How To Avoid an Eviction: Eviction and Foreclosure Help Guide

Publish Date: April 11, 2023

Last Modified Date: April 10, 2023

Category: Buying & Selling a Home, Movehacks

Tags: Tags: bank repossession, bank rights, eviction, eviction guide, eviction help, eviction notice, eviction rights, foreclosure, foreclosure guide, home loan, home loans, homes, movers, real estate, renter rights, renters rights, renting rights, repo, what to do eviction

Americans forced to relocate due to evictions and foreclosures went up 56% from 2021 to 2022, according to HireAHelper’s latest migration report. Unfortunately, that increase comes as no surprise, considering that federal legislation banning eviction during the pandemic expired in 2021.

That surge in eviction filings continues to affect households: A U.S. Census Bureau survey showed that as recently as February 2023, 40% of respondents felt they were at risk of eviction in the next eight months.

If you feel you might be at risk, here’s everything you need to know about how to avoid an eviction — or if you own your home, how to avoid a foreclosure.

How Does the Government Define “Eviction”?

An eviction is a process by which a landlord is legally enabled to force a tenant to leave a rental property.

This differs from…

…a foreclosure, which is when a money lender seizes a property from the homeowner because they have fallen behind on their mortgage payments.

What happens when you go through the eviction process

The laws governing evictions and foreclosures vary by state, and the timelines and legal processes vary on a case-by-case basis. But as a general overview, here’s what the eviction process typically looks like:

You will receive an eviction notice (this is both mailed and posted on the property)
You have 30 days to respond by either vacating and/or paying any outstanding fees (such as overdue rent)
If you don’t pay your overdue fees and/or vacate, the landlord will likely file a complaint with the court
You’ll be officially notified of the date that you’ll need to appear in court
At your court appearance, you’ll be able to make a case as to why you shouldn’t be evicted
A judge will make a ruling on your case (you might be court-ordered to pay your fees and/or vacate; if you fail to do so, law enforcement can get involved to uphold the judge’s ruling; or you might win your case, in which case the eviction notice will be voided and removed)

“A U.S. Census Bureau survey showed that as recently as February 2023, 40% of respondents felt they were at risk of eviction in the next eight months.”

What happens when you go through the foreclosure process

Meanwhile, the foreclosure process can be a little more varied, but often looks like the following:

You might begin accruing late fees just days after you miss a payment on your mortgage
30 days after a missed mortgage payment, a borrower (aka homeowner) is considered “in default” of their payments (at this time, it’s important to reach out to the bank or lender and attempt to communicate any hardships or make arrangements to avoid further penalties)
Approximately 3-6 months following a missed mortgage payment, lenders can begin the foreclosure process.
Accessable also to the public, you will receive a notice of foreclosure which will outline whether the foreclosure type is judicial, power of sale, or a strict foreclosure (the foreclosure type dictates the timeline, options, and proceedings for the homeowner)

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Your Renter’s Rights and Homeowner’s Rights

While it’s a great idea for tenants and property owners to get legal counsel if they face an eviction or foreclosure, it also helps to get educated on your rights as a tenant.

Renter Rights

“Renters rights” refers to a broad set of protections for tenants. They help prevent landlords from evicting tenants anytime they simply want to, specifically without cause. While you should study up on local tenant rights in your particular region, and your particular situation, here are some things to know:

There are strict processes governing evictions. Your landlord can’t just lock you out of your apartment or force you to leave out of the blue! Steps they must take include providing notice in writing and giving you the chance to appear in court (see above).
If you’re taken to court, you don’t necessarily have a right to a government-provided attorney like you would in a criminal case. Be prepared to seek legal counsel on your own.
Evictions don’t happen overnight. There’s usually a fair and reasonable timeline governing the expectation that you vacate your home, even if your landlord has grounds to ask you to leave. Timelines vary by state and region, as well as your unique situation.
Your lease is the guiding contract in eviction disputes. You should be able to produce this document and use it to prove you’re living within established guidelines.

Homeowner Rights

Homeowners have rights, too, of course. Here is what to know if you might be facing foreclosure:

You have the right to remain on your property while seeking to dispute or prevent foreclosure. This is true up until you are court-ordered to vacate, at which time you are given a certain date to vacate.
You have the right to retain an attorney, but one might not be granted to you for free the way one is in a criminal court case. You should look into laws in your area and see what’s available to you in your financial situation.
Many services try to swoop in when people are facing foreclosure and take advantage of the situation by pretending they can help or offering too-good-to-be-true foreclosure resources. Just so you know, you’re protected by law from harassment, scams, or egregious sales tactics. Your legal counsel can help with cease-and-desist notifications, but simply making these entities aware that you know your rights can go a long way.
You have a right to participate in all meetings, settlement conferences, and court hearings regarding foreclosure of your home.
Most importantly, you have the right to settle your balance on your home and retain ownership up to the date that it is foreclosed on.

How To Stop an Eviction

If you’re concerned about being forced out of your home, but you’re not yet facing this reality, you can still take action.

Here are a few steps you can take now to avoid a foreclosure or stop an eviction:

Communicate your intentions: “Well, of course I want to stay in my home,” you might be thinking. But your intentions might not be that obvious to an institution like a bank or property management company. It can be helpful to reach out to a real person and explain that you would like to try and resolve the situation at hand. Even if you need a little time to sort things out, you’re more likely to keep matters from escalating in the meantime if you communicate your intentions early (and then, of course, back them up with actions).
Be proactive — and act fast: In many cases, eviction and foreclosure cases can be resolved by taking action to resolve the issue at the center of the case. This might be a matter of paying off an outstanding balance or making repairs. The sooner you demonstrate your willingness to resolve the matter, the more likely your landlord, lender, or the other party will be open to pausing proceedings and working with you.
Consider taking out a loan: Many times, evictions and foreclosures come down to money issues, like late payments. Taking out money from a third-party to settle the matter is not always a possibility, or the smartest move. However, let’s say you missed a mortgage payment during a time of financial hardship, but you’re now gradually getting back on your feet. Taking out a loan that protects your investment and allows you to avoid moving fees might be worthwhile in the long run, since you know you’ll be able to pay it back (while still continuing to make mortgage payments on time going forward). Financial consultants can help you determine if this is the right choice for you. Bonus tip: For unbiased advice, seek out consultants who aren’t attached to a particular loan institution.
Learn about free resources in your area. There are many government and not-for-profit resources that can help you navigate the complexities of an impending eviction or foreclosure. Learning what’s available in your specific state and city can save you a lot of headaches and heartaches. Experts with deep knowledge of the intricacies of your state’s laws can point you toward websites, forms, legal counsel, financial experts, and others to either stop an eviction or at least get help with the process along the way.

How To Avoid a Foreclosure

If you’ve already been served an eviction notice, or if you’re facing a potential foreclosure, there are still a few things you can — and should — do right away.

How to stop a foreclosure should always include these crucial things:

Seek legal counsel. It helps to know your rights so that you’re not taken advantage of. However, you’ll also want to prepare the best possible defense in case you need to appear in court. Your landlord, a property management company, or a lender will surely bring an experienced attorney to these proceedings; you’ll stand the best chance by coming with one of your own — or consulting with one in advance.
Consider your options for moving. Even if, understandably, you don’t want to leave, planning ahead can save you some money and anxiety, if worse comes to worse. Your plans might involve staying with friends or family for a while or getting a short-term rental in the area. You might want to get in touch with moving or storage companies and request quotes, just to get a sense of how much it will cost to move and what your options will be.

Knowledge Is Power

It’s stressful and scary facing the possibility of losing your home, but you can take some comfort knowing that there’s an entire process that needs to play out before that happens, and you’ll have a lot of opportunities to try and stop the eviction or foreclosure from progressing before it takes place.

The most powerful tool in your arsenal is knowledge. Understanding the legal processes involved and knowing your rights can mitigate your anxiety — but, more importantly, it can help you prepare the best possible strategy to avoid an eviction or foreclosure altogether.

The 8 Best Movers in Los Angeles According to Real Customers

Author: Jesse Relkin

Publish Date: March 30, 2023

Last Modified Date: November 17, 2023

Category: Mover Spotlight

Tags: Tags: affordable movers, affordable moving, bc movers, bc moving, best la movers, black eagle moving, day labor, day labor near me, excellent movers, excellent movers la, hireahelper, la movers, la movers near me, los angeles, los angeles movers, los angeles movers near me, lucky movers, lucky movers la, movers, moving, moving trucks, patriot one, patriot one movers, porch, rigo's, rigo's movers, thunderhorse, thunderhorse movers, thunderhorse moving, uhaul, uhaul near me, we the states, we the states moving, xellent movers

Are you about to move to the L.A. area? Or maybe you’re leaving the City of Angels for new adventures? In either case, I understand how overwhelming the process of packing up and shipping out can be.

As someone who spent years working in moving and storage, I know that who you choose to help you with your move can make all the difference. Unfortunately, it can be hard to know if you’re picking the right Los Angeles moving company.

