Updated: Monday, April 06, 2020
Do You Really Skip Two Payments When Refinancing?
First, lets understand that mortgage payments are made in arrears. Its the opposite of a rent payment. When renting, youre actually paying for the month youre about to live in. With a mortgage, youre paying for the month you just lived in. For instance, you make your mortgage payment on the first of the month, but the payment is for accrued interest from the previous month.nbsp;
You might have noticed this when you first bought and financed your home with an entry on your settlement statement noting prepaid interest and a range of dates. If you closed on the 25th of the month, the interest collected would be from March 25 March 31. That would amount to seven days of interest collected at your closing. But heres where the skip part comes in- because you made your first payment of seven days and because interest is paid in arrears, you dont have to make your first payment on the first of the next month because you already paid it at your closing. You paid seven days. You didnt really skip anything, you just paid it ahead of time.
Now look at a refinance. When your new lender seeks out a payoff from the old lender, the payoff amount will be the principal balance plus interest that has accrued for the current month. Lets look again at closing on the 25th. The payoff will include the outstanding loan balance plus unpaid interest. Because refinances require a three-day rescission period before funding, the loan would fund on three days later. In this example, the loan would fund three business days after the 25th. Borrowers have a right to change their minds for pretty much any reason whatsoever up until midnight on the third business day after signing closing documents. The rescission cant be waived, even if youre completely satisfied with your loan and wondering why theres a wait.nbsp;
If your refinance funds on the 29th for example, the payoff will include the outstanding loan balance from the old lender of 29 days and 2 days for prepaid interest for the following month. This is the two months worth of skipping payments. Yes, you did make your mortgage payments, its just not paid directly out of your pocket like a regular monthly payment. Instead, its included in your new loan amount. Borrowers certainly have the right to not include interest in arrears and prepaid interest in the final loan amount, but most do. Its your choice.
But if you hear of a loan officer talking to you about refinancing and the loan officer mentions you get to skip two payments, while it sounds good its really not the case. You made those two payments, just in a different way. Still, though, your pocketbook will feel a little heavier because you didnt have to make those two payments from your own bank account.
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The Future of Real Estate in a Quarantined World
Living in a virtual world
Ive been telling people for years that I believe agents and consumers will demand a virtual office solution going into this next decade- that is now becoming a reality.nbsp; For the past five years, my team has been able to do everything virtually and physically at my brokerage in Omaha. We are now operating 100 virtually during the quarantine. Since we are, and have been, a paperless company, the current situation hasnt impacted the function of our business as hard as most during the COVID-19 outbreak.
COVID-19 impacts on real estate
The current pandemic will affect real estate in a few ways. We are going to see less listings while people quarantine so the supply will go way down and the demand will continue to go up. Despite the fact were in a recession you will see a buyers market- due to a lack of inventory. With interest rates at an all time record low buyer demand will be just as great if not greater than before COVID-19. I think that home prices will stay stable or go up because of this and closings will take longer. Wet signatures may also be a thing of the past with updated policies making virtual signing legal in many states for buying a home online.nbsp;
So how can you and your business adapt during this unprecedented period? I have five tips that can help your team continue to serve customers and grow their skills personally- all virtually from home.
5 Tips for Shifting to a Virtual Business Modelnbsp;
1. Keep your employees current with continual training. My business conducts weekly virtual training sessions using the virtual platform Zoom. Agents have the option to interact live with their instructor or access training videos at their convenience.
2. Maintain accountability. Agents participate in weekly check-ins to ensure they are on track to achieve their professional goals by meeting key performance indicators.nbsp;
3. Implement a comprehensive transaction management system. There are a lot of moving parts in a real estate closing. Keep track of all the vendors and their respective deadlines with a digital transaction management tool such as Dotloop. Or, work collaboratively and organize your workflow with online platforms like T>
4. Make sure your products can be viewed virtually. Theres a reason Amazon is such a booming success. Customers want to see what they are purchasing. Every one of my teams listings have a custom virtual VRLY landing page offering drone fly-overs, HD photos, and 3-D Matterport walkthroughs. We are the only local brokerage that requires this next level of service.
5. Create a digital workplace. Staying connected to the consumer is important. So is fostering communication and >
Utilizing technology to add value
Technology and innovation have to be a priority moving forward. My new office we are building out now will feature a virtual reality room for agents to do VR tours of homes with oculus goggles, along with platforms and portals that utilize AI to predict ways to save customers money. These and other tools will not only revolutionize real estate but ultimately add more value for customers. My brokerages goal, like most in real estate, is to always serve the consumer in the highest order. Its also important not to forget to serve your agents through coaching, accountability, and business mastery. We are an example of a real estate company that can operate 100 virtually and I hope that these tips and tools can help your business through this unprecedented time too.
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About Jeff Cohn:
Jeff, a nationally renowned speaker and host of The Team Building Podcast, is CEO of a tech-powered Keller Williams market center in Omaha, NE. As founder of Omahas Elite Real Estate Group, he led his team from 70 to 700 transactions in 6 years, and was awarded the 1 team in unit sales in the world at Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices in 2019. Since beginning his real estate career in 2006, Jeffs team has closed over 5,000 sales, totaling over 1 billion in volume.
Jeff is founder and CEO of Elite Real Estate Systems, a coaching company, offers the annual Team Building Summit, monthly workshops, and weekly coaching calls. As a credit to his extensive know-how, Jeff speaks frequently at various events throughout the US and Canada.
In recent years, Jeffs passion for providing exceptional service to his clients propelled him to establish ancillary businesses in Title, Mortgage, Insurance, and Investing. His objective is to expand these ancillary businesses into 100 locations across the country. Jeffs vision is that the hybrid office of the future - through technological advancements - will offer the consumer a one-stop-shop customized experience, providing access to the agent and all ancillary businesses, virtually and in-person.
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3 Decorating Tips To Make Your House Looks Fancy
1. Living Room
The living room is part of the home where you are likely to be entertaining your guests most often. Thus, you should make sure that it presents itself very well to others. Otherwise, people may think youre a messy and cluttered person.
nbsp;You dont need to do much or modify too many parts of your living room. You only need to consider a few factors such as your lighting, the artworks in your living room, and the paint on the walls.
Lighting
A subtle element of interior design that people dont often think about is the lighting of a room. With great lighting, you can make an ordinary living space more open and welcoming.
Make sure that you have a lot of natural light coming in from windows in your living room. This way, your living room can look wide and at the same time, people would feel more welcome.
