populations between 10,000 and 50,000, the most expensive median home values were in Vineyard Haven, MA, Jackson, WY, and Breckenridge, CO. (Today’s podcast can be found here, sponsored by Richey May, a recognized leader in providing specialized advisory, audit, tax, technology and other services to the mortgage industry for almost four decades.)

Lender and Broker Software, Products, and Services

HELOCs, HELOCs, HELOCs! In this market, if you’re a loan originator and not fully dialed in to them, what are you waiting for? Especially when you have a lender like The Loan Store paying you 200 bps per loan. The kids trick-or-treated earlier this week, but 200 bps for a HELOC is like candy for adults, on a regular basis. Conveniently enough, The Loan Store is hosting a webinar next week to teach LOs how to best sell HELOCs and explain how HELOCs tie into the new TLS Consumer Rewards Program. Sign up for the webinar here.

“At Usherpa we have a saying, ‘Born in a branch. Forged in a meltdown.’ Most of our team, including myself, Dan, and Chris Harrington, have been in the mortgage industry since the mid-nineties in a branch where I originated loans and Chris processed them. We started a department in 1995 for CTX Mortgage where our sole purpose was to provide opportunities for loan officers to do more loans. In the mortgage meltdown of 2008, we were laid off like so many others, and started Usherpa. Today, our purpose is the same: Provide opportunities for loan officers to do more loans. In this unprecedented market, we are humbled and grateful to be partnered with so many wonderful loan officers, helping them close more deals and strengthen their repeat and refer business relationships. We will get through this together. Thank you all for allowing us to serve.”

Freddie Mac Checks In

Freddie Mac (OTCQB: FMCC) reported its Third Quarter 2023 financial results and filed its Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission. The company’s Form 10-Q and earnings press release, along with the Third Quarter 2023 financial results supplement are available now on the Investor Relations page of the company’s website.

Freddie reported $2.7 billion in profits, a 104 percent year-over-year increase in net income in the third quarter. That boost in earnings came at the same time as a 30 percent decline in new business activity, attributed to Freddie’s credit loss reserve activity. In the third quarter of 2022, Freddie booked a $1.78 billion provision for credit losses versus a $263 million benefit for the three months ending Sept. 30.

FHA, VA, and Government Program News

October 27th, the Federal Housing Administration (FHA) began implementing security enhancements that will require the use of multi-factor authentication (MFA) to access certain of its websites and systems. View FHA INFO 2023-83 for details on the systems MFA will be implemented.

FHA published a Federal Register (FR) Notice, Home Equity Conversion Mortgage (HECM) for Purchase – Acceptable Monetary Investment Funding Sources and Interested Party Contributions [Docket No. FR-6382-N-01], for public comment. This FR Notice serves to inform the public of FHA’s changes to the HECM for Purchase program by expanding the list of acceptable funding sources, including premium pricing, and permitting additional interested party contributions to satisfy a HECM borrower’s monetary investment requirement.

USDA Rural Development issued a bulletin announcing The Single-Family Housing Guaranteed Loan Program (SFHGLP) revisions to technical Handbook-1-3555, Chapter 8, Applicant Characteristics; Chapter 14, Funding; Appendix 3, Review and Appeals; and Appendix 5, Income Limits. These changes became effective upon the recent issuance of a Procedure Notice (PN).

Get “Back to Basics” with the Single-Family Housing Guaranteed Loan Program. 100 percent financing with zero down payment? Why, yes you CAN! Learn about the USDA Single Family Housing Guaranteed Loan Program and how it can expand your loan portfolio…It’s as easy as 1-2-3!

Rural Development announced that Housing Assistance Corporation has expanded its service area to include South Carolina. An updated intermediary coverage map has been posted on the Direct Loan Application Packagers page.

PRMG posted updates and clarifications in PRMG Product Update 23-49: Product Profile Updates including its alignment with the changes to FHA Standard and High Balance announced by HUD in Mortgage Letter 2023-17. Updated Onyx Jumbo requirements for rental income from current principal residence that is being converted to an investment property. Loan Level Price Adjustments (LLPAs) clarification on Expanded Access and Investor Solution. CO CHFA Conventional. Regardless of condo approval option used, a current condo budget must be provided and reviewed by the condo team for CO CHFA Conventional product.

