How to Safeguard Your Internet Security

Wireless routers are wonderful things! They let us use our laptop all around the house, without having to worry about messy cables everywhere. They keep our tablets connected to the internet and our smartphones from wasting costly data packages. But the downside is, that anyone in the area can also use your wireless internet, which can slow down your browsing speeds or even get you in trouble with the law, if someone uses your connection for illegal purposes.

You might be asking yourself: “What can I do? I don’t know anything about passwords and routers!” – That’s why we’ve created this  guide to setting up your wireless router’s password.

It’s highly recommended that you get your wireless router’s user manual. If you don’t have it, don’t worry, most routers work in a similar way. I would also recommend that you perform these actions with a computer that is connected to the router with a cable – When you change or set up a new password, the old one no longer works, so you’ll lose your connection to the router before we’re done with our setup, so a physically connected computer is our best bet. This guide is fairly easy and shouldn’t take more than 5-10 minutes of your time.

OK, let’s start: 1. We need to setup the router, so we’ll start by logging into the configuration menu:  Launch a web browser (Like Chrome , Firefox , or Explorer ), and type the router’s address (known as the “IP Address”) in the address bar. The most commonly used router addresses are192.168.1.1 , 192.168.0.1 , 10.0.1.1 . If you entered the correct address, you’ll be prompted to insert your username and password. If you do not get the username/password prompt, you might be using the wrong address. You can check what your router’s IP address is by holding the  keyand pressing “R” on your keyboard, and in the widow that pops up, type “cmd” and click “OK”. You’ll see a command prompt with a black background. Type “ipconfig” (without the quotation signs) and hit the enter key. You’ll get a bunch of lines of text, but the only one you care about is the “Default gateway” – that will be your router’s IP address. Write it down, close all the open windows and insert the address into your internet browser’s address line.

2. Now we enter the username and password into the new prompt window. Usually, the username is either admin, Admin or ADMIN, with the password either being identical or being “password”. (If these don’t work, you can use this website to input your router maker’s name and get the list of common usernames & passwords.)

3. Now we’re in the router’s configuration menu, let’s find the wireless control menu. Look for an option called “Wireless”, “Wireless settings”, “security” or “WLAN”. Some variations of these exist, but the gist of this is to find the wireless security menu. Can’t find it? Turn to your manual. (Can’t find your manual? Go to this site and choose your router’s make and model for a free manual.)

4. Make sure that you set the security type (encryption) to WPA2 – this is currently the best type of encryption. Find the password field (might appear as "passphrase", "password" or "encryption") and fill it with your new password. If you want to be extra safe – make a random password, mix letters and numbers, use upper and lower-case letters or use symbols like “$” and “!” in your password. The more unique the password is – the stronger it is. Using a familiar number, word or name is not a good idea. You can always get a sticker, write down the password on it and stick it on the router so you don’t forget it.

5. We’re almost done! Now let’s change the network’s name. Look for the field called “SSID” (that’s what the wireless network name is called). Change the name to whatever you like, but make sure to only use letters and numbers. The reason we’re doing this is because when people see a wireless network with a default name, they’re more likely to try and break in, but are less likely to try that on a network with a unique name.

6. We’re done! You should have a “Save”, “Apply Changes” or “Apply” button at the bottom of the screen - click it and let the router do its thing (could take between a few seconds to a minute). Your router is now protected. (If you had any devices still connected to the old network name, you’ll need to reconnect them to the new one.)

CONGRATULATIONS! Your wireless network is now safe!

22 Money Saving Ways to Stay Warm at Home

Are you tired of paying steep utility bills because the heater was on for the majority of the winter season? There are many ways to cut corners and avoid the expensive bills at the end of the month. You won't believe how simple most of these DIY tips actually are! Save a little extra with these 22 cost efficient solutions:

1) Bundle Up at Home

If you're feeling cold at home, just reach for a few more layers of clothing. Instead of turning up the heat, wear an extra sweater or jacket. You can even drape yourself in a blanket for extra warmth.