Artwork
If you feel that your living room needs a little something to make it truly shine, then consider displaying some artwork. You can go two ways with it: You can either make it the highlight of the room, or you can use it to subtly change the atmosphere of the room. There are lots of affordable artwork for you if you know where to look.
Paint
Changing up the paint of your living room walls makes a difference in the space. You might want to make it warmer, then you should add warmer colors on the walls. You can even try painting cabinets in the room to create a subtle but needed change. Maybe you might want to try more neutral colors to make the room much more subtle and soft.
2. Kitchen
When it comes to renovating your home, one room in your home that isnt cheap to renovate is the kitchen.
Kitchens have lots of appliances that you should keep up-to-date. Plus, there are countertops and cabinets and more that you should keep up with. However, there are some decorating tips that you can try that are cost-effective as well as attractive to look at.
Organize
The simple act of reorganizing your kitchen tools and utensils can make your kitchen look more seamless and appealing. Plus, youll be thankful for it in your day-to-day use of the kitchen, knowing where everything is supposed to be.
Make use of all of your cabinets and store the appropriate tools within for better organization. You can even try shelves that dont hide your kitchen utensils if they match. That way, they can serve as a decoration when not in use.
Faucet
Nowadays, there are plenty of designs available for faucets.
If you have a plain one, then consider changing things up in your kitchen by installing a new one. This time, make sure that it matches your cabinets so that you have a harmonious design working for you in your kitchen. Of course, you should make sure that the faucet works.
Wallpaper
For your kitchen, instead of repainting the walls, you might want to consider plastering wallpapers on it instead.
You dont even have to put it on all of your walls. Small sections of the kitchen thats plastered with some wallpaper is good enough to create such a lovely appearance. Plus, it doesnt cost too much money to accomplish.
Thats one design tip that you should take notes on. A simple pop of color or a different pattern is often an effective design scheme.
3. Bathroom
If youre planning to modify your home, then one of its most important parts to renovate is the bathroom. You spend a lot of your time doing your business there, so redecorating your bathroom can be a worthy investment.
With that in mind, below are some design tips that you can consider to beautify your bathroom to the next level.
Tiles
The tiles in your bathroom are an important design choice so make sure that you take extra care into which one you plan on installing.
Marble is a great choice for any bathroom. Not only is it sleek and stylish, but it is also sturdy and >
Plus, styling your bathroom with marble tiles makes it easy for you to find other decorative pieces in your bathroom because it goes well with a lot of things.
Mirror
Mirrors in your bathroom are one of the things that you can splurge on a little. When you do that, you can make your bathroom look significantly fancier. You can go minimalistic with it or avant-garde depending on your bathroom theme.
You should consider buying a bathroom mirror that can also serve as a storage place for your toiletries. That way, you have a stylish yet economical bathroom design piece.
Vintage Look
One of the design themes that you should consider for your bathroom is the vintage look. Lots of vintage-looking bathrooms appear >
Making your house look fancier doesnt mean you should be spending fancy-people amounts of money. With the simple design tips given above, you are sure to have a >
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Buying a Home? Don’t Forget to Ask These Questions!
Can You Have a Copy of the Homes Sales History?
It is important to know about how many times the home has changed hands over the years as well as for much the home sold for each time. This will let you know about your prospective propertys value fluctuations which can help you sell the home and negotiate fairly in the future.
What is the Cost of Monthly and Annual Utility and Maintenance?
No one wants a home that racks up utility bills as though the owners are made of money. The water, power, and gas bills should be disclosed as well as annual maintenance cost for you to gauge if you can truly afford the home.
How Much is the Property Tax?
Although the homes value is the primary determinant of the property tax, knowing how much the current owners are paying is a good way to determine future expenses on the property.
Does the House Have an Unusual History or Has It Been Involved in Any Crime?
Any history of suicide, murder, or death should be disclosed by the broker or seller. Unusual history like appearing in a magazine, commercial, or movie should be disclosed as well. A home appearing in public media may mean a future privacy breach and a negative history can make a home difficult to sell in the future.
When was the Roof Last Fixed or Replaced?
A roof replacement can cost upwards of 10,000. The future homeowner should know when a huge expense like this may be due.
Does the Area Around the Property Come with Parking Restrictions?
Whether or not the home has a garage, it is possible that future visitors may need to park outside of the property. When this happens, the last thing you want is for your guests vehicles to get towed away.
Are There On-Going Warranties for the Kitchen Appliances, Garage Door, the HVAC System, and More?
Replacing any of the above can easily cost thousands of dollars. Having the warranties can save a lot of money down the road.
Are There Renovations or Additions Made by Past and Current Owners?
Upgrades can cost a lot. It is best to know which contractors worked in the house before and what they did more so if planning future additions or renovations.
Are There Any Issues with Sewage or Broken Pipes?
Although you can hire a home inspector, it is best to know these issues beforehand more so that the cost of repairs for issues like this can be equivalent to a sizable amount.
Are There Past or Current Pest Infestations?
Getting rid of rodent or insect infestation can incur a lot of time and money. Something like this needs to be disclosed rather than find out when it is too late.
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Should You Buy a House During the Coronavirus Outbreak?
Shark Tank star and real estate icon, Barbara Corcoran, is the latest to weigh in, telling TMZ that, Nows the time to score a steal, they said. She told us buyers who are willing to pay special attention to details can find properties discounted by as much as 25. Shes seen it happen in NYC, and says that kinda deal wont be uncommon due to the harsh economic reality facing millions of Americans. She says if sellers are willing to list right now during a pandemic, its likely because theyre desperate to unload the property. That adds up to great deals...if youre able to buy now.
So, if youre looking to make a move right now, what do you need to know and what should you be looking for?
Distressed properties
Yes, its crass to say that one persons loss is anothers gain. But the reality is that some of those whose jobs and/or finances cant withstand an economic downturn may end up losing their homes. Its not out of line to think that there is going to be a new wave of foreclosures >
Between the low mortgage rates and the potential for home prices to come back down if there is a glut of distressed properties that hit the market, there could be a good buying window for buyers.
Investment properties
This could also be a good time to consider real estate as an investment toolespecially in light of the recent stock market drop and those low mortgage rates.
Withnbsp;historic low rates, it is a good time to consider investing in real estate, Victoria Shtainer, a real estate agent and expert at Compass in New York, told Realtor.com. Low rates give you more buying power, and we have been negotiating amazing deals for our buyers. Given the current volatility in the stock market, investors are reassessing asset allocations in their portfolio, and considering how real estate may fit into this from an asset allocation standpoint.
Realtor.com added that buying an investment property can be a valuable asset and a good way to generate passive income, and it might also provide tax write-offs and incentives that you wouldnt get on other instruments.
