With one-click purchasing on Amazon and debit cards replacing cash, it’s easy to mismanage your finances. Your money seems always to be out-of-sight, out-of-mind. This negligence makes it harder for us to manage our finances. Luckily, AI is here to rescue us from our financial mismanagements. Here are the 5 best apps to help you manage your finances more efficiently.

 

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Personal Capital

Personal Capital is the best for those who are new to saving and creating budgets. The interface is easy to use and is customized for all platforms. What makes Personal Capital such a popular money managing app is that it allows you to input your investments as well. It takes these into consideration when the app analyzes if you are aligned with your budget goals. Therefore, the app is continuously updating its information to be concurrent with your financial situation.

 

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Mint

Mint is an excellent app for someone who is a bit of a micromanager. It has a comprehensive Budgeting Tools interface. Within, you can create subcategories. That way you can allocate your resources among significant expenses such as vacations, birthdays, and bills. This money managing app also has a Bill Pay section that allows you to pay your bills through the app. Handily enough, Mint will send a notification when the bill is due.

 

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PocketGuard

Sometimes you come to a harsh realization when you start managing your finances. You spend too much. With PocketGuard, their algorithms analyze your spending habits. In there, they find areas where you can save and offer actionable suggestions. PocketGuard also tracks your reoccurring bill expenditures. They can also help you find ways to save monthly on these continuous expenses.

 

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Wally

If you’re trying to travel the world on a budget, then Wally is the financial app for you. It recognizes many foreign currencies and considers them. Therefore, if you find yourself backpacking through Europe, it helps you decide which currency will give you the best bang for your buck…or Euro…or yen…

 

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Acorns

Acorns have gained a lot of mainstream attention as of late. It’s a unique approach to financial budgeting. With Acorns, they round up on every transaction you make. The change that’s left over is then invested. If the change isn’t adding up fast enough, you can add to your Acorns balance. Just set-up recurring monthly payments to the app and they’ll continue to invest your money. Therefore, you are investing at low costs with little to no effort.

 

Your home needs some work. Maybe a little, maybe a LOT. Maybe you’ve lived in your home forever and can’t imagine leaving it, or feel that you’ve just moved in and haven’t gotten the most out of it yet. The trouble? The amount of work it needs to make this house your home makes moving sound a lot more desirable. This is never an easy decision, but there are some guidelines that can help you make the right choice for you.

Money Matters
Of course finances are a huge part of the decision-making process. If your home is lacking in some major ways (big renovations, costly repairs, outdated) then you will not be able to sell for the best price. The home’s next owners will have to put these costs in, so you’ll be selling with this in mind. On the other hand, if you are downsizing it might be in your best interest to sell as is, then find a comparable property and avoid the headache of renovations.

Other thing to consider is the resale value of your home if you do go through with the renovations. Once you update and enjoy the home for a while, how much better value can you expect to get out of your home with it’s new makeover? If it will be substantial, you might consider taking the renovation route.

Quality of Life
Renovations can cause quite a upstir – as does moving. When making this big decision, tune into what kind of short-term annoyances you’ll be signing up for. This all depends on the type and amount of renovations you’re considering, as well as how far away a move you would take.

Neighborly Advice
When you move, you don’t just move house. You move communities. Although we are quite lucky here in Long Beach with the quality of our neighborhoods, certain areas feel more like home to some. Important things to consider are your daily conveniences and overall feel of your neighborhood. Do you love your neighbors? How will your commute change? Are you ready for a change? Now, all these things could be better or easier elsewhere, and that’s something to consider as well.

Make the Best of It
Whatever you choose, choose to make the best of it. If you decide to move, take your time to find a house that offers you what you hoped to change in your previous establishment. Starting renovations? Do all you can to make the process easier. Clean out any clutter, prepare to stay with friends if needed, and get clear on your desired outcome. No matter your choice, you’re on your way to the home you deserve!

 

When it comes to Mother’s Day, you start thinking about family, motherhood, women, and love. You start thinking about all the great things your mother has done for you and what you can do for them on this very special day. The good news is that you can celebrate your mother in amazing ways.

Take Her Shopping

Shopping together with your mother can be a lot of fun. You can go to a mall you have never been to before. You can find small, local shops on a downtown street. Getting together with your mother and taking her out shopping can show her how much you appreciate all the things she has done for you in the past.

Going Out to Eat

Does your mother love to try out new food? You can take her out to eat for Mother’s Day. It might be great to make an evening out of it. You could take her to that favorite cafe she is always talking about or to a new restaurant she has never tried before. Either way, she is going to enjoy your company as you sit around the table and spend time together.