2) Cuddle Up with Your Loved One

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Snuggle up with your loved one underneath the covers. Your body heat should help keep you warm.

3) Bake Something!

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The holiday season is the perfect time to test your baking skills. You can whip up a batch of fresh chocolate chip cookies, bake an apple pie or some banana nut muffins, and stay warm at the same time. The delicious aromas are always a plus too!

4) Place a Panel of Aluminum Foil Behind Radiators

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Aluminum foil has many practical uses. One of the uses is to stay warm, by placing a panel of the shiny foil behind the radiators or wall mounted heaters. The foil is used to reflect more heat back into the room and prevent it from leaving the rooms of the house.

5) Thick Curtains Prevent Heat from Escaping at Night

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Heat leaves the room quicker than you can imagine. You don't even have to spend a penny on brand new curtains either. You can take old blankets or bed sheets and roll them up to block out the heat from escaping.

6) Try a Little Bubble Wrap Insulation

A couple of extra sheets of bubble wrap can be applied to prevent heat from escaping through windows. You're going to need an Exacto knife, a spray bottle and a few sheets of bubble wrap. Begin by spraying the windows with the bottle spray, before jamming the wrap against the windows. Use the knife to remove any excess wrap and voila!

7) Use Caulk to Trap the Heat Inside

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Keep warm by caulking all the cracks that let air out along the window frames. You can purchase an entire tube of caulk for less than $10 at your local hardware store. If you're unfamiliar with the caulking process, just ask a friendly neighbor or friend.

8) Reverse the Direction of the Ceiling Fans

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Did you know that you can save money by simply reversing the ceiling fans? The reversal process of the fan allows for warm air to flow all throughout the rooms, saving you a few extra dollars at the end of the month on utility bills.

9) DIY Candle Space Heater

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You can make your own mini heater by using a couple of ceramic flower pots. The ceramic surface acts as a natural heater, trapping the heat inside the rooms. Click here for a more comprehensive tutorial.

10) Move Around a Little

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Get up and walk around the house for a little while. Exercising not only helps keep the blood flowing, it also causes you to break a sweat very quickly. It's important to stretch before attempting any exercises so that your joints are loose and ready to go.

11) Program Your Thermostat

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The last thing you want to do is to keep your thermostat running when you're not at home. You can avoid the excess utility charges by simply programming your thermostat to 56 degrees Fahrenheit (13 Celsius) at night and to 68 degrees Fahrenheit (20 Celsius) when you're at home. You can save nearly 10% extra on your heating bill at the end of the month this way.

12) Try Using Chimney Balloons

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Chimney balloons are used to prevent outside drafts from entering your house. They are also reusable and removable, making them very practical as well. You can watch this DIY video or follow the simple instructions in the tutorial over here.

13) Keep Your Laundry Air Dried

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Air drying your clothing increases humidity, which helps provide you with a natural warmth. You won't need to turn on the electric dryer for longer periods of time either. You can drastically reduce the electric bill by allowing your clothes to dry out naturally.

14) Drink Something Hot

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Keep yourself warm by sipping a hot beverage when you feel chilly at home. The hot temperature will ensure that you remain warm on the inside, whether you prefer a nice hot cup of cocoa, coffee, tea or a fresh bowl of chicken soup.

15) Wrap a Warm Blanket Around the Water Heater Tank

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A good way to conserve energy and reduce utility bills is to insulate the water heater tank in the basement. An old blanket that you don't use can help keep your tank thoroughly insulated, and save you an additional 5% on your bill.

16) Keep the Hot Water Pipes Thoroughly Insulated

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Keep the pipes warm and insulated, in order to prevent heat loss. The concept saves energy, similar to the water heater tip. The good news is that you also won't have to wait around for the water to get hot before you take a shower. Here is a helpful DIY tutorial you can easily follow.

