” The Top 3 Things You Need to Know Before Financing A New Home “

There are many details you should be aware of before you finance a new home. The process is complicated and you may feel overwhelmed by everything you will need to learn. Here are three important points you should remember when getting started.

1. Become familiar with home costs: This refers to the payments you will be making on the home. The four main types of payment you should become familiar with are principal, taxes, interest and insurance. The principal when paid will lower your balance monthly. Paying the interest will go towards the fee assessed for borrowing the money. With the property, there will be taxes that are determined by the county. Finally, there is a payment for insurance, which is required when you purchase the home. In some cases, you will also be responsible for a homeowner’s association fee due monthly if your home is located in a planned unit development.
2. Research your credit history: If you want to secure the best possible mortgage you should ensure you have an excellent credit report. What are lenders looking for? They are looking for payments that are made on time and a full and strong credit history. The more credit history the better. It is suggested that before attempting to buy a home you should open new accounts months in advance. We suggest a free credit report to see where you currently stand before applying for a mortgage.
3. Learn requirements of lenders: It is important to remember that lenders will examine all facets of your life. They will need the following: your full name, address, date of birth, social security number (SSN), and age of your children if applicable. They will dig a little deeper by researching your employment history, pay stubs, tax returns, bank statements and any other legal or financial documents you may have filled out in the past. Most lenders will provide you with a list of needed paperwork before you get started. You should be prepared to follow the checklist they provide. In fact, we suggest you follow it exactly as instructed and outlined by the lender. Diverting from the requirements will only prolong the situation. If any documents need further instructions you should be able to defend any past dealings easily. Simple Home Solutions is here for you if you have any questions regarding this process. Contact us today.

” Strasburg, Fernandez on four-seam fast(ball) track “

JUPITER – The radar gun readings at Roger Dean Stadium are listed after every pitch on the scoreboard. Bench coach Rob Leary before Saturday’s Nationals-Marlins game said he’d take a peak every now and then.

The readings for Stephen Strasburg and Jose Fernandez didn’t tell Leary anything he doesn’t already know.

“You can see when the ball is coming out of someone’s hand really well,” said Leary, who is managing this weekend while Mike Redmond and a split squad are in Panama playing the Yankees. “It comes out differently when you see guys throwing that way, and Jose and a guy like a Strasburg, you can tell there’s something a little different coming out of the hand.”

 

Two of the game’s better four-seam fastballs were on display through four innings of the 2-1 Nationals’ win. Last season, Strasburg’s average velocity on four-seam, or straight, fastballs was the majors’ sixth-best at 96.06 miles per hour. Fernandez was two spots behind at 95.05 miles per hour according to PITCHf/x, a Sportvision-created tracking system that records the velocity, movement, release point, spin and pitch location of every major league offering.

Per Brooks Baseball’s PITCHF/x analysis, Fernandez threw 1,297 four-seamers, 48 percent of which he dropped in the zone. Of Strasburg’s 1,625 four-seamers, he threw 44.7 percent for strikes.

 
“They’re comparable,” said Marlins’ catcher Jarrod Saltalamacchia, who’s faced Strasburg and caught Fernandez. “I think Jose’s mechanics, as a hitter, he comes at you really hard, almost full force it seems like where Strasburg is a little more fluid and his arm is whippy.”

Velocity is a significant component, but arguably it’s not the most important. Any successful pitcher, regardless of how hard he throws, needs fastball command. Strasburg and Fernandez last season both showed great ability to move the pitch all over the strike zone.

 

In seven of the nine quadrants that comprise the zone, Fernandez last season filled seven of those with 10 percent or more of the 623 four-seamers he threw for strikes, the exceptions being glove-side up and glove-side down.

Strasburg topped the 11 percent mark of 727 four-seam strikes to six of the nine quadrants in 2013. The three boxes he missed to hit double figures was arm-side up and down, and glove-side up.

“Both are getting really good at not falling into patterns,” said Nationals’ first baseman Adam LaRoche, who totaled five plate appearances against Fernandez last season and two off Strasburg as a Brave before joining the Nationals. “You go in with a scouting report on some guys and it’s, ‘Hey, this guy stays away.’ He may show in for a ball, but he’s going to stay away and you see that in those boxes.”

