“There’s no place like home,” as the old saying goes. That’s especially true when it comes to an investment.
You live in and love your home, but there might come a time when you have to leave it. And when that time comes, you’ll want to get as much money as you can for your property so you can move onward — and upward.
In order to increase your abode’s value, you might think you have to put in a ton of time, effort and money, but that’s not entirely true. Instead, you can take on weekend projects over time to spruce the place up so when it’s time to sell, you have a completely updated property that’ll end up selling itself.
Ready to get to work? Roll up your sleeves and start on one of the following five weekend projects.
1. Repaint Your Kitchen Cabinets
When it comes to smart investment in your home, the kitchen is one of the best places to start. Buyers expect kitchens to be updated. Stone countertops, stainless appliances and sleek flooring all make a space feel modern. Obviously, these changes require a lot of money and, sometimes, a lot of time. That’s why you can tackle it in bits and start first with your cabinets.
Old wooden cabinets with equally dated hardware — think oak doors with shiny brass handles — don’t require a complete gut job. Instead, spend a weekend repainting them a more neutral hue. Finish the project off with new metallic knobs and pulls to complete the modernized look.
2. Make the Eye Go up With Crown Molding
Most homes have roughly the same ceiling heights, but there’s a little trick to make yours look bigger — crown molding. Yes, that white line at the top of your painted walls will draw eyes upward, making the room appear airier than it may very well be.
The project is easy enough to complete, too. You might not be able to install molding throughout your entire home over a single weekend, but you can certainly tackle the project on a room-by-room basis. Again, start with the spaces likely to draw in the most moolah:
- Kitchens
- Bathrooms
- Living spaces
- Master bedrooms
These tend to be the make-or-break rooms when it comes to a big purchase. Crown molding adds a bit of detail, a feeling of luxury that’ll certainly add to the bottom line.
3. Boost Curb Appeal — and Backyard Bonuses
No one will come in your home unless the first impression is stunning. Another DIY project should be a landscape overhaul of your front yard. It can be something as simple as adding a path of pavers to your front yard or sprucing up your flowerbeds with colorful blooms. All of this will catch the eye of potential buyers — and fatten up the bottom line of the offers they make.
Another easy fix — your garage door. If it’s street-facing, it’s another area for prospective buyers to look at, and it has a great return on investment.
You don’t have to stop with the front of your home. Especially if you live in a climate that permits lots of outdoor activity, you’ll want a backyard to match. Some may require you rent or buy tools for landscaping and other applications, but imagine the payoff with, for example, the beauty of a functioning fire pit in your backyard. Not only will you be able to enjoy it while you’re still living in your home, but potential buyers will easily be able to envision themselves sitting around a fire.
4. Beautify the Bathrooms
Bathrooms have a big effect on buyers. They expect clean, modern updates, just like in the kitchen. Overhauling your powder room is an easy weekend task that might require small swaps, such as a new modern light fixture over the vanity or a new vanity altogether.
Your full bathrooms will require a bit more attention if you want them to be up to snuff. Again, look in the familiar places:
- Lighting fixtures
- Cabinets
- Hardware
- Countertops
- Tile
You don’t have to shell out a ton of money to have someone else re-tile a wall or backsplash in your bathroom, either, if you have the patience to demo and tile the space yourself.
5. Out With the Really Old
Some accents once considered fresh and fashionable now give your home a dated appearance. You probably already know what in your home screams 70s, 80s or 90s. Whatever it is should go in due course.
The list of outdated design elements is truly endless, but some of the biggest offenders are old-school wallpaper, the floor-to-ceiling wood paneling that may or not be actual wood, and, of course, popcorn ceilings. By removing these three offenders alone — a popcorn ceiling doesn’t take much effort — your home will snap right back into the 21st century.
Editor's Note: This post was originally published on March 1, 2017. Housecall continues to share this piece due to ongoing requests and reader interest.
Link to Article
Once people start envisioning themselves living in your home, you won’t have to envision offers pouring in — they’ll start coming thanks to your hard work. You go, weekend warrior.
Friday, March 27, 2020
Thursday, March 26, 2020
Memes that Made Me Laugh - Stephen Hughes' internet finds - March 2020
Governor Polis has confirmed that real estate is an essential business, and I know for many of you planning on buying or selling right now, it has brought up some questions. Please know I am here to answer what I can and support you during this time of transition. My two priorities are to create a safe experience for my clients and do my part to prevent COVID-19 from spreading. Please contact me to discuss what's on your mind. Also, remember to laugh at the simple joys in each day. Here are some memes that brought a smile to my face. I hope they will do the same for you.
If you have a meme you loved, please share it with me. We all need some extra laughter medicine these days. Take care and stay healthy!
Steve
If you have a meme you loved, please share it with me. We all need some extra laughter medicine these days. Take care and stay healthy!
Steve
How to strengthen your immunity: Exercise, meditation, sleep and stress management - CNN.com - March 26, 2020
As the coronavirus situation intensifies, you might be wondering: How can I keep myself healthy?
The answer lies in following the latest guidelines on social distancing, proper handwashing and your local stay-at-home directives.
But there are also ways to strengthen your own immune system. Diet is one of them, and we covered that here in part one of our immunity boosting series.
Yet what you eat is just one factor. Being physically active, meditating and managing stress, and getting adequate sleep help, too. Keep reading to find out why those habits boost your immunity and how you can take advantage of their benefits.
Find time for fitness
Engaging in regular physical activity is a great way to help manage stress and strengthen your immune system. In fact, research shows that "fit individuals" -- defined as those who partake in regular physical activity -- have a lower incidence of infection compared to inactive and sedentary individuals. What's more, being physically active may help reduce the risk of chronic diseases that could further weaken your immune system, including cardiovascular disease, diabetes and obesity.
How does exercise help? For one, physical activity helps to flush bacteria out of the lungs, decreasing your chances of getting a cold, flu or other illness. Exercise also reduces levels of the body's stress hormones, such as adrenaline and cortisol, explained MaryAnn Browning, CEO and founder of Browningsfitness. Lower levels of stress hormones may protect against illness.
"[Exercise] also stimulates the production of endorphins -- chemicals in the brain that are the body's natural painkillers and mood elevators," Browning said.
For at-home fitness essentials, Browning recommends getting a set of yellow, green and red resistance bands (the colors correspond with varying levels of resistance). "These can be used for back, bicep, triceps, shoulders and leg work," Browning said.
She also recommends looped bands to go around the calves or thighs, which strengthen the glutes and can help prevent knee and back injuries.
For an at-home cardio workout, Browning recommends jumping jacks, high knees, butt kicks, burpees and switch jumps -- during which you'll jump to turn 180 degrees and then back again -- for 15 seconds each. Then repeat the circuit five to 10 times, depending on what you can handle.
