Buying a house may be a tedious process, but every step of it is worth it. Finding the right home is quite a tiring task. But the real work begins once you put an offer on a home of your choice. Most renowned lenders require you to go through a mortgage loan prequalification, which usually does not hurt your credit score to get to the next step of getting the right interest rates for yourself. Why do you need to undergo a prequalification? The mortgage market is filled with choices. If you have a decent credit score, you will have the option of choosing any mortgage lender that you like. However, the reason why you should undergo a mortgage loan prequalification is to find out the best-suited rates and also to get an idea of what different lenders offer. What details must you fill in order to get a prequalification? Every major lender gives you an option of mortgage loan prequalification on their portals. You may fill the online application form and find out if you are prequalified or not. Generally, the details that you need to provide for this are:

• Loan purpose: You need to tell the lender whether you need a mortgage for a refinance or for a purchase.
• Bank account: Most lenders ask you the name and branch details of the bank you have an account in.
• Loan type: There are plenty of loan options in the market ranging from 30-year fixed mortgages to 15-year fixed mortgages along with adjustable rate options. Pick the one that suits you the most. (This may be adjusted later if some other mortgage option suits you better.)

While the aforementioned criteria are necessary to fill, here is a checklist for you to verify for prequalification and qualification:

• Your details: Name, date of birth, phone numbers, email address, mailing address, Social Security Number of the applicant and co-applicant (These may slightly differ from lender to lender.)
• Income and employment details: Your tax returns and employment details which differ for W-2 wage earners, self-employed and freelancers, and for people with real estate income.
• Assets: Your bank account statements along with information on retirement and brokerage accounts.
• Debts: Your list of existing debts which may either be monthly debt payments or real estate debt.

Additionally, you may require rent documents, divorce-related documents, bankruptcy declaration, foreclosure proofs, or down payment gift letters. Getting a loan prequalification is very easy on online portals as long as you give the right details so that the lender may access your data and make a calculated decision by granting you a prequalification.

German Shepherds are medium to large sized dogs, which are largely used as working dogs. They were originally bred for herding sheep, but due to their intelligence and obedience they are used for a variety of other purposes. As they do a lot of hard work they need to have a proper diet. Following are some homemade food tips for a healthy future of your pet: German Shepherds are vulnerable to many autoimmune diseases, digestive disorders, allergies and skin problems. Therefore, it is essential that you give special attention towards what you feed them. Feeding them with homemade meals will definitely help in keeping them healthy. Making food at home may be a bit hectic but to keep your pet healthy and safe from diseases you can always put in that extra effort. Fresh foods without any additives, preservatives or colors will help keep your pet free from diseases such as gastrointestinal ailments or food intolerances. You must feed them a balanced and nutritious diet. An unbalanced diet may increase the chances of your pet falling ill. It is advisable to give your pet fresh foods as they contain most of the essential nutrients, vitamins and supplements. Always consult a vet or a veterinary nutritionist to create a perfect diet chart for your pet. In a homemade diet, people usually give meat, poultry and fish which are rich in proteins. Muscle meat, organ meat, meaty bones are also rich in proteins and make the diet a healthy one. You can also incorporate plain yogurt, cottage cheese or eggs in it. You can either choose to feed your pet cooked food, raw diet or a mixture of both raw and cooked food. You must consult with your veterinary nutritionist or conduct in-depth research on contemporary diseases resulting from raw foods before you make the choice. Ensure that your homemade dog food recipes includes green leafy vegetables and fruits rich in antioxidants. Veggies such as carrots, cooked sweet potatoes or fruits such as berries are very healthy for German Shepherd puppies. It will be great if you boil them lightly, as this will increase the nutritional value of the veggies. Puppies also enjoy whole grains and raw vegetables as chewy snacks. Keep your pup away from toxic foods. Many commercial pet foods contain grains such as wheat and corn, which are not good for your pet. They have short digestive tracts and cannot digest grains. Again some commercial foods were said to be contaminated. Hence, it is always better to feed your pet homemade food.

