Monthly Archives: February 2018

Three Things To Know Before Buying Your First Home

Mortgage

Are you looking for a home loan or perhaps needing to refinance your current mortgage? If so, you are not alone. In fact, a report from Home Buyer and Seller Generational found that nearly 60 percent of all homeowners used conventional loans to finance their home. If you are a first time home buyer then you probably have a list of questions surrounding all types of things from which loan to pursue, what a good interest rate might be, what insurance to purchase, and how much money you need for a down payment. A realtor or lending advisor will be able to help you with finding those answers, but below are just three key things to remember on your home buying journey:

The Down Payment – Studies show that nearly 15 percent of all home buyers said that saving the money needed for a down payment was the most difficult step of their entire home buying process. That is mainly because a typical down payment ranges from 10-20 percent of what the purchase price of the home is. That means that for a $300,000 home, a 20 percent down payment would be $60,000. That amount of money is not what many people just happen to have in their savings account ready to spend. The good news is that there are down payment assistance programs all over the country that help people in all types of financial situations!

Mortgage Terms – Will you choose a 15 or 30 year mortgage? What is a good interest rate versus a bad one? Should you choose a fixed rate or adjustable rate mortgage? These are just three of the dozens of questions you might find yourself asking when you are looking to buy a home. Don’t shy away from asking these questions – nearly 60 percent of homeowners wish that they understood the terms of their mortgage better than they do and you do not want to fall into that camp.

Realtors and Lenders – Working with a realtor to find a home that you love is incredibly important, but what many realtors will tell you is that you need to meet with a lender first. That is because only a lender can tell you how much you will be able to afford and how much of a loan amount you qualify for. Without that knowledge a realtor won’t really be able to help you because you might be looking at homes that are completely out of your price range. Remember to meet with a lender before a realtor to make sure you aren’t wasting your time.

Buying a home is a big decision that will affect your life for years to come. Parts of the process will absolutely be stressful, but if you go into it with a bit of foundational knowledge then you’ll be better off. Many cities and towns across America offer free classes for people interested in buying homes so that you can ask questions to experts in the field without feeling like they are trying to get you to buy a house on the spot. Be patience and consider your all of your options. You’ll be glad you did!

Four Ways that Water is Crucial

Whole house filtration

We depend on water for life. We drink it and cook with it, bathe in it and use to clean everything else we have. We install reverse osmosis and whole house filtration systems in our homes, and we worry about chlorine removal and the safety of our drinking water. About two-thirds of what we are is water, and water is crucial to every single process in our body. Since water is so important, isn’t it important to know what it can do for you?

Being Dehydrated is Worse Than You Think

About 75% of people in the United States are estimated to be chronically dehydrated: so many that it has been called “the hidden epidemic.” Even a little bit of dehydration makes a person feel tired and slow, and there can be a noticeable effect if you lose even 2% of your body’s water content. Since it’s quite common for athletes to lose as much as 10% of their water weight from sweating, it’s hardly surprising that a lot of us are capable of going around 2% dehydrated.
Since being hydrated is so important, it might please you to know that staying hydrated isn’t really that hard. A few extra glasses of water a day is all it takes. Drinking down a full glass of water as soon as you wake up will not only rehydrate you but also make you feel more awake and alive. And studies have shown that most people with headaches will experience complete relief within 30 minutes of drinking two cups of water.

Clean Water is Crucial

Since water is so very critical to every part of our body and all of its functions, it’s very important that the water we’re ingesting and putting all over our skin be clean. There are a lot of water system available, including whole house filtration systems that will make sure the drinking water, the water you wash with, and even the water washing your clothes is safe. The average American household is using 350 gallons of water a day, and whole house filtration is worth looking into for a lot of reasons.
You’re probably already aware of the need for clean water for drinking, but what about for cooking? Boiling or otherwise heating water doesn’t guarantee you’ve eliminated everything potentially dangerous. Whole house filtration can also help your skin and hair, which are easily irritated by things in the unfiltered water.

