A successful Chapter 13 requires hard work from both the attorney and their client. Clients should prepare by reading as much information as possible before their first meeting with the attorney. There is an application and forms to be filled out and signed. Clients must gather all financial documentation. Will need:

3 year tax returns;

6 month bank statements (checking, savings, money market, etc.);

6 months of pay notices (how you get paid, usually by pay stub, but you can have direct deposit or self-employment, so you must show how much you earn and how you get paid);

All your bills;

Copies of any lawsuits against you;

Any financial instrument, including promissory notes, mortgages, property titles;

Tax returns, recent appraisals, and mortgage statements on your home(s);

Account statements for all deposit, investment, and retirement accounts, including stocks, bonds, etc.;

A list of assets sold or transferred in the last year;

Any lease or installment agreement;

Any documents you have about your debts;

Any lawsuit against you: divorce, lawsuits, foreclosures, liens, etc.

Any insurance policy.

When you meet with the attorney, bring your driver’s license and social security card with you. A copy of these will be kept in your file. If you are not going to meet with your attorney in person, DO NOT MAIL these documents! Your entire financial identity is there. Use a tracking method, FedEx, UPS or certified mail is better. Be sure to notify the attorney of anything that may be financially important to you. Not all creditors will appear on your credit reports, so it’s important to let your attorney know about any potential creditors. Medical providers generally do not report outstanding bills on their report. If you were involved in an accident or have other legal issues that may affect you financially, be sure to mention them in your conversation with your attorney and include them on your application!

If you need to file quickly, make sure you’ve taken the pre-filing course and have your certificate ready. You may be able to get the application in advance and fill it out as well.

Have a list of questions ready for your attorney. Your meeting will be more fruitful and you will leave with a greater understanding of your particular problems. The success of your case depends largely on your ability to comply with the provisions of the chapter 13 requirements and the terms of your specific plan. Thorough, complete, and accurate preparation of the forms, application, and documents related to your individual circumstances is essential to that success.

Hurricane shutters are the most economical therefore the most popular solution chosen by homeowners. However, hurricane impact windows and doors are also very popular due to the added benefits of convenience, improved security, better energy efficiency, soundproofing, and their attractiveness over blinds. The least expensive system is plywood or panels; These offer great protection, but are time consuming to install.

Your considerations: Cost, appearance and convenience. (this one is often underestimated).

First, understand what you’re protecting: It’s not just the glass shards from the broken window that are dangerous – having your roof blown off will really get your attention. During a hurricane, the strong wind blowing over your home creates a “lifting” effect on your roof. If a window or door is opened during the storm, this creates additional upward ‘thrust’ on the roof, thus doubling or tripling the lifting effect. This is how roofs fly.

Here are the vital points about your options for window hurricane protection for your home.

Myth Buster – Window Film and some information about Impact Windows:

Window film can reduce the sun’s harmful rays into your home and is promoted as a burglary deterrent. It may also very well reduce the chance of glass shards flying through your home in the event of a hurricane, but do you really think that sticking a thin film on your existing windows will keep your roof up in the event? of a hurricane? By comparison, impact windows are nearly three times thicker than regular window glass. Hurricane windows are made of two layers of glass and between these layers of glass is a strong tear-resistant interlayer (film) that holds the glass together in case it breaks. They are very similar to car windshields.

A key factor in impact window strength is how the glass and interlayer are VERY firmly attached to a reinforced frame (both mechanically and through the use of industrial adhesives) so that the impact glass does NOT come off even under pressure. extreme. The goal is to establish hurricane window protection for all openings (either through the use of hurricane shutters or impact windows, or a combination of both) and to keep openings sealed so as not to cause a change in pressure inside the window. of the house thus blowing up the roof. The idea of ​​putting hurricane window film on a regular window with its lightweight frame and expecting it to even remotely resemble a Miami-Dade approved impact window is ridiculous. Yes, it would be better than nothing, but your money would be better spent on plywood.

Plywood shutters ($2-$4/sqft):

A popular and effective option, installing plywood shutters that fit snugly within the window or door frame is an efficient and affordable option for homeowners. These shutters were effective even in the strongest winds of Hurricane Andrew and are relatively easy to install. If you are going to use this method, the plywood should be 5/8″ to 3/4″ thick, and since it takes a long time to prepare, it should be cut to size before a storm approaches. Us.

Positives:

Most economical of all hurricane protection systems Strong and can provide excellent protection

Negatives:

Requires storage, but can be stacked Heavy and unwieldy, hanging may require more than one person Requires more time to install Not a safe option for 2-story homes

Storm Prep: 20 – 25 minutes per window (if pre-cut); 5 to 8 hours for an average home

Hurricane shutters with storm panels ($5 – $8 per square foot):

Another popular and effective option, these hurricane shutters are typically corrugated steel or aluminum panels that are attached to the walls around windows and doors. There are several mounting methods that use pre-mounted rails and bolts or just bolts.