Do Something Exciting

Is there something on your mother’s bucket list that she has been waiting to do? Maybe she wants to go scuba diving, climb a mountain, go to another state, or even just visit a new city in the state where you live. No matter what it is, helping your mother to mark something off her bucket list for Mother’s Day will make her happy and appreciative of all you do for her.

 

Mother’s Day is a day worth celebrating every single year. Your mother knows you love her and you can show her this in so many amazing ways. Pick something that you know will spark joy in her life and bring her to do it. The time you spend together is priceless, so get planning for this Mother’s Day today.

 

Most of the country has already survived a polar vortex and are looking ahead to the warmer months. As the temperatures rise, so do the interests of potential homebuyers. The months of April through August are the peak for the housing market. With stiff competition around the corner (literally), you might want to start preparing to put your house up for sale. Here some ways to get your home ready…and why now might be the right time to sell.

Perform a Walk Through

We look at our homes with a bias. Each room holds a dear memory. You might still see your now-teenage daughter’s old room as the safe haven that once held your little one’s crib. In the meantime, you missed the water damage on the ceiling, the ripped screen in the window, and the doorknob hole in the wall.

 

Before you sell your house, it’s time to fix up the things you’ve been putting off. That’s because someone else is trying to see their future taking place in your old house. It’s harder for them to envision this future with chipped paint and broken light fixtures.

Get an Inspection

Once you’ve addressed the glaring issues, it’s time to bring in a professional. Get an inspection.

 

By getting an inspection, you are putting out fires before they begin. All the legalities that will hold up at closing can be snuffed out before a potential homebuyer even lays their eyes on your home.

 

Also, having your house inspected gives you a better idea as to what kind of profit you may be looking at when you do indeed sell your home. Going through the process can help you make a more informed decision about the next house you plan on buying for your own family.

Work on the Landscape

First impressions are a lasting one, especially when it comes to selling your house. Turning someone off at the curb will start the whole viewing off with a negative connotation. This impression may follow them through the rest of the process. Consequently, potential buyers may rule your home out before even giving the house a chance.

 

From the profile pic online to greeting them at the door in person, the outside of your house matters. No one wants to live in an ugly house. Neighbors don’t want ugly houses in their neighborhoods. Potential buyers don’t want to purchase an ugly house.

 

The landscape is the glue that ties together your exterior. So, guess what? If your landscape looks ugly…your house looks ugly.

 

Trim the shrubs. Cut the grass. Plant some flowers. Replace old light fixtures. Clean the gutters. Maintain the house as you plan on living there forever. The sooner you give up on the exterior, the sooner your buyers will give up on bidding.

Sell Now

If you’re ready, then sell now. Be the first in line before the field gets crowded. After all, the early bird gets the worm.

 

Just like you’re eager to sell, others may be eager to buy. They don’t want to enter long, drawn-out bidding wars. Instead, they’re looking for the like-minded people–those who are getting their houses ready before home buying season.

 

The 2019 tax season is among us! This time of year often brings out questions about property and escrow taxes from clients and lenders. Let’s take a deeper look at how escrow helps manage tax payments throughout the year.

 

Timely Tax Payments – All Year Long

There are different types of escrow accounts, and the tax policies will differ with each type. One of the most pressing questions that people have is how their property taxes can be managed by an escrow account.

 

Escrow accounts are a common form of financial safety and protection. There are many benefits to using escrow to manage tax and insurance payments.

 

In real estate, your monthly payment from escrow will cover property taxes and other expenses in addition to your mortgage. This helps protect you from missing payment or other issues. Taxes and monthly premiums will change over time so don’t be surprised when your statements look different. This is normal, and your escrow payments will reflect these changes. Keep current and up-to-date with your statements to make sure there are no mistakes.

 

A Low-Risk System

This set-up is typically very convenient for the borrower; the taxes are already worked into the system and they avoid the risk of late or missing payments. There is, however, a trade-off. With convenience comes a lack of control on the money in escrow. While there are some instances in which lenders have calculated incorrectly, or missed tax payments on behalf of the borrower, these instances are rare and most people opt to use the lender’s service.

 

Bring on Tax Season

Are you ready for tax season this year? Thankfully, escrow makes staying on top of your property taxes easy and reliable. Tax season is a great time up on your payments, screen for any outliers, changes or mistakes, then rest assured that your tax payments will be made with little effort on your part.

 

The world is in a unique period. Unemployment rates are hitting a low. Meanwhile, the housing market is looking at mortgage and interest rate increases. This situation has created a climate that makes right now the ideal time to buy a house. Even better, your home should be in Southern California. Orange County and Los Angeles County are booming for many industries. Luckily, there are still homes in Southern Calfornia that are affordable (and maybe even a deal). This is why you need to strike now!

