Funding Your Project With A Home Equity Mortgage

Funding Your Project Mortgage or Line of Credit

Whether you’ve lived in your home for decades or are just about to start your journey as a homeowner, the idea of customizing your home to fit your style and preferences, as well as necessary repairs to aging homes, can be both exciting and daunting. The exciting part comes without question, but the daunting components often revolve around money.

In addition to paying $9,000 in unavoidable costs and basic maintenance associated with homeownership every year, the typical U.S. homeowner dishes out an additional $3,021 per year on home improvements, according to the Zillow Group Consumer Housing Trends Report 2017.

And wanting to make some updates around the house isn’t uncommon: 77 percent of homeowners think their home could use some sprucing up. Most notably, they are interested in painting the inside of their home (25 percent), improving a bathroom (22 percent), landscaping (21 percent) and replacing the flooring (21 percent).

If you’re wondering how to fund your own home improvements, you’re not alone. Nearly half of homeowners who plan to make improvements struggle with how they’ll pay for them. While most homeowners pay for improvements with either cash or debit (57 percent) or with a credit card they pay off immediately (27 percent), others get creative in order to gather up enough money to create their dream homes. Here’s a look at some of those ways, which might help you build your dream home, too.

1. Refinance Your Mortgage

Refinancing your home is one way you can stash away extra cash every month to pay for home renovations. Depending on your current interest rate, you might be able to refinance at a lower interest rate and/or for a longer loan term, which would lower your monthly mortgage payment. So, you could set aside the difference until you’re ready to jump into renovations.

If you have enough equity in your home, an even faster way to get your refinance to pay for your next big project is with a cash-out refinance. Going this route, you refinance your existing loan for a new loan with an amount that’s higher than the amount you owe. That way, you pay off your original mortgage and have cash left over to remodel your home to your heart’s content.

It’s a big decision to refinance your mortgage, and of course you’ll want to consider the cost of the refinance to see if it’s worth it in the long run. To help decide if refinancing is right for you, try our refinance calculator to estimate your savings, and then check the latest refinance rates from multiple lenders, anonymously.

2. Get a Home Equity Line of Credit (HELOC)

If you already have a low rate on your first mortgage, or you’ve already paid off your loan, refinancing may not make sense for you. However, a HELOC is an option to tap into your equity to pay for a home renovation without refinancing. It works a lot like a credit card in the sense that it has a set limit that you can borrow against. However, since the loan is secured by your home, you’ll get a much lower interest rate than a credit card. A HELOC is typically an adjustable rate loan but will allow for fixed-rate advance options if you prefer the stability of a rate that won’t change.

One of the biggest benefits to HELOCs in the past has been that the interest paid on the HELOC is tax deductible up to $100,000. However, under the recently passed tax law, interest free HELOCs come with a few stipulations, with the most notable circumstance being that the money is used to pay for home improvements. And that’s good news for you if you’re planning on using this money to pay for your next home improvement project.

3. Take Out a Home Equity Loan

home equity loan is another option for homeowners to tap into their equity to pay for renovations without refinancing their entire mortgage. Unlike a HELOC, which is a line of credit that you can borrow against as needed, this type of loan requires you to take out all the cash at one time. But since it is a fixed rate loan, the interest rate on a home equity loan is typically higher than an adjustable rate of a HELOC. Home equity loans are also commonly called “second mortgages” because many homeowners get them in addition to their first mortgage. However, you don’t need a first mortgage to get a home equity loan.

It can be a tough choice to decide whether a home equity loan, cash-out refinance, or HELOC is best for you. As with any new loan, consult with a lender to see which one makes the most sense for you.

 

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Storms & Rebuilding your Roof | Dealing with Roofers

After the large storms – homeowners still have contractors from all over the country knocking on their doors. While news sources and online experts warn against hiring contractors from outside Minnesota, some homeowners still don’t take the time to fully vet where their contractors are from. Or worse, they may fall for discounting practices, thinking the lower price justifies a hasty decision. Here are four reasons why taking 20 minutes to investigate your roofing contractor and choosing a local company such as Trinity Exteriors will save you money and headaches in the long run.

