August 2023 - Hanover Mortgages

Apache is functioning normally

August 30, 2023 by Brett Tams

AA stimulus package is a set of financial measures put together by central bankers or government lawmakers with the aim of improving, or “stimulating,” an economy that’s struggling.

Individuals in the U.S. during the past two decades have witnessed two major periods when government stimulus packages were used to boost the economy: first, after the 2008 financial crisis, and second, following the 2020 outbreak of the Covid-19 pandemic.

While viewed by some as key to reviving growth, economic stimulus packages are not without controversy. Here’s a closer look at how they work, the different types of stimulus packages, and their pros and cons.

Government Stimulus Packages, Explained

What is a stimulus package? The foundational theory behind these economic stimulus packages is one developed by a man named John Maynard Keynes in the 1930s.

Keynes was a British economist who created his theory in response to the global depression of the era. His conclusion was that, when a government lowers taxes and increases its spending, this would stimulate demand and help to get the economy out of its depressed state.

More specifically, when taxes are lowered, this helps to free up more income for people; because more is at their disposal, this is referred to as “disposable income.” People are more likely to spend some of this extra money, which helps to boost a sluggish economy.

When the government boosts its spending, this also puts more money into the economy. The hoped-for results are a decreased unemployment rate that will help to improve the overall economy.

Economic theory, of course, is much more complex than that, and so are government stimulus packages.
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Different Types of Stimulus

Monetary Stimulus

To get a bit more nuanced, monetary stimulus is something that occurs when monetary policy is changed to boost the economy.

Monetary policy is how the supply of money is influenced and interest rates managed through actions taken by a central agency. In the U.S., that agency is the Federal Reserve Bank.

Ways in which the Federal Reserve can use monetary policy to stimulate the economy include cutting policy rates, which in turn allows banks to loan money to consumers at lower rates; reducing the reserve requirement ratio, and buying government securities.

When the reserve requirement ratio is lowered, banks don’t need to keep as much in reserve. That means they have more to lend, at lower interest rates, which makes it more appealing for people to borrow money and get it circulating in the economy.

Fiscal Stimulus

Fiscal stimulus strategies focus on lowering taxes and/or boosting government spending. When taxes are lowered, this increases the amount of money that people have left over from a paycheck, and that money could be spent or invested.

When money is spent on a greater amount of products, this increases demand for those products — which in turn helps to reduce unemployment because companies need more employees to make and sell them.

If this process continues, then employees themselves become more in demand, which makes it more likely that they can get higher wages — which gives them even more funds to spend or invest.

When the government spends more money, this can increase employment, giving workers more money to spend, which can increase demand — and so, it is hoped, the upward cycle continues.

In the U.S., a federal fiscal package needs to be passed by the Senate and the House of Representatives — and then the president can sign it into law.

Quantitative Easing

Quantitative easing (QE) is a strategy used by the Federal Reserve when there is a need for a rapid increase in the money supply in the United States and to boost the economy.

For example, on March 15, 2020, the Federal Reserve announced a $700+ billion program in response to COVID-19. In general, QE involves the Federal Reserve buying longer-term government bonds, among other assets.
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Pros and Cons of Stimulus Packages

There are advantages and disadvantages to economic stimulus packages, including the following:

Benefits

The goal of a stimulus package, based on Keynesian theory, is to revive a lagging economy and to prevent or reverse a recession, where the economy is retracting rather than expanding. This is a more immediate form of relief as the government also uses monetary, fiscal, and QE strategies to boost the overall economy.

This might include the Fed cutting interest rates, which lowers the rate at which banks loan money to consumers. That can encourage individuals to borrow money, which gets it circulating in the economy.

Taxes may also be lowered, which means workers have more money from each paycheck to spend. That spending may, in turn, increase the supply and demand for products, which can help both employees and businesses.

Risks

However, there are also risks to implementing stimulus packages. An economic theory that runs counter to Keynesian theory is the crowding out critique. According to this thinking, when the government participates in a deficit form of spending, labor demands will rise, which leads to higher wages, which leads to lower bottom lines for businesses.

Plus, these deficits are initially funded by debt, which causes an incremental increase in interest rates. This means it would cost more for businesses to obtain financing.

Other criticisms of stimulus spending focus on the timing of when funds are allocated and that central governments can be less efficient at capital allocation, which ultimately leads to waste and a low return on spending.

Another risk is that the central bank or government over-stimulates the economy or prints too much fiat currency, leading to inflation, or rise in prices. While a degree of inflation is normal and healthy for a growing inflation, price increases that are rapid and out of control can be painful for consumers.

Previous Economic Stimulus Legislation

Perhaps the most sweeping stimulus bill ever created in the United States was signed into law by President Franklin Delano Roosevelt on April 8, 1935.

Called the Emergency Relief Appropriation Act and designed to help people struggling under the Great Depression, Roosevelt simply called it the “Big Bill”; it is now often referred to as the “New Deal.” Five billion dollars was provided to create jobs for Americans, who in turn built roads, bridges, parks, and more.

The Works Progress Administration (WPA) came out of the New Deal, ultimately employing 11 million workers to build San Francisco’s Golden Gate Bridge, LaGuardia Airport in New York, Chicago’s Lake Shore Drive, about 100,000 other bridges, 8,000 parks, and half a million miles of roads, including highways.

Another agency, the Tennessee Valley Authority, collaborated with other agencies to build more than 20 dams, which generated electricity for millions of families in the South and West.

More Recent Stimulus Packages

Additionally, there was the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA) in 2009. This was passed into law in response to the Great Recession of 2008 and is sometimes called the “Obama stimulus” or the “stimulus package of 2009.” Its goal was to address job losses.

This Act included $787 billion in tax cuts and credits, as well as unemployment benefits for families. Dollars were also provided for infrastructure, health care, and education, and the total funding was later increased to $831 billion.

More recently, the Coronavirus Aid, Relief and Economic Security Act, or the CARES Act, was passed by the United States Senate on March 25, 2020. On March 27, 2020, the House of Representatives passed the legislation and the President signed it into law the same day.

And in March 2021, the American Rescue Plan was passed by the House and the Senate and signed into law by President Biden. This emergency relief plan included payments for individuals, tax credits, and grants to small businesses, among other things.

The Takeaway

Stimulus packages are used to prop up economies when they are struggling or on the brink of a major recession, or even depression. While in recent decades, such stimulus packages have been credited by some for helping the U.S. economy out of the 2008 financial crisis and 2020 Covid-19 pandemic, others worry that the increase in government deficit is unhealthy, and all that spending could lead to inflation.

