5 Smart Real Estate Investment Options in Seattle

Investment in real estate has provided Seattle investors a passive income. When it comes to buying a property, there are several real estate investment options to choose from.

Knowing which options work best for you could lead you to significant monetary benefits. Whether you are going in with a ton of cash or a small amount of money, it's essential to have the basics nailed down before diving into actual investment.

Positive Figures

Located on the West Coast, the seaport city of Seattle is home to nearly 745,000. With an annual growth rate of 2-3% it consistently ranks as one of the fastest-growing cities in the United States. Interestingly, according to a recent report, nearly 54% of the population are renters.

Additionally, the city ranks high on the safety index. The housing market is safer than only 3% of the US cities. What all this means for investors is that your investment is not only safe but could potentially grow over the years.

Below are a couple of real estate investment options you can use to get started:

• Residential Properties

Most first-time investors tend to favor purchasing residential properties. What attracts this class of investors is that you don't require large sums of money to own a property. Additionally, any rent derived from the property can cover the mortgage and maintenance costs.

• Commercial Real Estate

Compared to residential real estate investment, commercial real estate investment is rather expensive. What investors love about this option is the security. Irrespective of how the economy is, there's always a willing tenant- large, medium, or small- eager to rent out space on your premise.

• Real Estate Investment Trusts

Commonly referred to as REITs, this alternative is characterized by individuals purchasing "units." These could be in residential housings, hotels, shopping malls, and office buildings. Think of it like investing in stocks. Each year, you receive dividends. What's attractive about REITs is the ease and simplicity of investment.

• Single or Multifamily Units

To a novice investor, the leading benefit of single-family rentals is that they tend to cost less, thus requiring less upfront capital. Similarly, multi-family rental properties offer investors the ability to scale much faster. 

With multi-family rentals, you also benefit from the economies of scale, i.e., if you're to fix a roof for 20 units, you have to contend with only one roof.

• Property Flipping

Also known as turn-around, as the name suggests, investors purchase a property, renovate it and sell it at a profit. It offers a quick means of generating profits, which can go into purchasing other real estate positions.

Despite this, it should be noted that this method is best suited for individuals with vast experience in residential real estate investment. Why? Because you will need to spot the best entry points, market the property, and methods that sell faster.

Nothing is guaranteed in life. But, you come as close to a guarantee when it comes to real estate investing. However, don't go fast. Take your time to learn the ropes before investing your hard-earned cash.

How To Train Basketball at a Young Age

It’s safe to say that basketball is one of the most exciting and beautiful sports a kid can play. It promotes healthy life, good work ethics, and most importantly, it promotes team spirit. Also, it is a rather fun sport. Therefore, if you are a kid who is looking for an exciting and fun sport to play, basketball might be the perfect choice for you. It doesn’t matter how tall or old you are, you will be able to find your place on the court.

However, you can’t have the same approach to basketball as an adult player. Regardless of your passion towards the sport, you have to adjust the training to your young body. Of course, your coach will help you do this.

That said, here’s how you should train basketball at a young age.

Get Proper Equipment

You may be surprised by the fact that we put equipment first, but bear with us, please. This is not about brands or expensive gear. Those things shouldn’t be important on the court. No, this is about having the best conditions to train basketball. As you probably know, kids from ages 10 to 15 are still developing and their bodies are not fully formed yet. This means their muscles and bones are not as strong as those of an adult person. This is exactly why experts from Goalrilla say that comfortable and safe gear can mean a lot to a young basketball player. Having proper gear will make the basketball experience much better for an aspiring kid.

Go To Camps

If you are a kid who wants to do impressive things on the basketball court one day, you should try your best to learn how to play with other players. Basketball is a team sport and you have to respect its culture. The best way to fall in love with the game and find a way to respect it is to go to a basketball camp with your friends. There, you will learn a lot of new and exciting things about this wonderful game, but, more importantly, you will make new friends.