  1. Local Contractors Have Better Supplier/Crew Relationships

Over the years it takes to build a local business, local contractors have formed strong bonds with their suppliers, and better systems for easing the hassles associated with renovation projects. Local contractors know which supplier’s quality materials from have trusted manufacturers and can secure the materials on-time for homeowners.

  1. Local Contractors Are Members of Your CommunityRoof Contractor

Local contractors rely upon homeowners in their service area for reviews and referrals, and bad word of mouth can completely put them out of business. Contractors setting up temporary shop for the season don’t feel this pressure to exceed client expectations, because they may not be up here in Montana for a few years.

  1. Support the Local Economy

According to a Chicago study for every $100 spent at a local business, $68 remain in the community, versus only $43 for larger companies with many locations. Not only does this benefit the community, but local businesses often give back to residents through volunteering and sponsorship.

  1. Local Companies Honor Repairs & Warranties

One of the most important reasons to hire a local siding contractor is their ability for ongoing repairs and warranties. It often happens we hear of roofing contractors in Kansas or Texas who were in the Twin Cities for one summer of storms so when their homeowners start having trouble with their roofs, the contractors can’t make the 8- to 12-hour drive for a 30-minute repair. we consistently take care of previous customer repairs and honors their workmanship warranties.

Kidness

One thing people today overlook far too much is the simple yet effective act of kindness.  In this cold new world overtaken by selfishness and greed is a desperate need for those little acts of care.  Just a helping hand or a quick show of compassion can turn another person’s day completely around.

Sometimes even a friendly smile can save a life.  People often forget others and become very engrossed in their own problems.  This leads to a negative downward spiral and a chain reaction of selfishness.  A generation of selfish people is the last thing we need today. Imagine if everybody was willing to be kind and compassionate to each other.  If it was not forced, but a habit.  This would change the world.

Everyone has experienced difficult times at one time or another when things were not going well and needed an act of kindness to brighten up their day. If it wasn’t for that one person, that one act of kindness, they might not have the life they have today.  Remember how effective just the smallest act of kindness can be.  Know that you can do this for others.  In the long run, you may not be just helping one person but multiple people.  Kindness is like the spark from a match that creates a forest fire. The forest is a forest of anger, selfishness, and cruelty.  Kindness can burn through all of those things.

It’s very important for people to remember that anger is powerful.  So is selfishness along with cruelty.  However, kindness overpowers all.  You may think your kindness makes a difference for other people only, but it doesn’t.  What comes around goes around, and your act will be returned.  Your most important reward is knowing how much you just helped someone in need.  You feel satisfaction knowing that you might have saved someone’s day, week, or even life.  What you have really been given is the most precious gift you can receive, the gift of kindness. Everyone is capable of being kind.  Everyone can help.  The real question is, why don’t we? This should not be a question.  Kindness should come automatically.  It should be common rather than a rarity.  We can make this happen and do something kind today.

“No matter how small, an act of kindness never goes unnoticed.”

Deterring Illegal Immigration by Separating Parents and Children

What does fear accomplish?

It’s a question the Trump administration appears to be trying to answer, whether intentionally or not, as it cracks down on illegal immigration.

Just last week, The Washington Post reported that the administration is considering separating parents from their children if they’re caught crossing the border illegally. If implemented, the policy would mark a shift from current policy, which keeps families together. The move has received pushback from immigrant groups who argue it’s cruel, but administration officials see it as a way to discourage Central American migrants from making the journey to the United States following an uptick in family units and unaccompanied children caught at the border. Even if the policy successfully deters economic migrants however, immigrant advocates warn that it will punish the most desperate immigrants—those fleeing violence or persecution—without dissuading them.

How many people are being arrested?

The number of apprehensions at the U.S.-Mexico border dropped at the start of the Trump presidency, but has since begun to creep up again, according to Customs and Border Protection figures. In March, the Department of Homeland Security reported a 40 percent decline in apprehensions from January to February. Indeed, it appeared the mood had shifted in Central America as Trump took office. In speaking with migrants, advocates, and workers at shelters in the U.S. and Mexico, The New York Times found that people were less likely to make the journey north.

