Tips for Buying a Home

The American Dream: the white picket fence, the 2.5 kids, and a single family home. If this is your first time buying a home, this can be a very exciting, scary, and confusing process. We wanted to provide a few tips from our experiences that will simply the process for you, and make it easy.

 

Step 1: Find an Agent

Note that you don’t necessarily need to get a buyer’s agent to get a house, but getting one will save you a lot of time and headaches. Agents have a database called the MLS that they can search for your perfect home, and they also frequently know of homes coming on the market before it is public knowledge. They will also help you get a better deal on the home, potentially saving you thousands of dollars.

 

Step 2: Search for Your Home

Whether you have engaged an agent or not, now is time to start searching for your new home. We recommend scheduling 5-7 home viewings per day, at most, because any more than that may be overwhelming. These days many buyers spend a lot of time researching homes online before even stepping foot in one. Try picking your ideal neighborhood(s) first, and then start looking at homes available in that neighborhood.

 

Step 3: Get a Loan

Once you’ve found your ideal place to live, it’s time to secure your funding. One tip is to get pre-approved for your loan, meaning that the lender has looked at all your financial information and has let you know how much you can afford and how much they will lend to you. This also saves you time in the home buying process, because now you won’t waste time looking at homes you can’t afford.

 

It’s also smart to start saving for your home early. Many home buyers put 20% down on their loan, but many loan programs let you go as low at 3%. The more money you have saved to put towards a down payment the more you will save in interest payments, so keep that in mind as you are house-shopping.

 

Step 4: Negotiate The Offer

Now that you have your money, it’s time to negotiate your offer. A common mistake buyers make is comparing the property they want to other properties currently available on the market. This is a mistake because it’s not necessarily an apples to apples comparison, you may be comparing homes of different sizes, with different features, in different locations. Instead, a buyer’s agent can help you by comparing the listing price of the home to comparable homes that have sold in the neighborhood. Also remember, the seller can list any selling price that they want, that doesn’t necessarily mean that the home is worth that much. In a seller’s market, you may even have to pay more than the listing price.

 

Step 5: Home Inspection

It’s important to conduct a home inspection before moving in so that there are no unexpected bills once you move in. If you will be doing a major clean out before moving in, you should consider renting a dumpster, as it will make the entire process of throwing things out much easier.

 

Armed with these tips, you’ll be in a much better place to buy a home. Best of luck on your search.

Tips for Avoiding Getting a Ticket

Image this: you’re driving along, happy as a clam, when all of a sudden you see those dreaded flashing blue and red lights in your mirror. That’s right, you’re getting pulled over. There aren’t many worse feelings in the world than getting pulled over, but it’s not the end of the world. Just because you’re getting pulled over doesn’t necessarily mean that you will be getting a ticket. However, it’s smart to take some precautions and implement good driving habits to avoid getting tickets in the future. Here are some suggestions to avoid getting speeding tickets in the future, brought to you by the best auto glass repair shop in Corona, the Corona Windshield Repair Pros. Having your car’s glass intact is an important safety precaution, so if you are in the Inland Empire of California and have a cracked windshield, definitely visit their shop.

 

Go The Speed Limit

Many times the best solutions are often the simplest. In the case of avoiding a speeding ticket, if you just go the speed limit, then you won’t get a speeding ticket. Simple as that! According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, speeding was a factor in 30% of all fatal crashes in 2012, resulting in over 10,000 lives lost. There’s a reason why we have speed limits, going over them is dangerous of the driver, the passengers, and other people near the vehicle.

 

Pay Attention to Signage

Many times we are driving on a small residential highway where the speed limit is slightly higher than the surrounding residential streets, and we don’t realize that the speed limit has suddenly dropped to 25 mph’s. People often get speeding tickets in these situations because they didn’t pay attention to the signage, or the sign was not in a conspicuous place. It’s a safe bet to stay under 25 mph’s when in any residential area to avoid these kinds of tickets. Also, many driving and navigation apps these days have speed limit warnings in them, such as Waze, Google Maps, and Apple Maps. You may even have speed limit warnings in your car if it is a newer model. While you should always rely on posted signage, you can use these programs as suggestions in case there is no signage.