In addition to agency loans, Plaza Home Mortgage® now offers the option to eClose for FHA, VA and USDA loan. Provide the best experience for borrowers with the convenience to review and sign all closing documents online; including the loans which require a notary with Remote Online Notarization (where available).

Plaza Home Mortgage recently launched new FHA 100 percent CLTV Combo Loan Program. This new program offers 100 percent financing by combining a FHA first lien at 96.5 percent and a concurrent second lien of up to 3.5 percent to assist with down payment and/or closing costs. Additional highlights include a minimum 600 FICO, a 30-year fixed-rate FHA first lien, no income limits, and eligibility in most states (except for NY and WA.).

Capital Markets

For the third time in the past four policy meetings, the Federal Open Market Committee (FOMC) yesterday unsurprisingly kept steady on interest rates. Even with the Committee keeping the door open to hiking again, investors reading Fed Chair Powell’s tea leaves are leaning toward a potential end to further hikes, and it appears to us that the bar for further rate increases is getting increasingly higher. The Fed acknowledged tighter credit conditions from high interest rates and tighter financial conditions from a steepening yield curve with the expectation being that it will eventually weigh on economic growth. In the wake of the meeting, the market sees even lower odds of another hike and is now pricing in a potential cut a bit earlier than it had previously.

We also learned that, according to the ADP Employment Report, after the economy posted the weakest advance in jobs in two years during September, it added 113k jobs in October, fewer jobs than forecast. Though we will receive more clarity from tomorrow’s payrolls report where 183k jobs are expected to have been created in October, this report suggests that demand for workers in a robust labor market may be starting to wane. Separately, the U.S. Treasury announced its plans for upcoming auction sizes, revealing that the total size of next week’s note and bond sales will be a bit smaller than what the market had expected. Treasury noted that it expects to increase auction sizes again next quarter to meet higher funding needs.

Today’s calendar kicked off overseas with both Norges Bank and the Bank of England releasing its latest decisions, holding rates steady at 4.25 percent and 5.25 percent, respectively. Domestically, Challenger, Gray & Christmas released job cuts for October: U.S.-based employers announced 36,836 cuts in October, a 22 percent decrease from the 47,457 cuts announced one month prior but 9 percent higher than the 33,843 cuts announced in the same month last year. We’ve also received weekly jobless claims (217k, up from 212k last week), and preliminary Q3 productivity and unit labor costs (+4.7 percent and -.8 percent, respectively). Later today brings September factory orders, Freddie Mac’s latest Primary Mortgage Market Survey, and remarks from interim St. Louis Fed President Paese. We begin the day with Agency MBS prices better than Wednesday evening by .250-.375, the 10-year yielding 4.67 after closing yesterday at 4.79 percent, and the 2-year down to 4.93.

Jobs

Planet’s multi-channel business model gives our MLOs the stability to meet any market head on. Planet’s team has access to exclusive creative product solutions such as Purchase EDGE. These novel products are attracting more MLOs and Branches eager for a secure future in the mortgage industry. Advance your career, and your market position, by moving to a top lender that values professionalism and innovative thinking. Contact VP of Talent Peter Briggs or 949-202-8213. All inquiries are held in strict confidence.

“At Fairway Independent Mortgage Corporation, customer service is a way of life. #FairwayNation mortgage loan officers are dedicated to finding great rates and loan options for our customers while offering some of the fastest turn times in the industry. Our goal is to act as a trusted mortgage advisor, providing highly personalized service and helping you through every step of the loan process, from application to closing and beyond.”

Don’t forget that private mortgage insurance companies are hiring: MGIC, National MI, Arch MI, Radian, Essent, and Enact (in no particular order). And while’s we’re at it, Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac. And my cat Myrtle’s friend the CFPB has career opportunities.

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

Source: mortgagenewsdaily.com

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In case you were wondering how things were going on the housing front, the news still doesn’t look too hot.