In March, then-Department of Homeland Security Secretary John Kelly attributed the drop in border crossings to the new policies rolled out under President Trump. “Since the Administration’s implementation of Executive Orders to enforce immigration laws, apprehensions and inadmissible activity is trending toward the lowest monthly total in at least the last five years,” Kelly said in a statement. Then, in November, U.S. agents caught 7,018 families, an increase from 4,839 the month before, according to CBP. The number of apprehensions of unaccompanied children also increased.

DACA

The uncertainty surrounding DACA raised concerns about the 800,000 young immigrants who face deportation if Congress can’t reach a bipartisan deal and the program disappears.

Attorneys working to prevent deportations

“The backlog in the immigration system is tremendous,” former Mexican foreign minister Jorge Castañeda, a group member and New York University professor, told the Journal. Lawyers deployed to deportation cases could double or triple the existing backlog of cases “until Trump desists in this stupid idea,” he said.

The idea puts a spotlight on an immigration court system which, unlike the US criminal system, has no constitutionally guaranteed right to an attorney. According to a September study by the American Immigration Council, only 37 percent of people facing deportation nationwide – and just 21 percent of Mexicans – have legal representation.

Home’s Universal Designs

Imagine building a house when you’re young that you can live in as you age: wide doorways can accommodate both a stroller and a wheelchair; towel racks in the kitchen double as grab bars as balance grows unsteady; and entryways are smooth to prevent tripping. Builders incorporate these concepts of universal design to create homes that are barrier-free without looking purposely modified.universal kitchen designsign of products and environments to be usable by all people, to the greatest extent possible, without the need for adaptation or specialized design.

Universal design is related to aging-in-place remodeling and a Certified Aging-in-Place Specialist (CAPS) can help you remodel your home using universal design concepts. The NAHB Remodelers in collaboration with Home Innovation Research Labs, NAHB 50+ Housing Council and AARP developed the CAPS program to address the growing number of consumers that will soon require these modifications. While most CAPS professionals are remodelers, an increasing number are general contractors, designers, architects, and health care consultants.

To find a CAPS remodeler in your area visit nahb.org/capsdirectory.

Everyone can use universal design! It doesn’t matter if you are young or old. You could be short or tall, healthy or ill. You might have a disability. Or you may be a prize-winning athlete. Because of universal design, people who are very different can all enjoy the same home. And that home will be there for all its inhabitants even when their needs change.

Here are some of the more common universal design features that are also incorporated into aging-in-place remodels:

  • No-step entry. No one needs to use stairs to get into a universal home or into the home’s main rooms.
  • One-story living. Places to eat, use the bathroom and sleep are all located on one level, which is barrier-free.
  • Wide doorways. Doorways that are 32-36 inches wide let wheelchairs pass through. They also make it easy to move big things in and out of the house.
  • Wide hallways. Hallways should be 36-42 inches wide. That way, everyone and everything moves more easily from room to room.
  • Extra floor space. Everyone feel less cramped. And people in wheelchairs have more space to turn.

Some universal design features just make good sense. Once you bring them into your home, you’ll wonder how you ever lived without them. For example:

  • Floors and bathtubs with non-slip surfaces help everyone stay on their feet. They’re not just for people who are frail. The same goes for handrails on steps and grab bars in bathrooms.
  • Thresholds that are flush with the floor make it easy for a wheelchair to get through a doorway. They also keep others from tripping.
  • Good lighting helps people with poor vision. And it helps everyone else see better, too.
  • Lever door handles and rocker light switches are great for people with poor hand strength. But others like them too. Try using these devices when your arms are full of packages. You’ll never go back to knobs or standard switches.
  • Cleaning and maintenanceit makes sense to create this type of building construction also, it makes the cleaning easier

Divorce? Why

The legal dissolution of marriage is something that has existed all over the world and for many years, although in recent years, divorce has become a much more common phenomenon that it used to be. The causes and consequences of this, and divorce in general, are numerous and varied, usually according to factors like region and demography, among many others. Accordingly, there exist a myriad of topics for you to explore when you are deciding your on divorce. Keep reading for ideas on how to approach your statement.

Divorce?