For individuals, devising a strategy to help save and invest during times when the economy is struggling — and in general — can be important to achieving their financial goals. Chatting with a financial planner about those goals may be helpful for some when it comes to putting together a plan to save for the future.

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FAQ

Are there stimulus packages for small businesses?

Yes. For example, as part of the American Rescue Plan, small businesses that closed temporarily or had declining revenues due to COVID were extended a number of tax benefits to help with things like payroll taxes. There were also funds put toward grants for small businesses as part of this economic stimulus package.

How do stimulus packages fight recessions?

Economic stimulus packages are thought to help fight recessions by lowering taxes and increasing spending. The idea is that these measures would boost demand and improve the economy, and thus help avoid or fight recession.

What disqualifies you from getting a stimulus package?

Some reasons that could disqualify you from getting a stimulus package include having an income that’s deemed too high, not having a Social Security number, or not being a U.S. citizen or U.S. national.

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Apache is functioning normally

August 30, 2023 by Brett Tams

When you deposit money into a bank account, you expect that money to stay there until you withdraw it. But how can you be certain your money will be safe if the bank runs into trouble? That’s where FDIC insurance comes in.

“FDIC insurance ensures the safety of depositor funds up to a certain amount and promotes stability in the United States banking system,” explains Jason Koontz, an independent consultant with decades of experience in the banking sector.

FDIC-insured accounts, like those offered by FDIC member Discover Bank^®, are protected up to $250,000 per depositor, per account ownership category, in the unlikely event of a bank failure. You probably have a lot more questions about FDIC insurance, so let’s dive into some answers.

What is FDIC insurance?

First, let’s start with what FDIC stands for: Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation. Managed by this independent government agency, FDIC insurance is a program designed to protect deposits against the possibility of bank failures.

Banks can apply for FDIC deposit insurance and, assuming they meet the standard for approval, pay premiums to the FDIC for coverage. FDIC protection is backed by the full faith and credit of the United States government and assures that even if a bank fails, depositors won’t lose their protected funds.

Why was FDIC insurance created?

The first deposit insurance programs in the United States were initiated and deployed at the state level. Starting with New York in 1829 until 1917, 14 states implemented plans to protect bank deposits and similar accounts. These programs were intended to protect depositors from bank failures and guarantee communities’ financial stability.

These efforts fell short, however, and by 1933, thousands of banks had closed and the entire U.S. financial system was faltering. Because past efforts to establish some sort of federal deposit insurance program had been unsuccessful, bank customers were left unprotected. Depositors lost $1.3 billion as a result of the thousands of bank failures stemming from the financial crash that led to the Great Depression. Considering inflation, that amount would currently equate to about $27.4 billion, according to the Pew Research Center.¹

In response, Congress passed the Banking Act of 1933, and President Franklin D. Roosevelt signed it into law. The act officially established the FDIC to restore confidence in the banking system and prevent further financial collapse. Since then, “no depositor has lost a penny of insured funds as a result of a failure,” according to the agency.

How does FDIC insurance help consumers?

While the FDIC insures banks, individual consumers benefit too.

“FDIC insurance benefits U.S. banking customers (citizens and foreigners) by providing peace of mind and confidence that their deposits are protected up to $250,000 per depositor, [per account category], per insured bank,” Koontz says. “In the event of a bank failure, the FDIC steps in to ensure depositors’ funds are reimbursed promptly, maintaining stability and helping to prevent panic in the banking system.”

Koontz explains that this protection applies to the accounts of individuals, families, and businesses and that it promotes trust and participation in the U.S. banking system. Bank customers don’t need to apply for FDIC insurance; they only need to make sure their bank is FDIC-insured.

You can usually find out if a bank is FDIC-insured by checking its website. Or you can search the FDIC database to find certified institutions in your area.

How does FDIC insurance work?

So, what does the FDIC do when an insured bank fails? Koontz explains that after a bank failure, the FDIC will take over as the custodian and manage the bank to minimize disruption.

“While this can happen on any day of the week, the FDIC often takes over a troubled bank on a Friday near the close of business,” Koontz says. He notes that the FDIC will have been doing plenty of work behind the scenes leading up to this day. “A Friday takeover allows the FDIC the weekend to work on the failed bank,” he continues. “The FDIC has several options for resolving a failed bank, including selling its assets and deposits to another institution, arranging a merger with a healthier bank, or creating a bridge bank to maintain banking operations until a suitable buyer is found.”

Of course, as mentioned above, the FDIC also protects the failed bank’s customers—up to $250,000 per depositor, per insured bank, for each account ownership category—if needed.

It’s also important to note that bank failures are very rare. Most of the time, banks are able to stay solvent. And if they’re FDIC-insured, the agency will examine and monitor them to ensure they comply with consumer protection laws.

How are consumers affected by bank failures?

If a bank fails, customers are at risk of losing unprotected funds. Funds may be unprotected if they’re held in a non-FDIC-insured institution, if they’re held in accounts that do not qualify for protection, or if the funds exceed the $250,000 limit.

In the rare occurrence that an insured bank fails, the impact on customers will depend on the steps the FDIC takes in response.

“If a bank is acquired by another institution, customers’ accounts and services generally continue without interruption, and they become customers of the acquiring bank,” explains Koontz.

In the case of a bridge bank, Koontz adds, customers can typically access their accounts and continue banking operations without significant disruption. “However, in some cases there may be temporary limitations on certain transactions or services until the resolution process is complete.”

How much does the FDIC insure?

The standard FDIC deposit insurance amount is up to $250,000 per depositor, per bank, for each account ownership category. That maximum applies to all the banks you have an account with, as long as the bank is an FDIC member. (Discover Bank is an FDIC member.)

You can use the FDIC’s Electronic Deposit Insurance Estimator, or EDIE, to determine your total coverage across all of your accounts and banks.

Koontz says it’s possible the FDIC may organize an arrangement to reimburse funds beyond the $250,000 guarantee, but you should not expect funds above that number to be protected. There are steps you can take, however, to maximize your FDIC protection.

How can you maximize your FDIC protection?

If you’re looking to deposit more than $250,000—whether as an individual, a family, or a business—then the FDIC insurance limits may be a concern. Fortunately, there are some strategies you can use to increase the protection you receive.

One option is to open multiple accounts with different ownership categories at the same bank. “The FDIC provides separate coverage for different ownership categories, such as individual accounts, joint accounts, retirement accounts, and certain trust accounts,” Koontz explains. “By utilizing these categories effectively, you can increase your overall coverage.”

Another tactic is to open accounts at different banks, Koontz says. While it could be a little more inconvenient to manage accounts at different institutions, he notes that it’s wise to avoid keeping all your eggs in one basket.