For a historical perspective on real estate vs. stocks, check out this piece by Bigger Pockets, which provides a ton of data points as well as this nugget: Throughout modern history, residential real estate has actually boasted an extremely high rate of return with low risk.nbsp;
A few things to keep in mind when buying now
Given the current situation around the coronavirus quarantine, the way you buy a home will likely be different. You cant expect open houses or, in many cases, in-person home tours, right now Although, youll likely walk through a home you wish to purchase with an inspector during your escrow process.. Your escrow timeline may also be impacted.
"I recommend working with your lender early, even before the offer is accepted," Beatrice de Jong, consumer trends expert atnbsp;Opendoor, told Business Insider. The home buying process is taking longer than usual, and you could end up waiting around if you dont get a jump start.
The delay is partially due to the fact that lenders have been inundated with refinancing applications from existing homebuyers, but also because of work-from-home mandates that limit what some of the professionals involved in the process can do.nbsp;
Yes, the influx of refinancing applications has overwhelmed lenders but thats not the only reason the process is slowing down, they said. Many companies employees are now working from home, which sometimes hinders them from working as quickly.nbsp;
That can affect multiple aspects of the escrow process, like the appraisal. The appraiser physically has to go out to the house...Many of them are actually asking to have quarantine clauses built in, Andy Taylor, General Manager ofnbsp;Credit Karma Home, told Business Insider. They want to know that the home theyre going to isnt under quarantine because someone there is sick from this virus thats going around.
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Home Improvement Projects to Tackle During the Quarantine
Youre working from home, which means youre bored, and youre looking for stuff to do. If you own your home, that stuff probably means home improvement projects. Weve got tips on what to tackle during the quarantine.
Do an even deeper clean than usual
It is spring, after all. This year, in addition to annual spring cleaning list, add a few tasks that are specifically intended to kill germs and improve the air quality in your home.nbsp;
Its best to check if your cleaning materials are in the list of approved products >
Its also a good time to change your air filters and opt for a better quality than you typically get. They wont prevent coronavirus, according to experts. Your typical HEPA filter is not going to be able to remove coronavirus from the air, Dr. Erin Sor>
But, they can help keep dust and pollen away, which is important for household members who have allergies and breathing issuesif you buy the right ones.
Regular HVAC filters are intended to protect the equipment, not your lungs and sinuses, said Airista. While ordinary furnace and ac filters do help to remove some dust from the air when changed regularly, they do little to trap the microscopic particles that cause the sneezing and wheezing of allergy season. Thats why you need special air filters for allergies that are designed to stop those tiny particles. They are called high energy particulate air filters or more commonly, HEPA filters. Because HEPA filters are made from densely packed layers of glass fibers instead of paper, the best ones are able to trap more than 99 percent of pollen, dust and smoke particles and keep them out of the air you breathe every day.
After youve identified that your filter is HEPA, look for the MERV rating. HVAC HEPA air filters for allergies are rated on how well they block particles of different sizes. The rating system is called the minimum efficiency reporting system, or MERV. The ratings range from MERV 1 to MERV 12, with the higher number indicating filters that are capable of removing the smallest particles, including many species of pollen.
Paint
Have some leftover paint around the house? Touch up those walls and baseboards. If not, home improvement stores are still open if youre able to get out and, if you do, be sure to abide by the appropriate social distancing rules and take proper safety precautions. Walmart also has paint, so you can pick up a couple of cans when youre getting groceries or other necessities.nbsp;
A fresh coat of paint will refresh your space and also make it feel newwhich you probably need right about now.
Clean out your closets
Face it: Even the most organized among us can have a messy closet, and now is the time to make it right, said Curbed. Start by taking everything out of the closet, purging whats no longer used, and cleaning the interior. If its a clothes closet, sort your clothes by category and be sure to hang delicate items and stack thicker things like denim. Put your most-used items at the front, while seasonal or ra>
Build a garden
Not only will it give you something to do, but also something to eatwhich can come in handy if the quarantine period goes on for an extended period of time. Fast-growing vegetables likes arugula,nbsp;lettuce,nbsp;radishes,nbsp;spinach, andnbsp;turnips can go from seed or seedling to harvest size innbsp;40 days or less, said The Creative Vegetable Gardener.
Stick to projects that are not super labor intensive or that will take a long time
Getting projects taken care of in this interesting time is about making smart choices. Someone in the family could get sick, or you could be called back to work sooner than expected. You probably dont want an unfinished project when its time to get back to regular life.nbsp;
Limit the products you need
You could run into supply chain issues, backorders, or delivery issues with your renovation, which could delay or derail your project.nbsp;
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Ask the HOA Expert: What's The Difference Between The CC&Rs And The Rules And Regulations?
Answer: CCamp;Rs stands for "Covenants, Conditions amp; Restrictions". CCamp;Rs include the Declaration, Bylaws, Rules, Regulations, Policies and Resolutions.
As far as standing up in court, no one can predict the outcome of a judge or jury decision. But the board has a responsibility to make sure all rules, regulations and policies are in writing, distributed to all owners and residents and easily accessible when needed website recommended for 24/7 access. If the HOAs rules are fair and uniformly enforced, most judges will rule for with the board.
Question: I am an HOA treasurer and have been attempting to implement spending controls. We have two board members who regularly purchase items for the HOA and want to be reimbursed. My concern is that expenditures are unpredictable and hard to track. Ive proposed that all expenditures by these individuals must be for budget approved line items. This was rejected by the board as being too restrictive. What do you think is a reasonable policy?
Answer: It sounds like your HOA has a long history of directors spending money as they saw fit. Your well intentioned controls were predictably not well received by the Old Guard. The first question that comes to mind is: Has the old routine caused budget overruns? If yes, you have a sound basis for your controls. If no, you may be making much ado about nothing.
That said, it is not common for random directors to routinely spend the HOAs money. In self managed HOAs, the president and treasurer generally handle payments, occasionally reimbursing a director for an HOA expense that cant wait for the normal payment process. Ideally, if you have a hired manager, all expenditures should be routed through the manager. It is much easier to hold an employee or contract manager accountable than a fellow director.
Your biggest obstacle doesnt seem to be opposition to good financial management practices, but perception that such is not needed. Getting a barge to change course takes time. Continue to press for change. The board has a fiduciary duty to run HOA business in a business-like way.
Question: I recently took over professional management of an HOA which has over 70,000 of unpaid water bills. The water department has threatened to shut off service within 48 hours. The board directed me to impose a special assessment of 1000 per unit without a meeting or member vote. Can an emergency special assessment be imposed without member approval?