Listen To Your Coach

It doesn’t matter if you are a talented young player who understands the sport, you still have to listen to everything your coach says. You should consider your coach as a parental figure. They are there to teach you how to be a good person and a good basketball player. Show off your talent, of course, but make sure to do everything your coach says. This is the only way to show respect towards the game and the coach.

Make Sure To Have Fun

It’s safe to say that basketball practice sessions can sometimes look too serious and strict. However, even though you should follow the instructions of your coach, you should still be able to have some fun on the court. Basketball is a fun game, but only if you know how to have fun playing it. Therefore, enjoy every minute you spend on the basketball court and try to play the game beautifully. Trust us, the crowd and your teammates will appreciate this.

Practice At Home

Most of the things about basketball you will learn while practicing at your club, but you should also practice at home. We are not talking just about your technique and strategy, we are talking about your fitness. Therefore, whenever you can, you should go for a run or exercise at home. This will help you to be better on court and avoid potential injuries. If you have the opportunity, you should install a hoop in your backyard. If you do this, you will be able to practice your shooting every day of the week. Trust us, the shooting practice is one of the most important things a young aspiring basketball player should do on a daily basis. If you want to be a good basketball player one day, you must have an impeccable work ethic.

Training a sport when you are young can be a bit complicated. There are a lot of factors that have to be considered by the parents, the coach, and the player himself. The case is the same when it comes to basketball. This wonderful game has a lot of good things to offer a young player, but only if played properly. Therefore, if you want to play basketball, make sure to follow these instructions we talked about today. They will help you to become a better player, protect you from injuries, and, most importantly, show you have to have fun on the court.

How to Choose High-Quality Coffee Beans in the Market

We love everything about coffee; the aroma alone is enough to draw smiles on faces. Since you’re here, you probably love it too. Across all time zones, a cup of coffee is the best way to start the day. Although an abundance of people drinks coffee, everyone has a different taste and preference.

If you prefer your coffee to have a strong taste and lower caffeine, go for dark roasted beans (sit tight, we will explain this bit in detail.) If the strong taste isn’t your cup of tea or rather a cup of coffee, go for less brewed beans. But how can you choose coffee beans? What must you look for when selecting the finest brew? Read on to find out the ultimate answers to these questions.

Check Beans Types

You can choose between two common types of beans that are widely known, Robusta and Arabica. Every type grows in a different area; Arabica grows in tropical climates in countries like Brazil and Ethiopia, while Robusta grows in Western and Central Africa. Arabica is known to be the better plant as it has a sweeter taste and a more pleasant flavor. It is more expensive, yet it makes up almost 60% of worldwide coffee production. Robusta tends to have a bitter and strong taste, so if that’s how you prefer your brew, Arabica isn’t the best choice. Even though Arabica is considered the best coffee beans in the world, it is not guaranteed that you will favor the taste as this depends on the treatment it receives during its journey to the coffee roaster.

Find a Trusted Roaster

No matter how good the coffee beans are, they must be roasted correctly to provide you with the taste you’re longing for. Take your time to find a respectable roaster or brand that makes beans according to your needs like the Aillio Bullet R1 V2 from Current Crop.; depending on the best beans alone is not enough to end up with a high-quality product. In Australia, roasters depend on great quality and freshly roasted beans, bringing joy for coffee lovers. Buying coffee beans from a trusted roaster increases your chances of having a fine brew. Sometimes, you may not get the taste you’re looking for, but at least you ensure that your beans don’t have any flaws, which is the best way to guarantee a decent cup of coffee.

Choose your Preferred Taste

Some people prefer their coffee to have a smooth taste and a certain acidity level. If you’re one of them, choose light-colored coffee beans that have been roasted for a short period. If you like your joe to have a strong taste, opt for long-roasted beans. Many of us think that beans that have been roasted for a long period have more caffeine levels. Dark roasted beans have the lowest levels of caffeine, unlike medium and light roasted ones. In case you like Espresso, medium roasted beans are the ones for you. However, if you want to increase the caffeine intake, choose light roasted beans.

