Cambridge Dictionary

  • Cambridge Dictionary +Plus

Meaning of pay a visit in English

Pay a visit, pay someone a visit | american dictionary, pay someone a visit.

{{randomImageQuizHook.quizId}}

Word of the Day

Your browser doesn't support HTML5 audio

an answer or reaction

Forget doing it or forget to do it? Avoiding common mistakes with verb patterns (2)

Forget doing it or forget to do it? Avoiding common mistakes with verb patterns (2)

pay a visit home

Learn more with +Plus

  • Recent and Recommended {{#preferredDictionaries}} {{name}} {{/preferredDictionaries}}
  • Definitions Clear explanations of natural written and spoken English English Learner’s Dictionary Essential British English Essential American English
  • Grammar and thesaurus Usage explanations of natural written and spoken English Grammar Thesaurus
  • Pronunciation British and American pronunciations with audio English Pronunciation
  • English–Chinese (Simplified) Chinese (Simplified)–English
  • English–Chinese (Traditional) Chinese (Traditional)–English
  • English–Dutch Dutch–English
  • English–French French–English
  • English–German German–English
  • English–Indonesian Indonesian–English
  • English–Italian Italian–English
  • English–Japanese Japanese–English
  • English–Norwegian Norwegian–English
  • English–Polish Polish–English
  • English–Portuguese Portuguese–English
  • English–Spanish Spanish–English
  • English–Swedish Swedish–English
  • Dictionary +Plus Word Lists
  • English    Phrase
  • American    Idiom
  • All translations

Add pay a visit to one of your lists below, or create a new one.

{{message}}

Something went wrong.

There was a problem sending your report.

With English, the World is Your Oyster!

  • Listening Skills
  • TED Talk Lessons
  • What are Idioms?
  • Visual Idiom Examples
  • Idioms Lists
  • About Nicole
  • Privacy Policy

Idiom:  pay a visit

Meaning .

Idiom:  pay a visit to someone/something (pay someone/something a visit)

  • to go see someone or something

Example sentences

  • I haven’t heard from my father in two weeks so I’m going to pay him a visit and make sure he’s okay.
  • There are very few doctors who will pay a visit to patients' homes these days.
  • It's been a few months since we've seen my mother-in-law so we need to pay a visit this weekend.
  • My best friend was in town and decided to pay a visit but we were at the shopping mall so I missed her.
  • Let's pay a visit to the cemetery on Veterans Day and lay down some flowers at my grandfather's grave.
  • You'll be paying the dentist a visit  soon if you don't stop drinking so many sodas and eating those sugary candies.
  • If you have a chance to pay a visit to Mount Rushmore National Memorial while you're in the Dakotas you will not regret it.
  • A couple of police officers paid our office a visit this afternoon and I'm dying to know what they questioned my boss about.
  • Every Memorial Day we pay a visit to my uncle's grave to pay our respects.
  • come around

Get our free idioms in pictures ebook

pay a visit home

You might like these idioms

pay a visit home

Sleep idioms

pay a visit home

Thanksgiving idioms

More idioms will be added in the future so check back frequently or sign-up for my free newsletter to learn about new updates to my website.

  • Idioms List
  • Idiom: pay a visit

Cover image of the free illustrated idioms ebook you can get when subscribing to Oyster English's free newsletter.

Listening | TED Talks |  Speaking |  Grammar |  Vocabulary | Idioms |  Blog

Copyright © 2013-2024  OysterEnglish.com   All rights reserved  |    Privacy policy

  • To save this word, you'll need to log in. Log In

pay (someone) a visit

Definition of pay (someone) a visit

Examples of pay (someone) a visit in a sentence.

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'pay (someone) a visit.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Dictionary Entries Near pay (someone) a visit

pay (someone) a compliment

pay someone no mind

Cite this Entry

“Pay (someone) a visit.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary , Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/pay%20%28someone%29%20a%20visit. Accessed 12 Mar. 2024.

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

Play Quordle: Guess all four words in a limited number of tries.  Each of your guesses must be a real 5-letter word.

Can you solve 4 words at once?

Word of the day.

See Definitions and Examples »

Get Word of the Day daily email!

Popular in Grammar & Usage

8 grammar terms you used to know, but forgot, homophones, homographs, and homonyms, your vs. you're: how to use them correctly, every letter is silent, sometimes: a-z list of examples, more commonly mispronounced words, popular in wordplay, 'arsy-varsy,' and other snappy reduplicatives, the words of the week - mar. 8, 10 scrabble words without any vowels, 12 more bird names that sound like insults (and sometimes are), 8 uncommon words related to love, games & quizzes.

Play Blossom: Solve today's spelling word game by finding as many words as you can using just 7 letters. Longer words score more points.

  • Basic Facts
  • Country Description
  • Population by City
  • Chinese Names
  • China Tourism
  • China Holidays
  • Dual Nationality
  • English Media
  • Family Visiting
  • Handshaking
  • Table Manners
  • Photography
  • Time Difference
  • Weights & Measures
  • Adopt Children

Visiting Chinese Family

pay a visit home

Go to the homepage

Example sentences pay a visit

Just pay a visit to the link below.
Few politicians have dared to pay a visit to a concentration camp during their re-election campaign.
If you've been feeling low for more than a couple of weeks pay a visit to your doc.
Pay a visit to the newspaper editor and treat him to a knuckle sandwich?
Contact your local environmental health or planning department and ask it to pay a visit .

Definition of 'pay' pay

IPA Pronunciation Guide

Definition of 'visit' visit

Related word partners pay a visit, browse alphabetically pay a visit.

  • pay a supplier
  • pay a visit
  • pay a worker
  • pay an allowance
  • All ENGLISH words that begin with 'P'

Quick word challenge

Quiz Review

Score: 0 / 5

Tile

Wordle Helper

Tile

Scrabble Tools

▶️ Improve your English. 15-day FREE trial!

pay a visit

collocation pattern: verb + noun

to visit someone or something

For example

  • You should pay your lawyer a visit and get some advice.
  • If you have time, pay a visit to the science museum while you're here.

Paying a visit to someone always

Contributor: Matt Errey

sixtyandme logo

Watch our videos

244,000 subscribers

facebook link

Join the conversation

133,000 followers

pinterest link

Pin our posts

24,600 followers

email link

Get our newsletter

65,000 subscribers

  • Hearing-Aids
  • Healthy Aging
  • Losing Weight
  • Medical Issues
  • Reducing Stress
  • Brain Health
  • Solo Travel
  • Travel Tips
  • Small Business
  • Part-time Jobs
  • Encore Careers
  • Managing Money
  • End of Life Planning
  • Retirement Tips
  • Senior Living
  • Journal Writing
  • Entertainment
  • Inspiration
  • Empowerment
  • Getting Older
  • Reinvention
  • Giving Back
  • Dating Advice
  • Online Dating
  • Adult Children
  • Grandchildren
  • Estrangement
  • Arts and Crafts
  • Piano Lessons
  • Photography

pay a visit home

Home Doctor Visits: What Does Medicare Cover?

Since the beginning of the Covid-19 pandemic, patients have been hesitant to schedule in-person doctor visits ­– hence the increase in telehealth and telemedicine services. Yet, there are many conditions, services, and treatments for which virtual appointments are far from ideal.

Medicare beneficiaries may have Covid-related anxieties regarding face-to-face appointments in a medical setting, because of their higher risk. This begs the question: Does Medicare cover home doctor visits?

Types of Medicare Coverage

Before you try to figure out whether Medicare will cover a home doctor visit, you’ll need to know which doctors you can visit with your coverage. When you have Original Medicare (Parts A and B), with or without a Medicare Supplement (Medigap) policy, you’ll have coverage for any practitioner accepting Medicare assignment. Fortunately, most doctors in the United States accept the coverage.

With a Medicare Advantage (Part C) plan, you’ll need to stick to your policy’s network of doctors to receive coverage for any care you receive. Additionally, you’ll require referrals for coverage through your plan when seeing any specialist. Part C includes the coverage Parts A and B provide, which are inpatient and outpatient services, respectively.

When Does Medicare Cover House Calls?

Unfortunately, Medicare doesn’t typically cover the type of house calls with which people are most familiar. Even in the age of Covid, it’s not as simple to make an appointment for a home visit from your primary care physician as it is to schedule a telehealth visit.

Ultimately, Medicare will pay for you to receive care at home ( home health care ) if your circumstances qualify you for such. Again, you’ll need to make sure your provider accepts Medicare assignment (if you have Original Medicare) or is within your Advantage plan’s network for your care to receive coverage. This rule of thumb applies regardless of whether the care will take place at your home.

