More reasons why you should pay Detroit a visit

A visit to the Motor City is a visit to what makes America the great nation that it is. The city has gone through hard times in the past but has proudly bounced back. Indeed, though Detroit's economy and auto industry were among the hardest hit after the 2008 recession, the city is amid a great renewal.

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Over the last five years, the city’s downtown corridor has seen an explosion in real estate investment. This development is a direct result of the transfer of the mortgage-lending company Quicken Loans to a building overlooking Campus Martius Park in 2010. 

Economic growth has returned to Detroit in a big way, manifested by numerous construction projects and the emergence of posh restaurants, parks, and sports arenas. There’s the new communal table restaurant called Gather; the Little Caesars Arena which is the new home of the Pistons and the Red Wings; a new Q-line streetcar traversing Woodward Avenue; and StockX, partly owned by Detroit superstar rapper Eminem, which legit checks and facilitates the selling of sneakers. 

Detroit’s Belle Isle is the equivalent of New York’s Central Park. In fact, the “beautiful island” is designed by same person, Frederick Law Olmsted. The nearly 1000-acre giant island-park lies in the middle of the Detroit River and showcases an aquarium, a zoo, a conservatory, a golf course, a yacht club, and plenty of places to bike, jog, fish, or picnic. 

It’s only apt that we witness first-hand the resurgence of Detroit in 2018. After all, Lonely Planet did not name the Motor City the second-best city in the world to visit this year for nothing. 

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Law graduate and businessman Peter Howe has accomplished many things in career. In 2004, he began Howe Homes, LLC and purchased, rehabbed, and sold rental properties. When he is not busy with work, Peter enjoys traveling and skiing. Check out this blog for similar reads.

Top U.S. destinations for boating

People have different ways of relaxing, and some find being near the water the best way to relieve themselves from stress caused by work, city congestion, and other factors. Four out of five Americans say they love being around water and about 87 million go boating each year. Whether one is a boating enthusiast or just one who appreciates time on the water, here are key cities to visit. 

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Gulf of Mexico in Destin, Florida, is a top spot for water-lovers and boaters alike. It is located on Florida’s Panhandle midway between Pensacola and Panama City. Snorkeling, parasailing, light-tackle fishing, trolling, deep-sea bottom-fishing, and scuba diving are done best here. Boaters consider this destination beginner-friendly for its bay and Intracoastal waterway. However, the active east pass into the Gulf of Mexico is a way for a more experienced boater. 

Orland, Florida is on the list, too. With a total of 873,507 boats registered, and with lakes surrounding the city, it’s no shock Orlando is a top boating destination. However, not all lakes are for recreational activities, yet most of them are home for jet skiing, paddle boarding, and the likes. People who look for waterfront properties are looking for homes with docks to easily access the water whenever they want. 

Chicago, Illinois has Lake Michigan, the fifth-largest lake in the world, in its bag. The only reason Chicago isn’t on the top of many boating lists is its cold weather. Yet during summertime, locals have lots of lakes to choose from. It also has tons of waterfront property and places to boat from one lake to another. 

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Michigan-based Peter Howe established Peter Howe & Associates, Peter Howe Administration, Inc., and Howe Homes, LLC. He is a family man who enjoys traveling and going on adventures such as boating and skiing. To know more about Peter, click here.

Understanding Business Process Improvement

In today’s competitive market, organizations must do all they can to sustain or increase the efficiency of their operations to stay ahead of the game. One way of doing so is the implementation of business process improvement (BPI).

There is no single way of defining or describing the steps involved in BPI; it depends on the organization how they plan on employing it. No matter the methodology used, BPI has the following basic goals.

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The first is objective is to reduce the overall completion time of business or office processes. There are various means of doing so, such as identifying and eliminating useless or non-value-adding steps or utilizing the latest technology.

Another goal is to improve output quality. The thrust is to deliver better products or services without having to increase the inputs or resources. This can be achieved by determining the root causes of defects, errors, or frictions in the processes, and subsequently getting rid of them.

The third goal is to find out wasteful processes and cut them out of the workflow, resulting in increased productivity and maximization of resources. This not only allows organizations to meet customer requirements but also organizational requirements.

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Recently, BPI experts have also made conscious efforts to meet regulatory compliance because it serves as an opportunity to improve processes.

Michigan-based Peter Howe founded the Howe Office Administration, Inc. to help underperforming businesses and organizations through improvement of office administration. Visit this website for similar articles.

