Keeping your business in good financial health isn’t something you can set and forget. Business finances aren’t something that only needs looking at once a year; they need constant monitoring, review and adjustment to keep everything running smoothly.

Even the smallest company needs to stay on top of its finances – after all, things like cash flow and quarterly tax returns are hardly something you can afford to ignore for long. Here are some tips to keep your finances in check this year.

1. Send out the Invoices Ahead of Time

You can’t keep track of every invoice you receive, so you must ensure that your invoices are always sent out in good time. While it’s not possible to stop all invoices from coming in, it is possible to ensure that your invoices are always sent out on time.

The first step is making sure that your business has a clear understanding of when invoices are due. You can then use a generator with the best invoice template to ensure that you capture all the details.

Homebuilders say they’re becoming concerned that increasing numbers of buyers are pulling out of sales contracts for new homes. That’s led to homebuilder confidence falling for the eighth month in a row, according to the Commerce Department this week.

Last month, single-family home construction dropped by 10% annually, falling to its lowest level since the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic.

This year has seen a big slump in buyer demand for new homes. Builders say rising interest rates and the increased cost of building materials are the primary factors behind this. Since January 2020, the average cost to build a new home has risen by 35.7%, and those expenses are typically passed onto buyers. In addition, some construction projects have been delayed by supply chain issues, while inflation is only making things worse.

National Association of Home Builders Chairman Jerry Konter said what we’re seeing is a “housing recession”. He explained that one in five home builders have reduced their asking prices in the last month in an effort to boost sales and stop buyers from canceling their contracts. Despite these efforts, single-family housing starts are expected to decline this year compared to a year earlier, which would be the first time they have decreased since 2011.

There could be some relief on the horizon, with some economists saying they’re seeing signs that inflation is peaking and mortgage rates are stabilizing. National Association of Realtors Chief Economist Lawrence Yun says the persistent shortage of homes should ensure that demand from buyers remains elevated over the long term.

The average American spends over 70 hours a year working in their yard. 70 hours – almost three whole days – when they’re not having fun with the family or doing other activities. Doesn’t that sound like a lot of time to devote to something most of us don’t even enjoy?

The good news is that there are many lawn care services out there who’ll gladly do the hard work for you. They’re also seasoned pros who’ll do more than share tips for a healthy lawn – they’ll do it for you. And they’ll provide professional lawn care to a standard we weekend warriors can only dream of.

Let’s take a look at America’s top 10 lawncare services that make life easier for home owners from sea to sea.

1. TruGreen

TruGreen offers its services to 48 states, with only Alaska and Hawaii currently excluded.

The service begins with a lawn analysis. TruGreen then offers four different plans, providing a range of services:

According to recent data, mortgage applications are at their worst in 22 years. Just a short time ago, it seemed everyone was in a rush to either buy a home or refinance, but now Americans have put the brakes on the housing market. 

There are several reasons for the dip in mortgage applications, including mortgage rates, inflation, housing supply, and what many fear is an unstable economy. It’s anyone’s guess when the market will bounce back and recover.

Here’s more on why mortgage applications continue to decline.

Mortgage Rates

A rise in mortgage rates is one of the biggest reasons mortgage applications continue to drop. Many people are skittish about borrowing money to buy a house as the rates continue to rise. 

Mortgage rates jumped more than 2 percent since the end of 2021; in August 2022, they are at a little more than five percent. Since 1976, mortgage rates have been in decline. There are few times in history when mortgage rates rose this fast, affecting the housing market. 

Whether you are trying to save a down payment for a first home or need to get better control of your household budget, loan consolidation can be at least part of the answer. The other part of the answer is spending less than you earn. Here, we take a look at the differences between consolidating credit card debt through a personal loan compared to a new credit card with an introductory rate of 0% APR.

