Tips to Manage your finances before buying a Home

Sondra Ellen
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Getting ready to buy your house can indeed be exciting, especially if it is your first home. However, it can be daunting at the same time when you need to work on your credit scores, down payments, and mortgages.

As a buyer in the real estate market, it is not always that simple to buy the right home at the right price. There are many financial issues that will control your capacity to purchase the house. Find out here now as to how to make better loan decisions and check credit score. 

However, as buying a house is one of the major purchases of your life that will require substantial funds, it is essential to maintain a healthy level of finances before buying a home. 

Here is a brief guide to help you out with the finances:

Prepare your finances – Now that you have a good idea of how much home you can afford to buy, it is time to start preparing for the finances. Make sure that you have good credit, plenty of cash, and a verifiable income to buy your dream home.

Start saving cash – Typically, one needs to make between 3.5% and 20% of the price of the house, and thus, based on what you have in mind, it is time to set a target and start saving. It may mean months of avoiding the temptation to go on a holiday or resisting those expensive dining out times with the family, or shopping for branded clothes and expensive gadgets.

Have sufficient funds for a down payment – In order to make a sizeable down payment, you need to start working on your funds and saving and stretching every dollar you have. It is essential to buy a house that you can afford. Basically, you need to control your down payment and the mortgage based on your gross monthly income and expenditures.

Improve your credit score– It is a good idea to invest in a credit score monitoring service for a couple of months before making the down payment. Sometimes, it may take several months to improve the credit score significantly.

An affordable interest rate – It is likely that you may end blowing away all your hard-earned dollars in tens of thousands if you are not very careful with the interest rates. This is why it is of utmost importance to look for and compare interest rates and try to get the low-interest rate. Make sure you shop around to get the lower rates, as it will help you protect thousands of dollars in interest in the long term.

The expenses beyond the mortgage -Every home buyer should be aware of the homeowning expenses beyond the mortgage.  There are a lot of other ongoing costs such as utilities, repairs, maintenance, and insurance costs, as well as property taxes. Thus, do not tend to believe that mortgage is the only recurring expense as there are other expenses that can add to the overt all costs of homeownership.

Easy Vegan Lunch Recipes That Aren’t Leftovers From Previous Night

Tara Wilson
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Easy Vegan Lunch Recipes That Aren’t Leftovers From Previous Night

It is always difficult to think of healthy tiffin options to be taken along as meals to the office. Things get even more complicated if you follow a vegan diet.

Sometimes, you might even think of ordering lunch from outside or go and head to a restaurant. However, there are many reasons why you should carry your lunch from home:

  1. No chances of getting contaminated food or any food-borne illness.
  2. Having a healthy, homemade meal helps a lot in reducing the number of calories you eat.
  3. Helps diminish your sugar/junk food cravings in the office by making you feel full for a longer time. 

Now, you may think that making vegan lunch can be time-consuming. What if we tell you that is not the case? You can follow some easy recipes to prepare a quick, tasty, healthy meal option for your lunch.

Let’s have a look at some of the easy-to-make vegan recipes you can easily cook and pack for work.

Simple Grain Bowl

Simple grain bowls are easy-to-prepare vegan lunch options as all the ingredients required are available handy in the kitchen. So, use quinoa or rice to make the bowl or go for other options like millet or buckwheat.

How to make:

  • Start by steaming your grain of choice.
  • Add chopped beans, carrot and broccoli.
  • Sprinkle the spice of your choice.
  • Pack the mix in a microwave-safe container.
  • Microwave the bowl for 60-90 seconds at work.
  • Stir and enjoy your bowl of health.

You can also consider using other raw vegetables like peppers, olives, onions, and tomatoes in the bowl.

It is a good idea to cook the grains the previous night. It will help in saving your time in the morning.

Bean Salad with Lime Juice

A bowl of salad is the first option that will pop up in anyone’s mind when discussing healthy food. The only drawback of salad is that having it increases hunger. 