Answer: You need to read the governing documents to see what authority the board has to raise special assessments. Even if the board has authority to do so, proper and reasonable notice must be given to the members and time to raise the cash.
If a special assessment requires approval of the members, a member meeting needs to be called with advanced written notice. The meeting must have a legal quorum and a legal majority vote as defined by the governing documents. You may be able to pull this off by mail in ballot if your governing documents allow it. But none of this could possibly take place within 48 hours.
The board needs to make immediate and adequate payment arrangements for the water bill, perhaps by getting a short term loan from the bank. Or, you might be able to get the water department to leave the water on if money is on the way special assessment or loan. But they will, no doubt, want to see the written evidence letter from bank, copy of special assessment notice, etc..
The bigger question is, if this HOA has allowed things to get so bad that basic utilities cant get paid, what other fires are you going to find that they want you to put out? This crisis didnt happen overnight and the board likely has others waiting in the wings. Unless you are getting paid extra to deal with these special circumstances, you need to seriously evaluate whether this is an account worth your time.
Question: Our professional manager is pandering to certain board members and ignoring policies passed by the board majority. How do you keep a manager from getting involved with Board politics?
Answer: The board president has primary authority over the manager and should speak to the manager directly and plainly about this problem. Most managers are only trying to please or do their job. It may be a simple misunderstanding. If, however, there is conscious subterfuge and unwillingness to change, the matter should be addressed directly with the management company owner. If change isnt forthcoming, the president should recommend to the Board that there be a change in management company.
On the other hand, if the manager is kowtowing politically to board president who is abusing her authority, the remaining directors need to have a heart to heart with the president. All officers serve at the pleasure of the board. If one is exceeding authority, the board can remove and replace that person with another director who wont.
Question: Our bylaws indicate that expenses are shared equally. We have one and two bedroom units that vary significantly in size. Dividing expenses equally seems unfair. Can we simply vote to change it? If so, how many need to vote in favor of it?
Answer: Occasionally, developers propose an expense allocation like the one you describe. Its easier to calculate but clearly overlooks disparity in size and value. When there is substantial difference in square footage, the norm is to allocate expenses according to a units square footage as a percentage of the total units square footage. In that case, the expense share may range, for example, from 2 to 5 depending on unit size.
When developers ignore the unit size issue, the inequity usually becomes apparent after turnover. Then, those that feel they are carrying a bigger share than they should lobby to "fix it". The problem is that fixing it requires 100 consent from those that will pay more and those that will pay less. In this regard, individual owners have the protection against a majority foisting its financial will on the minority whenever it sees fit. Its different when it comes to a rule that applies to everyone, like No Pets. A majority could vote to eliminate pets but the same rule would apply to everyone.
If a majority of the owners were allowed to change the expense allocation formula without this 100 requirement, theoretically 51 of the owners could pass an amendment that would force 49 of the owners pay 100 of the expenses. So expense allocation is one area that absolutely requires 100 consent of those affected. While its theoretically possible to achieve if 100 are willing, people are people and there is usually someone that refuses to budge.
Bottom line listen up developers, the expense allocation formula needs to be fair from the get-go. After turnover, its too late to change.
Question: One of our homeowners wants to start an HOA newsletter. A few board members object to starting a newsletter because people dont read the minutes as it is, the board would need to review it and finding someone to do it consistently may be difficult. What say you?
Answer: Having a regular newsletter is not just a good idea, its a basic good management practice. To encourage readership, the newsletter should be worth reading and provide information that all members need to know. If certain members dont choose to read it, thats up to them. The HOA should not withhold information because of it.
The board secretary generally previews the newsletter for content and accuracy. This doesnt take much time for a two to four page newsletter more than ample for most HOAs.
Newsletters do not need to be long and involved, just timely and >
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Jimmy Fallon Inspires Renewed Interest in Interior Slides
Of course, Fallons home may be slightly different than ours. From what we have been able to see on The Tonight Show at home, a pared-down version of his weeknight show that has been a family affair, with his kids and wife participating, the home is as interesting as he is. It has a slew of eye-popping features, including a rustic wood staircase, wallpaper that resembles birch bark, paneled walls, and an indoor slide.nbsp;
Yes, a slide.nbsp;
It made an appearance during the show after Fallon said goodbye to viewers and made his exit.nbsp;
Thats right, said Yahoo. It turns out the late-night host has a full-blown, tubular slide inside his home, which he can apparently use to travel between rooms. The reveal took many Twitter users by surprise, mainly because Fallon made absolutely no reference to the feature during his monologue.
In light of this momentous reveal, weve decided to take a look at some other indoor slides around the world. From taking center stage in swanky Manhattan penthouses to providing the fun secret way to get from the laundry room to the basement in Minnesota, these playground pieces are anything but childs play, said Houzz.
Perhaps no residential slide is as famed as the one at Skyhouse, a penthouse apartment in lower Manhattan. Perks of the pad include a four-story open living room, glass walking bridge, a climbing column and a stainless steelnbsp;slidenbsp;that snakes through each floor, said HuffPost.nbsp;
New York Architect David Hotsonnbsp;built the tubular slide into the upper levels of an 1896 skyscraper, which had not previously been used as a residential space. Per Hotsons website, The entrance to a tubular slide, constructed from mirror-polished stainless steel, emerges through a circular hole cut in the seamless sloping glass partition at the south end of the Attic. The cylindrical helical slide flares to an ellipse which is sectioned on the angle of the inclined glass wall resulting in a circular opening where the slide emerges through the glass.nbsp;This circular opening creates an illusion of flatness contradicted by the sideways path of the slide as it begins its descent.
The slide even has windows that admit natural light from the dormer windows and provide fleeting vistas through the entire length of the penthouse.
This slide isnt just for transport; It helped transform a space with added function. Created by Seoul studio Moon Hoon in a South Korean house, the wooden slide is slotted into a combined staircase and bookshelf, said dezeen. The homeowners asked for various spaces where their four children could play, so the architects designed a house where different floors belong to different residents. The ground floor is dedicated to the children and includes the wooden staircase and slide. Open treads create bleacher->
Not all slides are quite as architecturally distinct. Rather than serving as a sculpture or major design statement, some slides are surprises hidden in the walls, said Houzz. The basement rec-room fun begins with the trip down a level in thisnbsp;Minnesota home. This ones entry point is tucked away in a first-floor closet. The round opening does not give away what the slide experience will be, which builder Steve Kuhl describes as severe tubular craziness.nbsp;He estimates that installing anbsp;slide like this somewhere else would run from 2,500 to 5,000.