Medicare’s guidelines for home health care dictate that the visit must be medically necessary. Thus, you must be under the care of a doctor for your condition(s) and your doctor deems certain at-home care to be a necessity.

You must qualify as homebound, meaning you have difficulty leaving your home independently (i.e., without the use of an assistive device, such as a cane). Further, your practitioner must document a face-to-face meeting with you to verify your eligibility.

An eligible individual can receive physical, speech, or occupational therapy, or intermittent care from a skilled nursing professional at home. The practitioner providing the service must accept Medicare assignment or contract with your Advantage plan.

Independence at Home

In 2011, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) launched a program called the Independence at Home Demonstration. It is a voluntary, primary care program for patients with multiple chronic conditions who are still living independently but would benefit from a doctor’s visit at home. Yet only an extremely limited number of sites across the country participate in the model.

The program has resulted in savings for CMS. While the program was supposed to end at the close of 2020, it is now extended through the end of 2023 . If further success results from this endeavor, Medicare may see changes regarding this type of care.

The Future of Home Doctor Visits on Medicare

Hesitancy to attend in-person medical appointments due to possible Covid-19 exposure increases the need for alternative options. While Medicare now includes more coverage for telehealth than ever, the same cannot be said for house calls.

When an individual needs a face-to-face appointment with their primary provider to determine necessity for home health care, it’s clear that coverage is far from comprehensive. With the need to fill this gap in coverage and the success of the Independence at Home Demonstration, Medicare will hopefully see more coverage for primary care house calls – including routine check-ups – in the future. The health of beneficiaries depends on it.

How often have you visited your doctor’s office in the past year and a half? How often have you used telehealth services? Would you ask for a home doctor visit if it were available? How would that help you?

guest

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed .

Daryl

Yes I’d love home Dr visits, im wheelchair dependent and getting out and dressed for the appointment is an all day thing, not to mention wating to be seen is extremely painful.

Tags Medicare

Jagger Esch

Jagger Esch

Jagger Esch is a Medicare expert and the founder, president, and CEO of MedicareFAQ. He has been working in the Medicare space for over 10 years. Jagger has a passion for sharing his expertise on Medicare to beneficiaries so they can be better prepared for health care costs after retirement. His YouTube channel features various videos that help Medicare beneficiaries discover all their options.

You Might Also Like

pay a visit home

Unraveling Medicare’s Home Healthcare Coverage

pay a visit home

Medigap – Plugging Holes in Original Medicare

print this page Print this page

Average Home Visitor Hourly Pay

The average hourly pay for a Home Visitor is $15.26 in 2024

Featured Content

How do home visitors rate their jobs, common health benefits for a home visitor, gender breakdown for home visitors.

benefits-icon

FAQs About Home Visitors

What is the highest pay for home visitors.

Our data indicates that the highest pay for a Home Visitor is $24.16 / hour

What is the lowest pay for Home Visitors?

Our data indicates that the lowest pay for a Home Visitor is $10.88 / hour

How can Home Visitors increase their salary?

Increasing your pay as a Home Visitor is possible in different ways. Change of employer: Consider a career move to a new employer that is willing to pay higher for your skills. Level of Education: Gaining advanced degrees may allow this role to increase their income potential and qualify for promotions. Managing Experience: If you are a Home Visitor that oversees more junior Home Visitors, this experience can increase the likelihood to earn more.

  • Cover Letters
  • Jobs I've Applied To
  • Saved Searches
  • Subscriptions
  • Marine Corps
  • Coast Guard
  • Space Force
  • Military Podcasts
  • Benefits Home
  • Military Pay and Money
  • Veteran Health Care
  • VA eBenefits
  • Veteran Job Search
  • Military Skills Translator
  • Upload Your Resume
  • Veteran Employment Project
  • Vet Friendly Employers
  • Career Advice
  • Military Life Home
  • Military Trivia Game
  • Veterans Day
  • Spouse & Family
  • Military History
  • Discounts Home
  • Featured Discounts
  • Veterans Day Restaurant Discounts
  • Electronics
  • Join the Military Home
  • Contact a Recruiter
  • Military Fitness

Will the Military to Pay for My Trip Home?

Military to Pay for My Trip Home

Living overseas is an adventure most military spouses dream of. But as anyone who has lived overseas knows, it comes with some challenges. One of those is the expense of flying home.

One military spouse wrote in and said, “I think it's totally unfair of the military to station us overseas in Japan and not pay for any flights home for the entire tour. Yes, we could fly Space-A , but it's not realistic because it's not predictable, and we are almost two hours away from the terminal.”

Being away from family is hard, and it often seems harder when an ocean - or two - separate you from them. You can’t just drive home if you want.

But, it’s not the military’s responsibility to bring you back to your home town.

Generally speaking, the military gives service members two options when it comes to some assignments, such as those in South Korea and Japan.

They can either go for a one-year hardship tour solo and receive a mid-tour R&R visit home on Uncle Sam's dime, or they can request to take their family with them for a two-year accompanied tour and not be flown back to the States at all.

Not every accompanied request is granted. Even getting stationed with your service member is a major perk. If you don't want to be there, you could stay stateside and let him or her serve and visit you via Space-A solo.

It’s important to remember that an accompanied tour is something many military families want but are not granted.

To make things a little easier on your pocketbook for stateside visits, the Defense Department does pay for flights home -- but they are through Space-A. Yes, that's unpredictable, but it is a paid-for flight.

Honestly, saying that two hours is too far to go to deal with flights discredits the folks stateside in rural locations who don't have Space-A access but still must travel just as far or farther to deal with traveling from their duty station. Good luck finding an airport within two hours if you're stationed at Fort Irwin, California , for example.

We hate to say “someone else has it worse, so be grateful for what you have,” but that’s what we’re thinking. Living overseas has its pros and cons and we suggest your focus on the pros.

Keep Up with the Ins and Outs of Military Life

For the latest military news and tips on military family benefits and more, subscribe to Military.com and have the information you need delivered directly to your inbox.

You May Also Like

robotic hysterectomy for cervical dysplasia at Brooke Army Medical Center

Active-duty service members whose infertility was caused by a significant military-related injury or illness no longer have...

Friends in a vintage photograph.

There are several essential types of friends every military spouse should have. These friends can serve as cheerleaders...

pay a visit home

Over 500 courses and certifications available to military, spouses and veterans

Dollar Sign and Cash

Federal Student Aid is designed to assist you in meeting the cost of tuition, books, fees and living expenses while you go to...

Military Benefits Topics

  • Military Benefits
  • Family Money Matters
  • Spouse Tricare
  • On Base Benefits & Legal Help

Select Service

My membership.

  • National Guard

Spouse Topics

  • Military and Family Life
  • Military Deployment
  • Military PCS
  • Relationships
  • Military Spouse Jobs
  • Spouse & Family Education
  • Military Spouse Appreciation Day 2023
  • PCS Podcast
  • Military Moves

Sign up for the Spouse & Family Newsletter

Popular Spouse Benefits Articles

U.S. Rep. Chrissy Houlahan at Camp Lemonnier, Djibouti

Rep. Chrissy Houlahan, D-Pa., the ranking member of the House Armed Services Committee's military quality-of-life panel, is...

75th annual Veterans Day Parade in Birmingham, Alabama

The bills, introduced last month and awaiting review in their respective committees of origin, would task the state...

The exterior of the Alabama Supreme Court building in Montgomery, Ala.

Some service members and their spouses are concerned they may soon be forced to choose between military service and having a...

Bahrain's transportation service provider during a household goods move

The new management will start with a series of "test moves" at a handful of U.S. installations in the next couple of weeks.

An early childhood specialist sings with preschoolers

Amid a growing push by Navy leaders to improve the lives and conditions for sailors, the sea service's installation command...

Latest in Family

  • New Pentagon Policy Expands In Vitro Fertilization Options for Severely Ill or Injured Troops
  • Proposal for 'GI Bill for Child Care' Aims to Boost Unemployed Military Spouses
  • Knock Out Your 2024 Financial Spring Cleaning with These 6 Tasks
  • Father of Marine Killed in Afghanistan Withdrawal Arrested After Interrupting Biden's State of the Union Speech
  • Alabama Bill Aims to Create State Health System for Veterans and Their Families

Military Life 101

stack of one dollar bills

Don't know exactly how to get your military spouse and family benefits or want to know more about what they are? Read on.