However, this does not mean that you cannot have salad for lunch. All you need to do is add beans and pita bread to your box to make the lunch more filling.

You would need:

  • Chopped lettuce, fresh vegetables and beans of your choice along with a lime wedge. 
  • Pack them along in a container and sprinkle with some lemon juice, salt and preferred spices.
  • Have this salad with pita bread to make your lunch more filling.
  • Alternatively, you may use the salad as stuffing between the pita bread slices to enjoy it like a veg sandwich!

Also, the main advantage of adding lime in the salad is that it will replace your need to pack homemade dressing to work. It also provides a fresh, tangy taste to the salad.

Vegetable and Hummus Sandwich

When you think of staple vegan lunches, the thought of vegetable and hummus sandwiches will surely cross your mind. The main advantage of making a sandwich is that you can customize it in many ways based on the vegetable options available.

To add some extra fun to your sandwich, you can consider adding tablespoon cooked beans into the hummus. All you need to do is mash the beans with a fork and sprinkle some spice of your choice or Sriracha to it. 

Adding these extra beans will make your meal more filling and provide you with options to include more variety in your lunch.

You would need:

  • 2 slices of whole-grain bread.
  • 2 Tbsp hummus.
  • Freshly chopped vegetables of your choice.  
  • Pack everything and take it along.
  • During lunchtime, spread the hummus on one bread, top it with the veggies, cover it with the other slice of bread and enjoy your meal!

Final Word

It is always difficult to pack your lunch for work, but it is necessary to maintain good health. 

Yes, we talked about skipping the restaurants owing to the unhealthy and non-vegan food options there. But what if you could get a tasty, fresh vegan launch at your disposal? 

Future Farm makes it possible. They have a wide range of delicious vegan lunch options that will fill your tummy and satiate your mind. So do check out a nearby Future Farm store once!

So, which vegan lunch recipe did you like the most? Let us know in the comments!

A First-Time Offender’s Guide To Handling Criminal Charges

Sharon Anderson
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A First-Time Offender’s Guide To Handling Criminal Charges

Things can easily get complicated once you’re charged with a criminal offense as a lot can go wrong from that point. If you’re a first-time offender, you might be worried about how you should go about trying to avoid the worst-case scenario given your charges.

After arraignment, you and your attorney will need to devise the best defense for the case. How you handle your charges depends on what’s at stake for you. For instance, the gravity of the offense and its potential sentence can affect your disposition. To understand this, you’d better know what first-time offender refers to.

First Offender Definition

You’re a first offender if you don’t have a criminal history or, more precisely, you haven’t been convicted of a crime in the past. Being a first-time offender may place you in a better position and make you more likely to get a lenient ruling from the court or even a pretrial intervention, but this depends on the nature of your offense.

The first-time offender also means you haven’t been through this process before, and it could be too overwhelming and intimidating. So much is at stake, yet you don’t know what to expect because you haven’t been so close to this way before. Don’t worry too much if you’re in this situation. Below is a working guide of what to expect.

Typical Process For First Offenders

As hinted above, being a first-timer increases your chances of getting a positive ruling from the court, and this usually means relaxed sentences and fines. However, this isn’t always the case. In some, this leniency doesn’t always apply. Plus, if the nature of your offense is grave enough, the court will be forced to be strict.

In some states, even if it’s a first, driving under the influence (DUI) is considered a serious offense. This kind of reckless driving is given gravity by the courts because of the risk it poses not just to the driver but to the general public as well. The gravity increases if the offense is coupled with other infractions such as resisting arrest or vehicular homicide.