So without further ado, I give you this curated list of HireAHelper’s top Los Angeles movers (as of Spring 2023). This list is based on real customer reviews. You’ll find companies of all sizes, from well-recognized names to mom-and-pop shops, each with its own strengths and personality.

The 2023 8 Best Los Angeles Movers

Rigo’s Moving & Storage, Inc.

Price: $113/hour for two movers (after 2-hour minimum)

Reviews: 4.9/5 stars (1,160 reviews) [as of Spring 2023]

What They Offer

Loading and unloading
Day labor
Movers with a truck
Next-day requests at normal rates
Ability to stay at least two hours over the prebooked time
Same-day requests (w/ 20% charge increase)

Note: No refund for unused time.

Why I Love Them

Rigo’s is the #1 rated mover on this list and for a reason: they have completed more jobs on HireAHelper than any other moving company. They have a robust FAQs section, which displays their commitment to both customers and employees, and I appreciate that they transparently explain what to expect before and on moving day — this extra touch may seem small, but it speaks to their thoughtfulness and service standards.

What Real Customers Said:

Treating customer valuables like their own: “Santiago & Benito are a great team. More attention to detail than I expected. Handled my property as if it was their own. If you’re hiring Rigos ask for these two amazing men.”

Satisfaction from beginning to end: “Fantastic work! Friendly, communicative, efficient, and ready to tackle the job, which was unloading a 16-foot moving truck into a two-bedroom apartment up a flight of stairs. Appreciated the confirmation call beforehand and all their heavy lifting.”

BC Moving Labor

Price: $140/hour for two movers (after 2 hour minimum)

Reviews: 5 out of 5 stars (529 reviews) [as of Spring 2023]

What They Offer

Loading and unloading
Day labor
Next-day requests at normal rates
Refund up to one unused hour over their minimum
Ability to stay at least one hour over the prebooked time
Same-day requests (w/ 20% charge increase)

Why I Love Them

Having opened its doors in 2016, BC Moving Labor is somehow “new” to the scene compared to others on this list, which goes to show how much valuable experience exists in the LA area. BC says they’re especially proud that they are fully family-owned and operated, which is reflected in their reviews: honesty, care, trustworthiness, professionalism, and hard work. (5 out of 5 stars after over 500 reviews is crazy!)

What Real Customers Said:

Expert puzzle solvers: “They were amazing! I just stood there scratching my head at how Bernard could fit things together like a perfect puzzle. They got all my stuff into one large POD!! It didn’t look possible to me. I would highly recommend.”

Pro PODS packers: “These guys are awesome! I’ve dealt with a lot of movers and they were the best yet. Really smart with their packing of my pod, super nice and hardworking. They definitely surpassed my expectations and I would recommend them to anyone. Believe all the good reviews!!”

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Excellent Movers

Price: $125/hour for two movers (after 2-hour minimum)

Reviews: 4.9/5 stars (484 reviews) [as of Spring 2023]

What They Offer

Loading and unloading
Day labor
Next-day requests at normal rates
Ability to stay at least one hour over the prebooked time
Same-day requests (w/ 15% charge increase)

Note: No refund for unused time.

Why I Love Them

While Excellent Movers provides no-frills, standard moving services, I appreciate their call out that no job is too small, which is a relief to all you apartment-dwellers out there. Even if you just need professional assistance getting a new sofa into your office, unloading heavy boxes at a storage unit, or unpacking for an event, Excellent Movers is happy to help.

What Real Customers Said:

Challenge accepted and accomplished: “Daniel was great to work with! He communicated very well, was on time and he and his workers did an excellent job. They worked very hard to get our ABF trailer filled, even though it was a challenging load. I would definitely recommend them and I would use them again.”

Stress-relieving rockstars: “Thank you so much to Daniel and his crew! Moving is always stressful, but I have to say this is definitely the easiest move I’ve ever done. The scheduling process was super simple, Daniel contacted me the next day to confirm, and the day of the move they showed up early and jumped right in. They took great care of everything, and even went above and beyond to find a solution when an item wasn’t going to fit in the stairs or elevator. Will totally be using them in the future! These guys are rockstars, thanks again!”

Patriot One Movers

Price: $129/hour for two movers (after 2-hour minimum)

Reviews: 5 out of 5 stars (654 reviews) [as of Spring 2023]

What They Offer

Loading and unloading
Day labor
Same-day requests at normal rates
Next-day requests at normal rates
Refund for any unused time over their minimum
Ability to stay at least two hours over the prebooked time

Why I Love Them

With more than 13 years of experience, Patriot One Movers is the only business on this list with all 5-star reviews — a lofty accomplishment that shouldn’t be overlooked. They also hold the longest daily hours from 5 a.m. to 11 p.m., which can come in handy for long moving days and urgent communications. Not to mention, they may be able to do a same-day request at normal rates!

When people review Patriot One’s customer reviews, you often find recurring themes of professionalism, efficiency, and friendliness.

What Real Customers Said:

Earning repeat customers: “First time working with these guys they were early and came prepared [and] brought tools and their own dolly etc. Worked quickly and efficiently. They were amazing! I’m using them again the following weekend for the second part of my move. 100% would recommend them to anyone.”

Words of praise from a seasoned mover: “This was my 14th move in the last 10 ten years, and Patriot One was THE best movers I’ve had. I was late arriving to my new home, and Frank was very accommodating and understanding of the situation. He was prompt and helpful when arriving the next morning, stayed with our truck because we had to park in a “no-parking zone”; he really put us at ease! The two movers he brought were the NICEST guys. They made sure everything was EXACTLY where I wanted it (even humored me by moving the rug and couch to the perfect spot). I can’t say enough good things about them. I really felt like my things were in great hands and treated with care and respect. You can feel confident with them and quickly check-off an item on your moving to-do list.”

Lucky Movers

Price: $89/hour for two movers (after 2-hour minimum)

Reviews: 4.8 out of 5 stars (774 reviews) [as of Spring 2023]

What They Offer

Loading and unloading
Day labor
Next-day requests at normal rates
Ability to stay at least two hours over the prebooked time
Same-day requests (w/ 20% charge increase)

Note: No refund for unused time.

lucky movers los angeles — Lucky Movers in Los Angeles

Why I Love Them

Lucky is the only company on this list that encourages customers to “call, email or text us” after booking a job. This friendly, open communication provides reassurance — especially for customers who are new to moving!

I also enjoyed their personality in their FAQs — from sharing that they enjoy the “workout” aspect of moving, to training their crew members to “pack a (PODS) or truck like playing the Tetris game.” Lucky Movers has a standout voice and seems to have a culture that embraces fun.

What Real Customers Said:

Flexible around the holidays: “Ivan and Jose at Lucky Movers were awesome! They were patient with us as we had 2 moving date changes, and stuck with us on our Christmas Eve move. On time, careful with our belongings, polite, efficient, they were the whole package! We can definitely recommend Lucky Movers to anyone who has an upcoming move planned!”

Strong communication: “Highly recommend these guys to help you move. They were great about keeping me in the loop as to when they’d arrive at my house, and got there when they said. Were careful with my stuff, and got my POD loaded in no time. Definitely will use them again.”

We the States Moving

Price: $75/hour for two movers (after 2-hour minimum)

Reviews: 4.7 out of 5 stars (437 reviews) [as of Spring 2023]

What They Offer

Loading and unloading
Day labor
Next-day requests at normal rates
Same-day requests (w/ 5% charge increase)

Note: No refund for unused time, no guaranteed availability beyond the prebooked time

Why I Love Them

We the States Moving is the most affordable company on this list and the only profile that contains a message in the “About Us” section from the owner, Jon — a thoughtful, personal touch.

Jon brings years of experience in the moving industry and supports a wide range of services, from state-to-state moves, to rearranging furniture in medical offices and spas.

What Real Customers Said:

Professionalism from start to finish: “Jon did an incredible job. He figured out a way to pack 2 U-Boxes and we can’t believe he fit everything in there! He was a professional and really knew what he was doing. I would hire him again in a heartbeat. Thank you for the amazing service!!”

Accommodating last-minute arrangements: “We the States Moving proved a lifesaver. I was tasked with an impromptu move and needed movers the same day, no scheduling. Well, through Hire A Helper, I found We the States Moving and they answered me promptly. They arrived on time, went right to work, did not slow down, packed and stacked my possessions with great care, and provided me with packing tips for future reference. I am forever grateful for We the States Moving for bailing me out at the last minute. I highly recommend them and would use them again.”

Black Eagle Moving

Price: $100/hour for two movers (after 2-hour minimum)

Reviews: 5 out of 5 stars (151 reviews) [as of Spring 2023]

What They Offer

Loading and unloading
Day labor
Next-day requests at normal rates
Ability to stay at least two hours over the prebooked time

Note: No refund for unused time, no same-day requests.

Why I Love Them

Black Eagle has been on the scene for fewer than 10 years, but that’s been plenty of time to back up its service commitment. They make it very clear in their FAQs that the customer’s needs for their move are their first priority.

