In 2014, 36.90% of households were renters, according to Census ACS data. Renting is often preferred for many reasons including household maintenance being taken care of, appealing amenities like a clubhouse or pool, and the flexibility to move elsewhere if needed. Many individuals have to travel for work and their jobs require them to move to different cities and states for training purposes or to manage different offices. Many entrepreneurs and business owners are required to travel to promote their services and products. A hotel or motel can be an expensive option if you are expecting to stay in an area for a few months. A very popular option for many travelers, students, entrepreneurs, and business owners is short term leasing.
Look for furnished apartments that offer a short term lease so that you don’t have to worry about keeping your stuff in a storage unit or trying to lug it around with you. A community that has a gym, pool, clubhouse and other rental amenities is preferred because your comfort and convenience should be top priority. When you’re finished with a long day at work you don’t have to find a gym or pool in the area, it can be right in your backyard! Not only that, think of hosting a business meeting at your community clubhouse. Tennis courts, basketball courts, and fitness centers are all huge draws to a rental community and will save you money on gym memberships or fitness programs.
A short term lease isn’t only for students or business executives on the road. What if you would like to move to a new city but need some time getting to know the area? Finding an apartment with a short term lease would give you the chance to really experience the area and find the perfect place to live long term. Look for a rental property that has short term leasing and long term leasing options in case you end up liking that property so much you can move into a different unit without hassle. Short-term rentals are great for those who are uncertain about what the future holds. If you’re not able to commit to a full year because of your job, school, or other personal situation, short term leases offer flexibility.
Take advantage of rental properties that provide luxury furnished apartments, a short term lease option, and lots of rental amenities.
Homeownership is an important step towards your future. It’s the American dream and everyone strives to own a home. The only thing standing in your way is home loan approval. It can be extremely difficult to get approved for a mortgage if you have just started thinking about homeownership. Thankfully, an expert has compiled some tips to help you.
To start, banks will always look at your credit score, your income, your debt to income ratio, and your bank account. They do this so they can ensure the security of the loan. Their job is to make sure you can afford to pay back the loan they give you and that you can afford the down payment and closing costs. The bank will ask for a lot of information so they can fact-check all of the numbers you provide to them.
Your main job is to be as dependable and steady as possible. You need to show that you can get and keep a stable job that will pay you enough to cover the mortgage. You also need to show the bank that you are responsible with money and that you have a history of paying loans and credit cards off.
If you are looking to buy a house, you will first need a mortgage. There are many regulations about mortgages and many difficulties with getting them. Your credit score is a big indicator of how likely you are to get a mortgage. Some people find that it’s so hard for them to get a mortgage that they try to get a personal loan instead. Of course, those loans can come with interest rates that are far above the standard rates given by mortgage loans. If you aren’t sure how much you can afford to pay for a house, you can use a bank housing loan calculator to find out. You can also use a bank loan interest rate calculator to find out what rate you can expect and how much the interest will be.
With bank refinance rates today, it often pays to refinance a mortgage to get a better rate. Even a 1% difference in interest rates adds up to a lot over the life of your mortgage. A Bankrate 20 year mortgage often comes with very favorable rates for those who n afford the 20-year payment plan. If you need a 30-year loan, you will pay slightly higher rates.
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Navigating the home buying process can sometimes feel like you are listening to a different language. The terms and conditions that your lender and agent explain to you can be confusing and overwhelming. Yet, the type of mortgage that you choose is extremely important. Each of the different types of mortgages has different terms and conditions. They require different down payment and closing amounts. Finally, the approval qualifications also differ between each type of mortgage plan offered.
Conventional mortgage
A conventional mortgage plan is considered to be your traditional type of mortgage. It is the most generic of mortgage plan options. The conventional mortgage normally has a standard minimum 20% down payment requirement. You may or may not be required to have an inspection and appraisal done on the property, depending on your specific mortgage plan lender. The one and most disliked term in the conventional mortgage is that you must come out of pocket for such a large amount. If you are not able to afford a substantial down payment amount, you might want to consider one of the other mortgage plans.