Aside from homes sales data being revised, downward, the foreclosure glut appears to be nastier than ever.

Fitch Ratings, which rates the creditworthiness of banks and other companies, called the “supply of REO staggering” in a news release sent out this week.

They attributed the backlog to pending investigations regarding shoddy foreclosure processes employed by banks and lenders.

We’ve known about the robosigning allegations for a while, and the unfortunate consequence (aside from people losing their homes unjustly) has been further delays to a potential recovery.

It’s a bit of a catch-22. Clearly we can’t have these companies going around and rushing people out their homes without doing their due diligence. But the delays are also creating more weakness in the housing market.

REO Sales Key to Recovery

Fitch believes these REO sales will be key to determine the direction of the housing market over the next couple years.

The FHFA, which oversees Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac, owns about half of the nation’s distressed residential real estate. But they’ve yet to decide on how to unload it all.

Fitch expects the FHFA to introduce a program that will allow for measured sales to investors who will hold and rent out the properties for some specified term.

This should protect the flagging real estate market from more harm, as they wouldn’t be rapidly unloading their inventory and putting even more downward pressure on home prices.

New Foreclosure Waves

Meanwhile, RealtyTrac released a report today warning that new “foreclosure waves” are on the way.

Despite a seasonal slowdown, a trend that they’ve seen over the past four years, November’s numbers point to more doom and gloom ahead, likely early next year.

Foreclosed properties scheduled for auction hit a nine-month high in November thanks to a default surge in August, and many new defaults that started the foreclosure process over the past few months will be sent to auction soon.

In other words, don’t expect a housing recovery in 2012 either…but expect mortgage interest rates to remain low as the carnage continues (there’s your silver lining).

So it looks like there’s still a ton of heat on home prices, what with the growing distressed property inventory and misleading sales figures due to come out next week. Not to mention high unemployment and uncertainty in Europe still festering.

Read more: Should you buy a house now or wait?

Source: thetruthaboutmortgage.com

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Mortgage rates hit a 23-year high last month, worsening the budget crunch for home shoppers hoping to break into Seattle’s expensive housing market.

Facing those high rates, buyers and sellers struck fewer deals and home prices mostly stagnated in September, according to data the Northwest Multiple Listing Service released Thursday. At the same time, a limited supply of homes for sale kept prices from dropping dramatically.

The median single-family home in King County sold last month for $900,000, down 1% from a month earlier and up 3% from a year ago, according to the listing service. 

The median home sold for $926,250 in Seattle, up 3% from a year earlier. Prices were also up 4% in Southeast King County, 2% in North King County and 6% on the Eastside. Prices were down 3% in Southwest King County.

Elsewhere in the region, median prices ticked up and down compared to September 2022. Median homes sold for $749,900 in Snohomish County, up 2%; $535,000 in Pierce County, down 1%; and $559,995 in Kitsap County, up 4%. Median means half of homes sold for more and half for less. 

Economists and brokers say high interest rates are the biggest factor keeping a lid on the Seattle area’s once-blazing market. Buyers struggle to afford higher mortgage rates along with home prices that haven’t plummeted far enough to offset those rates; sellers meanwhile are hesitant to move if they’re sitting on a low rate in their current home. 

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The average rate for a 30-year fixed-rate mortgage hit 7.3% in late September, the highest since late 2000. In September 2022, rates averaged 6.7%.

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In the Greater Seattle area, the mortgage payment on a typical home at current rates hovers near $3,900 a month, according to Zillow. (Zillow considers the average payment for midpriced homes and assumes a 20% down payment.) 

To afford that payment without spending more than 30% of their household income on housing, a common measure of affordability, homebuyers would need to earn about $155,000 a year.

The result of that financial reality: less activity in the market.

Buyers and sellers struck 12% fewer deals in King County in September than a year earlier. Pending sales dropped even more sharply in Kitsap, Snohomish and Pierce counties. 

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“The feeling for buyers right now is this: For the interest rate I’m paying, this home better be exactly what I want or the price better be negotiable,” Seattle Redfin agent David Palmer said in a recent report.