If your first offense is DUI, then depending on your state, you can expect some of the following:

  • Generally, your fine is dependent upon a few factors. These may include the state you’re in, the alcohol content level, and the presence or absence of children in the vehicle when DUI happen. If your blood alcohol content levels are high and you have children in the car, then you might expect a higher fine.
  • Several factors are also going to determine how long your license will be suspended. In many states, a license is automatically suspended after a DUI. If you had children in your vehicle at the time of the offense, the suspension of your license may be extended.
  • Again, depending on the scope and circumstances, you might have to face probation. Some cases may involve jail time, counseling, or fines.
  • In some cases, as a first offender, you might be expected to go through drug and alcohol counseling. In some instances, this will be done in combination with jail time or community service.
  • Sometimes, DUI offenders are required to commit to community service for a period set by the court.

You could also get jail time as a result of your first DUI offense, so the best option is to get in touch with one of the most experienced DUI attorneys. In some states, the court will follow a set range of days or months for specific offenses; whereas in others, the court has case-to-case discretion to set jail time for the offenses as long as it falls within a given range.

Lesser Offenses

Defining this can be difficult as each case depends on the extent of the violation. If you get in a physical altercation, how bad is the other party hurt and are there any other details that could aggravate your offense? Despite these variances, it remains that in cases such as public intoxication and assault, you’ll be less likely to get jail time. Chances are you’ll be fined, sent to probation, and be part of counseling or community service as punishment for the offense.

Doing the same offense could lead to getting a harsher sentence as you’ll be regarded as a repeat offender. Felony charges also often result in harsher sentences even for first-time offenders than for misdemeanor charges.

Takeaway

Winding up on the wrong side of the law is scary for most. It’s a new world and you’re not sure what might potentially happen. In reality, there are often outcomes for you. Knowing them can help you identify how much assistance you’ll need.

What to Do If You’re Involved in Any Kind of Accident

Cheryl Thomas
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What to Do If You’re Involved in Any Kind of Accident

Whether you are involved in an accident at work, on the roads or anywhere else for that matter, there are a few things you should do in order to ensure that the next steps progress smoothly and that you get the outcome you deserve.

Of course there are also plenty of common mistakes and pitfalls to avoid, so here is a brief examination of the action you should take in the aftermath of an accident.

Image Source: Pixabay

Note down relevant information for future reference

If possible, it is sensible to record information about the accident and the events leading up to it as soon as you have the opportunity to do so.

This is particularly useful in the case of auto accidents, but also applies in other contexts as well. Noting things like the time and date of the incident, as well as the details of what occurred, the names of those involved and information pertaining to any property damage and injuries will give you evidence to support any insurance claim you make or legal action you are involved with further down the line.

Get legal advice

Whether the accident is minor or major in its fallout, choosing to hire a professional lawyer when you’re involved in a car accident at the earliest moment is always a good idea.

Legal experts will be able to furnish you with the advice and guidance that is relevant to your unique circumstances, and also give you counsel as to how to proceed.

Of course you can recruit a lawyer to fight your corner later on if you wish, but having the help of a pro sooner rather than later will let you sidestep some of the more common post-accident snafus that could otherwise hurt your chances of receiving compensation or seeing that justice is done to any parties who are in the wrong.

Avoid apologizing

If you consider yourself to be a polite individual, then you might be compelled to say sorry in the wake of an accident, even if the fault does not lie at your feet.

The problem with this is that doing so can weaken your defense later on, as it could be seen as an admission of your own guilt, and might let another individual or organization off the hook, or at least make it tougher for your lawyer to swing things in your favor.

So if you can, do not apologize, and do not attempt to agree to any kind of settlement straight away; leave this until after the dust has settled both figuratively and literally.

Keep a level head

Just as you should not apologize after an accident you are involved in, it is equally important to avoid blowing your lid, raising your voice or placing the blame at anyone else’s door.

Staying calm and composed will stand you in good stead and be an advantage when events are being picked over by third parties, as and when this becomes necessary.

Get to safety

Depending on the nature of the accident and the location in which it occurs, you should also be aware of any further dangers which may be present, and do your best to take you out of harm’s way rather than lingering unnecessarily.