(Photo: U.S. Navy)

Military life has a lot of nuts and bolts. You know, the little things that make up just an ordinary day.

job fair

While the military will always throw a monkey wrench in any best-laid plans, your career doesn't have to be one of them.

(U.S. Air Force/Kedesha Pennant)

Whether you're an old pro or new to the military moving game, there's stuff to learn about PCSing. Here's our easy PCS 101...

(Photo: U.S. Marine Corps/Lance Cpl. Sullivan Laramie)

Preparing for deployment can seem like an uphill battle. But we've been there. Here's what you need to know.

(Photo: U.S. Department of Education)

Good news for you: Being a military spouse can actually make some parts of going back to school easier.

Soldiers return from a 11 month long deployment in Kosovo.

Military life is not easy, but we've got your back. From marriage to kids and parenting, we have the resources you need.

Military Spouse Videos

pay a visit home

First, there is the real you. Then there is the secret inner part of you blistering through all the...

pay a visit home

When Ukrainian soldier Vitalii Khroniuk was lying face to the ground in an attempt to protect himself from Russian...

pay a visit home

President Joe Biden on Wednesday invoked the Defense Production Act to speed production of infant formula and authorized flights...

pay a visit home

Listen to a Military Child Appreciation Day message specifically for military teens from First Lady Dr. Jill Biden. (April...

pay a visit home

National Military Appreciation Month is celebrated every May and is a declaration that encourages U.S. citizens to observe the...

pay a visit home

An official website of the United States government

Here’s how you know

pay a visit home

Official websites use .gov A .gov website belongs to an official government organization in the United States.

Secure .gov websites use HTTPS A lock ( Lock A locked padlock ) or https:// means you’ve safely connected to the .gov website. Share sensitive information only on official, secure websites.

CBP Seal, circular, Eagle with shield and Globe behind, Department of Homeland Security written below.  U.S. Customs and Border Protection written above.

  • For International Visitors
  • Know Before You Visit

Customs Duty Information

What is a customs duty.

Customs Duty is a tariff or tax imposed on goods when transported across international borders. The purpose of Customs Duty is to protect each country's economy, residents, jobs, environment, etc., by controlling the flow of goods, especially restrictive and prohibited goods, into and out of the country.

Dutiable refers to articles on which Customs Duty may have to be paid. Each article has a specific duty rate, which is determined by a number of factors, including where you acquired the article, where it was made, and what it is made of. Also, anything you bring back that you did not have when you left the United States must be "declared." For example, you would declare alterations made in a foreign country to a suit you already owned, and any gifts you acquired outside the United States. American Goods Returned (AGR) do not have to be declared, but you must be prepared to prove to U.S. Customs and Border Protection the articles are AGR or pay Customs duty.

The Customs Duty Rate is a percentage. This percentage is determined by the total purchased value of the article(s) paid at a foreign country and not based on factors such as quality, size, or weight. The Harmonized Tariff System (HTS) provides duty rates for virtually every existing item. CBP uses the Harmonized Tariff Schedule of the United States Annotated (HTSUS), which is a reference manual that the provides the applicable tariff rates and statistical categories for all merchandise imported into the U.S.

Duty-Free Shop articles sold in a Customs duty-free shop are free only for the country in which that shop is located. Therefore, if your acquired articles exceed your personal exemption/allowance, the articles you purchased in Customs duty-free shop, whether in the United States or abroad, will be subject to Customs duty upon entering your destination country. Articles purchased in a American Customs duty-free shop are also subject to U.S. Customs duty if you bring them into the United States. For example, if you buy alcoholic beverages in a Customs duty-free shop in New York before entering Canada and then bring them back into the United States, they will be subject to Customs duty and Internal Revenue Service tax (IRT).

Determining Customs Duty

The flat duty rate will apply to articles that are dutiable but that cannot be included in your personal exemption, even if you have not exceeded the exemption. For example, alcoholic beverages. If you return from Europe with $200 worth of purchases, including two liters of liquor, one liter will be duty-free under your returning resident personal allowance/exemption. The other will be dutiable at 3 percent, plus any Internal Revenue Tax (IRT) that is due.

A joint declaration is a Customs declaration that can be made by family members who live in the same household and return to the United States together. These travelers can combine their purchases to take advantage of a combined flat duty rate, no matter which family member owns a given item. The combined value of merchandise subject to a flat duty rate for a family of four traveling together would be $4,000. Purchase totals must be rounded to the nearest dollar amount.

Tobacco Products

Returning resident travelers may import tobacco products only in quantities not exceeding the amounts specified in the personal exemptions for which the traveler qualifies (not more than 200 cigarettes and 100 cigars if arriving from other than a beneficiary country and insular possession). Any quantities of tobacco products not permitted by a personal exemption are subject to detention, seizure, penalties, abandonment, and destruction. Tobacco products are typically purchased in duty-free stores, on sea carriers operating internationally or in foreign stores. These products are usually marked "Tax Exempt. For Use Outside the United States," or "U.S. Tax Exempt For Use Outside the United States."

For example, a returning resident is eligible for the $800 duty-free personal exemption every 31 days, having remained for no less than 48 hours beyond the territorial limits of the United States except U.S. Virgin Islands, in a contiguous country which maintains free zone or free port, has remained beyond the territorial limits of the United States not to exceed 24 hours. This exemption includes not more than 200 cigarettes and 100 cigars:

  • If the resident declares 400 previously exported cigarettes and proves American Goods Returning (AGR) , the resident would be permitted or allowed to bring back his AGR exempt from Customs duty.
  • If the resident declares 400 cigarettes, of which 200 are proven AGR or previously exported and 200 not AGR or not previously exported, the resident would be permitted to bring back his 200 previously exported cigarettes tax and Internal Revenue Tax (IRT) free under his exemption.
  • The tobacco exemption is available to each adult 21 years of age or over.

In December 2014, President Obama announced his intention to re-establish diplomatic relations with Cuba. The President did not lift the embargo against Cuba. Absent a democratic or transitional government in Cuba, lifting the embargo requires a legislative statutory change. Since the announcement, however, the Department of the Treasury’s Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) has amended the Cuba Assets Control Regulations (CACR), effective January 16, 2015, to authorize travel within certain categories to and from Cuba and to allow certain imports from and exports to Cuba.

All travelers, including those from Cuba, must comply with all applicable laws and regulations. This includes the Harmonized Tariff Schedule of the United States (“HTSUS”) (2016) limitations on personal exemptions and rules of duty extended to non-residents and returning U.S. residents.

Persons subject to U.S. jurisdiction are authorized to engage in all transactions, including payments necessary to import certain goods and services produced by independent Cuban entrepreneurs as determined by the State Department and set forth in the State Department’s Section 515.582 list located at FACT SHEET: U.S. Department of State Section 515.582 List . On October 17, 2016, the Office of Foreign Asset Control relaxed restrictions so authorized travelers, arriving direct from Cuba, are now able to bring Cuban merchandise for personal use back to the United States and qualify for the U.S. Resident exemption (HTSUS 9804.00.65, which allows up to $800 total in goods, and adults 21 and older may include 1 liter of alcohol, 200 cigarettes, and 100 cigars). This exemption also applies to travelers, arriving from any country in the world, with declared Cuban merchandise.

Declared amounts in excess of the exemption are subject to a flat 4% rate of duty, and any applicable IRS taxes, pursuant to HTSUS 9816.00.20 and 19 CFR 148.101, which impose a duty rate of 4% of the fair retail value on goods from a Column 2 country.

Regarding goods: The Department of State will, in accordance with the State Department’s Section 515.582, issue a list of prohibited goods. Placement on the list means that any listed good falls within certain Sections and Chapters of the HTSUS which do not qualify for this exception.

Regarding entrepreneurs : The Cuban entity must be a private business, such as a self-employed entrepreneur or other private entity, not owned or controlled by the Government of Cuba. Travelers engaging in these transactions are required to obtain evidence that demonstrates the goods purchased were obtained from a Cuban entrepreneur, as described above, and should be prepared to furnish evidence of such to U.S. Government authorities upon request. Evidence may include a copy of the entrepreneur’s license and/or an invoice and/or purchase order demonstrating the goods were purchased from a specific Cuban entrepreneur. Whether a traveler presents adequate evidence that a good qualifies from importation and that it was bought from a licensed independent Cuban entrepreneur shall be determined on a case-by-case basis by the inspecting CBP officer.

