Health and Fitness Can Be Improved at Your Local YMCA

Americans have the bad reputation of being some of the most unfit people in the world. This could be largely due to the rise of obesity in the United States. There is much opportunity to eat an unhealthy diet in the US with all the fast food available. This leads to obesity and lack of physical fitness.Good exercise is known by everyone as a very vital thing to maintain good health. And this is more ideal when this taken along with a good nutritional plan. Americans have been encouraged to lose weight and get more physically fit. YMCAs have stepped in to help adults with their health and fitness.Most YMCAs have swimming facilities and a fitness center. They have become a convenient place for people to visit before or after work to do their fitness routine.One of the things that makes YMCAs popular is the fact that this gives people more time to do exercises. This is even more convenient to busy people who do not have the time of the day or works odd hours. The people who are occupied much of the day, and who only have certain times to spend in this kind of activity.Because YMCAs give more time to people to exercise, they become more and more fond of it. In fact, more and more YMCAs are opening up in the United States now. This is because Americans appear to be addicted in this activity for they want to have a thin shape and maintain their beauty. Most YMCAs offer a multitude of activities. Examples of these are swimming, racquetball, spa, tennis, weight training, and bicycling.No doubt, YMCAs will help people to achieve their want for a beautiful body. Here, people achieve beauty in a healthy manner. No need to undergo into liposuction to trim those fats. Rigorous exercise is enough to burn them all in good shape. In addition, YMCAs are also a place where one can meet and mingle with different types of people, hence a place that is also good for socialization. This is also one of the reasons why more people are exercising at the YMCA, and why they make this activity as part of their life routine.