People Want to Move to Southern California  

Since the recession, unemployment rates have been low across America. California’s unemployment rate has not seen drastic success in every industry. On the flip side of the coin, it has not seen a big drop either. That means the area is expected to remain steady for the foreseeable future.

 

In areas where some industries saw a drop, others are seeing higher job openings than ever. From December 2017 to December 2018, the following industries reported record growth in the Los Angeles County area:

 

• Accommodation and Food Services (457,600 additional jobs)
• Leisure and Hospitality (24,400 additional jobs)
• Health Care (16,200 additional jobs)
• Education (15,500 additional jobs)
• Professional Business Services (9,000 additional jobs)
• Arts and Entertainment (7,800 additional jobs)
• IT Services (7,100 additional jobs)

 

The job market is ripe for the picking. That is why you need to move to Southern California now. Stake your claim in a burgeoning market and set your family up for the rest of your lives.

Houses are Affordable in Southern California

People are nervous to buy and sell right now because new tax bills will see a mortgage and interest rate increase. However, these changes aren’t happening overnight.

 

The bill is expected to be a gradual rollout, not hitting it’s highest peak until 2021. That means you can lock your interest rate up now at an affordable rate.  

 

This news has made many buyers and sellers nervous. As a buyer, you don’t have to worry about getting into a long, drawn-out bidding war with numerous other potential buyers. It’s a smaller pool of people who are more serious about getting a house in Los Angeles County right now.

 

In the same respect, sellers who were iffy about putting their house on the market are looking to list before it gets too hard to sell. That means sellers are not going to be pricing their house at an astronomical number. So, you are most likely going to get the best deal right now when you buy a house in Southern California.

 

It can be challenging to get into the holiday spirit or enjoy winter vibes when living in a warm climate like Los Angeles, California. Those stuck in New York or Wisconsin during the winter may scoff at the desire of Los Angelinos hunting to spot a snowflake somewhere.

 

It is understandable to desire the possibly nostalgic and stereotypical signs of the holidays like crisp air, mittens, and falling snow. There are plenty of opportunities to get your winter fix within a drive from L.A.

 

 

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Big Bear Lake, CA

 

Big Bear offers all the winter fun you can stand and is only 100 miles northeast of Los Angeles. This is a four seasons town that features typical winter activities like skiing, snowboarding, and tubing.

 

Bear Mountain is known to host some of the best snowboarders around yet offers laid back fun for those with a less adventurous personality. Take a hike on the trails with snowshoes and enjoy the true feelings of winter.

 

 

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Lake Tahoe

 

Lake Tahoe lays on the border of California and Nevada in the Sierra Nevada. Sitting at over 6,000 feet, this area sees its fair share of the traditional winter weather. If you really love snow and you are lucky, you may get to experience one of the famous Lake Tahoe blizzards!

 

People flock to Lake Tahoe from all over California to experience the winter wonderland and all the skiing, snowboarding, and tubing it has to offer. There are a variety of resorts and ski areas to visit, sure to keep the avid winter sports enthusiast entertained.

 

If you feel the need to see snow and live in L.A., all hope is not lost. There are opportunities to get in the holiday spirit and enjoy the frozen precipitation within a reasonable drive of Los Angeles.

 

Embarking on a new journey as a young family doesn’t come with a How-To guide. Although we wish it could, all of us just kind of learn as we go. While trial and error will work for the little things like how to jump a car or how to make an apple pie, other things should be a little more thought out. When you are thinking about moving into a neighborhood, you should learn to research the area. Find out about crime rates, schools, and attractions in the neighborhood. All of this info might seem overwhelming, but we’re to help. Here’s how to look into these issues when scoping out a new neighborhood.

 

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Neighborhoodscout It

Before you get serious about any house, get to know the neighborhood around it. Your home is just a tiny blip in an overall environment. If shootings are going on outside or cars are being stolen, that will affect you.

 

So, get the Carfax. Well, not really. But you could use Neighborhood Scout. This program will give you the 4-11 before you waste your time showing up for a viewing. You can see if the pricing is competitive, as well as crime rate statistics, and commuting info.

What’s also neat is that this program gives you unique stats on demographics. It tells you tidbits such as if there’s a happening LGBTQ area, if this a brownstone predominantly area, and if most people just walk/use the bus. All really random, yet all really handy things to know for those looking to find their niche.

 

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Drive By the Area at Night

If you are looking to move into a specific neighborhood and it’s within a reasonable distance from where you are now, go check it out. Drive through the area during the daytime and see if you like the vibe.