But the number of homes for sale is limited. Even in King County, where more new homes hit the market in September than in August, the number of new listings was still down 23% from a year ago.

That limited inventory is “keeping prices elevated even though demand has fallen somewhat,” said Zillow senior economist Orphe Divounguy.

It would take between five and eight weeks to sell all the homes currently listed for sale across the region, according to a listing service measure known as months of inventory. That’s a less frenzied market than during the height of the pandemic, but still tighter for buyers than the four to six months experts consider a balanced market.

Rob Serviss, a RE/MAX agent in Snohomish, said his buyers are still sometimes competing against multiple offers for homes. 

“The overall transaction volume is certainly down, but I still think that the balance of supply and demand hasn’t changed all that much. This is still a seller’s market,” Serviss said. 

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It may not feel that way for all sellers, though.

Sellers dropped prices on more than a quarter of homes listed for sale in the Seattle area in September, slightly higher than the national average, according to Zillow. 

To entice buyers, some builders of new homes are slashing prices or advertising buyer credits and interest rate buydowns, in which they pay to help buyers secure a lower rate.

Town home developer Erich Armbruster said his firm, Ashworth Homes, hastried rate buydowns, but buyers were more interested in price cuts. The company has lowered prices about 10% from a year ago.

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“Our buyers are struggling pretty mightily with increased interest rates and qualification [for loans] and just nerves,” he said. 

Homes in one development near Northgate started this spring in the low $700,000 range, but after multiple price cuts are now listed in the low $600,000 range and are about half sold, Armbruster said. 

“There’s really not much more to give in terms of pricing,” he said.

With the sluggish market eating into profit margins, Armbruster said he has cut back on buying land for new projects. And he isn’t the only one. Permit applications in Seattle are down 43% from a year ago for detached single-family homes and 15% for apartments and condos — a sign that Seattle’s housing supply could remain sparse in the coming years.

Source: seattletimes.com

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Knowing the right questions to ask when touring an apartment puts you in that get-to-know-you space with each prospective home. It ensures the time you spent touring a potential rental isn’t a waste of energy and gives you a chance to see if the space, and the management company, are the right fit.

The first time you see a place is the best time to get all your questions answered. Not sure what to say? Here are the 21 best questions to ask when touring an apartment.

1. What are the lease terms?

Ideally, you should already know when the lease begins and ends before you even start asking questions while on an apartment tour. If for some reason you aren’t, make sure you get clarification on when move-in is and how many months the lease is for.

Inquire if there are any other common lease terms you should know like quiet hours or restrictions on painting or putting holes in the walls.

2. How much is the rent?

It is also essential to know if the apartment you’re looking at really fits into your budget. Ask how much the unit will cost per month and what the manager’s late rent policy is. Be sure to find out if there’s a grace period if you get delayed making a payment.

Also, ask about fees and how much money you’re expected to bring with you when you sign the lease. This should include a security deposit and possibly first and last month’s rent, but other costs could factor in.

If upfront fees are too costly, ask if there are any you can roll into your monthly rent and pay over time.

3. What’s required to move in?

Each property handles moves differently, so make sure to ask what moving in will look like for you financially while visiting apartments.

For instance, are there any moving or elevator fees? Do you have to get a special permit to have a moving van parked on the street? What area of the parking lot can you take over on the move-in day and does the management company block it off?

If you’re moving in on a popular day you may have to compete for space and wait to use the elevator. If that’s the case, see if you can delay your move by a day or come a day early to have an advantage.

4. Are utilities included in the cost?

Utilities aren’t always automatically included in the cost of the rent. Water is commonly factored in, but heating, gas and electricity are often paid for by the tenant. If you’re concerned about utilities, contact your local provider for an estimate.

5. How much do utilities cost, on average, if they’re not included?

Your property manager will most likely only be able to guess, but based on the size of the apartment, they should have some idea what you’ll end up paying, out-of-pocket if items aren’t included with rent.

To cover your bases, the average for basic utilities is around $172 per month. However, climate and energy costs vary between states — so always budget for a little more.

