​A well-known business periodical recently said, “Debt doesn't have to be a four-letter word for businesses. Borrowing money is a safe and easy, natural, respectable, time-honored tradition for financing business operating capital, expansion, the purchase of equipment, building up inventory, and to even-out cash flow. In fact, it is the most logical means of financing business and business operations in America.” 

Safe, natural, easy, time-honored, and respectable—does it sound almost too good to be true?

Charles Dickens, once  said, “It has been my experience that if a thing sounds too good to be true, likely it is.” When determining whether businesses should borrow, it might be wise to heed his admonishment.

Is Borrowing Biblically Prohibited?

Many Christians feel that all borrowing is prohibited according to Romans 13:8, “Owe nothing to anyone except to love one another; for he who loves his neighbor has fulfilled the law.”

In order to interpret this Scripture properly, it must be considered in light of the context in which it appears. Scripture says that neither borrowing nor lending is prohibited, but firm guidelines are given.
Borrowing is discouraged and, in fact, every biblical reference to it is a negative one. “The rich rules over the poor, and the borrower becomes the lender's slave” (Proverbs 22:7).

Scripture shows that we are to be cautious about borrowing and that it should never be normal, yet when you look at today's society you find that borrowing is rampant. This generation thinks it is normal to borrow for periods of 30 years or more, thus creating a society that borrows to exist.

In essence, this generation has come to practice Proverbs 22:7 as no generation has since the early 1930s. That's not God's way!

God's Word says that borrowing is a consequence of ignoring His statutes and commandments (see Deuteronomy 28:43-45). Borrowing is never God's best for His people or for businesses owned or managed by His people.

Business Borrowing Principles

There are three fundamental scriptural principles related to business borrowing:

​1. Borrowing Should Only Be Occasional

Typical Christian businesspeople are as deeply in debt as typical non-Christians, and it is unlikely that either have real goals for becoming debt free. Consequently, both are totally vulnerable to any downturn in the economy.

Since debt makes it very difficult for businesses, especially new businesses, to break even, Christian business owners and managers must use extreme caution regarding borrowing to start new ventures, to maintain cash flow and operations capital in existing businesses, or for expansion. If God wants new businesses to develop or existing businesses to succeed, He will provide a way to fund them without jeopardizing their future by borrowing.

It is very important for business owners to count the cost and pray for the Lord's direction. So many Christian businesspeople have found themselves in trouble simply because they were impatient and chose not to wait for God's provision. Be patient and allow him to work out all monetary needs in His time.

2. Avoid Signing Surety On a Loan.

The dictionary definition of surety is “the pledge or formal promise made to secure against a loss, damage or default; guarantee or security.”

In biblical times it was not unusual for borrowers to pledge their only asset of any value, themselves, as guarantee to repay a loan. If they failed to pay according to the agreed-upon terms, they forfeited their freedom and perhaps even the freedom of their families.

In America today we no longer put debtors in prison or sell their families as slaves for failure to repay a debt, but the creditors still have a legal and ethical right to collect what has been borrowed or recover whatever property has been pledged as surety or collateral. 

3. Stay Out of Long-Term Debt.

Nevertheless long-term debt is a relatively new idea. There is no way our grandfathers or even many of our fathers would have assumed debts that extended for three or four decades, because they knew that if they stayed in debt long enough they would eventually be financially devastated. The use of long-term credit can easily cloud business owners' and managers' view of God's direction.

Although Scripture contains no indication that God ever directed anyone through the use of a loan, credit, or debt, often Christian businesspeople whose businesses are in financial trouble attempt to sustain themselves by borrowing through long-term credit, and in many of these instances borrowing becomes a substitute for trusting God.

The use of borrowed money generally provides a false sense of security that allows a correctable situation to grow into an out-of-control problem, and businesses find themselves so far in debt that recovery is impossible.

“The prudent sees the evil and hides himself, but the naive go on, and are punished for it” (Proverbs 22:3). Borrowing delays necessary decisions; it does not avoid them.

When It Is Time To Quit

Business bondage comes in many forms, from preoccupation with debt-related problems to over-dedication to work, and is characterized by a lack of realistic business guidelines, goals, or purposes.
Perhaps it can be defined best as anything relating to businesses that interferes with our relationship to God or our families and is out of balance according to God's Word. If bondage is dominant in businesses, it might be wise to reconsider the need for maintaining the businesses. If businesses are continuing to build more debt or are continually borrowing more money just to stay in business, it also could be time to call it quits.

God's Word says that none that wait upon Him shall be ashamed. He has promised to direct our steps, even when we feel confused. "I will lead the blind by a way they do not know, in paths they do not know I will guide them. I will make darkness into light before them and rugged places into plains. These are the things I will do, and I will not leave them undone" (Isaiah 42:16).

Christian businesspeople who are victims of business bondage should surround themselves with mature godly people who can pray with them, exhort and encourage them, and give them wise counsel.

Unfortunately, most businesses are run on credit today. The use of borrowed capital is so widespread that many businesspeople believe they cannot operate their businesses on a cash basis, which is untrue. The long-range goal of all Christian businesspeople should be to become debt free.

God never promised quick growth; He promised a solid foundation. “He is like a man building a house, who dug deep and laid a foundation upon the rock; and when a flood rose, the torrent burst against that house and could not shake it, because it had been well built” (Luke 6:48).

There has never been a generation of people so addicted to borrowed money as ours. At some point God's people must break out of the debt trap and become lenders again, rather than borrowers. It's never too late to change bad habits and attitudes. The sooner we start, the easier it will be.

​Schedule your consultation today. We will provide you with an objective, non-judgmental,  review of your business or personal finances. 

​May The Lord Richly Bless You To His Glory
​
​RDS Financial Services
828-513-0523

According to the Consumer Price Index, the average rate of inflation in 2016 was about 2.1%. The cost of living increase for social security checks in 2017 is about 0.3%. Neither of those numbers seems to be an accurate reflection of how much more we’re paying lately for just about everything. Why doesn’t the government data seem to be able to reflect the actual cost of living in the U.S.?

Consumer Price Index

The rate of inflation is reflected by the Consumer Price Index. It’s a list that monitors the cost of a variety of basic goods and services and their price changes from month to month, and from year to year. The problem is, it’s not done using individual prices, but averages.

Inflation is figured using what’s known as a basket of goods. The CPI program has compiled a list of basic household necessities, from common foods such as milk and eggs, to toiletries, to clothing, and more. It also includes gas prices, mortgage payments, medical care, and a variety of other common goods and services. The average price of each of these items is calculated each month. Then, it’s compared to the price of those same items the previous month. For instance, if milk went up by 3% from December to January. Those percentages are then averaged together, to determine the country’s inflation rate for that month or year. The problem is, many of those individual items have, in fact, increased significantly more. Gas may increase by 10% over the course of the year, but if other items increase by only 1% or 2%, and a few others decrease in price, it brings the average down, making it difficult to represent the true changes in price that we see with both goods and services over time.