Monitor the Roast Date

It is crucial to keep an eye on the roast date to ensure the freshness of the beans. Never go for ground packed coffee as it may have escaped a thorough examination and treatment. The best thing to do is buy a coffee grinder for the home to help you a great deal with grinding your own coffee and guarantee a fine sip. 

If you don’t have one, go to your local supermarket with the whole bean bag to grind it for you. If you don’t want your coffee to taste stale, always check the roast date to see how many days have passed since the beans were roasted. If you buy beans in sealed bags, make sure they are sealed firmly to maintain the flavor and the irresistible aroma.

Millions of people across the whole world start their day with their favorite sip of coffee, be it Espresso, Americano, Cappuccino, or Cafe Mocha. It is the different tastes that create loads of coffee drinks enjoyable by a large mass. Whether you’re a coffee lover who likes to have a decent cup of joe or a cafe owner who wants to present the best for customers, you will benefit a great deal from the tips mentioned here. Make sure you stick to the listed points as a guide that leads you to ensure a high-quality product and satisfy your cravings for the best brew. From here on out, you’re going to be a well-educated pro when it comes to picking the right kind of coffee without a doubt. 

6 Convincing Reasons To Get A Sauna For Your Home

Saunas are a form of luxury that certainly makes one grateful to be alive. You can get out of a steamy sauna session and feel good as new, regardless of how stressful or unbearable your day has been. Unfortunately, as appealing as it sounds, finding the time to squeeze a sauna session into your hectic schedule is often easier said than done. However, what if you get to have constant access to the sauna from the comfort of your own home? If you’ve never considered the idea before, explore the variety of home saunas available and read on for 6 convincing reasons why you absolutely have to get a sauna for your home as soon as possible!

1. Unwind From the Comfort of Your Own Home

Getting into a sauna session seems to have this magical effect that can relax your body and soothe your nerves. Whether it’s post-workout or after a hectic day at work, the sauna never fails to relax your body and set your mood straight. Turns out, there’s a scientific explanation for this phenomenon. When the body is exposed to excessive heat, just like when sitting in a sauna for 15 minutes, it starts secreting endorphins into the bloodstream. Endorphins are known as natural-opioids; they’re natural chemicals that the brain secretes to make your body feel as high as if you’d injected opioids. The best thing about it is that it makes you feel good without having to take any drugs, so there are no side effects to worry about!

Installing a home sauna allows you to enjoy these benefits whenever you need them. Having a sauna in your home gives you the flexibility to unwind in your own space, creating the perfect environment to relax, boost your mood, and enhance your overall well-being.

2. Save on Costs

It’s true that you can always just go for a spa session every now and then instead of installing a sauna in your home. After all, installing a home-sauna is bound to be crazy expensive, right? Once you do the math, you’ll realize that the answer to this question is a resounding no! Installing a home-sauna can help you save anywhere from $2,000 to $3,200 annually, the costs that would otherwise go into subscribing to a wellness center or a spa. Furthermore, indoor infrared sauna installation will cut down a lot of costs compared to an outdoor sauna. On the plus side, installing a home sauna will increase the value of your house, giving you better resale deals when you decide it’s time to move out. 

3. Improve Physical Health

Saunas have long since been associated with longevity and wellness. It’s common for physical therapists and alternative medicine practitioners to recommend sauna for health and wellness. You’d even be surprised to know the long history behind the invention of the first saunas, which dates back to as far as 7000 BC in the Finnish culture. It wasn’t just limited to Finland though; saunas have been used across many ancient cultures to successfully get rid of infectious diseases. In our modern society, research has linked sauna to increased longevity, enhanced heart and lung function, smoother skin, improved sleep, and increased immunity. Saunas can also help you lose weight especially with an infrared sauna that will make you more comfortable while losing the extra pounds.