Do I need to get my own internet? Apartments rarely come with Wi-Fi waiting for you. Instead, you’ll have to find your own internet service provider to hook you up. Look for deals and make sure to price compare. Also, take into account the bandwidth you’ll need to ensure the right connection.

6. What’s your pet policy?

Whether you own a pet or think you might want to adopt one, you should absolutely ask about a building’s pet policy while touring an apartment. Make sure pets are even allowed before getting into the nitty-gritty details like pet fees, extra cleaning charges, etc. Pet policies vary widely, but most properties charge a non-refundable pet deposit or monthly pet rent.

Never try to hide a pet in an apartment where you know it’s not allowed. Getting caught can get costly, and lead to you having to get rid of your animal. Check to see if there are restrictions on breeds or types of pets allowed as well.

7. How about your guest policy?

When touring an apartment you might not think to ask questions about guests, but it’s an important thing to know. Most leases mention a guest policy but some are stricter than others. For instance, in some places, having a visitor for longer than two weeks isn’t technically allowed (which means your friend’s plan to spend the summer on your couch won’t work).

It can also impact your ability to have overnight guests for even a short time. So, make sure you know what’s allowed before you make any plans.

8. How do you handle subletting?

Say you were between jobs and wanted to go home for a month to see family. You don’t want to lose your apartment, so the best thing to do is sublet. But, is it allowed? Your lease should specify, but don’t hesitate to ask an apartment manager or landlord to clarify the situation.

Subletting without permission can lead to eviction. There’s also the fact that you’re still responsible for any damages to your apartment — even if they’re not made by you.

If you do end up subletting, make sure the person is reliable and will treat your space right.

9. Am I allowed to add a roommate?

While you may start your apartment hunt a little earlier than a close friend, you could already know that you’ll want to pull him or her into your place to live as roommates. This may mean you’d sign the initial lease on your own, so find out if it’s OK to make changes later.

Your property manager may require you and your roommate to come in and sign an updated lease together so both your names are on the document. It may also change how you pay rent.

Don’t forget to talk about expense sharing, in general, with your roommate before they move in and make sure they understand the apartment rules. You may even want to establish some of your own for when you’re living together.

10. Do you require renters insurance?

Renters insurance is another thing to think about while apartment hunting. Renters insurance provides coverage for your property in the event of things like a fire, flood or theft.

It may also cover injuries that happen within your apartment. This type of coverage tends to cost very little per month, so it’s a good idea to add it anyway.

While renters insurance is always a good idea, some apartments require it — so it’s important to ask while making visits. You don’t want to scramble to get insurance the day before you move in, otherwise, you might not get the keys.

11. How do I pay rent?

Saving up for rent each month isn’t the only thing you need to consider. At some point, you’ve got to get that money into the right hands.

Most management companies will offer you a few options when it comes to paying rent. These can include online payments or going through a service. This is the easiest way to make payments since you can often set up an auto-draft, but if you’re dealing with an individual property owner, ask about limitations. Even if you’re delivering or sending in a check each month, make sure you have clear information on where it goes, who it’s addressed to and by what day it should arrive.

12. Is there a penalty for breaking my lease?

It’s a good idea to become familiar with the process should have to break your lease. While that’s never the plan, knowing ahead of time what you’d have to do helps you prepare for anything.

Especially if you move around a lot for work or anticipate upcoming life changes, signing a year-long lease might be the wrong choice. Make sure you understand the penalties for early termination and ask if it’s possible to sign a month-to-month lease instead (just make sure you know how early you have to give notice when it’s time to go.)

13. How are repairs handled, especially in an emergency?

Even if everything appears in good working order when you’re looking around, questions to ask when touring an apartment should always cover maintenance.

Ask how emergency repairs get handled. Clarify if there’s maintenance available 24/7 or just within specific hours, and find out what the average response time is.

Now is even a good time to figure out what types of repairs your property manager would rather you handle (if any). Whatever the process, you want to know ahead of time to ensure a speedy conclusion to any emergency (or everyday) needs.