The Basic Limitations of 0% APR Transfers

The post-COIVD economy is affecting most of us in unusual ways. This includes credit card companies and banks. Many people used credit cards for an extended time to help get by on a reduced income or no income at all. Now that things are a little more normal, people are still struggling financially with inflation and the prospects of a recession. A tight income and stretched budget reduce the options you have available to consolidate debt. Many credit card companies have stopped offering 0% APR balance transfers, restricted the availability, are charging a balance transfer fee, or reduced the amount you can transfer interest-free. The amount you are allowed to transfer is often lower than your actual balance or card limit. That means you might be able to transfer most of the balance over to 0% but you’ll also end up adding another credit card to your wallet to keep track of. Not exactly the consolidation you were looking for.

There are reasons to read the fine print before transferring to another card. Some cards charge a balance transfer fee between 2% and 5%. There are cards that don’t charge a transfer fee, but you need to search those out. Another obstacle that you might face is that card transfers typically require a good or excellent credit rating. Also, know how long the 0% APR promotion period lasts and if you can reasonably pay off your debt before it ends. People with the highest-rated credit scores might find a 0% promotional period that lasts as long as 18 months. However, most last 12 months or less.

Personal Loans Are Not 0%

If you are saving a down payment to buy a home, you should already be aware that interest rates fluctuate daily. With the Federal Reserve raising interest rates, credit card rates are also going higher. In July 2022 the average APR was 15.13% but the average in August has risen to 17.98%.

A 24-month personal loan can be as low as 3% but will likely range up to 9.6%. The rate you qualify for will vary depending on your credit score, annual income, and debt-to-income ratio. If you take out a longer-term personal loan, the interest rate will be slightly higher.

Elevated home prices and rising interest rates are feeding into housing affordability woes for potential buyers, especially those with lower credit scores. A new Zillow analysis shows that, nationally, buyers with “fair” credit could be paying up to $288 more on their monthly mortgage payment than those with “excellent” credit.

A buyer’s credit profile plays an important role in how much a home ultimately costs.

Today’s home shoppers can expect to pay around 62% more per month to buy a typically priced U.S. home than they would have a year ago. Zillow examined credit scores against current mortgage rates and found that such monthly cost increases are exacerbated for millions of Americans with low credit scores or less than perfect credit histories.

A borrower with an “excellent” credit score — between 760 and 850 — can qualify for a 30-year fixed-rate mortgage with a 5.099% interest rate. For the same loan, a similar borrower with a “fair” credit score — between 620 and 639 — qualifies for a 6.688% rate. This equates to a $288 difference in monthly mortgage payments and nearly $103,626 in interest over the life of a 30-year fixed loan, based on the current price of a typical U.S. home ($354,165).

“When you are thinking about buying a home, the best first step you can take is to fully understand your financial picture, what you can afford and your outstanding debts or obligations,” said Libby Cooper, Zillow Home Loans vice president. “If you find you have low credit, take realistic steps to improve your credit score by doing things like disputing possible report errors and paying down as much debt as possible. This could increase the amount of home loan you qualify for.”

Americans are constantly on the move, and using U-Haul trucks is still one of the most popular ways people choose to get their stuff from one place to another. According to one study, each year, approximately 9.8 percent of Americans move to a new home. 

But with gas prices skyrocketing and the cost of living continuing to increase, is using U-Haul trucks to move still an affordable choice?

Read on to see if U-Haul costs are rising and to learn about the basics of moving truck rental costs and moving costs. You’ll be able to determine whether choosing U-Haul is a viable option for you.

U-Haul Costs Remain Stable

In a June 2022 press release, U-Haul claimed that its low base rates for in-town rentals remained the same. The fleet of U-Haul trucks also includes a variety of fuel-saving features that are much more efficient than the competition.

The company also has over 23,000 different rental locations across the nation, giving residents in every state a much more easily accessible choice. Not only does this make it easier for you, but it also reduces fuel use. Simply find the nearest U-Haul location, and drop off the truck when you’re done.

Nearly 87% of people who buy homes finance their home purchases. While many choose 30-year loans, some choose a 15-year mortgage. Financing a home is the easiest way to buy a house. After all, it allows you to pay off your home for the next 15 to 30 years instead of saving enough money to pay cash for it.