“By distributing your deposits among different [insured] banks, you can ensure that each account remains within the coverage limit,” advises Koontz.

It’s also possible to increase your coverage by opening a revocable trust account and designating multiple beneficiaries. A revocable trust is an account that pays out to beneficiaries upon the death of the account holder. Consider consulting a tax advisor to discuss your specific situation.

As of April 1, 2024, the FDIC will insure covered trusts up to $250,000 for each of up to five beneficiaries. That means a trust could be insured up to $1,250,000 for a single account holder. The covered amount for a joint trust, meanwhile, could be up to $2,500,000 for five beneficiaries.

Are you staying informed?

FDIC rules have changed multiple times since the program’s creation nearly a century ago. Koontz advises that you remain aware of any developments to be certain your deposits remain protected.

“It’s important to stay updated on any changes to FDIC coverage limits or regulations,” Koontz says. “Periodically review your deposit accounts and assess whether any adjustments are needed.” Again, that could include opening several different account types within one FDIC-insured institution or spreading out your accounts across several different FDIC-secured banks.

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Feeling confident about FDIC insurance?

Koontz’s insights into what the FDIC does and how it can assist you as a bank customer should help you gain confidence about opening an FDIC-insured bank account. That could include an online savings account, a cashback debit account, a certificate of deposit (CD), a money market account, an IRA savings account, or an IRA CD.

While FDIC rules apply to every insured account, everyone’s financial situation will differ. “It is always important to talk to your banker, financial advisor, or even the FDIC directly for more personal guidance,” explains Koontz.

The FDIC is there for your benefit. When you appreciate how it works, you can build up your financial foundation with peace of mind. Ready to get started? Open an FDIC-insured online savings account today.

¹ “Most U.S. bank failures have come in a few big waves.” Pew Research Center, Washington, D.C. (April 11, 2023) https://www.pewresearch.org/short-reads/2023/04/11/most-u-s-bank-failures-have-come-in-a-few-big-waves/

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Source: discover.com

Apache is functioning normally

August 30, 2023 by Brett Tams

Pigs might fly before you’re allowed to have one as a pet.

Let us guess: you saw that new Nicholas Cage movie, “Pig,” and were so charmed by the close relationship Cage’s character had with his beloved truffle pig that you want one of your own. Or, you love “Charlotte’s Web” and “Babe.” But hold your horses, or rather pigs, for a minute.

Yes, pigs are nice animals. They’re highly intelligent, social and friendly. You can also house train them and walk them on a leash. And yes, they’re extremely cute. Because of these attributes, unprepared owners can assume having a pig as a pet is a piece of cake. But there are a lot of different factors to consider when keeping a pig as a pet, especially for apartment renters.

Compared to traditional pets like dogs and cats, pigs are a whole other animal, literally. In some cases, pigs may not even legally be allowed in apartments. Here are some reasons pigs may not make the best pets for apartment dwellers.

Are pigs allowed in apartments?

The short answer is yes and no. Whether or not your apartment allows pigs varies, depending on factors like local laws and your landlord’s rules.

Pigs fall under the category of non-traditional pets. Animals like dogs and cats are traditional because they’ve been bred for domestic living. Non-traditional pets include rodents like guinea pigs, ferrets, reptiles and birds.

1. Your landlord and lease may not allow it

Since pigs are not traditional pets, many landlords won’t allow them as pets. If they do, they’ll likely have very specific conditions attached to protect their property from damage. Check your lease or ask your landlord directly.

While you could try to sneak in and hide a small pig, the potential for discovery and a nasty altercation with your landlord is too high. You could face eviction, higher fees and other penalties. So, always seek permission for having a pet pig in writing or submit a pet resume when applying so the landlord is aware.

Even if you’re allowed pigs in your apartment, here are some things to consider.

2. It might be illegal in your city or municipality

Your landlord isn’t the only obstacle to having a pet pig in your apartment. Many cities and municipalities have laws against keeping farm animals within city limits. If you can have one, you’ll need to follow very specific regulations and rules. Always research your local laws before purchasing a pet pig. Otherwise, you might need to re-home them or move out of the city.

3. They can get too big

If you’re considering getting a pig as a pet, you’ve likely heard of the terms teacup pig or miniature pig. Because of their small size, you think these would be the perfect option for a pet pig. But a teacup pig is not an actual species.

Some of the most popular smaller pig breeds that could make suitable pets include the Vietnamese potbelly pig and Kunekune pigs. But even these can get pretty big, growing bigger than cats and dogs and weighing anywhere between 50 pounds to well over 100 pounds.

There’s also the chance you’ll purchase a small pig thinking it’s already reached full size. But then, it continues to grow and becomes a full-size farm pig. Then, you have a full-size problem.

4. They’re expensive

Purchase costs. Special vet bills. Pig feed. Housing supplies. Any license fees. Granted, there are costs associated with having any pet. But pigs can still run up a hefty bill between all the above and more. This is especially true of porcine-specific health issues like skin disorders. Talk about a piggy bank.

5. They live a really long time

Although everyone hopes their beloved pet lives as long as possible, you may sign up for longer than expected with a pet pig. Wild pigs usually only live a few years or up to a decade, depending on predators and the environment. But with shelter, food and safety, pet pigs can live anywhere from 15 to 20 years. Just like with any pet, getting a pet pig is a commitment for life. They can also be very difficult to re-home, so really consider the consequences of surrendering one.

6. They might not get along with your other pets

While pigs are very friendly and social, they don’t always mix well with your other pets of different species. Dogs, in particular, are a problem. Both dogs and pigs are aggressive toward each other over food and territory.

7. They require special care and attention

Pet pigs need special care to stay healthy and happy. They need to get regular exercise, with either multiple daily walks or a secure, well-fenced outdoor area to play in. That outdoor area needs clean shelter areas to prevent your pig from exposure to too much sun or cold.

Regular visits to a specialized vet are a must. If you’re not home with them a lot, they’ll likely require a companion. They need a special, well-balanced diet, not slop or leftovers. This is just a beginner’s summary, so unless you have the time, energy and money to give a pet pig the specific care they need, it’s best not to get one.

8. They can get destructive

There’s a reason pigs find truffles, as you saw in the movie “Pig.” They love to root around, dig and get into things. So, if you don’t offer plenty of outdoor space to exercise and play, enrichment and other factors to keep them occupied and entertained, those natural tendencies and wild animal habits could get destructive fast.

They can knock things over, tear up the carpet and flooring, rip furniture and much more. Easily startled and scared by loud noises or disturbances, a frightened pig can panic, running around your apartment destroying things. Living with a pet pig in an apartment, you can quickly understand the meaning of the word pigsty.