Black Eagle also highlights that they have two-valued, highly trained teams of movers, emphasizing their commitment to quality and intimate approach.

What Real Customers Said:

Problem-solving on the spot: “They arrived as scheduled and managed to find my apartment in a huge maze of a complex by themselves. I showed them what I had and they made a plan of action that went efficiently. I have a large library and ran out of boxes for books the day before, but they improvised a safe and easy way to get them in the container and for the journey. They also wrapped all of my furniture for protection and used far less space in the container than the last movers I used. Friendly, experienced, and fast. Highly recommend, particularly if you are using a container for the move.”

That magic touch: “Enrique and his team have a magical power. They can take your pre-move stress levels and make them disappear! Arrived on time, packed everything beautifully, and seemed to make space in my U-Haul appear out of nowhere. I would highly recommend Black Eagle Movers!”

Thunderhorse Moving

Price: $100/hour for two movers (after 2-hour minimum)

Reviews: 4.8 out of 5 stars (302 reviews) [as of Spring 2023]

What They Offer

Loading and unloading
Day labor
Movers with a truck
Next-day requests at normal rates
Ability to stay at least one hour over the prebooked time
Same-day requests (w/ 5% charge increase)

Note: No refund for unused time.

Why I Love Them

Thunderhorse is one of only two companies on this list that offers movers with a truck (Rigo’s is the other). They also call out their piano-packing expertise — undoubtedly a valuable service to musicians.

With long daily hours (8 a.m. to 11 p.m., seven days a week), available trucks, and middle-of-the-road pricing ($100/hr.), Thunderhorse is a well-rounded contender.

What Real Customers Said:

A happy homecoming: “I moved here from Oregon and this crew of 3 amazing gentleman got the job done quickly in the worst heat wave. They unloaded a 26 ft U-Haul and a 16 ft. truck in 3 hours!!! They brought my items and boxes to each room we specified. They were polite, communicative, and extremely hardworking. 10/10 service! I would not hesitate to use this company again. I only hope I tipped generously enough for their hard work. I will absolutely recommend them to anyone I know who needs help moving or unloading.”

Going the extra mile: “Jorge and team arrived on time and ready to go. They even brought an extra person to help make sure everything would get done as quickly as possible, which I appreciated. They were very fast and worked hard. I would recommend (them)!”

LA Movers for Jobs of All Sizes

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Read real customer reviews.

Easily book your help online.

When do you need help?Where do you need help?

From in-state relocations and long-distance moves to loading trucks and unpacking furniture, HireAHelper’s top Los Angeles movers span a range of services — as well as pricing — so you should have luck finding help with your move no matter what your budget and needs are.

2023 Study: Majority of Renters Priced Out of Homeownership in 78% of All US Metros

Author: Volodymyr Kupriyanov

Publish Date: March 28, 2023

Last Modified Date: March 30, 2023

Category: Buying & Selling a Home

Tags: Tags: 2022 study, 2023 study, average mortgage, average rent, buying to renting, home affordability, home buying, home ownership, home prices, mortgage, movers, moving, real estate, real estate study, rent prices, renters, renting, renting to buying, study, us data, us economics, us homeownership, us renters, zillow

Key Findings

63% of renters across the biggest U.S. metropolitan areas are priced out of home ownership (up from 61% last year)
The majority of renters can’t afford to own a home where they live in 205 out of 260 metros (78%)
At least 90% of renters are priced out of home ownership in 16 American metro areas, nine of which are in California
In two metropolitan areas, Prescott, AZ and San Luis Obispo-Paso Robles, CA, less than 1% of renters would be able to afford buying and owning a median-priced home
Kalamazoo-Portage, MI, Jackson, MI, and Johnstown, PA are the only three metros where more than 80% of renters could afford to own a home

In 2022, a study by Porch, a nationwide home-service company, found 61% of renters in the U.S. were priced out of homeownership, meaning they were not able to afford to buy and own a home in the same city where they rented.

In 2023, applying that study’s same methodology to the most recent home-owner data resulted in an estimate of 63%. In other words, today, nearly two-thirds of renters can’t afford to buy a home in the metro where they live.

To gain a better understanding of this huge number, we examined housing affordability by comparing renter incomes to home prices using the most recently available data for 260 metropolitan areas in the United States.

Home Prices Have Dropped, Why Aren’t Homes More Affordable?

Even though home prices have been falling for the better part of last year and then continued their decline in 2023, housing affordability hasn’t improved. In fact, things have gotten worse for prospective homeowners over the last year.

At the end of last year, the National Association of Realtors’ Housing Affordability Index reached its lowest point since 1965. It hasn’t been this hard for a family with an average income to qualify for a mortgage loan on an average-priced home in over six decades.

Why hasn’t a drop in home prices led to greater affordability?

For starters, mortgage interest rates are at 6.65% according to Freddie Mac — the highest they’ve been since the Great Recession. This means potential mortgage repayments for buyers would be a lot higher than they would have been even just a few years ago.

“It hasn’t been this hard for a family with an average income to qualify for a mortgage loan on an average-priced home in over six decades.”

Secondly, there aren’t enough affordable starter homes. In part, that’s because there are simply not enough homes for sale in general after a pandemic buying frenzy. On top of that, there is simply put, a lack of cheap new homes. Roughly 63% of all U.S. homes were selling for over $400,000 by the end of 2022.

Finally, there’s the pervasive issue of inflation and the increasing cost of goods, services, and rent, leaving less money in Americans’ pockets. Despite dropping to 6.5% in recent months, it’s still way higher than the pre-pandemic 1-2% rate.

Now that we know more about why housing is less and less affordable, let’s get into where all this leaves American renters wanting to buy a home in 2023.

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Further Out of Reach: The Majority of Renters Can’t Afford To Own a Home in 205 out of 260 Metros

To estimate the percent of renters priced out, we assumed a scenario where a first-time buyer put down 6% of the home value, obtained a 30-year fixed-rate mortgage with a 6.65% interest rate (an average rate), and aimed to keep mortgage repayments to a maximum of 30% of the household income, as per the famous Housing and Urban Development guideline.

“…in two major U.S. metropolitan areas, the share of renters priced out of home ownership is a staggering 99%!”

With current income levels and home prices, this scenario is completely unattainable for the majority of renters in 205 out of 260 metropolitan areas in the United States. That’s in nearly eight out of the ten (78%) most populated areas in America where renters have no realistic chance at home ownership.

In the Porch study from 2022, there were 184 metros where home ownership was unaffordable for 50% or more renters living in them.

This overall increase seems to suggest the affordability crisis isn’t just deepening in areas already struggling with affordable homes, but is actually expanding to more metropolitan areas across the country.

Mission Impossible: In Two Metros, Home Ownership Is Unachievable for 99% of Renters

Last year’s study uncovered 13 major U.S. metro areas where at least 90% of renters wouldn’t have been able to afford home ownership based on their income. This year, there are 17 of them!

What’s different about this year’s findings, however, is that in two major U.S. metropolitan areas, the share of renters priced out of home ownership is a staggering 99%!

Those areas are San Luis Obispo-Paso Robles, CA and Prescott, AZ, where the home prices are prohibitively high to be affordable for the absolute majority of people who rent in these areas. Homes in San Luis Obispo and the area being unaffordable is nothing new, but affordability dropping in Arizona and Prescott, AZ specifically is something that’s started happening recently, according to local reports.

Of the 17 places in the U.S. where the income of 90% of renters would prevent them from being able to afford a home, nine are in California with cities like Los Angeles (94.3%), Salinas, CA (92.9%) and San Diego (92.6%) all with an appearance on the list.

Hawaii and Colorado each have two metros on this list, but, rather surprisingly, so does Charleston-North Charleston, SC, where some 91.6% of renters are priced out of home ownership. Turns out, housing has been too expensive in the area for a while, but the local government does seem to be stepping in and building more affordable homes, according to reports.

The Modest Midwest: Two Michigan Metros Among Three Most Affordable Places for Renters

Like last year, Johnstown, PA leads the pack in terms of affordability of local housing for those on typical renter incomes. Nearly 90% of people who rent in the area earn enough to cope with the costs of home ownership if they were to buy a home in the area.

The only two other metropolitan areas where owning a home without repayments crosses the affordability threshold of 30% of the household income are in Michigan. Those places are Jackson, MI, (11.9%) and Kalamazoo-Portage, MI (13.3%).

Looking at the 10 most affordable areas for renters looking to jump onto a housing ladder without it breaking the bank, five are either in Michigan or Illinois, while a total of three exist in Pennsylvania.

See All the Data for Yourself

To see how affordable homeownership is for renters in your city or metro, check the table below.

Methodology, Data Sources, Calculations and Assumptions Made

Income levels of renter households and their % of all households in each metropolitan area were taken from the 2022 release of the Annual Social Economic Supplement to the Current Population Survey, as available via Integrated Public Use Microdata Series (IPUMS). Home prices were taken from Zillow.