Raw Goods vs. Consumer Prices

The CPI averages explain inflation discrepancies to some degree, but not entirely. At times, even projections for individual price increases don’t reflect the amount we’re actually paying at the register. This is because these projections usually refer to the raw materials, rather than the finished product.

Say, for instance, that the USDA projects a 3% increase in the cost of beef. That 3% refers to the price being paid for it directly off the farm. By the time it gets to the grocery store, the price is likely to have gone up even more. And if you’re ordering beef in a restaurant, the price will be higher still.
It also depends, to a degree, on which goods are being projected. A sudden increase in, say, the price of corn, could affect a variety of products, as it’s used in a lot of different foods. Still, it’s only one ingredient, and often a small one, so it might not affect the price by very much. A 5% increase in the cost of corn from the farm could raise the price of a can of corn even more, while a cereal sweetened with corn syrup may only go up by a few cents. Gas, on the other hand, is more directly affected by inflation prices. If the price of a barrel of petroleum goes up, you’re likely to see a much higher correlation in the cost of fueling your car.

Calculating inflation is a complex matter.  By simplifying the calculation, it gives us a basic idea of how the economy is doing, but it’s very rarely reflective of the prices that we personally pay on a daily basis.

​If you would like additional information on the subject, be sure to check out the active link above.
This link will take you to the Bureau of Labor Statistics website.

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Doctors are recommending pets to patients for health reasons. Skeptical patients, willing to try anything, are taking heed, and going out and bringing home varying pets.
 
Anyone with a beloved pet will tell you that there is a very real feeling of calm that their pets bring them after a long day, and science agrees. Pets really are good for your health. Adding a furry friend to your life can have surprising results, physically, emotionally, and mentally. Studies have shown a number of advantages to having an animal companion, including:

Reduced Anxiety and Stress
Spending time with your animal companion can lower levels of cortisol, a stress hormone, and increase serotonin and oxytocin, both of which help you feel better.

Lower Blood Pressure
In some studies, petting a dog or cat actually reduced blood pressure better than some medications.

Improved Heart Health
In a 20-year study, people who never owned a cat were 40 percent more likely to die of a heart attack than those who had a cat; and dog owners had a significantly higher survival rate one year after a heart attack than those who didn’t have a dog. All pet owners showed a lower risk of death from all cardiac diseases, including heart failure.

Ease of Symptoms of Depression
Animals show unconditional love, are terrific stress relievers, and are great listeners (???).

Increased Physical Fitness
Dogs need to be walked, and someone has to take them. For those who are inactive or can’t do strenuous physical exercise, taking several walks around the block with your dog throughout the day or tossing a ball for them will help you be more physically fit.

Stronger Immune System
Compared to families without pets, children in homes with pets tend to have improved immune systems and have reduced allergies, asthma, and eczema.

Pain Relief
Time spent with a pet causes the release of endorphins, which help you feel better both physically and emotionally. This is one reason why therapy dogs who visit hospitals and nursing homes can be so helpful.

​Adopt a Pet Today! 

http://www.adoptapet.com/

Most understand that waiting to claim Social Security benefits can result in higher monthly payments. However, many don’t know that there are other ways to maximize their benefits, some of which depend on their marital status.

Understanding the strategies for maximizing your Social Security retirement income benefits should be prefaced with a review of the three basic forms of retirement benefits:

The Worker Benefit: This is the benefit you receive based on your own personal earnings history, and for which you become eligible after 40 quarters of work.

The Spousal Benefit: This is the benefit paid to your spouse. For non-working spouses, this is 50% of the working spouse’s benefit. For working spouses, it is the greater of the benefit earned from his or her earnings or 50% of the worker’s benefit.

The Survivor Benefit: This is the benefit paid to the surviving spouse, which is paid at a rate equal to the greater of his or her own current benefit, or the deceased spouse’s current benefit.
​
The first and most obvious strategy for maximizing your Social Security benefit is to simply wait to reach age 70 before beginning to take benefits. By waiting until age 70 to receive benefits, your monthly payments may increase by 32%, not including any cost of living increases that may be added to this amount.

Benefit Maximization Strategies for Divorced Spouses:

For divorced spouses, you can file a restricted application for a spousal benefit once you reach full retirement age, as long as you were born in 1953 or earlier and your former spouse is 62 or older at the time of your application. You can then delay receiving benefits under your own work record, allowing your delayed retirement credits to build. At age 70, you can switch over to your worker benefit, assuming it is higher than the spousal benefit you’ve been receiving.

Benefit Maximization Strategies for Widows and Widowers:

Remember, there is no spousal benefit for a widow/widower, but he or she does qualify for a survivor benefit that is equal to 100% of the deceased spouse’s benefit (versus the 50% spousal benefit if the working spouse is still alive). This survivor benefit is available at age 60.
​
If you are widowed and also have worked for 40 quarters, you will have a worker benefit and a survivor benefit. This presents you with several choices. One choice is to file for the benefit that provides you the greatest monthly benefit amount.

Another choice may be to start your worker benefit at age 62 and then switch to the survivor benefit once you reach full retirement age. This option is advantageous in instances where the widowed spouse did not accumulate the same level of benefits as the deceased spouse. Choosing this option allows the surviving spouse to take the higher survivor benefit amount. Because there are no delayed retirement credits earned on survivor benefits, there is no advantage to waiting past full retirement age to apply for survivor benefits.

A final choice is to consider starting the survivor benefit at age 60 and then switching to your own worker benefit at age 70. This strategy allows you to begin receiving income based on the survivor benefit as early as possible and provides you time to build up the maximum worker benefit.

As you can see, there are ways you can potentially raise your Social Security benefits. These strategies can help you maximize your benefits beyond what is available to those who simply delay retirement to age 70.

​RDS Financial Services can help you better understand the strategies outlined here. Let us help you maximize your Social Security benefit.

Call Us Today!

Given the hefty upfront costs associated with purchasing a home, most young people begin their independent lives renting an apartment. As they build careers, save money, and start families, many choose to buy a home. On the other end of the age spectrum, homeowners nearing retirement may choose to sell their family homes, downsize, and become renters once more.

Since the middle of the 20th century, the U.S. homeownership rate has fluctuated between 62% and 70%. According to CNBC, it sat at 63.4% in the second quarter of 2015, the lowest level since the mid-1960s. This decline is largely due to economic and demographic factors, such as the downsizing efforts of aging Baby Boomers, elevated housing prices in some high-population markets, and high student debt loads that prevent many younger buyers from saving enough to make down payments.
Regardless of the big-picture socioeconomic forces that affect homeownership rates, determining whether and when to purchase a home is a personal choice that demands careful deliberation. This decision varies from market to market – what makes sense in one area of the country may not work in another.
​
Are you a renter interested in buying a home, or a homeowner wondering whether renting makes more sense at this point in your life? It’s time to evaluate the relative costs, benefits, and drawbacks of owning versus renting your home.

