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The Perks of Buying over Renting

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  The Perks of Buying over Renting Thinking about buying a home? While today’s  mortgage rates  might seem a bit intimidating, here are two solid reasons why, if you’re ready and able, it could still be a smart move to get  your own place . 1. Home Values Typically Go Up Over Time There’s been some confusion over the past year or so about which way  home prices  are headed. Make no mistake, nationally they’re still going up. In fact, over the long-term,  home prices  almost always go up ( see graph below ): Using  data  from the  Federal Reserve  (the Fed), you can see the overall trend is home prices have climbed steadily for the past 60 years. There was an exception during the 2008 housing crash when prices didn't follow the normal pattern, but generally, home values kept rising. This is a big reason why  buying a home  can be better than  renting . As prices go up and you pay down your mortgage, you build  equity . Over time, this growing equity can really increase your net wort
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Halloween Safety Tips

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Halloween Safety Tips

Halloween is an exciting time of year for kids, and to help ensure they have a safe holiday, here are some tips from the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP). 

Walk Safely

1. Cross the street at corners, using traffic signals and crosswalks.
2.Look left, right, and left again when crossing and keep looking as you cross. 
3. Put electronic devices down and keep heads up and walk, don’t run, across the street.
4. Teach children to make eye contact with drivers before crossing in front of them.
5. Always walk on sidewalks or paths. If there are no sidewalks, walk facing traffic as far left as possible.  Children should walk on direct routes with the fewest street crossings.
6. Watch for cars that are turning or backing up. Teach children to never dart out into the street or cross between parked cars.

Trick or Treat With an Adult

7. Children under the age of 12 should not be alone at night without adult supervision. If kids are mature enough to be out without supervision, they should stick to familiar areas that are well lit and trick-or-treat in groups.

Keep Costumes Both Creative and Safe

8. Decorate costumes and bags with reflective tape or stickers and, if possible, choose light colors.
9. Choose face paint and makeup whenever possible instead of masks, which can obstruct a child’s vision.
10. Have kids carry glow sticks or flashlights to help them see and be seen by drivers. 
11. When selecting a costume, make sure it is the right size to prevent trips and falls. 

Drive Extra Safely on Halloween

12. Slow down and be especially alert in residential neighborhoods. Children are excited on Halloween and may move in unpredictable ways.
13. Take extra time to look for kids at intersections, on medians and on curbs.
14. Enter and exit driveways and alleys slowly and carefully.
15. Eliminate any distractions inside your car so you can concentrate on the road and your surroundings.
16. Drive slowly, anticipate heavy pedestrian traffic and turn your headlights on earlier in the day to spot children from greater distances.
17. Popular trick-or-treating hours are 5:30 p.m. to 9:30 p.m. so be especially alert for kids during those hours.

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