% of renters “priced out” was calculated as the percentage of renters in each metropolitan area whose income wouldn’t be sufficient to keep potential mortgage repayments to 30% of gross monthly income (Source: United States Department of Housing and Urban Development).

Mortgage repayments were estimated using the following assumptions:

Median home price in the metropolitan area
6% down payment (Source: National Association of Realtors)
30-year mortgage (Source: Bankrate)
6.65% interest rate (Source: FreddieMac)

Illustrations by Daniel Fishel

Thinking of Hiring Day Laborers? Here’s Where To Start

Author: Jesse Relkin

Publish Date: March 17, 2023

Last Modified Date: March 21, 2023

Category: Moving Advice

Tags: Tags: day labor, day labor movers, day labor near me, day labor rates, day labor today, home improvement projects, how much are day laborers, how much is day labor, how to get day labor, how to get day laborers, how to hire labor, labor near me, movers, porch, safe day labor

Whether you’re looking to move or just want to make some repairs or upgrades to your home, some jobs are simply out of your wheelhouse. Hiring day laborers may be a cost-effective option for helping you complete all kinds of home improvement projects.

If you’re a new homeowner, you may not be familiar with what day laborers do, or where to begin searching for day labor near you. Since there are certain risks and legalities involved with hiring day laborers, knowing exactly what you’re getting into can make the difference between a great experience … or a potentially disastrous one.

How do you hire day laborers safely and affordably? Here’s how to utilize the robust labor pool to hire day laborers that are dependable and trustworthy.

What Are “Day Laborers”?

As the name implies, day laborers are people hired on a temporary, per diem basis, often to complete a specific job. Day laborers tend to take on work related to areas such as:

Construction
Moving
Carpentry
Landscaping
And more

The benefit of hiring day laborers is that they’re often less expensive and more flexible than some contractors or professional tradespeople.

What Kinds of Jobs Can Day Laborers Do?

Cleaning: Laborers are often used for tasks such as interior housekeeping or washing windows and home exteriors.
Construction: Day laborers can often perform everything from brick and masonry work to mixing cement and executing demolition projects.
Moving and Transportation: Daily labor can help with packing up a home as well as moving and transporting furniture and other large objects. They can also come in handy for projects or events that require materials to be moved from one site or location to another.
Repairs: For certain kinds of plumbing or electrical work, hiring day laborers may be a cost-effective way to get the problem solved by someone who has the specialized skills you need.
Renovations: Need someone to set the tiles in your bathroom, complete a big interior or exterior paint job, or build an outdoor fence? These jobs are exactly the type of work for which many day laborers are in the market.

How To Vet Day Laborers

Day laborers are not one-size-fits-all. They come with different skills and experience levels, and you should be discerning for the safety of everyone involved.

“The average hourly pay for a day laborer is about $15 … but this rate should likely increase with more complicated jobs that require more experience.”

For jobs that involve using heavy machinery such as forklifts and excavators, or even hand and power tools, certifications and licenses may be required. You need to take the time to ask questions, conduct background checks, and verify work experience.

When vetting a day laborer, here are some important questions to ask:

Can you tell me about past work experiences related to this job?
What’s your going rate?
What working hours do you prefer?
Do you require special accommodations to perform the job?
Do you have your own tools?
Do you have any certifications or licenses?

What Are My Responsibilities With Day Laborers?

As much as you’d love some help with your drywall hanging or vinyl siding, it can be scary when you aren’t recruiting labor through the intermediary of a licensed contracting business. But there are some ways to ensure you keep yourself protected legally and otherwise.

As hiring a day laborer is a private arrangement, here are some things to keep in mind:

Even if you get connected with a worker through a day labor work center or temp agency, that organization will not be managing the worker for you.
You are subject to the same labor laws as any other employer. Depending on where you live, there may also be additional paperwork and regulations your state requires, related to factors such as discrimination and payment. The Society for Human Resource Management (SHRM) is an excellent resource for what you need to know.
If the day laborer is injured on the job, you will be held responsible. This means you could be required to cover medical expenses, lost wages, and more, depending on the severity of the injury. Check your homeowner’s insurance policy to see what coverage, if any, exists in case a day laborer becomes injured.
The average hourly pay for a day laborer is about $15, according to PayScale, but this rate should likely increase with more complicated jobs that require more experience.

Where Do I Go To Find Day Laborers Near Me?

In years past, homeowners or businesses interested in hiring day laborers would head out to the local Home Depot or designated street corners near construction sites to scope out the talent. But this can be risky on several levels. Not only could you be wasting your time and money if the worker lacks the necessary skills, but bringing a stranger into your home can potentially put you, your family, and your property at risk.

What should I do instead?

If you aren’t well-versed in the hierarchies and subculture of day laborers at your local hardware store, have no fear! Technology and other resources make the process of finding reliable and trustworthy day laborers near you much easier:

Day Labor Work Centers

Think of this option as using a matchmaking service to help you find a day laborer that specializes in the skills needed for your particular project. If for whatever reason you find that the day laborer you hired doesn’t meet the requirements you need to complete the job properly, the day labor work center can arrange to find you a more suitable worker.

Word of Mouth and Social Media

Asking for referrals from people you know and trust can be the easiest and safest method for hiring day laborers. You can also reach out to your network by posting to social media with details about your general location, the nature of the work, and any specific skills or certifications required.

Project-specific services like Porch.com can help you find immediate labor help.

Online Day Labor Curators
- Porch.com offers a variety of tools to help with every aspect of home improvement and moving, and their online service for finding a handyman is particularly useful. You can easily search on the website for available day laborers or contractors near you that specialize in everything from bathroom remodeling to garage door installation. The site also allows you to read customer reviews about available workers for extra peace of mind.
- If you’re moving, packing, rearranging furniture, or facing any other project that requires an extra hand with the heavy lifting, HireaHelper.com has a user-friendly tool that allows you to compare prices and even find a mover with a truck if needed. You’ll also have access to a customer service team 7 days a week, and all-day labor orders come with damage coverage and a $1,000 service guarantee.

Hiring daily labor isn’t always a straightforward process, but when you succeed at getting the help you’re looking for, you’ll find it’s well worth the time and effort. This guide should give you a head start on the learning curve, so you’ll have a qualified, reliable day laborer on your doorstep in no time.

My Top 10 Moving Tips for Professional Movers

Author: Kevin The Mover

Publish Date: March 7, 2023

Last Modified Date: March 7, 2023

Category: Customer Service, Moving Company Resources

Tags: Tags: crew member, furniture, furniture pads, heavy furniture, how to move furniture, mover walk through, mover walkthrough, movers, moving, moving company, moving pads, moving tips, moving truck, professional movers, professional moving company, set box, shoulder straps, towel

As movers, we like to move fast and efficiently. But we also like doing everything right.

But there’s truth to the old adage “Work smarter, not harder.” With that phrase in mind, take advantage of these smart moving tricks and hacks I picked up over the years to help you and your crew from working any harder than you need to … but while still doing that 5-star service you’re known for.

1. Set up as SOON as you step off the truck

What’s the first thing we do when we show up for a move? Ring the customer’s doorbell, say hello, and do a walk-through of the place.

Use this opportunity to have a crew member bring stuff you’ll need into the house. As your customer shows you around,

Leave a roll of shrink wrap in the living room for the O/S
Bring your tools inside/upstairs (along with a few plastic bags!) so you can get right to disassembling the beds
Bring in some markers and tape (if there’s any packing to be done)

Note: Even if you are moving someone into their brand-new home, you’ll still want to bring in tools; they always come in handy. (At minimum, use your free hands to bring in the first few boxes while you’re saying good morning.)

2. Make practical use of the walk-through

Once you’ve seen the upstairs (or the farthest parts of the apartment), grab a box or two and carry them with you back downstairs and/or toward the door. This will keep the move flowing and snappy.

If you need to inventory the customer’s goods first, leave those boxes inside, for now. But if it’s a same-day local move, then carry the beginnings of their stuff out to the garage or driveway (or wherever you’ll be staging things), if not right out onto the truck.

Note: The very beginning is not the time to start hauling heavy furniture down the steps. Leave that sort of stuff for once you’ve got the necessary paperwork signed and the necessary furniture pads prepared.

3. Tape nuts and bolts to the furniture it comes from

Me? I love it when putting a bed frame or a dining room table together, the nuts and bolts are all right there for me, taped in place and waiting for me.

Some people prefer using a parts box, but honestly? Just tape those bits of hardware securely to the bed frame or the underside of the tabletop and you’re good to go.

DON’T tape the bolts THEMSELVES directly to the surface of any metal or wood (please, no!); put all those screws and wing-nuts and everything else in a plastic bag, tape a piece of packing paper around the bed frame or one of the table legs, wrap up that plastic bag of bolts in more paper to prevent any scratches, then tape the protected bag to the bed frame, or the underside, or one leg of the table.