FHA mortgage
The first time homeowners, or FHA mortgage is specifically for first time home buyers. This is a mortgage plan program that was designed to get more people into homes. People found it difficult to purchase their own home because they could not afford the down payment. The FHA has much lower down payment requirements, making it affordable to a larger group of people. With 32% of people looking to buy new homes being first time home buyers, this has become a popular program. FHA mortgage lenders will walk you through each of the required steps to see if you qualify for a first time homeowner mortgage.
VA mortgage
The VA mortgage is specifically for veterans. VA home loans have even more advantageous benefits. The required down payment amount, if any, is much less than both the conventional and FHA mortgage types. Additionally, the restrictions for qualification are looser. The government or lenders are not as strict about length of employment, credit, or debt to income ratio. The VA mortgage was designed to help veterans and their families achieve homeownership as a reward for serving the country.
Investment mortgage
Although conventional, FHA, and VA loans are the most common, there is another group of loans that encompasses investors. Investors are people who purchase run down, often bank owned homes, and then turn them into livable residents. Because these are investment properties and are used to produce an income, the down payment amounts are often much higher. Also, a real estate investor can expect to have a much higher than average interest rate. Once the house is sold and a profit is made, the investor will also have to pay a larger percentage of taxes. Many real estate investors or rental vacation home owners choose to go with private lenders for their investment funding needs.
Refinancing ability
While it is important to consider your mortgage plans and choose the best one for your financial needs, it is possible to change mortgages later on. Refinancing allows you to borrow money through another loan program. The original loan is paid off and you now owe your monthly payments to the new type of mortgage plan. This is common when homeowners want to reduce their interest rates or receive better loan terms.
Although 31% of millennials are looking to buy a home in the next 2 years, many are completely unsure how to go about this process. About 59% of homeowners wish they understood the terms of their mortgage better. There are currently 3 main types of mortgage plans to choose from. They each have their own set of pros and cons. Before you sign that paper to close on a house, ensure that you understand your loan terms and that you have chosen the best mortgage loan for your needs.
There are many factors that go into finding the right home. You will want to find that perfect location. It’s understandable to feel overwhelmed at how to go about finding the right home. Knowing a few simple avenues for home buying will make this process much easier. Moving into a new home is one of the best feelings someone can experience. In this post, you will learn four ways to start your home search.
Real Estate Agent: One of the most popular ways to buy a house is working with a real estate agent. Research shows that 78 percent of home buyers reported their real estate agent to be a valuable source of information. A real estate agent will have inside information regarding listings. In addition, these professionals will be able to drive you around homes in the area. It is recommended to talk to a real estate agent about what you’re looking for in a home. Buying a house is much easier with the help of a real estate professional.
Searching the Internet: The internet has vastly changed the way people find information. It’s no surprise that many people go to search engines when seeking homes for sale. You will find websites where you can sort by price, the amount of rooms, square footage, and much more. These websites enable potential buyers to narrow down their home search. Research shows that 44 percent of potential home buyers went online to look at listings. The internet has certainly helped make home buying easier for many people.
Asking People You Know: It never hurts to ask those close to you to look for listings. In many cases, nearby friends and family are driving around nearly every day. Friends and family might live in different parts of town near neighborhoods you don’t have immediate access to. Looking for a specific kind of home could narrow down the listings close to you. A study by Zillow found that 49 percent of potential buyers want a brand new home. Nearby friends and family help to widen the perimeter of your search.
Driving Around Neighborhoods: Sometimes it makes sense to drive around to see if any listings are available. This method does not ensure you will find any listings. However, there are cases where you may find a hidden gem that wasn’t well publicized. You will be spending money on fuel which means you will need to prepare for that cost ahead of time.
In closing, there are several ways to find your next home. A real estate agent will help you in your home buying search. These professionals help people find homes that suit their needs nearly every single day. You can rest assured a real estate agent is great to have in your corner. Many people have taken to the internet to help speed up the home buying process. You will find many websites that allow you to search and browse through many local properties.
Creating a beautiful home is no easy task. As a homeowner, landscaping is an easy way to add some extra beauty to your home without costing an arm and a leg. Did you know, 85 million households in the US have private lawns? Landscaping companies help homeowners to create beautiful backyards and increase both curb appeal and owner satisfaction at the same time.
