Purchasing a house can be a long and arduous task, especially for first-time homebuyers. Unless you have help from wealthy parents or are making big bucks yourself, chances are that the process won’t be as smooth sailing as you’d like it to be.
Home sellers, for instance, may say no to your offer or give you an unfair deal. Another scenario is a mortgage loan provider not giving you the interest rate you need.
When the home buying process gets tough, how do tough homebuyers keep going? Here are a few tips you can follow to stay motivated, disciplined and focused during the entire home purchasing journey:
If your friends or family members aren’t supportive of your decision to purchase a home in the current market, hear their reasons and arguments. Then, check if the facts they’re providing are true.
Also, don’t get discouraged when people warn you with home buying horror stories. If you find out some buyers delaying or changing their home buying timeline because of a specific problem, this doesn’t mean that their situation will automatically apply to you. Every home purchase is different, so don’t assume that things will end up badly when you see one or two aspiring buyers not doing well on their journey.
Although you need to be realistic with the house you can afford to buy, this doesn’t mean that you should settle for the next cheap house you see on the market. When people become exhausted or frustrated from their house-hunting efforts, they often begin to lower their standards. This way, they don’t have to experience the hassle of searching anymore.
If you’re getting annoyed about not finding the home you want, never settle for less. Take your time and be patient.
House hunting in a demanding real estate market can be a challenge for a lot of homebuyers. Once you’ve found an ideal property, chances are that someone else thinks that it’s ideal, too. This results in bidding wars, increased prices and raised stress due to competition.
Instead of getting annoyed at other homebuyers for wanting the same house, take steps to stand out from the crowd. Make offers that property sellers can’t refuse. Also, see if you could submit an offer that’s slightly above the listing price. This is helpful if you want to purchase a home that’s in demand.
The real estate market isn’t always constant or balanced. Sometimes, it favors sellers. Other times, the market favors buyers. Get familiar with how the housing market works in your area. This way, you’ll face fewer surprises and disappointments during the home purchasing process. What’s more, you’ll know the ideal time to proceed with your buying transactions.
Placing your best financial foot at the start of the home purchasing process is an effective way to infuse positive energy into the entire buying journey. Start by coming up with a realistic budget for a new home. Make sure that you take into account the following expenses:
Having a sound budget will give you a good grasp of the range of houses you should be viewing.
As you’re getting ready to buy, you’ll want to work on your financial health. A few measures you can do include:
Many dream of having a house of their own. Unfortunately, not everyone knows exactly what to look for in a house. When they can’t find what they want, they may likely settle for a residential property that isn’t ticking off all the boxes. Eventually, they’ll end up hating their new home before they even get to unpack.
So save yourself from frustration and disappointment by knowing exactly what you want in your dream home.
A good way to do this is to create a vision board. Start by pasting a picture of a dream home on the board.
Alternatively, you could put photos of the various parts of your dream house, such as the bathroom, bedroom and kitchen. Then, add specific details to these areas. You could, for instance, write down that you want a sofa, a coffee table and hardwood flooring in your ideal living room.
By creating a vision board and putting up pictures of your dream home, you’re training your mind to stay focused on what you want to achieve.
A positive mindset makes a lot of difference when finding and buying a great home. When you need further motivation, get someone to guide you through this life-changing journey.
Six Ways to Take Care of Your Mental Health During COVID-19
by Brian McKay
The COVID-19 crisis is affecting not only people’s physical health but also their mental health. According to a study in public health journal Elsevier, the pandemic has caused symptoms of anxiety and depression, stress, and instances of disturbed sleep.
The constant updates can be overwhelming. Public health measures like social distancing can cause isolation and loneliness, adding to the stress of the situation.
You may not have control of the pandemic, but you can take charge of your mental health. Here are several tips that can help you manage the stress and anxiety of living in these uncertain times.
Control how you see the news
A common source of stress during the pandemic is the constant updates from the news. Minimize listening, reading, and watching any news related to COVID-19 if it makes you feel anxious.
If you can’t resist receiving updates, consider checking them specific times during the day. Make sure that you’re reading news from trusted sources.
Connect with your community
Churches may have closed, but they offer ways for the community to connect outside service hours. With online resources, you can attend mass or say a prayer of forgiveness on online confession booths.
If you’re a member of any class or club, hold online meetings and do what you usually do. For example, if you’re part of a book club, assign a book to read each week or month, then meet online to discuss your thoughts. For gym junkies, grab your home equipment and do workouts together. You may not be able to hang out physically, but meeting online can somehow make up for the distance.
