Security Deposit Alternative: Now Offering Obligo*
Goldmark is excited to introduce Obligo! Obligo is a secure, modern alternative to traditional security deposits that helps residents keep more cash on hand.
We are transitioning from Jetty Surety Bonds to Obligo because it offers residents greater flexibility and a simpler, more transparent experience.
*Not available at all Goldmark properties.
What Is Obligo?
Obligo is a deposit-free technology solution that enables qualified residents to move in without an upfront security deposit. Instead of tying up hundreds or thousands of dollars, residents connect a payment method with Obligo. That guarantee replaces the cash deposit.
Obligo is trusted by property management companies nationwide and uses secure, bank-level technology to protect both residents and properties.
How Obligo Works
Apply & Receive an Invitation
During your leasing process, you’ll receive an email or text message invitation to join Obligo through your resident portal.
Verify Your Payment Ability
Obligo uses open banking technology to verify your identity and payment ability in just a few steps.
Replace Your Deposit
Once approved, you can move in without paying a traditional security deposit. Your linked payment method serves as your deposit guarantee for the duration of the lease.
Easy Move-out Process
At move-out, if any charges are owed, Obligo notifies you before processing. You can:
- Pay immediately
- Set up a payment plan
- Dispute charges directly through their portal
If no charges occur, you pay $0.
Your Move-In, Your Choice
Whether you choose Obligo or a traditional deposit, our goal is to make moving into your new home simple and stress-free. Obligo is simply another option to help reduce upfront expenses and offer greater flexibility.
Please note that once the lease is signed, the deposit option cannot be changed.
Need Support?
If you have questions about using Obligo, visit their Support Page.
FAQs
If you’re having trouble connecting to your bank account, make sure:
Your login information is correct
Check that you have enough funds
Try a different account if possible.
Some banks block third-party connections needed for verification, so you may need to use another bank or switch to an alternative qualification method. These alternatives include using two credit or debit cards with a soft credit check or using two non-U.S. cards along with ID verification.
If you’re still unable to qualify, you can, with permission, try connecting to a family member’s or partner’s bank account. For additional help, contact support@myobligo.com.
Instant verification means you can qualify for Obligo’s deposit-free service in minutes by connecting either a US checking or savings account.
If you do not have a US bank account, check out other ways to qualify here.
Your property partners with Obligo so qualified renters can move in without paying a traditional cash deposit. Instead, you pay a service fee based on your security deposit requirements, allowing you to keep your cash for other needs. To use the deposit-free option, you simply connect to a qualifying payment method. If there is damage or unpaid rent at moveout, your property can charge that method up to the security amount, and Obligo will bill you accordingly.
Unlike insurance, you’re still responsible for any charges, but you can repay them in interest-free installments and still dispute charges with your property manager just as you would with a standard deposit.
For help, contact support@myobligo.com.
With a traditional security deposit, renters pay the full deposit amount upfront, even before any damage or missed rent occurs. With Obligo’s deposit-free service, renters don’t pay that upfront sum. Instead, they only pay if the property submits charges at move-out, such as damages or unpaid rent.
Despite the different structure, the responsibilities are similar:
You’re still accountable for any approved charges.
The property can collect funds quickly when charges are submitted.
You maintain the right to dispute charges directly with your property or through small claims if needed.
In some cases, Obligo may run a soft credit check to qualify residents for deposit-free living. The inquiry might appear in your credit report, but it won't affect your credit score.
Learn how to qualify for deposit-free living here.
Questions about your Obligo account? Login and chat live with a support agent! You can also reach their team at support@myobligo.com.
You can qualify for Obligo in several ways. The most common method is to connect a U.S. checking or savings account via Open Banking, which allows Obligo to run quick checks to confirm sufficient funds are available. If you don’t have a U.S. bank account or can’t use that method, you can qualify by using two credit or debit cards along with a soft credit check, or by using two non-U.S. cards paired with passport-based ID verification. These options give renters multiple ways to meet the qualification requirements, depending on what accounts they have available.
Yes, renters are able to qualify for Obligo using a savings or checking account.
To better support renters of all financial backgrounds, you can also qualify with two credit/debit cards and a soft credit check, or two international credit cards and an ID.
You can qualify for Obligo using debit cards as long as they’re linked to a bank account; prepaid cards aren’t accepted.