A healthier you is the happier you. So, if you wish to be happy and gleeful, keep yourself fit and healthy. We always eat fresh and bacteria free food to keep ourselves fit, but do you know that your fitness is also associated with bacteria? Yes, bacteria play an important role in keeping you fit and healthy. These are good bacteria which usually resided in the intestine and are required by your body immunity. These bacteria are known as Probiotics. Our lifestyle and food habits today adversely affect our health. Food with preservatives, food stored in a refrigerator and chlorine soaked food items destroy bacteria. Hence, the good bacteria die along with the bad bacteria, leaving your food completely bacteria free. So, though you are eating fresh, you lack those essential bacteria to keep you protected from some chronic health issues.

Health and probiotics

Top-rated probiotics enhance your health in the following ways: -Empowered immune system -Well balanced digestive system -Healthy urinary tract -Allergies kept away -Treats skin problems like eczema -Helps in weight loss -Re-energize you by the production of vitamin B12 -Improves the skin condition making your skin glow -Prevents occasional or chronic diarrhea and constipation -Prevents vaginal infections in women So, in order to stay healthy, probiotics are very important. There are many food Items containing Probiotics. Intake of these foods may help in balancing bacteria in your body. Some of these foods are as follows:

Yogurt

Yogurt made out of goat’s milk contains top-rated probiotics. It is rich in protein, vitamins and probiotics like Thermophillus, Bifidus and even Lactobacillus probiotics.

Kefir

Kefir is also a dairy product made out of goat’s milk and kefir grains. It is rich in Lactobacilli and Bifidus bacteria.

Sauerkraut

It is a fermented form of cabbage that is rich in vitamins. This is not only healthy but also helps in fighting bacteria.

Fermented soybeans

It is also known as Tempeh and is a good source of vitamin B12, iron, zinc and protein. It is the best food for vegans and vegetarians as it supplies you with all the necessary minerals that your body may lack as a vegetarian or vegan.

Kimichi

Usually made with cabbage, this Korean side dish consists of lactobacillus. It helps in improving the digestive system. Minerals like iron, vitamin B2, and vitamin K make it healthy.

Kombucha

A special type of tea usually consumed in Asian continents contains a high amount of good bacteria and yeast. Though rich in healthy bacteria, it is not suggested to those suffering from Candida or any other fungal infection.

Buttermilk

People usually confuse probiotic buttermilk with the cultured buttermilk which is preserved packed and sold in the market. These are not as beneficial as traditional buttermilk is.

Top-rated probiotics

Blue Biotic Ultimate Care

Rated 9.7/10 on the top-rated probiotics list, this supplement is endorsed by many doctors and dieticians. These are very effective and contain S. Boulardii probiotic.

Ultimate Flora Critical Care

This is the second name on the top-rated probiotics list with 9.4/10. It guarantees 50 billion live probiotics per serving.

Florastor Probiotics

This is the third among the top-rated probiotics and is given 9.1/10. These are 100% vegetarian and prevents acidity in the stomach.

Align Probiotic

Given 8.9/10 and standing fourth in the list of top-rated probiotics. It contains Bifidobacterium Infantis, which very effective in treating digestive problems and strengthening your digestive system.

Trubiotics

It is one of the top-rated probiotics, which is given 8.7/10. It contains Lactobacillus Acidophilus and Bifidobacterium Animalis probiotics, which are very effective in treating several health issues. Though all the above-mentioned probiotics are among the top rated products, you are requested to kindly consult a health specialist or a doctor before taking these. Any kind of allergic element contained in them may be harmful to your health.