Seek professional help
Thanks to technology, mental health organizations and professionals are accessible. Look for online counseling services and talk to a psychiatrist. They can help you make sense of what you’re feeling and recommend activities that can help you cope with the crisis.
Support and strengthen relationships
If you’re isolated at home, look for ways to connect with your family and friends. Set aside a time each day to text or call family and friends. If you’re working or studying, check up on your classmates, teachers, and coworkers to see how they’re doing. You might be able to share strategies for coping with the situation.
Take care of your body
Being mindful about your physical health will do wonders with your mental health. Wake up and go to bed at the same time. Exercise regularly and eat a well-balanced diet. Take advantage of quiet times from work or school for self-care practices, like yoga, listening to music, or reading a book.
Be patient with yourself
Like many others, you might struggle with coping with the pandemic. And that’s normal. You’re not supposed to get it right the first time. Allow yourself to experience emotions like anger, frustration, and anxiety. The important part is that you shouldn’t be stuck in a rut for long.
The COVID-19 crisis has rendered almost everyone helpless, and the situation can be overwhelming for some. Although you can’t control what’s happening around the world, you can control what you’re feeling. With these tips, you can take care of your mental health despite these challenging times.
Money worries are the most common source of stress among US adults. Most of us would like to have more disposable income, but it can be challenging to save when it feels like money is flying out of your account on a continual basis. If you’re keen to improve your finances, we’re here to help. Here are some simple steps you can take to save, invest and grow your money.
Saving money
The first step on the road to improving your financial situation is saving. This involves reducing outgoings and putting more cash aside each month. The most effective way to take control of spending and identify areas where it could be possible to make savings is to learn to budget.
Budgeting is not everyone’s idea of fun, but it can make a monumental difference to your bank balance. One of the main reasons we struggle to manage our money is a lack of awareness when it comes to where our monthly paycheck goes. If you don’t check your balances on a regular basis, and you have direct debits, you shop online and you use contactless payments, it’s very easy to lose track of how much you’re spending. Use your budget to monitor outgoings, to set spending limits and to try and save more every month. You can draw up a budget using an app, create a spreadsheet, or stick to good, old-fashioned pen and paper. Your budget should cover your income, your regular outgoings and any additional expenses you expect to incur during the month ahead. Once you have a set of figures in front of you, you can work out how much you can afford to spend, how to divide your income and how much to save. Update your budget as you go, use accurate estimations, and always round up if you don’t have the exact figures. Once you’ve compiled your budget, take a moment to look at your outgoings closely. Many of us spend money on things we don’t need or even want, and having a budget is a great way to eliminate any non-essential expenses. Are you paying for a gym membership you never use, or have you forgotten to cancel a free subscription that is now costing you money?
You can also save money by making your cash stretch further and altering your spending habits. Take your weekly grocery shop as an example. Do you go into the store thinking that you’re going to spend $100 and get to the register to find that your bill is closer to $150? Supermarket layouts, marketing campaigns and promotions are designed to encourage us to spend, and it can be difficult to resist the temptation to fill the cart with all kinds of items that you don’t actually need in the name of grabbing a bargain. If you are heading to the store, and you’re keen to save money, always make a list in advance and ask yourself if you really need any of the items you put in your basket that aren’t on that shopping list. Use a calculator to track spending as you go, and avoid special offers that don’t feature products you plan to buy.
Comparing prices on household expenses like utilities, TV and broadband and insurance is also beneficial for maximizing disposable income. The Internet enables us to look for better offers and cheaper deals in a matter of seconds without even leaving the couch. If your health, auto or pet insurance deals are due for renewal, for example, don’t automatically renew with your current provider. Take a few moments to enter some details into a comparison site and see if you could save by switching to a different company. Competition is fierce, and businesses often go all-out to impress new customers with incentives like low introductory prices and free gifts.
If you dread your energy bills arriving, especially in the winter, it’s also worth taking some steps to increase energy-efficiency at home and try and reduce consumption. Using a smart meter can help you keep a close eye on usage and spending, and you can also lower bills by improving heat retention through insulation and double glazing, turning appliances off at the socket and replacing old bulbs and appliances with modern, energy-efficient versions.
If you have a pot of money set aside, and you’re keen to invest, there are several routes you could take.