But why choose a 15-year loan? What causes people to want a shorter loan?

Here is a guide to help you learn why a 15-year mortgage is the best option when financing a home purchase.

Pay It Off Faster

Many people choose 30-year mortgages to have enough time to repay their loans, but many also turn to 15-year loans. The number one reason to choose a shorter loan is to pay it off faster.

You’ll see a big difference if you consider your current age and age when you repay the loan. For example, if you’re 30 years old, you can repay your mortgage by age 45 or 60. Which do you prefer?

Alongside having a baby and getting married, moving and buying a home are among the most stressful experiences we face but ultimately enjoy. Even if you’re excited to have finally found your dream home, it doesn’t make the process any less harrowing.

First, you have to find your home, which can be extra challenging in a hot market. Then, you have to go through negotiations, escrow, inspections, meetings with loan officers, and so on all before you finally get the keys to your new place. And after all of that, you still have to pack up your whole life, move it, and unpack it in your new place. It’s a lot to manage, especially if you are buying your first home or moving a long distance.

Fortunately, there are steps you can take to remove some of the hardship so you can have time and energy to enjoy this exciting time in your life. Here are eight ways to eliminate some of the stress you may face while unpacking from a long move.

Make a to-do list

Before you start collecting or buying moving boxes, the first step in making your packing experience less stressful is to make a comprehensive to-do list. That sounds basic, but having this list will help you have a clear focus and ensure you don’t forget anything.

You can customize your list however you like. You might start with general, big picture tasks such as, “sell and donate unwanted items” and “get packing supplies.” After that, you can break the bigger projects into smaller, more manageable tasks, such as “sort kitchen utensils into sell, donate, keep piles”, “photograph items for sale”, “list items for sale” and so on. 

Saudi property development company Dar Al Arkan is growing its presence in eight countries after earning a reputation for creating opulent, comfortable living spaces. Currently, co-branding is one of the biggest trends in luxury living, which is why Dar Al Arkan is partnering with some of the most famous names in high fashion: Versace, Missoni, Elie Saab, and Pagani.

It’s been a natural evolution for the company, which was launched by six families in 1994. Designers tend to start with a clothing line before branching out to accessories like sunglasses, jewelry, shoes, and handbags. Real estate is the next step in extending their designs, and Dar Al Arkan offers designers stunning spaces to further explore their brand. According to the property development company’s CEO Sheikh Yousef Al Shelash, “Co-branding is reaching cars, yachts, planes, and real estate. Co-branding with luxury brands is a big real estate and hospitality trend.”

Exclusivity Drives Demand for Co-Branded Luxury Abodes 

“Co-branded real estate is the limited edition of real estate. It is a big trend because there are more and more people looking to buy a limited number of units. When you do a project in a certain city with a certain brand, you only present a limited number of units,” explains Al Shelash. “So there is a big trend around the globe right now of people who would like to buy units with limited numbers, just like they’re buying watches, and they’re buying jewelry — they want to buy everything that is a limited edition. This is why it is a major trend these days in real estate.” 

Research shows that developers can increase their profits by approximately one-third with branded properties. Dar Al Arkan’s fully serviced, designer-branded homes help set them apart from others in the industry and act as a magnet to attract an aspirational clientele. With wealthy consumers wanting to live in designer developments with five-star amenities and restaurants, it can be an asset for developers to partner with a trusted brand.

Al Shelash confirms that the company has been able to elevate its status since proving that these well-known designer corporations enjoy successful collaborations with the company. “Partnerships elevate the image of the company by showing that the company has not only been trusted by our customers over the last 28 years but can also be trusted by mega brands,” he says. “It expanded our customer base because now we are able to deal with economic classes from the mid-economic classes to the ultra-high-net-worth.”

Owning a cooling and heating system requires regular maintenance to ensure efficiency and extend its useful life. To achieve this, you need professional technicians to care for your heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) needs. 

But how can you find trustworthy technicians who won’t con you because you don’t understand much about HVAC systems? This guide below will help you identify signs of a quality HVAC service provider. 