For auto accidents or workplace accidents in potentially hazardous environments, physically removing yourself from the proximity of any volatile substances or heavy machinery will obviously be important.

Likewise if you feel threatened by anyone else involved, do not get confrontational and do not rise to provocation. Move away from danger, contact the authorities and get legal counsel to preserve yourself.

Gardening Boom Creates “unprecedented plant shortage” in North Carolina

Charlotte Stories
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Gardening Boom Creates “unprecedented plant shortage” in North Carolina

“The Gardening boom of 2020 continues prominently into 2021,” said Tony Avent, founder and proprietor of Juniper Level Botanic Garden and Plant Delights Nursery in Raleigh. “Last year, the boom really started with the existing gardeners. Then, the longer COVID went on, we began to see more orders from Gen Xers and millennials. We continue to see an amazing number of even younger gardeners in 2021. Some don’t own their house and are looking for things they can grow indoors. The house plant craze is insane.

“There is also an almost unprecedented plant shortage, especially for long-production time plants like trees and shrubs. In many box stores, where 60 percent of Americans buy their plants, there’s a major shortage. Retailers that do not propagate plants are struggling to get a wide range of plants to sell. We are very fortunate because we propagate most things here, but it’s still tough for us to keep up with demand.”
Juniper Level Botanic Garden, a gift to NC State University, will open two weekends this summer for public viewing and plant purchases (July 16-18 and July 23-25). There is no entry fee, and hours are 8AM-5PM Friday and Saturday and 1-5PM Sunday. GPS directions, 9241 Sauls Road, Raleigh.

“We’ll be giving away pads of prickly pear cactus to our visitors at our Summer Open Garden,” said Avent. “I’ve always been fascinated with cactus, so we decided to see how many we could grow. We now have over 150 different kinds of prickly pear cactus ­– probably the largest collection in the world. Since we reign them in annually, we’re giving cactus pads to our visitors. You can plant them at home and enjoy the North American native prickly pear cactus. The flower colors range the spectrum of the rainbow, and the cactus is edible. Native Indians have used this cactus as a food crop for years.

“They’re so many amazing plants blooming in the summer and the pollinator activity is incredible. That’s when all the insects and birds are gathering nectar, which they need to survive. If you want a lot of pollinator activity in your garden in the summertime, you need plants that have a burst of flowers.

“Young homeowners are really into the environment and understand the benefit of planting an abundance of diverse plants, while the older generation focused much more on functionality in the garden. The younger people are much more into sustainable gardening, seeking better living without chemicals in the garden. The previous generation was ingrained with the “better living through chemicals” mantra.
“It’s funny, our generation, the Boomers, were generally afraid of insects and brought up that insects were bad. But the younger generations have been taught that insects are really an important part of nature – the more insects you have, the more nature you can bring into your garden and the healthier the whole environment will be. It’s a neat transition to watch.
“Adults and children are invited to come to the Open Garden Days and learn more about insects from our entomologist Bill Reynolds. Bill used to be with the Museum of Natural Science; he’s down to earth, loves nature, and enjoys talking with children. Bill’s an insect collector who’s also an expert on cicadas, which are very much in the news. Bill told me something I didn’t know. ‘Cicadas are the only insect that sweats’. You and your children can learn a lot from Bill.
“We hope that by visiting Juniper Level Botanic Garden people will learn to look at the outside of their homes the same way they view the interior of the house. Garden designers have known this for years, but that’s a new concept for many people. There’s so much going on outside. Get outdoors, get into nature, and create special spaces to have birds, bees, frogs, and cool things you’re not going to have inside your home.
“It’s also imperative that humans don their citizen scientist hats and help preserve plants in their gardens. Plants are going extinct at a pretty incredible rate, and sadly, some people want to hoard them or replant them where they’ve already gone extinct. We’re the opposite. If you want to preserve a plant, plant it, propagate it and share it.
“As soon as we have sufficient funds in our Operational Endowment foundation at NC State University, Juniper Level Botanic Garden will open to the public year-round in perpetuity. But, unfortunately, COVID put a damper on our fundraising over the past 18-months. It’s hard to go ask somebody for large sums of money with a mask on. Actually, it’s rather tacky. So now that we’re unmasked, we’re hoping to get back onto some more significant fundraisers. But, if we could get a million people to donate $17 each, we’re there. We’re open. That’s all it takes,” said Avent.