Sometimes, you can have both: an architecturally significant slide thats a showpiece on one floor and a hidden gem on another. Found in the Rainbow House in West London, from designer AB Rogers, this slide travels from an upstairs bedroom down into the wide-open living room. Even in the vibrant, yellow-and-white space, the sculptural metal slide is a standout. But the entry from upstairs isnt just demure; if you dont know its there, you might miss it. Instead of a typical slide opening, you instead get a trap door that, when closed, blends right into the patterned floor.nbsp;
Located in a fashionable London neighborhood, the vibrant Rainbow House by designernbsp;AB Rogersnbsp;is a traditional four-bedroom town home that was renovated in 2009 for maximum fun and personality. Wild prints, rainbow-colored spiral stairs, color-coordinated floors, conversation pits, and a bed that rotates 360 degrees are notable features, but the most fun by far is the slide linking a bedroom to the open-plan living room via a trap door in the floor.
We especially love this example by Archology because:
1. The slide is especially attractive, using timber in close collaboration with a makernbsp;skilled in the ideas of boat building, said Wood Solutions. This collaboration allowed the structure to benbsp;curved in both directions. This was achievednbsp;by using narrow strips of plywoodnbsp;that were then smoothed and finished with a hardwearing polish finish.
2. It exists side-by-side with the curved staircase, so you can pick and choose which mode of travel youd like every time you head down to the lower level.nbsp;
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How to Find Housing That Will Suit Your Pet's Needs Too
Check Local Ordinances and Homeowners Association Rules
When youre looking for a home, either rented or purchased, youll need to follow the rules of the community that youre entering. Most areas have general ordinances on cleaning up after your dog when you go for a walk. Theyll also have leash laws, and they might have other ordinances on what kinds of animals you can have. If you live in a condo or townhouse, you will also have a homeowners association, which will tell you whether or not you can have a pet at all. Before you buy or start renting, make sure you know all of the rules that you will be expected to abide by for the length of your stay.
Find a Pet-Friendly Realtor
If youre looking to find someone who knows the neighborhoods that youll be looking in, find someone who understands the needs of the type of pet that you have and knows the ordinances of the area. Realtors who are unfamiliar with your particular pet might say that a building in the backyard would be a great place for your goat, but if they dont actually know about what the animal needs, as well as the type of buildings that could house a goat, theyre just making guesses.
Tips For Finding a Pet-Friendly Apartment
When you want to find an apartment, you need to be aware that many apartments have no-pet policies, or they only allow certain types of pets. For instance, some apartments will allow cats but not dogs. Others will only allow dogs under a certain weight. If youre looking for an apartment, youll have a better chance of finding one if youre aware of their policy. But dont worry. There are plenty of housing options animal lovers can consider. You also need to be aware that you might have to show proof of vaccinations, and it might be wise to show that youre a responsible pet owner. If you have a current landlord, see if you can get a letter of recommendation that tells how you take care of your pet, cleaning up after it when it makes a mess.
Consider Your Pets Needs
When youre looking for a house or apartment, think about the amount of space that your pet will need now and in the future. If you have a puppy mastiff, he might only need a small space now, but in a very short time, hell need a large outdoor space where he can play. Youll also need to think about the materials used in the house. Animals have hooves, claws, and mouths, and youll need to either train them to avoid activities that can damage things like hardwood floors, or youll need to have materials that arent easily damaged.
Whether your pet is a cat, dog, pig, or snake, you love your animal. And it makes sense for you to find the housing that will fit your whole familys needs. Do some research, and youll find the perfect living situation that fits your budget and your life>
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Do You Really Skip Two Payments When Refinancing?
Sounds like a pretty good idea, doesnt it? Take a break from making this months mortgage payment plus skipping the next one? Who wouldnt want that? But lets take a closer look at what actually goes on with those payments during a refinance transaction.
First, lets understand that mortgage payments are made in arrears. Its the opposite of a rent payment. When renting, youre actually paying for the month youre about to live in. With a mortgage, youre paying for the month you just lived in. For instance, you make your mortgage payment on the first of the month, but the payment is for accrued interest from the previous month.nbsp;
You might have noticed this when you first bought and financed your home with an entry on your settlement statement noting prepaid interest and a range of dates. If you closed on the 25th of the month, the interest collected would be from March 25 March 31. That would amount to seven days of interest collected at your closing. But heres where the skip part comes in- because you made your first payment of seven days and because interest is paid in arrears, you dont have to make your first payment on the first of the next month because you already paid it at your closing. You paid seven days. You didnt really skip anything, you just paid it ahead of time.
Now look at a refinance. When your new lender seeks out a payoff from the old lender, the payoff amount will be the principal balance plus interest that has accrued for the current month. Lets look again at closing on the 25th. The payoff will include the outstanding loan balance plus unpaid interest. Because refinances require a three-day rescission period before funding, the loan would fund on three days later. In this example, the loan would fund three business days after the 25th. Borrowers have a right to change their minds for pretty much any reason whatsoever up until midnight on the third business day after signing closing documents. The rescission cant be waived, even if youre completely satisfied with your loan and wondering why theres a wait.nbsp;
If your refinance funds on the 29th for example, the payoff will include the outstanding loan balance from the old lender of 29 days and 2 days for prepaid interest for the following month. This is the two months worth of skipping payments. Yes, you did make your mortgage payments, its just not paid directly out of your pocket like a regular monthly payment. Instead, its included in your new loan amount. Borrowers certainly have the right to not include interest in arrears and prepaid interest in the final loan amount, but most do. Its your choice.
But if you hear of a loan officer talking to you about refinancing and the loan officer mentions you get to skip two payments, while it sounds good its really not the case. You made those two payments, just in a different way. Still, though, your pocketbook will feel a little heavier because you didnt have to make those two payments from your own bank account.
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5 Necessary Steps to Flipping a House
1. Research the Real Estate Market
Not every market is the best choice for flipping houses. For example, if youre starting off with just 10,000 that you can work with out of pocket, you probably shouldnt start flipping houses that are being listed in the millions. It wont work out well for you and youll end up with less than you started with. The general rule of house flipping is the less cash you have to work with, the less the house should cost overall. That means that the first two questions that you need to answer are:
How much cash are you starting off with?
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What market can you afford to work with?
You need to know where the neighborhood that youre planning on working with sits on the scale of A to D. A neighborhood that is >
2. Set a Budget and a Plan
Youd be setting yourself up for failure if you went into this without a real plan. It doesnt have to be fancy or crazy, or even super in-depth. You need to know how much youll think the flip is going to cost you and how much youre going to make off of it. Also, make sure that youre never buying anything that has major problems that you wont be able to fix within your budget. For your first house, you want something that you can flip fast and easy.