And don't forget about the joy of dancing! My girls and I love blasting our favorite tunes and engaging in impromptu dance parties for a wonderful mood-lifting indoor activity, no equipment required. Try making up fun dance routines, or have someone play DJ and compete in "freeze dance."
If you are looking for something a bit more structured, there are plenty of online options to choose from. My girls and I have enjoyed the Yoga with Adrienne YouTube channel,t which offers free yoga videos. Free on-demand programs are also available at YMCA360.org, and include boot camp, Barre, yoga and low-impact programs for seniors.
Another option is Melissa Wood's Health Workouts, which can be accessed online or via her app. "You can use light weights or your own body weight, and they're quick yet super effective. They have been an absolute godsend to me during this time!" said Jamie Plancher, who has a masters in emergency and disaster management and has been "tracking Covid-19 like a hawk."
"I'm obsessed with Alexia Clark's workouts," said Lindsey Schwartz, who is currently homeschooling her children in New York City. "Everyday is something different ... she's the queen of making sure you use as many muscles as possible in a circuit and knows how to keep it interesting."
While that program has a subscription-based app, you can also find free workouts on Alexia Clark's Instagram and IGTV.
Meditate
If you haven't tried mediation, now might be a good time to start. A recent review involving 20 randomized, controlled trials including more than 1,600 people suggested that meditation may help keep our immune system functioning optimally.
A stressful circumstance like what we are experiencing now can negatively affect the immune system, but "a consistent meditation practice can help us better respond to stressful situations," explained Ellie Burrows Gluck, a Vedic meditation teacher and the founder and CEO of MNDFL, a meditation studio in New York City that also offers live-streamed, at-home practices with meditation experts at MNDFL TV.
"Life is messy, and although meditation isn't a cure all it can help us to remember to breathe and that we'll never be able to clean it all up," Gluck said.
To start meditating, simply bring your full attention to your breath. Sitting with uplifted posture may help, and eyes may be closed or open. When you notice your mind wanders with thoughts like, "What am I going to have for lunch?" come back to your breath without judgment.
Gluck says once you've been practicing for a while and have learned how to choose between your breath and your thoughts, you can "apply that same mechanism of choice to [your] response to stressful situations." Most studies show you need to practice a minimum of 10 minutes a day for 8 to 10 weeks to see the benefits over time, Gluck added.
When meditating, it's a good idea to aim for consistency when it comes to the style of meditation; the time of day and length of your practice; and your surroundings. You might choose your favorite spot on the couch or a designated corner with a meditation cushion, Gluck advised.
Manage stress
Research dating back over 25 years has revealed that psychological stress increases susceptibility to illness. Prolonged or chronic stress can negatively impact the immune system by reducing the body's ability to defend against viruses and bacteria, explained Allison Forti, licensed clinical mental health counselor and associate director of the Online Master's in Counseling Program at Wake Forest University.
Additionally, when under stress, it's not uncommon for people to engage in coping strategies such as drinking excessive alcohol, smoking cigarettes, eating a poor diet, or not getting enough sleep, which can also negatively impact the immune system, Forti added.
To calm our anxiety during this stressful time, first acknowledge that it is okay to feel stressed, anxious and afraid. "It is okay to feel panicked ... look for ways to ground yourself in a safe and healthy way that does not cause harm to others," Forti said.
Maintaining a sense of connection with friends and loved ones is important. Email, call or FaceTime relatives, and have live-streaming cocktail hours with friends, like my husband and I did this past Saturday evening. (Good news: You can responsibly "drink and Zoom.") And children can benefit from staying connected, too. One of my mom friends recently organized a pajama party via Zoom for my daughter and her friends.
It's also important to avoid judging your feelings and thoughts, Forti explained. Acknowledge them with a sense of care and appreciation, and release the expectation that things should be normal right now. For example, if you are feeling stressed about not fine-tuning the perfect homeschooling schedule or web-based activities for your children, that's ok.
"Holding on to rigid patterns of thinking exacerbates stress and anxiety," Forti said. "Flexibility is required during this time of uncertainty and rapid change."
In my home, that means working with several interruptions, and allowing my girls to have some access to TikTok on my iPhone, along with some extra cookies.
For those experiencing high levels of stress or anxiety, it may be helpful to be mindful as you consume media updates. "Be aware of how the news affects you. Does it trigger your anxiety? Alternatively, does it make you feel safe because now you can choose what to do with that information?" Forti said. You may wish to ask a friend to keep you informed of major alerts so you do not have to check the media, Forti advised.
Don't skimp on sleep
Lastly, get your z's. Not doing so can negatively affect your immune system, according to the National Sleep Foundation.
To keep your immune system strong, the NSF advises aiming for seven to eight hours of sleep each night. But if your mind has been keeping you up or you simply can't get that amount, fill in the gaps with naps.
According to the NSF, taking two naps that are no longer than 30 minutes each — one in the morning and one in the afternoon — has been shown to help decrease stress and offset the negative effects that sleep deprivation has on the immune system. If that's not realistic, a 20-minute catnap during a lunch break or before dinner can help too.
Link to Article
The answer lies in following the latest guidelines on social distancing, proper handwashing and your local stay-at-home directives.
But there are also ways to strengthen your own immune system. Diet is one of them, and we covered that here in part one of our immunity boosting series.
Yet what you eat is just one factor. Being physically active, meditating and managing stress, and getting adequate sleep help, too. Keep reading to find out why those habits boost your immunity and how you can take advantage of their benefits.
Find time for fitness
Engaging in regular physical activity is a great way to help manage stress and strengthen your immune system. In fact, research shows that "fit individuals" -- defined as those who partake in regular physical activity -- have a lower incidence of infection compared to inactive and sedentary individuals. What's more, being physically active may help reduce the risk of chronic diseases that could further weaken your immune system, including cardiovascular disease, diabetes and obesity.
How does exercise help? For one, physical activity helps to flush bacteria out of the lungs, decreasing your chances of getting a cold, flu or other illness. Exercise also reduces levels of the body's stress hormones, such as adrenaline and cortisol, explained MaryAnn Browning, CEO and founder of Browningsfitness. Lower levels of stress hormones may protect against illness.
"[Exercise] also stimulates the production of endorphins -- chemicals in the brain that are the body's natural painkillers and mood elevators," Browning said.
For at-home fitness essentials, Browning recommends getting a set of yellow, green and red resistance bands (the colors correspond with varying levels of resistance). "These can be used for back, bicep, triceps, shoulders and leg work," Browning said.
She also recommends looped bands to go around the calves or thighs, which strengthen the glutes and can help prevent knee and back injuries.
For an at-home cardio workout, Browning recommends jumping jacks, high knees, butt kicks, burpees and switch jumps -- during which you'll jump to turn 180 degrees and then back again -- for 15 seconds each. Then repeat the circuit five to 10 times, depending on what you can handle.