Neither pitcher shied away from using four-seamers in two-strike counts. Strasburg went to it 23 percent of the time and Fernandez 22.3 percent. The swing and miss rates on the pitch virtually were the same: Fernandez’s at 7.02 percent and Strasburg at 6.95 percent. Fernandez did have the edge in whiff rate on two-strike counts, 12.8 percent to 9.6 percent.

Opponents also logged a batting average and slugging percentage off Fernandez’s four-seamer of .232 and .335, respectively. They hit .245 and slugged .394 off Strasburg’s, per Brooks Baseball.

Among other tools for measuring the effectiveness of individual pitches are linear weights. On Fangraphs, the statistic “wFB” represents total runs saved using the fastball. Fernandez’s 2013 wFB (13.9) ranked 12th, 11 spots ahead of Strasburg (6.4). Another statistic (“wFB/C”) corrects for usage and gives a value on a per 100-pitch basis. Fernandez (0.90) was 14th and Strasburg (0.62) was 23rd in that category.

Evaluating a fastball in and of itself doesn’t offer a complete portrait. As LaRoche and Marlins infielder Ed Lucas pointed out, the quality of secondary pitches directly impact the effectiveness of a fastball. Both Fernandez and Strasburg feature multiple “plus,” or above average, offerings they’ll throw anytime.

“If a guy is throwing 97, 98 but he doesn’t have a breaking ball, it’s a completely different mindset for a hitter than facing a guy who you know can throw his breaking ball for a strike,” Lucas said. “Knowing he has that other stuff in his back pocket makes whatever he’s throwing – 94, 95 – play even a little bit harder. That’s also what makes Jose special and allowed him to flourish in the second half last year, his ability to throw any pitch, any count.”

Added LaRoche: “You can throw 100 in this league and if you don’ have anything to back it up and you get guys comfortable sitting on that fastball, you’re going to get touched up a little bit. When you have to honor a couple of other pitches, that’s what makes it more difficult to be on time with the fastball.

“For starting pitchers, I’d put them both top two for the ability to rear back and let it go when they need it, and it’s not just early in the game. I don’t know that you’ll find [better]. They may go top two, top three as far as what I’ve faced.”

” Profiles in Diversity Journal Features 60 trailblazers for Black Heritage Month “

Westlake, OH, March 13, 2014 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — At the height of the Civil Rights Movement, Dr. Martin Luther King expressed to audiences that, “If you can’t fly then run, if you can’t run then walk, if you can’t walk then crawl, but whatever you do, you have to keep moving forward.”

In honor of Black Heritage month, Profiles in Diversity Journal is highlighting 60 African-Americans who have never stopped moving. These 60 trailblazers have built a legacy of leadership for future generations of African-Americans in their respective fields. Their stories show the advancements made by people of color since the very day Dr. King uttered his call to action.

“You’ll learn how these accomplished professionals give back to their communities and pass on their acquired wisdom to a new generation,” said Kathie Sandlin, Profiles in Diversity Journal Editor-in-Chief. “They range from executives and community activists to board members who broke down barriers in the work place.  These individuals shared their opinions on the state of the African-American community, advice for a successful career and giving back.”

Building on History

“It’s easy to forget our history and the challenges those before us faced,” said Monique Hunt McWilliams, Chief Diversity Officer of Eli Lilly and Company of Indianapolis, Indiana. “We have to constantly reflect on that. We now have generations of young people who’ve not experienced those tough times, so it’s hard for them to understand that even when you’re in the middle of something challenging, you don’t give up.”

Each generation stands on the shoulders of a previous generation that worked hard to make the world a better place. This generation of professionals has either been in the fight for equality or is continuing the fight in the work place. “During my days in the civil rights movement, I learned that advocacy, coupled with passion, can transform the ideas held by others,” said Gene L. Locke, Partner of Andrews Kurth LLP of Houston, Texas.