 

Ask yourself questions about things that matter to your family’s comfort and happiness. Then drive around and see if the neighborhood fits those standards. Are kids in school or hanging out in the streets? Do you see public transportation? How close is the grocery store?

 

Now, the real truth is night time. You want to feel safe in your house and in your neighborhood. Drive around the area a few times at dark. Notice how you feel. If you feel comfortable and don’t witness anything peculiar then go for it!

 

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Look into Schools

You’re looking to start your future. A big part of that future is cultivating your child’s future. Find out how the school system is before moving.

A great way to do that is to check it out at GreatSchools.org.Just type in the area’s zip code and all you need to know about the school system will pop up. This will include reviews about the school district from other teachers, parents, as well as students.

Most people will tell you that the holidays are the perfectly wrong time to sell your home. However, there can be some major advantages to having your house listed during the fall and winter holidays.

 

Many that are selling their home will have taken it off the market until after the New Year and into the spring. This could be an opportunity to have your home highlighted, rather than being lost in a list of homes for sale. Buyers looking during the holiday season are often thought to be more serious than those browsing in the spring or summer months. Take advantage of this opportunity! Here are some ideas to use the fall and winter holidays to sell your home.

 

 

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Dress it Up

The holiday season typically means festive décor is strewn about the house. It is perfectly acceptable to use holiday decorations to make your home more charming! Use classy holiday decorations that are not specific to any religion – you do not want to turn buyers off. Keep it simplistic, as too many Santa statues can make your home look crowded.

 

 

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Do Some Baking

There is no home more inviting than one that smells like freshly baked holiday cookies. Use all the holiday smells to your advantage to make prospective buyers feel at home as soon as they walk in the door.

 

 

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Light it Up

In addition to any holiday lighting you choose, ensure all your bulbs are new throughout your home. The fall and winter holidays occur during a time of year that is darker than the spring and summer months. Make sure your home is bright inside and out.

 

 

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Keep Walks Clear

While landscaping and yard work have taken a hiatus for the year in most places, selling your home in the winter months requires you to be attentive to your curb appeal. In bad weather, ensure all your walks and driveways are clear. If you have issues with mud or ponding water, find landscaping ideas to deal with those.

 

 

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Have a Party

You might be surprised by how many of your friends or coworkers are looking for a new home. Take advantage of the holidays as an excuse to have them all over and show off your beautiful abode. Make it an open invitation party to ensure friends of friends make it, as well. In a case like this, it is certainly “the more, the merrier.”

The holiday season is a less traditional home selling time of year. It can be daunting as it may take longer to sell your home during these periods. However, it is possible to take advantage of the quiet selling market and make your home truly stand out.

 

The minute we put our house on the market, we expect it sell right away. However, that’s not the reality of selling your house. Selling your house can be a long process. That is if you don’t do things to make your property stand out. If you want to sell your house as fast as possible, we might be able to help. Here are 3 strategies guaranteed to sell your home faster.

 

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Clean it Out

If you’re trying to sell your house fast, clean the house out. Don’t treat it like your storage locker. In fact, get yourself a storage locker!

When a person steps into your house looking to buy it, they are trying to envision their life there. They don’t need to see all of your bills sitting on the dining room table or look at the dishes you have stacked in the sink. Potential homebuyers don’t need all your visual noise clogging up their visions. They need a blank canvas so they can draw their future in their mind’s eye.

If you’re still living in your house, by all means, keep the essentials there. However, take out all the things you have stowed away in the attic or tucked under the basement stairs. Put them in a storage unit.

Also, take down all the pictures of your family. Sure, you have happy memories in the house. However, seeing these memories on display may cause the homebuyer to feel guilty. Create a neutral environment by keeping the keepsakes to a minimum.

 

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Tidy Up the Outside

Books are judged by covers. Whether you’re looking at a dating profile or Zillow, the outside is accounted for long before the inside. If your house is looking haggard in the profile, it’s not going to get any hits.

When you are trying to sell your house fast, make sure the landscape is pristine. Prune bushes, cut grass, and plant flowers. If potential homebuyers like what they see before they walk in the house, you have a much better chance of selling your house faster. Otherwise, they come in with a negative point-of-view and you are going to have to persuade them.

 

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Fix Stuff

You know all the annoying stuff you put off fixing when you lived in your home? Well, if you want to sell your home fast, now is the time to fix them. That means the broken light fixture should be replaced, the hole in the wall should be patched, and the baseboards should get a fresh coat of paint.

These are little fixes that go in a long way in perceived value. When someone is looking to buy your house, they just want to move in and decorate. They don’t want to fix the mistakes you spent a lifetime making.

So, if you want to sell your house quickly, following these 3 strategies. You are guaranteed to sell your home faster than others!