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As a tenant, you may have more rights than you think.  Owning a house is a great dream, but it comes with a lot of responsibility.  When something goes wrong on a rental property, you could be inconvenienced, but it is’s not up to you to mend it.  As a renter, it is often a good idea to understand about owner responsibilities. 

Outside the expected wear and tear, many things can go bad.  Many residences or rental homes have things such as washing machines and cookers that come with the property.  When there is a fault with the washer or the stove, you do not have to mend it.  This is one out of many owner responsibilities.  In the past years, there are have been devastating hurricanes that have ravaged the southern part of our country.  The most notable have been Louisiana and Mississippi.  Lots of the homeowners have lost everything and don’t have the funds to rebuild.  For those in the damaged areas who were tenants, they do not have the financial responsibility to rebuild, though they do need to find another place to live.  Reconstructing those homes are landlord responsibilities. 

Besides appliances, the general upkeep of the outside of the building is also a part of landlord responsibilities.  This would include peeling paint, siding damaged by strong winds, damaged gutters or steps.  You ought to take a look through your lease, but usually part of owner responsibilities incorporates the upkeep and maintenance of the yard, if you have one, and any trees or plants.  The owner may pay you to take care of lawn mowing, or they may hire a landscaping company. 

Landlord responsibilities also extend to your heating and water systems.  They should have your heating system inspected annually before it is switched on for the colder months.  If there is a difficulty with the heating or plumbing, they should fix it, or contact somebody to fix it, as quickly as possible .  If you have any questions about owner responsibilities, refer to your lease.  If the lease fails to help you understand, don’t be scared to call your owner and ask for specifics.  Straightforward communication is typically the key to evading big issues between owner and renter. 

Maybe one of the biggest landlord responsibilities is to keep records and making sure your security deposit gets sent back to you when you vacate the grounds.  Your lease should spell out what is anticipated when you move out.  If you are sure everything is as it should be, and you haven’t received your cash, you can make a complaint.  As a final resort, you can get legal help with reference to owner responsibilities.  If you feel you are mistreated or that your living situation is dangerous and your owner won’t do anything about it, don’t be scared to ask for legal help.

This article was written by Harold Fenton, a UK insurance advisor with a particular interest in liability insurance for small businesses

Nowadays, a glamorous event calls for a glamorous ride to drive you to the occasion. Of course, you will need cash for this. Unfortunately, not many of us have the money to buy a really luxurious vehicle. Luckily, you could hire a glamorous car to bring you to your special event.

There are many car hire companies nowadays that provide limousines for rent. You can simply visit their offices or call them up to book a limousine. The costs of these limousine rentals are also so affordable, so it will not put that big of a dent in your budget.

There are many grounds why you must rent a limousine for your special events.

Glamorous Ride

If you really want to make the occasion more unforgettable, then a limousine will give you that luxurious touch that you need. For one, a limousine are perfect for wedding ceremonies. Who would not want to arrive in style, right?

Luxury cars are also ideal for those people who are going to go to their prom. You can just share the bill with your friends and hire a glamorous limousine to bring you to your prom. This way, you will definitely have the impressive entrance that you want.

Comfortable Ride

Limousines offer ample room for your friends when you leave for the prom. The seats are comfortable and wide, so you need not fear messing your dress before the big event. This vehicle can accommodate ten or more individuals but still give them ample space to move around.

As for using limousines during weddings, not only is it more comfy for the newlyweds but there are also providers that provide drinks like champagne along the way. These additional services add ease and calm the bride’s jittery nerves before the ceremony.

Stress-Free Ride

Of course, limousines significantly decrease your tension. This saves you from the worry of your car breaking down along the way or your ride not arriving on schedule. Since providers depend on good customer rapport, they truly make it worth their customers’ cash by offering the best services, and this includes always arriving on time.

All you have to do is to sit back and let your professional chauffeur take you to the occasion. No more fretting about parking spaces or getting lost because the driver has arranged all these for you.

So, the next time that you are going to an event, arrive in style and hire a limousine.

One of the things that many couples who are preparing to get married consider before the wedding day is renting a limousine. A limousine, after all, makes the memorable event more special, especially since this adds a touch of style to the big day. For this reason, here are some advices that they should thing about before hiring one.

Availability of the Limousine

One of the things the couple should consider is the availability of the car. This is very much important because you would surely need the car to be ready during the big day, and this entails that the limousine should be ready before the actual time. Knowing that the company will supply you your ride on time saves you from a variety of stress and dissatisfaction.

Condition of the Limousine

This is another point to think about. You would need the car to be on its top condition. What this means is that the car should be in running condition, and that the limousine should be spotless, inside and out. The big day should be very special, and a dirty gown caused by dirt or grimes on the limousine seat can put a damper on your wedding day.

The same situation applies when it comes to your driver. Your chauffer should be neat for the occasion, and he should also have proper decorum.