Note: If you are worried about leaving scratches or sticky tape residue on the customer’s bed frame or table leg (or whatever else), or if you just prefer not to tape plastic bags to things, there’s nothing wrong with using a parts box. Go with what works for you.

4. Both you AND the customer should take pictures of everything before you move it!

Before unhooking electronics, it may prove supremely helpful down the road to have pictures of all the cords and wires so we – or the unloaders, or the customer – can see how to hook everything back up again.

The same goes for anything else we will be disassembling: exercise equipment, partition furniture, and even something as simple as a dresser mirror. Of course, take pictures of any pre-existing damage you find, whether it be on an item or somewhere in the customer’s home (e.g., a scratch on the floor or a nick in the wall.)

Note: I recommend using a filesharing website like Dropbox or wetransfer for photos. Both you and the customer can send their pictures to one online folder created specifically for that move.

5. It’s almost always better to empty heavy furniture before moving it

Sure, it might make sense to transport a dresser as is, without emptying it and packing all those clothes in boxes. But depending on how bulky and heavy that dresser is, or how treacherous a staircase might be, to first take out all the drawers and carry them downstairs (and maybe all the way out to the truck). A dresser without its drawers (and all the clothing inside) weighs a lot less than it does when full, making it easier to maneuver without any danger of a drawer sliding out and crashing into the wall or onto the floor.

6. Try shoulder straps

shoulder straps furniture movers — photo credit: northerntool.com

Shoulder straps are for when we are faced with a heavy piece of furniture and a narrow staircase. If you have furniture straps, great, If not, you can use ratchet straps (as long as you remove the part with the ratchet). Either way, using straps can make it a lot easier to control a heavy piece as you ease it down those stairs. Slide it down if it has a sturdy, flat surface (pad it up first!). Otherwise, lift it and go down one step at a time.

7. Pad-up the furniture at the truck, not inside

Sure, if you are going to slide a piece of furniture down a set of stairs you’ll absolutely want to pad it first, and pad it very well.

But for furniture you are simply going to carry out to the truck, wait until later to pad it up. Why? No matter how securely you tape your furniture pads in place, they are bound to slip once you try to carry what they are wrapped around. Your mileage may vary, but I always found it much easier to handle furniture that was not padded, and much more importantly, much faster not to have to do the same thing twice.

8. Save your back with a “set box”

A set box is a box for putting other boxes on top of, and it saves everyone a lot of unnecessary bending and lifting.

Whether moving your customer in or out, it’s a great idea to have a few solid boxes left at key loading or unloading places; when you have one crewmember or two hauling boxes out of the house to the staging area and another crewmember or two hauling them onto the truck, a set box on either end will speed you up!

9. Tape cardboard OVER a furniture pad that’s covering glass

It’s common — and smart — to place a piece of cardboard over the front of a china hutch or a curio, or any piece of furniture with glass that can not be removed and wrapped. Usually, this is done before wrapping the piece up in furniture pads. But for an extra layer of protection — and to give everyone a clear warning that there is glass under that pad — tape another piece of cardboard over the glass ON TOP OF the furniture pad.

10. Bring towels

In hot weather, we sweat. In bad weather, things get wet. In any case, it’s a great idea to have a few towels on hand.

Have CLEAN towels for your crew to wipe the sweat off their hands and arms (and faces and legs too). Have some big old towels your crew can use to wipe their feet and keep the truck ramps as well as the inside of the truck as dry and safe as possible.

And one final tip: Please, don’t run. Yes, we are movers. We love to move. But one missed step, one uneven edge, one loose rock and your extra hustle could lead to a whole lot of hurt, not to mention a slowdown for the rest of the job and maybe beyond.

“Work smarter, not harder.” To that, I’d add, “Work safely.”

Moving Vs. Remodeling Your Home

Author: Lauren Thomas

Publish Date: February 27, 2023

Last Modified Date: March 2, 2023

Category: Buying & Selling a Home, Home Improvement

Tags: Tags: home, how much, movers, moving, moving to new home, moving vs remodel, new home, real estate, real estate agent cost, remodel, remodel vs moving, selling a home

Whether your tastes have changed or your family is growing, you might find that your current home is no longer meeting your needs. That presents an important decision to make: Should you renovate your current place or move somewhere else?

In light of today’s uncertain real estate market, it’s a choice you should weigh carefully. Here’s what to consider.

The Case for Moving

Of course, one of the biggest things to think about when deciding between moving or remodeling is the cost. The decision you make today can seriously impact your finances for years to come.

The Costs of Moving to a Larger House

These are the most typical home moving costs.

Real Estate Comission

If you choose to use a real estate agent to sell your current home, you should plan to spend 5%-6% of the sale price in commissions. Usually, the buyer’s agent and the seller’s agent each receive a 2.5%–3% commission, which the seller pays.

New Mortgage Costs

There are also closing costs associated with getting a new mortgage. These typically run 3%-6% of the mortgage amount. Home appraisals, title insurance, and other administrative costs of buying a new home can tack on several thousand dollars more.

“As of the fourth quarter of 2022, the average home price of a home sold in the U.S. was $535,800.”

Home Repairs and Touch-ups

You may also have to spend some money getting your home ready for sale. For example, you might need to do some repainting and make a few repairs. Andnce you move into your new home, it might need some minor upgrades or new furnishings to fill up extra/larger rooms.

Movers and Relocation

Then there’s the cost of the move itself. Factors such as distance, number of rooms, and type of labor you hire will all impact the cost. According to HireAHelper data between January through May 2022, the average cost of a labor-only move was $418, based on the moves booked through HireAHelper and their partners. Of course, interstate and cross-country moves can cost considerably more.

Real Estate Market Considerations

Home prices experienced a meteoric rise over the past couple of years. And although they’ve leveled off recently, prices are still at record highs.

As of the fourth quarter of 2022, the average home price of a home sold in the U.S. was $535,800. While that means you can probably sell your current house for a great price, it also means you’ll have to spend (or borrow) more for a new one.

“The average cost of home remodeling is $49,000, with most remodels costing somewhere between $18,000 and $80,000…”

Along with home prices, mortgage rates have also been on the rise. The Federal Reserve raised its rate several times over the past year to combat rampant inflation, which has impacted the cost of borrowing considerably. Strong consumer spending and increasing housing costs have also contributed to rising rates.

As of February 16, the average interest rate on a 30-year fixed-rate mortgage sits at 6.32%, while the average rate for a 15-year fixed-rate mortgage is 5.51%. In other words, this is where you would do the math to compare how much you’d spend in additional interest over the life of your loan versus the cost of doing any renovations.

Consider the Impact a Move May Have on Your Lifestyle and Any Family Members

Beyond the financial cost, it’s also important to consider the time and emotional cost of a move. This can be particularly challenging for kids in your family.

Children

Young children can experience a range of emotions while moving. However, it’s not uncommon for them to feel sad, anxious, or angry, as moving can bring about a sense of loss as they leave behind familiar people, places, and routines, especially if they are moving to a new city or state.

With that in mind, understand that young children may experience developmental regression during the moving process. For example, they may revert to behaviors such as bed-wetting or thumb-sucking as a way of coping with stress.

Again, every child is different, and yours may not react strongly to the idea of moving. In fact, they may even be excited by the idea (plus, there are things you can do to help kids with the transition). Only you will be able to evaluate your child’s stress management capabilities and decide whether moving is worth it.

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Teens and Young Adults

Teens or young adults in the family may also struggle with the transition, as moving might mean leaving behind close friends or romantic partners. It can take time for teenagers and young adults to establish new social relationships, and they may feel isolated or lonely during the transition.

Moving can disrupt their education, too, as they may need to transfer to a new school or college. This also means they may struggle to adjust to new academic expectations, curriculum, and teaching styles.

You Own Emotional Health

Don’t downplay your own feelings and stress levels. Moving is a lot of work, and a major time and financial commitment. You’ll need to think about whether you — and your partner, if you have one — have the mental bandwidth to deal with a move and everything that comes with it, including changing jobs, making new friends, and more.

Attachment to Your Own Home

And don’t underestimate how attached your family may be to your current house. It may be where siblings share fond memories of growing up together or spending time with a grandparent. Forcing family members to give up their beloved home could cause hurt feelings, so consider how moving might affect your family dynamics.

Consider the Life Logistics

Moving also has an impact on your lifestyle in general. If you move, it’s important to think about how certain aspects of your life could change, for better or worse.

How Will It Impact Your Career?

Obviously, moving can significantly impact your career if you have to find a new job! The job market may be different in the new location, with different industries and job opportunities. If you are not moving for a new job or with your old job, it will take time to find a job that fits your skillset and experience.

Moving can also mean leaving behind professional connections, mentors, and colleagues. It might take some time to build a new network in the new location. Plus, salaries and wages can vary widely by location; you may need to adjust your expectations, or negotiate a new salary to match the cost of living in the new location.

How Much Do You Like Your Current Life Setup?

How do you like your current neighborhood and how would a new one compare? You’ll need to weigh factors such as,

Safety
Schools
Access to public transportation
Walkability
Entertainment
Cultural amenities

Does the area you live in still serve your needs? Does your potential new city offer the right vibe?

