If you don't already have a household budget, creating one helps you determine how much of a house you can afford. Since getting a mortgage means taking on significant debt, make sure the debt you already have is manageable. Once you've totaled your expenses, calculate how much of a monthly payment you can afford. Generally, your mortgage payment should be less than a third of your monthly income. Ideally, it should be around a quarter of your monthly income. While your monthly payment will depend on your interest rate and mortgage term, having a monthly payment in mind helps narrow the range of homes you can buy. Pull your credit report from all 3 major credit bureaus: Experian, Equifax, and TransUnion. You are entitled to one free credit report each year by federal law. For the other two, you'll have to pay a nominal fee. Use free services, such as Credit Karma or Credit Sesame, to monitor your credit. If you see any errors on your credit reports, notify the credit bureaus and get those errors corrected before you start applying for mortgages. Your credit score will likely go down considerably in the first year after you buy your home. If your score is in the mid-600s or higher, this shouldn't cause you significant problems. When you apply for a mortgage, you'll need at least 3 years of tax returns and 6 months of bank statements. You may also need statements from any investment accounts you have. Depending on the lender, you may also need insurance statements or other information. The lender will provide a list of documents you need. Gather documents in anticipation to save some time and get a more accurate offer. If you don't have tax returns available, contact the IRS to get copies. When looking for a mortgage, compare several offers to make sure you get the best deal. Apply with different types of lenders large national lenders as well as smaller, regional banks or credit unions. If you've had accounts with a bank for at least 5 years, apply with that bank first. Since you already work with them, verification will be easier. You may also get a better rate from a bank you have a relationship with. Because shopping around for a mortgage is the responsible thing to do, multiple inquiries typically won't have a negative effect on your credit score.
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One-sentence summary -- Total your monthly expenses and debt. Check your credit score. Gather documents to verify your income and debt obligations. Contact at least 3 mortgage lenders.

You should melt the butter and chocolate in a pot over the stove. Use a heavy sauce pan and melt the butter and chocolate over medium-high heat. Watch the pot closely to make sure nothing burns. It's a good idea to remove the butter while it's still somewhat solid. Butter can burn easily. If the chocolate is melted and there is still a small chunk of butter that is solid, remove the pan from the heat. Mix everything together until the butter melts as well. After melting, allow your butter and chocolate mixture to cool off until it reaches room temperature. This should take about 15 minutes. Once the butter and chocolate mixture is cool, add your sugar. Use a mixing spoon to stir in the sugar. Keep stirring until you have an even mixture. Start with the eggs, adding them one at a time. Use a wire whisk to gently whisk each egg into the batter until the mixture is smooth and even. Once the eggs are added, whisk in the vanilla. To fold in the ingredients, add the flour and salt to the top of the butter mixture. From there, use a rubber spatula. Starting at the back of the bowl, cut a vertical line through the ingredients across the bottom of the bowl. Rotate the bowl a quarter of a circle and cut another vertical line using your spatula. Continue this pattern. Eventually, the ingredients should all mix together evenly.
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One-sentence summary -- Melt the butter and chocolate. Stir in the sugar. Whisk in the eggs and vanilla. Fold in the flour and salt.

If you have time to flavor meat, fish, or vegetables before cooking them, marinate them in a mixture that contains liquid smoke. Whisk together the marinade and coat the food completely. You'll need: cup (60 ml) of soy sauce 3 tablespoons (21 g) of honey 2 tablespoons (30 ml) of distilled white vinegar 1 teaspoons (3 g) of garlic powder 1 teaspoons (3 g) of ground ginger cup (180 ml) of vegetable oil 1 teaspoon (2 g) of black pepper 2 to 3 drops of liquid smoke Stir 2 teaspoons (10 ml) of liquid smoke into every 1 cup (240 g) of prepared barbecue sauce for an instant smoky flavor. To make your own barbecue sauce, saute 3 diced onions with 3 cloves of minced garlic until they're tender. Stir in and simmer 3 cups (720 g) of ketchup, 1/2 cup (100 g) of brown sugar, 1/3 cup (80 ml) of white vinegar, and 3 tablespoons (45 ml) of liquid smoke. Cook the barbecue sauce until it's as thick as you like. For a spicier ketchup, add 2 tablespoons (30 g) of Dijon mustard and 1 teaspoon (5 ml) of hot sauce. Heat the brine ingredients in a saucepan over medium heat until the sugar is dissolved. Stir 3 tablespoons (45 ml) of liquid hickory smoke and cool the brine solution to room temperature before using it. Refrigerate a turkey or large roast in the solution for up to 24 hours before draining and cooking the food. For the brine, combine: 2 cups (473 ml) of water 1/2 cup (120 g) of kosher salt 1/3 cup (66 g) of sugar 2 tablespoons (30 ml) of maple syrup 1 tablespoon (6 g) of mustard seed 2 tablespoons (18 g) of black peppercorns 1 tablespoon (8 g) of chili powder 8 cloves of smashed garlic Saute 1/4 cup (40 g) of chopped onion with 2 tablespoons (20 g) of chopped green pepper and 3 cloves of minced garlic over medium-high heat for 5 minutes. Open and stir in 2 cans of crushed tomatoes, 1 can of tomato sauce, 2 tablespoons (30 ml) of liquid smoke, 1 1/2 teaspoons (3 g) of Italian seasoning, and ground pepper to taste. Bring the sauce to a boil and then turn it down to a simmer. Simmer the sauce for 1 hour before serving it over steamed rice or cooked pasta. If you want to add meat, brown 1 pound (453 g) of ground beef and stir it into the sauce. Put a 10 to 12-pound (4.5 to 5.5 kg) turkey into a large plastic roasting bag. Mix together 2 quarts (1.9 liters) of water with 3.5 ounces (103 ml) of liquid smoke and pour it into the bag. Turn the turkey so it's coated in the marinade. Seal the bag and refrigerate the turkey overnight. To roast the turkey, drain the marinade and pat the turkey dry with paper towels. Put the turkey in a roasting pan and cook it for 3 1/2 to 4 hours at 350F (177C).
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One-sentence summary -- Stir together a basic marinade with a few drops of liquid smoke. Mix up a quick barbecue sauce. Use 3 tablespoons (45 ml) of liquid smoke to add flavor to your brine. Make a savory sauce for rice or pasta. Marinate a turkey for smoky flavor.

Once again this will vary from country to country but the types of things you need to think about include the width of roads and the passable width of any gates. Emergency vehicles will need to turn around when they exit the campsite; the 'turning circle' of a fire fighting vehicle is not small. It is worth talking to the local fire-fighting agency to find out what is required for the larger fire-fighting emergency vehicles. At the same time, get any oil or gas fuel tanks checked over and ensure any required permits are in place. Don't assume that the existing owner has ticked all the boxes - the authorities will not excuse any serious omission on your part, on account of the conduct of the previous owner. In many countries, businesses pay higher rates for services than private homes.
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One-sentence summary --
Learn what the local rules or regulations demand. Find out what your obligations are in terms of simple First Aid and public fire-fighting equipment and training. Check out what local taxes or fees you may be eligible for.