New property tech platform aims to make tenant selection fairer and simpler

Irish technology company Bynaric today launched a new B2B software platform to help make processing applications for rental accommodation, and selecting and managing tenants, fair, unbiased and transparent.

The FairSelect platform is aimed for use by organisations in the public sector, including affordable housing bodies, as well as by private rental providers.

Users of the software are able to process and select tenant applications based either on a randomised, lottery-style system, or on a first-come-first-served basis.

FairSelect is already being used by a number of public sector organisations, such as local authorities, including Meath County Council, approved housing bodies, including Tuath Housing and Respond, and the Land Development Agency (LDA).

The platform has a self-service feature for tenants that enables people living in rented accommodation to manage their rental contract, report issues relating to the property they are renting, and pay rent online. It also enables transparency for applicants, who, in cases where demand for the rental accommodation they have applied for exceeds supply, can find out where they are in a queue system.

Announcing the launch of FairSelect, Aria Pour, founder and CEO of Bynaric, said: “We believe in a fair and unbiased tenant selection process, and our innovative FairSelect technology uses a random selection process that reduces the potential for human bias and ensures that every applicant is assessed on an equal footing. This is particularly important for the public sector, where there is a need to demonstrate fairness and transparency in decision-making.

“FairSelect’s compliance with GDPR regulations ensures that the selection process and the results are fully auditable. A centralised dashboard and audits allow the housing agency or landlord to maintain transparency in the selection process. The tenant self-service feature empowers tenants to manage their accounts, report issues, and make payments online, improving communication and increasing satisfaction. Rental applicants can also check where they are in a queue and find out if they were skipped for other people and ask if there is a justification for this.”

Mr Pour continued: “By promoting fairness and transparency, FairSelect helps build trust between landlords and potential tenants, and improves the overall reputation of the housing industry. This ultimately benefits both the applicants and future tenants, as they can feel confident that they have been selected based on their qualifications and not on other factors such as biases or unfair preferences.”

FairSelect was launched today at an event at Dogpatch Labs, Dublin, that featured a keynote speech by Bynaric founder and CEO Aria Pour, along with a panel discussion exploring FairSelect, moderated by business advisor Colin Chapman, and featuring Eoghan Ó’Muiris, head of product for Bynaric; Johnny Horgan, MD, BidX1; and Conn Murray, chair of public sector at BDO Ireland.

At the launch event, Mr Pour announced plans by Bynaric for launching FairSelect in the UK market, where it is aiming to open offices in Manchester and London in the next year.

Coopers Cross is Ireland’s First Platinum SmartScore Certified Commercial

Coopers Cross is announcing it is the first commercial development in Ireland to achieve Platinum SmartScore certification. Introduced in 2021 and providing a global certification standard, SmartScore identifies best-in-class smart buildings that deliver exceptional user experience, drive cost efficiency, meet high standards of sustainability, and are fully future-proofed.

Comprising 381,000 sq. ft. of Grade-A office space, the two office buildings are located at the heart of Coopers Cross, a six-acre mixed-use campus under development by Kennedy Wilson. Opening in 2023, Coopers Cross will redefine Dublin’s historic North Docks, meeting the needs of tomorrow’s workforce today.

The Platinum SmartScore certification is only awarded to buildings that raise the bar in redefining the workspaces of the future. Enhanced data availability, smart controls and sensors throughout support efficient and effective use of energy, water, light, heating, and ventilation. The office buildings at Coopers Cross will be connected to a fully electric power supply. Sub-meters on each floor will allow tenants to track detailed energy usage, while roof-mounted panels will provide solar energy, enabling tenants not only to source electricity from renewable sources but to also manage it effectively.

The offices at Coopers Cross have been designed to provide the optimum blend of innovative, flexible workspace with technology and wellbeing facilities. A dedicated app will allow employees not only to stay connected, with regular updates on retail promotions or cultural events happening on the campus, but also access the amenity booking platform, wellness statistics and energy data.

As a Platinum SmartScore commercial development, Coopers Cross is joining a select group of globally recognised addresses that have achieved such a high level of certification including The Hammerbrooklyn Digital Pavilion in Hamburg, 22 Bishopsgate in London, 101 Collins Street in Melbourne, and 151 North Franklin in Chicago.