The cost of living in the neighborhoods you’re considering is also key. This includes factors such as housing costs, property taxes, and utilities. Consider whether the cost of living — either at home or somewhere else — is within your budget.

The Case for Remodeling

Remodeling may inherently be cheaper, but don’t forget that remodeling your home also takes time, money, mental fortitude, and sacrifice.

The Costs of Remodeling

Even though the worst of the pandemic economics are behind us, supply chain issues and labor shortages still plague many industries. And that could impact the cost of a remodel. (Building materials have been slightly increasing in price, for instance.)

So how much should you budget for remodeling in 2023? The average cost of home remodeling is $49,000, with most remodels costing somewhere between $18,000 and $80,000, according to Hunker.

How much do home projects cost by foot?

When broken down by the size of the project, smaller renovations tend to cost more per square foot. A whole-house remodel typically costs between $15 and $60 per square foot. A kitchen or bath remodel can run $100 to $250 per square foot, while putting an addition on your home is around $90 to $200 per square foot.

“Your family may need to adjust their schedules or make alternative living arrangements during the remodeling process.”

Budgeting

it’s crucial to set up a realistic budget and stick to it. That includes a contingency plan for any unexpected (i.e., expensive) issues.

Start by determining the exact scope of your remodeling project. This could include changes to the layout, new fixtures, or updated materials. Once you have a clear picture of the work involved, you can start to estimate the costs.

Next, research the costs of materials, labor, and any permits or licenses you may need for the project. Get multiple quotes from contractors or suppliers to get an accurate estimate.

Set and stick to the budget once you have an estimate. Determine the maximum amount you can afford to spend, and set aside a portion of the budget for unexpected expenses. Also, decide which expenses are most important and allocate the budget accordingly. For example, you may want to put more money towards high-quality materials, while reducing costs on non-essential features.

Use a spreadsheet or budgeting software to ensure that you stay within your budget. Also, think about the hidden costs of renovating that could impact your budget. For instance, will you need to eat out more often while your kitchen is out of commission? If you work from home, will you have a designated, quiet workspace, or will you need to rent a coworking space?

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Creating a Living Timeline

Remodeling projects can vary in duration, depending on the scope of the work. More than likely, however, remodeling is going to disrupt your family’s schedule, especially if the project lasts for an extended period. Your family may need to adjust their schedules or make alternative living arrangements during the remodeling process.

To minimize the impact of remodeling on family schedules, it’s important to plan ahead and communicate with everyone. For instance, you might want to schedule work during summer vacation from school or after an important project at work is completed. If necessary, you might need to temporarily move into a family member or friend’s home, or even a hotel, to minimize the disruption.

Hiring the Best Professional Team

Next, you’ll need to hire the right team to get the work done promptly, correctly, and within budget. One option is to go through a trusted family member or friend. While this is a good way to get a referral, or even perhaps a discount, keep in mind that the relationship could be strained if there are any disagreements or problems.

Alternatively, you could hire a professional team with the help of a platform such as Angi, Houzz, or Porch. Keep in mind that your budget and timeline may impact who you can hire.

Getting Permits and Permissions

Finally, don’t forget to make sure you have all the right permits in place, which vary by city. Minor improvements to the interior, such as replacing countertops or installing hard flooring don’t need a permit, but major renovations such as building detached structures (like a garage), cutting holes for doors and windows, and making major plumbing or electrical changes likely will.

You can find out exactly which permits are needed and apply for them through your local municipal office. Be sure to keep your paperwork organized in case you need to show proof you were approved to do the work.

Making Your Final Decision

Choosing whether to remodel your home or move into a new one is a big decision that can impact your finances, mental health, and overall quality of life. Both options have their pros and cons — you’ll need to carefully weigh your priorities and discuss each option with all the members of your family. After all, everyone’s along for the ride.

2022 Study: Where Americans Moved To Retire This Year

Author: Volodymyr Kupriyanov

Publish Date: December 19, 2022

Last Modified Date: May 17, 2023

Category: Moving Advice, Moving Stories

Tags: Tags: cheap housing, cheaper housing, columbus, early retirement, Florida, hireahelper, inflation, maryland, movers, moving 2022, moving inflation, north carolina, ohio, oregon, orlando, retire, retire move, retired people moving in 2022, retiree, retiree move, retiree moves, retiree study, retirees moving 2022, retirement data, tennessee, titusville, washington, where are people moving

Key Findings

Over 234,000 Americans moved to retire in 2022, 4% more than in 2021
12% of American retirees moved for “cheaper housing” — highest % since 2014
Florida is top destination for retirement moves (~12% of all retirees)
Palm Bay-Melbourne-Titusville, FL (9%) top metro destination for retirement moves
Oregon the state retirees most likely to leave — origin state of 10% of retiree moves
Retirees of color more than 2x likely to move in search of cheaper housing (20%) than their white counterparts (9%)

In last year’s study of retirement moves, the COVID-19 pandemic was very much the central theme in many people’s moves.

Yet while the effects of the pandemic are still being felt across the country, this year’s driving narrative has been inflation; the economy is of course connected to cost of living, savings, and home prices, all touchstones of the retirement equation.

As American retirees face an increased estimate for the amount of money needed to retire comfortably, 36% of retirees reported their living costs as higher than expected, while 56% expected to continue working after they retire. How has this impacted how many people retired this year? And where did they all go?

On the Rise Again: Number of Retirement Moves Increased in 2022

After a significant dip in 2021, the number of Americans who moved to retire this year has gone up to reach over 234,000. It’s still some way off the pre-pandemic levels, but that’s 4% greater than the number of people who moved to retire last year.

American retirees continue to move at an increasing rate, despite pressures associated with the cost of living and the changing home market temperatures in many parts of the country. Knowing that more people are once again beginning to move more for retirement, what are some of their reasons for moving?

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Family and Cheaper Housing: Why Are More Retirees Moving in 2022?

Inflation and the associated rise in the cost of living are likely contributing to why over 12% of American retirees who moved in 2022 said they did so to find cheaper housing.

Housing was second only to “other family reasons” (e.g., “being close to family”). Cost-conscious retirement moves are at their highest level since 2014.

Not coincidentally, retirement moves for “new and better housing” have fallen sharply; upscaling now makes up 10% of all stated reasons for a retirement move, down from 18% as early as 2019.

“In 2022, the Sunshine State attracted almost 16% of all retirees choosing to retire outside their state, the highest of any state.”

It’s worth noting that retirees of color were more than twice as likely to move in search of cheaper housing (18%) than their white counterparts (8%).

These overall findings suggest that retirees are more sensitive to inflation than anticipated by many and, while home prices have begun to fall, they are still significantly higher than they were this time last year.

Florida is Back, Baby! Sunshine State Tops Retirement Move Destinations

After coming in second in our 2020 retirement move study and the same study last year, Florida is once again the top destination for out-of-state retirement moves.

“…36% of retirees reported their living costs as higher than expected, while 56% expected to continue working after they retire.”

In 2022, the Sunshine State attracted almost 16% of all retirees choosing to retire outside their state, the highest of any state.

North Carolina takes the second spot, with almost one in ten (9.6%) retirement moves crossing state lines going to this state.

A new entrant on this year’s top 10 is the state of Washington. Drawing about 5% of out-of-state retirees, Washington state jumped to the seventh spot of this year’s ranking.

Goodbye Oregon: States Retirees Were Most Likely to Leave

Their destination may be in Florida, but in terms of origin, Oregon was the state retirees were most likely to leave. As one of the most expensive states in the country to live in, Oregon saw as many as 10% of people moving to retire leaving the state.

Maryland placed second in states retirees were most likely to leave, with 7% of local retirement moves heading elsewhere. Idaho, a state we often see get the greatest net gains in our annual reports, had 3.4% of all local retirees leave the state when moving for retirement.

Popular Metro areas: Palm Bay, FL a Hit With Early Retirees

Compared to last year, Americans moving in retirement in 2022 tend to prefer staying in urbanized areas slightly more, according to the data.

“… retirees of color were more than twice as likely to move in search of cheaper housing than their white counterparts.”

The key beneficiary of retirees’ intention to settle in metropolitan areas is Palm Bay-Melbourne-Titusville, FL, which attracted 9.2% of all retirement moves in 2022 — more than any other metropolitan area.

Having once been named the best place for early retirement (albeit by itself), this area to the southeast of Orlando seems to live up to that reputation; 37% of its newcomer retirees were between the ages of 55 and 64.

In second place, the greater Columbus, OH area drew slightly under 6% of all retirees looking for a new place to live. The Ohioan metro ranking so highly this year is likely another testament to cost of living being one of the priorities for retirees planning their moves in 2022.

Elsewhere, there are two notable metro areas located in Tennessee, Nashville-Davidson-Murfreesboro, TN (5.3%) and Knoxville, TN (3.2%), which combined attracted 8% of retirees who chose to move this year.