Gets Good Reviews

The best place to scour through every review available is the internet. Go through Google, Facebook, Yelp, and other sites where frustrated and satisfied customers can post a review. Don’t rely too much on the ones posted on a service provider’s website. They likely filter out the nasty comments. 

On the other hand, don’t make a decision based on just one bad review. You’re looking for a trustworthy company, not a perfect one. Remember that technicians can make mistakes.

Dig deeper until you’ve gathered enough good and bad reviews to see patterns. They can help you decide to go one way or another.  It also helps to get the opinion of your family and friends who have dealt with HVAC companies before. 

Ask Brian is a weekly column by Real Estate Expert Brian Kline. If you have questions on real estate investing, DIY, home buying/selling, or other housing inquiries please email your questions to askbrian@realtybiznews.com.

Question from Patti in GA: Hi Brian, Why is the paperwork to buy a house so lengthy and confusing? I’m buying my first house and a friend told me that I’ll spend a couple of hours at the closing signing a pile of papers that I probably won’t understand much about. So, I asked my agent what this is all about and what I should expect. He went through a checklist with me and explained what documents I can expect to review and sign. After I left his office, I realized I still had a few questions. The most important question that I still have is about title insurance. My agent said something about it being insurance that the seller has the legal right to sell the property to me. There are a lot of insurance costs going on here. I understand the homeowner’s insurance and I’m not fond of it, but I understand the mortgage insurance that I pay but is for the benefit of my mortgage company. But why do I need title insurance that guarantees the seller has the right to sell the house to me?

Answer: Hello Patti. Yep, there is a pile of paperwork that you need to understand and sign at closing. You’re wise to have started asking questions before you are confronted by it all at one time. When it comes to title insurance, your agent might have oversimplified it or you might not have caught everything that was said about it. There is more to it than just insuring the seller has the right to sell the property to you.

Title insurance protects you from financial loss and related legal expenses in the event there is a defect in the title to your property that is covered by the policy. Title insurance differs from other types of insurance in that it focuses on risk prevention, rather than risk assumption. With title insurance, title examiners review the history of your property with the intent of eliminating title issues before the purchase occurs. Title insurance also differs in that it comes with no monthly payment. It’s a one-time premium paid at closing.

It’s more than just insuring the seller has the right to sell because it covers many situations that the seller might not even be aware of. Patti, this is probably the biggest purchase that you’ve made in your life, and you’ll be obligated to pay the mortgage for many years to come. You want to be sure that you are receiving a clean title or in other words, that another person or company can’t claim they have a legal right to part or all of your home. Any number of title issues may arise, even after the most meticulous search of public records. Most houses have been bought and sold several times over the years. There is a potential for discrepancies in those large piles of papers that might have happened several sales ago. These hidden defects are dangerous because you might not learn about them for months, or even years, after purchase. Some common examples of risks covered by your Owner’s Policy include defects in title caused by:

Believe it or not, over a million home burglaries occur every year. When scoping out a house to steal from, burglars look for easy targets. They break into houses when people are at work or on vacation. But most importantly, they look for residences that don’t have home security. Because the last thing a burglar wants is to run into a smart home.

Smart home technology, from doorbell cams to motion-detecting CCTV, means burglars think twice. The question becomes, ‘why are smart home options so superior to other types of security?’ 

Join me as I discuss the reasons why smart home security provides the best crime prevention available.

What Makes a Smart Home?

Technology is affecting the real estate industry in fascinating ways. Smart home options for security are just one of these things.

A smart home is a loose term for any residence that makes use of Internet of Things (IoT) technology. Internet of things refers to having a network of interconnected smart devices. These devices not only give me finer control over them, but they communicate with each other to better serve me.

Giving your home curb appeal doesn’t have to be a time-consuming, difficult, or expensive task. Sometimes, a few minor steps are all it takes to make a major difference.

Make Your House Look Great

Here are three simple things you can do to give your home the curb appeal it deserves.