Real estate
One of the most popular investment options is buying real estate. With property investment, you can take on long or short-term projects, boosting your income through rental fees or sales. Buying bricks and mortar requires significant investment, but it can be extremely lucrative, especially if you buy at a time when demand is soaring. When acquiring real estate for investment purposes, it’s crucial to focus on the figures. This is a very different proposition to buying the home of your dreams.
Before you start looking for a property, figure out how much you want to spend and what kind of house or apartment you’re searching for. Who is your ideal buyer or tenant, and what would they be looking for? Think carefully about location, and select properties that will appeal to your target market. If you’re keen to invest in a family home, for example, proximity to good schools and transport links is attractive, and it’s also wise to search for houses with features like large gardens and open-plan kitchens. Take your time to explore possibilities, research the local market and contact real estate agents, and keep a close eye on the news headlines. Buying at the wrong time can be costly. If you find a property that seems perfect, arrange a second viewing, make sure you know the local area well and consider whether it makes financial sense to proceed. It’s always worth trying to negotiate on the price if the house has been on the market for a while or the vendor is keen on a quick sale.
Antiques and collectibles
Have you ever thought that your attic could be an unlikely treasure trove, or wondered if you could make a mint from a collection of vintage dolls, silver coins or oil paintings? It’s not easy to make money from antiques and collectibles, but if you make the right choices and you sell at the right time, this can be a lucrative option. If you already own antiques, or you have a small collection, take good care of each individual item. Damage and signs of wear and tear can affect resale value. You can use toothpaste to clean silver coins, protect vases and ceramics with heavy-duty wrapping and preserve decorative items like trinkets and ornaments by keeping them behind glass. If you’re a beginner, or you’re keen to add to an existing collection, always buy from a reputable dealer, negotiate on the price and carry out thorough checks to look at the condition of the item and its history and value before you shake hands on a deal. It’s hugely beneficial to research before you buy and to look out for products, collections or pieces that are in demand.
Stocks and shares
Investing in the stock market can be exhilarating and it’s possible to reap substantial financial rewards, but this can also be a high-risk strategy. When you buy stocks and shares, you pay a price and then hope that the value increases. It is up to you to decide when to sell or to appoint a trader to act on your behalf. If you haven’t bought stocks and shares before, it’s useful to analyze the market, to keep an eye on movements in the weeks and days leading up to your first investment and to read business and financial news posts. If you’re a novice trader, take advantage of free trials, which enable you to use virtual funds to buy and sell. This will help you learn the ropes and get used to the processes.
Saving and investing go a long way to improving your finances, but it’s also useful to identify ways to grow your money and make your funds work harder. You can do this by putting money into high-interest accounts, setting up a side hustle and paying into pension and retirement schemes that offer incentives for savers. It’s wise to speak to a trustworthy, experienced financial adviser to help you make plans, reduce risks and protect your money.
If you’ve already invested money, and you have more funds available, build on successes. If you’ve sold a property at a profit, for example, you could put the capital into a new property and eventually create a portfolio. Look for ways to keep adding to your balance, but be aware of risks that could threaten to undo all your hard work. Economic uncertainty has a direct impact on the real estate market, so it’s vital to buy and sell at the right time.
Many of us would like our financial situation to be healthier. If you’re looking to reduce debts, save money and work towards boosting your savings balances, there are ways to improve your finances. Start by learning to budget, lowering expenses and putting more money aside each month and work your way up to investing and growing your money.
If you’re a lover of technology, that’s something that’ll probably extend beyond the context of your home. There are so many great examples of outdoor tech gadgets that can offer all sorts of things. For people who love exploring outdoors, making the most of the latest gadgets, both for function and fun, is vital.
We’re going to talk about some of the things you might want to consider owning and using if you’re looking to spend more time outdoors with friends and family. The right gadgets can completely change the ways in which you socialise and spend time outdoors. So, read on to find out more about the options you should own.
A High-End Remote Control Car
Remote control cars are no longer just for kids. They’re a whole lot of fun for the whole family. And you’ll definitely recognize that fact when you take a look at some of the high-end remote control cars on the market today. They’re incredibly sophisticated and can reach pretty high speeds. If you’re looking for some boys toys that family members of all ages can enjoy, this is a great place for you to start.
Waterproof Action Cameras
Action cameras like Go Pros and other such products are a whole lot of fun, especially when you’re outdoors and exploring. Nothing is more impressive than looking back at footage from your waterproof action camera taken as you were whitewater rafting or mountain biking through a stunning landscape. They’re a lot of fun and can help to create fantastic and lasting memories of great moments you had outdoors.
