A Better Way to Buy and Own A Home
(NewsUSA)
– Whether it’s your first house or your fourth, buying a home is exciting – but also stressful.
Questions plague homebuyers: Can we afford it? How much do we have to put down? Do we have enough to avoid incurring the dreaded PMI (Private Mortgage Insurance)? For homeowners looking to refinance, it becomes a question of, should we or shouldn’t we? What’s the down side? Does refinancing make sense in the long term?
In the past, consumers had only one option – taking on more debt. In addition to monthly payments with interest, this debt came with increased discomfort and the fear that “if we couldn’t afford it, we could lose the roof over our head.” Now, there may be another answer.
Home co-investing offers a new alternative – a better way to buy and own a home.
Home co-investing is a new category that works in partnership with homebuyers and homeowners to invest in the long-term appreciation of a home’s value. Whether you’re a homebuyer seeking to finance a new purchase or a long-time homeowner looking to maximize equity, home co-investing involves no monthly payments, no interest, and no additional debt.
Instead, home co-investing shares in the home’s change in value – up or down. You can choose to return the investment any time after three years, or keep it until you sell, for up to 30 years.
“In a nutshell, we’re in business to partner with you in your new or current home,” according to the website for Unison, the company that invented this idea. The growing, San Francisco-based home co-investing company is now helping homebuyers and owners in 30 states plus Washington, D.C.
Unison’s recently published 2019 Home Affordability Report states that individuals earning the current median income will need 14 years to save for a 20-percent down payment. Home co-investing benefits new buyers by helping them get over that first hurdle of the down payment. For example, with home co-investing, prospective buyers can put down 10 percent, and the company puts down 10 percent. The homebuyer can now reach a 20-percent down payment without taking on additional debt.
“Among the biggest financial mistakes potential buyers can make during the home-buying process is not researching all possible financing options beforehand, including home co-investing,” says Cari Jacobs, Chief Marketing Officer at Unison.
“Think of it as the sharing economy for home buying. By partnering with a company like Unison, you can live the life you want, in the home of your dreams today, while sharing the risk,” she explains.
“It’s always better to have more information so you can make a fully informed decision that helps you buy the home you want, and sets you up for long-term financial success.”
Home co-investing works for current homeowners, too, with opportunities for home equity-based funding for a variety of needs, including home renovations, paying medical bills, or even sending kids to college. But unlike a traditional home equity loan, there is no additional debt and no monthly payment.
Home co-investing represents a new way to think about home financing.
Visit unison.com for more information.
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-Are you a yacht owner who wants to enjoy time on the water, but doesn’t want to keep up with the work and expense of full-time ownership? Consider shared (fractional) ownership through a cooperative instead. It offers "all of the luxury and none of the hassle" according to yacht co-op and management company Saveene.Many yacht owners or would-be owners hesitate at the additional expenses of luxury boating beyond the purchase of the boat itself, such as cleaning, upkeep, marina fees, and paying a crew. Saveene offers options for fractional purchases that are flexible and cost-saving. The more fractions you purchase, the more yacht usage you have.For example, a 10 percent purchase equals approximately 4 weeks of yachting time each year; 20 percent entitles you to 8 weeks.Other advantages of fractional ownership include:– Flexibility. Saveene fractional owners can purchase up to 10 fractions per yacht, and Saveene helps them sell these fractions if they choose or owners can sell their own fractions if they choose.Several styles of yachts are available, ranging from 40 feet to 90 feet; all are outfitted with luxurious rooms and amenities. A handy online scheduling tool lets fractional owners choose outings of a few hours, day trips, or overnight excursions.– Fun. Sit back and relax. The Saveene team will schedule and prepare your yacht for your arrival, and a professional crew and concierge will help plan the perfect outing for one or two passengers, a larger group of friends, business associates, or extended family with a range of ages. Fractional owners can bring their own food and beverages or Saveene yachts can accommodate a caterer or chef.– Finance. With fractional ownership, you can enjoy periodic luxury boating without worrying about the day-to-day costs of maintenance, repairs, insurance, or storage that come with owning a yacht outright. So why pay 100 percent of the cost plus 10 percent of the cost for maintenance when you only use 10 percent to 50 percent of the yacht?Also, if you wish to purchase 100 percent of the yacht, you can. In this case, Saveene can manage your yacht. A tax write-off option is also available with Saveene. In addition, a maintenance-free option is also available. Yes, this means no monthly payments.Here’s an example of how fractional co-op ownership works: Mr. Smith purchases a 10 percent interest in a 4-stateroom fractional yacht for $89,980. This gets him approximately 3-4 weeks a year of yachting. If that doesn’t seem like enough, he can buy more. If he decides to give it up, he sells his fraction through Saveene or himself.Saveene offers a range of yacht co-op choices to fit any budget, and the Florida-based location means great yachting weather all year round.Visit 
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– With the holidays just around the corner, you might be worrying about how to get through all the parties and cookie exchanges without derailing your healthy lifestyle. It can be a struggle to avoid temptation, particularly when you’re busy, stressed, sleep-deprived, or all three. At times, you might consider giving up and just diving into the dessert tray. But with a bit of motivation and creativity, you can whip together some festive treats that are both delicious and carb-conscious.Courtney McCormick, Dietitian at Nutrisystem, offers five low-carb swaps to keep you healthy and happy through the holidays:1. Try veggies when you’re craving a crunch. We’re all guilty of lingering too long at the chips and salsa bowl at a holiday party. If you’re craving something crunchy such as a pretzel or chips, try carb-conscious snacks with a crunch – brussel sprouts chips, kale chips, veggies such as cucumber, zucchini, and carrots – they pair wonderfully with a healthier dip such as low-fat ranch or hummus.2. Sub in cauliflower for your favorite comfort foods. Do you love mashed potatoes, rice, pizza, and tater tots? If you’ve been avoiding these foods as part of your healthy lifestyle, cauliflower is here to help. This versatile veggie has recently become popular as a substitute for some of our favorite comfort foods. Mashed and steamed cauliflower have a texture and taste that is surprisingly similar to mashed potatoes – add a bit of salted butter and enjoy! And if you’re not ready to go all in on the cauliflower craze just yet, McCormick recommends swapping out at least half the potatoes for cauliflower.3. Mix your own dressings and condiments. Have you taken a close look at the nutrition facts on your favorite cranberry sauce? You might be shocked by the carbs and added sugars in dressings, sauces, and condiments, even those that appear to be "healthier" options. The best way to avoid sneaky carbs in your condiments is to make them at home. That way, you can control the ingredients and ensure they taste great.4. Bring the healthy alternative to the holiday party. Where everyone else is hauling sugary cookies and cakes, dare to bring the delicious low-carb snack! Get creative with the presentation – use edamame hummus, pita, and slices of red pepper to make perfectly festive "holiday trees."5. Don’t drink your carbs. You’ve probably heard the saying, "don’t drink your calories," before, but you shouldn’t drink your carbs either. Toss the fruit juices and sodas for seltzer, unsweetened tea, and the original favorite, water. Light beer, spiked seltzer, or dry wines are good low-carb alcohol options if you’re celebrating.For more great tips and tricks on how to make the most of your holidays with healthy alternatives, visit