Costs of Buying & Owning Your Home 

Buying a home entails numerous upfront costs. Some are paid out-of-pocket after the seller accepts your purchase offer, while others are paid at closing.

• Earnest Money. To show the seller you’re serious about buying the property, it’s customary to accompany your purchase offer with an “earnest money” check. Earnest money generally ranges from 1% to 3% of the home’s purchase price, depending on local market conditions and the seller’s preference. After accepting the offer, the seller deposits the earnest money funds into an escrow account, and the amount is credited against your closing costs.


• Down Payment. Your down payment is the percentage of the home’s purchase price that you pay upfront, typically at closing. You need to specify a down payment amount in your purchase offer, though you can change it prior to closing if the seller agrees. Your down payment amount varies widely based on your credit profile, local market conditions, and the type of mortgage loan you’re approved for, but typically ranges from 3.5% ( for FHA loans) to more than 20% of the purchase price.


• Home Appraisal. To ensure that the offer price matches the actual value of the home, lenders require a home appraisal prior to approving the loan. Appraisal costs, typically $300 to $500, are paid during or before the appraisal.


• Home Inspection. Licensed home inspectors are trained to find potential problems and defects that might not be apparent to an inexperienced buyer doing a casual walk-through. For this reason, buyers are strongly encouraged to get one, even though private lenders rarely make loan approval conditional on a completed home inspection. The cost is similar to the appraisal and is usually paid at the inspection.


• Property Taxes. Since property owners pay property taxes upfront, you need to compensate the seller for taxes paid on the period between the closing date and the end of the current tax period. This expense varies widely based on your local tax rate and the closing date. You could be responsible for several months of property taxes, or none at all.


• First Year’s Homeowners Insurance. Lenders require proof of homeowners insurance prior to closing. You almost always need to pay the first year’s premium upfront, either on the date you purchase the policy or at closing. Homeowners insurance costs vary based on the value, style, location, and contents of the home, as well as your credit score, policy deductible, and coverage limits.


• Other Closing Costs. Appraisal, inspection, taxes, and insurance are just a few of the many line items bundled into your closing. Other closing costs include loan origination charges, credit report fee, flood certification fee, lender’s and owner’s title insurance, recording taxes, state and local transfer taxes, first month’s mortgage interest, and closing fee. As a rule of thumb, you can expect your total closing costs to range from 2% to 4% of the purchase price, with the ratio falling as the purchase price increases.

Depending on local real estate market conditions, general economic climate,  and negotiations,      the seller may agree to pay some or all of your closing costs. Before making an offer, ask your agent whether it’s realistic to expect the seller to share or cover closing costs in your current market.

Recurring Costs of Homeownership

• Loan Payments. You need to make monthly principal and interest payments for the life of your mortgage loan, usually 15 or 30 years. If you have a fixed-rate mortgage, your loan payment remains constant for the full term. If you have an adjustable-rate mortgage, your rate gets tied to a benchmark and your payment varies as the benchmark changes. Your loan payment is part of your monthly escrow payment.


• Property Taxes. Your city or county sets your property taxes, which pay for local schools, infrastructure, and other critical services. Rates vary widely by location and often change from year to year. Property taxes are part of your monthly escrow payment – you pay one-twelfth of your annual tax burden each month.


• Homeowners Insurance. According to the Insurance Information Institute, the average annual U.S. homeowners insurance premium was $1,034 in 2012. However, homeowners insurance premiums can vary from year to year based on changes in your home’s appraised value, your policy’s deductible and coverage amounts, your claim history, and your credit score. As with property taxes, you pay one-twelfth of your annual homeowners premium with your monthly escrow payment.


• Private Mortgage Insurance. If your mortgage lender is a private company and your down payment is less than 20% of the purchase price of your home, your monthly escrow payment initially includes a private mortgage insurance (PMI) premium payment. PMI protects your lender from financial loss if your home is foreclosed upon and sold at a discount relative to your purchase price. If you have good credit, your lender may assess PMI premiums until your loan-to-value (LTV) ratio – the ratio of your current mortgage balance to your home’s total value – reaches 80%. If you pose a higher credit risk, your lender may require you to carry PMI until your LTV is lower. Monthly PMI payments typically range from $50 to $200, depending on your loan’s balance and PMI rate.


• Utilities. As a homeowner, you’re responsible for paying all utilities and local services on your property: water, gas, electric, garbage and recycling, cable and Internet, and perhaps more. These costs vary widely by location and usage.


• Maintenance. You’re also responsible for all home maintenance and upkeep costs, such as replacing worn-out fixtures and appliances, exterior painting and finishing, interior cleaning, and mechanical maintenance (such as HVAC cleaning and inspection). As a general rule of thumb, you can expect to pay 1% of your home’s value per year on maintenance and wear-related replacements and repairs.

Special or One-Time Costs  of Homeownership 

• Furnishing. If you’re a first-time homebuyer,  your new home is probably larger than your previous space. That means you need to buy furniture and fixtures, even if you owned some or all of the furnishings in your rental. If you’re a repeat buyer, furnishing isn’t quite so costly. Regardless, your furnishing expenses are likely to vary in accordance with your budget. Purchasing secondhand furniture and fixtures is a great way to reduce this expense.


• Moving Costs. Whether you hire a team of movers or rent a truck and take a DIY approach, moving can range in cost from around $100 or $200 to more than $1,000, depending on how much you have to move and what you can accomplish on your own.


• Repairs. You’re responsible for paying to repair any damage that isn’t covered by insurance. For instance, if your basement sustains water damage due to exterior flooding and you don’t carry a flood insurance policy, any mold remediation costs are yours to pay out-of-pocket. Even less costly repairs and replacements can add up. For instance, a child or pet denting a wall, knocking over and breaking a lamp, or soiling a carpet beyond repair can get expensive.


• Improvements and Renovation Projects. If you want to take on a home improvement or renovation project, you either need to pay for it out-of-pocket or take out a home improvement loan, which can come with onerous stipulations. Project costs vary widely. A full kitchen renovation or bonus room addition can easily soar past the $20,000 mark, while fencing in the yard or updating your porch furniture might only cost a few hundred dollars. Though improvement and renovation projects can boost your home’s appraised value, that’s not guaranteed to be reflected in its eventual sale price.

Costs of Renting Your Home 

Renting has fewer upfront expenses. Still, you may encounter the following costs before or shortly after moving into a new apartment.

• Security Deposit. Landlords require a security deposit to insure against property damage requiring repairs, delinquent rent, broken leases, and other incidentals. Many states limit security deposits to 1.5 times monthly rent.


• First Month’s Rent. Most landlords require the first month’s rent upfront. If you move in the middle of the month, your landlord may accept a prorated rent payment.


• Nonrefundable Deposits. Depending on the rental property laws in your state, your living situation, and your landlord’s preferences, you may be charged nonrefundable deposits in addition to your security deposit. For instance, pet deposits are commonplace. They typically range from $100 to $500, depending on the type of animal and base rent.