Five Key Considerations Before Investing in Property to Let

The UK are big fans of property ownership, approximately seventy percent of property is owned with thirty percent rented, a ratio well above the average in Europe. Although the bulk of the drive for ownership about owning your own home, there’s also a growing popularity in buying property to rent out as an investment. Buy-to-let is a well marketed industry and is presented as an easy access opportunity to the general public. Letting out property as an investment can be lucrative in the right circumstances, however it is still a form of “business”, which has specific rules and requirements to be successful. Many people step into property investment without a full understanding of the many aspects that need appraising. Below are five key considerations, however please note the list is not exhaustive and all investors should do their own research before making their commitment.Mortgages For the investor usually there are two main methods to raise finance:Buy-to-let mortgagesEquity release from your own property.Buy-to-let mortgages are specifically marketed by the financial sector for this type of business. The rates of interest are usually higher than a mortgage taken against your own home. This is because there is a higher perceived risk to the lender in that the loan is usually covered by the rental income from a 3rd party who in this case is not the named borrower. This risk usually also translates into the need for a larger deposit to be put down against the purchase price, for example a 20-25% deposit requirement is typical. In calculating that risk affordability is given extra scrutiny so any applicant may need to evidence a higher degree of affordability at the underwriting process then with a residential mortgage. The buy-to-let mortgage is specific in that it treats your investment as a business case in its own right. Equity release mortgages allow the investor to borrow against the equity in their own home and then use that cash to purchase the investment property. In this situation the interest rate is more favorable, the lender considers the risk lower as the affordability and means to pay the loan is directly attributable to the borrower directly. The level of borrowing in this situation is determined primarily by two aspects. Firstly the level of loan-to-value, LTV requested, i.e. what percentage of the equity in your home’s value you wish to borrow against and secondly affordability criteria to service that loan. In terms of affordability any potential rental income from this equity release is not considered, so unlike the buy-to-let mortgage you are assessed for affordability based on your current situation only.Buy-to-let – Pros – Takes into account potential rental income in affordability criteriaBuy-to-let – Cons – Typically higher interest rate & setup cost, higher deposit required than most residential mortgagesEquity release – Pros – Lower interest rate, typically lower setup costsEquity release – Cons – Affordability criteria usually excludes potential rental incomeOther points… Often people move out of their main residence, with the intention of keeping it to rent out and mistakenly assume they can continue to run their residential mortgage on the property. However the risk levels and the terms that the residential mortgage was taken out against have changed, therefore the mortgage lender will require you to change your mortgage to a buy-to-let product or return to residency in the property.Especially with buy-to-let mortgages there may be other criteria on which properties a company will and will not lend on. For example, some companies will not lend on apartments above the 2nd floor etc. It’s recommended to check this against the property type being considered.Overall seek professional advice before making any financial commitment.Potential Rental Market ReturnsIt helps to know in advance what your economic conditions are, i.e. potential access to loans, available deposit, budget if no finance needed etc… This may help to clarify the amount of monthly rental return you are looking for to both meet expectations of the lender (where finance is needed) and yourself in terms of a given return for your invested money. Surprisingly the reverse often happens, a property is found, committed to and then at that late stage the financials are considered!Potential rental returns can vary greatly; aspects such as location, property type, property condition, supply and demand are just a few variables so it’s essential to gauge the market correctly. Using a property letting agent is a smart way to get a feeling for what is obtainable. A good lettings agency will provide guidance and advice without obligation. Bear in mind that when a figure is established for rental return some consideration should be given to “voids”, periods of time where the property is not rented. Voids are obviously undesirable but always possible due to the nature of tenants moving in and out. On average a figure of fifteen percent is sensible to account for, as the future is unknown. However, using a good lettings agency can help reduce the void percentage through efficient management and by leveraging their tenant client base and marketing reach.Evaluating CostsThere are several variables in costs and also some common costs to account for and find out ahead:Property Type – For example an apartment will typically come with service charges, find out what these are aheadFurnished or Unfurnished? – If furnishing enhances the rental return or ability to let the property then account for the setup costs of furnishing and also the replacement costs over the years. Again a local lettings agent could advise on the pros and cons of this choice.Repairs / incidental maintenance – Some upfront accountancy needs to be made for maintenance whether internal or external. Level of cost should be judged on state/condition of property.Property Management & Marketing – What are the annual costs, both one-off and ongoing?Ground rent – Payable annually for all leasehold ownership where applicableBuildings Insurance – Leaseholds, properties with communal aspects the insurance costs are dictated to you. Freehold you choose, check market ratesLandlords Liability Insurance – Optional but recommended Contents Insurance – Optional but recommendedOther Legal Requirements – Several additional costs to account for see next section.All in all once a full financial appraisal has been made of both costs and returns it’s probably a good time to start looking for the right property.Legal RequirementsThe property rental sector is not as heavily regulated as the property sales and estate agency market. However there are several Acts of Parliament which govern generally and regulate residential property lettings, such as the Housing Act. These laws are typically broad and all encompassing, certain aspects of them do apply to the property lettings industry whilst many do not. It’s also true to say that in recent years the letting industry has become more formalized and there is an increasing quantity of lettings specific legislation being introduced. This is in many ways a positive thing as helps to bring higher standards and professionalism to the sector; it’s also worth noting that some of the compliancy comes with a financial cost. For an up to date list of legal and safety regulations that any prospective landlord must be compliant with, consider talking with a letting agent, who will by up to date by default and should provide free no obligation advice.Managing your Property There are 3 principle methods landlords usually consider:Management via an agency – Tenants are both found and managed as a complete outsourced process. The cost is usually expressed as a percentage of the monthly rent received.Self-Management with Marketing via 3rd party – Landlord chooses to manage the property but uses an agent to find and vet potential tenants; the landlord may also use the agent to be compliant with the legal tenancy contract. The cost here is usually expressed as an upfront one-off fee.Complete self-management – Landlord manages the full scope of activity, markets their own property plus finds and manages their own tenant. The cost here is whatever the independent costs are the landlord incurs themselves.Pros & ConsAgency Management – Pros – Experienced management of all tenant and property related issues, financially simple – all monies managed for you, potential to negotiate best market rental rate, increasingly cost effective for landlords with multiple propertiesAgency Management – Cons – Cost is perceived higher than self-managed. However the long term earnings may be greater as a function of agent experience.Self-Managed, with 3rd party marketing – Pros – Lower cost option, allows landlords with enough time and confidence in their own management to save moneySelf-Managed, with 3rd party marketing – Cons – New landlords in particular stand a higher risk of error or mismanagement and usually gaining experience comes with a cost.Complete self-management – Pros – All costs under control of the landlord and if all the work is done by the landlord probably will provide the highest return on paper.Complete self-management – Cons – New landlords in particular stand a higher risk of error or mismanagement and usually gaining experience comes with a cost. They also don’t have access to the marketing tools or are able to leverage the economies of scale that a lettings agency can, which may mean the economics behind this choice need to be carefully weighed.Overall each scenario should be considered in its own right, the property and person involved, attitudes to risk versus reward and the amount of available spare time are big factors in making the decision. A local letting agent will be able to advise on their service offerings which should help determine the economics of this choice. Note that performance and service levels are likely to vary between agents.In conclusion these are five key aspects to consider before you consider investing in property to let. Each person’s motivations, personal feelings and situation will be different but generically addressing these five considerations will help provide an informed methodology to take the next step forward.