 

Choose the Right Car

Did you know that the color and make of your car plays a role in getting pulled over? Indeed, studies have shown that white, gray, silver, and red cars get pulled over more often than other vehicles. Also these specific models get pulled over 4-5 times more than other models:

 

  • Mercedes Benz SL
  • Toyota Camry Solara
  • Scion T

 

While it’s unreasonable to ask you to change the color of your car or to switch models at the drop of a hat, when you are choosing your next vehicle these are factors you should consider.

 

Be Respectful

Once you’ve been pulled over, it’s important for you to be respectful to the officer(s) you are dealing with. Many of these officers risk their lives on a daily basis for our protection, and while getting pulled over is an annoyance, they are just doing their job and trying to keep us all safe. Being respectful, honest, and courteous will give you the best chance at getting out of your ticket.

How to Prepare for Tax Season

The new year may have just started, but that means one thing: tax season is just around the corner. While this is usually a stressful time for many Americans, it doesn’t have to be. With just a little preparation and forethought, you can avoid a lot of stress and many headaches, so that when April 15 rolls around, you are ready. Whether you are filing them yourself using an online program or working with an accountant, here’s how you can prepare for tax season.

 

Note: this article has been brought to you by Fayetteville Dumpster Rental, Cumberland county’s premiere dumpster rental service.

 

Gather All Pertinent Information

 

Whether you are filing taxes yourself or using a tax preparer, it’s a good idea to locate your social security card and/or tax ID card. When meeting with your tax preparer, it’s better to be overprepared, than under. Additionally, bring your primary form of identification and last year’s tax return before the appointment.

 

If you have any dependents (people who depend on you for financial support), gather their social security and/or tax ID numbers, their dates of birth, any childcare payment records, and any alimony payments.

 

Track Your Income

 

To make the process of filing your taxes easy, it’s important to keep track of your income throughout the year. Your Form W-2 is for wages/salary, federal and state tax withholding, tips, and earned income credit. Your employer should give this to you by January 31st so you have plenty of time to file your taxes. There are also various 1099 forms that you’ll need. They cover everything from unemployment benefits to freelance work and sales from properties and stocks. Finally, a Form W-2G covers any income from gambling. Discuss which forms you’ll need with your tax preparer, or visit the IRS’ website for a complete list of the different income related forms.

 

Track Your Deductions

Tax deductions allow you to reduce your taxable income that is subject to state and federal income taxes. Decreasing your taxable income decreases the amount of taxes you pay, so it’s important to keep track of the many deductions you may be eligible for. Here is a quick list of some common deductions:

  • Various expenses if self-employed, including credit card statements and receipts
  • Real estate and property taxes
  • Expenses related to investments
  • Childcare expenses, including daycare and babysitters
  • Sales tax paid on a vehicle
  • Contributions made towards a retirement fund
  • Expenses related to natural disaster losses
  • Certain educational expenses
  • Interest on student loans
  • Charitable donations
  • Expenses for rental homes
  • Medical expenses, including payments made to doctors, dentists, clinics, or hospitals
  • Insurance payments
  • Job-related vehicle expenses

 

Plan Ahead

 

The best way to prepare for tax season is to keep track of your expenses and income throughout the year. There are plenty of accounting softwares out there such as Quickbooks and Freshbooks that make tracking your expenses and income a breeze. You can even give your accountant access so they can directly view your statements and create reports without your intervention. Once you develop good accounting habits, tax season will be a breeze from here on out.