Fundraising efforts for Juniper Level Botanic Garden (tax ID 56-6000756) operate under the auspices of The Endowment Fund of North Carolina State University, a 501(c)3 non-profit. Donors receive an official receipt for contributions to the fund.

This Charlotte Chef Just Beat Bobby Flay Last Night on National TV

Charlotte Stories
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This Charlotte Chef Just Beat Bobby Flay Last Night on National TV

One of Charlotte’s most famed chefs just took down Bobby Flay last night on national tv.

The defeat came on a show called ‘Beat Bobby Flay‘ on which Chris Coleman, the executive chef of NoDa’s Goodyear House, went toe to toe with Flay to see who could make the best chicken and rice stew.

After tasting the dishes, one of the judges said of Coleman’s dish; “the rice is wonderful, the chicken is cooked terrifically, and I think the flavor of the kale is outstanding”. They said Flay’s dish was ‘a little thick’ and could have used ‘some more acidity’. While all 3 judges didn’t agree, Coleman ended up coming out on top.

“I just beat bobby flay and I’m super excited to be bringing home a win to Charlotte,” said Coleman.

If you’d like to watch the full competition, it will be available on Amazon next week (Season 27 Episode 13).

Causes and Fix of Humid Crawl Spaces Repair in Charlotte

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If the house you own features a crawl space thereunder, there are some things you should do to make sure it’s properly cared for and adds value to your home. Some homes built on crawl spaces have issues with moisture-related problems.

What Causes Crawl Space Problems and Damage?

  • Standing water and flooding
  • Insulation falling from the ground joists
  • Moisture seeping up from the bottom
  • Condensation from the walls and HVAC equipment
  • Mold and mildew on the ground joists and subfloor
  • Pests insects within the crawl space

Signs of a Crawl Space Problems

There are some common symptoms of a much-needed crawl space repair that you can see without having to urge into the crawl space. For example, finding any mold or moisture damage within the crawl space or living area or a musty odor within the living room are red flags that something is wrong within the crawl space.

Condensation also can be an enormous indicator that your crawl space needs work. You’ll see condensation on air-con ductwork or equipment, insulation, water pipes, or truss plates. Buckled hardwood floors or high humidity within the living area is another thing to look for. You ought to even be aware that insect infestations or rot in wooden framing members indicate a bigger problem.

You may notice a rise in these symptoms during the spring and summer when humidity is highest, but it can occur at any time of the year. People will usually call an HVAC specialist, but the matter doesn’t roll in the air con, but instead with the shortage of moisture control within the crawl space.

Unsealed crawl spaces also can cause more problems than simply moisture and mold. It’s also the right opportunity for insects and rodents to urge into your house. Getting rid of these pest infestations can take an extended time and be expensive, especially if you do not lookout for the source of the matter.

Do You Need a Sump Pump Installation?

Whether or not your crawl space requires a suction pump depends on the water levels within the crawl space. If your crawl space just has some condensation, but no standing water, then you’ll not need one. If there’s any amount of standing water in your crawl space, then you’ll need one. You need to get help from experts who offer services of humid crawl spaces repair in Charlotte.

If a suction pump is required, it’ll be installed at rock bottom, a part of the crawlspace then drains, or trenches will be installed to assist guide any water to that area. Then the suction pump will pump the water out and far away from your home. This helps keep your home dry and removes all the moisture from the crawl space that also gets in after encapsulation.