Imports under Section 515.582 (i.e., imports from licensed independent entrepreneurs not on the Department of State’s prohibited list) must comply with all current U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) formal and informal entry requirements, as applicable. This means that, while there is no value cap on the amount of goods that may be imported under this provision, the applicable duties in the HTSUS must be considered.

In particular, HTSUS 9804.00.65 allows for the duty-free importation of personal-use articles from a Column 2 country when the fair retail value of such goods is under $800. Also see 19 C.F.R. 148.33. HTSUS 9816.00.20 establishes a duty rate of 4% of the fair retail value for personal-use articles under $1,000 imported from a Column 2 country. Thus, any articles imported under this section for personal use with a value of under $800 can be imported duty free, and any articles imported for personal use with a value between $800 and $1800, will be subject to a flat 4% duty rate. Any articles valued over $1800, regardless of whether for personal use, will be subject to entry and should be classified, appraised, and assessed duty appropriately under the specific HTSUS Column 2 rates. Also see 19 C.F.R. 148.101 and 148.102. Any commercial importation, i.e., not for personal use, is subject to entry requirements and payment of applicable duties, fees, and taxes.

While these revised regulations may facilitate certain travel and trade with Cuba, all other laws and regulations applicable to international travel and the importation/exportation of goods remain in full effect. This means that all United States agency requirements applicable to a particular importation must be met and fully complied with, such as the regulations of the Food and Drug Administration, the Consumer Product Safety Commission, and the Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service.

Alcoholic Beverages

One American liter (33.8 fl. oz.) of alcoholic beverages may be included in your returning resident personal exemption if:

  • You are at least 21 years old.
  • It is intended exclusively for your personal use and not for sale.
  • It does not violate the laws of the state in which you arrive.

Federal and state regulations allow you to bring back one liter of an alcoholic beverage for personal use duty-free. However, states may allow you to bring back more than one liter, but you will have to pay any applicable Customs duty and IRT.

While federal regulations do not specify a limit on the amount of alcohol you may bring back beyond the personal exemption amount, unusual quantities may raise suspicions that you are importing the alcohol for other purposes, such as for resale. CBP officers enforce the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) laws, rules, and regulations and are authorized to make on-the-spot determinations that an importation is for commercial purposes. If such determination is made, it may require you to obtain a permit and file a formal entry to import the alcohol before the alcohol is released. If you intend to bring back a substantial quantity of alcohol for your personal use, you should contact the U.S. Port of Entry (POE) through which you will be re-entering and make prior arrangements for the importation.

Also, state laws might limit the amount of alcohol you can bring in without a license. If you arrive in a state that has limitations on the amount of alcohol you may bring in without a license, that state's law will be enforced by CBP, even though it may be more restrictive than federal regulations. We recommend that you check with the state government about their limitations on quantities allowed for personal importation and additional state taxes that may apply. Ideally, this information should be obtained before traveling.

In brief, for both alcohol and cigarettes, the quantities eligible for duty-free treatment may be included in your $800 or $1,600 returning resident personal exemption, just as any other purchase should be. But unlike other kinds of merchandise, amounts beyond those discussed here as being duty-free are taxed, even if you have not exceeded, or even met, your personal exemption. For example, your exemption is $800 and you bring back three liters of wine and nothing else, two of those liters will be dutiable and IR taxed. Federal law prohibits business-to-private consumer shipping of alcoholic beverages by mail within the United States.

How to Pay Customs Duty

If you owe Customs duty, you must pay it before the conclusion of your CBP processing. You may pay it in any of the following ways:

  • U.S. currency only.
  • Personal check in the exact amount, drawn on a U.S. bank, made payable to U.S. Customs and Border Protection. You must present identification, such as a passport or U.S. driver's license. CBP does not accept checks bearing second-party endorsement.
  • Government check, money order or traveler's check if the amount does not exceed the duty owed by more than $50.

In some locations/POEs, you may pay duty with either MasterCard or VISA credit cards.

Increased Duty Rates

Items from certain countries.

Under what is known as its "301" authority, the United States may impose a much higher than normal duty rate on products from certain countries. Currently, the United States has imposed a 100 percent rate of duty on certain products of Austria, Belgium, Denmark, Finland, France, The Federal Republic of Germany, Greece, Ireland, Italy, Luxembourg, the Netherlands, Portugal, Spain, Sweden and the Ukraine. If you should bring more of any of these products back with you than fall within your exemption or flat rate of duty, (see below) you will pay as much in duty as you paid for the product or products.

While most of the products listed are not the type of goods that travelers would purchase in sufficient quantities to exceed their exemption, diamonds from the Ukraine are subject to the 100 percent duty and might easily exceed the exemption amount.

For information on countries that may become subject to a higher than normal duty rate, check the Department of Commerce Web site.

Countries With Free or Reduced Customs Duty Rates

The United States gives Customs duty preferences-that is, conditionally free or subject to reduced rates-to certain designated beneficiary developing countries under a trade program called the Generalized System of Preferences (GSP). Some products that would otherwise be dutiable are not when they are wholly the growth, product, or manufacture of a beneficiary GSP country. Visit the Office of United States Trade Representative website for additional GSP information.

  • Many products from Caribbean and Andean countries are exempt from duty under the Caribbean Basin Initiative (CBI), Caribbean Basin Trade Partnership Act, Andean Trade Preference Act and the Andean Trade Promotion and Drug Eradication Act.
  • Many products from certain sub-Saharan African countries are exempt from duty under the African Growth and Opportunity Act.
  • Most products from Israel, Jordan, Chile and Singapore may also enter the United States either free of duty or at a reduced rate under the U.S. free trade agreements with those countries.
  • The North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) went into effect in 1994. If you are returning from Canada or Mexico , your goods are eligible for free or reduced duty rates if they were grown, manufactured, or produced in Canada or Mexico, as defined by the Act.

Additional information on these special trade programs can be found on the CBP Web site.

Household Effects & Personal Effects - Customs Duty Guidance

Household effects conditionally included are duty-free. These include such items as furniture, carpets, paintings, tableware, stereos, linens, and similar household furnishings; tools of the trade, professional books, implements, and instruments.

You may import household effects you acquired abroad duty-free if:

  • You used them abroad for no less than one year.
  • They are not intended for any other person or for sale.

For Customs purposes, clothing, jewelry, photography equipment, portable radios, and vehicles are considered personal effects and cannot be brought in duty-free as household effects. However, duty is usually waived on personal effects more than one year of age. All vehicles are dutiable.

Mailing and Shipping Goods - Customs Duty Guidance

Unaccompanied purchases are goods you bought on a trip that are being mailed or shipped to you in the United States. In other words, you are not carrying the goods with you when you return. If your unaccompanied purchases are from an insular possession (IP) or a Caribbean Basin Initiative (CBI) country and are being imported within 30 days and sent directly from those locations to the United States, you may enter them as follows:

  • Up to $1,600 in goods will be duty-free under your personal exemption if the merchandise is from an IP.
  • Up to $800 in goods will be duty-free if it is from a CBI or Andean country.
  • Any additional amount, up to $1,000, in goods will be dutiable at a flat rate (3%).

To take advantage of the Customs duty-free exemption for unaccompanied tourist purchases (mailing/shipping) from an IP or CBI country:

Step 1. At place and time of purchase, ask your merchant to hold your item until you send him or her a copy of CBP Form 255 (Declaration of Unaccompanied Articles), which must be affixed to the package when it is shipped.

Step 2. (a) On your declaration form (CBP Form 6059B), list everything you acquired on your trip that is accompanying you. You must also complete a separate Declaration of Unaccompanied Articles form (CBP Form 255) for each package or container that will be sent to you after you arrive in the United States. This form may be available where you make your purchase. If not, you may find the form on the CBP website.

Step 3. When you return to the United States, the CBP officer will: (a) collect Customs duty and any tax due on the dutiable goods you have brought with you; (b) verify your list of unaccompanied articles with your sales receipts; (c) validate your CBP Form 255 to determine if your purchases are duty-free under your personal exemption ($1,600 or $800) or if the purchases are subject to a flat rate of duty.

Step 4. Two copies of the three-part CBP Form 255 will be returned to you. Send the yellow copy of the CBP Form 255 to the foreign shopkeeper or vendor holding your purchase, and keep the other copy for your records.

Step 5. When the merchant gets your CBP Form 255, he or she must place it in an envelope and attach the envelope securely to the outside wrapping of the package or container. The merchant must also mark each package "Unaccompanied Purchase." Please remember that each package or container must have its own CBP Form 255 attached , the most important step to follow in order to gain the benefits allowed under this procedure.