If you are writing a paper on divorce, you probably already know this, but let’s review the facts. A divorce is defined as the legal separation of a married couple. Typically, the couple agrees about getting a divorce, but in reality, most of the time this is unlikely to be the case. The possible reasons for a person wanting to divorce their spouse are, in a sense, endless. The dynamics of every relationship are unique, but of course, similarities exist everywhere. So which reasons for divorce can you look to in formulating your thesis statement on divorce? Let’s have a look at some of the most common causes of divorce.

What Causes of Divorce

Contrary to popular belief, infidelity (romantic or sexual) ranks relatively low in the reasons for couples getting divorced. You are free to choose this topic, of course, but take a moment to consider the other causes which rank much higher and can make for a more accessible thesis statement. Some of these are lack of communication, lack of personal space, differing goals, lack of intimacy, an inability to adequately address problems, and finally, a common top culprit, financial issues. We will have a brief look at each of these in turn.

Universal Designs

Beginning the Academic Essay

Beginning the Academic Essay – Explantion

The writer of the academic essay aims to persuade readers of an idea based on evidence. The beginning of the essay is a crucial first step in this process. To engage readers and establish your authority, the beginning of your essay must accomplish certain business. Your beginning should introduce the essay, focus it, and orient readers.

Essay – The beginning lets your readers know what the essay is about, the topic. The essay’s topic does not exist in a vacuum, however; part of letting readers know what your essay is about means establishing the essay’s context, the frame within which you will approach your topic. For instance, in an essay about the First Amendment guarantee of freedom of speech, the context may be a particular legal theory about the speech right; it may be historical information concerning the writing of the amendment; it may be a contemporary dispute over flag burning; or it may be a question raised by the text itself. The point here is that, in establishing the essay’s context, you are also limiting your topic. That is, you are framing an approach to your topic that necessarily eliminates other approaches. Thus, when you determine your context, you simultaneously narrow your topic and take a big step toward focusing your essay. Here’s an example.

When Kate Chopin’s novel The Awakening was published in 1899, critics condemned the book as immoral. One typical critic, writing in the Providence Journal, feared that the novel might “fall into the hands of youth, leading them to dwell on things that only matured persons can understand, and promoting unholy imaginations and unclean desires” (150). A reviewer in the St. Louis Post- Dispatch wrote that “there is much that is very improper in it, not to say positively unseemly.”

The paragraph goes on. But as you can see, Chopin’s novel (the topic) is introduced in the context of the critical and moral controversy its publication engendered.

Focus – Beyond introducing your topic, your beginning must also let readers know what the central issue is. What question or problem will you be thinking about? You can pose a question that will lead to your idea (in which case, your idea will be the answer to your question), or you can make a thesis statement. Or you can do both: you can ask a question and immediately suggest the answer that your essay will argue. Here’s an example from an essay about Memorial Hall.

Further analysis of Memorial Hall, and of the archival sources that describe the process of building it, suggests that the past may not be the central subject of the hall but only a medium. What message, then, does the building convey, and why are the fallen soldiers of such importance to the alumni who built it? Part of the answer, it seems, is that Memorial Hall is an educational tool, an attempt by the Harvard community of the 1870s to influence the future by shaping our memory of their times. The commemoration of those students and graduates who died for the Union during the Civil War is one aspect of this alumni message to the future, but it may not be the central idea.

The fullness of your idea will not emerge until your conclusion, but your beginning must clearly indicate the direction your idea will take, must set your essay on that road. And whether you focus your essay by posing a question, stating a thesis, or combining these approaches, by the end of your beginning, readers should know what you’re writing about, and why—and why they might want to read on.

Readers– Orienting readers, locating them in your discussion, means providing information and explanations wherever necessary for your readers’ understanding. Orienting is important throughout your essay, but it is crucial in the beginning. Readers who don’t have the information they need to follow your discussion will get lost and quit reading. (Your teachers, of course, will trudge on.) Supplying the necessary information to orient your readers may be as simple as answering the journalist’s questions of who, what, where, when, how, and why. It may mean providing a brief overview of events or a summary of the text you’ll be analyzing. If the source text is brief, such as the First Amendment, you might just quote it. If the text is well known, your summary, for most audiences, won’t need to be more than an identifying phrase or two:

In Romeo and Juliet, Shakespeare’s tragedy of `star-crossed lovers destroyed by the blood feud between their two families, the minor characters . . .