The economic standing of the African-American community has changed dramatically through business, entertainment, food, etc. Now, more than ever before, African-Americans wield a lot of influence and power over the future of the economy. African-American Segment Leader of Wells Fargo, Lisa Frison understands the important role she and her entire community play in the economic future of the United States. “Through a combination of education and better decision making, we have an opportunity to harness that power and move increasingly along the continuum from being spenders to savers to owners to investors to philanthropists, and claim more of an ownership stake in securing our financial future,” she said.

Advice for Young Business People

The 60 trailblazers have made their mark on multiple industries and have made a real impact in their respective fields. Their knowledge of how an organization works, the time spent in the trenches and their hard work allow them to extend career advice to young professionals.

“Don’t just take inventory of your skills and abilities, but also be clear about your passions. You may not always be able to align those two at every step of your career, but you should strive to keep them in balance as much as you can. There may be a lot of things you CAN do, but you should live your life with no regrets by also focusing on doing the things you WANT to do and enjoy doing,” said CVS Caremark Vice President of Workforce Strategies and Chief Diversity Officer, David L. Casey.

Power in numbers was the philosophy for the fight in the 1960’s and it remains a key in being successful today. The Senior Vice President and Chief Information Officer for Southern Company of Georgia, Kenneth E. Coleman, has lived by this very practice. “Building relationships is important to success. No one can be successful solely on his or her own. Over the course of my career, there have been a number of individuals, including my peers, who have helped me–from giving me wise counsel to helping me find business opportunities, and everything in between,” he said.

Pamela Petrease Felder, Lecturer at the Graduate School of Education at the University of Pennsylvania, offers a direct message to young people searching for the right career. “My advice would be to find a career where you will be able to love what you do. Opportunities will come and go. But doing what you love to do will transcend these opportunities in ways that will sustain you,” she said.

The Value of Mentoring

Dr. Tamkea L. Taylor, President of Compass Consulting Services, LLC. of Beachwood, Ohio, believes in the importance of building confidence in others as well as motivating people to take action. “Mentoring allows me to directly impact their lives and assist with their unique needs and concerns. It also helps me grow. When I am unable to give of myself and my time, I try to contribute financially to the community, even if it’s a small amount. Every little bit makes a difference,” she said.

The American Express Senior Vice President and General Manager, National Client Group, Suzan B. Kereere has dedicated her time to mentoring young women. She works with Zawadi, which sponsors the college education of young women with the goal of making them strong female leaders. She is proud of her role as mentor to a lot of young women of African descent who currently attend numerous colleges and universities around the United States.

The importance of education is a constant theme among the trailblazers. They attribute their success to and the future successes of the African-American community. Many believe that through scholarships, personal mentorships or reforming the system is the way to make change. Ronald Wood, Vice President of Underwriting for Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan is committed to the higher education of young people.

“I am a cofounder of the Organization of Black Alumni at my alma mater, Wayne State University. Through this organization, we developed mentoring programs and scholarship opportunities for young men and women pursuing educational opportunities at the university,” he said.

Giving back to their communities gives the trailblazers the opportunity to help young people to have the chance to aspire to and achieve success in a multitude of career fields. The trailblazers are using their intellect and their checkbooks to pave the way for the next generation.

“Profiles in Diversity Journal is using this Black Heritage Month to celebrate the work that has been done and the work that continues. We invite you to read their stories-we think you’ll be heartened by them- and join us in celebrating the drive, the integrity, and the irrepressible spirit of these outstanding African-American corporate and community leaders,” said Editor-in-Chief of Profiles in Diversity Journal, Kathie Sandlin.

The full interviews of the 60 trailblazers are available online at diversityjournal.com.

Profiles in Diversity Journal is a bimonthly magazine dedicated to promoting and advancing diversity and inclusion in the corporate, government, nonprofit, higher education and military sectors. For more than 16 years, Profiles in Diversity Journal has helped to stimulate organizational change by showcasing the visionary leadership, innovative programs and committed individuals that make it happen.

