Whether you are shopping for your first house or if you are moving to something better, it is better to know all the facts about home loans before making your move. There are many kinds of loans. Mortgages are the most well-known type. A mortgage is a type of secured loan pertaining to real estate or house. The ownership of the property is with the borrower who makes repayments in installments over an accepted period of time. The borrower is required to put up a collateral (asset) to secure a mortgage. The lender is able to provide higher amounts, usually with a better interest rate, as the lender can partially or fully seize the collateral if the borrower defaults. Fixed rate mortgages are the most commonly occurring type of home loans. The benefit is, you know ahead of time the repayment amount and the term of repayment is usually stretched over a period of 10 to 50 years. There is also a provision of repaying the loan quickly by paying additional amounts. In this type of loan, loan repayment goes first towards paying interest, then to paying the principal amount. The benefit of opting for Adjustable rate mortgage (ARM) is that it usually offers a lower initial rate of interest than the fixed rate mortgage. The downside to it is the fluctuating nature, as the interest rate rises, so do your loan payments. An established credit history and a preset minimum amount of down payment are precursors to opting for the above-mentioned mortgages. FHA mortgages are government-backed loans with flexible guidelines. They usually have low down payments as well as fixed rate and ARM options. Those with limited down payment amount and having a challenging credit history can apply for FHA mortgage. This is usually offered to first time home buyers and high-risk borrowers, but the borrowers are required to take out private mortgage insurance. There are various other kinds of mortgages, VA loans for veterans, reverse mortgages and interest only mortgages. Refinancing your mortgage can potentially help you:

• Lower your monthly payment costs
• Shorten the term of your loan
• Get cash out of your home

It is good to reassess your home loan portfolio with changing trends in the market. If your home is worth more than your current outstanding loan amount, you might be able to use your home equity to fund an ongoing need or any one-time expense like a home remodel etc. This equity can also be used to consolidate your debt and get some cash out of your home.

Any diet prescribed for people with diabetes revolves around three things: eating healthy food, controlling portions of food during each meal, and eating at regular times. While there are medications and insulin doses that can be taken to keep diabetes under control, the importance of diabetic diets can not be overstated. In the case of type 2 diabetes, it is necessary to understand the importance of following the right diabetic diets and making the right mealtime choices. It is important to avoid the wrong foods or foods that can raise your blood sugar level almost instantly. Foods that contain simple carbohydrates, such as white bread or sugary drinks, are very easily broken down by your body into sugar. This sugar then very quickly enters your bloodstream, thereby spiking your blood sugar level. Here are a few common foods that you should stay away from to deal with your diabetes the right way and lead a normal life.

• White rice: If you are a diabetic patient, avoid white rice from your diet as much as you can. Most diabetic diets recommend eliminating white rice from your diet. A healthy alternative to white rice would be brown rice. The reason is basically that white rice has very little fiber, which is an important compound that keeps your blood sugar levels stable.
• White bread: White bread, made from refined flour, is easily digestible by the body thereby the sugar from this food gets absorbed by the body. Whole grains are always considered to be a better dietary option than refined grains, even for people who do not have diabetes.
• Red meat: Red meat or processed meat is high in saturated fats and can contribute to the development of type 2 diabetes. Diabetic diets particularly recommend swapping meat with other rich sources of protein such as nuts or other low-fat dairy products.

Keeping your diabetes under control is essential to avoid any major issues with your health, and hence it's crucial to follow a healthy diabetic diet.

A nine-digit number is issued to an individual by the Social Security Administration (SSA) whose intended purpose was to track individuals for Social Security purpose; now the SSN (Social Security Number) becomes integral for not only taxation but also acts as an identity number. Three different kinds of Social Security cards are provided, all of them carry the cardholder’s name and the SSN. These are issued to U.S. citizens and permanent residents. In case your original Social Security card is lost or stolen, you can apply for a replacement. This is done for free by the SSA. This facility is available for access online too; just keep your mailing address and driver’s license details handy. Having a valid my Social Security account is mandatory for this. It is straightforward to create this account, all you need to do is enter the personal information required, create a username and password that will let you access the account. If you do not wish to avail this service online, visit your local Social Security office with the required paperwork to apply for a replacement card. Three replacement cards are permitted in a year and 10 in a lifetime.

• Present original documents or copies supplied by the issuing agency.
• The documents must be current.
• If you are a citizen, documents such as birth certificate or passport will be accepted as proof of citizenship.
• Documents that are accepted as proof of identity are; driver’s license, passport, any state issued a non-driver identification card, employee ID card or school ID card.
• For now U.S. citizens, current DHS document needs to be provided. Accepted documents are I-551 Permanent Resident Card, I-94 record with a current passport and I-766 work permit.

Form SS-5 needs to be filled and duly submitted along with the necessary documents at the local Social Security office (or through email) to obtain your Social Security card replacement. The card is delivered with ten business days.

Milk has recently come under scrutiny for its high lactose content. The human body has no problem with lactose when young. However, as one gets older, lactase, an enzyme that breaks down lactose into simple sugars, decreases. This makes it difficult for the body to tolerate milk sugar. Therefore, lactose intolerance is a common problem.

People that are lactose intolerant can go with lactose-free milk products, which contain lactase to help digestion. Many brands sell lactose-free milk, but here are the best of them.

Westsoy unsweetened soymilk
Certified by USDA Organic, a certificate granted to all organic agricultural products, Westsoy unsweetened soymilk is high in protein. It contains no nuts and gluten, and most importantly, is free of lactose. It is made from natural organic ingredients that are as good and healthy as the ingredients in regular milk. Also, it doesn’t contain additional ingredients like sweeteners or additives and is a good source of potassium as well as iron.