17) Use Rugs to Cover the Cold Floor Boards

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The worst thing for your feet is to get cold, which can also cause you to get sick. Add a few rugs throughout various parts of your home if you don't have carpeting. The rugs also add extra layers of insulation, blocking out the cold air beneath the floor boards. You should always walk around the house with warm slippers in any case.

18) Use Leftover Pipe Foam to Protect Against Drafts

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Don't throw that extra foam into the trash can just yet! The excess pipe foam can be used to block out those chilling winds from entering your house. You can use this heat-trapping technique for each room in the house as well.

19) Weather Stripping Method

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Weather stripping is an ideal way to keep heat from escaping window and door gaps around the premises. You can save as much as 15% on your energy bills through weather stripping. Here is a simple page-by-page tutorial you can follow to keep your home well insulated.

20) DIY Bed Warmer

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Electric blankets may help reduce the cold, but they can also be very costly. You can grab a few old bed sheets to keep your mattress nice and warm. Follow the DIY bed warmer tutorial here.

21) Open the Curtains in the Morning

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Nature provides us with free heat, in the form of sunlight. The window glass allows the light to enter your room. The heat is then reflected off the furniture and walls, providing you with plenty of warmth. So, go ahead, pull down the shades and curtains, and soak in the natural sunlight!

22) Sleep with a Hot Water Bottle

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A hot water bottle can be used either below the pillow or slightly above it. Enjoy a warm night's sleep, just like this cute little cat in the picture is doing.

Thieves - - In the Digital Age

1. LONG - TERM PARKING

Someone left their car in the long-term parking at San Jose while away, and someone broke into the car. Using the information on the car's registration in the glove compartment, they drove the car to the person's home in Pebble Beach and robbed it. So I guess if we are going to leave the car in long-term parking, we should NOT leave the registration/insurance cards in it, nor your remote garage door opener. This gives us something to think about with all our new electronic technology.

2. GPS:

Someone had their car broken into while they were at a football game. Their car was parked on the green which was adjacent to the football stadium and specially allotted to football fans. Things stolen from the car included a garage door remote control, some money and a GPS which had been prominently mounted on the dashboard. When the victims got home, they found that their house had been ransacked and just about everything worth anything had been stolen. The thieves had used the GPS to guide them to the house. They then used the garage remote control to open the garage door and gain entry to the house. The thieves knew the owners were at the football game, they knew what time the game was scheduled to finish and so they knew how much time they had to clean out the house. It would appear that they had brought a truck to empty the house of its contents. Something to consider if you have a GPS - don't put your home address in it. Put a nearby address (like a store or gas station) so you can still find your way home if you need to, but no one else would know where you live if your GPS were stolen.

3. CELL PHONES:

I never thought of this! This lady has now changed her habit of how she lists her names on her cell phone after her handbag was stolen. Her handbag, which contained her cell phone, credit card, wallet, etc., was stolen. Twenty minutes later when she called her hubby, from a pay phone telling him what had happened, hubby says, "I received your text asking about our Pin number and I've replied a little while ago." When they rushed down to the bank, the bank staff told them all the money was already withdrawn. The thief had actually used the stolen cell phone to text "hubby" in the contact list and got hold of the pin number. Within 20 minutes he had withdrawn all the money from their bank account.

4. PURSE IN THE GROCERY CART SCAM: 

A lady went grocery-shopping at a local mall and left her purse sitting in the children's seat of the cart while she reached something off a shelf/ Wait till you read the WHOLE story! Her wallet was stolen, and she reported it to the store personnel. After returning home, she received a phone call from the Mall Security to say that they had her wallet and that although there was no money in it, it did still hold her personal papers. She immediately went to pick up her wallet, only to be told by Mall Security that they had not called her. By the time she returned home again, her house had been broken into and burglarized. The thieves knew that by calling and saying they were Mall Security, they could lure her out of her house long enough for them to burglarize it.