Peter McKenna, Head of Development, Europe, at Kennedy Wilson commented: “We are delighted that Coopers Cross is the first commercial development in Ireland to achieve the globally recognised Platinum SmartScore certification. This demonstrates our commitment to creating exceptional and innovative buildings, and in doing so, redefining the workplace experience in Dublin’s North Docks. We look forward to the official opening of Coopers Cross later this year.”

Tom Vaughan-Fowler, Director, Business Development, WiredScore, commented: “As the first Platinum SmartScore certified building in Ireland, the commercial development at Coopers Cross is an embodiment of Kennedy Wilson’s commitment to the future of an ever-changing real estate landscape, by recognising the importance of superior digital connectivity and technology-enabled user experiences. Smart buildings will play a pivotal role in creating more attractive, efficient, and sustainable workplaces that place productivity and collaboration at the core.’’

Find out more information on the offices at Coopers Cross here.

9 Steps to Buying a House in Indiana

Now that the housing market has finally calmed down after the pandemic, homebuyers face a new challenge: rising mortgage rates. Even first-time home buyers can buy a home in Indiana. Price cuts and discount offers are common, giving willing buyers an advantage in negotiating the best price. With the help of real estate agents in Carmel, Indiana, you can safely buy a house in Indiana. Find out why you can trust these tips. Whether you’re actively looking for a home or just starting your home search, there is always time to find the best realtor in Indiana to help you. Experienced agents will help you navigate the complex housing market, research your financial options and negotiate the best possible deal for a profitable real estate purchase. Moreover, hiring a real estate agent does not involve additional costs for the buyer, so what do you have to lose? Follow our nine steps to buying a home in Indiana.

Save for a Down Payment

The downpayment is the first part of the home’s purchase price and is paid at closing. The mortgage lender returns the balance. Typically, Indiana mortgage lenders require 20% of the purchase price as a down payment. These are typical home prices in Indiana. However, you have the option to reduce the amount of the deposit. Sometimes, you can put down as little as  0% or 3.5% of the home value with government loan assistance. Even with a traditional loan, the own contribution can be only 3-5% (although the minimum depends on the lender). However, a down payment of less than 20% carries some risk. First, because you’re borrowing more, your monthly payments will be higher, and you’ll pay more interest over the life of the loan. Second, you may need mortgage insurance. Traditional loans require personal mortgage insurance until the loan balance reaches 80% of the purchase price.

On the other hand, loans charge a premium for mortgage insurance over the life of the loan. Mortgage insurance costs about 1% of the annual mortgage balance. However, the price depends on your deposit and your creditworthiness. Mortgage insurance payments are often added to your monthly mortgage payment.

Research Indiana Down Payment Assistance Program

Many down payment assistance programs across the country offer financial assistance to first-time home buyers and low-income people. In Indiana, eligible homebuyers can choose from various programs that cover the cost of their down payment. The Indiana Housing and Community Development Corporation (IHCDA) offers two programs for residents. 

The First Place program is a second mortgage available to first-time home buyers. Borrowers can receive up to 6% of the purchase price or 6% of the home’s appraised value, whichever is less, to cover down payments or closing costs. Eligible participants must have a minimum credit score of 640 if the debt-to-income ratio is less than 45% and 680 if the debt-to-income ratio is between 45% and 50%.

The IHCDA’s Next Home program offers first-time home buyers a discount of up to 3.5% of the home purchase price. This program can be combined with a mortgage certificate. Eligible borrowers must have a minimum credit score of 640 and a debt-to-income ratio below 45% or 680 with a debt-to-income ratio of 45% to 50%.

Find a good real estate agent in Indiana.

Your real estate agent will be your number-one ally in the home-buying process. In addition to finding and listing real estate, agents can help create bargain property listings, negotiate deals, and manage the closing process for a home sale. In addition, they can recommend other service providers, such as a list of companies that can help you renovate a home in Indiana. Take your time choosing a representative. Research and interview a few experienced real estate agents in your area of ​​interest. Real estate agents should consider the following:

  • The number of successful real estate transactions over the past year (the more, the better!);
  • Work experience in your price range;
  • General education;
  • Individual reviews and minimal complaints.

Get pre-approved for your mortgage.