Often, however, you will want to summarize your source more fully so that readers can follow your analysis of it.

Questions of Length and Order. How long should the beginning be? The length should be proportionate to the length and complexity of the whole essay. For instance, if you’re writing a five-page essay analyzing a single text, your beginning should be brief, no more than one or two paragraphs. On the other hand, it may take a couple of pages to set up a ten-page essay.

Does the business of the beginning have to be addressed in a order? No, but the order should be logical. Usually, for instance, the question or statement that focuses the essay comes at the end of the beginning, where it serves as the jumping-off point for the middle, or main body, of the essay. Topic and context are often intertwined, but the context may be established before the topic is introduced. In other words, the order in which you accomplish the business of the beginning is flexible and should be determined by your purpose.

 

Friendly design

Landscapes Accessibility for All

Accessibility is an increasingly important consideration in the construction process today.

It’s not just about the handicap ramp leading up to a building’s main entrance. Accessibility also includes wider doors (some that even open automatically) to accommodate wheelchairs, open thoroughfares throughout a building, support bars in bathrooms and hallways, and even light switches and power outlets that anyone can easily reach.

But the need for accessibility isn’t confined to inside the walls of the home. Disabled people deserve to enjoy the outdoors just as much as their non-disabled counterparts, which is why it’s important to create an accessible landscape as well!

If you’re thinking, “Hey, I don’t know anybody in a wheelchair!” — well, then you’re clearly a wizard.

You never know when you’ll break a leg. Someone could get pregnant. (It happens!) You never know when you’ll have a parent — or even a child — in a wheelchair. There are also considerations to be made for visually impaired people and a wide range of other differing abilities.

Whether you’re making landscape adjustments to accommodate a loved one, or just taking precautions for the future, here are five ideas on how to make your outdoor living space more accessible to all.

Accessible Landscaping Tip: Maintain Level Ground
Proper grading is the foundation for every accessible landscape.

Flat, level ground is easier to traverse, and, well, if you’ve ever had to push a wheelchair up a hill…

Friendly designAccessible Landscaping Tip: Incorporate Smooth Surfaces
If you want all parts of your outdoor living space to be accessible, you’ll want to pave a way among each individual area.

And if you’re creating an accessible landscape for the blind or visually impaired, varying the types of pavers you use within different areas can be a great way to signify a change in the environment. (Maybe smooth brick pavers on the patio, natural stone pavers on paths and stamped cement on the pool deck?)

Accessible Landscaping Tips

Accessible Landscaping Tip: Give Yourself Wide Berth
There are no narrow pathways in an accessible landscape! Think of accessibility as your excuse to create majestically wide paved pathways and give everyone plenty of room to move among the tables, chairs and other items on your patio.

(Building an outdoor kitchen with a belly-up bar? Don’t forget to include a counter with a lower height — toasts aren’t as fun when you can’t include everyone.)

Accessible Landscaping Tip #4: Use Walls to Create Boundaries
Just as it’s important to provide handholds inside the home to provide extra support, retaining walls and other surfaces of various heights can be helpful in an accessible landscape.

Besides, walls can also double as seating areas and visually separate your outdoor areas to create outdoor “rooms” with different functions.

Accessible Landscaping Tip #5: Don’t Forget the Pool
Swimming pools can be great for rehabilitative exercise as well as fun and relaxation for everyone. If you’re building a new backyard swimming pool — or retrofitting an existing poolto be more accessible — consider adding a sloped beach entry instead of steps to make it easier for everyone to get into the pool.

And it’s even more important to have a sturdy, reliable cover to protect everyone.

Water Structures Designs

Make Your Home Stand Out With A Landscape Water Structure

There’s a lot of ways that you can make your home stand out. However, nothing does the trick quite like landscaping. You may think about a new paint job, and much more for the exterior, but the yard and land you have can look amazing if you just apply a little bit of landscaping to it. Hiring a pro can be a helpful plan, but overall, you should go beyond just the green and colors of flowers and grass. Think bigger, like that of adding a landscape water structure. That’s right, landscape water structures can make your home look amazing, and can give you a bit of peace and tranquility whenever you’re out in your yard, etc. Never thought about this before? Well consider a few notes on why you may want to look into this option and get a pro to handle the plumbing etc.