Ninety-seven percent of real estate agents recommend landscaping as a top five home improvement recommendation as homeowners can expect a 215% return on their investment. Landscaping design allows homeowners to add uniqueness to their homes and simultaneously increase their home’s curb appeal. Simple upgrades like fencing, lily ponds, a garden, or even mulching adds to your homes value and creates a welcoming and pleasing environment that you’ll want to come home to.
When determining what type of landscaping your home needs, look into local landscape architects near you. Landscapers who offer professional landscaping can aid in the installation of plant material, fountains, trellises, or even steps. Landscape architects help homeowners to choose plants that are native to their home’s region, which 92% of homeowners choose to add to their home. Nearly 90% of real estate agents encourage homeowners to invest in landscaping prior to selling their homes; instead of waiting until you’re ready to sell, why not enjoy the beauty while you’re still living in and enjoying your home? Over half of homeowners who upgrade their outdoor living spaces spend six or more hours per week relaxing, gardening, or entertaining outdoors.
Beautiful features like backyard gardens, waterfalls, or plants create wonderful conversational pieces that you and your guests can enjoy day and night.
Landscaping not only adds to your home’s value, but it can also help you save money in the long run. A tree shading an outdoor air conditioner unit can increase the unit’s efficiency by as much as ten percent. In general, properly selected and placed plants can help to lower your home’s heating and cooling costs by as much as 20%. Landscape architects can help you in determining where plants should be placed to best increase your home’s efficiency.
Eighty-three percent of Americans think that having a yard is important, and of those 90% think that it is also important that it is well maintained. Landscaping companies can help to alleviate some of the load that comes with caring and maintaining a beautiful backyard. On average, homeowners spend about four hours per week caring for their lawns. Landscape architects not only help in landscape design but maintenance as well. Give your local landscaping companies a call to determine who would be a great fit for you and what your needs are!
Think about your home, when was the last time you cleaned? No matter if you enjoy cleaning or not, it is safe to say that cleaning for many is a huge chore. After all, who wants to spend their day cleaning when they could be outside with their families?
This is where same-day maid services can come in. There are plenty of benefits that come with using professional cleaning services, no matter if it is for your personal home or for your office, and read on to find out more!
Customized
You are able to get a custom cleaning service in seemingly no time at all when it comes to using a professional. This means that they can tailor to exactly your needs to ensure you come home to a clean home every day. A tailored service is especially beneficial in that they can focus their efforts in cleaning what areas of the home or office that need it the most, rather than spending time on areas that are hardly used.
A really clean home
Sometimes, you just don’t have the effort to clean! For some jobs, simply dusting or vacuuming won’t do — you’ll have to really spend time and put some sweat into getting a stain out or achieving a really polished gleam. A cleaning service will be able to tackle these tough jobs with ease, so much so you won’t even know the stain was there in the first place!
Cost effective
Believe it or not, hiring a maid service is a cost effective solution because you won’t have to spend money every week on cleaning supplies and materials. Cleaning agents, mops, and brooms all add up, and with cleaning services, you won’t have to worry about this excess cost as they come with all their materials.
Less stress
It is all too common to spend the day dreading returning home as you just have cleaning to look forward to. But when you hire cleaning services, this will be a simple memory of the past as you won’t have to worry at all! You’ll have less stress, more free time, and will be able to enjoy your home more now that it is clean.
As one can see, a professional cleaning service can bring many benefits to your home. Don’t wait and call one today to get started!
Now that the season is changing yet again, you have probably been going through closets and cupboards. If you have young children, you may have discovered that it’s time for their summer wardrobe, and perhaps a few new outfits in anticipation of their returning to school in the fall. Once you’ve piled together everything that doesn’t fit anymore, you can call for a Red Cross clothing pickup!
Not only will the Red Cross accept used clothing donations, they will also conveniently pick them up at your home, office, or organization. Red Cross donations help this non-profit organization provide relief to families and communities in need. You may be aware that this organization is open 24 hours a day and 365 days a year.
When natural and/or man-made disasters strike, the Red Cross provides blankets, food, shelter, clothing, and blood. As a result of these situations, many people become temporarily homeless. Red Cross donations assist with providing the much-needed resources to assist these and other individuals.
When you donate clothing and other household items, the proceeds from selling them at non-profit thrift stores support local and national charitable programs. In 2015 alone, charity proceeds from these sales were over $2.5 million! Furthermore, these organizations also assist the overall economy. On an annual basis, $666.1 billion is contributed by non-profit organizations to the United States economy.