9. You may need to pay extra security deposits

Those wild habits leave a high potential for lots of damage to an apartment. If your landlord does allow pigs, they may require a much higher security deposit or pet deposit as collateral. So, your move-in fees would be even higher than usual.

10. You’ll have to pay for repairs

If your pet pig does end up doing damage, it’s not just your security deposit that you’ll lose. You’ll likely have to pay out-of-pocket for repairs. Depending on the damage, this could be hundreds to thousands of dollars.

This is why it’s also important to take dated photos of your apartment before move-in. That way, you won’t have to pay for any pre-existing damages your pig didn’t cause.

11. They can create a lot of noise

When scared, pigs also squeal and scream very loudly. Even in an apartment complex with good soundproofing, your neighbors are bound to hear an upset pig. Mad neighbors and complaints about loud noises, which could even lead to the police or legal intervention, are another reason not to keep a pig in an apartment.

12. They can smell

Pigs themselves don’t smell. It’s their manure that gives people the idea that pigs are smelly on their own. While you can keep your pig clean with regular bathing and grooming, their waste is another matter. You can house-train them, but the place where they do their business will still smell strong. And accidents happen, so they may leave a large, smelly surprise on the floor. In an apartment complex, those smells can go through walls and linger unless you use top-quality cleaners and odor eliminators.

Other types of animals to consider for an apartment pet

Whether it’s not allowed or you’ve decided it’s not the best option for you, you’re not getting a pig as a pet for your apartment. Luckily, there are many other animals that can make great apartment pets. If you wanted to get a pig because of its friendliness and sociability, you can get a dog instead. Many cat breeds are also very friendly and social.

If you really want an alternative, non-traditional pet, there are many different routes. Rodents like hamsters, guinea pigs and gerbils are very sweet, snuggly and easy to care for. Rabbits can also be wonderful companions. If you’re willing and able to put in the time and energy for proper care, more high-maintenance pets like reptiles or birds are also an option.

Living in an apartment with a pet pig isn’t as happy as a pig in clover

Even if your apartment allows pigs, they’re not the best choice in pets. While you’re in love with the idea, their happiness and quality of life matter above all else. So, if you can’t provide the best care and home for them and give them what they need, it’s better to either shelve that dream or start looking for places to live out in the countryside.

Zoe Baillargeon is an award-winning writer and journalist based in Portland, Oregon, where she covers a variety of beats including travel, food and drink, lifestyle and culture for outlets like Apartment Guide, Rent., AFAR.com, Fodor’s, The Manual, Matador Network and more. In her free time, she enjoys traveling, hiking, reading and spoiling her cat.

Source: rent.com

Apache is functioning normally

August 30, 2023 by Brett Tams

Weddings are a special moment in a couple’s life, and choosing to host the event at home can make it all the more memorable. However, planning for the big day can take a lot of time and preparation. From updating your house with a fresh coat of paint to installing landscape lighting, there are many details that you may not think about when planning an intimate backyard wedding. To help you create the ultimate backyard wedding, we’ve rounded up wedding industry experts from Hoboken, NJ, to Portland, OR, to share their expertise with you.

1. Think big picture logistics

When it comes to planning your wedding, it’s crucial to think of big picture logistics. This means considering the broader aspects of your event, from the venue layout and transportation for guests to the flow of the ceremony and reception. By focusing on these overarching logistics, you can ensure a seamless and well-coordinated wedding day that allows you and your guests to fully enjoy the special moments without any hiccups or stress.

2. Plan ahead for garden blooms

Timing is crucial for a backyard wedding. Planning a year ahead allows your garden to flourish, providing a lush backdrop for your celebration

“Start to plan a year in advance for your intimate backyard wedding, this way the garden flowers will be in full bloom for the big day and/or you can plant what grows best in your particular climate,” recommends Kait Thomson, Florist in Hoboken, NJ.

3. Set the stage with calligraphy

“The art of calligraphy brings elegance and sophistication to any event. Creating an intimate backyard wedding is a perfect venue to make a wedding more personalized and special with an elegant touch of handwritten calligraphy,” shares Katherine Glattard, Calligrapher in Wilmette, IL

Calligraphy is your secret weapon for adding a touch of elegance to your backyard wedding. Here are some creative ways to incorporate it:

- Invitations and save-the-dates: Use calligraphy for your wedding invitations and save-the-dates. Hand-lettered envelopes, names, and details create a beautiful first impression for your guest
- Custom Hand-lettered signage: “One of the easiest ways couples can make their weddings and receptions more personalized is by including custom hand-lettered signage. From signature drinks on bar menus that are named after family pets to hand-made place cards made specifically for each guest by name, the possibilities are endless when it comes to signage. Going with custom signage allows your calligrapher to design each piece with you and your partner in mind—that’s not the experience you’ll get buying a standard wedding sign from a retail store,” states Katelyn Maude Harder, modern calligrapher and owner of Letters by Maude in Kansas City, MO.
- Personalized wedding favors: Infuse your favors with warmth by adding a calligraphed message of thanks, your names, and the wedding date.
- Guest book: Use calligraphy to decorate the cover of your guest book or have pages with calligraphed headings for guests to leave their well wishes.

4. Set the mood with the right lighting

“Ambient accent lighting is important at night. A big drawback to doing a backyard wedding is you likely won’t have at your disposal the lighting options available at a legit wedding venue. What you want are accent lights that add some flare to the surrounding. Those lights don’t need to light up the entirety of the backyard, rather they can take the form of strung lights around the periphery or overhead. You could even do uplighting on trees or on porch pillars or globes hanging from limbs. Get creative,” states Kyle Carnes, Photographer in Portland Oregon

5. Choose the perfect ceremony background

According to Lauren Ashlie, Photographer in Virginia Beach, VA, “No matter the size of your backyard, you want to pay special attention to the ceremony location. Your backdrop has a big impact on the focal point, you and your Person. Be sure to pick a spot that doesn’t have too many distractions in the background.”

6. Be a courteous neighbor

You don’t have to invite them to the party, but it’s a good idea to check in with your neighbors in advance of the event to let them know what to expect. Put them at ease with assurances you will keep the crowd under control and the noise at a reasonable level. Discuss issues that may come up like parking and property lines.

Go the extra mile by asking neighbors what concerns they might have about the event. Once you know the issues, you can figure out a plan that works for everyone. In the end, the party only lasts one night, but you have to live next to these folks for much longer.

