BROOKLINE MOVING COMPANY BLOG

In case you haven't heard yet, there was a trojan that had affected a lot of users around the world.  The good thing is that if you were affected, you can still get help.

You can refer to the following link for help: http://www.eweek.com/c/a/Security/DNSChanger-Trojan-Help-is-Available-If-You-Got-Hit-840518/

Good luck!

In one of our recent blog posts, we reported that the number of young people choosing to share a property, or to move back home with mom and dad, was significantly increasing due to second time buyers being "priced out" of the market. 

This week, new figures have been released that suggest many people are potentially turning their backs on purchasing a house altogether. A survey commissioned by credit company, TransUnion, found that property managers and landlords were in a better position than they were in this time last year. 

The survey asked 1,248 property managers across the USA about a number of factors including their rental prices, finding suitable tenants and amount of vacant possession. The survey showed this year is a profitable market for landlords; almost half (48%) of survey respondents said that rental prices on their properties had increased and 44% said that their rental prices had stayed the same. Compared with last year, just 39% said that their rental rates had increased, and 48% said that rates remained the same.

Not difficult to find a tenant

There appears not to be a shortage of tenants, and this is generally why rental prices are able to increase. The banks' persistent reluctance to lend money for mortgages continues to be a challenge for those looking to get on the property ladder. Now, with the added burden of the increasing price gap between first and second time homes, a new group of people - the would-be second time buyers - have been added to the pool of people looking for a property to rent, thus leading to this shortage of vacancies.

Subsequently, the results of the survey show that landlords are not having any difficulty in renting out their properties. Almost a quarter of all property managers (23%) surveyed said that they are not finding it difficult to find a tenant. What is particularly interesting is the comparison of that figure on that of last year; when asked the same question in 2011, just 67% said they were finding this task easy.

Shortage of vacancies 

The survey was broken down into two groups of landlords and property managers; small property managers (those managing between one and 200 properties) and large property managers (those managing over 200 properties). Of the small property managers, almost three quarters of respondents said that they had no vacancies in their property portfolios.

Worry over "skip out" tenants

One negative implication for landlords from the TransUnion survey is that landlords appear to be more cautious than they were before. More than half of the respondents said that they have experienced "skip out" renters (those that leave a property with damages or unpaid rent). This worry could be good news for the property insurance industry; finding good buy to let insurance would be crucial for landlords, as would finding suitable tenants. Without adequate insurance, landlords could find themselves losing considerable sums through eviction procedures, damage and the non-payment of rent.

Of course, a healthy rental market for the landlord is not necessarily good news for the tenant. This will mean higher prices and more competition, as the results of the the survey show. There may be more properties around to rent - seen as less people are choosing to buy - but prospective tenants must also work hard to ensure they are getting the best deal on their homes. Tenants should try to view several homes before choosing one, but should also be prepared to pay slightly more for the one they want if there is competition.

Tighter credit checks

Due to the increased worry of landlords over "skip out" renters, tenants might also find themselves subject to more scrutinising credit checks and reference procedures. Landlords can afford to be selective in this market, so if you are a tenant looking to find a property, make sure you approach it with as less baggage or bad credit as is possible. Companies such as TransUnion now offer landlords more assurance though checks that include rigorous scoring systems. They also provide more advanced tools to property managers so that they can make quick and well-informed decisions over prospective tenants. Therefore, if you do have any credit issues, it is imperative to be completely upfront about them with the landlord before you start the application procedure. 

Last week, the release of United States Census data revealed that the numbers of young adults leaving home is still decreasing. The data, from the U.S Census Bureau, showed that the number of adult children who are choosing to live with their parents increased by 1.2 million between 2007 and 2010. The total number of adult children who are living with their parents now stands at almost 16 million. The majority of young people responsible for the increase were those between the ages of 25 and 34, which shows that people are actually moving back with parents having once lived separately.

The results of this survey are significant. For several years, since the crash of the housing market in 2008, we have been aware that the situation has not been good for first time buyers looking to make their first steps onto the property ladder. Despite the US base rate dropping to just 0.25% in 2008 (and staying that low ever since) banks were slow to pass these rate reductions to customers. What was worse was the fact that banks have been reluctant to lend to people without squeaky clean credit histories and large deposits - two things that younger adults rarely enjoy. 

Taking a step backwards

As a result, many youngsters looking to buy a property for the first time were turning to the 'bank of Mom and Dad'. That's nothing new. However, what is particularly alarming - although not particularly surprising - is that many young adults who have already made that first difficult step onto the property ladder are choosing to take a step back and move in with their parents again.

The rising cost of living is evidently becoming too much for young people who are already struggling to get their adult lives off the ground. What's more, the natural progression for these young adults - the prospect of upgrading their homes through purchasing slightly larger properties - is becoming increasingly unrealistic. 