3. Find the Right House
The next thing that you need to do is to find the right house to start your work on. Again, this is where the neighborhood >
4. Renovate
Here comes the part that you were expecting: the renovation. This is one of the most important parts of the process. Youll be on the clock working on the house all day and into the night since the faster you can flip the house, the more youll make. Add features that make the house feel homey. Add a skim coat to the walls to make everything last longer and to give it an appearance of quality. Every month that you spend working on the house youll lose money. You have to pay to taxes, bills, and insurance. Because of all of that, try to finish the home as soon as possible.
5. Get Ready to Sell
The final step of the process is thankfully the easiest. All you have to do now is sit back and get ready to sell the home. Its up to you to set the price that you want to sell it at. You want to sell it low enough to make sure that the house is >
Once youve done that, you can move on to bigger and better projects.
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How to Buy Your First Home
Set yourself up for success by using these five tips when buying a house:
Repair and Build Your Credit
This is a step that has to be done before you start negotiating rates and looking at houses. If you have a lot of debt to pay off you will need to start paying it off or find some way to repair your credit. You want a good credit score because that will allow you to get better rates on a mortgage.
If you do not own a credit card you will want to get a credit card. You can start out with a nice credit card for beginners that will not cost you anything. All you have to do is pay off the credit card monthly. Use it for purchases that you would normally make such as gas and rent. Instead of using your debit card or cash use your credit card and pay it off on time. nbsp;nbsp;
Down Payment
To buy a house most people need to take out a mortgage, which is a loan specifically meant to buy a house. Most people will not be able to pay 200,000 plus dollars in one payment so they take out a mortgage and pay that off throughout the years.
You are going to need some kind of down payment to get the mortgage that you want. Typically anywhere from a 15 to 20 percent down payment is what banks and lenders are looking for when issuing a mortgage. There are zero percent down mortgages but, as with any loans, there are pros and cons to them.
Find a Realtor
You do not have to have a realtor but a lot of people do not know a lot about home buying so they hire a real estate agent. There are perks of using a real estate agent such as not having to deal with a lot of the paperwork. Real estate agents are great if you are too busy to do all of the nitty gritty work of buying a house. They are also great if you are brand new and not really sure what to do.
Attend Open Houses
Having a realtor allows you to go to open houses that they are putting on. They can also give you places that have good homes that fit your personal preferences. This could include buying a new home versus a used home. Figure out if you want a large home with a yard or a small apartment in a quiet neighborhood.
If you dont have a realtor you will have to do some searching on your own. This could include using search engines to look for open houses.Driving around a neighborhood or town where you want to live is also a good way to find out what houses are for sale.
Sign Paperwork and Lock Down Rates
After you get approved and after you find a house this means a lot of signing paperwork. Look at what each place needs before you go and sign papers. You will need to bring different forms of identification and maybe some past bills for proof of residency and payment.
Having your information ready to go shows that you are on top of everything and this will help speed the process up and help you lock down low rates on mortgage payments. nbsp;
Buying a house is a lot of work and will not happen overnight. Start making some small changes in your life and start saving for your first home. Soon you will make your dream of being a proud homeowner a reality.
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Private Lending During the Coronavirus
Varying government agencies have taken similar steps to those during 1918s pandemic to quell the spread of the coronavirus; isolation, quarantine, use of disinfectants, and limitations of public gatherings. These measures seem to be the fastest way to rid the general population of this kind of virus. During these times, the economic effects are dramatic.
An article by Thomas Garrett, Assistant Vice President and Economist for the Federal Bank of St. Louis, written in 2007 examining the economic effects of the 1918 influenza pandemic, indicated an eerie parallel to todays world. Merchants in Little Rock stated their business had declined 40. Others estimated a decrease of 70. The only business in which there had been an increase in activity was the drug store.
One difference in the two pandemics seems to be that the one in 1918 was reactive, whereas the current one appears to be proactive. In 1918, not only were businesses hit hard by the isolations/quarantines of people, thus, few people to enter an establishment to conduct business, but the number of workers affected with the illness were tremendous; thus, the labor force and the income derived by them had decreased substantially. The current pandemic has, potentially, some advantages over the 1918 pandemic; countries around the world have taken the above mentioned steps in the early stages of todays pandemic. With todays internet, not available in 1918, many workers can work at home. Companies such as Amazon still make home and office deliveries. The proactive measures that the world is taking will, hopefully, curtail the coronavirus so that it is short lived and we all can get back to a >
Garrett points out that most of the evidence indicates that the economic effects of the 1918 influenza pandemic were short-term. Many businesses, especially those in the service and entertainment industries, suffered double-digit losses in revenue. Other businesses that specialized in health care products experienced an increase in revenues. Some academic research suggests that the 1918 influenza pandemic caused a shortage of labor that resulted in higher wages at least temporarily for workers.
How does this affect the private lending sector? In early February 2020, prior to the US Government implemented guidelines of ways to help eradicate the virus such as no public gatherings of more than 250 [since lowered to 100 and in some cases, 10], there was an ample supply of money flowing into private lending. In addition, the capital markets were healthy and hungry looking to place money in loans. The stock market was at an all time high of over 29,500. By March 20, 2020, the stock market dipped below 19,000, a loss of more than 35. Investors, as well as bankers, pulled back their appetite to place funds, as fear and concern pushed these would be providers of capital to sit on the sidelines, as most tumultuous markets make investors anemic.
In addition, although Federal Funds Rates are at near zero, many large banks have, for the most part, stopped accepting loan applications. Most banks will honor their commitments to fund loans that were already approved, but, until things settle down, they do not want to take what they consider, undue risk.nbsp;
The capital markets [those buying loans] have all but dried up. They did not slow down. They just stopped altogether.at least for now.