The odds are that if your crawl space goes to profit from encapsulation, that it’ll also enjoy a suction pump. You don’t want to travel through the method to seal off your crawl space just to have it refill with water again.

Tropical Storm Three Could Reach The Charlotte Region By Sunday Afternoon

Charlotte Stories
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Tropical Storm Three Could Reach The Charlotte Region By Sunday Afternoon

Tropical Storm 3 has just formed in the gulf of Mexico and is now on a slightly curving path toward the Carolinas.

According to the National Weather Service, effects from the storm (including heavy winds and flash flooding) could reach us by this coming Sunday afternoon.

There are a few paths, however, that take the storm further west, showing it passing through Tennessee, Kentucky, and West Virginia before continuing out to sea.

The Atlantic Coast hurricane season for 2021 runs from June 1st through November 30th.

NWS officials are reminding all residents in Atlantic Coast states to be prepared for this hurricane season.

In case of a power outage, make sure to have the following emergency items stocked in your home;

We will continue to update this article as this storm develops. 

Charlotte’s Legendary Price’s Chicken Coop Just Announced They Will Be Closing

Charlotte Stories
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Charlotte’s Legendary Price’s Chicken Coop Just Announced They Will Be Closing

One of Charlotte’s most beloved and iconic eateries has just tragically announced that they will be closing down for good.

Over the past decade, Price’s Chicken Coop has faced increased pressure from developers to sell amid skyrocketing real estate prices on one of South End’s hottest streets.

In a now-viral Facebook post, the legendary chicken shack said, “It is with heavy hearts that The Chicken Coop has decided to close our doors after 59years of business due to the Labor shortage, rising food costs, food quality and another coin shortage.
Our final day of business will be June 19th, 2021.”

A few years ago, we included Price’s in a video we made about top spots to visit in the Queen City:

How do you feel about Price’s closing?

These Carolina Cities Are Ranked As 2021’s Best Places to Start a Career

Charlotte Stories
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These Carolina Cities Are Ranked As 2021’s Best Places to Start a Career

With graduation season upon us and employers planning to hire 7.2% more graduates from the Class of 2021 than they did from the Class of 2020, the personal-finance website WalletHub today released its report on 2021’s Best & Worst Places to Start a Career.

To help recent graduates launch their careers in the right place, the site compared more than 180 U.S. cities based on 28 key indicators of career-friendliness. The data set ranges from the availability of entry-level jobs to monthly average starting salary to housing affordability.

Three cities in the Carolinas ranked among the top 10 in the nation, including Columbia at #5, Charleston at #6, and Durham at #9. Charlotte also faired pretty well, coming it at #30 out of 182 cities ranked.