• Moving Costs. Like homebuyers, renters have to pay to move their belongings, whether by hiring movers, renting a truck and driving it themselves, or relying on friends.

Recurring Costs

• Monthly Rent. Unless you live in a rent-controlled neighborhood or a city with strict renter protection laws, your rent can increase whenever you sign a new lease. Rent payments vary widely based on local market conditions, number of occupants, and the size, condition, and location of the rental.


• Pet Rent. Instead of a pet deposit, some landlords charge pet rent. Pet rent spreads the expected cost of pet-related wear and tear over the tenant’s entire stay. It usually amounts to $10 to $40 per month, depending on the animal and base rent.


• Renters Insurance. Renters aren’t required to carry renters insurance for their possessions, but it’s highly recommended to protect against loss due to theft, fire, and other perils. Insurance costs are based on the value and nature of insured property, coverage limits, deductibles, and other factors. According to U.S. News, the median monthly cost of renters insurance is about $15.


• Utilities. Utilities vary by landlord and region. In some dwellings, particularly those in larger apartment buildings, all utilities (including things like cable and Internet) may be included in the monthly rent. In others, renters are responsible for most or all utilities.


• Laundry. Many rentals don’t have in-unit laundry machines. Tenants either need to find a nearby laundromat or use coin or card-operated machines onsite. In either case, these direct payments can add up. 

Advantages of Buying

1. Building Equity Over Time

Unlike renters, homeowners build equity over time. On most mortgages, a portion of each monthly payment goes toward the loan’s interest. The remainder pays down its principal. (Your lender’s amortization schedule shows the exact proportions, which change over time, for each month’s payment.) Every dollar you put toward your loan’s principal represents a dollar of equity – actual ownership of the property. Once you reach 20% equity, or 80% LTV, you can tap that equity through a home equity loan or refinance your mortgage to secure a lower interest rate or longer repayment window.
You can also boost your home’s value, and thus lower your LTV, through judicious investments in home improvement. 

2. Tax Benefits

Several tax benefits cater exclusively to homeowners, though not all homeowners qualify for all benefits. These are the most notable:

• Homestead Exemption. Many states exempt owner-occupied homes (homesteads) from a portion of the property tax burden that would normally accrue.


• Federal Tax Deductions. If you itemize your federal income taxes, you can deduct your property taxes and the interest paid on your mortgage, reducing your overall income tax burden (often substantially). This particularly benefits those in higher tax brackets.

3. Potential for Rental Income

Even if you don’t initially think of your home as an investment property, you can turn it into a source of income. This can partially or totally offset your mortgage, tax, and insurance payments on it.
The easiest way to do this is by renting out part or all of the property, provided you follow all local rental property laws. You might rent out a basement bedroom to a friend, live in one unit of a duplex and rent out the other to strangers, or purchase and move into a second home, leaving your entire property free to rent.

4. More Creative Freedom

As a homeowner, your decorating, DIY project, and home improvement choices answer to no one, provided they don’t break local building codes or violate homeowners’ association rules. 

5. Sense of Belonging and Community

Since homeowners tend to stay in their homes for longer than renters, they’re more likely to put down roots in their communities. This manifests in many ways. You might join a local neighborhood association, sponsor block parties, volunteer at a nearby community center, join a school group, or align with a business improvement district. As a renter, you might not do any of those things, particularly if you know you may be moving in a year or two.

Disadvantages of Buying

1. Potential for Financial Loss

Although homeownership builds equity over time, equity doesn’t equate to automatic profit. If home values in your area decrease or remain flat during your tenure as a homeowner, dragging down the appraised value of your home, you risk a financial loss when you sell. While renting doesn’t build equity, it also doesn’t involve the risk of owning a depreciating asset.

2. Responsibility for Maintenance and Repairs

As a homeowner, you’re responsible for covering the cost of all uninsured maintenance and repair work on your home. Though your exact outlay is likely to vary from one year to the next, you can expect to pay about 1% of the value of your home annually toward these expenses.

3. Most Homes Aren’t Sold Furnished

The New York Times recently reported on a growing trend in high-end real estate sales: fully furnished new construction homes. While this concept is a good one, it’s not common, particularly in single-family construction. Unless your previous residence was similarly sized and fully furnished, you need to spend time, money, and energy furnishing your newly purchased home.

By contrast, many rentals come furnished. Even if their decorations don’t quite match your tastes, furnished spaces save resources and sanity on the front end of your tenure.

4. High Upfront Costs

Though upfront home buying costs vary greatly depending on the size of the down payment and the value of the home, you can expect to shell out no less than 5.5% of your home’s value (for an FHA loan and relatively low closing costs) before moving in. You could spend well over 20% of the purchase price.
By contrast, most renters pay relatively low upfront costs. And those who get back part or all of their previous apartment’s security deposit can put it toward the security deposit on their new place.

Advantages of Renting

1. No Responsibility for Maintenance or Repairs

As a renter, you’re not responsible for home maintenance or repair costs. If a toilet backs up, a pipe bursts, or an appliance stops working, you don’t have to call an expensive repair person – you just have to call your landlord or superintendent.

2. Relocating Is Easier

When you rent, relocating for work is easier, less time-consuming, and potentially less costly. That’s why renters who change jobs often (or have steady jobs that require frequent relocation) typically rent until their professional lives stabilize. Though a sudden move may require you to break your rental lease, you can partially or fully offset the cost of doing so by subletting your apartment or negotiating with your landlord.

By contrast, selling a home takes time and effort. If you need to sell your house quickly, you may be forced to accept a lower price and potentially take a loss on your investment.

3. No Exposure to Real Estate Market

Home values fluctuate in response to changing economic conditions, and can decline over time. If you’re a renter, that’s not your problem – it’s your landlord’s.

4. Credit Requirements Generally Less Strict

Although most landlords require prospective renters to undergo a credit check, this is typically a zero-sum proposition. Your application is either approved or denied based on your credit score and credit history. As long as you don’t have a checkered credit report that includes bankruptcies and judgments, you’re likely to find a landlord willing to rent to you.

By contrast, mortgage lenders typically have high credit standards, with credit scores below 680 or 700 considered subprime in many cases. Even small changes to your credit score can significantly affect your mortgage rates, potentially adding thousands of dollars in interest over your loan term.

5. Some Utilities May Be Included

Many multi-unit building owners cover the cost of most or all utilities, including non-essentials such as cable television. The practice is less common, but definitely still possible, in smaller buildings like duplexes and single-family homes.

By contrast, homeowners have to pay full utility costs, sometimes several hundred dollars per month, depending on dwelling size and usage.

Disadvantages of Renting

1. You Do Not Build Equity

Unless you’re party to a rent-to-own agreement, every dollar you pay in rent is gone forever. No matter how long you remain in your rental unit or how exemplary a tenant you are, you can’t build equity in the property under a standard lease agreement. If you plan on staying in the same location for more than a few years, buying may be a smarter financial choice than renting.