Positives:

The most economical of the ‘permanent’ hurricane shutter systems Strong and can provide excellent protection Can be installed with practical DIY

Negatives:

Requires storage, but can be stacked Can be heavy and unwieldy, hanging may require more than one person Time consuming – next to plywood, these take the second longest amount of time to install Have sharp edges – can be dangerous No is a convenient option for 2 story houses

Storm Preparedness: 15 – 20 minutes per window; 4 to 6 hours for an average home

Accordion Hurricane Shutters ($15-$18/sqft):

Accordion hurricane shutters attach directly to your home at the window or door opening, fold flat when not in use, and easily unfold, accordion-style, when you need to cover and protect the opening during a storm.

Positives:

Easily unfolded by one person when needed. Permanently attached to the side of the window, no storage required. Some can be locked and used as dig up robberies.

Negatives:

Bulky and unattractive. Seriously consider the aesthetics before you buy them. More mechanical parts, so may require more maintenance than other devices.

Storm Preparedness: 30 Minutes for an Entire Home

Colonial and Bahama Hurricane Shutters ($18 – $28 / sf):

These are hurricane shutters with shutters that attach directly to the wall next to or above the windows.

Positives:

Permanently affixed to the side or above the window, they require no storage. Easily unfolded by one person when needed. As they are decorative they can beautify the home as well as protect it.

Negatives:

It cannot be used as door protection, it must be combined with another system. Designs and styles may limit its use.

Storm Preparedness: 30 minutes to an hour for an entire home

Hurricane Roller Shutters ($35 – $55/sqft):

These hurricane shutters sit permanently over the window in a closed box when not in use and roll up, either manually with a hand crank or electronically with a motor, when you need them.

Positives:

Permanently affixed to the side or above the window, they require no storage. Easily unfolded by one person when needed. Since they are lockable, they are an excellent theft deterrent.

Negatives:

One of the most expensive systems. Requires a backup battery so they can work during power outages.

Storm Prep: Minimal, Easiest of Hurricane Shutter Systems

Impact windows ($40 – $55+ / sf):

Hurricane impact windows can resist hurricane debris and completely eliminate the need for hurricane shutters. It costs more to retrofit an existing home, but it’s more cost-effective if the homeowner is considering replacing the old windows anyway. This is the biggest added value of hurricane window protection systems, as impact windows also improve energy efficiency, are an excellent burglary deterrent, deaden outside noise, and provide hurricane protection to your windows. home in case of storm. Plus, adding new impact windows is likely to increase the value of your home, more than any other hurricane protection system.

Positives:

Eliminates the need for hurricane shutters Ideal for people with a second home – the house is prepared for hurricanes all the time. Excellent theft deterrent, almost impossible to break through glass. Added value of soundproofing and energy efficiency compared to normal windows.

Negatives:

Like roller blinds, this is one of the most expensive systems.

Storm Preparedness: NONE

CONCLUSION:

Keep in mind that if the aesthetics of blinds bother you, but the cost of impact windows is almost out of your reach, you can always combine the two. Install impact windows on the front and possibly the sides of your house. Then screen window openings that can’t be seen from the street with blinds.

And don’t underestimate the hassle of installing shutters every time there’s a hurricane warning. I frequently go out estimating impact windows on homes that have shutter panels because the homeowner is tired of having to install them.

Finally, if your existing windows need replacement because they are old, I encourage you to upgrade to impact windows, as the cost difference between non-impact windows with hurricane shutters and impact-only windows is marginal.

Once you’ve narrowed down your options as to which type of hurricane window protection system is best for your situation, talk to an expert to help you make your final selection. Depending on which of the above systems suits you best, whether it’s hurricane shutters or impact windows, there are many different style options and manufacturers offering different options. Window contractors are your best experts. How to find one? Ideally, get one that is recommended to you by a family member, neighbor, or friend. If they have done a good job for them, this person can provide you with a wealth of knowledge that has been learned over the years. If you must select a contractor you find online, check their references (at least 5), call them and look up the contractor’s work.

Building in Miami or any area of ​​South Florida is completely different from building anywhere else in the country. While most of the East Coast of the United States, and much of the rest of the country, builds wood frame homes with a brick finish or wood siding, South Florida builds with cinder block and concrete. .

quality versus price

Due to hurricane force winds, the structures in this area must be very strong. Where the rest of the country looks down on us because they only use concrete blocks in their foundations, for my money I really like concrete and block construction. Concrete blocks do not have termites and do not rot. Therefore, a concrete block structure will last 100 years or more with almost no maintenance. Unfortunately, the vast majority of homes in Miami have wood trusses with plywood sheathing for the roof, then roofing paper, and shingles or concrete tiles on top. This type of construction is not particularly good at resisting gale-force wind conditions. Although the Florida Building Code has gone to great lengths to improve the requirements for installing roof sheathing and roof finish, it cannot compare to the strength the roof would have if a concrete slab were used for the roof structure. .

So why, if we know this, don’t we build with concrete slab roofs? Cost: The only reason is the cost. It is much more expensive to both design and install a concrete slab roof, especially on a slope to carry a concrete tile finish.

So one of the first things a homeowner needs to establish at the beginning of the new home design process is how much they want to spend on construction. There is the cheap way to build a house and the expensive way. This is a problem that will come up many times during the design and construction process.

The program

But to determine a budget, the homeowner must first establish the square footage of the new home. To establish the total square footage, he will need to generate a schedule for the house. The program is a list of rooms with their corresponding sizes.