Private lenders are lowering LTVs and charging higher points and interest as the supply of money has shrunk. Private lending companies derive most of their capital from individual investors. Many of these investors are skittish during uncertain times. When the supply of money seemed to be endless, especially in California, rates and points charged were at historic lows [in the private lending community]. The demand for loans, however, has not been dramatically affected yet. The reason for this is that the supply of money provided by conventional lenders has diminished. Since conventional lending makes up the majority of capital available to lend, this factor has more than made up for the slower demand of loans needed. Although some borrowers have cancelled their applications for loans due to uncertainty, there always seems to be a need to serve the borrowing community. People still move, loans come due, refinances as rates drop still occur and these loan requests need a home.nbsp;
Individual investors are demanding an increase in yield even at historically low rates. This could be due to these investors attempting to take advantage of the low supply of money available for loans. It also could be that these investors remember when they were able to command a higher yield during uncertain times such as the Great Recession starting just 12 years earlier; however, the predominant reason is most likely due to the unknown of how this virus will play out in the real estate market in an almost certain recession that will occur. These investors will demand a lower loan to value on the loans they are making in addition to a higher interest rate. Private lending companies that previously sold to the capital markets will also have to pay their investors a higher rate to attract money; thus, they will have to charge the borrower a higher rate. They will most likely also increase their spread at what they charge the borrowers as compared to what they pay their investors. Quality loans will be in demand for these companies. Loans that may have been marginal from a risk/reward standpoint just a few months ago will be turned down by many lenders.
If Garrett is right about a short lived economic impact due to a pandemic, there is a window of opportunity for those investors willing to lend. Due diligence will be very important, and investors should not presume that a recession is not prolonged. Conservative underwriting will be the law of the land and lower loan to values will be the benchmark. As one private lending company pointed out, there is always money to be made in real estate; one just needs to be prudent. So far, the number of illnesses and deaths worldwide have been >
Edwardnbsp;Brownnbsp;is in the Investor >
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March Real Estate Roundup
Freddie Macs results of its Primary Mortgage Market Survey shows that "The Federal Reserves swift and significant efforts to stabilize the market were much needed and helped mortgage rates drop for the first time in three weeks. Similar to other segments of the economy, real estate demand is softening. However, the combination of the Feds actions and pending economic stimulus will provide substantial support to the mortgage markets."
30-year fixed-rate mortgage FRM averaged 3.5 percent with an average 0.7 points for the week ending March 26, 2020, down from last month when it averaged 3.51 percent. A year ago, at this time, the 30-year FRM averaged 4.06 percent.
15-year FRM this week averaged 2.92 percent with an average 0.6 points, down from last month when it also averaged 3.00 percent. A year ago, at this time, the 15-year FRM averaged 3.57 percent.
5-year Treasury-indexed hybrid adjustable-rate mortgage ARM averaged 3.34 percent this week with an average 0.3 points, up from last month when it averaged 3.24 percent. A year ago, at this time, the 5-year ARM averaged 3.75 percent.
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How to Buy a House Right Now
These are uncertain times, to be sure. But those same low rates that are driving refis are also attracting homebuyers. The 30-year fixed mortgage rate hovers above 3 percent, the lowest that it has been in nearly 50 years, Andrina Valdes, executive sales leader and CEO ofnbsp;Cornerstone Home Lending, Inc., told Apartment Therapy. The lower the mortgage rate, the lower a monthly mortgage payment is likely to be. So, anyone whos on the fence and thinking about buying a home could really benefit right now by purchasing at a record-low rate.
The truth is, there are still homes on the market. There are still people who need to sell. And there are still people who need or want to buy. If youre one of them, youre probably wondering how to go about it. iBuyers have largely shut down enti>
So how can you buy something you cant see? Its time for technology to take over. This time the use of technology may have a significant part to play in how the housing market can try and continue in a normal fashion, said Bindi Norwell, chief executive of thenbsp;Real Estate Institute of New Zealand on One Roof.
That means that your house tour will probably be virtual. Agents are embracing the tech available to them to bring homes to buyers since they cant bring buyers to homes.nbsp;nbsp;
As an alternative to in-person viewings, some agents are turning to tech, offering buyers virtual tours, said the New York Times. The NYC-based Ideal Properties Group launched a virtual listing viewer called Showings on Demand.nbsp;
Individual real estate agents have followed suit. Kendyl Young, Broker/Owner at Glendalenbsp;DIGGS, just held a Facebook Live Open House for her new restored Post and Beam, mid-century modern listing near Brand Park in Glendale, with plans to do more. Ill show you around the space and take your direction, she said on Facebook. Want me to show you a particular room? I will. Missed the part where I showed off the family room? Tell meIll go back. A close up of the super cool family room fireplace wall? Illnbsp;get closer. You are the PUPPET MASTER and I am at your direction.
Its all part of being able to adapt to clients needs during this time.nbsp;
Buying a home will always be a very human experience, but we need to adapt to this crisis, she told us. Physical showings are not safe, and we can marry technologies like 3-D scans, Webb meetings, and video conferencing to provide a pretty reasonable virtual experience. We must find ways to serve our clients while staying safe.nbsp;
Elle Jones of Keller Williams Harma Real Estate team is showing her new San Fernando Valley, CA listing, among others, via FaceTime. If youd like to view a house, Im happy to go by and do a FaceTime walk through for you, she posted on Facebook. If youd like to see my Newlisting in ShermanOaksnbsp;even better Lets get through this together
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Four HOA Reserve Fund Investment Hurdles
Hurdle 1: Failure to use the Reserve Study or not having one in the first place. Homeowner association boards have the duty to conduct long range planning to identify common elements, their current condition, their useful lives and current cost of repair or replacement. This exercise is called a Reserve Study. Some boards believe that a reserve study provides little benefit except to point out the obvious.
These same boards either elect not to pay the cost of one or put the one they have in a file to gather dust. Both approaches are foolish because without a clear road map to follow, the board is bound to get lost in the maze. Properly funding reserves for the standard 30 year projection period could amount to many hundreds of thousands of dollars. Larger HOAs with extensive common elements should reserve millions.
Failure to fund reserves adequately results in unfair and sometimes uncollectible special assessments. Prudent investment of reserve funds could partially offset member contributions and reduce the risk of special assessments.
Hurdle 2: Failure to understand investment choices. Some boards are under the impression that FDIC insured money market accounts or CDs are the only alternatives for reserve fund investments. There are a number of alternatives. State laws vary but in Oregon, for example, HOAs are limited to direct investment in issues of the federal Government and/or FDIC bank accounts or CDs. HOAs are not permitted to invest in municipalities, mutual funds or indirect investments investments to which the investor does not directly hold title, such as mutual funds, limited partnerships and Real Estate Investment Trusts. Non-FDIC insured money market accounts are not to be used for homeowner association reserve investments by law. This creates an opportunity to invest in longer term federal bonds. As of the writing of this article, the going rate of a10 year government bond is around 2.91compared with bank checking accounts that average around 0.5. This increased yield could go a long way to reducing the need for a special assessment. The challenge with investing in 10 year bonds is determining how much should be invested in them. Fortunately, the Reserve Study is very useful in determining the short and long term reserve cash needs.