2. No Federal Tax Benefits

While homeowners can deduct property taxes and mortgage interest on their federal income tax returns, renters aren’t eligible for any housing-related federal tax credits or deductions. Depending on your property tax and mortgage interest burden, this shortcoming can raise your federal tax liability by several hundred dollars per year.

3. Limited Control Over Ongoing Housing Costs

Unless you live in a municipality with rent control laws, your landlord has the ability to raise your rent once your current lease expires. Rental property owners raise rents to match rent increases elsewhere in the market, to compel current tenants to vacate the premises rather than sign a new lease, and for many other reasons.
If you maintain a good relationship with your landlord, you’re less likely to face onerous rent increases from year to year. No matter what you do, though, you can’t exercise complete control over your rent. By contrast, homeowners with fixed-rate mortgages make fixed loan payments each month, regardless of what the local real estate market does.

4. Limited Housing Security

While most jurisdictions have generous renter protection laws that prohibit landlords from evicting without cause and require adequate notice (typically 30 or 60 days) that tenants won’t be given an option to renew their leases, no law entitles you to remain in your rental unit indefinitely. Homeowners don’t face such uncertainty. They can remain in their homes as long as they stay current on their mortgage payments.


Visit our website, and be sure to make use of our financial calculator to help you  weigh the costs associated with renting and buying. Although this calculator can help you decide what makes the most financial sense in a particular situation, it can’t help you evaluate all the subjective, non-financial factors that affect your ultimate decision. Only you and your loved ones can make the final choice, so as you work toward an ultimate decision, keep an open mind. Remember that it’s better to wait and make the right call than rush into a choice you come to regret.

Are you deciding whether to rent or buy your home? Feel free to contact us, and schedule your free initial consultation. You may contact us by dialing 828-513-0523, or via the contact button on our website.

RDS Financial Services
​www.rdsfinancialservices.com

​
By taking these steps in advance, you have a greater say in how these questions are answered. And isn’t that how it should be?

Wills and trusts are two of the most popular estate planning tools. Both allow you to spell out how you would like your property to be distributed, but they also go far beyond that.

Just about everyone needs a will. Besides enabling you to determine the distribution of your property, a will gives you the opportunity to nominate your executor and guardians for your minor children. If you fail to make such designations through your will, the decisions will probably be left to the courts. Bear in mind that property distributed through your will is subject to probate, which can be a time-consuming and costly process.

Trusts differ from wills in that they are actual legal entities. Like a will, trusts spell out how you want your property distributed. Trusts let you customize the distribution of your estate with the added advantages of property management and probate avoidance. While trusts offer numerous advantages, they incur upfront costs and ongoing administrative fees. The use of trusts involves a complex web of tax rules and regulations. You should consider the counsel of an experienced estate planning professional and your legal and tax advisers before implementing such strategies.

Wills and trusts are not mutually exclusive. While not everyone with a will needs a trust, all those with trusts should have a will as well.

Incapacity poses almost as much of a threat to your financial well-being as death does. Fortunately, there are tools that can help you cope with this threat.

A durable power of attorney is a legal agreement that avoids the need for a conservatorship and enables you to designate who will make your legal and financial decisions if you become incapacitated. Unlike the standard power of attorney, durable powers remain valid if you become incapacitated.

Similar to the durable power of attorney, a health care proxy is a document in which you designate someone to make your health care decisions for you if you are incapacitated. The person you designate can generally make decisions regarding medical facilities, medical treatments, surgery, and a variety of other health care issues. Much like the durable power of attorney, the health care proxy involves some important decisions. Take the utmost care when choosing who will make them.

A related document, the living will, also known as a directive to physicians or a health care directive, spells out the kinds of life-sustaining treatment you will permit in the event of your incapacity. The directive creates an agreement between you and the attending physician. The decision for or against life support is one that only you can make. That makes the living will a valuable estate planning tool. And you may use a living will in conjunction with a durable health care power of attorney. Bear in mind that laws governing the recognition and treatment of living wills may vary from state to state.

This information is not a substitute for, nor shall it supplant a consultation with a professional advisor. 
Feel free to contact us, and we will guide you in the right direction.

RDS Financial Services
(828) 513-0523​​ 

What Is Breast Cancer?

Breast cancer is a disease in which malignant (cancer) cells form in the tissues of the breast. The damaged cells can invade surrounding tissue, but with early detection and treatment, most people can live a normal life.

Facts About Breast Cancer In The United States
​

• One in eight women will be diagnosed with breast cancer in her lifetime.
• Breast cancer is the most commonly diagnosed cancer in women.
• Breast cancer is the second leading cause of cancer death among women.
• Each year it is estimated that over 230,000 women in the United States will be diagnosed with breast cancer and more than 40,000 will die.
• Although breast cancer in men is rare, an estimated 2,350 men will be diagnosed with breast cancer and approximately 440 will die each year.
• Over 2.9 million breast cancer survivors are alive in the United States today. 

A Global Burden

According to the World Health Organization,  breast cancer is the most common cancer among women worldwide, claiming the lives of hundreds of thousands of women each year and affecting all countries.


The ​Good News About Breast Cancer Trends

In recent years, perhaps coinciding with the decline in prescriptive hormone replacement therapy after menopause, we have seen a gradual reduction in female breast cancer incidence rates among women aged 50 and older. Death rates from breast cancer have been declining since about 1990, in part to better due to screening and early detection, increased awareness, and continually improving treatment  options.

Early Detection Saves Lives !​


Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer. Romans 12:12

We the People of the United States, in Order to form a more perfect Union, establish Justice, insure domestic Tranquility, provide for the common defense, promote the general Welfare, and secure the Blessings of Liberty to ourselves and our Posterity, do ordain and establish this Constitution for the United States of America.


Article. I.


Section. 1.
All legislative Powers herein granted shall be vested in a Congress of the United States, which shall consist of a Senate and House of Representatives.


Section. 2.
The House of Representatives shall be composed of Members chosen every second Year by the People of the several States, and the Electors in each State shall have the Qualifications requisite for Electors of the most numerous Branch of the State Legislature.
No Person shall be a Representative who shall not have attained to the Age of twenty five Years, and been seven Years a Citizen of the United States, and who shall not, when elected, be an Inhabitant of that State in which he shall be chosen.
Representatives and direct Taxes shall be apportioned among the several States which may be included within this Union, according to their respective Numbers, which shall be determined by adding to the whole Number of free Persons, including those bound to Service for a Term of Years, and excluding Indians not taxed, three fifths of all other Persons. The actual Enumeration shall be made within three Years after the first Meeting of the Congress of the United States, and within every subsequent Term of ten Years, in such Manner as they shall by Law direct. The Number of Representatives shall not exceed one for every thirty Thousand, but each State shall have at Least one Representative; and until such enumeration shall be made, the State of New Hampshire shall be entitled to choose three, Massachusetts eight, Rhode-Island and Providence Plantations one, Connecticut five, New-York six, New Jersey four, Pennsylvania eight, Delaware one, Maryland six, Virginia ten, North Carolina five, South Carolina five, and Georgia three.
When vacancies happen in the Representation from any State, the Executive Authority thereof shall issue Writs of Election to fill such Vacancies.
The House of Representatives shall choose their Speaker and other Officers; and shall have the sole Power of Impeachment.