See the sample list as follows:

Living Room	240 square feet

Dining Room	120 square feet

Kitchen 	170 square feet

Family Room 	240 square feet

Master Bedroom	240 square feet

Master Bath	 64 square feet

Bedroom No. 2	216 square feet

Bedroom No. 3	192 square feet

Bath No. 2	 36 square feet

Laundry Room	100 square feet

Linen closet	 9 square feet	 

A/C Closet	 9 square feet

Total Square Feet = 1,636

Traffic and walls at 20% = 1,634 square feet = 327 square feet

Total = 1,634 + 327 = 1,961 square feet

So now we have a basic idea of ​​the main spaces of the house and approximately how many square feet the owner will need for the house.

Also, this is a good time to decide if there will be outdoor spaces, such as covered terraces or pergolas. In Florida, these are particularly good additions to interior spaces. With wonderful temperatures during the winter, there is no reason to spend all your time indoors with air conditioning.

Budget

So how much will a home just under 2,000 square feet cost in South Florida? There is no magic formula to determine this. The cost of the house depends on many things that have to do with the design, such as: the type of roof, the height(s) of the ceiling, the complexity of the design, the finishes, if it will be on a septic tank or sewage system, and the type of foundation. Then there are those costs that have nothing to do with the design, such as the location of the house, how busy the contractors are in the area, how well known and trustworthy the contractor is, etc. Although the price of a house can vary greatly due to all the elements discussed above, a range of $150 to $250 per square foot could be used at this time for a house that is not too elaborate with standard construction. So if we go back to the example. A 2,000 square foot home would cost between $300,000 and $500,000 excluding land.

the design team

The Miami-Dade County Building Department does not require an architect or engineer to sign and seal plans for a single-family residence. This is not true for all municipalities in the area. For example, Coral Gables requires an architect to sign and seal all plans. But for all practical purposes, the volume of information that must be included in a set of plans in any municipality within Miami-Dade County, most of the time, it is necessary to hire several professionals: an architect, an MEP engineer and a structural engineer. MEP stands for mechanical, electrical and plumbing. The mechanical engineer designs the air conditioning, the electrical engineer designs the electrical including lighting, and the plumbing engineer designs the plumbing. The structural engineer designs the structure and provides the necessary structural calculations for the building envelope. The architect designs the entire house and coordinates everyone’s work. The coordination of all the disciplines is probably the most important role of the architect, since without coordination there could be real conflicts in the construction phase. While it is legal to produce plans on your own in some parts of the county, it will be an insurmountable task to produce building plans for permits (unless the homeowner has real-world construction experience and knowledge of the Florida Building Code and local zoning codes).

How much do these design services cost the owner? They also vary a lot, but there is also a range between good established professionals. This range would be 6% to 10% of the construction cost for permit plans for all disciplines. Services during the construction phase are usually charged by the hour or in a separate package.

house style

Another important decision that must be made early on is the style of the house. Basically, there are three popular styles for home design in South Florida: Modern, Mediterranean, and Key West.

Once the homeowner decides what styles they want, it’s important to convey the style and details to the architect. The best way to explain to an architect what he wants is through magazine pictures or actual photographs of other houses.

choose an architect

Now that you have the basics together, the next step is to choose your architect. This is very important as this is the person you will be working closely with over the next year.

Take the existing land survey from the time you closed your mortgage. If you have lost it or it is too old or inaccurate, the architect will arrange for you to update it or have a new one made.

Ask to see photos of their work. Ask for references. Ask questions. Ask him how he would approach the project. Start to feel if this is someone you could work with. Do you like the predominant style in the architect’s work? Does his work attract you? Ask about the process. Ask what to expect regarding their services. Ask him to show you the plans for a similar project.

People are individuals and each one is unique. I remember how many people have hired me because they liked my “Mediterranean” or “Spanish” style or my modern or postmodern style. One person told me that he hired me because I returned his phone calls quickly. The chemistry between people is significant. Don’t discount your initial impressions.

construction documents

Construction documents typically consist of several parts: plans, specifications, instructions to bidders, and addenda. Normally, when the architect handles the construction bid phase for the owner, he selects the type of contract the owner will have with the contractor. This document is also part of the construction documents.

The drawings are the bulk of the job, which along with the specifications act as a step-by-step guide for the contractor to use during construction. Sometimes, on large jobs, the specifications are placed in a separate book and are called the Project Manual. In most residential projects, specifications are usually covered as notes on the plans. For elaborate interiors, the architect makes a separate package and is charged separately.

Construction documents are generated in phases from general to detailed. I like to divide my projects into 4 phases: preliminary design, design development, 50% construction documents, and 100% construction documents. Each phase builds on the previous phase until the architect feels that all the drawings are coordinated across the different disciplines and are ready to submit for permits.

With careful planning and communication with your architect, your good drawings and coordination, and the careful selection of a reputable contractor, your new home project should go off without a hitch. Although there are often change orders due to unforeseen conditions or changes the owner wants to implement, most issues need to be resolved prior to construction.

For more information on the role of the architect during construction, please see my other article on the role of the architect during the construction process posted here.

Since I started my group of real estate investors in 2010, I receive a call at least once every 2 weeks from enthusiastic applicants who want to get rich in real estate. They’ve read Rich Dad Poor Dad by Robert Kiyosaki, or taken an inspiring course on how to make money fast in real estate.