Step 6. If your package has been mailed, the U.S. Postal Service will deliver it after it clears Customs. If you owe duty, the Postal Service will collect the duty along with a postal handling fee. If a freight service transports your package, they will notify you of its arrival and you must go to their office holding the shipment and complete the CBP entry procedure. If you owe duty or tax, you will need to pay it at that time in order to secure the release of the goods. You could also hire a customs customhouse broker to do this for you. However, be aware that customhouse brokers are private businesses and are not CBP employees, and they charge fees for their services.

If freight or express packages from your trip landed in the U.S. before you return and you have not made arrangements to pick them up, CBP will authorize their placement into general order bonded warehouse or public storage after 15 days (days for perishable, flammable, explosives). This storage and all other related charges (transportation, demurrage, handling) will be at your risk and expense. If the goods are not claimed within six months, they will be sold at auction.

Per U.S. Postal Service regulations, packages sent by mail and not claimed within 30 days from the date of U.S. arrival will be returned to the sender unless the amount of duty is being protested.

Missing 8-year-old found dead in home

FULTON TOWNSHIP, Wis. ( WMTV /Gray News) - Authorities are investigating after an 8-year-old was found dead inside a home Saturday evening in Wisconsin.

Deputies responded to a neighborhood for reports of a missing child.

During their investigation, they found a child dead inside a home. Authorities did not say how the child died.

Officials say a person of interest is in custody.

No other details have been released.

Copyright 2024 WMTV via Gray Media Group, Inc. All rights reserved.

Crews on the scene of fiery crash in Temple

Two teens killed, two others injured after stolen car is wrecked during police chase

Each of the cast members in attendance had their own booth, signing autographs and snapping...

Cast of ‘The Waltons’ pay a visit to Central Texas

This photo from We Fortify shows a rendering of Wendy’s Village, which will offer teachers a...

School district teams up with nonprofit to offer affordable housing for teachers as incentive

Hugh Shine, left, Hillary Hickland, right.

Texas House District 55: Abbott-backed Hillary Hickland ousts Rep. Hugh Shine

Tylo Lapore Eddins Jr.

Chicago murder suspect arrested in Killeen, charged with six counts of first-degree murder

Latest news.

PHOTO: Andrew Tate, American-British social media personality, businessman, and former...

Romanian court grants UK’s request to extradite Andrew Tate, once local legal cases are concluded

Are you a Wordle fan? Don't forget to play Friday.

You could get a special treat for solving Wordle’s 1,000th puzzle

FILE - A ninth grader places her cellphone in to a phone holder as she enters class at Delta...

Some teachers want parents to stop texting students during class

Special counsel Robert Hur gave an opening statement before a House panel on Tuesday. (Source:...

Special counsel Hur gives assessment of Biden

File - A Florida Power & Light sign marks the site of a crocodile nesting area along a cooling...

68-year-old bitten by crocodile after falling off his boat

  • Search Please fill out this field.
  • Manage Your Subscription
  • Give a Gift Subscription
  • Sweepstakes

Meghan Markle and Prince Harry Pay Surprise Visit to Uvalde Shooting Victim's Family — and Join in Singalong

The Duke and Duchess of Sussex visited the family of Robb Elementary School shooting victim, Irma Garcia, on Saturday

pay a visit home

Meghan Markle and Prince Harry spent time with the family of one of the victims of the Robb Elementary School shooting in Uvalde, Texas, over the weekend.

The Duke and Duchess of Sussex sang “Happy Birthday” to the sister of schoolteacher Irma Garcia , who was killed in the 2022 massacre, as seen in a video posted on X (formerly Twitter).

Garcia was one of 21 people who were killed when an 18-year-old gunman opened fire at the school on May 24, 2022. The wife and mother of four had worked for 23 years as a teacher until her death. 

In the clip, which was shared by Garcia’s nephew, John Martinez, Meghan, 42, held a birthday cake while surrounded by the family, as Harry, 39, stood behind her.

The pair were then joined by the family in singing “Happy Birthday” to Garcia’s sister, who stood in front of Meghan. 

Karwai Tang/WireImage

Martinez told CNN that Meghan had presented the birthday cake as a surprise to Garcia’s sister. 

In a photo posted by Martinez on X from the visit, the Duchess of Sussex could be seen posing with Garcia’s two daughters.

Other photos posted by Martinez showed him and Meghan chatting outdoors. He also posed for a photo with Harry and Meghan as she held a bouquet of flowers indoors. 

Victoria Jones - WPA Pool/Getty

Martinez wrote in his caption alongside the photos, “MEGHAN MARKLE AND PRINCE HARRY CAME TO MY HOUSE!?!?!?! They’re such a beautiful couple and i’m so blessed, so glad they came to check up on the family.”

Martinez told CNN of the royal visit, “It was such a beautiful experience, they’re so nice and compassionate, very down to earth, humble people.”

“It was kind of by surprise, [Meghan] had called my mom one random day and dropped the news on us not too long ago that she was coming to visit the kids and of course we got so excited,” he added to the outlet. 

Can't get enough of PEOPLE's Royals coverage?  Sign up for our free Royals newsletter  to get the latest updates on Kate Middleton, Meghan Markle and more!

Back in May 2022, Meghan made a surprise visit to Uvalde days after the shooting at Robb Elementary School, where she honored the victims. 

“Meghan took the trip in a personal capacity as a mother, to offer her condolences and support in person to a community experiencing unimaginable grief,” a spokesperson for the Duchess of Sussex said at the time.

Meghan and Harry's visit to see Garcia’s family came after their trip to Austin, Texas , for the SXSW Conference, where Meghan was a panelist for International Women's Day .

On Friday, the Duchess of Sussex spoke on the panel in a discussion called "Breaking Barriers, Shaping Narratives: How Women Lead On and Off the Screen," as Prince Harry watched in the crowd.

  • Credit Cards
  • All Credit Cards
  • Find the Credit Card for You
  • Best Credit Cards
  • Best Rewards Credit Cards
  • Best Travel Credit Cards
  • Best 0% APR Credit Cards
  • Best Balance Transfer Credit Cards
  • Best Cash Back Credit Cards
  • Best Credit Card Sign-Up Bonuses
  • Best Credit Cards to Build Credit
  • Best Credit Cards for Online Shopping
  • Find the Best Personal Loan for You
  • Best Personal Loans
  • Best Debt Consolidation Loans
  • Best Loans to Refinance Credit Card Debt
  • Best Loans with Fast Funding
  • Best Small Personal Loans
  • Best Large Personal Loans
  • Best Personal Loans to Apply Online
  • Best Student Loan Refinance
  • Best Car Loans
  • All Banking
  • Find the Savings Account for You
  • Best High Yield Savings Accounts
  • Best Big Bank Savings Accounts
  • Best Big Bank Checking Accounts
  • Best No Fee Checking Accounts
  • No Overdraft Fee Checking Accounts
  • Best Checking Account Bonuses
  • Best Money Market Accounts
  • Best Credit Unions
  • All Mortgages
  • Best Mortgages
  • Best Mortgages for Small Down Payment
  • Best Mortgages for No Down Payment
  • Best Mortgages for Average Credit Score
  • Best Mortgages No Origination Fee
  • Adjustable Rate Mortgages
  • Affording a Mortgage
  • All Insurance
  • Best Life Insurance
  • Best Life Insurance for Seniors
  • Best Homeowners Insurance
  • Best Renters Insurance
  • Best Car Insurance
  • Best Pet Insurance
  • Best Boat Insurance
  • Best Motorcycle Insurance
  • Travel Insurance
  • Event Ticket Insurance
  • Small Business
  • All Small Business
  • Best Small Business Savings Accounts
  • Best Small Business Checking Accounts
  • Best Credit Cards for Small Business
  • Best Small Business Loans
  • Best Tax Software for Small Business
  • Personal Finance
  • All Personal Finance
  • Best Budgeting Apps
  • Best Expense Tracker Apps
  • Best Money Transfer Apps
  • Best Resale Apps and Sites
  • Buy Now Pay Later (BNPL) Apps
  • Best Debt Relief
  • Credit Monitoring
  • All Credit Monitoring
  • Best Credit Monitoring Services
  • Best Identity Theft Protection
  • How to Boost Your Credit Score
  • Best Credit Repair Companies
  • Filing For Free
  • Best Tax Software
  • Best Tax Software for Small Businesses
  • Tax Refunds
  • Tax Brackets
  • Taxes By State
  • Tax Payment Plans
  • Help for Low Credit Scores
  • All Help for Low Credit Scores
  • Best Credit Cards for Bad Credit
  • Best Personal Loans for Bad Credit
  • Best Debt Consolidation Loans for Bad Credit
  • Personal Loans if You Don't Have Credit
  • Best Credit Cards for Building Credit
  • Personal Loans for 580 Credit Score Lower
  • Personal Loans for 670 Credit Score or Lower
  • Best Mortgages for Bad Credit
  • Best Hardship Loans
  • All Investing
  • Best IRA Accounts
  • Best Roth IRA Accounts
  • Best Investing Apps
  • Best Free Stock Trading Platforms
  • Best Robo-Advisors
  • Index Funds
  • Mutual Funds
  • Home & Kitchen
  • Gift Guides
  • Deals & Sales
  • Sign up for the CNBC Select Newsletter
  • Subscribe to CNBC PRO
  • Privacy Policy
  • Your Privacy Choices
  • Terms Of Service
  • CNBC Sitemap

Follow Select

Our top picks of timely offers from our partners

UFB Secure Savings

How much down payment do you need to buy a house?