Section. 3.
The Senate of the United States shall be composed of two Senators from each State, chosen by the Legislature thereof for six Years; and each Senator shall have one Vote.
Immediately after they shall be assembled in Consequence of the first Election, they shall be divided as equally as may be into three Classes. The Seats of the Senators of the first Class shall be vacated at the Expiration of the second Year, of the second Class at the Expiration of the fourth Year, and of the third Class at the Expiration of the sixth Year, so that one third may be chosen every second Year; and if Vacancies happen by Resignation, or otherwise, during the Recess of the Legislature of any State, the Executive thereof may make temporary Appointments until the next Meeting of the Legislature, which shall then fill such Vacancies.
No Person shall be a Senator who shall not have attained to the Age of thirty Years, and been nine Years a Citizen of the United States, and who shall not, when elected, be an Inhabitant of that State for which he shall be chosen.
The Vice President of the United States shall be President of the Senate, but shall have no Vote, unless they be equally divided.
The Senate shall choose their other Officers, and also a President pro tempore, in the Absence of the Vice President, or when he shall exercise the Office of President of the United States.
The Senate shall have the sole Power to try all Impeachments. When sitting for that Purpose, they shall be on Oath or Affirmation. When the President of the United States is tried, the Chief Justice shall preside: And no Person shall be convicted without the Concurrence of two thirds of the Members present.
Judgment in Cases of Impeachment shall not extend further than to removal from Office, and disqualification to hold and enjoy any Office of honor, Trust or Profit under the United States: but the Party convicted shall nevertheless be liable and subject to Indictment, Trial, Judgment and Punishment, according to Law.


Section. 4.
The Times, Places and Manner of holding Elections for Senators and Representatives, shall be prescribed in each State by the Legislature thereof; but the Congress may at any time by Law make or alter such Regulations, except as to the Places of choosing Senators.
The Congress shall assemble at least once in every Year, and such Meeting shall be on the first Monday in December, unless they shall by Law appoint a different Day.


Section. 5.
Each House shall be the Judge of the Elections, Returns and Qualifications of its own Members, and a Majority of each shall constitute a Quorum to do Business; but a smaller Number may adjourn from day to day, and may be authorized to compel the Attendance of absent Members, in such Manner, and under such Penalties as each House may provide.
Each House may determine the Rules of its Proceedings, punish its Members for disorderly Behavior, and, with the Concurrence of two thirds, expel a Member.
Each House shall keep a Journal of its Proceedings, and from time to time publish the same, excepting such Parts as may in their Judgment require Secrecy; and the Yeas and Nays of the Members of either House on any question shall, at the Desire of one fifth of those Present, be entered on the Journal.
Neither House, during the Session of Congress, shall, without the Consent of the other, adjourn for more than three days, nor to any other Place than that in which the two Houses shall be sitting.


Section. 6.
The Senators and Representatives shall receive a Compensation for their Services, to be ascertained by Law, and paid out of the Treasury of the United States. They shall in all Cases, except Treason, Felony and Breach of the Peace, be privileged from Arrest during their Attendance at the Session of their respective Houses, and in going to and returning from the same; and for any Speech or Debate in either House, they shall not be questioned in any other Place.
No Senator or Representative shall, during the Time for which he was elected, be appointed to any civil Office under the Authority of the United States, which shall have been created, or the Emoluments whereof shall have been increased during such time; and no Person holding any Office under the United States, shall be a Member of either House during his Continuance in Office.


Section. 7.
All Bills for raising Revenue shall originate in the House of Representatives; but the Senate may propose or concur with Amendments as on other Bills.
Every Bill which shall have passed the House of Representatives and the Senate, shall, before it become a Law, be presented to the President of the United States: If he approve he shall sign it, but if not he shall return it, with his Objections to that House in which it shall have originated, who shall enter the Objections at large on their Journal, and proceed to reconsider it. If after such Reconsideration two thirds of that House shall agree to pass the Bill, it shall be sent, together with the Objections, to the other House, by which it shall likewise be reconsidered, and if approved by two thirds of that House, it shall become a Law. But in all such Cases the Votes of both Houses shall be determined by yeas and Nays, and the Names of the Persons voting for and against the Bill shall be entered on the Journal of each House respectively. If any Bill shall not be returned by the President within ten Days (Sundays excepted) after it shall have been presented to him, the Same shall be a Law, in like Manner as if he had signed it, unless the Congress by their Adjournment prevent its Return, in which Case it shall not be a Law.
Every Order, Resolution, or Vote to which the Concurrence of the Senate and House of Representatives may be necessary (except on a question of Adjournment) shall be presented to the President of the United States; and before the Same shall take Effect, shall be approved by him, or being disapproved by him, shall be repassed by two thirds of the Senate and House of Representatives, according to the Rules and Limitations prescribed in the Case of a Bill.


Section. 8.
The Congress shall have Power To lay and collect Taxes, Duties, Imposts and Excises, to pay the Debts and provide for the common Defense and general Welfare of the United States; but all Duties, Imposts and Excises shall be uniform throughout the United States;
To borrow Money on the credit of the United States;
To regulate Commerce with foreign Nations, and among the several States, and with the Indian Tribes;
To establish an uniform Rule of Naturalization, and uniform Laws on the subject of Bankruptcies throughout the United States;
To coin Money, regulate the Value thereof, and of foreign Coin, and fix the Standard of Weights and Measures;
To provide for the Punishment of counterfeiting the Securities and current Coin of the United States;
To establish Post Offices and post Roads;
To promote the Progress of Science and useful Arts, by securing for limited Times to Authors and Inventors the exclusive Right to their respective Writings and Discoveries;
To constitute Tribunals inferior to the supreme Court;
To define and punish Piracies and Felonies committed on the high Seas, and Offences against the Law of Nations;
To declare War, grant Letters of Marque and Reprisal, and make Rules concerning Captures on Land and Water;
To raise and support Armies, but no Appropriation of Money to that Use shall be for a longer Term than two Years;
To provide and maintain a Navy;
To make Rules for the Government and Regulation of the land and naval Forces;
To provide for calling forth the Militia to execute the Laws of the Union, suppress Insurrections and repel Invasions;
To provide for organizing, arming, and disciplining, the Militia, and for governing such Part of them as may be employed in the Service of the United States, reserving to the States respectively, the Appointment of the Officers, and the Authority of training the Militia according to the discipline prescribed by Congress;
To exercise exclusive Legislation in all Cases whatsoever, over such District (not exceeding ten Miles square) as may, by Cession of particular States, and the Acceptance of Congress, become the Seat of the Government of the United States, and to exercise like Authority over all Places purchased by the Consent of the Legislature of the State in which the Same shall be, for the Erection of Forts, Magazines, Arsenals, dock-Yards, and other needful Buildings;--And
To make all Laws which shall be necessary and proper for carrying into Execution the foregoing Powers, and all other Powers vested by this Constitution in the Government of the United States, or in any Department or Officer thereof.