Some Tips When Buying And Selling Property

Real estate is both an alluring and lucrative business, provided that the buyer or seller has a keen understanding of the market. Monitoring specific sectors that are on the upswing is crucial, yes, but ensuring your capital is protected and primed for growth often relies on more basic concepts and common sense. Here are some things to keep in mind.

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Firstly, whether you are in it to buy or sell, get a real estate agent. Remember that even if the transaction seems simple on paper, it can become very complicated moving forward. It’s best to be prepared to answer tons of situational and what-if questions, as this is not an everyday deal for most people.

Secondly, if it’s your first time to buy, make sure that you can afford the property, and that you can continue to pay for it. Sellers most likely won’t even consider your offer if you do not show proof of funds. The best suggestion here is to secure a pre-approved loan. It’s often not the price that is the problem as peace of mind.

Remember that many real estate transactions come with hidden costs, so be extra wary of these. Do not make a bid until you’ve factored in costs like association dues, maintenance rates, and other property fees. On the other hand, if you’re selling, ensure that you are transparent about all costings, especially these.

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Finally, be wise with unwarranted expenses; aspire for minimal renovation and do not indulge in remodeling just to please the ideal client. All in all, go the extra mile to make the property presentable, but be practical as well; don’t break your bank account just so you and the property can “look good.”

Michigan-based businessman Peter Howe founded Howe Homes, LLC in 2004. He has since been involved in purchasing, rehabilitating, and selling rental properties. For more discussions on real estate, drop by this website.

Snowbound:The best skiing trips one could ever have

A skiing trip can be challenging for a lot of people.If one is planning to make the most out of a ski resort (or town) visit, then there should be several considerations.These could range from the most basic like accommodations and enchanting views to more specialized ones like snow cover texture and terrain features that fit with the tourist’s skill level.

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Depending on one’s dream ski vacation, the world offers a multitude of excellent and beautiful skiing spots. From a variety of snow slopes, drops, and ridges to required champagne powder cover, cornice, and crud, some of the best ski resorts may provide wonderful spots that satisfy both the technical demands of a professional skier or leisurely luxurious sceneries for the occasional tourist.

Here are some of the best ski destinations one should visit at least once in his or her life:

Zermatt, Switzerland

There shouldn’t be any doubt at all that a number of the best ski spots are located in Switzerland. Zermatt gives tourists the best experience with its interconnected ski zones providing one with terrain features perfect for a variety of skill sets: from that relaxed cruiser run to carve turns to cliff-hucks on steep drops. The old-world scenery is just too breathtaking to describe.

Taos, New Mexico

The ski town in New Mexico is a stunner both visually and conceptually. It resembles a unique artist’s colony in many respects, while the base with its Swiss-style cottages brims with old-world atmosphere. The terrain is good for different ski runs and the cover features the finest powder.

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Chamonix, France

The town hosted the first Winter Olympics in 1924. It is an attractive spot for advanced skiers, with the many challenging slopes and drops. Nevertheless, it provides enough space for a cruise or a basic run.

Peter Howe is the owner of law firm Peter Howe & Associates in Chicago and Michigan. After returning to Michigan, he also established Howe Homes, LLC, and Howe Office Administration, Inc. Outside of work, Peter enjoys traveling, reading, boating, skiing, and sports like football and baseball. For updates on his work and interests, visit this Facebook page.

Real Estate Rule Of Thumb: Always Pay The Tax

Taxes are very important and should be paid when due. This is true for almost every adult in the United States. Not paying taxes can have grave consequences. Whether they’re employed, have a business, or have a property in their possession, people need to pay the government their obligations.

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But it’s not enough just to pay. People should also be up to date at all times since taxes change. Paying the wrong amount can incur equally ominous penalties, which can range from a hundred dollars to thousands. If people have a business, the US government can close it down. If you’re in the middle of setting up a project such as a commercial building, the US government can halt it mid-development. And that is one of the more lenient consequences. There have been a few instances when even famous people ended up in prison for tax evasion. Many of them never recovered.

It’s very important for people with businesses and properties to hire an accountant or someone who knows his or her way around taxes. He or she needn’t even be a CPA (although those are preferable). Anyone well-versed in accounting will do.

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Michigan-based lawyer and businessman Peter Howe owns Peter Howe & Associates; Howe Office Administration, Inc.; and Howe Homes LLC. For more discussion on business and real estate, check out this website.