The Best Budget Decorating Blogs for All Your Interior Needs

Whether you’re in the market for a major interior overhaul or you’re simply looking to give your home a quick and easy update, chances are you’ve spent some time online hunting for ideas and inspiration. That said, it can be pretty deflating to stumble upon a look you love only to discover the price to achieve it is well above your budget.

Fortunately, there are some killer home decorating blogs that show you how to refresh, revive, and fall in love with your home anew without breaking the bank. For a home that looks far more expensive than it costs to create, check out the following blogs for all of the interior inspiration and DIY tutorials you’ll ever need.

Quartz Countertops and Grout – One Room Challenge Week 5

Welcome back to the week 5 update for the One Room Challenge. Check out the blog posts and updates for week 1, week 2, week 3, and week 4 if you missed them. It’s crunch time now and I’ll be honest… I don’t know that this project will be completely wrapped up for the reveal date. The great thing is the reveal and hitting a deadline is not the only goal of reason for this challenge. Ultimately having a fully functional and hopefully beautiful bathroom is where we want to end up even it things are a bit delayed.

Disclosure: this post contains affiliate links.

When we left off last time the countertops had been templated, the trim was freshly painted and the hardware had been ordered. The hardware took about 1 week to arrive. We chose the Menlo Park 4″ pull from Schlub in chrome because I think the pull has the perfect mix of square and some rounded elements that make it a great transitional hardware option. We went with all pulls for the drawers and doors since the knob option in that line weren’t our favorite.

Guest Bathroom Reno: Quartz Countertops and Grout – One Room Challenge Week 5

The quartz countertops are now installed and things can be put back together. Rectangle, undercount sinks were also purchased through the fabricator. The Marble look quartz from Pental and it is gorgeous with the warm gray veins running throughout. For the edge went for a flat polish eased edge for a clean, simple look.

Guest Bathroom Reno: Quartz Countertops and Grout – One Room Challenge Week 5

Two days after the quartz countertops were installed the tile installer came back to finish up tiling the niches, installing the tile base and grout everything.

Guest Bathroom Reno: Quartz Countertops and Grout – One Room Challenge Week 5

The electoral is being relocated for the new lights. There are some drywall and painting touch ups to do and plumbing fixtures to be hooked up. Plus adding all the finishing touches ???? All those little things like towel hooks, curtain rod, and accessories will bring this whole thing together.

Townhome Remodel Phase 1

It’s been too long since I’ve updated and even longer since this work has been started. This is me sharing remodel updates, mostly for myself (but also for my nagging family members). I’m sharing photos of the progress that has been made while also document the craziness that has gone on. This is just the beginning of the remodel.