Moral lesson: 

a. Do not disclose the relationship between you and the people in your contact list. Avoid using names like Home, Honey, Hubby, Sweetheart, Dad, Mom, etc.

b. And very importantly, when sensitive info is being asked through texts, CONFIRM by calling back.

c. Also, when you're being texted by friends or family to meet them somewhere, be sure to call back to confirm that the message came from them. If you don't reach them, be very careful about going places to meet "family and friends" who text you.

FED MAKES LONG-AWAITED MOVE; END OF AN ERA, SIGNAL OF CONFIDENCE

Fed Makes Long-Awaited Move; End of an Era, Signal of Confidence

December 17, 2015

• The U.S. economy passed a major psychological threshold as the Federal Reserve closed the door on the extraordinary measures put in place to combat the financial crisis. With the quarter-point increase of its overnight lending rate, the Fed signaled that the economy has finally returned to normal operating levels. Though some sectors still face headwinds, broader economic measures including employment, retail sales and even home prices have largely returned to healthy performance standards. The Fed’s policy-setting committee reiterated that it will maintain a gradual pace of rate increases, aligning actions with key indicators such as labor market conditions, inflation and international developments.

• While short-term lending will be influenced by the Fed’s move, long-term interest rates will face little upward pressure in the immediate future. As 2016 progresses, the cost of long-term debt could see upward pressure, but this will be influenced as much by domestic and international confidence as by the central bank’s actions.

• The move by the Federal Reserve will likely benefit commercial real estate investors, more because of the message it conveys than the influence of the rate change itself. By raising the rate for the first time since 2006, the Fed
  has finally expressed its confidence in economic growth, potentially opening the door to increased consumption and business investment. These positive trends would benefit all commercial real estate sectors as household formations escalate and increased discretionary income supports demand for housing, retail goods and business services.

• The tempo and sustainability of economic growth that swayed the central bank represent a decidedly positive development for the office sector, and industrial properties will also benefit from this trend. Additional hiring will generate new office space demand and put downward pressure on vacancy. Also, incremental demand may also emerge in interest-rate-sensitive financial services businesses, contributing to a projected decrease in the U.S. vacancy rate next year. In the industrial sector, a more robust pace of economic growth stemming from higher consumption will stimulate additional space demand from retailers. However, the rate increase will likely also strengthen the dollar, restraining U.S. companies with significant export business.

• A solid pace of household creation accompanies an economic expansion and will generate new demand for apartments in the near term. U.S. apartment vacancy will fall this year to 4.2 percent and will rise nominally in 2016 as elevated completions narrowly outpace net absorption. Also, the Fed’s benchmark rate most directly affects consumer borrowing for items that include residential mortgages. Any additional tightening in monetary policy that suppresses single-family homebuying and maintains a low rate of homeownership will provide a supplemental lift for the multifamily sector.

The Research Brief blog from Marcus & Millichap offers timely insight and expertise into the rapidly changing investment real estate industry. The Research Brief is published by top industry professionals, showcasing time-sensitive information and valuable analysis. Add the Research Brief blog to your reading list today.
The information contained herein was obtained from sources deemed reliable. Every effort was made to obtain complete and accurate information; however, no representation, warranty or guarantee to the accuracy, express or implied, is made.

By marcusmillichap | Posted in Uncategorized | Comments (0)

Hiring Pace Back on Track; Indicators Point to Fed Rate Hike in December

December 7, 2015

• U.S. employers hired new workers at a healthy clip last month, keeping the economy on target to add 2.5 million jobs in 2015. The payroll gains in November, and upward changes to the totals of the preceding two months, likely remove the final obstacle to the Federal Reserve making its long-awaited increase in its overnight lending rate later this month. Future moves in the central bank’s tightening campaign will remain dependent on further improvements in the U.S. economy and progress toward reaching the Fed’s targeted level of inflation.