Many people get very excited, yet they don’t realize the amount of work involved or the time and resources it takes to make it happen. Many of these courses are aimed at the US and other parts of Canada, where the market is extremely different. Even here in Quebec we are governed by the Civil Code and the rest of Canada by the Common Law. Quebec has a rent control system that the other provinces do not, which also greatly affects the business.

All styles of real estate work, however, in Montreal, some are better than others. Some may take years to come true and others overnight. Because there are so many different styles and markets, it’s always best to focus on a familiar area with one or two different styles of investing.

Can you do it all and be successful?

Assuming too much will dilute your time and knowledge. When I started in real estate, I took on a buyer who was very interested and determined to get into real estate on a short-term basis. I am sure that in the 3 years that I worked with him, we analyzed more than 100 properties and many different styles of investment. I was new and had the time but not the experience, so at first I didn’t care. My buyer would send me daily listings and I would check to see what the building would be worth once it was renovated. That took between 20 and 30 minutes for each one. Because I was looking at numerous areas that were spread out, I had to research many different markets. This type of research is crucial to get the right information as soon as possible so you don’t miss out on great opportunities.

burning his runner

When a client is not focused on a real estate idea and in a few markets, brokers will burn out. Spending a lot of time helping buyers with nothing coming to fruition is not a great business plan for brokers. If you’re looking for an experience, almost all brokers will only work with clearly self-directed buyers. It’s only inexperienced runners who have time to run all over the place.

Here is a list of the top investment styles today:

The most popular, #1. Buy and hold. This has great benefits. You can take your time to improve the value of the building. In the long term, it could be part of your retirement portfolio. You can remortgage and withdraw capital to reuse without being penalized by income tax. There are also long-term tax benefits.

#two. Flipping… ei: Buy a building short-term and improve its condition/value and resell it as soon as possible. High risk. You must have knowledge of renewals, the market, maintenance costs and more.

#3. Converting apartments to condominiums, whether divided or undivided. This method could be great, however in 2016 the condo market has been falling for the last few years.

#4. Buy houses, reform them and rent them. If you want to use this as a business model, you will need to re-mortgage and withdraw your equity to reuse on another property.

#5. Buy a small apartment building and convert the basement into more homes and rent them out, improving the value of the buildings and cash flow. Hold or sell immediately.

#6. Rent with option to buy. This is a very complicated process and there are a few ways to do it. I hear a lot of people talk about it, but I haven’t really talked to a person who does it on a regular basis. I even talked to a guy who wrote a book about it, but he never really did! The bottom line is that you find someone who has money and bad credit. You buy a house from them and they give you a deposit and pay the bills and an administration fee. After an agreed-upon schedule, they go to the bank (having built up your credit score) and take out a conventional mortgage to buy the property from you.

#7. Wholesale or assignment of contracts. Transfer of a promise to purchase to another party. This is where you have an accepted promise to purchase a building but have not yet gone to the notary. In Quebec, you must legally obtain the sellers’ permission in order to do this.

There are other styles out there however after years in the business this is the one I have seen the most. Becoming a real estate investor takes knowledge, and you’ll gain it by visiting properties, crunching numbers, and developing relationships with their resources.

I hope you enjoyed this!

As we end the year in which we went from an overheated market to a completely cold market, the big question in real estate circles is how the Sacramento market will perform in 2007. This morning’s Sacramento Bee story by Jim Wasserman, “Hope seen at home,” details the slowdown in price declines in January. There are others who are not so hopeful in the market and continue to beat the cloak of collapse by pointing to the surge in foreclosure activity as the tool of doom.

Looking at MLS data released earlier this week by the Sacramento Association of Realtors, it showed new listings in January were up more than 75 percent from December and nearly 20 percent growth in inventory. . This is normal and expected as we move away from the holiday season and year-end rush. Compared to January 2005, there were fewer new listings (2.9 percent) and current inventory was down 4.8 percent from a year ago to 4,926. The average price paid in January is practically the same as in December, but 3.5 percent less than in 2005 at $355,000. The full report is available on the SAR website.

In Placer County, the MLS data for single-family homes shows the same pattern as in Sacramento County. There were 826 new listings in Placer County during January. This is more than double the number reported in December, but only 48 more listings than last January. Inventory rose 3.4 percent to 2,178 from December and 17.5 percent from a year ago. During January there were 211 closed transactions representing a median price of $430,000. This is a 30 percent decrease in month-over-month closings and a 2.2 percent decrease in median price paid. Compared to a year ago, current closings are down nearly 14 percent and the median price paid is down 6.9 percent. Previous MLS data is available on the Placer County Association of Realtors website.

A quick review of some of the communities in Placer County shows some interesting numbers and leads to a question about the quality of reported values ​​when looking at small samples.

In Roseville, we had lower year-over-year sales in January compared to last year, higher backlogs, and an increase in on-hand inventory. There were 73 homes sold in Roseville during January with a median price of $415,000. This is down from last year’s January average of $432,500.