7. Elevate the atmosphere with balloons

Balloons, when creatively incorporated, can add a playful and enchanting touch to your celebration. From charming arches to oversized installations, these colorful orbs can inject joy and vibrancy into your wedding decor. “For those seeking to make a bold impression, utilizing balloons of varying sizes, including a few oversized ones, can be remarkably impactful,” says Yuliya Altynnikova, Balloon Decorator in Sayreville, NJ.

8. Plan for inclement weather

Planning for inclement weather is a wedding essential that can’t be overlooked. Mother Nature can be unpredictable, and a well-thought-out backup plan ensures that rain or unexpected conditions won’t dampen your celebration. Consider renting a tent or canopy to shield your guests from the elements while still enjoying the beauty of your backyard venue. Having a contingency strategy in place allows you to adapt gracefully to any weather curveballs, ensuring that your special day goes off without a hitch, rain or shine.

An intimate backyard wedding is a canvas for crafting cherished memories in a personal and meaningful setting. It’s a place where your love story takes center stage, etching new memories into familiar surroundings. As you embark on this journey, understanding the best way to transform your yard is crucial, allowing you to create the perfect wedding atmosphere for your big day.

Source: redfin.com

Apache is functioning normally

August 30, 2023 by Brett Tams

Recruitment is a crucial determinant of growth and success for real estate brokerages. Like your customer, the recruitment process can be visualized as a sales funnel, where potential recruits enter at the top, and the best-suited agents emerge at the bottom as ideal members of your team or brokerage. Understanding and optimizing each stage of this funnel is critical to streamline recruitment and attract top-tier talent. With that in mind, let’s break down a successful real estate recruitment funnel and how to optimize each stage:

1. Awareness

At this stage, potential recruits become aware of your brokerage and what it stands for. Think of this as your core brand narrative. Would an agent from the outside be impressed?

Optimization Tips:

Brand presence: Ensure your brokerage has a robust online presence, including an updated website and active social media profiles.
Content marketing: Establish yourself as a thought leader. Share insightful articles, market analyses, and success stories to position your brokerage as an industry thought leader.

2. Interest

Once aware, agents begin to show interest in what your brokerage offers. They may sign up for newsletters, follow you on social platforms, or attend webinars.

Optimization Tips:

Engaging content: Regularly post relevant content that addresses common questions or challenges agents face. Turn your brokerage into a solution.
Webinars and workshops: Organize events that showcase your brokerage’s expertise and the benefits of joining your team. Highlight subjects that are not inherently a sales pitch but naturally put your team in the best possible light.

3. Consideration

At this point, agents are actively considering joining your brokerage. They might reach out with queries, ask for meetings, or seek feedback from current agents.

Optimization Tips:

Testimonials: Share success stories and testimonials from your current agents. Real-world experiences can be the compelling piece of content you can share.
Transparent communication: Be clear about commission structures, growth opportunities, and your support to your agents. A lack of communication can make someone feel they made the wrong decision.

4. Intent

Agents are on the verge of making a decision. They’ve likely narrowed down their options and are comparing the benefits of various brokerages.

Optimization Tips:

Personalized outreach: Always use personalized communication to address any remaining concerns or questions they might have.
Showcase Technology: If your brokerage uses advanced tools and technologies that can simplify their workflow, highlight them without overwhelming them.

5. Decision

The crucial stage is where agents decide to join your brokerage. They’re convinced that your brokerage aligns with their goals and aspirations. The first 90 days are critical.

Optimization Tips:

Smooth onboarding: Ensure the onboarding process is seamless. From paperwork to training, every step should be organized and efficient.
Welcoming environment: Create a welcoming atmosphere, introducing new agents to the team and integrating them into your brokerage culture.

6. Retention

While technically outside the recruitment funnel, retaining agents is as essential as recruiting them. It’s about keeping them engaged and satisfied.

Optimization Tips:

Continuous training: Offer regular training sessions and development programs.
Feedback loop: Encourage agents to share feedback and act upon constructive suggestions.

Conclusion

A successful real estate recruitment funnel is more than just attracting potential agents; it’s about guiding them through a journey from awareness to decision, ensuring they feel valued and informed at every stage. By understanding the anatomy of this funnel and optimizing each step, brokerages can ensure they attract and retain the industry’s best talent, setting the stage for sustained growth and success.

Jim Turner is CEO of Brokerkit, a growth platform for brokers.

Source: housingwire.com

Apache is functioning normally

August 30, 2023 by Brett Tams

Texas continues to outpace other states in attracting new residents, according to migration data from John Burns, with Houston, San Antonio and Fort Worth showing strong housing demand. The other top cities for in-migration include Jacksonville, Florida, Charlotte, North Carolina, and Nashville, Tennessee.

However, the Austin housing market, which boomed during the pandemic, is now seeing barely positive migration numbers, along with Phoenix, Arizona, and Las Vegas, Nevada.

According to Altos Research, the Austin metro housing market shows signs of a substantial normalization in home prices compared with the overall trends of the pandemic years and pre-pandemic years. The median sale price for a home in the Austin metro area reached a peak of $675,000 in April 2022. By April 2023, that figure had dropped by 14.07% to a median sale price of $580,000. As of August 2023, the median sale price in the Austin metro area had moderated further to $569,900.

The John Burns report shows housing demand is weak in Sacramento and Riverside-San Bernardino, California.

Meanwhile, in metros such as Denver, Seattle and Philadelphia, the concern doesn’t revolve so much about the people coming in but too many going out, as out-migration is becoming a real issue.

At the very bottom of the list, the East Bay area, Orange County, San Diego, San Jose, Miami, Washington, D.C., Boston, Chicago and San Francisco show very negative domestic out-migration. However, this exodus might be offset by international migration.

To conduct this study, John Burns monitored domestic migration trends in near real time, using postal address change forms that are current within a few months. This data excludes international migration.

Source: housingwire.com

Apache is functioning normally

August 30, 2023 by Brett Tams

I’ll be in Miami for Christmas this year (Dec 19th – Jan 3rd). Several Geek Estate Mastermind members are getting together for lunch before the holiday madness this coming Friday (Dec 20th). The gathering will be in Miami Beach at 12:30.

Interested in joining? Shoot me an email at drew at geekestatelabs dot com and I’ll share venue specifics.

Source: geekestateblog.com

Apache is functioning normally

August 30, 2023 by Brett Tams

The Los Angeles City Council passed a $150-million spending plan for funds raised by Measure ULA on Tuesday, marking the first time funds will be specifically allocated since Angelenos passed the tax in November.

The expenditure plan will be directed to six programs: short-term emergency rental assistance, eviction defense, tenant outreach and education, direct cash assistance for low-income seniors and people with disabilities, tenant protections, and affordable housing production.