A pre-approved mortgage shows sellers you are ready to purchase a home for a certain amount. This shows the seller that you are a serious buyer and have the financial right to make an offer. Most sellers in Indiana require pre-approval before selling their homes. Now you don’t have to choose a lender right away. It will help if you compare interest rates and pre-approved amounts from multiple lenders to ensure you’re getting the best deal when buying a home in Indiana.

Select the appropriate location

A typical home price in Indiana is relatively high right now, but don’t worry if the price doesn’t fit your budget. Housing prices vary significantly from city to city and even from district to district. Also, look at historical home price trends, which estimate how much your home will increase in value over the next few years.

Start your Indiana home search.

Searching for a home in Indiana is a relatively interactive part of the home-buying process. First, make a list of everything you want in your home and determine the key priorities. At the top of the list are the items most important to you. So you need to distinguish between “need to have” and “nice to have.” Your agent can help you determine if what you want is realistic for your budget and desired neighborhood or if you need to revise your search.

View the current inventory of the house

The timing of your Indiana home search can significantly affect the number of options available. For example, Indiana had the most homes for sale in June. Looking for real estate at this time gives you more options and increases your chances of finding your dream home. On the other hand, there were the fewest sales in December, so you likely won’t find as many options during the winter.

Make an offer

When you find a home in Indiana that you like, make an offer. Real estate agents can help create a compelling offer that will be presented to the owners to sell the home to you. The Indiana real estate market is subject to seasonal fluctuations. During peak months, homes sell faster than others. Homes in Indiana sell the fastest in July, with properties staying on the market for just 48 days on average. If your home search could be better during this period, you should act fast and be prepared to offer multiple offers before your home is bought.

Monitoring process

An inspection is an opportunity to better assess the condition and value of your home before an official purchase. After this step, you will be able to review the terms of the contract with the seller in case of an unexpected event. When a licensed inspector inspects your Indiana home, you can be confident in the condition of your property. Inspectors should check the following parts of the property:

  • Roof;
  • Electrical system;
  • Air conditioning;
  • Pipeline.

Sellers in Indiana must complete a title disclosure form to disclose all potential issues. Damage to your home may not be noticeable immediately, but it can reduce the value of your property over time. The assessment determines the value of the property. When you use a mortgage to buy a new home, the lender will require an appraisal to make sure the home is worth the money you borrowed. Contact the title company, fill out the paperwork and pay the closing costs to become the legal owner of your home in Indiana. Be prepared to read and sign some documents to sign the real estate agreement. These forms transfer ownership of the house to your name, so ensure all information is correct before signing all contracts. 

Determining the size and other characteristics of real estate is a critical point. The property’s value is usually determined by the square footage, location, and amenities. Additionally, local amenities will affect the value of the real estate.

How to Properly Store Student Computer Data to Avoid Losing it During a Breakdown

As a student, it can feel frustrating when you lose important school notes because of a breakdown. Lost information will lead to losing plenty of effort and time to recover or restore the information. 

This is why it’s important to store your data on the hard drive of your computer or mobile device that you don’t want to lose. You need a backup strategy that’s part of your “cyber hygiene.” Here, you will learn some tips for how to properly store your data so it won’t get compromised. 

Create a data backup

A data backup is an archive or a copy of the important files stored on your devices, including your phone, tablet, and computer. With a data backup, you can easily restore the files when something happens that causes you to lose your data. Creating a data backup gives you the assurance that your information is completely safe. It will eliminate any stress you might feel when you realize that all of your treasured memories and hard work will be gone forever. 

The main reason for backing up your files is to have a secure place where you store your important information, whether these be treasured photos of your loved ones, academic documents, and more. In case your devices break down, you can easily restore your files using the data backup.whether it’s a photo or a deleted file in Microsoft 365. Learn more here about how to recover a deleted item in Microsoft 365.

Essay writing help online

While you’re in college, part of your learning process is to complete various coursework along with all of the other students in your class. Whenever you write something important, make sure to save writing in different places, especially if your deadline is still far off. You can also use StudyClerk professional essay writing help while learning. This is a professional service that employs professional writers who can create written works on virtually any topic under the sun. Reach out to them when you need help.

Store files on your hard drive

With important data and files, it’s advisable to become proactive instead of reactive. This means that you should take preventive measures to keep your computer’s data protected no matter what type of hard drive you have installed. 