Who Is Moving in Retirement in 2022? A Look at the Demographics

Much like last year, 86% of Americans moving in retirement were white, and just 14% were retirees of color.

Married people accounted for 55% of all retirees relocating in 2022, with the remaining 45% being single, including those widowed, divorced, as well as those who never married.

Finally, while almost three-quarters (74%) of those moving in retirement in 2022 were over 65, some 26% were early retirees in 2022.

Sources and Methodology

Unless otherwise stated, all the data behind the charts in this study were taken from the U.S. Census Bureau’s Current Population Survey and its Annual Social and Economic Supplements for 2022.

To calculate the most moved-in and moved-out states and cities, we took the percentage of all retirees in 2021 who moved or left a state or city. “Early retirees” was operationalized as any retiree aged younger than 65 years old.

Illustrations by Daniel Fishel

Should You Use Salt or Sand on an Icy Driveway?

Author: Kevin The Mover

Publish Date: December 8, 2022

Last Modified Date: December 16, 2022

Category: Moving Advice, Moving Day

Tags: Tags: calcium, chloride, clearing driveway, driveway, driveway safety, eco-friendly rock salt, icy driveway, movers, moving, packing, pet-safe rock salt, professional movers, rock salt, salt, salt alternatives, salt or sand, sand, uhaul, winter, winter move, winter tips

Slipping and falling on an icy driveway is bad enough when you’re only holding your car keys. So imagine wiping out while carrying a box full of books or a dresser full of clothes.

As a mover, I’ve seen it. And it’s flippin’ scary.

Winter is one of the cheapest times to move, but with the snow and ice of the season comes the potential for serious injury to you or your movers. Being the forward-thinking person that you are, you might already be contemplating, “should I cover my front walk and driveway with salt or sand?”

To help you make the best choice, here is the rundown on each, and some more information on how to keep your pathways and driveways as slip-free as possible.

First, Shovel the Area You’re Going To Be Walking On

As the saying goes, an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure. It’s easier to shovel snow than it is to get rid of ice, so it makes good sense to keep your front walk, your driveway, and the sidewalk in front of your house clear and clean.

In other words: Don’t wait until the night before or the morning of your move to start shoveling!

If you live where temperatures can remain below freezing for days on end (if not weeks—hello, Minnesota!), it becomes more important to keep shoveling, multiple times over multiple days if necessary, to keep all that snow from getting packed down and turned into ice.

But what if Mother Nature insists on coating the driveway with snow and ice in the hours leading up to your move? Then it’s time for a quicker cure.

Should I Use Sand or Salt?

To summarize the difference between salt or sand for snow and ice:

Sand simply covers up snow and ice. Salt melts snow and ice.

Which is better depends on how cold it is, and how much you care if it gets into the environment. In either case, the biggest priority is traction. So let’s compare.

The case for sand

Pros:

Less toxic
Comparatively cheaper
Works immediately

Cons:

Needs to be reapplied
Might not work in extremely cold temperatures
Can collect in drainage systems and make it into waterways

Sand is an easy, cheap, and quick solution to your icy problems. Dump out a few bags and spread it around, and you instantly have a safer place to walk. However, since sand provides traction, once it gets ground into the snow or ice it becomes less effective. Considering how many times you or your movers will be walking back and forth on it, you’ll likely have to put more down once or twice during the move. It can also freeze into hazardous clumps in really extreme temperatures.

“Get an idea of how much square footage you’ll need to cover before you run out to grab that salt or sand. If a sales assistant isn’t there to help, you might find how much you need right on the bag.”

Keep in mind that there are several different varieties of sand, as well. There is stuff explicitly meant for icy roads and surfaces, which is the best. If you don’t have access to that, sandbox sand will also work well, and certainly better than mason’s sand. In general, the grittier the sand is, the better.

And be sure to clean up after yourself! Sweep up the sand yourself, incentivize your kids, or pay someone else to do the work, but don’t leave it around, otherwise too much will wash away into the drainage systems. Check out the advice at HowToDisposeOf for tips on what to do with that sand once you’re done with it.

The case for salt

Pros:

Gets rid of the ice by melting it away, instead of just covering it up
Specifically designed for this process, so there’s a lot of availability and choice
No need to reapply it once it’s cleared the ice

Cons:

Takes some time to begin working, so you need to apply it hours to a full day in advance
Can damage property and lawns, or potentially be harmful to pets
Won’t work below certain temperatures

You likely already know that salt gets rid of ice and snow, but you might not be familiar with how it does this. Driveway salt (sometimes called “rock salt”) doesn’t melt ice like a flamethrower would. Instead, when mixed with water, it forms a liquid brine — a fancy name for salt water — which has a lower freezing point than pure water. This brine then lowers the freezing point of the water it comes in contact with, effectively melting it. Although only down to a certain degree; brine that is 20% salt will still freeze below 0˚F.

“If you live where temperatures can remain below freezing for days on end…it becomes even more important to keep shoveling, multiple times over multiple days if necessary, to keep all that snow from getting packed down and turned into ice.”

However, this melting process takes time. So don’t toss salt around an hour before your movers pull up to your house and expect all the ice to be gone.

In addition, salt can cause damage to your property. It can rust metal, and crack most driveway and pathway surfaces due to repeated freezing/thawing cycles breaking down the integrity of the material. And you should keep animals away from the stuff in general. Not only will driveway salt cause contact burns if it gets in between pets’ paws, but it contains trace amounts of cyanide, which may cause issues for local wildlife as well as your furry friends.

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Don’t like these choices? There are alternatives!

Alternatives to salt would more accurately be called “variations of salt” and have a spectrum of merits. While you can probably find any of these at a store, which one to pick is most dependent on exactly how cold it is where you are.

Calcium chloride (CaCl): At around minus 25˚F, it has a lower freezing point than rock salt. It also works more quickly because it gives off heat as it dissolves. However, calcium chloride is corrosive to metal and can leave a slimy residue. It also encourages algae growth which clogs waterways.
Magnesium chloride: Somewhat less corrosive than calcium chloride, it will begin to absorb moisture from the air at 32% humidity, speeding up the melting process.
Potassium chloride (KCl): Despite its use for executions by lethal injection, is safer for pets and plants than calcium chloride. But with a freezing point of around 12˚F, it is also less effective.
Nitrogen-based urea products: Like nitrogen-based fertilizers, this salt is ineffective under 20˚F and will eventually get into the water supply, lakes, and streams.
Calcium Magnesium Acetate (CMA): Can prevent ice down to around minus 27˚F and is much more environmentally friendly than the abovementioned salts — at a much higher price.

Are there any eco-friendly or pet-friendly alternatives?

With all the pros and cons of these salts and chemicals, you may be wondering if there’s an option out there that’s safe for your pets and the environment.

The good news is that there are many pet-friendly alternatives to rock salt out there. Even better, these also tend to be the ones that are easier on the environment as well. However, if your concern runs really deep, your best bet is to look at the ingredients on any brand that claims to be pet or eco-friendly and research what effects it can have.

Grist has a list of a few alternatives to rock salt in an editorial. GreenMoxie also offers some advice and options.

But what everyone seems to agree on — including us — is that there’s no better way to keep your driveway and your front walk clear of ice than with a little elbow grease. It’s much better to simply prevent the snowmelt from becoming thick ice in the first place, so grab that shovel and get to work as early and as often as necessary.

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And a few more tips

To reiterate: salt and sand the day before your move, if you can. Clear away any chunks or other bits to help keep it all from refreezing overnight.
If you absolutely have to apply salt the morning of your move? The heat from all the foot traffic will help the melting process, but in the meantime, scattering some sand on top wouldn’t hurt.
Get an idea of how much square footage you’ll need to cover before you run out to grab that salt or sand. If a sales assistant isn’t there to help, you might find how much you need right on the bag.

Not only will your movers love you for taking the time and effort to make sure their path is clear and safe, but it will undoubtedly make the process much faster than if you hadn’t bothered to get rid of all the ice and snow.

The Stuff That’s Illegal To Bring Into California

Author: Kevin The Mover

Publish Date: November 2, 2022

Last Modified Date: June 5, 2023

Category: Moving Checklists & Planning, Regulations

Tags: Tags: animals, border, border patrol, bugs, ca, california, cat, cats, dog, dogs, eating guide, ferrets, firearms, fruits, guide, guide to moving, gun laws, guns, hireahelper, kevin the mover, laws, liberal, marlowe, movers, moving, ninja, organic, pets, plants, police, professional movers, state laws, state lines, united states, vegetables, weapons, weird laws

From stunning national parks and perfect sandy beaches to those big-screen Hollywood dreams and beyond, it’s no wonder close to 40 million people like to call California home. But The Golden State is also an economic powerhouse, with a GDP larger than all but a handful of the world’s countries, and a fair chunk of that GDP comes from agriculture.

Protecting all the fun and farmland begins right at the California border, with officers at sixteen different checkpoint stations enforcing the rules and prohibitions that keep the Golden State running.