“This is the largest source of revenue, that’s going to be consistent, that this city has access to for these uses ever,” said Councilmember Nithya Raman. “It’s really transformative for Los Angeles.”

Of the $150 million, $23 million will go toward eviction defense, $23 million will go toward income support for rent-burden seniors, and $18.4 million will go toward rent debt assistance.

The first program to be implemented will be an emergency rental assistance program, which will open Sept. 19.

Dubbed a ‘mansion tax,’ Measure ULA took effect April 1, bringing a 4% charge on all residential and commercial real estate sales in the city above $5 million and a 5.5% charge on sales above $10 million.

Since April, the tax has raised roughly $55 million. City officials said ULA money can be spent only as it comes in, so the city won’t be able to use the full $150 million until the tax generates $150 million.

Before the vote at Tuesday’s meeting, about a dozen tenants and community activists expressed support for the funding, saying it is desperately needed, especially in the tenant-outreach and eviction-defense programs.

“I am … excited that tenants will also have an opportunity to be legally represented in court and that landlords will not be the only ones with an attorney during an eviction,” said Karely De La Cruz, a civic engagement organizer with TRUST South L.A. “Because housing is a human right.”

“We really need you all to pass the ULA plan today. That money belongs to the community,” said Chad Williams, an L.A. organizer for the Alliance of Californians for Community Empowerment.

Joe Donlin, director of United to House LA, the coalition that brought Measure ULA onto the ballot, vowed that the coalition will stand together during the implementation process to make sure every dollar is spent effectively.

While $55 million is a significant amount of funding toward L.A.’s housing crisis, it’s still a far cry from original projections of how much the tax would raise.

Early proponents of Measure ULA estimated the tax would raise roughly $900 million per year. In March, a report from the City Administrative Office lowered that number to $672 million.

But once the tax took effect, L.A.’s luxury market froze. Only two homes sold for more than $5 million in the month of April, and the market hasn’t quite recovered since.

Part of the blame can be placed on the overall state of the real estate market that’s still hungover from historic pandemic sales and rising mortgage rates. But many luxury homeowners have simply decided to avoid the tax, either by refusing to sell their homes or hiring accountants and tax specialists to find loopholes.

As a result, Mayor Karen Bass’s first budget proposal, a $13.1-billion plan, projected only $150 million in revenue from Measure ULA.

The $150-million mark is both a product of a slowing real estate market and an emergency backup plan in case the measure gets overturned. If it does, the city has to pay back all the funds raised by the tax.

At the moment, the measure must overcome two major hurdles: an ongoing court case arguing that the tax is unconstitutional and a state ballot measure that Californians will vote on next year.

Barely begun, the court case has already seen its fair share of drama. Superior Court Judge Barbara Scheper recently became the third judge presiding over the case. The previous judge, Joseph Lipner, recused himself after one of the plaintiff’s attorneys complained that he had a conflict of interest because he had previously worked at a law firm that represents the Southern California Assn. of Nonprofit Housing, the Real Deal reported.

Meanwhile, the 2024 ballot measure, called the Taxpayer Protection and Government Accountability Act, would require two-thirds voter approval for new local special tax hikes dating back to January 2022, therefore dismantling Measure ULA, which received 57% approval.

Even if the measure is eventually overturned, the full $150 million will be spent, according to Councilmember Bob Blumenfield.

Source: latimes.com

Apache is functioning normally

August 30, 2023 by Brett Tams

Sometimes the small, unseemly, unimportant tasks we do every day can have a massive impact on our lives for the better. We call these “life hacks”. In this article, we’re walking through the top ten most powerful life hacks that can change your life. If you’re looking to bring your life together and don’t know where to start, take the time to read this article. It’s crazy where these small steps can lead you in three to five years.

1. 15 Minutes of Sun Every Morning

Photo Credit: Shutterstock.

Get sunlight in your eyes every morning. Sunlight offers many benefits, including but not limited to setting your circadian rhythm, priming your brain to be alert and focused, and giving your body Vitamin D. It also enhances metabolism and immune functionality. After doing it regularly, watch this transform your overall mood, well-being, and even your ability to sleep.

2. Daily Meditation

Photo Credit: Shutterstock.

So many of our problems come because we cannot sit by ourselves, alone with our thoughts, for even thirty minutes. Our society is filled with cheap dopamine, constant notifications, and screens everywhere we look. Take time to slow down and be present.

Meditation has already been demonstrated to reduce stress and enhance mental clarity. Meditation might be what you require if you’re grappling with burnout and finding that your performance has declined.

3. Surround yourself with optimists

Photo Credit: Shutterstock.

Optimists are like the light in your life that you look for when you’re currently in the dark part of your life. Surround yourself with people who bring positive influence. You are the average of the five individuals you invest the most time with. Ensure that each of these five individuals can drive you toward your goals. Ultimately, exercise careful discretion in selecting those you allocate your time to. It’s effortless to draw in negative companions during personal struggle and despondency. However, true allies will aid you in rediscovering a positive trajectory once more.

4. Practice Gratitude

Photo Credit: Shutterstock.

Gratitude is a key ingredient for living a fulfilling life. Gratitude helps people feel more positive emotions, build strong relationships, and improve their health. Take five minutes per day to write down five things you’re grateful for. Practicing gratitude also reminds you of all that you have: your friends, positive relationships, and good moments throughout the day.

5. Ask for Advice

Photo Credit: Shutterstock.

Don’t underestimate the power of a mentor. Epictetus mentored Marcus Aurelius. Jobs mentored Zuckerberg. Buffet mentored Gates. Seek advice from people two to three steps ahead of you. You can access their lifetime of wisdom in two to three years. While reading self-help books helps, having access to a mentor is on another level.

6. Journal Every Day

Photo Credit: Shutterstock.

Writing is essential to unleashing your creative potential. Writing or journaling daily builds discipline and allows you to organize your thinking. It also improves your vocabulary and communication skills. Mastering this skill will lead to success in the modern economy.

7. Invest in Yourself

Photo Credit: Shutterstock.

We spend eight hours a day working for someone else, but many of us won’t take 30 minutes to work on ourselves. Invest in yourself through reading, exercising, and learning a new skill. Just 30 minutes a day can change your life.

8. Read Good Books

Photo Credit: Shutterstock.

The most successful people in the world have one thing in common: they love to read. Read about things that interest you. Re-read your favorite books. Read every day. An hour a day of reading puts you at the top .01% of people.

9. Take a Cold Shower

Photo Credit: Shutterstock.