A Projector
A projector might seem like the kind of tech that you use indoors, but more and more people are now buying them for use while camping or even while enjoying an evening outdoors. Maybe that’s a good reason for you to invest in one too. A projector will allow you to all sit together and enjoy a movie under the stars in a communal way. It’s a nice way of recreating the drive-in movie theater experience on your own property.
Drones
If you still haven’t taken the opportunity to use a drone, that’s something that you should definitely change. And now is a great time because the technology behind them is improving all the time. You can click here to find out more about them and how you can find one that works for you and the kinds of uses you want to put yours to. As long as you’re careful and learn the ropes, you’ll have a whole lot of fun with them.
If you’re going to be spending a whole day or even longer outdoors, you probably don’t want to be bothered by mosquitos. Well, there are things you can do about that. There’s now a portable electronic mosquito repellent that you can buy. These devices are very impressive and protect the area around you, making them great for when you’re walking outdoors during the summer or when you’re camping overnight. It adds a little extra layer of comfort to your outdoor experience.
Solar Charger
Solar chargers are more important than ever before. We all rely on tech, even when we’re out and about exploring the outdoors. So being able to charge your devices using solar energy is a massive bonus. There are now even backpacks that come with inbuilt solar panels that allow you to charge up devices and power batteries while you’re out walking in the sun. It’s a green and sustainable way to remain powered up when you’re out in the wild.
Go Tenna
A Go Tenna is a device that allows you and the people you’re with to find each other if you get separated outdoors. This is important if you’re exploring a forest by bike or doing anything else that might cause you to get lost and separated from one another. Having an easy way back is a massive bonus and something you should make the most of using a Go Tenna device. Give it a try and see if it works for you. It’s an impressive bit of kit.
These gadgets are all a lot of fun or have a very impressive functional purpose that makes them great to use when you’re out and about. If you’re planning a camping trip or anything like that, all of these tech items will serve you well and enhance your trip in a whole host of different ways.
History is filled with the tales of business collapses of companies that have faced legal issues.
As early as 1494, the Medici Bank, which was owned by the Italian Medici family dynasty, collapsed after members of the family illegally used significant funds from the bank to sustain their lifestyles.
In 1963 in the US, Allied Crude Vegetable Oil Refining Corp collapsed when leader Tino De Angelis was exposed for defrauding clients for his own benefit.
In 1983, Carrian Group marked the largest business collapse in Hong Kong history when an auditor who raised the alarm on accounting fraud was murdered. An accounting advisor committed suicide to avoid legal pursuits.
In 2002, Adelphia Communications filed for bankruptcy on the basis of internal corruption. At the end of the investigation, members of the Rigas family were sentenced to prison.
These are only some of the many cases of business collapse throughout history that have occurred as a result of legal pursuits against the company or some of its members. Entrepreneurs, therefore, may wonder if a business can recover from legal pursuits? The answer depends on the offense, the relevant defense system, and the recovery strategy.
CEO or public-facing figure is arrested
What happens to your company when one of its eminent public-facing figures is charged with a crime? While the collapse in the stock exchange market may be imminent, you could save your business reputation and survival by working with trusted criminal lawyers who can provide the help you need. A criminal lawyer does not erase complaints or crimes, but it is a person who can help shed a more realistic light on the situation. A one-off event of violence, for instance, may have been the result of high stress and harassment. Fraudulent estate planning could be caused by poor advice rather than intentional criminal activity. Providing the defense required can protect your business from further damage.
Your taxes are not up to standard
Small businesses are the first to fall into accounting traps. If you don’t work closely with a professional accountant from Day One, it can be hard to keep your corporation tax return up to standard. However, tax mistakes can be recovered, both with the tax authorities and in the public opinion, if you reach out to a professional accounting service agency.
Your audience is more likely to lose faith in the brand if they realize that you were able to zero out your federal income tax or receive a considerable rebate. This is the case for Amazon, for instance, which enjoys an effective tax rate of -1% rather than the usual 21%. For individual taxpayers, it is frustrating to know that a successful company can legally cheat the system.
Can you recover from an unsafe product? Facts show that you can if you take swift actions. Johnson & Johnson recalled a product that had been tampered in 1982. The recall was expensive and led to profit loss. However, the decisive action allowed the company to recover within a few months. The lesson: Quick response can save both lives and your business.
In conclusion, why nothing can exonerate a business from legal complications, securing the appropriate defense mechanism, and acting quickly with the best interest of your customers at heart can prevent dramatic consequences. Many companies have faced legal challenges that have redefined their brands for the better.
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