If your hard drive gets damaged, you can still recover lost data by taking out the hard drive from your computer, then connecting it to another device like a laptop or a desktop computer. Doing this allows you to see if your files got damaged or not. If they’re still there, make sure to back them up right away. If your hard drive has been completely corrupted, you can try to retrieve your data using data recovery software. For this, it’s recommended to ask a professional to do this for you.

Get more storage space

You may save some money by only choosing to store data that you cannot replace. But if you can afford data storage, it’s better to back everything up on your device. In doing this, you can determine what data storage options are ideal with the different types of data you have. For instance, if something happens at home, you might lose a physical data backup device like a removable media device. But the data you have backed up in online storage Google Drive won’t. 

Therefore, it makes sense that you should store irreplaceable information in the option that you’re not likely to lose it. Then you won’t have to choose between the two options. Store your data in both options is the safest bet since you won’t lose your data no matter what happens.

Backup before deleting

It’s normal for computer users to update, create, delete, and save files on their devices. But sometimes, files get overwritten or deleted unintentionally. Even with precise computers, we are still humans who make mistakes. Fortunately, there are some safety measures you can take advantage of. One such feature is the Recycle Bin, where you can still recover your files if you delete them accidentally. 

But there might be situations where you can’t depend on the Recycle Bin either. Such situations include when you delete files from drives or when you delete files that are too big for the capacity of your recycle bin. This can also happen when you press Shift + Delete, which deletes your files permanently or when you delete files using the Windows Command Prompt. Therefore, before deleting files, you should back them up first.

Conclusion

The most important things when using networks and devices are the data you have created and stored there. While you can always reinstall operating systems and applications, user-created data is a different story. This is why you should always store important data safely.

Author’s Bio: Alisia Stren is one of the leading writers and editors with a publishing startup and is the key person there in the company’s success. Her success in publishing work and in her freelancing academic writing gigs comes mainly from the high-quality training programs she has attended. Her hobbies include clay modeling, pencil sketching and playing dart games. 

 

 

Husband and wife renovation team announce PC house building game Hometopia

Real-life home renovator and longtime game developer couple at The Isn’t Company today announced their upcoming house building PC game, Hometopia, with an official trailer.

Build, design, and renovate beautiful homes across five unique neighborhoods, or freely build dream houses and neighborhoods from scratch alone or with friends online. Hometopia is participating in the Steam Next Fest from October 1st – October 7th with a free playable demo of the game’s Sandbox building mode available on Steam.

Features:

  • Build entire homes from scratch – foundation to rooftops
  • Create homes and neighborhoods with others in online multiplayer
  • Play in First Person or Overview camera modes
  • Design furniture and change materials for everything for full customization
  • Grid-less designing and 360 degree item rotation
  • Lay out the floorplan and designate where every room goes
  • Create plots of any size
  • Build entire neighborhoods with roads, street lights, trees and more
  • Steam Workshop support – share your creations and upload custom items and textures
  • Renovate, buy and sell homes across 5 unique neighborhoods (Trailer Park, Suburb, City, Beach, Mansions) in Career mode
  • Free-build in creative Sandbox mode
  • Multiple biomes (Forest, Lakes, Desert, Beach) to select from
  • Thousands of items to design and build with at launch with more available through modding
  • Adjust time of day and sun direction to take the perfect shareable photos
  • Take before/after photos automatically in-game
  • Advanced lighting system
  • Build elaborate gardens and exteriors
  • Paint color wheel to use any color


Hometopia can be played in First Person or in an Overhead perspective and offers two different modes:  Career and Sandbox.

Sandbox:

In Sandbox, build your dream home without the pressure of market conditions or the limit of resources. Create a cozy bungalow in the forest, a modern marble and glass mansion on the beach, or a massive over-the-top palace overlooking estate grounds and share your creation with the world on Steam Workshop. Need even more items to design with? Hometopia offers full modding support for limitless additions.  In multiplayer, create entire neighborhoods with other players – from planning the plots and laying down roads to creating parks and designing homes – there’s no limit to the worlds you can build.

Career:

In Career mode, players renovate 30 different homes across five distinct neighborhoods that range from a run-down mobile home park to a posh beachside community with lakefront gated mansions.  Buy rundown properties and fix them up to earn top dollar…after cleaning the space, start by improving the layout and flow. Think buyers in this neighborhood would prefer three bedrooms with a garage and nursery instead of a large master closet and sunroom? Use the Floorplanner tool to designate what every space in the home is intended for, then get down to renovating!