Don’t Forget About the Hard Water

You might also need a water softener as part of a whole house system. About 85% of homes in the United States are believed to have hard water. Hard water is not necessarily a huge health risk, but it’s a great nuisance. It makes all cleaning and laundering tasks more difficult, keeps dishes spotted and leaves a film on showers and sinks, makes it hard to wash hard, and even wreaks havoc on your hot water heater.
Water hardness is measured by “grains per gallon” of calcium carbonate. Even places without a “very hard” or “extremely hard” water rating can see the effects of hard water, which start at about 7 grains of hardness. And every 5 grains of hardness in the water causes your gas water heater to lose 8% of its efficiency.

Water is Weight Loss

If you are genuinely hungry, i.e., you are in real need of sustenance for your body to continue physiological processes (as opposed to simply feeling munchy) water will not make you feel full. But most of us aren’t eating because we’ve reached a truly hungry state. We’re eating because our stomachs are empty, which is not the same thing, or because we feel like a snack for other reasons. Drinking water 30 minutes before eating can help you feel more full so you make wiser choices about food. And studies show that people who drink 16oz of water before meals lose more weight than those who don’t.

We need water, for lots of things we know about, and even some we don’t. Make sure that the water in your house is clean and safe; for your health, your home, and your family.

What To Consider When Looking At Luxury Homes For Sale

School district

If you are moving soon, looking into luxury homes for sale can sometimes be a stressful process. Often, you are in the process of selling your old home at the same time, meaning that people in the process of searching for a new home often have a lot on their plates. There is also a lot to consider when looking for a new home, from what style of house you want (and if you even want a house at all! Maybe you’re looking more into condos or apartments), to what type of neighborhood you want to live in. If you have children, the search is compounded by school districts. Fortunately, the internet makes searching for new homes easier than ever, and over 90% of prospective homeowners use it to further their search.

When it comes to looking at luxury homes for sale, many people now consider whether or not a home is energy efficient. Over half of prospective home owners are looking into energy efficiency in brand new homes. Homes can also even be custom built to meet those standards for energy efficiency as well, though this process is often more time consuming. Custom built homes are not for everyone, but for those with very particular tastes, a custom built home can provide the dream house that they had envisioned. Homeowners also frequently want a new home that has never been lived in before because they want their process of moving in to be as hassle free as possible. They are looking to avoid renovations and especially any problems with either plumbing or electricity.

Of those looking to buy new homes or new custom homes, over 30% are first time buyers. In fact, according to a survey conducted by Realtor.com, the vast majority of those looking to buy a home are under the age of 35 and are less likely to have ever owned a home before. Only around 40% of prospective homeowners are in their late thirties or older. Out of all people looking to buy a home, almost half are looking for one that has never been lived in before.

For parents and caretakers, looking at school districts has also become an important part of looking at luxury homes for sale. In fact, a good school district can raise the property value of a new home by up to 20% and a poor school district and certainly cause a decrease in property value. Many prospective home owners also value the quality and safety of the neighborhood the home stands in, particularly those with young children.

Looking at luxury homes for sale can be a stressful process, but it’s one that pays off in the long run. When prospective homeowners are able to pinpoint what they want, buying a home, be it a luxury home, a townhouse, or even a condo, becomes so much simpler.

3 Smart Reasons to Visit a Convenient Care Facility

Minor injuries and illnesses

One part of life that everyone must deal with is getting sick. Unfortunately, you’ll find it hard to do many things while feeling under the weather including knowing exactly where to seek medical attention. In fact, statistics gathered from Milliman found that anywhere between 44 to 65% of all emergency room visits could have been handled at an urgent care facility. A new type of medical facility provides what is known as convenient care. It’s understandable to wonder what makes convenient care highly beneficial. With that in mind, here are three reasons why convenient care is a great choice for dealing with medical issues.

  1. Having a Familiar Location to Visit in Times of Emergency

    It’s important to find the best urgent care facilities while dealing with a medical event. Considering that, you don’t want to waste valuable time trying to find the best urgent care. You’ll find that visiting a location that offers convenient care is the best location to visit while you’re sick. In addition, having one location that is always utilized by a family will help everyone avoid confusion when the time to seek medical treatment arrives.