 

” Winter Selling Tips “

• Clear snow and ice away from walkways and stairs. If you live in an area with lots of snow and ice, keep walking areas salted and shoveled. Buyers and agents want to see that your home is well maintained, and, of course, you’re not likely to wow a house hunter if they fall on the way in and break a leg. Learn more about boosting your winter curb appeal.
• Stage it outside. Even if the grass is brown and the patio is snow-covered, you can still do some outdoor staging. Tasteful winter wreaths and garlands can make your home seem welcoming. Just like inside the house, pick decorations that will appeal to a wide variety of buyers — blow-up snow globes and giant plastic Santa’s are probably no-nos. Learn more about staging for the holidays.
• Make it cozy.

When it’s cold outside, a toasty, warm interior is sure to appeal to buyers. If you have a wood or gas stove or fireplace, a showing or open house is the perfect time to light it up and show it off. Burn some scented candles and place warm, fuzzy throws on the furniture to make your house seem even homier.

• Clean up your windows.

In the winter, dull, dusty windows can go unnoticed. Making them sparkling clean will let much-needed light in. You can have a gorgeous room, but if the windows are dirty, it won’t look as beautiful or as bright. Pull back dark window treatments and adding a shade or valance for a touch of color. Or, you can also replace window treatments with ecru or white sheers for an elegant look.

” Don’t overbid at real estate auctions “

While it’s possible to get a deal on your dream home at the auction house, buying a home at auction isn’t always a bargain. The starting price may seem reasonable, but several bidders can force the price well over market value.

Avoid overbidding by doing research. Are any outstanding property taxes or liens that you’d have to pay for upon purchase? What are comparable homes in the area selling for? Is the neighborhood on the way up or on the way out? On auction day, set a strict budget and don’t let emotions take hold of your paddle in a bidding war.

” Background and Credit Checks “

If the tenant’s income is high enough and you feel confident moving forward, it’s time to dig deeper.

There are many different sources you can use to run a background or credit check on a tenant, but I recommend using Smart Move. Smart Move is offered as a service through Trans Union and is great because all you need is your tenants email address. Smart Move will email your prospective tenant and that individual will enter their information online; you’ll receive the results of the background check in hours and can make your decision.

Deciding what kind of “background” or “credit history” you’ll allow is largely dependent on your location and the strength of your market. If you have a lot of applicants to choose from, you can be pickier and only accept the highest qualified tenant. However, if you are struggling to get applicants, you may need to loosen your standards slightly (and I mean slightly) in order to move someone in.

For me, I look at the rental history and income with a lot higher regard than I do credit – because I live in a lower income area where the vast majority of prospective tenants have terrible credit. Your area might be different, so if possible, talk with other landlords in your area or ask for advice on the Edward Casey.

The things I look closely at on the background and credit checks are:

• Prior felonies
• Prior evictions filed
• Prior evictions carried out
• Bankruptcy
• Judgments
• Other criminal or bad financial history

I make it a policy to never rent to a person with an eviction on their record or recent felony (within 7 years.) Yes, people do change – but I don’t find the risk worth taking. I’ll leave that risk to other landlords.

” The Rental Lease Agreement “

In order to sign a rental lease with your tenants, you will need to have – of course – a rental lease. You can get a state-specific lease agreement from a number of sources, such as EZLandlordForms.com, USLegalForms.com, a local paper supply company like Staples or Office Depot, or your attorney. You can also download a free lease online in many places, including shs411.com, but be sure to run the lease past your attorney for review. Each state has different rules and laws that govern the landlord-tenant policies in that state, so chances are a lease found for free online may not be legally binding for you. Don’t skimp on the quality of a lease.

“Having a strong, loophole-free lease agreement is probably the most important aspect of maintaining good, long-term tenants who treat your property the way it deserves to the be treated (or pay the price if they don’t).” – J Scott

Before purchasing your lease agreement, however, you need to decide on whether you want a month-to-month rental agreement, a one-year lease, or something in between. Most landlords choose a one year lease in an effort keep their tenants in the home as long as possible and minimize turnover. Others choose to offer only month-to-month leases, to hold on to the ability to quickly and easily remove a tenant if things don’t work out right. Still others choose a six or nine month lease, which is often helpful for ensuring a lease doesn’t end during the holiday months of November through January, when vacancies are the most difficult to fill. This comes down to a personal choice that you can make, but with whatever lease term you chose, be sure to buy the correct lease agreement form.