And don't forget about the joy of dancing! My girls and I love blasting our favorite tunes and engaging in impromptu dance parties for a wonderful mood-lifting indoor activity, no equipment required. Try making up fun dance routines, or have someone play DJ and compete in "freeze dance."
If you are looking for something a bit more structured, there are plenty of online options to choose from. My girls and I have enjoyed the Yoga with Adrienne YouTube channel,t which offers free yoga videos. Free on-demand programs are also available at YMCA360.org, and include boot camp, Barre, yoga and low-impact programs for seniors.
Another option is Melissa Wood's Health Workouts, which can be accessed online or via her app. "You can use light weights or your own body weight, and they're quick yet super effective. They have been an absolute godsend to me during this time!" said Jamie Plancher, who has a masters in emergency and disaster management and has been "tracking Covid-19 like a hawk."
"I'm obsessed with Alexia Clark's workouts," said Lindsey Schwartz, who is currently homeschooling her children in New York City. "Everyday is something different ... she's the queen of making sure you use as many muscles as possible in a circuit and knows how to keep it interesting."
While that program has a subscription-based app, you can also find free workouts on Alexia Clark's Instagram and IGTV.
Meditate
If you haven't tried mediation, now might be a good time to start. A recent review involving 20 randomized, controlled trials including more than 1,600 people suggested that meditation may help keep our immune system functioning optimally.
A stressful circumstance like what we are experiencing now can negatively affect the immune system, but "a consistent meditation practice can help us better respond to stressful situations," explained Ellie Burrows Gluck, a Vedic meditation teacher and the founder and CEO of MNDFL, a meditation studio in New York City that also offers live-streamed, at-home practices with meditation experts at MNDFL TV.
"Life is messy, and although meditation isn't a cure all it can help us to remember to breathe and that we'll never be able to clean it all up," Gluck said.
To start meditating, simply bring your full attention to your breath. Sitting with uplifted posture may help, and eyes may be closed or open. When you notice your mind wanders with thoughts like, "What am I going to have for lunch?" come back to your breath without judgment.
Gluck says once you've been practicing for a while and have learned how to choose between your breath and your thoughts, you can "apply that same mechanism of choice to [your] response to stressful situations." Most studies show you need to practice a minimum of 10 minutes a day for 8 to 10 weeks to see the benefits over time, Gluck added.
When meditating, it's a good idea to aim for consistency when it comes to the style of meditation; the time of day and length of your practice; and your surroundings. You might choose your favorite spot on the couch or a designated corner with a meditation cushion, Gluck advised.
Manage stress
Research dating back over 25 years has revealed that psychological stress increases susceptibility to illness. Prolonged or chronic stress can negatively impact the immune system by reducing the body's ability to defend against viruses and bacteria, explained Allison Forti, licensed clinical mental health counselor and associate director of the Online Master's in Counseling Program at Wake Forest University.
Additionally, when under stress, it's not uncommon for people to engage in coping strategies such as drinking excessive alcohol, smoking cigarettes, eating a poor diet, or not getting enough sleep, which can also negatively impact the immune system, Forti added.
To calm our anxiety during this stressful time, first acknowledge that it is okay to feel stressed, anxious and afraid. "It is okay to feel panicked ... look for ways to ground yourself in a safe and healthy way that does not cause harm to others," Forti said.
Maintaining a sense of connection with friends and loved ones is important. Email, call or FaceTime relatives, and have live-streaming cocktail hours with friends, like my husband and I did this past Saturday evening. (Good news: You can responsibly "drink and Zoom.") And children can benefit from staying connected, too. One of my mom friends recently organized a pajama party via Zoom for my daughter and her friends.
It's also important to avoid judging your feelings and thoughts, Forti explained. Acknowledge them with a sense of care and appreciation, and release the expectation that things should be normal right now. For example, if you are feeling stressed about not fine-tuning the perfect homeschooling schedule or web-based activities for your children, that's ok.
"Holding on to rigid patterns of thinking exacerbates stress and anxiety," Forti said. "Flexibility is required during this time of uncertainty and rapid change."
In my home, that means working with several interruptions, and allowing my girls to have some access to TikTok on my iPhone, along with some extra cookies.
For those experiencing high levels of stress or anxiety, it may be helpful to be mindful as you consume media updates. "Be aware of how the news affects you. Does it trigger your anxiety? Alternatively, does it make you feel safe because now you can choose what to do with that information?" Forti said. You may wish to ask a friend to keep you informed of major alerts so you do not have to check the media, Forti advised.
Don't skimp on sleep
Lastly, get your z's. Not doing so can negatively affect your immune system, according to the National Sleep Foundation.
To keep your immune system strong, the NSF advises aiming for seven to eight hours of sleep each night. But if your mind has been keeping you up or you simply can't get that amount, fill in the gaps with naps.
According to the NSF, taking two naps that are no longer than 30 minutes each — one in the morning and one in the afternoon — has been shown to help decrease stress and offset the negative effects that sleep deprivation has on the immune system. If that's not realistic, a 20-minute catnap during a lunch break or before dinner can help too.
Link to Article
Your Money: A Hub for Help During the Coronavirus Crisis - New York Times - March 2020
If your income has fallen or been cut off completely, we’re here to help. This guide will connect you to the basic information you’ll need to get through this, including on government benefits, free services and financial strategies.
For the latest news updates, read The New York Times’s live coronavirus coverage here.
What you need to know:
- How unemployment insurance works
- Who and what the new paid leave law covers
- How to pause your federal student loans
- You have three more months to file your federal taxes
- Help for homeowners and renters
- Ways to keep the lights on and the phones working
- More advice that will help
How unemployment insurance works
A lot depends on where you live.
One important note: You might not have to lose your job to qualify. If you’re quarantined or have been furloughed — and you’re not being paid but expect to return to your job eventually — you may be able to get unemployment benefits.
States set their own rules for eligibility and benefits, which are generally calculated as a percentage of your income over the past year, up to a certain maximum.
Some states are more generous than others, but unemployment typically replaces about 45 percent of your lost income. Most states pay benefits for 26 weeks, but some have pared that back to as little as 14 weeks.
Many states cover only full-time workers, and some have made it more difficult for temporary workers to get coverage. Gig workers are also unlikely to qualify because they’re largely considered self-employed.
There is $1 billion earmarked for unemployment insurance in the coronavirus relief package. Half of that money can be used to immediately bolster staffing, technology and other administrative functions that have struggled to meet demand. States can collect the second half after experiencing a 10 percent rise in unemployment, as long as they take certain steps to temporarily make it easier for applicants to qualify.
Who and what the new paid leave law covers
The coronavirus emergency relief package gives many American workers paid leave if they need to take time off because of the outbreak, but there are lots of exceptions.
Most workers at small and midsize companies, as well as government employees, can get paid leave as long as they’ve been employed at least 30 days.