The Additional Services

There are some companies that provide additional services like bottled water, a bottle of champagne, or soft drinks together with the car rental, so if you want extra services such as these, you may ask the provider. This way, you will not be surprised about the additional costs when the invoice arrives, and if you do not want the extra charges, you could easily ask the owner not to include their extra services.

The Cost of the Limousine

This is very important since you do not need to go way over your budget when it comes to hiring limousines. Just because their advertisement tells you that the providers offer the cheapest price does not mean that it is so. In fact, you would do better if you look around for prices and compare the different packages and costs before you choose a company.

You should also take into consideration the price of the extra hours that you need their service.

Making plans on the process of moving home is what is also required if you have just bought or are considering buying a new home. While there are many things that you have to remember, planning them in advance will make the whole move easier and less traumatic. So it won’t be a bad idea if you start planning immediately after you come to know of the completion date for your move.

There are certain things that take quite a bit of time and require at least a month for arrangements to be made in advance. You will want to inform your landlord or any flatmates, if you have any, of the date on which you intend to leave. This can mean the difference between getting your deposit back or not, if you are renting, so it’s a good idea to let everyone know your plans as soon as you know them yourself.

You should probably also inform the gas and electricity companies of your knew property that you are the new owner. Mix-ups can be avoided later on by doing this. This also involves making arrangements to have your phone number transferred after having called the telephone company.

You can start packing up your things or getting boxes together. Packing some of the things like books and photos that can be done in advance will save you hassles later on when the move gets closer. You may want to book some time of work, especially if you don’t think you’re going to be able to arrange the move in a weekend. Another good idea is to have a clearout and eliminate some of the old things that have been gathering dust. In fact, moving is the perfect chance to get rid of some of the belongings that accumulate over the years.

Things you should do as the move gets closer include booking the removal company and arrange for transit insurance if you think you need it. You can tell the post office to redirect your mail and you can also notify the local authority of the change in address for council tax purposes.

You should make sure that all your utility bills are paid up by the date of the move. You don’t want the new owners to be hounding you for unpaid bills once you’ve moved and now is the time to make sure they are accurate. If you have services like milk deliveries, newspaper deliveries and the like you should have these cancelled.

Make sure all doors and windows are locked and appliances and utilities are turned off before you leave.

Supported by Tampa Mortgage , Tucson Mortgage, New York Mortgage

While the housing market is favoring buyers, more and more renters are ready to pay a down payment. However, purchasing a home in this market may not be the smartest option for all potential buyers.

While the tax benefits of homeownership are outstanding, some new homeowners may neglect to account for hidden expenses of homeownership. Home Owner’s Association dues and home repair costs can add up quickly. Monthly expenses like water, trash and sewer services will also have to be added into the family budget.

The use of a mortgage calculator will help a potential buyer decide if the market is in their advantage, or if it would be better to wait a little longer.

Riding It Out

Homeownership is an investment and all investments assume some risk. Renting may be the best option if your situation does not allow you to take risk right now.

Evaluate your career situation and your long term future in the area. In a weak housing market you may have trouble making a profit on your investment if you don’t stay in the home for at least five years.

Don’t worry while you wait to buy if you decide to rent for a while. Instead focus on paying off debts and amassing a large down payment. With a good credit score and some savings you will be able to jump in when you’re ready.

Testing the Waters: Rent It and Then Own It

The rent-to-own option may be the ticket for potential buyers looking to get in the game, but have bad credit or cash flow problems holding them back.

Although, you have to be guarded with this concept since there are several rent-to-own scams. If you enter into an arrangement with a seller be sure to get everything in writing and reviewed by a real estate attorney. In most situations, the buyer will pay a rental fee in addition to a fee that eventually becomes your down payment. After several years, the buyer has the option to purchase the property for the pre-established amount. Be cautious about the fees before you enter into an agreement or you may end up losing a lot of money in the end.

Additionally, you won’t be able to claim tax benefits of home ownership, while you’re renting, even though you’ll be making higher payments.

Should you buy or rent? All depending on the neighborhood and your financial situation. Years ago, I sold a home for a young couple who owed almost as much as the sales price on their house. They needed to take money from savings to pay the closing costs and sales commission. You can bet that they wished they had rented for the couple years they lived there.

So, before thinking of renting or buying, you must ask yourself if you want to live in this house forever or just a few years. Buying and later selling a home will usually cost about 10% or more of the value of the home. These costs mean that if the home only went up in value 10% or so in the year or two you lived there, you won’t be gaining anything (equity gain from principal pay-down is very little in the first years). Normally, if you only intend to be in the neighborhood for a couple of years, it is best to rent.

What about towns with faster rates of appreciation? Have you done some serious homework? If not, to assume appreciation will be more than the rate of inflation is just gambling. Only a couple of years ago, they had bought their house at a cost identical to what they are selling today, regardless of its excellent location. You can’t count on fast appreciation just because it has been that way recently.