Section. 9.
The Migration or Importation of such Persons as any of the States now existing shall think proper to admit, shall not be prohibited by the Congress prior to the Year one thousand eight hundred and eight, but a Tax or duty may be imposed on such Importation, not exceeding ten dollars for each Person.
The Privilege of the Writ of Habeas Corpus shall not be suspended, unless when in Cases of Rebellion or Invasion the public Safety may require it.
No Bill of Attainder or ex post facto Law shall be passed.
No Capitation, or other direct, Tax shall be laid, unless in Proportion to the Census or enumeration herein before directed to be taken.
No Tax or Duty shall be laid on Articles exported from any State.
No Preference shall be given by any Regulation of Commerce or Revenue to the Ports of one State over those of another; nor shall Vessels bound to, or from, one State, be obliged to enter, clear, or pay Duties in another.
No Money shall be drawn from the Treasury, but in Consequence of Appropriations made by Law; and a regular Statement and Account of the Receipts and Expenditures of all public Money shall be published from time to time.
No Title of Nobility shall be granted by the United States: And no Person holding any Office of Profit or Trust under them, shall, without the Consent of the Congress, accept of any present, Emolument, Office, or Title, of any kind whatever, from any King, Prince, or foreign State.


Section. 10.
No State shall enter into any Treaty, Alliance, or Confederation; grant Letters of Marque and Reprisal; coin Money; emit Bills of Credit; make any Thing but gold and silver Coin a Tender in Payment of Debts; pass any Bill of Attainder, ex post facto Law, or Law impairing the Obligation of Contracts, or grant any Title of Nobility.
No State shall, without the Consent of the Congress, lay any Imposts or Duties on Imports or Exports, except what may be absolutely necessary for executing it's inspection Laws: and the net Produce of all Duties and Imposts, laid by any State on Imports or Exports, shall be for the Use of the Treasury of the United States; and all such Laws shall be subject to the Revision and Control of the Congress.
No State shall, without the Consent of Congress, lay any Duty of Tonnage, keep Troops, or Ships of War in time of Peace, enter into any Agreement or Compact with another State, or with a foreign Power, or engage in War, unless actually invaded, or in such imminent Danger as will not admit of delay.


Article. II.


Section. 1.
The executive Power shall be vested in a President of the United States of America. He shall hold his Office during the Term of four Years, and, together with the Vice President, chosen for the same Term, be elected, as follows:
Each State shall appoint, in such Manner as the Legislature thereof may direct, a Number of Electors, equal to the whole Number of Senators and Representatives to which the State may be entitled in the Congress: but no Senator or Representative, or Person holding an Office of Trust or Profit under the United States, shall be appointed an Elector.
The Electors shall meet in their respective States, and vote by Ballot for two Persons, of whom one at least shall not be an Inhabitant of the same State with themselves. And they shall make a List of all the Persons voted for, and of the Number of Votes for each; which List they shall sign and certify, and transmit sealed to the Seat of the Government of the United States, directed to the President of the Senate. The President of the Senate shall, in the Presence of the Senate and House of Representatives, open all the Certificates, and the Votes shall then be counted. The Person having the greatest Number of Votes shall be the President, if such Number be a Majority of the whole Number of Electors appointed; and if there be more than one who have such Majority, and have an equal Number of Votes, then the House of Representatives shall immediately choose by Ballot one of them for President; and if no Person have a Majority, then from the five highest on the List the said House shall in like Manner choose the President. But in choosing the President, the Votes shall be taken by States, the Representation from each State having one Vote; A quorum for this purpose shall consist of a Member or Members from two thirds of the States, and a Majority of all the States shall be necessary to a Choice. In every Case, after the Choice of the President, the Person having the greatest Number of Votes of the Electors shall be the Vice President. But if there should remain two or more who have equal Votes, the Senate shall choose from them by Ballot the Vice President.
The Congress may determine the Time of choosing the Electors, and the Day on which they shall give their Votes; which Day shall be the same throughout the United States.
No Person except a natural born Citizen, or a Citizen of the United States, at the time of the Adoption of this Constitution, shall be eligible to the Office of President; neither shall any Person be eligible to that Office who shall not have attained to the Age of thirty five Years, and been fourteen Years a Resident within the United States.
In Case of the Removal of the President from Office, or of his Death, Resignation, or Inability to discharge the Powers and Duties of the said Office, the Same shall devolve on the Vice President, and the Congress may by Law provide for the Case of Removal, Death, Resignation or Inability, both of the President and Vice President, declaring what Officer shall then act as President, and such Officer shall act accordingly, until the Disability be removed, or a President shall be elected.
The President shall, at stated Times, receive for his Services, a Compensation, which shall neither be increased nor diminished during the Period for which he shall have been elected, and he shall not receive within that Period any other Emolument from the United States, or any of them.
Before he enter on the Execution of his Office, he shall take the following Oath or Affirmation:--"I do solemnly swear (or affirm) that I will faithfully execute the Office of President of the United States, and will to the best of my Ability, preserve, protect and defend the Constitution of the United States."


Section. 2.
The President shall be Commander in Chief of the Army and Navy of the United States, and of the Militia of the several States, when called into the actual Service of the United States; he may require the Opinion, in writing, of the principal Officer in each of the executive Departments, upon any Subject relating to the Duties of their respective Offices, and he shall have Power to grant Reprieves and Pardons for Offences against the United States, except in Cases of Impeachment.
He shall have Power, by and with the Advice and Consent of the Senate, to make Treaties, provided two thirds of the Senators present concur; and he shall nominate, and by and with the Advice and Consent of the Senate, shall appoint Ambassadors, other public Ministers and Consuls, Judges of the supreme Court, and all other Officers of the United States, whose Appointments are not herein otherwise provided for, and which shall be established by Law: but the Congress may by Law vest the Appointment of such inferior Officers, as they think proper, in the President alone, in the Courts of Law, or in the Heads of Departments.
The President shall have Power to fill up all Vacancies that may happen during the Recess of the Senate, by granting Commissions which shall expire at the End of their next Session.


Section. 3.
He shall from time to time give to the Congress Information of the State of the Union, and recommend to their Consideration such Measures as he shall judge necessary and expedient; he may, on extraordinary Occasions, convene both Houses, or either of them, and in Case of Disagreement between them, with Respect to the Time of Adjournment, he may adjourn them to such Time as he shall think proper; he shall receive Ambassadors and other public Ministers; he shall take Care that the Laws be faithfully executed, and shall Commission all the Officers of the United States.