Still think you need 20% down to buy a home think again..

thumbnail

A down payment is the amount of cash a buyer pays for a home up front, with the remainder covered by their mortgage . If you're saving for a house, you've probably been told you need to have enough for a 20% down payment. But the typical down payment hasn't been that high in decades.

Below, CNBC Select looks at where the 20% recommendation came from, how big your down payment really needs to be and more. 

What we'll cover

  • Do you need to put 20% down?  

How much do I need for a down payment?

  • How to save for a down payment?

Bottom line

Do you need a 20% down payment.

No, depending on your loan and qualifications, it's possible to put much less down — or even nothing at all.

The 20% down payment rule emerged during the Great Depression, when nearly half of mortgages in urban areas were delinquent. Even as the economy recovered, many lenders still mandated 20% down in the 1950s and 1960s .

Read more: What is mortgage insurance?

The advent of private mortgage insurance in the late 1950s meant lenders could be protected if a borrower defaulted. In 1971, the Federal Home Loan Bank Board allowed savings and loans to approve conventional mortgages with as little as 5% down with PMI.

By 2005, the median down payment was only 13%, according to a Washington Post analysis of National Association of Realtors data.

If you do put down less than 20%, however, you will still likely be required to obtain PMI, which can cost 0.50% of your mortgage on average, and keep it until you have at least 20% equity in your house. 

The size of your down payment depends on the type of loan you get, your mortgage lender and your financial situation. In January 2024, the median down payment was 14.2%, according to data from the real estate data analysis firm ATTOM . Many buyers make a smaller down payment, especially first-time homebuyers who don't have equity. Qualified first-time buyers can put as little as 3.5% down with an FHA loan , for example.

It's also possible to buy a home with no money down — typically through an alternative lender, like a credit union, or with government-backed mortgages like USDA and VA loans . To help homebuyers who don't have enough, government agencies and private lenders have down-payment assistance programs. Freddie Mac's DPA One guide includes hundreds that provide grants, low- and no-interest loans and other down-payment support all over the U.S.

Benefits of a smaller down payment

A smaller down payment will allow you to get into your home quicker and leave you more money to cover repairs and insurance and to invest in other financial goals.

Ally Bank has a Fannie Mae-backed HomeReady loan that lets qualified borrowers put down as little as 3% on a fixed-rate mortgage with no lender's fee and an online preapproval process. You'll need at least a 620 credit score to be considered, however, and Ally doesn't offer government-insured loans.

Annual Percentage Rate (APR)

Apply online for personalized rates; fixed-rate and adjustable-rate mortgages included

Types of loans

Conventional loans, HomeReady loan and Jumbo loans

15 – 30 years

Credit needed

Minimum down payment.

3% if moving forward with a HomeReady loan

Terms apply.

Chase Bank 's DreamMaker loan also allows borrowers to make a 3% down payment, and you can earn a discount with a Chase checking or savings account. In some states, Chase will provide qualified applicants with a grant of up to $7,500 to put toward a down payment or closing costs.

Conventional loans, FHA loans, VA loans, DreaMaker℠ loans and Jumbo loans

10 – 30 years

3% if moving forward with a DreaMaker℠ loan

Offers first-time homebuyer assistance?

Yes — click here for details

If you do make a smaller down payment, keep in mind you'll start out with less equity in your home.

Benefits of a larger down payment

Having more set aside for a down payment makes borrowers more attractive to mortgage lenders, so it can earn you a lower interest rate and fewer fees. If you have 20% available, you can likely avoid mortgage insurance. A bigger down payment also means you'll own more equity in the home right away. If you expect to refinance your mortgage , you'll typically need 20% home equity.

How to save for a down payment

If you've set homebuying as a medium- to long-term goal, there are financial products that can grow your money faster so you can afford a healthy down payment (and have something set aside for closing costs and emergencies ).

High-yield savings accounts (HYSAs ) can earn more than 5% interest while still allowing you to make withdrawals if something unexpected happens.  Western Alliance Bank's HYSA currently earns an APR of 5.32%, one of the highest CNBC Select has reviewed. You only need a dollar to open an account, and there's no minimum balance requirement or monthly fees.

Western Alliance Bank Savings Account

Annual percentage yield (apy), minimum balance.

$1 minimum deposit

Monthly fee

Maximum transactions.

Up to 6 transactions each month

Excessive transactions fee

The bank may charge fees for non-sufficient funds

Overdraft fee

No overdraft fee

Offer checking account?

Offer atm card.

If you want extra incentives to save, a UFB Secure Savings account has them: It starts with an APY of up to 5.25% but, if you add a UFB Freedom checking account, you can qualify for an additional 0.20%. You'll need to set up a monthly direct deposit of at least $5,000, maintain a minimum balance of $10,000 and make 10 debit card transactions per statement cycle. Unlike Western Alliance, a UFB account comes with an ATM card with unlimited withdrawals.

UFB Secure Savings

Up to 5.25% APY on any savings balance; add a UFB Freedom Checking and meet checking account qualifications to get an additional up to 0.20% APY on savings

$0, no minimum deposit or balance needed for savings

No monthly maintenance or service fees

Overdraft fees may be charged, according to the terms ; overdraft protection available

Free ATM card with unlimited withdrawals

6 per month; terms apply

Read our UFB Secure Savings review .

What is a down payment? 

A down payment is the portion of the home price the borrower pays upfront.

What's a good down payment for a $500,000 house?

If you want to avoid mortgage insurance by putting 20% down, your down payment should be $100,000. If you plan to put 8% down (the median for first-time homebuyers) it would be $40,000. If you're a first-time homebuyer with an FHA loan and a 3% down requirement, you would need $15,000.

Are there down payment assistance programs?

Yes. Freddie Mac's DPA One guide lists more than 400 programs available throughout the country.

Do you need to put 20% down to buy a house?

No, many buyers put less down. Between June 2022 and June 2023, the median down payment for first-time homebuyers was 8%, according to NAR. For repeat buyers, it was 19%.

Money matters — so make the most of it. Get expert tips, strategies, news and everything else you need to maximize your money, right to your inbox.  Sign up here .

The 20% down payment rule hasn't been accurate for years. The median down payment for a first-time homebuyer has been less than 10% for nearly three decades — ultimately, how much you put down is up to you. There are benefits and risks to putting less down. Be sure you understand your finances and these risks before you buy.

Why trust CNBC Select?

At CNBC Select, our mission is to provide our readers with high-quality service journalism and comprehensive consumer advice so they can make informed decisions with their money. Every article is based on rigorous reporting by our team of expert writers and editors with extensive knowledge of products . While CNBC Select earns a commission from affiliate partners on many offers and links, we create all our content without input from our commercial team or any outside third parties, and we pride ourselves on our journalistic standards and ethics.

Catch up on CNBC Select's in-depth coverage of  credit cards ,  banking  and  money , and follow us on  TikTok ,  Facebook ,  Instagram  and  Twitter  to stay up to date.

Chime

  • Here's how to earn credit card rewards while doing your taxes Senitra Horbrook
  • 11 airline credit cards that offer free checked bags Jason Stauffer
  • What is a W-2 — and how do you read it? Ana Staples

comscore

A ‘cowboy ski town’ where high earners can’t afford a home faces a housing battle

Image:

STEAMBOAT SPRINGS, Colo. — Despite offering a salary of $167,000, the city of Steamboat Springs can’t find a head of human resources who can afford a place to live in the remote Colorado community surrounded by ranches and famous for training Olympic athletes.