Rocklin MLS data shows a modest increase in sales this January compared to last year. The trend continues when looking at pending sales, which are reported to have increased by 3 sales to 52 compared to last year. There is also a small increase in listings this year compared to last year, with 236 homes reported as available for sale. Unlike most areas, the median price paid for a home in Rocklin in January increased compared to last year. The Placer County Association of Realtors reports an average price increase of $20,000 to $445,000.

The median price in Granite Bay also showed an increase compared to last year. MLS data for January reported a median price of $802,500 compared to $705,000 a year ago. Remember that these numbers are calculated on a small number of sales and can be misleading. In January this year there were 18 sales compared to just 11 last year.

Many experts argue that real estate is local and that looking at national, state, or even county or city results cannot be used when doing an analysis on a neighborhood or a single property. Reports for small communities and zip codes often do not have a large enough sample to make accurate statements about price trends. Home value site Zillow has developed a home valuation index they call Zindex in an effort to establish a median value for all homes in a given geographic area, not just homes that sold during the period.

Regardless of what you think about Zillow, their Zestimates is an interesting concept and one worth looking at.

In Sacramento County, where we just learned that the median price paid for a home in December was $355,000, the Zindex for the same area at the end of the year was $357,148. Incidentally, this is lower than the $371,148 reported at the end of the third quarter of 2006 and 6.74 percent lower than a year earlier.

The reported Zindex for Placer County was $460,466 at the end of the year. This compares to the median MLS data price paid in December of $430,000. Zindex’s value was down 5.11 percent quarter-on-quarter and 5.97 percent from a year ago.

Going down to the community level and looking at my earlier example, Granite Bay, we found MLS data on 11 sales in December 2006 that returned a median price of $705,000. The Zillow Zindex reports a valuation for Granite Bay of $703,382.

Based on this cursory review, it would appear that although the numbers come from different methods, the MLS data and the median price determined by homes sold during the period are not inconsistent with Zillow’s valuation method. This is something that clearly requires further examination and observation. If you’re interested in seeing Zillow’s full report for the Sacramento area, it’s available for download on their site.

Based on all of the above, it appears that prices in the Sacramento metro area are beginning to stabilize. Inventory, as expected, is building as we leave the holidays behind us and head into the spring selling season. Sales activity remains anemic, but reports from agents I have contacted over the past few weeks indicate that things are picking up. The next 60 days of sales activity will be affected by weather. If we continue to have some dry days, we could see a good increase in sales. If, on the other hand, it starts to rain and continues like last year, it may be at the end of March or beginning of April when the buyers go out to look. January looks a lot like what some of us were hoping for, but it’s clearly too early to set the tone for what we’ll see throughout the year.

The continuing flood of bank-owned homes into the foreclosure market appears to have no end in sight. The market is dealing with low to moderate demand for these houses and this situation creates great opportunities for people who have the current financial ability to purchase a property.

A case for bank-owned homes

Whether it’s a first-time purchase or a way to improve one’s equity, bank-owned homes are the ideal type of affordable property that buyers should prioritize. The reason many banks carry such large inventories of foreclosures is because banks are the primary providers of home loans. When your debtors fall behind on their mortgage payments, the foreclosure process begins. Banks do not put these houses back on the market for profit. They are interested in simply breaking even or recouping their losses from the mortgage default.

And because competition for buyers is fierce, banks are coming up with ideas on how to sell their foreclosures. It is worth noting the great discounts they offer for wholesale buyers. Many real estate investors take advantage of these wholesale deals and resell the houses individually for a significant markup.

Individual buyers will find it infinitely easier to negotiate with banks for discounts and other concessions. They will particularly appreciate the fact that bank-owned homes come with clear titles because it will save them the hassle of conducting a title search. Banks even go the extra mile and offer title insurance along with homes. If you want to start saving for your future, buying bank foreclosures is a sensible direction to go. They are sold at low prices and come with a series of incentives and advantages to generate interest and attract sales.

Commercial Real Estate Financing It is currently being used for many different types of profitable business ventures: office buildings, retail stores, apartment complexes, storage facilities, and the list keeps growing. Currently, business loan rates are still reasonable enough to take advantage of the hotel/motel industry as well; Investors are also using business loans to buy storage unit facilities across the country, meaning opportunities abound for those who are interested in making some serious money.

As the state of the economy far outgrows its recovery stage, commercial real estate financing is helping new business owners get established, while seasoned veterans take advantage of refinancing through expansion.

Familiarizing yourself with a business loan calculator can help new business owners get a handle on their finances more quickly. Office building and/or storage facility owners who opt for adjustable rates will likely see their numbers fluctuate a bit more than those who have signed up for fixed-rate business loans. Either way, having access to an online business loan calculator is a great way to keep things on track.

Quite commercial real estate financing Recipients have invested in office buildings and/or storage facilities for a few good reasons: steady cash flow, low maintenance, and the ability to generate capital for future projects. These types of contracts fall into the category of small business loans, but the term small can be somewhat misleading. The idea of ​​starting small is a noble concept; however, the semantics have little or nothing to do with the actual profit margins that may allow for expansion. In such cases, construction loans are designed for growth and a larger business in general.

Early commercial real estate financing is typically orchestrated for all types of small businesses, meaning business owners can either keep operations at a slower pace with steady growth or shoot for the moon when the time is right. . No matter the case, small business loans can also be used in other areas, such as shopping malls, hotel/motel operations, or apartment building ownership.