Qualified workers can get two weeks of paid sick leave if they are ill, quarantined or seeking diagnosis or preventive care for coronavirus, or if they are caring for sick family members. They can get 12 weeks of paid leave to care for children whose schools are closed, or whose child care provider is unavailable because of outbreak.
Part-time workers will be paid the amount they typically earn in a two-week period. People who are self-employed — including gig workers like Uber drivers and Instacart shoppers — can also receive paid leave, but they must calculate their average daily income and claim it as a tax credit.
There are gaps, though. Businesses with fewer than 50 workers can apply for an exemption, and companies with more than 500 employees are excluded from the rules entirely. Many workers at big businesses already have paid sick leave, but their low-wage workers are the least likely to be covered. The New America Foundation has published a detailed list of large employers (mostly consumer-facing companies like retailers, restaurant chains and hotels) and their policies.
These changes aren’t permanent, though — the leave law expires Dec. 31.
You can find out more from the Department of Labor, which has posted a fact sheet for workers and a Q&A.
How to pause your federal student loans
The U.S. Department of Education has granted a payment waiver of at least 60 days to many people, according to a news release. But it’s not necessarily automatic.
In general, you have to call your loan servicer to request a waiver and to make sure that your loan is eligible. If you are already more than 31 days late, your loan servicer will suspend your payments automatically. Your servicer will not charge interest during this time, and the waiver is not supposed to hurt your credit score.
The waiver does not apply to private student loans. One big private lender, Sallie Mae, said it is offering suspension of payment for up to three months, with no damage to a borrower’s credit. Another one, Navient, made an identical offer for “qualified” borrowers; a spokesman said that you just need to contact the company and explain how your financial situation has changed.
A third big private lender, Wells Fargo, says it will offer help, but a spokesman said the bank would not commit to a set number of months or any other specifics.
Using the waiver to pause your federal student loan payments may not be the best move for people in distress. If your income has fallen dramatically, it may be better to enter an income-driven repayment program. Low-income borrowers enrolled in those programs often end up with no monthly payments for as long as their income stays low.
If you do make any changes to what you’re paying, don’t forget to adjust any automatic payments you have set up, said Bonnie Latreille of the Student Borrower Protection Center.
Last week, the federal government announced an automatic student loan interest waiver for federally-held loans. That remains in effect if you don’t request the new payment waiver. But the interest waiver alone doesn’t lower your monthly payment: Instead, you’d pay what you normally do, and the full amount will go toward the loan’s principal. Ron’s column explains the details.
You have three more months to file your federal taxes
The federal government has moved the tax filing deadline to July 15. You don’t have to file your return or make payments until then, Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin wrote on Twitter.
The I.R.S. had already said there will be no interest or penalties for those who wait to pay until July. If you are owed a refund, you’ll still receive it as you normally would if you file your tax return, no matter when you submit it.
If you’ve already filed a return and scheduled a payment for April 15, you can call the I.R.S. at 888-353-4537 and cancel it, according to a reader who did this himself. We tried the number, too, and the cancellation option appeared to be working as he described.
Have a quarterly payment due June 15? An I.R.S. spokesman said that it will still be due then and has not been postponed until July 15. That may change, and we’ll update if it does.
Don’t forget about your state income taxes. The American Institute of Certified Public Accountants is tracking state changes on its website.
Help for homeowners and renters
There’s a good chance you can delay your mortgage payment if the outbreak has left you short of money.
The Federal Housing Finance Agency has instructed mortgage servicers to allow borrowers whose mortgages are owned by Fannie Mae or Freddie Mac to delay payments. This forbearance program allows for a mortgage payment to be suspended for up to 12 months due to hardship caused by the coronavirus.
Federal housing officials have also announced a nationwide eviction and foreclosure moratorium for borrowers of Fannie or Freddie mortgages, or borrowers whose loans are backed by the Federal Housing Administration — so-called F.H.A. loans. This includes foreclosures that are already in progress.
To find out if Fannie or Freddie own your mortgage, you can search your address on this federal government site.
A coalition of mortgage industry groups representing banks, finance companies and others has said it will also grant payment suspensions of at least three months — and up to 12 months — to homeowners whose loans are not owned by Fannie or Freddie, but they have said their effort requires a federal backstop.
If you rent, the best national resource we’ve found so far is the search-by-state function on Justshelter.org. This offers information on local organizations that can provide advice to renters in distress. Just Shelter’s founders are Matthew Desmond, the author of the book “Evicted,” and Tessa Lowinske Desmond. Mr. Desmond is also the founder of Eviction Lab; it is publishing a list of local and regional actions to pause evictions of renters.
The emergency stimulus bill put a temporary, nationwide eviction moratorium in place for any renters whose landlords have mortgages backed or owned by Fannie, Freddie or the F.H.A. This will last through the end of July, and landlords can’t charge any fees or penalties for nonpayment of rent either.
Regulators have also told landlords whose own mortgages are owned by Fannie or Freddie that they too can use forbearance, just as long as they do not evict tenants after they pause their mortgage payments. The challenge for renters is figuring out whether their landlord has such a mortgage.
If the landlord’s mortgage is not in forbearance, renters who skip payments could be risking eviction if there has not been a local prohibition. (New York, for example, has suspended eviction actions until further notice.)
Ways to keep the lights on and the phones working
Some utility providers are offering to stop cutting people off for nonpayment.
A number of large internet companies have agreed not to terminate residential or small business customers who can’t pay their bills: AT&T, Comcast, Cox, RCN, Sprint, T-Mobile and Verizon. A full list of companies is available on the Federal Communications Commission site.
It is not yet clear whether companies want customers to call to invoke this relief and provide proof or whether they will offer it automatically to everyone. People who need help should call and ask.
A number of water service providers have either suspended shut-offs for nonpayment or don’t shut service off for late payments generally, according to a ProPublica roundup. They include Atlanta; Birmingham, Ala.; Long Beach, Calif.; Los Angeles; Newark; New York City and St. Louis.
In Washington state, the main Seattle area utilities are suspending cutoffs as well. In addition, the provider of electric and water service in Seattle is allowing people to self-certify their recent income reductions in order to qualify for at least half off their bills.
In California, Pacific Gas and Electric has, until further notice, stopped shutting off its services to consumers and businesses who have not paid.
In New York, Con Edison also has temporarily suspended any electric and gas service shut-offs.
If utilities in other areas follow suit, they are likely to publish alerts somewhere on the top of their websites or in the news release section of their pages.
More advice that will help
Many people who have lost jobs can get subsidized health insurance. Eleven states, including some hit hard by the coronavirus — like California, New York and Washington — have opened enrollment under the Affordable Care Act to allow laid-off workers to get subsidized health insurance. And here is a more general guide to getting or keeping insurance, with updates on very recent rule changes.
Should you stop 401(k) contributions if you still have a job? Maybe not. Yes, market crashes are nauseating, especially if you have not experienced one. No one can say for sure when the market will stabilize, but time is in your favor: You have years — decades, even — to reap returns when the market rises again.