Water structure

Water structure

The Peace of Water Structures

The first thing to consider is the peace that comes with water structures. When you have running water and rock structures around your landscaping, you will be able to sit in your yard and just enjoy the sights and sounds. There’s something peaceful about this that goes beyond words, and you’ll find that when you hire someone to help you get this going, you’ll be able to enjoy your yard in a whole new way. It’s a perfect union of sight, sound, and technology, that’s for sure.

Adding Value To Your Home

Perhaps one of the biggest reasons why people pursue landscaping structures for their home is because it helps with increasing the value of their home. That’s right, you could very well end up with a home that jumps in value with just a simple installation. This is something that most people don’t really consider at first glance, but the more you look into it, the more you’ll find that this is a favorable option to consider. Whether you go simple or you want something elaborate, you’ll find something grand that comes with this for the value of your home today and in the future.

Piping and Plumbing Issues

Before you can start breaking ground for any structure, you’ll need to first consider the construction phase. This isn’t as fun as the final production, but you’ll need to consider this. You may not have pipes or plumbing in the area that you want your landscaping to get placed in. To ensure that you have the right elements, you’ll need to call in a professional. A professional can help with the installation of piping and connections to the water supply so that you are able to have free standing, free flowing water, clean sewer and even a pump etc. Learn more

Do not try to do this on your own. This is something that you are going to be tempted to do, especially with so many details that you can pull online about how to start with landscaping. While you can do some minor maintenance and more, you should not work with landscaping plumbing, piping, or anything extreme. Let the pros handle this project, and you’ll be able to get a stunning solution.

Setting A Budget

Before you start calling around to get a landscape structure, you should consider your budget. How much do you want to spend on a landscaping project? Also, assess the size of your yard, and what type of structure you want to put in place. You could go simple, or you could go extreme, depending on what you want overall. If you’re not sure where to start, consider putting aside a few thousand dollars just to get a few ideas going.

Once you have set a budget, you can start to gather inspiration online from different resources. Look up landscape structures and you’ll find that there are some amazing things that you can do for your home’s yard. Whether you want something very simple, or something complex, you could easily push through a variety of options. Not everything is going to be inexpensive, or possible, but you may get an idea as to what you can do with the space you have.

Don’t Rush Into Anything

As you look around for inspiration, ideas, and budgeting elements, make sure to take your time. Do not rush into getting anything installed, especially when it comes to plumbing and water structures. Once the ground is dug up and you have piping installed, you cannot really go back without disrupting your yard, and adding more costs to the bill. Take your time, find something you love, and get a pro to help you get it done right.

Special Issue of ‘Disability and Rehabilitation’

Special Issue of ‘Disability and Rehabilitation’

The research team have edited a special issue of the journal Disability and Rehabilitation, on the theme of ‘universal design’. The issue features eight papers written by leading international writers from a range of disciplines, including philosophy, social policy, architecture, and sociology. The papers outline some of the key challenges relating to the development of universal design, and discuss how far it may be possible to realise its radical intent in seeking to overturn deep rooted designer conventions that rarely respond to the needs of disabled people and impaired bodies. They draw attention to the tensions between, on the one hand, the propagation of a universal design discourse that is challenging of design approaches that fail to respond to corporeal diversity, and, on the other hand, the incorporation of much universal design practice into conventional, conservative, design methodologies. Such methodologies, and their underlying epistemological bases, appear to delimit the understanding of person-hood to bodies-without-impairment, or cultural norms that define the universal subject in ways whereby disabled people are regarded as aberrations. This observation leads contributors to the special issue to interrogate how far, and in what ways, practitioners may be able to develop universal design not only as a ‘‘design strategy’’, but as a political stratagem that has the potential to transform the dominant world view of universal ablebodiedness [12,13].

To view the papers, visit: http://informahealthcare.com/toc/dre/36/16