The hospitality business can be extremely lucrative, especially when each respective facility provides prospective clients with a host of amenities. By investing in the hotel/motel forum, commercial real estate financing can enable owners to create state-of-the-art facilities, which also fits a number of construction loans used for renovations. The initial investment schedule for delivery can depend on location and weather, which is when detailed research can be helpful. Densely populated areas with temperate climates are ideal for travelers both near and far, and yes, it’s true; location really matters.

Malls, on the other hand, require less involvement, but making sure every space is occupied should be a primary concern. With this type of commercial real estate financing, the same principle of small business loans applies when investing in apartment complexes. Offering incentives and low move-in specials can increase occupancy and also retain tenants.

The investment opportunities mentioned above are simply a drop in the bucket compared to the thousands of business loans that have already been approved and are now operational. Since business loan rates remain relatively reasonable, staying in the black and beyond is more than a possibility. Going one step further may also be in the cards for investors with higher expectations. Commercial Real Estate Financing it is now available to those who qualify and can provide the proper financial documents.

Is there a big difference between filters for above ground pools and in ground pools? They both filter the water, right? Also, the manufacturer’s specs tell me this filter can filter up to a 20,000 gallon pool. So why should you pay more than double the price? The short answer is yes, but let’s not be stingy or stupid.

Those are typical and reasonable questions that many pool owners ask. Let’s look at some of the main differences between filters for above ground pools and in ground pools. But first we will see the similarities.

The similarities between inground and above ground pool filters are quite simple. The first similarity is that there are 3 types of pool filters: sand, diatomaceous earth (DE), and cartridge. The second similarity is that they work essentially the same way: a pump draws water from the pool through the skimmer, then the water is pumped through the filter tank and its media (sand, DE, or cartridge) and back into the pool. clean and filtered. .

The differences have to do with the plumbing or piping of the pool, the flow needed, and finally the size. Let’s discuss them in order.

Pool plumbing. The biggest difference may seem like the size and volume of the pool. But really, it’s more of a function of the pool’s plumbing. Most above ground pools have their filter system right next to the pool. Also, the filter and the pump and motor are usually located below the water level. In other words, the filter system is usually on the ground with the skimmer hose feeding directly to the pump and the filtered water going back into the pool’s return jet – gravity feed. Most above ground pools have no more than 6 to 9 feet (about 2 to 3 meters) of hose on each side, a total of 12 to 18 feet.

Inground pools, on the other hand, can and do have many more feet of tubing and plumbing. On top of that, there are usually multiple skimmers or other suction lines, sometimes working together, sometimes not. Then there are multiple return fittings or “eyeballs” or jets. Here’s an example, my pool (only about 16,000 gallons) has a skimmer, bottom suction, and 2 return fittings. Each wall fixture has its own plumbing line. Even though the filter is only 15 feet from the pool, let’s see how many feet of tubing there are for each line. The skimmer and bottom suction are relatively close to each other, so each uses about the same amount of tubing: about 40 feet each line or a total of 80 feet going to the pump. Return fittings are on opposite sides of the pool. One return line is about 30 feet from the filter, the other is about 50 feet, another 80 feet. My pump and motor have to pull and push water a total of over 160 feet or TEN times the distance of an average above ground pool. Also, we have not mentioned the heater, valves, elbows and other accessories used in in-ground pools.

necessary flow.Understanding flow is the “great mystery” of the pool industry. Very few people practice it well. Simply put, FLOW is putting the correct amount of water through the system to properly filter the water. It’s not just about horsepower. In fact, most pool systems run on too much power. And that is a waste of energy and money. Think of it this way: All pipes or hoses (depending on their size or diameter) can only handle a certain amount of water flow, say that’s 100 gallons per minute (gpm), for example. You or the pool manager decide a new pump is needed. “Let’s use something a little bigger that will give you ‘better’ suction,” he says. Now installed a pump that pumps 125 gpm – great! Not so fast! Your pipes can only handle 100 gpm. Do you have better suction? Maybe. Are you using more power to run the larger pump? Definitely. Approximately 25% more energy. Not only that, but the filter doesn’t seem to filter as well as it used to. This is because the water is being pushed through the media too quickly (especially in the case of sand filters); the filtration system has to run longer because dirt cannot be trapped as easily.

But that’s only part of the flow discussion. The other part is something called “head”. The head is the height at which the pump must pull or push the water up. Most inground pools have their filters above the water level. Sometimes within one or two feet (less than 1 meter). Sometimes it can be 10 to 15 feet. The pump has to take all the water out of the pool 15 feet to the filter. Think of it this way: Is it easier to hold a glass of water above your head and pour it into your mouth, or to use a straw to sip (suck) it? In addition, there are solar heating panels (often installed on the roof of the house or in the pool shed) and fountains or other sources of water.

Size. Finally we come to size. Pool size. Filter size. All is important. Can an above ground filter system filter 20,000 gallons of pool water? Yes. But is an above ground filter system capable of properly pushing water through 100+ feet of tubing and creating enough circulation in the pool to push water down 6 or 8 feet deep and back up again? go up? Or how about doing all of that plus carrying the water 25 to 30 feet in various directions? Inground pumps are made to do all of that by pushing and pulling water. Surface bombs can’t.

