I love credit cards so much! v2.0 (see first page for add'l details)

[*WDW*Groupie*]

@Haley R if you would like any tips on what to consider when purchasing a home in Florida please let us know. It is a bit of a unique market due to the climate / hurricanes. I wish someone had told us what to ask for / consider before we bought the home we have now.

Congrats to your dh! Four offers in 2 days is amazing!

 

[afan]

Wow, that is great! Congrats! I think my desired order would be total opposite of your desired order. lol I think I would go CO, VA, FL, AL. But definitely look into COL and such when you do your salary comparisons. I think most importantly is to go for the job, not the location. Because a bad job in a good location could also suck.

Also make sure to check which states have a state income tax because that changes salary too.

 

[speedyfishy]

Wilton, CT (Fairfield County). My parents sold our house in 7/98 for $1.475 million. It sold last year for $1.255 million. If you look at the Federal Housing Finance Agency's housing price index, Connecticut is a disaster (a lot of companies have left because of taxes).

Ahhh, I was thinking somewhere in NY. The areas taxes are insane. Westchester is a big offender. Easily could pay $1200-1500 a month in taxes on a 600-700,000 home.

 

[vanjust14]

I saw a report yesterday online about the top 10 cities where home values are falling because people are moving from those cities. All but 1, iirc, were in NE states. Why does everyone want out!?! Seems like such a beautiful place with a rich history.

My things are it's expensive and cold. Yes, it is beautiful in the summer but summer is only like 2 months. We barely have a spring. Just a really loooong winter.

 

[gottalovepluto]

--

 

[LynnTH]

I dunno about this one. If Citi denied for too many inquiries, I have to imagine Cap1 will too - they're much more sensitive. And they pull all 3 bureaus when you apply, so it's a tougher denial if you don't get the card. Cap1 seems to have perfectly fine-tuned their algorithm, and although it's impossible to crack the code for sure, some of the denial reasons may offer a clue. They're looking at number of inquiries and new accounts just like everyone else, so if you have a lot it may not be worthwhile. They're also looking at existing revolving account balances - but in the case of Cap1, they seem to be looking for a balance rather than no utilization at all.

Basically, Cap1 may be targeting the vast majority of people - someone who has a few credit cards but not too many, who uses them at least a little every month, who didn't just start opening a bunch of cards (and as such has a low AAoA), who also may pay a little interest here and there on some of their accounts as well. If you happen to have a personal 0% card where you're carrying a balance, or if you have a few cards with high statement balances (that you would ordinarily pay off in full but haven't yet), it may be worthwhile to let those statements close so the balances report to your credit. That may help with Cap1 - but again who knows.

Just some scattered thoughts.

I figured I would try again with Citi and see what happens. Applied for DH again (last time was over 6 months ago and said too many inquiries). He was denied again... Trying to get in to Credit Karma to see what is going on but it has locked me out. So, I applied and got a "pending decision" but went to check my email and was approved. Last time I opened the Citi AA Business was in September. I just used the 70,000 Link - hope that was right and that I will get the bonus... Just will use 2 months of Mortgage payments on that.

So, I figured I might as well try DH for the Cap 1 Venture since he got a mailer with 60,000 SUB and it expires on the 12th. He was instantly approved with a 30,000 credit line. I like have misc funds that can erase any travel costs.

Now hope I didn't screw up on the AA Business card... If so, not really out much but Plastiq fees.

 

[elgerber]

.

 

[kidsfirsttrip]

My things are it's expensive and cold. Yes, it is beautiful in the summer but summer is only like 2 months. We barely have a spring. Just a really loooong winter.

There’s nothing like a crisp sunny fall New England day. If we ever moved that’s what I’d miss most!!!

 

[tink1970]

ETA: His retention offer on the Biz Plat was $100 off the AF. No thanks.

That's too bad-I actually kept mine b/c they automatically gave me 5k MRs and then another 25 MRs for $10K spend. Since anything over 5k is 50% bonus MRs, I spent the $10k on one bill and then earned 40K MRs (25k retention + 15k spend), which worked well for me (I <3 MRs!). No way would I have accepted the $100 offer

Also make sure to check which states have a state income tax because that changes salary too.

True-Florida has NO state income tax...one reason we plan on staying (or moving to TX, which also does not have state income taxes). Also, no tax on medications or groceries (most). The folks in AL drive across the state line to shop for groceries around here.

Does VA still have the tax on your car based on its value? That was annoying

 

[tink1970]

There’s nothing like a crisp sunny fall New England day. If we ever moved that’s what I’d miss most!!!