Hurdle 3: Failure to utilize the Reserve Study when selecting investments. The first step in considering higher yielding investment opportunities is to put that Reserve Study to work. The Reserve Study can be used to match the repair schedule with the investments. This allows combining shorter term/lower yield CDs with longer term/higher yield Treasury Bills. This type of investment strategy is called a Duration Study. Even though a Duration Study costs money to perform, the extra interest return that can be earned by matching the investment duration to your specific HOA is well worth it. Duration studies and the investment mix need to be redone every time a Reserve Study is updated.
Hurdle 4: Not hiring a fiduciary. Regardless of how the board chooses to invest the HOAs Reserve Funds, time, expertise and professional ability are needed to manage them properly. It is in the boards interest to find someone that has the HOAs well being at heart, such as an investment advisory company that is a fiduciary to the board. By better managing your reserve funds, you avoid the hurdles described and improve reserve investment yields. Leave the hurdling to the track stars. Use a trained financial consultant to optimize your reserve fund investments.
For more innovative homeowner association management strategies, see Regenesis.net.
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Cabinet Styles Perfect for Different Types of Kitchen
The kitchen is the heart of the home. This place is one of the most favorite places of moms, and for them, it is important to maximize the kitchen space so as to represent their personality and to serve their culinary needs efficiently.nbsp;
Whether the space is big or small, there are definitely plenty of ways to spice up the kitchen and do all their duties without the hassle With that, it is important to select a suitable type of furniture for your kitchen.nbsp;
So, without further ado, lets take a look at the list of cabinets recommended for the various types of kitchen:
Shaker cabinets are recommended for kitchens that are square and quite smaller in size. It is known for its simplicity with its basic hardware and recessed panel doors positioned like a frame. The material for most shaker cabinets are made from hardwood and are painted with a distressed finish for a traditional vintage look.nbsp;
Inset cabinets are composed of an inset->
Flat-panel cabinets are best for people who prefer a minimalist kitchen design. These cabinets make use of hard lines and are frameless in structure. This type of design fits most modern kitchens, especially white ones. This is also preferable for kitchens with smaller spaces as they are built in a simple but stylish way.
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Louvered kitchen cabinets are usually made up of wooden horizontal slats. This is commonly used for windows and laundry areas but is now being adapted into kitchen cabinet designs as it offers enough ventilation for utensils and items being stored in a cabinet. This type of design is most suitable for kitchens with large spaces for a more stylish look.nbsp;
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For home-owners that are unsure of what type of cabinets suit their kitchen, there is always an option to have them customized. You may contact local interior designers or anbsp; craftsperson to help you ideate and implement the design suitable for your taste, kitchen space, budget, and overall home design.nbsp;
Choosing a type of cabinet for your kitchen is highly dependent on the size of your kitchen, home design, and your spending budget. Other factors to consider would be the durability and material of your cabinets.nbsp;
While it may seem to be a less priority, taking time to think about your kitchen cabinet designs will su>
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Top Tips for Working From Home
But working from home takes a certain kind of discipline. And flexibility. And finesse. Especially if your spouse is also working from home and your kids are out of school. If youre new to this, we have a few tips that will help it go smoothly.nbsp;
Eat and drinkthe right stuff at the right time
Its easy to get caught up in work and forget to eat or get enough water during the day. Its also easy to take too many trips to the kitchen for snacks, and, before you know it, your healthy habits are going down in a hail of potato chips. Stocking up on healthy food and limiting the high-fat, high-sugar, high-calorie snack foods can help you resist temptation.
Build in exercise
Working from home means youre out of your regular pattern, which means youre not getting to the gym. You may also find yourself sitting for longer periods while at home without the normal daily office realities of meetings and trekking to different parts of your workplace. There are tons of ways to get in a workout from homeespecially now, since a number of gyms and fitness experts have put their workouts online. Many of them are also free.nbsp;
Entrepreneur suggests you take walking meetings when you can.nbsp;If you have a phone call that you dont need to be in front of a computer to take, pick up your Bluetooth headphones and getnbsp;outside. Its great for your muscles, your heart, your happinessnbsp;and your overall well-being.nbsp;
Be one with the mute button
It might be cute one time to hear the dog or kids in the background, but you dont want to make a habit of it, especially if youre in for a prolonged working-from-home situation. Even small noises that you think nothing of, like ruffling papers, can be amplified over a cell phone. Get used to hitting mute when youre on calls from home to eliminate the background noise and you wont have to worry about your three-year-old announcing she just went pee-pee in the potty while youre on a call with your boss and 10 other executives.nbsp;
Designate a work-only space
This may be easier said than done. In some homes, there just isnt a dedicated home office or even a bedroom with a door you can close. You may find yourself having to work at the kitchen table or in the backyard just to get a little privacy. If you can, however, find a private space you can make your own while youre working from home. It can increase productivity and also allow you to separate work from life so, when you shut the door at the end of the day, you can be present for your family.
Get dressed in the morning
Or dont. Its totally up to you. Many people who work from home feel it makes them more productive if they get up, take a shower, and change into work-appropriate clothes. Others think working in their jammies is the best thing ever We tend to agree. The trick to successfully working from home is figuring out what works for you.
Make a schedule
Set a schedule, and stick to it...most of the time, said PCMag. Having clear guidelines for when to work and when to call it a day helps many remote workers maintain work-life balance. That said, one of the benefits of remote work is flexibility, and sometimes you need to extend your day or start early to accommodate someone elses time zone. When you do, be sure to wrap up earlier than usual or sleep in a bit the next morning to make up for it. Automatic time-tracking apps, such asnbsp;RescueTime, let you check in on whether youre sticking to your schedule. They can also help you figure out what times of day youre most productive versus when you slack off. You can use that information to your advantage by reserving your hours of high focus for your most important tasks.
Give yourself a break
Set an alarm to get up once an hour, stretch, and walk around the house for a few minutes. Know your companys policy on break times and take them. If youre self-employed, give yourself adequate time during the day to walk away from the computer screen and phone, said Buzzfeed.
Be social
Working from home can feel isolating, especially if you get energy from your regular workspace and colleagues. One undeniable loss is the social, casual water cooler conversation that connects us to people, said NPR. To fill the gap, some co-workers are scheduling online social time to have conversations with no agenda. Use Slack chats and things like that if you miss real-time interaction.
Inc. has a few good ideas for how to be social during your break time. Walk around your home while chatting on the phone with a friend. Move to a separate areaaway from your emailto eat lunch for 30 minutes. Breaking up the day and moving your body enables you to refresh and can increase your productivity when you return to your work. When the weather is nice, I like to do conference calls while taking a walk outside.
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