Purchase Plus Improvements: How To Finance Renovations Into Your New Home With As LIttle As 5% Down
  
Looking for the right home today can be tough. To increase your options, you may want to consider homes that need renovation. As long as the basic structure is good, you can make improvement to the home to your liking.
However, sometimes buyers have enough for the downpayment but not for renovations. That's where "Purchase Plus Improvements" mortgages come in. They let you borrow more to cover renovation costs which will improve the value of the property.
For example, if you're eyeing a $500,000 property and you put in 5% down payment, you will have a mortgage loan of $475,000. You want to have the kitchen and bathroom renovated to the tune of $30,000. You can add this amount to your mortgage application at the time of your purchase, subject to the lender's discretionary approval.
This program has specific criteria and guidelines that you need to meet, but it lets you consider more homes beyond move-in ready ones, or have to wait until you have the extra funds in order to do your renovations.
If you want more info, feel free to reach out to me at penny@hometowngroup.ca or 705-734-6804.
Finding Government Grants For Your Business
Did you know there are millions of grant dollars that go unclaimed every year?
That's because the government is not in the business of marketing or promoting benefits; it's up to individuals to find out on their own.
The Business Benefits Finder is an easy start to find resources for your business or if you plan to start a new business.
Here is the business grants overview page on financing programs, wage subsidies, tax credits.
And remember there are strings attached for receiving free money.
The Link Between Clutter and Depression
Dishes in the sink, toys throughout the house, stuff covering every flat surface. This clutter not only makes our homes look bad, but makes us feel bad, too.
Several studies over the past 10 years have connected clutter with behavioral and mental health issues. Research from health care heavy hitters — think Mayo Clinic, Princeton University, and UCLA — have found that clutter can increase the stress hormone cortisol and cause lower productivity, insomnia, weight gain, procrastination, and depression.
Studies may outline the results of clutter without offering solutions. The good news? You can do some simple things, like making these five small changes, to declutter your home and raise your spirits.
Adopt the Rule of Five
Every time you get up from your desk or walk through a room, put away five things. Or, each hour, devote five minutes to decluttering. At the end of the day, you’ll have cleaned for an hour.
Be Ruthless About Your Kitchen Sink
Pledge to clear and clean your kitchen sink every day. It takes a couple of seconds more to place a dish in the dishwasher than dump it in the sink. A clean sink will instantly raise your spirits and decrease your anxiety.
Put Photos Away
Return to yesteryear, when only photos of ancestors or weddings earned a place. Put snapshots in a family album, which will immediately declutter many flat surfaces.
Unburden Your Refrigerator Door
Researchers found a correlation between the number of items stuck to the fridge door and the amount of clutter throughout the house. Toss extra magnets and paper, like calendars or take-out menus, that you can easily find on your phone.
Test Whether You'll Miss It
Fill a box with items you don’t love or use. Seal the box and place it in a closet. If you haven’t opened the box in a year, donate it (unopened!) to charity.
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