Consumer lenders have offered to help. But some have been more generous than others. Here’s a long list from the banking trade association, and here’s Ron’s column on which lenders stepped up early to let people skip payments, with and without interest accruing. Since he wrote it, both Ally Bank and Bank of America have offered to allow borrowers to defer loan payments. Many credit unions, meanwhile, are offering assistance with loans, debt consolidation and other services.
Building an emergency fund in an emergency. It’s not easy, but even a cushion of $250 can help stave off disaster.
Financial planners offer free advice to distressed individuals. Dozens of members of the XY Planning Network have offered to help people through phone consultations. The Financial Planning Association has its own list of volunteer certified financial planners as well.
Where to get Social Security help. The Social Security Administration is mostly closing its 1,200 offices for routine requests like help with benefit claims. Those requests should go through the agency’s toll-free phone line, (800) 772-1213, and its website. In-person assistance is still available for crucial services, like reinstatement of benefits and assistant for those with severe disabilities. Those seeking in-person help must call in advance. Mark Miller has details here.
How to prep for refinancing your mortgage. Mortgage rates are low right now, and refinancing is a good way to free up cash. But that means everyone else is trying to do it, too. Here’s a guide to making sure you don’t get kicked to the end of the line.
What a shady sales pitch looks like. Sometimes you can tell by the exclamation marks. But one financial planner says to beware if you can’t explain the math of how an investment or debt relief pitch works on the back of a cocktail napkin.
Link to Article
For the latest news updates, read The New York Times’s live coronavirus coverage here.
What you need to know:
- How unemployment insurance works
- Who and what the new paid leave law covers
- How to pause your federal student loans
- You have three more months to file your federal taxes
- Help for homeowners and renters
- Ways to keep the lights on and the phones working
- More advice that will help
How unemployment insurance works
A lot depends on where you live.
One important note: You might not have to lose your job to qualify. If you’re quarantined or have been furloughed — and you’re not being paid but expect to return to your job eventually — you may be able to get unemployment benefits.
States set their own rules for eligibility and benefits, which are generally calculated as a percentage of your income over the past year, up to a certain maximum.
Some states are more generous than others, but unemployment typically replaces about 45 percent of your lost income. Most states pay benefits for 26 weeks, but some have pared that back to as little as 14 weeks.
Many states cover only full-time workers, and some have made it more difficult for temporary workers to get coverage. Gig workers are also unlikely to qualify because they’re largely considered self-employed.
There is $1 billion earmarked for unemployment insurance in the coronavirus relief package. Half of that money can be used to immediately bolster staffing, technology and other administrative functions that have struggled to meet demand. States can collect the second half after experiencing a 10 percent rise in unemployment, as long as they take certain steps to temporarily make it easier for applicants to qualify.
Who and what the new paid leave law covers
The coronavirus emergency relief package gives many American workers paid leave if they need to take time off because of the outbreak, but there are lots of exceptions.
Most workers at small and midsize companies, as well as government employees, can get paid leave as long as they’ve been employed at least 30 days.
Qualified workers can get two weeks of paid sick leave if they are ill, quarantined or seeking diagnosis or preventive care for coronavirus, or if they are caring for sick family members. They can get 12 weeks of paid leave to care for children whose schools are closed, or whose child care provider is unavailable because of outbreak.
Part-time workers will be paid the amount they typically earn in a two-week period. People who are self-employed — including gig workers like Uber drivers and Instacart shoppers — can also receive paid leave, but they must calculate their average daily income and claim it as a tax credit.
There are gaps, though. Businesses with fewer than 50 workers can apply for an exemption, and companies with more than 500 employees are excluded from the rules entirely. Many workers at big businesses already have paid sick leave, but their low-wage workers are the least likely to be covered. The New America Foundation has published a detailed list of large employers (mostly consumer-facing companies like retailers, restaurant chains and hotels) and their policies.
These changes aren’t permanent, though — the leave law expires Dec. 31.
You can find out more from the Department of Labor, which has posted a fact sheet for workers and a Q&A.
How to pause your federal student loans
The U.S. Department of Education has granted a payment waiver of at least 60 days to many people, according to a news release. But it’s not necessarily automatic.
In general, you have to call your loan servicer to request a waiver and to make sure that your loan is eligible. If you are already more than 31 days late, your loan servicer will suspend your payments automatically. Your servicer will not charge interest during this time, and the waiver is not supposed to hurt your credit score.
The waiver does not apply to private student loans. One big private lender, Sallie Mae, said it is offering suspension of payment for up to three months, with no damage to a borrower’s credit. Another one, Navient, made an identical offer for “qualified” borrowers; a spokesman said that you just need to contact the company and explain how your financial situation has changed.
A third big private lender, Wells Fargo, says it will offer help, but a spokesman said the bank would not commit to a set number of months or any other specifics.
Using the waiver to pause your federal student loan payments may not be the best move for people in distress. If your income has fallen dramatically, it may be better to enter an income-driven repayment program. Low-income borrowers enrolled in those programs often end up with no monthly payments for as long as their income stays low.
If you do make any changes to what you’re paying, don’t forget to adjust any automatic payments you have set up, said Bonnie Latreille of the Student Borrower Protection Center.
Last week, the federal government announced an automatic student loan interest waiver for federally-held loans. That remains in effect if you don’t request the new payment waiver. But the interest waiver alone doesn’t lower your monthly payment: Instead, you’d pay what you normally do, and the full amount will go toward the loan’s principal. Ron’s column explains the details.
You have three more months to file your federal taxes
The federal government has moved the tax filing deadline to July 15. You don’t have to file your return or make payments until then, Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin wrote on Twitter.
The I.R.S. had already said there will be no interest or penalties for those who wait to pay until July. If you are owed a refund, you’ll still receive it as you normally would if you file your tax return, no matter when you submit it.
If you’ve already filed a return and scheduled a payment for April 15, you can call the I.R.S. at 888-353-4537 and cancel it, according to a reader who did this himself. We tried the number, too, and the cancellation option appeared to be working as he described.
Have a quarterly payment due June 15? An I.R.S. spokesman said that it will still be due then and has not been postponed until July 15. That may change, and we’ll update if it does.
Don’t forget about your state income taxes. The American Institute of Certified Public Accountants is tracking state changes on its website.
Help for homeowners and renters
There’s a good chance you can delay your mortgage payment if the outbreak has left you short of money.
The Federal Housing Finance Agency has instructed mortgage servicers to allow borrowers whose mortgages are owned by Fannie Mae or Freddie Mac to delay payments. This forbearance program allows for a mortgage payment to be suspended for up to 12 months due to hardship caused by the coronavirus.
Federal housing officials have also announced a nationwide eviction and foreclosure moratorium for borrowers of Fannie or Freddie mortgages, or borrowers whose loans are backed by the Federal Housing Administration — so-called F.H.A. loans. This includes foreclosures that are already in progress.