At the Steamboat hospital, doctors willing to pay more than $1 million for a home have been repeatedly outbid by all-cash, out-of-town buyers, and housing costs have caused some positions to go unfilled for more than two years. The local ski resort has been leasing a hotel for its employees to live in as the homes they once rented are increasingly turned into short-term rentals for visitors.

“Houses used to be for employees and hotels for guests. Now houses are for guests and hotels are for employee housing,” said Loryn Duke, director of communications for the Steamboat ski resort. “We have a lot of great staff who are early in their careers or have young families, but they just aren’t able to put down those roots.”

In Steamboat, along with other mountain towns and destination communities across the country, a pandemic-fueled real estate boom driven by remote workers, second-home buyers and short-term rental investors has caused home prices to nearly double. Those prices have shown few signs of easing, despite rising interest rates and a push for remote workers to return to the office, leaving even high-income professionals struggling to find housing in small, rural communities across the country.

“I know that it’s so hard for folks outside of mountain or resort communities to even wrap their heads around, but housing is just so through the roof that unless you’re extremely wealthy, it’s unattainable,” said Margaret Bowes, executive director of the Colorado Association of Ski Towns.

But addressing the problem has created a predicament of its own, dividing residents in a battle over how to provide more housing and who should pay for it.

Local governments and state legislatures, including those in Utah and Virginia , have been at odds over restrictions on short-term rentals like Airbnbs, and ballot initiatives to add taxes to those rentals have had mixed results at the polls. When it comes to building more housing, residents have mounted opposition to some efforts over concerns about everything from traffic congestion to wildlife migration patterns.

In Steamboat, the latest battle lines have been drawn over a 534-acre ranch that the city’s housing authority purchased with a $24 million anonymous donation. Under the current proposal , the housing authority would use state and federal grants and proceeds from a recently passed tax on short-term rentals to build more than 2,200 housing units in phases. Sale and rental of the properties would be restricted to residents who meet a certain income threshold, work locally, and plan to live in the unit full-time.

Image:

“In this environment where there’s always going to be significant amounts of demand, we have to deal with it on the supply side, and our supply side just has not kept up year over year over year over year,” said Jason Peasley, director of the Yampa Valley Housing Authority, which would oversee the development.

The project, called Brown Ranch, has been met with opposition from a group of local residents who have raised concerns about its financing and the impact on traffic and local infrastructure, along with what it could mean for the character of the community.

During a city council meeting in October that stretched into the early-morning hours, dozens of residents spoke for and against the project, with supporters pleading for affordable housing and opponents urging the city to scale back the plans or take more time to study the impact. In the end, a divided city council voted to approve the Brown Ranch plan. But opponents collected more than 1,000 signatures to get the development placed on the ballot on March 26, leaving the final decision up to voters.

Jim Engelken, who has lived in Steamboat since 1979 and previously served on the city council, has been helping organize the opposition. Engelken said he sees a need for more affordable housing but would like to see the development downsized or grow at a slower pace.

“Yes, we need affordable housing, no question,” Engelken said. “It needs to be smaller to start with, it needs to have some ability to generate its own way, its own money.”

He said he is concerned that the city won’t have enough funds for the planned infrastructure, like parks and public transit, and that the projected 6,000 people who will ultimately live at the development — the majority of whom are expected to move there from out of town — will add to traffic congestion and create a need for more water infrastructure.

“It’s an overreach, it’s too big, it’s too much, it’s too expensive, it causes too many problems for the existing city,” said Engelken. “We’re concerned that the infrastructure won’t be in place in this new, large, separate portion of our city, and it will create a second-class neighborhood. That the people living there will be treated like second-class citizens who don’t have access to public transportation or city parks, and we don’t know how many of them are coming from outside.”

With a population of around 13,000, Steamboat has prided itself on its small-town, Western feel. While housing has always been a struggle for entry-level and hourly workers, Steamboat had been viewed as relatively affordable for middle-income professionals compared to other mountain towns, like Vail, Colorado, or Jackson, Wyoming.

“Steamboat has always been known as a cowboy ski town. It’s real authentic,” said Steamboat City Manager Gary Suiter. “And the real estate prices had not gotten crazy like everywhere else. Well, that ended with the pandemic.”

Since 2020, single-family home prices have increased about 80% to $1.8 million on average, and all real estate sales, including condos, increased 64% to $1.1 million, according to data compiled by Jon Wade, a local realtor. For existing homeowners, those rising sale prices have caused property taxes to shoot up, with the average tax assessment up 86%, Wade said.

That’s put homeownership largely out of reach for most people making less than $200,000 a year. And even for those who can afford a home at that price, the competition for housing is so fierce given the low inventory that those without all-cash offers are often losing out, said local realtors.

“We are seeing across all segments of the market even high-paid professionals, they’re turning down jobs because they spend a little time looking at housing costs and they can’t do it,” said Christy Belton, who has been selling real estate in Steamboat for 20 years and whose family has been in the community for five generations.  “The people who are coming here are paying a million dollars for an entry-level house — a totally entry-level, 50-year-old house.”

Steamboat isn’t alone in its struggles. As demand shot up during the pandemic, so did prices in more high-profile destination towns like Aspen, Colorado, and Park City, Utah. With even wealthy homebuyers priced out of those markets, they began looking to more off-the-beaten-path locations.

In Driggs, Idaho, which used to be an affordable-housing refuge for workers in more pricey Jackson Hole, average home prices have also gone up around 80% to $735,000 since the start of the pandemic, according to data from Zillow. Woodstock, New York, has seen prices increase 78% to more than $600,000 on average amid an influx of buyers from New York City. In Gatlinburg, Tennessee, a popular resort community in the Great Smoky Mountains but not one known as a hot housing market, home values have risen more than 80% to an average of $480,000.

Houses dot a hillside in Steamboat Springs, Colo.,

For the city of Steamboat, the high housing costs have caused two job candidates to turn down a position overseeing the town’s human resources and risk management because they were unable to find a place to live despite the six-figure salary, said Suiter. Even Suiter’s daughter and son-in-law, with well-paying jobs and a home in Denver, had to abandon their plans to move to Steamboat after the pandemic because the town he runs had become too expensive for them.

The main hospital for the region, UCHealth Yampa Valley Medical Center, has had positions for mammography technologists go unfilled for more than two years. Even for its highest-paying positions, like doctors and administrators, housing has been a struggle.

“No income earner is immune. Even your top earners with physician pay ranges are sitting in my office saying, ‘I don’t know if I can afford to live here,’” said the hospital’s president, Soniya Fidler.  “I think that probably every week there’s someone who comes back and tells me we lost someone because of housing.”

Sanaya Sturm, the nursing manager at the hospital’s cancer center, is among those hospital employees who have been struggling. When Sturm moved to Steamboat in October 2020, her family of four sold their 3,600-square-foot house in Denver and planned to temporarily live in a 1,500-square-foot rental for $3,350 a month until they found a place to purchase in Steamboat.

At the time she began her search, the average home price was within her budget with the money from the sale of her Denver home and the income from her and her husband, who works remotely as a product manager. But as Sturm began her search for a new home, so did hundreds of out-of-town buyers looking to relocate to Steamboat or buy a second home.

“I can say confidently that I’m now priced out,” said Sturm. “We had the means in the early-2021 price range, but unfortunately I don’t think that’s an option for us right now as things stand with the interest rates and the price of housing.”

Sturm said she was outbid on more than a dozen homes, often by all-cash, out-of-town buyers putting in bids as much as $100,000 over the asking price. She saw one home she was outbid on put up for rent shortly after the sale closed for $7,500 a month.

“It’s really kind of a knife in the gut that’s being turned,” she said.

To address the problem, the hospital has gone into the residential real estate business and is building 42 apartments with rent that will be capped at around 30% of the employee’s income. While the hospital could be spending the money it is investing in housing instead on new patient facilities or updated equipment, Fidler said the hospital has little choice unless it is going to cut back on the services it provides because of a shortage of staff.

“It is hard because we are here to deliver health care, we’re not here to deliver houses. Usually, if we have the dollars to spend, it is on state-of-the-art equipment and upgrading our facilities,” Fidler said. “But we don’t want to have to close services, especially because we can’t staff for it.”