To help you cruise through without incident and get to your new home as smoothly and quickly as possible, we’re laying out all the major rules right here about what you can and can’t bring with you.

Pets, livestock, and other animals

Here’s some good news: bringing common household pets into California is not a problem at all! Cat owners in particular have it easy: the California Department of Public Health (CDPH) doesn’t require any documentation for domestic felines. On the other hand, dogs require proof of rabies vaccination, but nothing else.

The California Department of Fish and Wildlife (DFW) offers an impressive list of animals that can not be imported into the state. Interestingly, there seem to be no restrictions on the American bison.

“One large category of prohibited items might surprise you, and that’s all citrus plants. California is particularly serious about barring all of it, including loose pieces of citrus fruit, from being brought into the state.”

The DFW also offers information on restricted species. If you aren’t sure where your iguana stands, check directly with the authorities in your specific region.

And for all you farmers and ranchers out there, the California Department of Food and Agriculture has information on importing livestock and poultry.

Licensing your dog or cat in California once you’ve moved in is mandated and enforced locally. Check with your city or county for your specific required actions – preferably before you arrive.

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Alcohol, marijuana, and other cannabis products

As long as you are 21 or older you are permitted to bring alcoholic beverages into California provided it is for personal or household use. Transporting alcohol into the state for commercial or business purposes requires a license from the Department of Alcoholic Beverage Control (ABC).

Persons 21 and older are also legally permitted to possess and use marijuana within the limits of state and (beware) local laws.

“[The] AG requires that you…do one of three things within sixty days of moving to California: register your firearm, sell it to a licensed dealer, or sell it to the police or sheriff’s department.”

But, there’s a caveat when it comes to transportation of it. Under current federal law, it is illegal to transport marijuana or any cannabis products (like edibles) across state lines. So as you peruse California’s laws regarding using and growing and keeping marijuana in your car, understand that this only applies once you are in-state.

In short, feel free to bring your Budwiser along (and make sure you pack and move it correctly), but leave your bud behind.

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Open Container Laws

Article 2 Section 23223(a) of California’s State Vehicle Code states it is illegal for any person operating a motor vehicle on California’s highways or public roads to have in their possession “any bottle, can, or other receptacle, containing any alcoholic beverage that has been opened, or a seal broken, or the contents of which have been partially removed.” The same goes for any passenger, as stated in 23223(b).

Section 23225 states that the above may not be kept in a vehicle unless it is in the trunk, or out of reach if there is no trunk, or as a last resort inside a locked container.

The same rules apply to cannabis, in a container or otherwise, as stated in Section 23222.

All the detailed (and strangely repetitive) laws can be found right here, starting with the “no drinking or smoking weed by any driver or passenger” law of Section 23220.

Firearms and weapons

Make of it what you will, but California is tougher on huckleberries than they are on handguns. As California’s Attorney General states regarding firearms information for new California residents:

“Any person transporting handguns into California is required under California law to transport those handguns unloaded and in a locked container other than the glove compartment or utility compartment of a vehicle.”

In addition, the AG requires that you, as a gun owner, do one of three things within sixty days of moving to California: register your firearm, sell it to a licensed dealer (or to a third party through a licensed dealer), or sell it to the police or sheriff’s department.

While there is no specific mention of the legality of bringing shotguns or rifles into the state, under the Transporting Firearms in California section, the AG explains that these non-concealable firearms are not required to be transported in a locked container, but must be unloaded while in transit.

And just in case you were wondering, it would be best not to try to bring your assault weapon across the California border – or any border for that matter.

“Licensing your dog or cat in California once you’ve moved in is mandated and enforced locally. Check with your city or county for your specific required actions – preferably before you arrive.”

Unlike firearms (and much more like huckleberries), California “generally prohibits” a wide variety of weapons. California Penal Code 16590 lists nunchucks, cane swords, and lipstick case knives among the wide array of weapons that, if you have them, can land you in hot water. A pity for the aspiring spy, but it’s best to leave all of these behind if you’re moving to California.

Plants and produce

California is right to be protective of its $30 billion agricultural industry. An outbreak of invasive insects and pests could wreak havoc on the economy of the state, and the supply of fruits and vegetables across the country. Therefore, the California Department of Food and Agriculture (CDFA) is not shy about stopping potential disasters at the border.

Houseplants that have not been grown outside are generally allowed, as long as they are potted in commercially sold soil and not dirt from your old backyard. If a plant shows any sign of infestation or disease it will quickly be confiscated. For more detailed guidelines check out these Q&A by the CDFA

One large category of prohibited items might surprise you, and that’s all citrus plants. California is particularly serious about barring all of it, including loose pieces of citrus fruit, from being brought into the state. Many other fruits, as well as a number of nuts and vegetables, are also prohibited. This extensive list by the CDFA lays out all the fun and surprises.

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The process — and sometimes the long wait — at California’s border stations can seem like an unnecessary hassle when you’re sitting there in your loaded-up vehicle. But California alone produces a third of the country’s vegetables and three-quarters of its fruits and nuts. It makes sense for them to be tough.

Doing your part when you make your move to Cali makes their job, and the long lines, a little easier to take.

How Does the Government Define “Eviction”?

What happens when you go through the eviction process

“A U.S. Census Bureau survey showed that as recently as February 2023, 40% of respondents felt they were at risk of eviction in the next eight months.”

What happens when you go through the foreclosure process

Your Renter’s Rights and Homeowner’s Rights

How To Stop an Eviction

How To Avoid a Foreclosure

Knowledge Is Power

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LA Movers for Jobs of All Sizes

Key Findings

Home Prices Have Dropped, Why Aren’t Homes More Affordable?

“It hasn’t been this hard for a family with an average income to qualify for a mortgage loan on an average-priced home in over six decades.”

Further Out of Reach: The Majority of Renters Can’t Afford To Own a Home in 205 out of 260 Metros

“…in two major U.S. metropolitan areas, the share of renters priced out of home ownership is a staggering 99%!”

Mission Impossible: In Two Metros, Home Ownership Is Unachievable for 99% of Renters

The Modest Midwest: Two Michigan Metros Among Three Most Affordable Places for Renters

Methodology, Data Sources, Calculations and Assumptions Made

Income levels of renter households and their % of all households in each metropolitan area were taken from the 2022 release of the Annual Social Economic Supplement to the Current Population Survey, as available via Integrated Public Use Microdata Series (IPUMS). Home prices were taken from Zillow.

% of renters “priced out” was calculated as the percentage of renters in each metropolitan area whose income wouldn’t be sufficient to keep potential mortgage repayments to 30% of gross monthly income (Source: United States Department of Housing and Urban Development).

Mortgage repayments were estimated using the following assumptions:

Median home price in the metropolitan area

6% down payment (Source: National Association of Realtors)

30-year mortgage (Source: Bankrate)

6.65% interest rate (Source: FreddieMac)

What Are “Day Laborers”?

What Kinds of Jobs Can Day Laborers Do?

How To Vet Day Laborers

“The average hourly pay for a day laborer is about $15 … but this rate should likely increase with more complicated jobs that require more experience.”

What Are My Responsibilities With Day Laborers?

Where Do I Go To Find Day Laborers Near Me?

What should I do instead?

1. Set up as SOON as you step off the truck

2. Make practical use of the walk-through

3. Tape nuts and bolts to the furniture it comes from

4. Both you AND the customer should take pictures of everything before you move it!

5. It’s almost always better to empty heavy furniture before moving it

6. Try shoulder straps

7. Pad-up the furniture at the truck, not inside

8. Save your back with a “set box”

9. Tape cardboard OVER a furniture pad that’s covering glass

10. Bring towels

The Case for Moving

The Costs of Moving to a Larger House

“As of the fourth quarter of 2022, the average home price of a home sold in the U.S. was $535,800.”

Real Estate Market Considerations

“The average cost of home remodeling is $49,000, with most remodels costing somewhere between $18,000 and $80,000…”

Consider the Impact a Move May Have on Your Lifestyle and Any Family Members

Consider the Life Logistics

The Case for Remodeling

The Costs of Remodeling

“Your family may need to adjust their schedules or make alternative living arrangements during the remodeling process.”

Budgeting

Creating a Living Timeline

Hiring the Best Professional Team

Getting Permits and Permissions

Making Your Final Decision

Key Findings

On the Rise Again: Number of Retirement Moves Increased in 2022

Family and Cheaper Housing: Why Are More Retirees Moving in 2022?

“In 2022, the Sunshine State attracted almost 16% of all retirees choosing to retire outside their state, the highest of any state.”

Florida is Back, Baby! Sunshine State Tops Retirement Move Destinations

“…36% of retirees reported their living costs as higher than expected, while 56% expected to continue working after they retire.”

Goodbye Oregon: States Retirees Were Most Likely to Leave

Popular Metro areas: Palm Bay, FL a Hit With Early Retirees

“… retirees of color were more than twice as likely to move in search of cheaper housing than their white counterparts.”