To use this method, select “See All Ways to Qualify” in the application and choose either “Two cards and a soft credit check” or “Two international cards and an ID verification.”
You can also qualify by connecting a U.S. bank account or by using any combination of two eligible credit, debit, or international cards.
For additional details, you can log in and speak with Obligo’s Support team.
Plaid is a 3rd party technology vendor that enables you to securely share data about your bank account with Obligo. Obligo will look at data such as your current balance and balance history to instantly qualify you for Obligo's Options. If you don’t wish to share this data, other qualification paths are available to you in the Obligo app.
By connecting to 11,000+ financial institutions around the world, Plaid powers many applications people use today, such as Venmo, SoFi, American Express, and Wells Fargo.
While Plaid is actively expanding its network of financial institutions, some banks are not yet integrated.
Yes. Several qualification paths are available to you in the Obligo application.
Login and chat live with an Obligo support associate to learn more.
Obligo charges a service fee that gives renters access to deposit-free options or other ways to meet their security requirements. The fee is calculated as a percentage of the required security amount and is based on factors in each renter’s profile, such as location, property type, bank balance, and the security requirement-to-rent ratio. It’s usually paid upfront for the first lease term (up to 12 months). If you renew, you may pay another upfront fee for the next 12 months unless you choose monthly payments, and renters using the Installments option do not pay an additional Obligo Fee in the second year. The fee does not cover any move-out charges determined by the property, and because it supports the qualification technology and platform, it is non-refundable.
Yes, if the option is available at your property, you can pay your cash deposit electronically through Obligo. Once you complete checkout through Obligo, the payment will be processed to your property.
Not necessarily, since you are still accountable for the condition of your apartment home. Obligo allows your property manager to charge you for damage, cleaning, or missed rent at the end of your lease.
If there are any such charges, you'll be able to pay Obligo back in interest-free installments.
If there is no damage or missed rent charges, you will be notified by email that your Billing Authorization has been released, and there’s nothing more to do.
The Obligo Fee or service fee is non-refundable. Learn more about our service fee here.
Before your lease ends, Obligo will email you to confirm whether you plan to renew. Regardless of whether you actively confirm or take no action, your deposit-free plan will automatically renew. If you don’t intend to renew it, you must notify Obligo or have your property manager inform them. When you do renew, the service fee is billed upfront for the new term (up to 12 months), unless you switch to monthly payments.
To change to monthly billing, log in to your Obligo account and follow the prompts before the renewal charge is processed.
It’s easy to reduce the size of the Billing Authorization or edit your lease-start and lease-end dates.
Any increase in the Billing Authorization’s size would require consent from you prior to being effective.
There is no “expiration date.” Your Obligo Billing Authorization remains active until we confirm and process your move-out.
If you elected Obligo's Partial Deposit or Installments options, your property manager must charge or close your record by the last day a traditional security deposit would be returned in your state.
After you’ve moved out, your property manager is responsible for inspecting your rental, entering any charges, and closing your Obligo record. It may take some time for this process to be completed - typically less than 30 days. Obligo does not charge any renewal service fees until 30 days after your initial lease term has ended.
Once your Obligo record has been closed, you’ll receive an email confirmation, and your service will automatically end.
If you’ve already moved out, you can reach out to your landlord or property manager to close your Obligo account - view your property manager’s contact details at tenant.myobligo.com.
If you have been charged any renewal service fees in error due to a delay in your property manager closing your Obligo record, please contact support@myobligo.com, and the Obligo team will promptly issue a refund.
If there are no damages or missed rent, you will be notified by email that your Billing Authorization has been released, and there’s nothing more to do.
If there is damage or missed rent, your property manager will charge your Billing Authorization, and Obligo will advance payment to Goldmark Property Management.
You then have the flexibility to pay Obligo back for those charges in either a lump sum or in interest-free installments.
Just like the hotel check-in and check-out process, your Billing Authorization with Obligo allows your property manager to charge you for damage, cleaning, or missed rent.
You have the flexibility to pay Obligo back for those charges in either a lump sum or in interest-free installments.
Questions about a charge? Please contact your property manager.
Questions about your Obligo account? Login and chat live with a support agent! You can also reach their team at support@myobligo.com.
Yes! Ask your property manager to transition you to an Obligo Option at the time of renewal, and they can send you an invitation to sign up for Obligo’s service.