Prior to moving in I had 3-4 weeks where my apartment lease overlapped with the possession of my townhome. This allowed me, with the amazing help of my family, to paint, tear-out carpet and somewhat put back together the upstairs portion of my place so that I could have a clean room to put a bed. At least one that wasn’t completely torn apart. One area that felt more livable that the rest. If you haven’t seen or don’t remember these are the before photos from when I took possession. To list it out here are the main things that I was tacking during those week prior to me moving in.

Phase 1 Remodel Projects
ripping out baseboard, carpet and tack strips upstairs and preparing for new hard surface flooring. (this flooring will go throughout minus the stairs and bathrooms/laundry)
installing flooring upstairs (one of my installers did this)
mostly gutting the master bathroom
installing a new tub and rough in plumbing for the master and powder bath
ordering and installing a rift white oak vanity for the master
Painting (and priming where needed) the ceilings and walls of the bedrooms. Caulking and painting the crown molding in the master
replacing and upgrading the baseboard heater in the master and patch the drywall
painting the hallway and down through the stairwell
adding skirt board to the stairs
installing new carpet and pad on the stairs (my carpet installer from work did this)
removing upper cabinets on the fridge side in the kitchen
partially demoing the wall diving the kitchen (prepare to move switches, outlets, heater and thermostat)
removing drywall on wall next to bar in dining area
painting the downstairs powder bath and removing vanity to prepare for a new floating vanity
Those were the main projects that took place and then I moved in the day after Thanksgiving. Getting rid of the original, nasty cat carpet and new flooring made a huge difference to the upstairs. Also neutralizing and lightening the paint made things feel so much more fresh. I still have no baseboards but I’ll get on that one day! For now here are some photos that I snapped along the way.

I bought a townhouse: The before

It’s been a while since been posting on here but I have some new updates and projects that I have been working on. Last summer into fall I was house hunting while knowing the lease on my apartment would be expiring end of the 2019. It felt a little crazy but was a fun process for me. After a bunch of searching I found and closed on a new home!

I was lucky enough to have a few weeks of overlap with my apartment (I ended up moving out 1 month early) so I was able to get started on projects and updates prior to moving in. I’ll share more about those in the coming weeks (there are still so many unfinished things!) but for now I think it’s best to start with some before photos. Also, follow along on Instagram where I post current project updates more often. The pictures show it in the state I bought it in. It’s a great first place to me and was functional as-is but as you might expect I’m here to make things my own by doing updates that I will enjoy while living here and that will also add value and functionality to the space down the line when I sell… or maybe even keep it as a rental. My dog, Nova, has been enjoying the space as well ???? There are a couple of things to miss about my Bothell apartment but I am very ready to have my own place and space.

Guest Bathroom Remodel Sources

In 2017 the guest bathroom was remodeled. You can see more photos and read about that here. Almost everything came out and all new things went back in. From emails and comments people have been asking for sources so I have rounded up what I could in this post to share paint colors, products and links that I could find for the bathroom.

Bathroom Sources and Details:
Wall color: BM Balboa Mist
Trim and door color: BM Chantilly Lace
Floor Tile: Pental Mark Chrome 12×24 matte
Shower tile: Jeffrey Court Weather Gray 4×12 gloss subway
Niche tile: Daltile clio mosaic
Bathtub: Maax Rubix tub
Cabinet: Spencer Cabinets – painted BM Cape May Cobblestone
Countertop: Pental Quartz Misterio polished 3cm
Cabinet hardware: Schaub Menlo Park Pull in chrome
Faucets: Hansgrohe Metris single handle in chrome
Shower trims: Kohler slide bar kit, wall mount supply and Hansgrohe tub spout in chrome
Mirrors: Homegoods
Towel Hooks: Delta Tolva robe hook in chrome