4. Improve Mental Health

Speaking of health, having regular sauna sessions can exponentially improve mental well-being as well. Scientifically speaking, getting exposed to the intense heat from a sauna can help repair nerve damage, boost focus, and release the feel-good endorphins. Moreover, squeezing in a meditation or mindfulness session in the sauna can multiply your mental health benefits. 

5. Improve Endurance

Improving endurance has always been a crucial factor in athletic fitness, although its benefits are not limited to athletes. There’s a lot of scientific research that shows the indisputable effects that sauna has on increasing endurance levels. Although the research shows little evidence about the claims of its detoxifying effects, it explains how being exposed to excessive heat for prolonged and frequent periods can help in lowering core temperature. This effect helps the body in building more endurance in exercise, which helps you workout even in extremely hot weather. Moreover, it encourages your body to release a growth hormone, which is crucial for muscle building and aids in recovery. 

6. Your Options are Diverse

Now that you’re considering this option, you’ll be happy to know that your options are diverse. You can always build an outdoor sauna, although indoor saunas are more affordable and easier to install. You’ll have complete control over its size, wood material, heating mechanism, and location. 

Whether you’ve always been a big fan of saunas or you want to start reaping its benefits, installing a sauna at home can be a great option. You’ll have constant access to this miraculously relaxing safe haven whenever you need to unwind or improve your health. The best thing about it is that it can be both cost-effective and customized according to your desires.

Helpful Ways To Track Your Business Taxes

Calculating and keeping track of your taxes are two of the most difficult aspects of running a business. This can turn into an even harder endeavor if you have a small business and do not have a professional accounting team to help you out. It is not a lost cause, though. By keeping some vital documents and having a keen eye for detail, you won’t have to dread tax season anymore. However, this can be difficult to implement without proper guidance but don’t worry,  we’ve got you covered. If you are having trouble keeping track of your business taxes, check the following guide for more insights.

Hire an Accountant

Do you have a small business and not enough liquidity to have a fully-fledged accounting department? Well, you do not have to completely write off hiring professional help. By enlisting the help of just one accountant, you can keep your books in order and avoid tax miscalculations. By choosing outsourced bookkeeping, you can access professional services without the cost of an in-house team. However, you have to be 100% sure of the person you are going to hire. Doing some background checks before you make your decision is vital since that person will be responsible for handling the company’s finances. By doing the appropriate research, you'll end up filing taxes with the highest-rated CPA in NYC - or wherever required - in no time at all! If you do not have enough capital to hire someone with extensive experience, seeking the help of an independent contractor (a freelancer) can be just what you are looking for. Most freelancers have lower rates than traditional accountants, so you will not have to waste tons of money to keep track of your taxes.

Use Software

The year 2021 is just a month away, so it does not make sense to rely on old-fashioned methods to track your business income and expenses and calculate taxes. Bookkeeping is still pretty much a thing, but it is not done with pen and paper anymore. Currently, there is a plethora of user-intuitive software you can leverage to finish complex tax-oriented and accounting tasks in just a few hours instead of days. Even if you have an accounting team, investing in such programs is bound to increase their productivity. To choose the best tax software for your company, figure out which forms you need to fill and make sure that the program you have in mind supports them. Some of the tax software such as Drake Hosted are also accessible on cloud using Hosted Virtual Desktop which supports multi-user access to users. Cross-platform support is also a big thing in today’s business world, as you must be able to access the system even when you are not at your office. Moreover, we recommend that you compare different programs before investing in one just to be sure that you are not squandering precious resources.

Take Advantage of Write-Offs

Decreasing your tax burden should always be one of your main priorities. After all, you do not want to lose all your hard-earned capital to taxes! Luckily, there are many deductions you may be eligible for, depending on your business expenses. The expert tax managers from keepertax.com point out that the deductions 1099 employees can benefit from include home office expenses, health insurance premiums, and internet costs. Traditional businesses also have many write-offs, including the cost of meals, bank fees, and travel expenses. Whether you are an independent contractor or a traditional employer, you should look for software that automatically applies these deductions to make it easier for yourself. 