• Employers added 211,000 jobs in November, mirroring the average monthly increases recorded year to date. Gains were spread across a number of industries, including those closely associated with consumer activity. Growth in the trade sector featured the addition of nearly 31,000 positions at retail outlets. Initial estimates of Black Friday activity, however, revealed a high volume of sales conducted online, leaving unclear how many more posts will be required at
  brick-and-mortar stores during the holidays. Hotel and restaurant openings, plus increased staffing needs for holiday events and travel, supported a gain of 39,000 leisure and hospitality jobs in November. Healthcare providers also continued to expand staffing but, outside of consumer-driven sectors, manufacturing employment slipped, and natural resources and mining cut 11,000 posts.

• Accompanying the expansion of payrolls, other gauges of labor-market conditions offered positive signals. Most conspicuously, the unemployment rate held at 5 percent, while the underemployment rate ticked up slightly to 9.9 percent. Still, the reading of less than 10 percent in this widely watched measure of labor-market slack marks the second-lowest reading over the past seven years. Wage growth, meanwhile, remained on a positive trajectory, with an uptick in November resulting in a 2.3 percent gain during the past 12 months.

• The addition of workers at shopping centers and stores occurs in conjunction with a period of improving property performance in the retail sector. Growing space demand continues to outpace subdued completions, leaving the U.S. vacancy rate at 6.3 percent in the third quarter, the lowest level in nearly 10 years. More store openings will lower the rate to 6.1 percent this year and raise rents, though new space may be needed to relieve pent-up demand from retailers seeking to grow locations in 2016.

• Conditions in the U.S. industrial property sector are also strengthening as retailers looking to provide same-day delivery to customers continue to emerge as a new source of demand for space in major metros. This year, the U.S. vacancy rate is on track to slide 60 basis points to 6.1 percent, which will support an increase in the average rent of more than 5 percent.

The Research Brief blog from Marcus & Millichap offers timely insight and expertise into the rapidly changing investment real estate industry. The Research Brief is published by top industry professionals, showcasing time-sensitive information and valuable analysis. Add the Research Brief blog to your reading list today.
The information contained herein was obtained from sources deemed reliable. Every effort was made to obtain complete and accurate information; however, no representation, warranty or guarantee to the accuracy, express or implied, is made.

By marcusmillichap | Posted in Uncategorized | Comments (0)

Employers Accelerated Hiring in October; Key Measures of Labor-Market Slack Tighten

November 9, 2015

• U.S. employers shook off their third-quarter doldrums in October, hiring the most new workers in any month so far this year. The sizable gain in payrolls also renews discussions about a possible hike by the Federal Reserve in the overnight lending rate before the end of this year. The drop in the unemployment and underemployment rates in October to multi-year lows may convince the central bank that the labor market slack has tightened sufficiently to spur higher wage growth and warrant a move.

• Fueled almost entirely by growth in private-sector industries, employers created 271,000 positions in October, nearly matching the sum of jobs added in the preceding two months combined. Payroll gains spanned several sectors, and the approaching holiday season figured prominently in last month’s hiring spurt. Retailers added nearly 44,000 workers in October, the most in any month this year. Both Target and Amazon recently announced plans to bring on a significant number of seasonal workers, which should be reflected in additional increases in retail staffing in the weeks ahead. Outside of holiday-related activity, the ongoing enrollment of new workers in employer-sponsored health plans contributed to a gain of approximately 57,000 healthcare jobs last month.

• Both the unemployment rate and the underemployment rate dipped to eight-year lows last month, reaching 5.0 percent and 9.8 percent, respectively. The declines will likely figure in the Fed’s upcoming monetary policy discussions. The much-scrutinized labor force participation rate, meanwhile, held at 62.4 percent but has decreased this year. The fall in the rate, however, predates the recession and actually commenced at the turn of the century. While the economic downturn accounted for a portion of the decrease, factors including the aging of the population and greater college enrollment also contributed significantly.