14. How do I file a complaint?

Again, even if you casually meet the people living near the vacant apartment you’re considering and they seem nice — it’s hard to tell what living with them will be like. Your lease should break down the process for filing a complaint, but you may want to go over it with your property manager just in case. Often, they’ll prefer something submitted in writing.

It’s also worthwhile to note that complaints aren’t always about noise. While that’s a big one, common complaints are also about pets, trash in the hallways and even strange smells coming from another unit.

15. How secure is the property?

As you’re walking around, ask the property manager to cover the building’s security features. You will want to know about both inside and external security measures (like a buzzer system or doorman). If there’s a parking structure, go over how you enter from there to make sure you feel safe.

It also doesn’t hurt to ask about the neighborhood and how safe the area is as a whole. Go online to check crime statistics if you’re concerned, but often just walking around the area yourself will give you a feel for its safety.

You don’t want to move somewhere that doesn’t feel comfortable to you whether you’re inside your apartment or not.

16. What’s your pest control policy?

A perk of living in an apartment building is that you don’t have to handle pest control. Since a pest invasion affects the entire property, it’s up to your property manager to keep pests away. This includes everything from ants to roaches, bedbugs to rodents. Ask if they have a regular pest control company come and spray, whether they’ll set traps if necessary and how to report a pest infestation within an actual apartment.

You don’t want to live somewhere that doesn’t take pest control seriously, however you can definitely get proactive and set some bait traps yourself if you notice a few ants here and there. Anything larger — call in the big guns.

17. How often does rent go up, and by how much?

Many apartments increase the rent upon renewal of the lease. These types of charges aren’t always spelled out in the rental agreement, so make sure you know going in how much you can expect to pay if you decide you want to live in the same apartment after your lease term is over.

If you’re looking for a long-term apartment, but the rent goes up by quite a bit each year, see if you can sign a long-term lease, say for two years instead of one and lock in a lower price.

18. What is the parking situation?

If you own a car, parking will sit high on your priority list. In many neighborhoods, especially in larger cities, street parking is hard to find and expensive to pay for separately so renting an apartment with a parking garage or lot will be necessary.

However, a personal parking spot or pass is often an added charge, so ask about any costs associated with owning a vehicle. You may not have a choice if you live somewhere that isn’t particularly walkable, but it helps to budget for the cost upfront rather than finding out about it later.

19. What other amenities are on site?

You’ve seen the apartment unit and parking if it’s available, now make sure to ask about the other amenities on site. Is there a pool? On-site laundry? An exercise room? A clubhouse? Ask about the hours of operation and whether any are available to reserve for special events. Find out how to do this and if there is an extra fee.

These extras usually only sweeten the deal once you’ve already found an apartment you love, but it’s nice to know upfront when and how you can use them.

20. Is smoking allowed indoors?

You may be of the mind that ‘to each their own’ when it comes to smoking, but sometimes a smoky apartment affects the neighboring units. Especially if you have an allergy, it might be best to live in a smoke-free building.

If it’s not something you mind, make sure to inquire about how often they check smoke detectors within each unit, and in public areas, and whether there are fire extinguishers on hand on each floor. About five percent of home structure fires start from smoking materials.

21. Are there plans to update the building?

This question covers a lot of things you’ll want to know. Construction or other work on the building is a sign of a lot of things — both positive and negative.

Construction in the building can mean you’ll be dealing with a lot of noise from every direction. However, renovated apartments are likely nicer than the unit you live in already, so you might get the chance to move once they’re completed. Improvements, though, can also be a sign rent is going up to repay the construction costs. Whatever it means, you’ll want to factor it all in before you sign the lease.

Know the best questions to ask when touring an apartment

There is an infinite number of questions to ask when touring an apartment, so make sure you prioritize.

Start with your deal-breakers since a ‘no’ to any of those means you’re moving on to the next apartment. You can even consider making a cheat sheet of questions for each apartment tour to keep track of answers, but also ensure you remember all the vital information once you’re back at home.

Regardless, don’t forget to speak up. This is, after all, your next home.

Source: apartmentguide.com