To find out if Fannie or Freddie own your mortgage, you can search your address on this federal government site.
A coalition of mortgage industry groups representing banks, finance companies and others has said it will also grant payment suspensions of at least three months — and up to 12 months — to homeowners whose loans are not owned by Fannie or Freddie, but they have said their effort requires a federal backstop.
If you rent, the best national resource we’ve found so far is the search-by-state function on Justshelter.org. This offers information on local organizations that can provide advice to renters in distress. Just Shelter’s founders are Matthew Desmond, the author of the book “Evicted,” and Tessa Lowinske Desmond. Mr. Desmond is also the founder of Eviction Lab; it is publishing a list of local and regional actions to pause evictions of renters.
The emergency stimulus bill put a temporary, nationwide eviction moratorium in place for any renters whose landlords have mortgages backed or owned by Fannie, Freddie or the F.H.A. This will last through the end of July, and landlords can’t charge any fees or penalties for nonpayment of rent either.
Regulators have also told landlords whose own mortgages are owned by Fannie or Freddie that they too can use forbearance, just as long as they do not evict tenants after they pause their mortgage payments. The challenge for renters is figuring out whether their landlord has such a mortgage.
If the landlord’s mortgage is not in forbearance, renters who skip payments could be risking eviction if there has not been a local prohibition. (New York, for example, has suspended eviction actions until further notice.)
Ways to keep the lights on and the phones working
Some utility providers are offering to stop cutting people off for nonpayment.
A number of large internet companies have agreed not to terminate residential or small business customers who can’t pay their bills: AT&T, Comcast, Cox, RCN, Sprint, T-Mobile and Verizon. A full list of companies is available on the Federal Communications Commission site.
It is not yet clear whether companies want customers to call to invoke this relief and provide proof or whether they will offer it automatically to everyone. People who need help should call and ask.
A number of water service providers have either suspended shut-offs for nonpayment or don’t shut service off for late payments generally, according to a ProPublica roundup. They include Atlanta; Birmingham, Ala.; Long Beach, Calif.; Los Angeles; Newark; New York City and St. Louis.
In Washington state, the main Seattle area utilities are suspending cutoffs as well. In addition, the provider of electric and water service in Seattle is allowing people to self-certify their recent income reductions in order to qualify for at least half off their bills.
In California, Pacific Gas and Electric has, until further notice, stopped shutting off its services to consumers and businesses who have not paid.
In New York, Con Edison also has temporarily suspended any electric and gas service shut-offs.
If utilities in other areas follow suit, they are likely to publish alerts somewhere on the top of their websites or in the news release section of their pages.
More advice that will help
Many people who have lost jobs can get subsidized health insurance. Eleven states, including some hit hard by the coronavirus — like California, New York and Washington — have opened enrollment under the Affordable Care Act to allow laid-off workers to get subsidized health insurance. And here is a more general guide to getting or keeping insurance, with updates on very recent rule changes.
Should you stop 401(k) contributions if you still have a job? Maybe not. Yes, market crashes are nauseating, especially if you have not experienced one. No one can say for sure when the market will stabilize, but time is in your favor: You have years — decades, even — to reap returns when the market rises again.
Consumer lenders have offered to help. But some have been more generous than others. Here’s a long list from the banking trade association, and here’s Ron’s column on which lenders stepped up early to let people skip payments, with and without interest accruing. Since he wrote it, both Ally Bank and Bank of America have offered to allow borrowers to defer loan payments. Many credit unions, meanwhile, are offering assistance with loans, debt consolidation and other services.
Building an emergency fund in an emergency. It’s not easy, but even a cushion of $250 can help stave off disaster.
Financial planners offer free advice to distressed individuals. Dozens of members of the XY Planning Network have offered to help people through phone consultations. The Financial Planning Association has its own list of volunteer certified financial planners as well.
Where to get Social Security help. The Social Security Administration is mostly closing its 1,200 offices for routine requests like help with benefit claims. Those requests should go through the agency’s toll-free phone line, (800) 772-1213, and its website. In-person assistance is still available for crucial services, like reinstatement of benefits and assistant for those with severe disabilities. Those seeking in-person help must call in advance. Mark Miller has details here.
How to prep for refinancing your mortgage. Mortgage rates are low right now, and refinancing is a good way to free up cash. But that means everyone else is trying to do it, too. Here’s a guide to making sure you don’t get kicked to the end of the line.
What a shady sales pitch looks like. Sometimes you can tell by the exclamation marks. But one financial planner says to beware if you can’t explain the math of how an investment or debt relief pitch works on the back of a cocktail napkin.
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How To Home-School Your Kids and Work at Home - Realtor.com - March 24, 2020
Households with two working parents, or a single working parent, have long struggled to balance careers and family time, but at least one thing hasn't been on those parents' plates: school.
Now, because of the coronavirus, many parents across the country (and the world) are doing a whole new juggling act: working from home and supervising their kids' education.
They've taken to social media platforms to share their struggles with schooling—in contrast with far more organized parents (who typically don't have jobs) posting meticulously color-coded schedules of their kids' day.
I know it seems like it can’t be done. However, I’m here to tell you that if you're a working parent, it is possible to do both without going crazy.
I have two boys. I’ve home-schooled my 12-year-old since first grade (he’s now in sixth grade) and my 7-year-old for two years now (he’s in first grade). I also work from home full time as a freelance writer, which affords me a flexible schedule. The past two years, my work has increased to well beyond 40 hours a week, but I haven't stopped home-schooling my sons. (My husband is also now working from home due to the pandemic.)
And you know what? I’m not ultraorganized, my kids aren’t always cooperative, and I don't have an extraordinary amount of patience. So, I've been asked a lot, but especially over the past couple of weeks, how the heck do I get it all done?
In fact, I’m not unique. I know many parents who run small businesses or work full time plus home-school their kids. Here’s how we make it work.
Allow adjustment time
Don’t expect things to go smoothly right from the jump. Keep in mind that your children recently went from having nearly every hour of their day mapped out to a bit of a free-for-all.
“This is difficult for everyone —home-school families included—because many things ... are closed down and [we have] limited social interactions,” says Carly Nicole, home-school mother of two and small-business owner.
Nicole's advice is to cut yourself some slack.
“Don't compare yourself to the pictures you've seen in the past of home-schooling friends,” she says.
If you're worried your kids may fall behind, stop yourself. Missing a few days or even weeks of schoolwork won't be the end of the world.
Kids are resilient, and you’ll be surprised by how fast they can catch up. If you need a week or two to figure out how to get your work done and teach your kids, then take the time. Your kids will need time to get used to a new learning environment as well.
Be a parent first, teacher second
I’ll let you in on a little secret: Your kids will probably never see you as a “real teacher.”