Section. 4.
The President, Vice President and all civil Officers of the United States, shall be removed from Office on Impeachment for, and Conviction of, Treason, Bribery, or other high Crimes and Misdemeanors.


Article III.


Section. 1.
The judicial Power of the United States shall be vested in one supreme Court, and in such inferior Courts as the Congress may from time to time ordain and establish. The Judges, both of the supreme and inferior Courts, shall hold their Offices during good Behaviour, and shall, at stated Times, receive for their Services a Compensation, which shall not be diminished during their Continuance in Office.

Section. 2.


The judicial Power shall extend to all Cases, in Law and Equity, arising under this Constitution, the Laws of the United States, and Treaties made, or which shall be made, under their Authority;--to all Cases affecting Ambassadors, other public Ministers and Consuls;--to all Cases of admiralty and maritime Jurisdiction;--to Controversies to which the United States shall be a Party;--to Controversies between two or more States;-- between a State and Citizens of another State,--between Citizens of different States,--between Citizens of the same State claiming Lands under Grants of different States, and between a State, or the Citizens thereof, and foreign States, Citizens or Subjects.
In all Cases affecting Ambassadors, other public Ministers and Consuls, and those in which a State shall be Party, the supreme Court shall have original Jurisdiction. In all the other Cases before mentioned, the supreme Court shall have appellate Jurisdiction, both as to Law and Fact, with such Exceptions, and under such Regulations as the Congress shall make.
The Trial of all Crimes, except in Cases of Impeachment, shall be by Jury; and such Trial shall be held in the State where the said Crimes shall have been committed; but when not committed within any State, the Trial shall be at such Place or Places as the Congress may by Law have directed.


Section. 3.


Treason against the United States, shall consist only in levying War against them, or in adhering to their Enemies, giving them Aid and Comfort. No Person shall be convicted of Treason unless on the Testimony of two Witnesses to the same overt Act, or on Confession in open Court.
The Congress shall have Power to declare the Punishment of Treason, but no Attainder of Treason shall work Corruption of Blood, or Forfeiture except during the Life of the Person attainted.


Article. IV.


Section. 1.
Full Faith and Credit shall be given in each State to the public Acts, Records, and judicial Proceedings of every other State. And the Congress may by general Laws prescribe the Manner in which such Acts, Records and Proceedings shall be proved, and the Effect thereof.


Section. 2.
The Citizens of each State shall be entitled to all Privileges and Immunities of Citizens in the several States.
A Person charged in any State with Treason, Felony, or other Crime, who shall flee from Justice, and be found in another State, shall on Demand of the executive Authority of the State from which he fled, be delivered up, to be removed to the State having Jurisdiction of the Crime.
No Person held to Service or Labour in one State, under the Laws thereof, escaping into another, shall, in Consequence of any Law or Regulation therein, be discharged from such Service or Labour, but shall be delivered up on Claim of the Party to whom such Service or Labour may be due.


Section. 3.
New States may be admitted by the Congress into this Union; but no new State shall be formed or erected within the Jurisdiction of any other State; nor any State be formed by the Junction of two or more States, or Parts of States, without the Consent of the Legislatures of the States concerned as well as of the Congress.
The Congress shall have Power to dispose of and make all needful Rules and Regulations respecting the Territory or other Property belonging to the United States; and nothing in this Constitution shall be so construed as to Prejudice any Claims of the United States, or of any particular State.


Section. 4.
The United States shall guarantee to every State in this Union a Republican Form of Government, and shall protect each of them against Invasion; and on Application of the Legislature, or of the Executive (when the Legislature cannot be convened), against domestic Violence.


Article. V.


The Congress, whenever two thirds of both Houses shall deem it necessary, shall propose Amendments to this Constitution, or, on the Application of the Legislatures of two thirds of the several States, shall call a Convention for proposing Amendments, which, in either Case, shall be valid to all Intents and Purposes, as Part of this Constitution, when ratified by the Legislatures of three fourths of the several States, or by Conventions in three fourths thereof, as the one or the other Mode of Ratification may be proposed by the Congress; Provided that no Amendment which may be made prior to the Year One thousand eight hundred and eight shall in any Manner affect the first and fourth Clauses in the Ninth Section of the first Article; and that no State, without its Consent, shall be deprived of its equal Suffrage in the Senate.


Article. VI.


All Debts contracted and Engagements entered into, before the Adoption of this Constitution, shall be as valid against the United States under this Constitution, as under the Confederation.
This Constitution, and the Laws of the United States which shall be made in Pursuance thereof; and all Treaties made, or which shall be made, under the Authority of the United States, shall be the supreme Law of the Land; and the Judges in every State shall be bound thereby, any Thing in the Constitution or Laws of any State to the Contrary notwithstanding.
The Senators and Representatives before mentioned, and the Members of the several State Legislatures, and all executive and judicial Officers, both of the United States and of the several States, shall be bound by Oath or Affirmation, to support this Constitution; but no religious Test shall ever be required as a Qualification to any Office or public Trust under the United States.


Article. VII.


The Ratification of the Conventions of nine States, shall be sufficient for the Establishment of this Constitution between the States so ratifying the Same.
The Word, "the," being interlined between the seventh and eighth Lines of the first Page, the Word "Thirty" being partly written on an Erazure in the fifteenth Line of the first Page, The Words "is tried" being interlined between the thirty second and thirty third Lines of the first Page and the Word "the" being interlined between the forty third and forty fourth Lines of the second Page.
Attest William Jackson Secretary
Done in Convention by the Unanimous Consent of the States present the Seventeenth Day of September in the Year of our Lord one thousand seven hundred and Eighty seven and of the Independence of the United States of America the Twelfth In witness whereof We have hereunto subscribed our Names,

G°. Washington
President and deputy from Virginia


Delaware
Geo: Read
Gunning Bedford jun
John Dickinson
Richard Bassett
Jaco: Broom


Maryland
James McHenry
Dan of St Thos. Jenifer
Danl. Carroll


Virginia
John Blair
James Madison Jr.


North Carolina
Wm. Blount
Richd. Dobbs Spaight
Hu Williamson


South Carolina
J. Rutledge
Charles Cotesworth Pinckney
Charles Pinckney
Pierce Butler


Georgia
William Few
Abr Baldwin


New Hampshire
John Langdon
Nicholas Gilman


Massachusetts
Nathaniel Gorham
Rufus King


Connecticut
Wm. Saml. Johnson
Roger Sherman


New York
Alexander Hamilton


New Jersey
Wil: Livingston
David Brearley
Wm. Paterson
Jona: Dayton


Pennsylvania
B Franklin
Thomas Mifflin
Robt. Morris
Geo. Clymer
Thos. Fitzsimons
Jared Ingersoll
James Wilson
Gouv Morris

This content was copied form the following website:
http://www.constitutionday.com/the-constitution-text.html
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