One: Tidy Up Your Front Yard

Your front yard is the first thing that visitors see when they come to your home, so use it to make a good impression. Start by mowing the lawn and trimming any bushes or trees. If you have flower beds, make sure they are well cared for and free from weeds.

Add some color with hanging baskets or by planting lots of bright flowers. Lastly, make sure the path to your front door is clear and free of any debris.

Two: Install Outdoor Lighting

One of the quickest and easiest ways to improve your home’s curb appeal is to install some outdoor lighting. Path lights are a great way to illuminate your walkway and make it easy for visitors to find your front door. You can also add some accent lights to highlight features in your landscaping.

Proptech startup Hover, which has created technology that uses smartphone photos to build digital twins of properties, is expanding its capabilities to include blueprint uploads.

The company said contractors on new constructions will be able to make use of its entire solution, which generates 3D models and exterior measurements, using blueprints of designs. In other words, it now supports both existing homes (through smartphone photos) and new constructions.

Hover explained that its solution transforms blueprints into a complete 3D model of a new home or building, complete with comprehensive measurements for the property’s exteriors. Contractors can use the 3D models for takeoff, proposals and ordering features.

Hover founder and Chief Executive A.J. Altman said the company’s mission is to help people improve their homes using 3D property data. Today’s launch, he said, makes the company’s mission even more accessible.

“Supporting contractors in streamlining their workflows is at the core of what we do,” he added. “Now, with a faster, easier, more affordable path to prepare takeoffs for new construction bids, contractors can simplify their bidding process and stand out from the competition with inspiring, visual representations of the finished product.”

Having risen to its highest level in 40 years last June, inflation declined marginally at the end of last month. Due to a decrease in the Consumer Price Index’s gasoline index, that market remained unchanged compared to one month earlier, having hit a seasonally adjusted rate of 1.3% in June.

The Bureau of Labor Statistics said the CPI for all items increased 8.5% in July, down from the 9.1% gain a month earlier.

Michelle Bowman, a member of the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System, told HousingWire that she sees a “significant risk” of higher inflation into next year with regard to necessities such as food, fuel, housing and vehicles.

“Rents have grown dramatically, and while home sales have slowed, the continued increasing price of single-family homes indicates to me that rents won’t decline anytime in the near future,” Bowman said. “Recently, gasoline prices have moderated but are still roughly 80% higher than pre-pandemic levels due to constrained domestic supply and the disruption of world markets.”

The CPI data shows that the energy index dropped 4.6% last month thanks to decreased prices of natural gas and gasoline. Americans are now spending 7.7% less to fill up their cars than they did a month earlier. However, the energy index is still up by a whopping 32.9 compared to the year before.

Mortgage rates last week rebounded, having dropped towards the end of July. As a result, mortgage demand was split, with refinancing applications moving higher while homebuyer applications fell, according to the latest data from the Mortgage Bankers Association.

The data shows that the average contract interest rate for a 30-year fixed-rate mortgage with a conforming loan balance rose to 5.47% last week, up from 5.43% a week prior. That saw points rise to 0.80 from 0.65 for loans with a 20% down payment.

While the weekly average didn’t change much, daily moves were more dramatic.

Another read from Mortgage News Daily showed the average rate on the 30-year fixed jumping 45 basis points at the start of last week, then falling 41 basis points on Thursday and then jumping up again by 36 basis points. Mortgage rates don’t often move in such large increments.

That volatility was likely behind the gain in refinancing, which has been falling steadily since the start of this year. Those applications rose 4% for the week. Some may have been taking fast advantage of the drop in rates or were still hoping to get the lower offerings from previous weeks. Refinancing, however, is still down 82% from a year ago, when rates were right around 3%.

This week we travel down to Tampa, Florida, in search of the top real estate professionals in the region. As has been the process in past weeks, we rely on Google and Zillow ratings to isolate the agencies, then drill down to find out their digital and conventional marketing practices. Our methods continue to shift, but we’re homing in on ways consumers can quickly isolate and evaluate the professionals best capable of converting sales. We also found the same sad situation in Tampa, which we’ve run across in other medium-sized markets. With hundreds of agents to choose from, relatively few actually use all the available tools to service clients. Here’s this week’s list.