Nope. To them, you are Mom and Dad first and foremost. They're not going to raise their hand before they ask you a question, they may pitch a fit over a worksheet, or they might refuse to redo a math problem.
“Don't try to teach them a concept or have them do an assignment at the expense of your relationship with them,” says Nicole. “If you need to take a step back and find a way to connect with your child, do that. Then attack the worksheet later.”
Remember, you've always been their first teacher. Who taught them to talk and sing the alphabet? You did.
Even if you can’t remember how to do the quadratic equation, it won't loosen the bond you have with your child. You're in this together now, so learn how to work with each other first, then Google how to solve a quadratic equation later.
Set your own schedule
Here’s another secret about homeschooling: It won’t take all day, and it doesn't require a rigid schedule. Right now, you may actually have hours added back to your day thanks to a lack of commute as well as a lack of before- and after-school commitments for your kids.
That may give you some flexibility in your schedule. If your job requires you to be available from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., then schedule learning time that can work with your needs.
“Just remember it doesn’t have to look the same as a classroom at school,” says Rachel Denning, mom of four and director of a home-school community.
Learning at home
“Have fun. Relax. Make memories,” suggests Denning. “When it’s not a classroom full of kids, school takes tons less time. Don’t overschedule.”
While we watch the clock in the office to time our meetings, meals, and departures, time becomes more abstract when stuck at home. I recommend using the elasticity to your advantage, and home-school parents agree.
“Setting a school schedule isn't always the best way to go,” says Nina Goss, a full-time pediatric nurse and single home-school parent of eight.
“Sleeping in for certain kids helps tremendously with their concentration, while others prefer to get up early to finish early,” Goss says.
If you're busy with conference calls or have a tight deadline one day, feel free to push back learning until the evening or even the weekend. There is no school bell mandating when your kids can learn, and you’ll eventually fall into a routine that works for your family.
“Don't expect things to run smoothly,” says John Grimes, real estate agent and home-school dad of two. “Get back on track without beating yourself up.”
Ask for help
Don’t be afraid to ask for help from your community. Ask your boss for a deadline extension. Reach out to a friend or family member to help with explaining a concept you don’t fully understand. Use technology to your advantage.
I use FaceTime with my sister to help with grammar or math lessons for my nieces and nephews. Online educational tools like PBSLearning, Discovery Education, and Education.com are now offering services free or at a reduced rate.
And even if you can’t get your kids to understand a concept, you're not failing them. Trust me, I'm no expert on everything I teach. I take advantage of available tools and do my best.
“Do the things that are most important for your child, find some things that you can do together, and don't worry about trying to do all of it," says Denning.
Take a break
We all hit a wall at some point. Even though I home-school, my kids had weekly extracurricular activities they can no longer attend. Yet I still have deadlines to hit, and they still have lessons to complete.
Sometimes my kids get distracted and aren't able to pay attention to the task at hand. But it isn't just the kids who get distracted. Given the daily onslaught of alarming news, it's understandable if you can't focus on teaching math or completing your own work.
Trust me: Kids know what’s going on in the world. They sense the anxiety and stress. So what I'm saying is: Take as many breaks as you (all) need.
Even with social distancing, you can still step outside for a breath of fresh air. Take several walks a day. Eat lunch outdoors. Walk your dog. Heck, take a nap. This may be what saves your sanity.
“Have dance breaks when it gets too stressful,” suggests Denning. “When you or they hit a wall ... stop. Step back. Refocus. Get some exercise.”
A little break here and there will make everyone a little happier—and I'm sure your boss won't mind.
Get creative
With many of these remote learning solutions taking place on a computer or other device, it would be ideal if kids could discover "after-school" activities other than Netflix or video games. After all, this work-from-home/home-school situation may be the reality for months, and for them to spend all their time in front of a screen would be a waste.
Try something new. From my personal experience, I recommend learning a new language together, starting a garden, scheduling daily walks together, or having virtual playdates with friends.
This is also a great time to have kids help with household chores and put them on the path of pitching in. And give yourself a gold star: You're teaching them valuable life skills!
4 things to keep in mind if you're buying a home during the coronavirus pandemic - Businessinsider.com - March 26, 2020
The coronavirus is affecting nearly every aspect of American life. If you used to work in an office, you probably work from home now. If you had been planning a trip, you might find ways to grow your vacation fund until you can travel again.
If you had been looking for a house to buy — well, what are you supposed to do in response to coronavirus? There haven't been many clear answers.
The process of buying a house changed drastically over just a few days. Volatile interest rates, canceled open houses, and longer wait times have left people scratching their heads. Whether it's your first time buying a home or your fifth time, you probably haven't faced this type of situation before.
You may decide to put off buying a home until the pandemic settles down. But if you want to continue with the process, professionals recommend you do four things to adjust to changes caused by the coronavirus.
1. Remember that mortgage rates are volatile right now
You might be surprised that mortgage interest rates are changing so frequently in response to the coronavirus. The Federal Reserve has lowered its rate twice in 2020, which has caused interest rates to decrease on everything from credit cards to savings accounts. Shouldn't mortgage rates be lower, too?
The federal funds rate affects short-term loan rates more than anything else. Mortgages are long-term loans, usually ranging from 15 to 30 years. There's often a correlation, but the federal funds rate's effects on mortgages aren't as cut and dried as its impact on other types of loans.
Instead, mortgage rates heavily rely on demand. For example, when rates were low in early March, lenders were flooded by refinancing applications. Raising mortgage rates helps slow down the stream of applications.
"Generally speaking, when the economy is struggling, mortgage rates fall," says Beatrice de Jong, consumer trends expert at Opendoor. "However, the situation we're in now is unprecedented and rates are constantly changing due to the volatile market. Though rates are increasing today, they could decrease tomorrow."
De Jong recommends buyers prepare for rates to change and try to remain flexible.
2. Start the process as early as possible
"I recommend working with your lender early, even before the offer is accepted," says de Jong. The home buying process is taking longer than usual, and you could end up waiting around if you don't get a jump start.
Yes, the influx of refinancing applications has overwhelmed lenders — but that's not the only reason the process is slowing down. Many companies' employees are now working from home, which sometimes hinders them from working as quickly.
The coronavirus affects more than just lenders, though. There are slowdowns practically every step of they way. "Take, for example, an appraisal," says Andy Taylor, General Manager of Credit Karma Home. "The appraiser physically has to go out to the house ... Many of them are actually asking to have quarantine clauses built in. They want to know that the home they're going to isn't under quarantine because someone there is sick from this virus that's going around."
"The average appraiser is 55 years old," continues Taylor, "so they're 100% in the strike zone of people who might be affected by this."
If you're hoping to buy and move into a home by a certain date, you probably want to contact a real estate broker and lender earlier rather than later, just to get the ball rolling.
3. Ask for video and virtual tours
Many companies have canceled open houses and tours to prevent the spread of germs. Thankfully, you don't have to just rely on online pictures. You can take a digital tour.