While lease agreements generally vary in length and content, most lease agreements contain the following information:

• Names of tenants
• Address of the rental property
• Lease term Length
• Rent amount
• Security deposit amount
• Late fee description
• The move-in condition report
• Provisions for or against pets, utilities, smoking, and more

You may also need to provide certain State and Federal documents with your lease, depending on when your home was built and your State laws. The United States EPA requires that you give your tenant a pamphlet called “Protecting Your Family from Lead in the Home” if your home was built prior to 1978. Check with your local attorney for state specific forms you may be required to provide.

“How Much Should You Charge for a Security Deposit?”

A security deposit is a sum of money paid by a tenant to ensure they fulfill the terms of their lease. Remember though – this is a deposit, not a fee. This money should be held in separate bank account and returned to the tenant when the tenant moves out, less any damages that need to be repaired.

The amount you charge is largely up to you, though many states restrict the amount you can charge, so make sure to check to find any local limitations. I typically charge the equivalent of one-month’s rent for a security deposit, though I may charge more than that if the tenant has anything in their background that worries me (which we’ll get to in a short while.)

” Should You Use a Property Manager “

This question is highly important and will affect the way you move forward reading this guide. Will you manage the property yourself or hire a property manager to look after it? Generally, a property manager will charge approximately 10% of the monthly rent plus 50% of the first month’s rent when a new tenant moves in. A property manager will typically:

• Advertise for new tenants
• Sign Leases
• Collect the rent
• Keep track of finances
• Schedule maintenance repairs
• Issue legal notices
• File evictions (you pay lawyer fees)

If you decide to manage the property yourself, instead, these are all duties you will need to do (or hire out individually) yourself. The decision of whether to manage yourself or hire a property manager cannot be made by anyone other than you. If you have the time, abilities, and energy to manage yourself – you can save a good deal of money by doing so. However, if you try to manage without the ability – it could end up costing you much more than what a property manager might charge.

” What Condition do you want you’re House In? “

There is no end to the amount of improving you can do to your house before renting it out. The problem becomes learning when to stop. When is good enough, good enough?

A house should be clean, empty (unless you are offering it “furnished” which is uncommon) and free from any major repairs at the time the tenant moves in. Be sure everything is up to code, to the best of your knowledge. Have a professional carpet cleaner clean the carpets before showing the property.

I recently posted this question (how much should you improve your property before putting renters in) in the Edward Casey Blog, and here are some of the answers I got:

“On deciding how nice to make a rental in preparing it for rent, I have two primary areas I consider: What kind of return will I get from the improvements I’m considering and how much time and aggravation will it save me (if I do the improvements)?” -Jeffrey Long

“I try to have competitive advantages that aren’t easily destroyed. Vacancy is the devil, and if little things like garbage disposal will create less problems and give me an advantage, for not that much money, to me it’s a no brainer.” -Joe Delia

“We strive to offer a clean and better looking unit compared to the competition and we rent them competitively as well. Everything is done with a cost/benefit approach and to minimize repair and service calls.” -George Paiva

“It’s also important to understand the demographic that you’re marketing your property to. Just because YOU wouldn’t want to live in a lower quality residence, doesn’t mean there aren’t hundreds of people in that market who would be more than happy to. Your standards may not (and probably doesn’t) reflect the exact standards of the customers in your market.” -Seth Williams

Remember, the home does not need to be as fancy as you would want it to be if you were living there. Look around at other rentals in your area (via driving around or pictures online) and try to see what the typical quality is. Tenants will generally never take as good of care of your house as you do – so don’t spend too much time or money making unnecessary upgrades that will only be ignored or broken.

If you have questions about a certain upgrade, do what I did and post the question on the Edward Casey and ask. You may be surprised by the answers you receive.