I almost missed Tampa, Florida’s most prolific agency. Were it not for the relative mediocrity of Andrew Duncan’s competitors, a slight flaw in my methodology would have left him off this list. You see, the 5-star/100 plus Google and Zillow criteria I established for previous lists do not cover all circumstances. The Duncan Duo team has one horrible review out of over 1,000, which takes their rating down to 4.8. So, it’s a good thing I went back to search Tampa agents for a superstar. Somehow, I knew there had to be a Tampa-St. Pete marketing hero out there.

Duncan has no peers in the realm of marketing, according to what I found. Facebook, Instagram, Inc. 500, almost 3,000 subscribers on a real estate Youtube channel, the guy needs a costume like Green Lantern. Seriously, in hundreds of reviews of real estate professionals nationwide, only a handful are as good. The only negative, I could find across this Tampa agent’s footprint is the fact his dentist made the man’s teeth too white. The smile from the guy will blind you even on Instagram. As you can tell from the share I use for his profile pic. If Duncan has one strike against him, it’s his ghastly ugly website, which does pass SEO with a score of 89/100. No seriously, this is the guy I’d get to sell my house in this region. I’m not alone in this assessment either. Duncan Duo has been the No. 1 Re/Max agent in Florida and the No. 8 team in the world, as well as having been endorsed by Barbara Corcoran (Shark Tank). Come on, the guy even has his own radio show.

Zillow has said its artificial intelligence-powered virtual home tours are now available nationwide on all listings, giving prospective home buyers and renters a better sense of a home before they step inside.

The free, AI-generated floor plan tool is known as “Zillow Surfing”, and is meant to save searchers valuable time while they’re looking through available listings.

The interactive floor plans by Zillow give shoppers an in-person perspective of properties for sale or rent. The technology, which is powered by Zillow tech but available to use for free on listings anywhere, acts as a dynamic guide to give shoppers digital insight and detail so they can more quickly and easily narrow their search to only the homes they love and want to see in person. Zillow uses machine learning to not only generate floor plans, but also imports each listing photo and places it on the floor plan, giving shoppers an in-person perspective of a home’s shape and flow that simply scrolling through static images can never do.

“Zillow surfing has always been about imagining all the possibilities a move could bring, and Zillow surfing 2.0 is bringing those possibilities to life in a much more interactive, realistic way,” said Josh Weisberg, vice president of Zillow’s Rich Media Experience team. “Now shoppers can act more quickly and confidently, whether they’re searching in their own neighborhood or hundreds or thousands of miles away. We’re pushing the boundaries of what home buyers and renters can expect when shopping for a home online.”

For buyers and renters, Zillow’s AI-generated floor plan means navigating more seamlessly and naturally through photos, a 3D Home tour and other listing information, getting a remarkably accurate sense of a home’s flow and space. An hour of teleporting through interactive floor plans on Zillow can replace an afternoon, or longer, of scheduling tours and driving around town to see homes in person.

Did you know that nearly half of Americans have adopted a new dog since the start of 2020? With all of these new pet dogs, the canine retreat industry has been booming! But what does it really take to start your own canine real estate retreat like Paw & Pints? Is it really that difficult?

If you are trying to start a canine retreat, you are probably aware of how profitable they can be. However, it takes a lot of time and research to find the land, managers, employees, and so much more. Keep on reading for some tips on how to develop a canine retreat!

Learn Everything About Pet Boarding

Dog boarding is simply the act of caring for pets while their owners are gone. Pet owners pay a specific cost to boarding facilities for an agreed-upon duration of time.

The idea is to create a secure and enjoyable environment for animals to stay in when pet owners have responsibilities or want their animals to be entertained and cared for.

Learn the canine terms related to pet boarding and examine additional terminology resources. This will ensure you are aware of the lexicon and can communicate effectively when your business opens its doors.