Best Cities to Start a Career

Overall Rank  City Total Score  Professional Opportunities  Quality of Life 
1 Salt Lake City, UT 69.15 2 2
2 Orlando, FL 65.81 1 27
3 Atlanta, GA 64.99 3 19
4 Austin, TX 61.94 22 1
5 Columbia, SC 61.10 5 31
6 Charleston, SC 60.88 9 14
7 Seattle, WA 60.72 24 4
8 Overland Park, KS 60.38 11 23
9 Durham, NC 60.19 6 46
10 Scottsdale, AZ 60.18 13 17
11 Tempe, AZ 59.82 34 3
12 Boise, ID 59.68 17 18
13 Tampa, FL 59.53 4 95
14 Knoxville, TN 59.33 7 54
15 Cincinnati, OH 59.22 16 30
16 Madison, WI 59.21 33 5
17 Raleigh, NC 58.59 28 11
18 Huntsville, AL 58.20 19 45
19 Denver, CO 58.16 32 10
20 Reno, NV 57.94 30 21
21 Portland, ME 57.89 46 6
22 Pittsburgh, PA 57.87 29 16
23 Richmond, VA 57.47 20 55
24 Cheyenne, WY 57.05 27 42
25 San Francisco, CA 56.81 51 9
26 Birmingham, AL 56.37 10 99
27 St. Petersburg, FL 56.34 12 94
28 Irving, TX 56.31 31 44
29 Nashville, TN 55.79 39 39
30 Charlotte, NC 55.61 37 50
31 Grand Rapids, MI 55.54 14 101
32 Omaha, NE 55.45 47 33
33 South Burlington, VT 55.13 44 47
34 Chandler, AZ 55.12 59 28
35 Jacksonville, FL 55.06 23 91
36 Sacramento, CA 55.04 41 49
37 St. Louis, MO 55.00 8 141
38 West Valley City, UT 54.99 38 61
39 Kansas City, MO 54.90 55 34
40 Chattanooga, TN 54.87 18 108
41 Boston, MA 54.85 53 38
42 Nampa, ID 54.63 25 89
43 Colorado Springs, CO 54.27 36 73
44 Fort Worth, TX 54.21 43 63
45 San Diego, CA 54.17 82 13
46 Tacoma, WA 54.16 21 111
47 Fort Smith, AR 54.13 35 74
48 Dallas, TX 53.92 58 52
49 Plano, TX 53.76 83 22
50 Minneapolis, MN 53.59 80 25
51 Gilbert, AZ 53.57 60 56
52 Springfield, MO 53.46 61 60
53 Tulsa, OK 53.39 57 64
54 Des Moines, IA 53.34 62 59
55 Phoenix, AZ 53.12 56 69
56 Sioux Falls, SD 52.89 85 40
57 Washington, DC 52.78 110 8
58 Manchester, NH 52.58 49 82
59 Lincoln, NE 52.51 108 15
60 Rochester, NY 52.25 42 96
61 Fargo, ND 52.21 94 41
62 Wilmington, DE 52.13 26 147
63 Mesa, AZ 52.10 65 75
64 Columbia, MD 52.06 118 26
65 Irvine, CA 51.97 95 36
66 Billings, MT 51.90 103 35
67 Portland, OR 51.90 104 24
68 Virginia Beach, VA 51.84 93 43
69 Lubbock, TX 51.78 87 57
70 Oakland, CA 51.77 67 79
71 Spokane, WA 51.70 48 106
72 Glendale, AZ 51.63 64 84
73 San Jose, CA 51.21 66 92
74 Oklahoma City, OK 51.19 109 32
75 Burlington, VT 51.18 145 12
76 Columbus, OH 51.02 127 20
77 Miami, FL 50.89 15 174
78 Fort Wayne, IN 50.85 40 150
79 Riverside, CA 50.67 79 78
80 Indianapolis, IN 50.65 78 85
81 Nashua, NH 50.53 68 102
82 Rancho Cucamonga, CA 50.53 98 66
83 Tucson, AZ 50.41 117 48
84 Rapid City, SD 50.36 142 29
85 Arlington, TX 50.32 84 80
86 Winston-Salem, NC 49.99 50 145
87 Peoria, AZ 49.89 77 104
88 Ontario, CA 49.87 72 113
89 Vancouver, WA 49.81 70 121
90 Tallahassee, FL 49.76 133 51
91 Wichita, KS 49.70 92 86
92 St. Paul, MN 49.61 122 58
93 Mobile, AL 49.40 69 131
94 Houston, TX 49.26 114 67
95 Augusta, GA 49.25 54 155
96 New Orleans, LA 49.10 111 71
97 Missoula, MT 48.83 171 7
98 Modesto, CA 48.80 63 149