A three-minute cold shower will provide benefits that last the rest of the day, like raising your ability to handle stress. Taking a cold shower increases dopamine, boosts metabolism, and burns brown fat, so anything else you have to do afterward will seem easy.

10. Set a Bedtime Alarm

Photo Credit: Shutterstock.

After this alarm goes off, allow your mind to relax. Turn off all your devices. Take a warm shower or bath. Read your favorite fiction book. Setting yourself up for success the next day starts the night before.

Source: Reddit.

These 11 Movies Are So Bad You’ll Wish You Could Unsee Them

Photo Credit: Lightstorm Entertainment / TSG Entertainment II

The movies we love best are a combination of excellent characters, plots, stories and cinematography. But if these factors can make great movies, they can also make terrible movies—the ones that make people cringe, the ones we swear they’ll never watch again.

These 11 Movies Are So Bad You’ll Wish You Could Unsee Them

10 Celebrities Who Are Universally Disliked

Photo Credit: Shutterstock.

People will always have preferences and something to say about celebrities. What you might love may not be the same for others. Whether it’s about their past behaviors, legal issues, or feuds with other celebrities, here is a list of celebrities people just cannot stand.

10 Celebrities Who Are Universally Disliked

11 Vampire Movies That Will Leave You Yearning for More

Photo Credit: Columbia Pictures

Sometimes, we just love to watch a favorite vampire movie, one of the ones that never gets old. It piques our imagination with the unknown story of two teenagers fighting for their love, the incredible and creepy scenes, and the bloodsucking classics.

11 Vampire Movies That Will Leave You Yearning for More

25 Extraordinary Sequels and Remakes That Outshine the Originals

Image Credit: Rosebud Releasing Corporation

Every once in a while, a movie sequel or remake surpasses the original film. After polling the internet, “Name a single movie where the sequel or remake was better than the original?” Here are the top-voted responses.

25 Extraordinary Sequels and Remakes That Outshine the Originals

25 Blockbuster Films With Behind-The-Scenes Turmoil Unknown to the Public

Image Credit: 20th Century Fox

Several big movies with significant nightmare productions have some seriously delicious tea. After a recent poll on the internet, here are twenty-five films with disasters that made filming difficult.

25 Blockbuster Films With Behind-The-Scenes Turmoil Unknown to the Public

About the Author

Source: financequickfix.com

Apache is functioning normally

August 30, 2023 by Brett Tams

This article is part of a series put together by the Total Mortgage marketing team that provides loan officers and other sales professionals with a crash course in marketing and self-promotion. To read other articles in this series, click here.

When we talk about on-page optimization, we’re talking about factors that can influence how a page on your site will perform in a search result.

Everyone wants their site to come up at the top of the search engine results page (SERP), so there’s some serious competition. To increase your chances of claiming the coveted first position, you’ll want to make sure your page is optimized.

Fortunately for you, this blog will give you the ins and outs of on-page optimization.

Structuring Your Content

When a user comes to your site, you want your content to be structured in a way that makes it easy to understand. That means using a variety of headers and other organizational tools.

Title Tags

Tittle tags help search engines figure out what your page is about. They consist of the text that is placed in between the title tags in your HTML document. To anyone who isn’t a developer, you’ll think of title tags as what the results that up in blue in search engines.

Title tag = Title Tags: How to Improve CTR by 20%+ – Siege Media

Here are some quick tips for title tags:

Include your keywords: The first place someone will look is at your title tag. Make sure your targeted keywords are in the title tag, preferably at the beginning. Don’t go overboard trying to jam as many keywords as you can in your title tag. Not only will “keyword stuffing” get you penalized by search engines, but it doesn’t read well.
Optimize the length: You want your title tag to be between 50-60 characters.
Descriptive: For obvious reasons, you want your title tag to clearly reflect what your post is about.

Headers

After your title, the headers will be the next thing that a user sees. It’s important that the headers guide them to the information that they’re seeking. Internet users don’t have a lot of patience and aren’t interested in reading unnecessary words.

Often times, they’ll get to a site and scroll down, only reading the headers. If they don’t find what they’re looking for, they quickly bounce back to the SERP. Just like your title tag, it’s crucial for you to include keywords in your headers. We’ll talk later on about the different options you have with keyword use.

Sub-Headers

You might think that a simple header would do, but you’d be wrong. Dialing down into sub-headers makes it that much easier for users to follow the flow of your content. It’s not always necessary, but you have to think about what will funnel the readers attention down to the granular sections of your page.

Anything that helps the reader navigate your page will help on-site optimization. It might take a few posts to get a good grasp of when to include a sub-header, but stick with it. Feedback from friends or colleagues is invaluable.

Bullets vs. Paragraphs

Bullet points are nice and neat and are therefore easier to read than wordy paragraphs. That doesn’t mean you should go overboard, but if the time comes, don’t feel like it’s poor taste to use them. Readability is key when it comes to getting likes and shares, and will help keep your readers coming back for more.

One way to make intimidating paragraphs more approachable is to break them up. Since most readers scan through blogs, as opposed to reading them start to finish, you’re better off with smaller paragraphs.

Think about it. If you have a large block of text, the reader certainly isn’t going to jump in at the middle of the paragraph and start reading, and it’s entirely possible that they’ll skip over the whole thing. But if you break that paragraph into three smaller paragraphs, the chances greatly increase that they will read any one of them.

Images/Multimedia

If you’re trying to craft masterful blogs, you’re going to want to include images and videos. There is a lot of data that shows users are more likely to stick around and engage with your site if you have images and videos.

With text, bots can crawl your site and easily figure out what your post is about, but bots rely on your help in order to figure out what images and videos are about. That’s where the file name and alt-text come in.

File name

Search engines love when you feed them clues about your page. Often times, the file name of an image will be some random combination of numbers and letters. That’s not a very good clue. If you help search engines out by using descriptive file names, it will have a positive effect on your on-page optimization.

Alt-text

Alternative text (alt-text) is another place for you to drop a hint to search engines. As the name suggest, they are a text alternative for browsers in the event that they can’t be properly rendered. The same guidelines that apply to file name apply here. You want a clear description of your image.

Meta-Description

The meta-description is the text that appears underneath the title tag in the SERP. Its main goal is to get users to click the link and enter their site. The best way to do that is by combining informative text with a strong call to action. The user won’t know if they want to enter your site until they have an idea of what’s on that page.

One way to help them out is by using keywords. If you have the keyword they searched for in your title tag and meta-description, the odds are good that your page is relevant to their query. Also, when you type a keyword into Google, it appears in bold text if it’s in a meta-description. In the example below you can see the keyword I typed into google—quesadillas—is in bold. It makes it stand out more and draws the user into reading your meta-description, which makes it more likely that they will click through to your page.