Second time buyers hit

Would-be second time buyers are now finding themselves encountering problems. Many first time buyers have found themselves in negative equity thanks to crashing housing prices, particularly those unlucky enough to have bought a property at the height of the boom period in 2007. Now, the gap between the price of an average first time home and an average second time home is widening. Those lucky enough to have equity in their homes are using this to put towards the cost of an upgraded home. Those without that luxury are turning, once again, to their parents. 

Mortgages remain expensive; although interest rates have come down, the overall cost of arranging a mortgage remains high. What's more, finding good remortgage deals – although possible – is difficult because of the massive gaps in prices between a first and second home. Those looking to remortgage should shop around carefully - just because they have a mortgage with a certain provider already, doesn't meant that company is necessarily the best one to take out a second mortgage through. Bear in mind that the US base rate looks likely to remain very low for quite some time, so buyers should make sure they either get a long term deal with a low fixed rate (at least three years) or a variable rate that is stays as close to the base rate as possible, regardless of any movement. 

Sharing growing in popularity

The Census also revealed that another way young people were dealing with the increasing cost of running a household was by sharing. At the beginning of 2007, the number of shared households in the USA stood at 19.7 million. At the start of 2010, this figure had risen by 11.4 percent. Unsurprisingly, many of the people that were living as the "extra adults" in these shared households were surviving on very low incomes; 40% of these people were living below the poverty line. 

This Census shows the ripple effect of the US housing crash; those that were once immune, having “safely” leapt onto the property ladder before the crash, are now finding themselves victims. It makes one wonder who will be next - third time buyers, fourth time buyers? Or those looking to retire? One thing is for sure, this recession is cutting deep - and there are very few people that will escape unaffected. We just need to make sure we are best equipped to deal with the extra challenges that will be thrown our way when buying a property – and that means shopping around to find the best deals at every stage of moving.

No matter who you are, or what your occupation is, you are either directly, or at the very least indirectly, affected by Facebook.  It has taken over the internet, and has become synonymous with the phrase Social Media.  With its upcoming IPO, how will it affect the average person?  Only time will tell the true tale, but early signs point to even more ads, more integration with other sites, and more emphasis on privacy.

To read more:

Facebook largest IPO of all time

Eduardo Saverin gives up US Citizenship to avoid taxes

Tomorrow is the Vernal Equinox, the first day of spring.  Here are a few tips on fun things to do in not only Boston, but all over New England.  Since hope springs eternal, why not get out there and take advantage of this beautiful weather?

Boston.com's Explore New England Guide

City of Boston - Things to Do

Boston.com - Things to do

Enjoy!

It's that time of the year again folks!  Records are wiped clean, the possibilties are endless, and hope "springs" eternal.... its baseball season!  If you are out and about and not actually at the game, fret not my friends.  Here are a few places to watch the game - its the next best thing to actually being at the game!

Grab a beer and a hot dog, and enjoy!

Best Bars in Boston To Watch The Red Sox

Former Massachusetts state treasurer Timothy Cahill has been indicted, alleging he used Massachusetts State Lottery funds to buy ads in support of his 2010 campaign for governor, the Massachusetts Attorney General’s Office announced Monday.

Cahill is to be charged with public corruption, conspiracy and procurement fraud in connection with a $1.2 million 2010 advertising campaign, according to a State House News Service report. In a news conference Monday, Attorney General Martha Coakley said Cahill would be charged with violating state ethics and procurement laws, and conspiracy to violate those laws.

Former Cahill campaign manager Scott Campbell was also indicted on the same charges. Lottery Commission chief of staff Al Grazioso was indicted for allegedly obstructing the investigation.

If convicted, the accused parties could face tens of thousands in fines, Coakley said. It was not immediately clear exactly what penalties are at stake.

Courtesy of: Boston Buisness Journal

Boston Movers and shakers

Avid players of "Words With Friends" on smartphones are meeting future husbands and wives while playing the game. WSJ's Shayndi Raice talks with one particular player who hopes to find love while playing the popular app.

Courtesy of Smart Money.

After many weeks of being under the radar, the virality of this case has finally made it get the attention it deserves.

At the gist of it, it was cold blooded murder, in this humble bloggers opinion.  The details of the case are still slowly coming out, but as more details surface, the more apparent it is that it was a hate crime, plain and simple.  The law which protects George Zimmerman, the Stand Your Ground law, is in place in 19 other states.  It states that all that needs to be proven is that the shooter was genuinely scared.  Please read the following articles for more information:

Fla. shooting stirs memories of civil rights era

The scariest thing about Trayvon Martin (Op-ed)

Trayvon Martin 911 Tape Reveals Possible Racial Slur By Neighborhood Watchman George Zimmerman (VIDEO)

Sign The Peition at Change.org - Prosecute the killer of our son, 17-year-old Trayvon Martin

Don't dismantle those bookshelves yet. Kelli Grant discusses why e-reading is still far from perfect.

Courtesy of www.SmartMoney.com