At stake, residents say, isn’t just the fate of their own personal lives or businesses, but the larger character of the community where they says they’re more likely to run into ranchers and Olympic skiers than celebrities or billionaires around town.

“You come downtown and it’s full of normal people, which is one of the primary attractions here. We’re still very authentic,” said Suiter. “That’s one of our biggest threats is that we become so exclusive that we lose our character.”

pay a visit home

Shannon Pettypiece is senior policy reporter for NBC News digital.

IMAGES

  1. What is a "Home Visitation" Program?

    pay a visit home

  2. How to set up a robust home visit policy

    pay a visit home

  3. States And Providers Adapt To Deliver Home Visiting Services

    pay a visit home

  4. What Is Home Visiting?

    pay a visit home

  5. Call to Home Visiting Providers: We Need You at the Table

    pay a visit home

  6. How do I get a home visit from my GP?

    pay a visit home

COMMENTS

  1. difference

    122k 6 99 201. Add a comment. 1. In terms of being "formal", I'd actually say "visit" sounds more formal than "pay a visit to". At the very least the former is more proper English, while the latter is more of a turn of phrase. As for "emphatic", the definition according to Google is "showing or giving emphasis; expressing something forcibly and ...

  2. PAY A VISIT

    PAY A VISIT definition: 1. to visit a person or place, usually for a short time: 2. to visit a person or place, usually…. Learn more.

  3. Pay a visit

    pay somebody/something a visit. pay a call on. pay a call on (someone or something) bread. pay-for-play. pay out of pocket. pay (for something) out of pocket. pay-to-play. make (one) pay through the nose.

  4. Pay a visit to Definition & Meaning

    pay a visit to: [idiom] to go somewhere to spend time with (someone, such as a friend or relative) : to visit.

  5. Idiom: Pay a visit (meaning & examples)

    Idiom: pay a visit Meaning Idiom: pay a visit to someone/something (pay someone/something a visit) to go see someone or something; Example sentences. I haven't heard from my father in two weeks so I'm going to pay him a visit and make sure he's okay. There are very few doctors who will pay a visit to patients' homes these days.

  6. Pay my visit to some place

    2. Saying "pay my visit" isn't incorrect, but it doesn't mean the same thing as "pay a visit". In particular, saying "pay my visit" only makes sense when the listener is already aware of some visit, and you want to talk about that visit. These examples of "my visit" are okay because the listener's attention has already been brought to some visit:

  7. Pay (someone) a visit Definition & Meaning

    The meaning of PAY (SOMEONE) A VISIT is to go somewhere to visit (someone). How to use pay (someone) a visit in a sentence.

  8. Origin of "pay a visit"

    1. Thank you for that first usage - with that, the derivation of this usage makes sense to me: "1150-1200; Middle English payen < Old French paier < Medieval Latin pācāre to satisfy, settle (a debt), Latin: to pacify (by force of arms)." If, as Shakespeare seems to indicate, the original sense of "pay a visit" was "discharge a social ...

  9. Pay them a visit

    Definition of pay them a visit in the Idioms Dictionary. pay them a visit phrase. What does pay them a visit expression mean? Definitions by the largest Idiom Dictionary.

  10. PAY A VISIT definition and meaning

    PAY A VISIT definition | Meaning, pronunciation, translations and examples

  11. China Family Visiting: Guest Manners and Choosing Proper Gifts

    Chinese people are hospitable. If you are invited by or wish to pay a visit to a Chinese family, there are some formalities that you should follow: a. Make an appointment in advance, and then you should always be punctual for the appointment. b. Choose an appropriate time to have the visiting, avoid visiting at other's dining or resting time.

  12. PAY A VISIT definition in American English

    pay. (peɪ ) verb. When you pay an amount of money to someone, you give it to them because you are buying something from them or because you owe it to them. When you pay something such as a bill or a debt, you pay the amount that you owe. [...] See full entry for 'pay'. Collins COBUILD Advanced Learner's Dictionary.

  13. pay a visit

    You should pay your lawyer a visit and get some advice. If you have time, pay a visit to the science museum while you're here. Note: A similar collocation is "pay a call on" Quick Quiz. Paying a visit to someone always. a. takes time b. costs money ... EnglishClub Home Regular Verbs

  14. Home Doctor Visits: What Does Medicare Cover?

    Unfortunately, Medicare doesn't typically cover the type of house calls with which people are most familiar. Even in the age of Covid, it's not as simple to make an appointment for a home visit from your primary care physician as it is to schedule a telehealth visit. Ultimately, Medicare will pay for you to receive care at home ( home ...

  15. pay a visit

    To visit. "pay a visit" is correct and usable in written English. You can use it when referring to going somewhere and spending time there, either to visit someone or to explore a place. Example: Every summer I pay a visit to my grandparents in the countryside. Mr. Fitzgerald recalled seeing Mr. Fuller pay a visit to Brittney's father about a ...

  16. PDF Compensation Models in Home Health

    Evaluation visit (ROC, Recerts, D/C, Non-OASIS) 1.5 High tech admission 2.5 High tech visits 1.5 Non-billable visits (includes Aide Sup only visit) .5 Productivity expected standard per week 25-30 Managing Indirect Costs Managing the product for pay per visit or event Visit counts already confirmed/collected for billing

  17. Home Visitor Hourly Pay in 2024

    The average hourly pay for a Home Visitor is $15.26 in 2024. Visit PayScale to research home visitor hourly pay by city, experience, skill, employer and more.

  18. Will the Military to Pay for My Trip Home?

    To make things a little easier on your pocketbook for stateside visits, the Defense Department does pay for flights home -- but they are through Space-A. Yes, that's unpredictable, but it is a ...

  19. Customs Duty Information

    How to Pay Customs Duty. If you owe Customs duty, you must pay it before the conclusion of your CBP processing. You may pay it in any of the following ways: U.S. currency only. Personal check in the exact amount, drawn on a U.S. bank, made payable to U.S. Customs and Border Protection.

  20. pay a visit Crossword Clue

    The Crossword Solver found 30 answers to "pay a visit", 6 letters crossword clue. The Crossword Solver finds answers to classic crosswords and cryptic crossword puzzles. Enter the length or pattern for better results. Click the answer to find similar crossword clues . Enter a Crossword Clue.

  21. pay (someone or something) a visit

    Definition of pay (someone or something) a visit in the Idioms Dictionary. pay (someone or something) a visit phrase. What does pay (someone or something) a visit expression mean? Definitions by the largest Idiom Dictionary. Pay (someone or something) a visit - Idioms by The Free Dictionary.

  22. Missing 8-year-old found dead in home

    Cast of 'The Waltons' pay a visit to Central Texas School district teams up with nonprofit to offer affordable housing for teachers as incentive Texas House District 55: Abbott-backed Hillary ...

  23. Many Texas homes burned in wildfires weren't insured

    Patricia Hester, a 76-year-old Fritch resident, is among several Panhandle residents whose home was destroyed by a wildfire that swept through her neighborhood on the town's south side last Tuesday.

  24. Meghan Markle, Prince Harry Pay Surprise Visit to Uvalde Shooting

    Meghan Markle and Prince Harry Pay Surprise Visit to Uvalde Shooting Victim's Family — and Join in Singalong. The Duke and Duchess of Sussex visited the family of Robb Elementary School shooting ...

  25. Pay me a visit

    Definition of pay me a visit in the Idioms Dictionary. pay me a visit phrase. What does pay me a visit expression mean? Definitions by the largest Idiom Dictionary.

  26. Pay a visit to someone

    Definition of pay a visit to someone in the Idioms Dictionary. pay a visit to someone phrase. What does pay a visit to someone expression mean? Definitions by the largest Idiom Dictionary.

  27. How Much Down Payment Do I Need for a House?

    The size of your down payment depends on the type of loan you get, your mortgage lender and your financial situation. In January 2024, the median down payment was 14.2%, according to data from the ...

  28. PDF Budget of the U.S. Government

    agenda is creating hundreds of thousands of union jobs, so folks never have to leave their home - towns to find good-paying work they can raise a family on. Today, America once again has the

  29. These Places Will Pay You Tens of Thousands To Move There—but How Much

    Median home list price in February: $299,450 Those who would be open to moving to Kentucky have plenty of incentives to choose from. Eight cities and towns in the Bluegrass State are offering ...

  30. A 'cowboy ski town' where high earners can't afford a home faces a

    At the Steamboat hospital, doctors willing to pay more than $1 million for a home have been repeatedly outbid by all-cash, out-of-town buyers, and housing costs have caused some positions to go ...