Ideal Word Count

Search Engines Prefer Long Posts

Studies show that longer content outperforms shorter content by a substantial amount. What’s the magic number? Well, that depends on who you ask. Different studies have shown that the average word count of top ranked searches is 2,416, 1,890, 2,250-2,500, 2,000+.

They might disagree on the exact number, but they all share one thing in common: long-form content usually outperforms short content.

Why is this the case?

It’s a simple concept. You know a lot, so you write a lot. If there are two blogs on FHA Loans and one of them has 1,000 more words than the other, odds are, that blog is more informative. People think this way, and from what the data says, search engines do to.

Every Post is Different

The content of your page will also play a large factor in determining the ideal word count. Not every topic needs a 2,000+ word post about it. After all, the purpose of a post is to relay information to a curious reader, and if you can satisfy that need in under 1,000 words, then so be it. You want your posts to be readable and shareable, and excessive wording will most likely detract from both of those efforts.

Taking a look at some of the blog posts here at Total Mortgage, these findings ring true. For our mortgage rates blog, there is definitely a correlation between the length of the post and the number of views. There is always some degree of variation depending on market conditions and current events, but overall, longer content does better.

We’ve also noticed that nothing beats a good topic. It’s not something you can always count on, but if you strike gold, you might not have to write a novel to reel in a high amount of traffic. One of our top performing evergreen blogs is under 600 words, but that’s enough for it to rank #1 in google for our targeted keyword.

Which brings us to…

Keyword Density

Keywords are words used to classify or organize digital content, or to facilitate an online search for information. They are what people type into search engines, and they’re incredibly important.

The general theory used to be that the more you mention a keyword in a post, the more likely it is that your article will rank for that keyword. Now, it’s true that the more you use a keyword the easier it is for search engines like Google to figure out what your page is about, but it’s hardly true that there is a direct correlation between the times used and search ranking.

Rand Fishkin, Founder of the highly respected inbound marketing company Moz, says that you should definitely include the keyword in your headlines and a couple times in the body of your post, but other than that, you really don’t have to stress repetition.

Readers want to be reassured that the page they’re on has the information they’re looking for, and seeing keywords in the headers will not only keep them from leaving, but get them to read the copy below it.

As for keyword density metrics, Rand says, stay away.

The long and short of it is that there is no ideal keyword density. You should strive to write posts that naturally have the keyword in it. After all, no one wants to read a clunky keyword stuffed post.

Semantically related keywords

Search engines are always refining and expanding their methods. One of the most important advancements they’ve made in recent years is the ability to recognize semantically related keywords. The best way to explain this is with an example. Say your keyword is “how to buy a house.” If you type that into google and scroll down to related searches, you’ll find semantically related keywords.

Google knows that someone searching for “how to buy a house” could very likely wind up wondering about any of these keywords. As stated earlier, you don’t want to keyword stuff. However, if you use various semantically related keywords throughout your post, the copy doesn’t get clunky and you’ve made it much clearer to Google what your post is about, which will help you rank in the SERP.

Selecting the right topics

No matter how well your page is optimized, if your topic selection is terrible, you’re not going to get viewers to read any of your posts. Fortunately, we created a blog post entirely devoted to Creating and Curating Content.

Experience Matters

On-page optimization sets you up for success. If your posts aren’t fully optimized, you’re missing out on users, conversions, and new clients. It’s not unusual for someone who is new to all of these concepts to feel a little overwhelmed. One benefit that loan officers at Total Mortgage have is the ability to engage with a seasoned marketing department. We’ve been blogging for almost a decade, and know all the ins and outs of on-page SEO.

Whether you don’t want to deal with on-page optimization, or you would want us to show you the ropes—we’ve got you covered.

Carter Wessman

Carter Wessman is originally from the charming town of Norfolk, Massachusetts. When he isn’t busy writing about mortgage related topics, you can find him playing table tennis, or jamming on his bass guitar.

Source: totalmortgage.com

Government Stimulus Packages, Explained

SoFi has built a Recession Help Centerthat provides resources to help guide youthrough this uncertain time.

Different Types of Stimulus

Monetary Stimulus

Fiscal Stimulus

Quantitative Easing

Pros and Cons of Stimulus Packages

Benefits

Risks

Previous Economic Stimulus Legislation

More Recent Stimulus Packages

The Takeaway

FAQ

Are there stimulus packages for small businesses?

How do stimulus packages fight recessions?

What disqualifies you from getting a stimulus package?

What is FDIC insurance?

Why was FDIC insurance created?

How does FDIC insurance help consumers?

How does FDIC insurance work?

How are consumers affected by bank failures?

How much does the FDIC insure?

How can you maximize your FDIC protection?

Are you staying informed?

Feeling confident about FDIC insurance?

Pigs might fly before you’re allowed to have one as a pet.

Are pigs allowed in apartments?

1. Your landlord and lease may not allow it

2. It might be illegal in your city or municipality

3. They can get too big

4. They’re expensive

5. They live a really long time

6. They might not get along with your other pets

7. They require special care and attention

8. They can get destructive

9. You may need to pay extra security deposits

10. You’ll have to pay for repairs

11. They can create a lot of noise

12. They can smell

Other types of animals to consider for an apartment pet

Living in an apartment with a pet pig isn’t as happy as a pig in clover

1. Think big picture logistics

2. Plan ahead for garden blooms

3. Set the stage with calligraphy

4. Set the mood with the right lighting

5. Choose the perfect ceremony background

6. Be a courteous neighbor

7. Elevate the atmosphere with balloons

8. Plan for inclement weather

1. Awareness

Optimization Tips:

2. Interest

Optimization Tips:

3. Consideration

Optimization Tips:

4. Intent

Optimization Tips:

5. Decision

Optimization Tips:

6. Retention

Optimization Tips:

Conclusion

1. 15 Minutes of Sun Every Morning

2. Daily Meditation

3. Surround yourself with optimists

4. Practice Gratitude

5. Ask for Advice

6. Journal Every Day

7. Invest in Yourself

8. Read Good Books

9. Take a Cold Shower

10. Set a Bedtime Alarm

These 11 Movies Are So Bad You’ll Wish You Could Unsee Them

10 Celebrities Who Are Universally Disliked

11 Vampire Movies That Will Leave You Yearning for More

25 Extraordinary Sequels and Remakes That Outshine the Originals

25 Blockbuster Films With Behind-The-Scenes Turmoil Unknown to the Public

About the Author

Structuring Your Content

Title Tags

SoFi has built a Recession Help Center
that provides resources to help guide you
through this uncertain time.