99 Aurora, CO 48.76 52 161
100 Honolulu, HI 48.70 138 53
101 Fremont, CA 48.64 124 72
102 San Antonio, TX 48.40 106 87
103 Fresno, CA 48.37 76 140
104 Fort Lauderdale, FL 48.30 45 166
105 Oceanside, CA 48.26 100 98
106 Albuquerque, NM 48.19 113 88
107 Baton Rouge, LA 48.03 102 100
108 Laredo, TX 47.85 86 134
109 Cedar Rapids, IA 47.74 150 65
110 Cleveland, OH 47.72 91 135
111 Bismarck, ND 47.70 136 76
112 Amarillo, TX 47.67 121 90
113 Garland, TX 47.61 112 103
114 Warwick, RI 47.55 71 160
115 Newport News, VA 47.53 90 138
116 Grand Prairie, TX 47.46 101 118
117 Santa Rosa, CA 47.42 96 128
118 Huntington, WV 47.31 88 139
119 Casper, WY 47.21 154 62
120 Montgomery, AL 47.13 115 114
121 San Bernardino, CA 46.90 105 127
122 Las Vegas, NV 46.90 123 110
123 Akron, OH 46.66 97 143
124 Chesapeake, VA 46.58 126 119
125 Lexington-Fayette, KY 46.57 149 77
126 Little Rock, AR 46.32 147 81
127 Moreno Valley, CA 46.30 120 129
128 Los Angeles, CA 46.29 137 97
129 Louisville, KY 46.29 99 148
130 Huntington Beach, CA 46.03 159 68
131 Worcester, MA 45.98 131 124
132 Milwaukee, WI 45.85 139 109
133 Greensboro, NC 45.61 75 170
134 Providence, RI 45.60 89 167
135 Salem, OR 45.35 144 112
136 Fontana, CA 45.31 140 122
137 Dover, DE 45.08 107 159
138 Buffalo, NY 45.01 119 157
139 Norfolk, VA 44.78 130 152
140 Jackson, MS 44.68 143 132
141 Aurora, IL 44.67 129 153
142 Oxnard, CA 44.52 141 137
143 Bakersfield, CA 44.42 151 116
144 Henderson, NV 44.41 152 115
145 Cape Coral, FL 44.38 116 163
146 Memphis, TN 44.22 134 154
147 Stockton, CA 44.13 124 162
148 Pearl City, HI 44.00 160 105
149 Chicago, IL 43.99 163 83
150 Charleston, WV 43.84 74 177
151 Port St. Lucie, FL 43.81 73 178
152 Lewiston, ME 43.80 81 176
153 Chula Vista, CA 43.76 156 117
154 Brownsville, TX 43.52 148 146
155 Garden Grove, CA 43.40 167 93
156 Glendale, CA 43.09 161 125
157 Long Beach, CA 42.98 158 133
158 Corpus Christi, TX 42.90 153 144
159 Santa Ana, CA 42.87 157 136
160 Toledo, OH 42.73 128 169
161 Juneau, AK 42.62 182 37
162 Anchorage, AK 42.55 178 70
163 Gulfport, MS 42.33 175 107
164 Fayetteville, NC 42.29 165 130
165 Las Cruces, NM 42.19 168 126
166 Anaheim, CA 42.13 169 120
167 Baltimore, MD 42.10 131 171
168 Jersey City, NJ 41.80 170 123
169 Shreveport, LA 40.65 166 158
170 El Paso, TX 40.31 173 151
171 New Haven, CT 40.31 162 165
172 Yonkers, NY 40.15 174 156
173 Santa Clarita, CA 39.86 177 142
174 Philadelphia, PA 39.54 155 175
175 North Las Vegas, NV 38.66 176 164
176 Columbus, GA 37.95 164 172
177 Pembroke Pines, FL 37.78 146 179
178 Detroit, MI 37.77 135 181
179 Bridgeport, CT 36.49 179 168
180 New York, NY 33.15 181 173
181 Hialeah, FL 33.05 172 182
182 Newark, NJ 30.89 180 180

Note: With the exception of “Total Score,” all of the columns in the table above depict the relative rank of that city, where a rank of 1 represents the best conditions for that metric category.

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