To Buy Or Rent – Cost Comparison

Looking at buying versus renting, you have to take into account that in many places it cost much more to buy. In Tucson, Arizona, for example, a small home can cost $200,000. The mortgage payment, taxes, insurance and maintenance will add up to about $1,600 per month, but you can rent the same size home for about $800.

What does that mean? Many real estate fanatics will say you’re at least buying something for your money, and renting is throwing your money away. Of course in this example more than $1,000 of your payment will be going towards interest alone, and that’s not buying you anything.

Suppose you can afford the $1600 per month, but instead you rent for $800 and put the other $800 into a decent safe investment that makes you 5%? In three years you’ll have over $30,000 in this account. If the home appreciated at 6% per year (it has been more like 25% per year recently, but that can’t continue, and assuming so is not planning, but gambling), it would be worth $231,000. The costs of initially buying it and then selling it would be around $13,800 (2% buying and 6% selling), leaving you with a gain of about 19,000 once we include your principal pay-down.

Clearly, renting would have been a more lucrative option. Every market is different, of course, so you have to do the math. Compare the total costs of owning versus renting, and then make safe assumptions about the rate of appreciation for homes.

Usually, you would be advised to purchase rather than rent a house, if your intention is to always stay in the same neighborhood. In the last example, buying becomes a better bet after about four or five years. Also consider that if you get a fixed rate mortgage, your payment will never change, a benefit landlords won’t offer you that on your rent payment.

To sum up, look at the time you’ll be there, the comparison of total monthly costs, whether rents are going up fast, and whether you have good reason to believe home prices will be going up fast. Then look also at all the personal factors. Do you want to be responsible for the maintenance, yard work and unpredictability of ownership problems?

To buy or to rent? Do your own math.

If you are looking to buy home in Okanagan and looking for a Homes for sale Kelowna let me know.

This article was supported by Kent Swig, the team at Toronto condo for sale

When considering renting versus buying a home, forget the biased advice of those who think it is always better to buy. Instead, consider the important questions you need to ask. Here are four of them.

1. How long will you be there?

Generally, if you will be moving in the next few years, you’ll be better off renting. Of course this wasn’t true during the last real estate bubble, when home values in some areas were going up 20% or more annually. But then some of those who timed it wrong and bought in the summer of 2006 saw a 20% decline in value in the following years. How would you like to be facing a move when you owe more on your home than it is worth? Unless you want to gamble, consider buying only when you’ll be in the home for a while.

2. What will the cost of owning the home be?

Add up all the various costs. Include the mortgage payment, taxes, insurance, utilities (guess if you have to), any immediate updates or improvements you’ll be making, and a reasonable amount for maintenance. Figure the total average monthly cost of owning the home. Once you have that, you need to answer the next question.

3. What is the cost of renting a home?

Include rent plus renters insurance (if you’ll buy it) plus utilities (guess). Now you have a basis for comparison. If it’s dramatically more expensive to buy, it may be better to rent for now and bank the difference.
For example, a few years ago we lived in a city where a home that was worth $160,000 could be rented for $750 per month. Utility costs would be the same in either case, and the total cost of owning worked out to about $1,250. Had someone bought the home then, they would be in a home today that is worth about the same $160,000 (that was the top of the market). Had they rented and banked the $500 per month difference, they would have almost $20,000 saved today, meaning they would be that much further ahead if they bought that home (or a different one) now.

There are a few more things to note here. Some of that mortgage payment is principle, not interest. In other words some equity would have been built up even without a rise in value – but not much. Of course if the home were sold now, there would be expenses associated with that sale, eliminating any equity gained. On the other hand, rents can rise, while a fixed rate mortgage payment will remain the same. All of this gets back to the first question about how long you’ll be living there. The longer the time, the more likely it is that buying makes more sense, at least financially. But don’t skip the next question.

4. Do you want the responsibility?

As you can see from the example above, renting versus buying a home can be the smart move at times. But even when buying puts you further ahead financially, that is not always the final determinant. I like owning a home, and in large part because of the financial advantages. But my wife and I also plan to stay here a long time. If not, we might be renting, because I don’t actually like taking care of a house.

It is something to consider, especially in those situations when buying may have such a clear asset-building edge over renting. A landlord takes care of the roof, the heating system, the painting, carpeting, and even the yard work in many cases. With your own home, all of that is in your responsibility, along with buying and repairing large appliances, resurfacing the driveway and spraying for bugs. Do you want the work of being a home owner?

Eventually most people probably should buy a home. The cost of owning a home usually won’t go up as fast as rents, at least if you have a fixed-rate mortgage. Nobody can tell you to leave. A house is a great way to build assets too. After all, even when renting versus buying a home costs less each month, how many renters really do bank the difference? But as you can see from the questions above, there are times and situations when renting makes sense.