How about the filter size? Inground pools typically hold 20,000 to 40,000 gallons of water. All that water needs to be filtered 2-3 times a day for best performance (see our Proper Circulation ezine article: “Circulation: The First Key to Good Pool Care” for more information). A larger filter is needed for the larger volume of water.

As a necessary aside, larger above ground pools (27 foot round and larger, and 18 x 33 oval and larger) should consider using an appropriately sized in-ground filter system. After the first season, many large above ground pools experience water quality problems due to inadequate filtration systems. Unfortunately, these pools are “hampered” by the problem of having only one skimmer and one return cut-off. Ask your local pool professional to set up your system correctly. Will it cost more initially? Yes, but you will be much more satisfied in the years to come.

What better way to make an immediate change in your child’s wooden playhouse than with a new paint job? When you’re ready to paint your kids’ playhouse and want to keep it looking great for years to come, there are a few things you definitely need to do and other things you want to avoid.

The following is a list of do’s and don’ts on how to expertly paint your wooden playhouse so it will last for years to come:

1. Prepare your playhouse for painting ahead of time. Prepare your playhouse by gently scraping away any loose, dried or peeling old paint with a putty knife or sander, being careful not to damage the wood underneath.
2. Seal cracks around windows or doors. If there are cracks where two wooden surfaces meet, use putty to seal the cracks. This will keep moisture out of the playhouse.
3. Use a high-quality primer to paint all wooden surfaces in the playhouse. Using a primer helps increase paint adhesion to wood surfaces as well as increase the waterproof properties of exposed wood surfaces.
4. Use an exterior grade paint. Exterior grade paint is formulated to withstand the weather that a wooden playhouse you will experience in your life. Interior paint does not withstand rain and snow. If an interior paint is used on surfaces exposed to the weather, a few months after painting, the paint will begin to flake and loosen.
5. Paint over it with the same type of paint you used earlier. If a water-based (latex) paint was used last time, use a water-based paint this time to paint the playhouse. Use an oil-based paint to paint over a previously oil-based painted surface. When in doubt, use a water-based paint because it is easier to apply, dries quickly, helps prevent moisture problems, and cleanup is easier.
6. Paint from top to bottom. Start with the fascia board and gables first. Then move on to painting the sides of the playhouse, followed by the windows and trim. The playhouse door is the last thing to paint.
7. Plan your painting around the sun and the weather. Try to work your painting around where the sun is not. In the morning paint the west and south sides and in the afternoon paint the east and north sides in the afternoon.
8. Do not prime or paint over filler that has not dried completely. As the wet caulking dries, it will crack and peel off along with the primer or paint you just applied.
9. Do not paint over old peeling or chipping paint. Painting over dry or chipped paint with new paint will ensure that the new paint will chip faster in the near future.
10. Don’t wait to paint new wood. New wood should be painted as soon as possible to prevent surface deterioration.

A good exterior paint job will prolong the life of your wooden playhouse. With these tips, you’ll be ready to paint like a pro. Your children will be extremely happy that their freshly painted playhouse will last for many years to come.

As the population ages and more people live with physical disabilities, housing and community development must be re-examined. Inaccessible housing makes daily life difficult for people with reduced mobility due to illness, accident or age. Visitors to inaccessible homes face the danger of falling on the front steps, the worry of not being able to get into the bathroom, and the embarrassment of being carried down the stairs. An affordable, sustainable, and inclusive design approach to integrating basic accessibility features into all new-build housing is a movement known as Visitability.

In 1988, the Fair Housing Amendments Act created affordable units in all new multi-family housing apartments and condominiums with four or more units. In 1990, the Americans with Disabilities Act greatly increased accessibility to all government and public buildings. But detached single-family homes and row houses, where the majority of the population lives, are the last part of the built environment not covered by federal law. There are no accessibility codes. To this day, private and semi-detached houses continue to be built with the same basic accessibility barriers: steps at all entrances and narrow doors to bathrooms.

In an effort to pass legislation for accessibility in new single-family home construction, Eleanor Smith, the founder of Concrete Change, started the Visitability Movement in the U.S. The movement calls for three basic accessibility needs to be met:

* An entrance without steps on a route accessible from a public driveway or sidewalk.

* Entrances with a minimum free passage space of 32″.

* A half bath on the main floor to accommodate a wheelchair.

If these three requirements are met in the construction of each new home, future adaptations for specialized needs can occur as needed. Visitability features make it easy for people with reduced mobility to visit friends and family and stay active in their communities.

COST OF VISIBILITY

Over the life of a home, 25-60% of all new homes will have a resident with mobility issues. This may be muscle weakness, poor balance, arthritic stiffness, or confined to a wheelchair. 95% of all new homes are built with steps at every entryway and narrow doors to the bathroom. Due to architectural barriers, the risk of falling in love with the homeowner is greatly increased and the success rate of first responders can be compromised during medical emergencies.

In 2005, 1.8 million Americans over the age of 65 were treated in emergency rooms for injuries caused by falls, and 460,000 were hospitalized. 60% of all nursing home residents enter these facilities directly from hospitals after a fall, stroke or heart attack. Since most homes have steps at all entrances and narrow bathroom doors, it can only be assumed that a large number of people do not return home after accidents due to lack of accessibility.