Paint the walls, install new flooring and premium appliances, put in new doors and windows, add high end fixtures, or create a beautiful outdoor space for good curb appeal. Feeling ambitious? Build out a fancy multi-car garage, expand the footprint of the home, create a third level, or even demolish the entire property and rebuild it from scratch – foundation all the way up to the roof! Stage the property from a massive collection of over 2,000 unique pieces of furniture, lighting, decor and accent pieces (or make your own unique pieces using hundreds of materials available to customize each item) before putting it on the market. Fulfill all the needs of an ever-changing market and you could have a bidding war on your hands!


We’re a small, independent team of five, but we’ve been developing games for the past two decades,” said Alex Ahlund, founder of The Isn’t Company.  “We had a lot of success with our mobile games; Design This Home and Design This Castle, attracting over 20M players and igniting our love of home design.”

He continued, “After my wife and I fully renovated our 120-year-old former fraternity house by ourselves, we knew we wanted to bring that same experience to others in a more accessible but less exhausting format.  There aren’t really any games out there that let you build and renovate realistic homes from scratch with other players online, either, so we knew that was an important feature we wanted to incorporate.

Builder. Designer. Renovator. What’s your Hometopia?

Hometopia launches in January 2022 and will be available in English, Spanish, Italian, Chinese, French, German, Portuguese, Russian, and Polish.

 

Design your own dream home by grabbing the free demo of Hometopia on their Steam page from October 1st to October 7th and wishlist the game to be the first to hear when it launches, and don’t forget to join their active Discord community of passionate home designers, builders and renovators.

How to Find the History of a Property Online. #Property #Online

Buying a new property is everyone’s dream. We all want to make sure everything is perfect at our new home. However, it is crucial to check the history of that property before buying it.

It is because there are many cases of fraudulent property selling that end up with legal problems. That is why people recommend knowing everything about a property before signing the papers.

Today, we will share a platform that helps you check the records of a property and its previous owner. It will make your work much easier and you won’t even need to contact anyone to get these details. So, let’s begin by discussing this online service and how it works.

What is an Address Lookup Service? How does it work?

As mentioned earlier, Address lookup is an online service that provides complete records of a property. You can check the complete details of any address without visiting it. Additionally, you can verify if there is any property at the provided address or not. 

CocoFinder’s address owner lookup is not limited to the basic information as you can get the criminal activities done on that property as well. This data is shown through a report that will give you all the information you need for making a decision.

The information comes from the public database and you can rely on it without giving it a second thought. However, you need a powerful platform to use this service. 

Here is our best recommendation to search for an address.

CocoFinder

CocoFinder is the leading application to find any public information online. It has a wide database where you can find any information related to a person, phone number, or address.  This application is equipped with various features that will help you get any information within a few seconds.

When you search for a name or an address, it starts searching for the relevant information on millions of databases. After that, you can get the information in a well-designed report. That way, it can help anyone get the history of property without replying to any property agent.

It is completely secure as you do not need to create an account on the platform. Instead, you can visit CocoFinder’s website and start searching for any information you want. Your data and privacy stay safe as it does not collect data on the platform.

How to Use CocoFinder to Get Property Information

Considering the increasing cases of property fraud, CocoFinder has made it much easier to use its services. All you need to do is follow three simple steps and you can get complete information about any property you want.

Step1: Visit its official website and click on the address lookup feature from the homepage. It will redirect you to a new page where you can proceed with your query.

Step2: Enter the address and select the city of that property. Match your query and click on the start search option. It will take some time to analyze the database. 

Step3: You will get a report where you can get a complete history of that property. The report is broken down into different sections to help you read it conveniently. Once you get the report, check all the information you want and close the website.

That’s it. No registration or sign up required. You can also use its other features such as background check, people search, and phone lookup for other information. However, we recommend checking out the features to understand how they work.

What Information Does the Report Include?

An address lookup report includes everything you need to know about the property, owner, and neighborhood. 