While you are on a vacation and have limited time, bus tours can be a good choice to see as many places as possible. However, when it comes to a bus tour, the web is flooded with multiple bus tours by many companies that organize them. Therefore, it is important to choose a tour that is perfect for the kind of vacation you have planned—whether it’s with a small or large group or a solo trip. Coming to the right bus tour, here are some tips to compare and find the right bus tour for your trip. Bus tour companies – If you have ample of time before your vacation begins, you can do an in-depth research and go through all the companies that organize bus tours and read their reviews to understand which tour company is safe and right for you. Itinerary – While you are doing your research, do compare the itinerary of the different bus tours. Tours that give you the option of customizing the itinerary as per your plan are often better. Payment – Consider all costs and the overall payment you will make from the start till the end of your bus tour. This includes the deposit, main payment, and payment to the guide. It is always better to compare the total cost of different tours against the itinerary before booking. Intended audience – Each bus tour is intended for a certain type of travelers, such as families, large groups, small groups, or solo travelers. Therefore, it is important to check the type of travelers a bus tour is created for. Guide – The guide of any tour plays a vital role. You can check who your guide is from the tour company and read their reviews. Included hotels – While you are selecting a bus tour, check all the hotels that are included in the itinerary, along with their locations. This will help you plan better for your trip. Checking the location of the hotels is important, as you will know how much time it will take you to reach the hotel. It is important to have hotels that are easily accessible, as that helps you save time traveling to and from your hotels.

Suffering a breakdown due to a problem in your vehicle can be no fun. It can be more of a problem, if you are someone using a wheelchair van. However, there are roadside assistance covers available for wheelchair vans and used wheelchair vans as well. Here are some options you must however consider while opting for the right service.

Coverage: The coverage you get, depends from vehicle to vehicle. It could depend on the kind of ramp you use or it could depend on whether or not you are using your own vehicle, renting a wheelchair van or driving a used wheelchair van. But either way, you are entitled to roadside assistance. Towing: Make sure you avail of a towing service while choosing roadside assistance. This can sometimes be a deal breaker, especially for a wheelchair van user. Will they provide you with alternative transportation or tow your vehicle to a dealership or to the place of your choosing, such as a repair shop? These are the questions you need to get answers to, before signing on with a provider. Additional Services: What are the additional services provided? Some plans offer many added services without having to pay extra for it. It may be something small like a follow-up. But it could make a big difference for someone using a wheelchair van or a used wheelchair van. So be aware of it before you settle for a provider. Specialty: Finally, think of choosing a provider that specializes in providing roadside assistance to those with disabilities or those catering to wheelchair vans, even used ones. These might be more affordable and might meet your needs better. They may even have a better response time. Others: Other options you need to think of before choosing the right roadside assistance for you or your relative who might be using a wheelchair is do they provide flat tire assistance, out of fuel help, lock out assistance? Do they offer battery service or ramp assistance? These are details that may not be relevant for someone else, but for someone using a wheelchair van, it may be crucial. Sometimes, a person with a disability may even need immediate medical assistance in case of a breakdown as they may be more vulnerable. All these factors need to be taken into consideration before choosing a provider.

It is a well known fact that hard water is harsh for household usage. Whether it is about spots on glassware, a film shower doors or an inefficient operation of water-using appliances, installing the best water softeners can be of great help to homeowners. Water softeners are products that remove calcium and magnesium ions from water and work at replacing them with salt/sodium via ion exchange. NSF-certified water softeners are often rated as best water softeners. Opting for an NSF-certified water softener with a system monitor is usually recommended as it indicates the user when salt is low, thus helping him/her maintain the quality of water. The hardness of water is measured in grains per gallon. Grain capacity of a water softener is its rated capacity. It specifies the maximum number of grains of water hardness the water softening unit can remove before regeneration. Steps to determine the best water softeners for your home.

• Count the number of members in your home.
• Multiply the number of people in your home by the gallons of water they use each day.
• Test the hardness of water using a water test kit.
• Multiply that number by the grains of hardness in your water to the total quantity of water used. This way you will be able to figure out how many grains need to be removed each day.
• After you determine the quantity of grains you need to remove, you can check for a water softener that claims to handle the derived hardness of water.

If you have been using a water softener for a long time, the resin bed inside the water softener is likely to have developed a coating of hard particles. In this case, the water softener goes into its regeneration cycle. Regeneration means that the salt in the tank is mixed with incoming water to rid the resin bed of these hard particles. After the process of regeneration, the water filter systems are ready to provide a steady stream of soft water again.