"You can essentially live chat with that agent to have them walk you through it," says Taylor. "You can say, 'Hey, I'd love it if we could check out the kitchen now. What kind of countertops does it have? Does the cabinetry have soft-close hinges on it?'"
Some companies also have access to technology that provides virtual tours.
"They'll come into a house and they'll essentially scan it, and it produces a 3-D model that you can walk through the home — almost like a video game," explains Taylor.
Remote buyers have already used this technology in recent years, but it is becoming more widely used as people practice social distancing. The technology is already well-developed and reliable, which might make you feel better about using it in lieu of visiting a home.
4. Find a real estate broker who takes the coronavirus seriously
Taylor recommends choosing a broker who is willing to go above and beyond to help you choose a home during this unique time. "You're certainly not going to go buy a house you've only seen pictures of," he says.
Tours aren't the only part of the process that should be virtual. Normally, closing on a house is done in person with a notary present. If the state you're living in allows it, Taylor also recommends finding a provider that lets you close on a home digitally.
Link to Article
If you had been looking for a house to buy — well, what are you supposed to do in response to coronavirus? There haven't been many clear answers.
The process of buying a house changed drastically over just a few days. Volatile interest rates, canceled open houses, and longer wait times have left people scratching their heads. Whether it's your first time buying a home or your fifth time, you probably haven't faced this type of situation before.
You may decide to put off buying a home until the pandemic settles down. But if you want to continue with the process, professionals recommend you do four things to adjust to changes caused by the coronavirus.
1. Remember that mortgage rates are volatile right now
You might be surprised that mortgage interest rates are changing so frequently in response to the coronavirus. The Federal Reserve has lowered its rate twice in 2020, which has caused interest rates to decrease on everything from credit cards to savings accounts. Shouldn't mortgage rates be lower, too?
The federal funds rate affects short-term loan rates more than anything else. Mortgages are long-term loans, usually ranging from 15 to 30 years. There's often a correlation, but the federal funds rate's effects on mortgages aren't as cut and dried as its impact on other types of loans.
Instead, mortgage rates heavily rely on demand. For example, when rates were low in early March, lenders were flooded by refinancing applications. Raising mortgage rates helps slow down the stream of applications.
"Generally speaking, when the economy is struggling, mortgage rates fall," says Beatrice de Jong, consumer trends expert at Opendoor. "However, the situation we're in now is unprecedented and rates are constantly changing due to the volatile market. Though rates are increasing today, they could decrease tomorrow."
De Jong recommends buyers prepare for rates to change and try to remain flexible.
2. Start the process as early as possible
"I recommend working with your lender early, even before the offer is accepted," says de Jong. The home buying process is taking longer than usual, and you could end up waiting around if you don't get a jump start.
Yes, the influx of refinancing applications has overwhelmed lenders — but that's not the only reason the process is slowing down. Many companies' employees are now working from home, which sometimes hinders them from working as quickly.
The coronavirus affects more than just lenders, though. There are slowdowns practically every step of they way. "Take, for example, an appraisal," says Andy Taylor, General Manager of Credit Karma Home. "The appraiser physically has to go out to the house ... Many of them are actually asking to have quarantine clauses built in. They want to know that the home they're going to isn't under quarantine because someone there is sick from this virus that's going around."
"The average appraiser is 55 years old," continues Taylor, "so they're 100% in the strike zone of people who might be affected by this."
If you're hoping to buy and move into a home by a certain date, you probably want to contact a real estate broker and lender earlier rather than later, just to get the ball rolling.
3. Ask for video and virtual tours
Many companies have canceled open houses and tours to prevent the spread of germs. Thankfully, you don't have to just rely on online pictures. You can take a digital tour.
"You can essentially live chat with that agent to have them walk you through it," says Taylor. "You can say, 'Hey, I'd love it if we could check out the kitchen now. What kind of countertops does it have? Does the cabinetry have soft-close hinges on it?'"
Some companies also have access to technology that provides virtual tours.
"They'll come into a house and they'll essentially scan it, and it produces a 3-D model that you can walk through the home — almost like a video game," explains Taylor.
Remote buyers have already used this technology in recent years, but it is becoming more widely used as people practice social distancing. The technology is already well-developed and reliable, which might make you feel better about using it in lieu of visiting a home.
4. Find a real estate broker who takes the coronavirus seriously
Taylor recommends choosing a broker who is willing to go above and beyond to help you choose a home during this unique time. "You're certainly not going to go buy a house you've only seen pictures of," he says.
Tours aren't the only part of the process that should be virtual. Normally, closing on a house is done in person with a notary present. If the state you're living in allows it, Taylor also recommends finding a provider that lets you close on a home digitally.
Link to Article
Unique Property of the Month: You'll Be Climbing the Walls of This Tiny Home - Zillow.com - February 2020
This month's unique property lets you climb the walls, literally. This tiny home packs a bouldering wall, a roll-up garage door and a full-sized soaking tub into just 250 square feet.
There’s no need to park in the mountains when the rock climbing is right at your doorstep.
At least that’s what the team at Tiny Heirloom figured when they set out to design a tiny home for an intrepid couple looking to take adventure on the road.
The Portland, OR-based company combined two of the things its clients enjoyed most — fitness and being outside — into a 250-square-foot, custom-built home, said Jason Francis, creative director and co-founder at Tiny Heirloom.
The idea for a tiny home with a bouldering wall came from organic brainstorming, Francis said.
“The rock wall really started as a long-shot idea, but the more we thought about it, the more excited we got,” Francis said. “So we figured out a way to make it happen!”
“We’ve built many custom homes,” Francis added, “but this was definitely one of our most unique.”
His team added some rich design elements, including a roll-up garage-style glass door, to bring the outdoors inside. The couple intends to use the place as their primary residence.
The home cost about $145,000, but $35,000 of that went to building the custom climbing wall.
The home is 24 feet long and 13 feet tall, providing plenty of room for outdoor climbing. The bouldering wall is on one side of the home, and the handholds can be reconfigured to change up the climbing route.
One side has a traditional entryway, while the other has the roll-up door to provide expansive views of wherever the home is parked.
The living space contains two lofts: one with an office and the other with a bedroom. Designers hung a chandelier made of Edison bulbs between the two.
The kitchen features a farmhouse sink and full-sized oven. The cabinets are a rich blue color with brass accents. There are two open shelves above the countertops.
The home also contains a dining space with bench-style seating that doubles as storage.
An arched blue-tile doorway leads to the bathroom, which has a full-sized soaking tub, white subway tiles and a rainfall showerhead.
After completing the tiny home and sharing it on social media, Francis said they’ve had a number of inquiries about building similar spaces for clients.
“Ideas have spread from it quite a bit, but no one else has bought the exact same thing,” Francis said. “We have had a client request a rock wall system in the house as a way up to the lofts for his two young boys.”
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