Fort Lauderdale Blog

Taking Care of Your Dog's Teeth: One More Way to Show Your Love

(BPT) - Most pet parents enjoy hugs and kisses from their canines. But while your best friend is showering you with love, have you wondered if his teeth are clean? Or about how his dental health affects his overall well-being? Good oral care is as essential for dogs as it is for humans.

By the time they're 3 years old, 80 percent of dogs develop periodontal disease, according to the American Veterinary Dental Society. While veterinarians recommend daily brushing for dogs' teeth, studies by the American Animal Hospital Association reveal that nearly two-thirds of pet owners don't provide their pets with recommended dental care.

How to Buy a House with Less than 20 Percent Down

When many people start the process of buying a house they assume putting 20 percent down is required. However, this is not the case and many lenders and mortgage brokers offer options for borrowers looking for mortgages that have a small down payment. Don Frommeyer, CRMS, President of NAMB (The Association of Mortgage Professionals), shares his advice for potential homeowners searching for mortgages with less than 20 percent down payment.

Top 10 Tips Every Renter Should Know

The number of U.S. renters has expanded significantly nationwide since the burst of the housing bubble. Between 2009 (the start of the housing market decline) to 2013, the U.S. rental vacancy rate decreased 8.4 percent to 4.1 percent. Meanwhile, rents climbed 3.2 percent for all of 2013. Still, the demand for apartments remains strong. According to the U.S. Census ACS (2007-2011), renter households represented 34 percent of all households in the country. As such, it is important that renters know the proper steps to take to secure the property they desire and successfully navigate the rental landscape.

How to Keep Your Emotions from Dictating Your Financial Future

You’ve probably heard of emotional eating, but financial advisor Matthew T. Shafer says emotional investing is a problem that needs to be recognized society-wide, especially since the economy has been in such sharp focus this past half decade.

First Quarter 2014: Housing Share of the Economy at 15.5 percent

Housing is an important source of economic growth. As of the first quarter of 2014, housing’s share of gross domestic product (GDP) was 15.5 percent, with home building yielding 3 percentage points of that total.