Section1: About Property

The first section of the report covers some important details about the property. Please know that the details are uploaded from the previous records and the data is updated regularly. It includes:

 

  • Complete surface in square feet 
  • Design (number of rooms)
  • When the house was built (year and month)
  • PIN code of the area 
  • The average value of property
  • Tax Information related to Mortgage and pending loans

 

Section2: Owner’s Information

The second section of the report covers everything about the previous owners of the property. It is not limited to their name as you can check their records as well. That way, you can know what type of person has lived at that address.

It includes:

Full name of the owner/owner’s

Contact details including phone and landline number

Other ways to contact (Social media and other profiles)

Previously owned property by the owner

Criminal records

These details will help you know if the person had any criminal record or not. We recommend using the background check feature on the owner to get more details. 

Section3: Neighbourhood Details

Neighbourhood plays a key role in helping you make a decision of buying a property. That is why this report includes complete information about the neighbourhood of the property. No matter what property you are searching for, you can get complete details in this section.

It includes:

  • Value of the property in that area
  • Nearby market and general stores for convenient living
  • Type of people who live there ( find out if there is any sex offender)
  • The average income of people who live there
  • Demographic information

If you want to check the complete list, you can visit its website and search for the property yourself. 

Final Words

Getting the public records of a property is no longer a challenging task. You can get this information from any address lookup service at the comfort of your home. All you need is a trusted service that does not sell your data to other companies.

CocoFinder comes out as an excellent solution to do it. You can browse any service while protecting your identity. Additionally, you do not pay a single dollar to use its services. Thus, it is a complete solution for anyone looking for address lookup services online. You can visit its website and check its service by entering your address as well.  

New Augmented Reality Game Lets Players Buy and Sell Real World Properties. #AR #LandlordGo #Property #Gaming

Walking down the street you notice something has changed. You take out your phone hastily, to check the available properties around you. Yes! There they are! New shares and you’re the first one to get them. You don’t think twice, cause you know you must have them! It’s not the first time when on your way to work you come across such valuable finds. We’re all part of this virtual map. With more than 3 billion mobile devices on the planet today, trillions of data trails are left behind unused. Now you can enjoy this mixture of digital and real world in the Landlord GO game. 

Landlord Go is a brand new game by Reality – that leverages these digital “footprints” in a fun and exciting way, allowing players to buy, sell, and collect rent on some of the world’s most famous buildings and landmarks. With over 1 million players worldwide, it’s the first real-world augmented reality game that uses real buildings, real people, and real prices to turn your city into an action-packed strategy game. With more than 14 900 players already making deals for  virtual ownership of the more than 61 500 in Dublin already, there’s no shortage of fierce competition ready for action. 

You walk your neighborhood every day, seeing familiar landscapes and buildings. Now you can view those daily sights in a whole new way by owning a virtual piece of your community. Whether you’re starting small or have grand visions to own the Custom House in Dublin or the Empire State Building in New York City, they’re yours for the taking with Landlord Go. 

Do you have unique knowledge of a part of your city that few others know? That local intel can translate into big profits in Landlord Go. If a new coffee shop is opening in your neighborhood and you think it’s poised to become the next Starbucks, put in a bid for it, and start raking in the rent payments from the crowds lined up outside the door. 

Using a massive pool of data, including detailed information about more than half a billion real world properties, Landlord Go connects the user to their city in an exciting and innovative new way that no other game can offer. 

Players can start small and quickly create a vast real estate empire through savvy investing. Put properties on the market, or engage in furious bidding wars with other players, recreating the experience of competing in the thrilling real estate market right from their phone. 

Landlord Go is incredibly accurate, reflecting real-world values of properties using details like distance from the city center and building amenities. By using our own data set combined with NASA satellite scans showing nighttime light emissions, we’ve created one of the most realistic and data-driven property dealing games ever conceived. 

You can really get the feeling that the level of realism is truly what sets Landlord Go apart. Anytime another player visits your property in real life, they pay you rent in the game. The more visitors your property gets, the higher its value. Using a proprietary AI and data platform called Big Dots, we’re able to add real-world data to any desktop and mobile apps. 

The game is exciting as players see their fortunes grow and engage in sky-high value transactions, competing with other players for dominance in the real estate market. There’s nothing quite like it available today, and nothing that even comes close to the level of accuracy and detail found in Landlord Go. 

Google Play [Download for Android]  or on App Store [Download for iPhone]