So Delicious coconut milk
With over 30 years of experience in dairy-free spaces, So Delicious sells frozen desserts, melty shreds, creamy yogurt alternatives, and smooth plant-based beverages and creamers. Its coconut milk is lactose-free, gluten-free, and contains no artificial flavors or colors, hydrogenated oil, and trans fat. It is certified vegan and is a great substitute for dairy milk.

Silk almond milk
This almond milk by Silk is low in fat but is a good source of calcium, making it great for the bones. It also doesn’t contain saturated fat, cholesterol, almonds, and fructose corn and is an excellent source of iron, potassium, and vitamin D, A, and E. It has a bit of vanilla flavor as well, providing 450 mg of calcium per cup serving, which is 50% more than regular dairy milk.

Califia Farms oat milk
This oat milk tastes delicious and feels just like dairy milk. It has less sugar than sweetened plant milk and is an excellent source of calcium and omega-9 fatty acids. Like all the other milk products on this list, the Califia Farms oat milk doesn’t contain gums, stabilizers, or carrageenan. There’s no nuts, soy, gluten, and preservatives in it either.

Moving your home cross country can be Herculean task when you have decided to move your home using rented truck through truck rental services such as U-Haul. Here are some packing tips that can ensure hassle free moving: You must packing supplies such as, boxes of all sizes, paper tapes, wardrobe boxes, and TV box kit to protect your flat screens, mattress bags that will save your beds from getting damaged, stretch wraps, dish and glass saver kits, bubble roll, moving pads, Dolly (to carry heavy stuff), and a box cutter for easy unpacking. Packing Bedrooms When packing bedrooms, use a large box to pack sheets, beddings, and linens. Break apart the bed frame, if possible, for easy moving. Use wardrobe boxes to quickly pack hanging clothes. Use sandwich bags to pack small items like jewelry. Since flat screens have delicate screens, foam pack the front in a box and make sure the front side is marked. Packing Kitchen When you are packing your kitchen, make sure that you stop buying perishable food for a week or two prior to moving. Use a dish and glass saver kit for your dishes and other breakables. Use stretch wrap in order to seal silverware into their containers. Bubble wraps come in handy when packing kitchen appliances. Disassemble your dining table (if it allows) and wrap the pieces with moving pads. Putting things from your pantry in a box with a cell kit will prevent it from breaking. Use a furniture pad and dolly to both protect and move your kitchen appliances. Packing Living room Put games and movies in a small box. Disassemble the living room furniture and wrap them with pads for protection. Secure rolled up rugs with stretch wrap. Since furniture are a heavy piece of household item make sure you use dolly to move them. Packing your garage Before starting to pack your garage, it might be a good idea to donate or trash out those items that you no longer need but are still accumulated in your garage. Don't box the tool box, as it might come in handy at the time of moving, stretch wrap it instead. Drain gas and other fluids from the power tools before packing as they could prove to be hazardous if not handled carefully during the journey. Wrap sharp tools properly with moving pads top protect yourself and other things.

Apple has come up with the second generation of the iPad Air tablet. The iPad Air 2 is known for its speed. Although it has the same screen size as that of its predecessor, it is superbly powerful. The iPad Air 2 has definitely set the bar high with its features.

Apple's latest offering comes with a better screen and a backlit multi-touch display. The iPad Air 2 is equipped with a less reflective display that looks more colorful and brighter.

When talking about design, the iPad Air 2 can be easily held for hours because of its sleek design. With a thickness of 6.1 mm, the iPad Air 2 is one of the slimmest tablets that have been created. Available in silver, gold, and space gray, the iPad Air 2 comes in two variants -- Wi‑Fi and Wi‑Fi + Cellular.

Technical specifications of iPad Air 2 for Wi‑Fi

• This variant of the iPad Air 2 is available with a storage capacity of 32 GB and 128 GB. 
• The iPad Air 2 for Wi-Fi has a height of 240 mm (9.4 inches) and is 169.5 mm (6.6 inches) wide. It weighs around 437 g (0.96 pounds).
• The iPad Air 2 has a A8X chip with 64 bit architecture, Bluetooth 4.2, and an M8 motion coprocessor.
• It is equipped with a built-in 27.3-watt-hour rechargeable lithium-polymer battery, and runs on iOS 10.
• With a fully laminated display, the iPad Air 2 comes with a 9.7-inch (diagonal) LED-backlit widescreen multi-touch display loaded with IPS technology.
• This tablet also has a Fingerprint identity sensor built in the Home button.
• It comes with an accelerometer, gyroscope, barometer, and ambient light sensor.
• The accessibility features of the iPad Air 2 make tasks easier for people with disabilities by providing built-in support for hearing, vision, and physical and motor skills.

Technical specifications of iPad Air 2 for Wi‑Fi + Cellular
When it comes to the Wi-Fi + Cellular variant, specifications regarding storage capacity and dimensions are the same as those for the Wi-Fi variant.

The iPad Air 2 Wi‑Fi + Cellular variant also uses the A8X chip with 64 bit architecture. It also comes with a built-in 27.3-watt-hour rechargeable lithium-polymer battery. This variant also supports iOS 10. Listed below are some more features of the Wi-Fi + Cellular model:

• The anti-reflective coating of this tablet makes it stand out and allows video calling to any FaceTime-enabled device over Wi‑Fi.
• It comes with 3x video zoom, video image stabilization, and improved face detection.
• Users can also benefit from excellent geotagging video features with improved face detection and excellent exposure control.