Below is a cost comparison of Visitability built into a new home versus Visitability retrofitted into an existing home. The cost of the nursing home reflects the extreme expense of “doing nothing.” (Maisel, Smith, and Steinfeld, 2008, “Increasing Home Access: Design for Visitability”)

Construction of visitability of new houses

* Stepless Entry on Concrete Slab – Add $100

* Entry above crawl space or basement – add $300-$600

* 34″ door: add $2 to the cost of a 32″ door

* Average cost of visitability features, depending on region: add $98 to $573

* Average cost for Universal Design features: add 1% to total project cost

Modernization of the visitability of the existing home

* Step-less entry -add $3,300

* Expand interior doorway: add $700 per doorway ($22 for a drop hinge)

*Home Elevator: Add $15,000-$25,000

Nursing Home Costs

* Nursing home for individuals: $85,000 per year

* Nursing home for US$122 billion in 2005 (60% of the cost assumed by the public through Medicare and Medicaid)

* Cost of falls among the elderly by US$19 billion in direct medical costs (Maisel, Smith, & Steinfeld, 2008)

LEGISLATION

Cities and towns across the country are gearing up to help their ever-growing older populations. With affordable senior housing in short supply and the desire of most seniors to remain in their homes, home-based programs are at the forefront: meals on wheels, home health care, hospice care in home, physical therapy at home, transportation from home. But for home-based programs to be successful, basic accessibility must be provided in the home. Visitability in private homes is crucial for the safety and social sustainability of older adults with mobility problems. Without the independence to enter or leave their home or to use the bathroom when needed, older adults can become isolated, depressed, and ill. Visitable homes are necessary for the safety and safety of everyone: older adults, physically disabled, visitors, caregivers and first responders.

In the late 1980s, Eleanor Smith of Concrete Change began lobbying Atlanta homebuilders to incorporate Visitable features into their new homes, but was met with strong opposition. Habitat for Humanity listened and today there are more than 800 Visitable Habitat homes in the Atlanta area.

1992- Atlanta Visitability Ordinance

Atlanta became the first city to adopt a visitability ordinance that requires all builders of new single-family, duplex or triplex homes that receive any financial benefit from or through the city must meet several basic access requirements, including at least one zero step. suitable entrance and interior door widths.

2002- Pima County Inclusive Housing Design Ordinance, Tucson, AZ

Pima County adopted the first ordinance in the nation requiring step-free entry for single-family homes with door openings at least 34 inches wide, lever door handles, reinforced walls in bathrooms for grab bars, over 48″ and 36″ wide aisles throughout main floor.

In 2003, the Southern Arizona Home Builders Association sued Pima County over the legality of the Visitability Ordinance. In a unanimous decision, the Arizona Court ended Tucson builders’ efforts to strike down Pima County’s law requiring minimum access in newly built single-family homes. By 2008, Tucson, AZ had built 15,000 visitable homes.

2004- Visitability Code, Bolingbrook, IL

Bolingbrook initially passed a voluntary visitation ordinance that was unsuccessful with homebuilders. To enforce homebuilders, Bolingbrook enforced the ordinance requiring all new homes to be built to visitability standards:

* A minimum of one zero crossing input

* Entries with 32″ clearance space

* A bathroom on the main floor that will accommodate a wheelchair

Bolingbrook currently has 3,600 single-family homes that can be viewed.

Inclusive Housing Design Act of 2009

US Representative Jan Schakowsky (D-ILL) introduced legislation that would apply visitability standards to all new single-family homes and townhouses receiving federal funds. Currently, 95% of new single-family homes and townhomes built with federal assistance do not incorporate accessibility features, making it impossible for many people with disabilities to live in or visit them. Representative Schakowsky reintroduced the bill in 2010.

Since the introduction of the Atlanta City Ordinance of 1992, more than 50 ordinances of varying quality have been passed across the country. The legislation has resulted in more than 30,000 visitable homes being built for the open market, regardless of whether or not the first occupant has a disability. States whose cities are adopting visitability ordinances or voluntary programs are: GA, FL, TX, VA, VT, MN, NM, KN, IL, OR, KY, NJ, MI, PA, OH.

ICC/ANSI A117.1, the accessibility standard referenced by most building codes in the US, is currently developing a Type C section that includes technical design criteria for visitability. This will provide a model of accessibility that can be adopted in new single-family homes and will clarify the design of a no-step entry, accessible bathroom, and accessible doors. The standard can be referenced by visitability laws and programs, thus promoting uniformity in applications and aiding in their interpretation. Please note that the IBC will not require Type C dwelling units. If a jurisdiction or state chooses to require visitability in single-family dwellings, the Type C unit criteria will be available for adoption as a reference. The 2010 edition of ANSI A117.1 will contain the specifications for Type C (visitable) dwelling units. (Maisel, Smith, and Steinfeld, 2008, “Increasing Home Access: Design for Visitability”)

References:

Jordana Maisel and Edward Steinfeld, Buffalo, NY, IDEA Center and Eleanor Smith, Concrete Change, Atlanta, GA, “Increasing Home Access: Design for Visitability”

related links

IDEA Center: http://www.udeworld.com

Concrete Change: http://www.concretechange.org