• The U.S. office sector appears poised to break out in the months ahead. Professional and business services employers created 78,000 positions in October and have added workers in nearly every month over the past two years. Gains in office-based businesses including accounting, engineering, architecture and administrative services drove most of the increase and continue to fill unused cubicles and workspaces. This year, U.S. office vacancy will tumble 40 basis points to 14.9 percent on net absorption of 84 million square feet. Minimal construction and growing demand for larger layouts will support an additional decline in the vacancy rate next year.

• October hiring provides additional momentum to the U.S. apartment sector. Through the first three quarters this year, the U.S. vacancy rate slid 60 basis points to 3.9 percent, the lowest quarterly reading in 14 years, as more than a quarter million units were absorbed. Construction volumes remain elevated, but the steady growth in demand will maintain the vacancy rate in the low-4 percent range in the coming quarters and support additional concessions burn and higher rents.

The Research Brief blog from Marcus & Millichap offers timely insight and expertise into the rapidly changing investment real estate industry. The Research Brief is published by top industry professionals, showcasing time-sensitive information and valuable analysis. Add the Research Brief blog to your reading list today.
The information contained herein was obtained from sources deemed reliable. Every effort was made to obtain complete and accurate information; however, no representation, warranty or guarantee to the accuracy, express or implied, is made.

By marcusmillichap | Posted in Uncategorized | Comments (0)

Hiring Momentum Slackens; Fed Likely to Postpone Rate Increase

October 5, 2015

• The U.S. economy continued to make headway in September, though the pace of employment growth slackened. Employers have added 1.8 million workers so far this year, a steady performance in the face of international turbulence and economic weakening that began to emerge in August. These negative headlines, together with sliding exports induced by the stronger dollar, caused some employers to slow hiring. A silver lining of the slower labor market will be increased caution by the Federal Reserve as it contemplates a rate hike. The central bank will digest the payroll numbers at its October meeting, while also considering other employment metrics, inflation, and global and domestic economic trends before reaching a decision on how to manage the Federal Funds rate.

• U.S. job creation fell shy of expectations in September, adding 142,000 workers as both the energy and manufacturing sectors shed jobs. Generally, results remained positive, led by 31,000 new professional and business services positions, and 31,000 new hires at bars, restaurants and hotels. The hotel industry is recording its most significant construction since the recession, and additional hiring will occur in the near term as properties come online this year and in 2016.

• Full-time employment has recovered to its pre-recession levels while part-time employment has also expanded. Individuals purposely selecting part-time work for lifestyle reasons remain the principal driver of growth in part-time employment. Part-time employment has risen steadily as the U.S. shifted from a manufacturing-based economy to a higher dependence on service businesses over the past 50 years. The greater availability of jobs working limited hours in fields that include call centers, hospitality and retail has lifted the percentage of employment in part-time positions to more than 18 percent as of September, near an all-time high.

• Rising consumption and the growth of e-commerce has spurred retailer demand for warehouse and distribution space nationwide, fueling an increase in requirements for truck drivers and workers to stock shelves and fill orders. Year to date, more than 59,000 positions were added in transportation and warehousing, including a nominal gain in September. In the first half of this year, national industrial vacancy dipped to 6.9 percent. A combination of restrained completions and growing demand will slice the rate to 6.5 percent this year and support a 5.3 percent climb in the average rent.

• Retailers added nearly 24,000 workers last month, reflecting early hiring for the holiday season and additional store openings. This year, the national vacancy rate will fall 30 basis points to 6.1 percent behind net absorption of nearly 75 million square feet. Retail property construction remains well below the annual levels posted before the recession, partly as a consequence of lagging new home construction, and will support additional declines in vacancy.

The Research Brief blog from Marcus & Millichap offers timely insight and expertise into the rapidly changing investment real estate industry. The Research Brief is published by top industry professionals, showcasing time-sensitive information and valuable analysis. Add the Research Brief blog to your reading list today.
The information contained herein was obtained from sources deemed reliable. Every effort was made to obtain complete and accurate information; however, no representation, warranty or guarantee to the accuracy, express or implied, is made.

By marcusmillichap | Posted in Uncategorized | Comments (0)