Those are beautiful but I firmly believe you can travel to seasons. Of course, I use any excuse to travel.

 

[havaneselover]

Ahhh, I was thinking somewhere in NY. The areas taxes are insane. Westchester is a big offender. Easily could pay $1200-1500 a month in taxes on a 600-700,000 home.

Yes--but Westchester is still seeing appreciation. I guess because it's closer to NYC.

 

[Andysol]

Fun day, right? Maybe I’ll actually work sometime today after wrangling it all down and wanted to come over here and share it if y’all didn’t know already (but of course you do).

r/churning will be applying rule 11 to continued discussion of this. (ie they’ll be removing comments in an effort to not have it get blasted everywhere).

So this was spearheaded by me, mainly. The mailers kept up a pretty decent barrier of entry. It was inconvenient, not everyone could do it as it was targeted or it would cost $ to buy a mailer. All of those are eliminated now.

So while on one hand I was celebrating, on the other is the thought that the ease and lack of barriers could sink this whole ship as we know it (or derail the train, as it were). Hence, having to be jerk/totalitarian gatekeepers to make sure it sticks to PMs and contributors. As a big “free speech” guy in my personal life, it hurts a little. But it protects this hobby as a whole and I have the ability to actually help with that. So, that’s where we stand.

Here’s hoping it stays mum and hundreds (thousands?) of us get to take advantage of it for quite a long time.

 

[havaneselover]

That's too bad-I actually kept mine b/c they automatically gave me 5k MRs and then another 25 MRs for $10K spend. Since anything over 5k is 50% bonus MRs, I spent the $10k on one bill and then earned 40K MRs (25k retention + 15k spend), which worked well for me (I <3 MRs!). No way would I have accepted the $100 offer



True-Florida has NO state income tax...one reason we plan on staying (or moving to TX, which also does not have state income taxes). Also, no tax on medications or groceries (most). The folks in AL drive across the state line to shop for groceries around here.

Does VA still have the tax on your car based on its value? That was annoying

Yes, but it's not much unless your car is worth over $20,000. On my 2012 Odyssey I think it's < $200. Connecticut and NC do too (or did when I lived there). FL didn't but registration was outrageously expensive.

 

[miztressuz]

My things are it's expensive and cold. Yes, it is beautiful in the summer but summer is only like 2 months. We barely have a spring. Just a really loooong winter.

I used to say I'd always live in PA, or somewhere like it, because I liked having 4 seasons but never more North - it's cold enough as it is and I don't know how y'all can deal with it. I'm happy between 40 and 90. Can deal with the 30's and 90's and like some difference in my climate, but I don't really care to go above or below that as a preference. However as I get older I realized that really my 4 seasons are "waiting for spring", 3 weeks of Spring (if we're lucky and don't go immediately to..), "waiting for fall", 3 weeks of Fall (again, if we're lucky). So now I'm not opposed to finding somewhere without so much of the extreme mood swings. I don't need it warm all the time, and I definitely don't want it cold all the time, but somewhere where we don't hit 2 degrees and then 4-5 months later hit 102

I know it can be worse, and I'm appreciative of that, but I also know it could be better

 

[platamama]

Here’s hoping it stays mum and hundreds (thousands?) of us get to take AAdvantage of it for quite a long time.

FTFY haha, sorry couldn't help myself.

On a separate note, I couldn't respond easily while I was in Maui and saw your post about experiences while on vacation, but I loved Proyecto Asis when we were there 6 years ago.

 

[pillow]

Does VA still have the tax on your car based on its value? That was annoying

Yes we have that here in VA. I get a discount on 3 out of 4 cars though cause we have high mileage, and the cars aren't worth much. Plus my real estate taxes are low. My county only charges 53 cents per $100 of value.

 

[speedyfishy]

The Citi Biz offers that people are using for second cards, do have the 24 months language? But are working?

It appears so

 

[tink1970]

Yes, but it's not much unless your car is worth over $20,000. On my 2012 Odyssey I think it's < $200. Connecticut and NC do too (or did when I lived there). FL didn't but registration was outrageously expensive.

Um, well, I tend to have cars that are taxed quite a bit. As DH approaches FIRE, every little bit adds up.

 

[SouthFayetteFan]

The Citi Biz offers that people are using for second cards, do have the 24 months language? But are working?

 

[miztressuz]

Those are beautiful but I firmly believe you can travel to seasons. Of course, I use any excuse to travel.

Exactly!
Took me a while to have that epiphany. But if I want snow after we move, it's just a car ride or even a plane ride away to get my fill. (and then I don't have to shovel it, plow it, or drive in it... that's all someone else's problem!)