  2. Receiving Care at the Lowest Possible Cost

    One of the main differences between urgent and emergency services is the bill amount once treatment has been completed. Emergency room services are more costly because they typically require more work to be done. In fact, statistics gathered by Truven Health Analytics found that over 70% emergency room visits end up being for conditions that could have easily been fixed through utilizing outpatient care services. It’s perfectly understandable to ensure that your family is saving money while seeking medical care. Therefore, visiting a convenient care facility eliminates the risk of you having to pay more than what is needed.

  3. Great for Families Dealing With Multiple Medical Issues

    In certain situations, you might have to deal with multiple members of your family being sick. You’ll find that a convenient care location provides the best urgent care and emergency services for all members of your family. While most urgent care facilities have an average of seven exam rooms, convenient care facilities are typically larger due to the fact that they provide a wider range of services.

To summarize, there are several reasons why convenient care is such an incredible treatment option. Convenient care provides you and your family with a reliable source of obtaining either urgent or emergency medical care. In addition, having the right type of care chosen for you eliminates the chance of you being stuck with overly costly medical bills. You’ll find that a convenient care facility makes for the perfect location to visit while dealing with multiple family members that are sick.

Advantages of Amish Built Dog Kennels

Amish gazebo builders nj

Owning a home can be one of the most fulfilling and rewarding feelings in the world, especially if you possess the artistic sensibilities and the planning skills to really transform your home interior and exterior into spaces you can be proud of. Home improvement projects of any kind can bring a lot of utility to your home living experience and anything that brings either functional or aesthetic enhancement should be welcomed when it comes to planning and executing home improvement projects. One of the best ways to increase the value of your home while also making the best possible use of your home exterior is to use installations that can make use of your home exterior for certain outdoor activities or hobbies. Installing structures outside of your home might require a little planning and get connected with the right people for the job for the project to be successful in the long run. When it comes to your home exterior, there is a lot you can achieve with very simple steps and using the right outdoor furniture or sheds can bring about a welcome change.

When it comes to your home exterior, wooden outdoor furniture and other wooden structures can add a lot of futility while also increasing aesthetic appeal. There are a number of structures that you can install outside your home depending on the kind of activities you want to take part in and the kind of purposes you want the structures to serve. The most important thing here is to decide beforehand what you want to do with your home exterior, the kind of structures you consider to be useful enough for your requirements, and ensuring that you get the best quality of woodworking and installation no matter what you choose to install. Amish woodworkers have been known to provide some of the best quality of woodworking in the country for many years and choosing their structures can definitely take care of one aspect of the problem by providing you with structures of sound construction, using the best towards available, and the merits of experienced and skilled woodworking that the Amish are well known for.

Advantages of Amish Woodworking

When it comes to outdoor wooden structures, the first thing that you would want to ensure is the best quality. Outdoor structures need to tackle the elements and exposure on a daily basis and need to be of the highest quality possible to remain durable and reliable. Amish woodworkers are famous for using extremely resilient woods sourced from highly reputed suppliers including oak, cherry, maple, and hickory. The use of these hard words can ensure that the structures that you choose to install can stand the test of time. Amish woodworkers are also extremely well known for the quality of their construction and their woodworking skills. Purchasing Amish made outdoor furniture or Amish furniture or structures of any kind can, therefore, be a really good investment if you are looking to find solutions that remain reliable over time and can provide you with the utility that you are looking for. If you have pets in the house, Amish dog houses or Amish dog kennels can be an excellent option to put your home exterior to good use.

Installing Amish Built Dog Kennels

Choosing Amish built dog kennels as your preferred would an outdoor structure to install at your home exterior can be a great move, especially if you have larger pets that need a great deal of outdoor exercise on a daily basis. Having Amish built dog kennels can provide you with a way to give your dogs a structure and the tough and durable place where they can rest between play sessions. These can also be extremely useful if you live in a place which experiences extreme weather conditions as these Amish built dog kennels can help protect your prized pet from the elements and help them get the rest and relaxation that they require whenever they need it.

Since these structures can also be created according to customized designs, it can be a great option if you want a more spacious area for your dog then commercially available ready-made structures.