How to Be a Good Juror

So, you’ve been selected to be a juror. Congratulations! You are going to partake in one of the most important aspects of our legal system: the right for the accused to be judged by a counsel of their peers. While many people shirk the responsibility of being a juror, many also embrace the opportunity. This article is for the latter group. Here are a few tips to keep in mind as you start your civic duty as a juror:

 

  1. One of the most important things a juror should think about is not to make any conclusions about the case until you hear all the evidence presented. In our country, suspects are innocent until proven guilty, and your thoughts at the beginning of the case may very well change before the trial is over. Save your conclusion-making until the Deliberation period, and just focus on absorbing all the evidence presented by both sides. In a criminal trial, the prosecution presents their side first, then the defendant presents their side, so it’s important to keep an open mind until you hear both sides.

 

  1. It is important to be completely honest and authentic throughout the jury duty experience. During the jury selection process (known as a Voir Dire), the attorneys and judge will ask you questions to determine if you will be selected to be a member in the final jury. If you fail to answer honestly to these questions, you could cause a mistrial and appeal after the case is finished. If you have anything sensitive you need to share, you can do so by speaking to the judge privately. The purpose of the questioning is to understand your opinions and thoughts on certain topics, so there’s no need to try to try to say what you think the lawyers and judge want (or don’t want) to hear. Honesty is always the best policy!

 

  1. If allowed by the judge, it’s a good idea to take notes. Trials can be long and filled with details, so keeping notes will help you remember aspects of the trial when it comes to Deliberations. Trials can also be exceedingly dry, and taking notes will help you stay engaged and focused.

 

  1. Asking questions is perfectly fine during the trial. Lawyers are sometimes so involved in their own case that they don’t realize that jurors don’t understand every legal concept. Some jurisdictions even allow jurors to ask questions directly to the lawyers. It’s important that you understand all the facts of the case to make an informed decision, so the judge will be happy to help you understand the law.

 

The opportunity to be on a jury is a luxury that residents in many other parts of the world view as a privilege. Treat it as such and know that you’re contributing to a better country for everyone.

How to Find The Right Estate Planning Attorney

Throughout history, it has often been said that one’s legacy should be the focus of one’s life. In modern times, an estate planning attorney advises their clients on how to prepare for when they inevitably pass away. Note that a good estate planning attorney will go beyond just writing a last will and testament, they will help mitigate or avoid estate taxes, and discuss the possibility of a living trust to ensure that your beneficiaries are taken care of when you are gone. Other services they often provide include setting up power of attorney or healthcare instructions should you become mentally unfit to make healthcare decisions for yourself.

 

Find a Good Estate Planning Attorney

 

Finding a good estate planning attorney is important for the future security of your loved ones, and for your peace of mind. If you have an accountant, a financial advisor, or another kind of attorney, these are all great people to ask for referrals. Accountants and financial advisors frequently interact with estate planning attorneys as they all handle financial information and records for their clients. Asking your accountant or financial advisor who set up their estate plan is an easy way to broach the subject with them.

 

Many consumers turn to Google or Yelp to find their estate planning attorney. While this is certainly a viable strategy, be sure to pay attention to their reviews, and also check their business profiles on multiple directories (such as Yelp, Yellowpages, and your state’s bar association) to get a complete picture of the business. Next, you should meet with at least a couple different estate planning attorneys to compare your experience.

 

Meeting with An Estate Planning Attorney

 

When you meet with the attorney who will potentially be planning your estate, there are a few questions you should make sure to ask:

 

  1. How long have you been in business? Asking this question will certainly give you an idea of their level of experience and competence.

 

  1. Who is on your legal team? Some lawyers work by themselves, while others work in teams and have paralegals to assist. It’s important that you know who will be handling your affairs.

 

  1. What will the costs be? Naturally, their services will cost money, so it’s best to bring this up right away so there are no surprises later on in the process. While estate planning may not be cheap, the peace of mind and legal frameworks they set up will be well worth the money, and potentially save you money via avoided taxes and disputes down the line. Note that just because they quote you on a price, you may be able to negotiate with them. Lawyers are also often open to payment plans, so remain flexible and ask them if they can work with you on the payment terms.

 

Once you begin the process of searching for an estate planning attorney, any attorney you meet with should be able to handle any specific legal questions you have. You’ll be glad to know that your loved ones are taken care of once you’ve found your attorney.