Hone Your Bookkeeping Skills

Let’s face it; not having basic tax skills can hurt your business. Although you may have an expert team by your side, it does not hurt to have a general understanding of how taxes are filed, particularly if you are a very hands-on person who likes to directly supervise their employees. Even if you are not naturally gifted with strong arithmetic and organizational skills, you need to work on yourself instead of simply letting someone else do everything for you. As for the skills you need to hone, these include invoicing, expense/income tracking, and auditing. There are plenty of great sources you can find online if you are willing to put in the time and effort it takes to become an expert bookkeeper. You may also opt for crash courses to improve quickly in case you do not have enough time to spare.

Considering the hefty fines of miscalculating tax liabilities, filing your business taxes accurately will save you a lot of trouble down the line. It does not matter whether you are an independent contractor or the owner of an established business; technology has made this process a breeze. Just make sure to hold onto important invoices and separate your business and personal accounts to have solid proof of your expenses and avoid confusion.

5 New York Cooking Classes to Get You Through This Winter

Although many people look forward to the holiday season, it also marks the beginning of the winter blues. With cold weather and long nights, it’s normal to feel more sadness and anxiety than usual. These symptoms are even more severe for the five percent of the population that experiences seasonal affective disorder (SAD). With so many restrictions in place this year, there could be a rise in the cases of SAD. 

The good news is that there are still ways to keep your spirits up this winter season; one of the best is through food and drink. Studies show that cooking for pleasure may improve your mental health. Here are five New York City cooking classes that will get those creative culinary juices flowing.

1) Cozymeal Cooking Classes

As one of the most popular cooking companies in NYC, Cozymeal continues to offer in-person experiences in addition to online classes. There is truly something for everyone, with both vegetarian and vegan classes and a wide range of global recipes from places like Greece, France, and Mexico. They also offer lessons to help you improve your kitchen techniques, including the best ways to roll sushi and improving your knife skills. 

Online classes are interactive, with real-time questions and answers. They’re also affordable, with most under the $40 mark. You’ll pay by the device, making it a fun and affordable activity for the entire family. 

2) Paint & Sip

While not technically a cooking class, Paint & Sip now offers classes online so you can enjoy food and wine pairings from the comfort of your home while learning to paint your very own masterpiece. 

Pre-recorded classes offer ultimate flexibility by allowing you 30 days to view the lesson. You pay a small fee for the class itself and order supplies in packages according to the number of people in your party. 

Virtual live parties are also offered and allow participants to log in from multiple devices, so your friends and family across the country can join in too. 

3) Pizza School NYC

It’s no easy feat making oven-fired pizza at home, but Pizza School NYC makes it happen. Live two and a half hour classes take place over Zoom. Instructions are tailored to the supplies you have at home, so if you don’t need a pizza stone. The class includes all steps in the process, from forming the dough to making a show-stopping homemade sauce. Resources are also given before class so you can show up prepared. 

4) The League of Kitchens

All the instructors at the League of Kitchens are immigrant women who will teach you how to make authentic family-style recipes. Cuisines include Persian, Argentinian, Lebanese, and more. The maximum class size is thirteen, so you’ll be able to interact with your instructor and classmates with ease. 

5) Taste Buds Kitchen

Taste Buds Kitchen offers both in-person and online classes for kids and adults alike. Kids and families can decorate gingerbread houses and holiday cookies, learn to make dinner for the entire family, and experience international, kid-friendly recipes such as sushi and dumplings. Adult-only classes include cookies and cocktails, pasta making, fresh bagels, and happy hour recipes. 

While trying to find ways to be social and creative can improve your mental health, sometimes greater interventions are necessary. Resources like Enterhealth can get you the help you need. Staying busy and learning new skills is key to keeping your mental health high. Cooking is just the tip of the iceberg - check out other events and activities going on in New York this winter.