While 63% of donors with a high net worth say they make donations in order to give back to their community, others do so because they are environmentally-conscious. When donations are made to organizations such as the Red Cross, they don’t find their way to the local landfill. The Environmental Protection Agency has found that on average, each person in the United States throws about 10 pounds of clothes away every year.
If you’re packing up items for Red Cross clothing donations, you can contact GreenDrop to have them collected. In addition to GreenDrop’s roughly 30 free-standing locations, they also have mobile trailers that pick up donations every week. While it’s good to know that 70% of Americans give to charity every year, it would be nice to see that figure rise even further.
The news of the latest police officer shooting in New York City sets off high emotions across the country. As the world listens to the frantic radio call from one police officer who is reporting that his partner has just been shot ambush style, Americans become increasingly worried about their own personal safety.
Given the frightening stories that are on the news every night, it should come as no surprise that more and more people are inquiring about the installation of home security systems. From complex video surveillance systems to more simple security system installation, the home security systems that are available to Americans continue to expand in an effort to meet the needs of an increasingly concerned public. Are You Considering Installing a Commercial or a Home Security System?
From the basic access control systems that companies install to allow their workers to come and go on their own time schedule to the more complex motion detectors that can be activated throughout an entire office, business security systems can help protect property and personnel. In your house, a home security system allows you to set alarms at night or when you are absent, as well as use surveillance cameras to watch over your pets while you are away at work.
Although some people are concerned about their security and safety, others are looking for technology that allows them to automate their home. From being able to check to see that your doors are locked and that your garage door is shut when you are away is just one of the simple results a home automation system can provide.
Consider these facts and figures about the commercial and home security system industry and the related automated home functions:
Kids across America often come home from school while their parents are still at work. A home security and surveillance system can help you check on your child’s arrival even when you are not home.
Estimates indicate that U.S. businesses experience $13B in shoplifting losses each year. Many of which might be avoided if you a security camera system is installed.
Everyone can sleep better if they know that their house is safely monitored by a home security system.
Police only solve about 13% of all reported burglaries. The lack of more solved crimes is mostly because of a lack of physical evidence or witnesses.
In the year n 201 it was estimated that all reported property crimes let to a total of $16.6 billion in losses.
Nearly 85% of break-ins are committed by non-professional criminals.
Getting up in the middle of the night to see what the noise is out in the garage is exhausting. The installation of a video surveillance system can help you see what is going on without getting out of bed.
You need to take charge of the safety of your family and consider adding a home security system to your home.
One way to keep your family safe is to make sure that you install a security system that can help monitor your home when you are asleep or away from the house.
U.S. residents become concerned about their safety everytime that they turn on the evening news. The decision to look into a security system can instill a sense of normalcy and safety.
Regular maintenance keeps cameras and alarm systems working their best.
Finding the right security system can be a major relief for families who are concerned about their safety.
An estimated 18 million home security systems are currently installed in the U.S.
More than 2.5 million home intrusions are reported every year in America.
In homes without omes without security or alarm systems, they likelihood of being broken into is nearly 300% more than a home with a security system.
Luckily, 85% of police officials surveyed indicate that home monitoring systems help deter burglary attempts.
Yearly totals indicate as many as 30% of all burglaries occur with the offender entering through an open or unlocked door.
Some insurance companies offer as much as 20% discounts when a security system is installed in a home.
According to the U.S. Department of Commerce, three of every four employees steal, something that can be deterred with the installation of video surveillance equipment.
Forcible entry is used in about 61% of all committed burglaries.
Estimates indicate that there are as many as 18 million home security systems installed in the U.S.
In 2014, 36.90% of households were renters, according to Census ACS data. Renting is often preferred for many reasons including household maintenance being taken care of, appealing amenities like a clubhouse or pool, and the flexibility to move elsewhere if needed. Many individuals have to travel for work and their jobs require them to move to different cities and states for training purposes or to manage different offices. Many entrepreneurs and business owners are required to travel to promote their services and products. A hotel or motel can be an expensive option if you are expecting to stay in an area for a few months. A very popular option for many travelers, students, entrepreneurs, and business owners is short term leasing.
Don’t be discouraged! Homeownership is possible.
