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With about 56.7 million people living with a disability in the United States, according to Census Bureau data, there are plenty of disabled people who may need help buying a home.

The good news is, help is available. Here are some laws and programs designed to make homeownership more possible for the disabled:

Federal law: The Fair Housing Act prohibits lenders, sellers and real estate agents, among other housing providers, from discriminating against the disabled in the home-buying process.

They also cant be discriminated against by preventing them from making reasonable modifications to the property, such as accessibility ramps. The act requires that builders of multifamily residences meet certain accessibility standards, such as wide doors for wheelchairs.

Housing counselors from the Department of Housing and Urban Development, or HUD, are available to help the disabled buy a home or deal with other housing issues.

Another HUD program ” the Section 8 Homeownership Voucher Program ” helps low-income people to rent or buy a house by subsidizing their monthly mortgage payments.

High debt-to-income ratio: Homebuyers with a low income can have difficulty getting a home loan, and people with disabilities earn less on average than most Americans.

Less income can lead to higher debt, and a high debt-to-income ratio of 43 percent can prevent borrowers from being approved for a home loan.

A disabled homebuyer with a ratio as high as 50 percent can get help through the Fannie Mae HomeReady program, which allows the income of someone else who is living in the home with the borrower to be considered household income to help them qualify for the loan.

Financial aid: Down payment assistance, such as Individual Development Accounts, or IDAs, help low-income families buy homes by giving them grants for a down payment. Programs differ by state.

Help for vets: Disabled veterans can get a Specially Adapted Housing Grant from the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs to build or remodel a home for disabled access, or to use toward an existing mortgage thats adapted for disabilities.

Buying a home for the first time can be daunting. Whether youre disabled or not, seeking help from a trusted real estate professional will make the process easier.

Aaron Crowe is a freelance journalist who specializes in personal finance topics.

Published with permission from RISMedia.

Anytime you move into a new home, one of the most important things to consider is the safety of your little ones. Baby-proofing your home may sound like a daunting task, but spending a little time when you first move in kid-proofing the house will save you much worry as you get the rest of your house ready.

The kitchen is possibly one of the most hazardous rooms for a young child. With all the cooking utilities and electrical appliances, this room is one of the most important rooms to have childproofed.

Oven knobs are an appealing gadget for children to play with, so make sure that they are off and protected with stove knob covers. Keep a fire extinguisher on hand in the kitchen and keep it out of reach on a high pantry shelf, mounted on the wall or in a childproof cabinet.

Bathrooms can be one of the trickiest places when baby proofing your home. Implementing safeguards is imperative for your childs safety. In order to safeguard from slips, use non-slip mats for in and out of the tub, as well as any hard-surface floors that are near the bathroom. The chances of chasing a wet toddler around the house at some point is high, so adding these non-slip mats will aid in preventing any scrapes or bruises.

It is also important to install a toilet lock so any curious little fingers dont get caught and smashed by accident. This will also prevent the little ones from any exposure to anything unsanitary. Its also useful to cover the tub spout in order to protect his or her head from any danger in case they fall.

In the nursery, make sure that your crib slats are 2 3/8 inches or less apart. For those with real little ones, you may want to remove all the bumpers, blankets, pillows, and stuffed animals from the babys crib, as some reports have indicated that children could suffocate on them. This also includes mobiles with small hanging parts.

Rather than using the plastic outlet covers we all grew up with, consider using the new innovative sliding covers instead. This prevents children from choking on the little plastic covers if they manage to get them out.

When you think, childproofing, a baby monitor is a must-have. Although, you want to ensure that the cords are wound tightly and are always away from the crib. There is also the option of a cordless monitor as well.

Additionally, if you have pets, be aware that pet food is a choking hazard and should not be left unattended. Either keep the pet in a room where your child cant get to, or remove the food bowl as soon as your pet is done eating.

Interested in more real estate tips? Feel free to contact me directly!

Published with permission from RISMedia.

Here are five of the best luxuries for your home that will get you through this winter.

Radiant Heat

Theres nothing like stepping out of bed and onto a heated floor on a winter morning.

Outdoor Hot Tub

It never feels better to brave the outdoors and have a hot soak in the backyard than in the winter.

Grand Fireplace

Having a home with a grand fireplace in the living room is the perfect centerpiece in the winter.

Steam Room or Sauna

Your own private space for heat therapy will keep your core feeling warm all season long.

Heated Driveway

A heated driveway is a must-have feature in the winter that will save you from shoveling snow and ice.

Published with permission from RISMedia.

Choosing a real estate professional you’re comfortable with is an important piece of the puzzle when it comes to putting your home on the market, but anyone going through the buying or selling process needs to be aware of the different types of listing contracts available”and which suits them best.

Exclusive Right to Sell
Most commonly used, this type of listing gives the listing agent complete control of the transaction, no matter who finds the buyer. In this type of situation, even if you have a friend who wants to purchase the home, the listing agent will earn the sales commission. If a second cooperating agent is involved in the deal, the commission is normally divided between the two. A normal contract runs 90 or 120 days, but if the house doesn’t sell and you’re happy with your agent, you can always re-up for additional time.

Open Listing
Often used by sellers who are trying to sell the home themselves, an open listing allows a real estate professional to be involved in the showing process. Multiple agents can be involved; however, the real estate professional that brings the buyer gets the commission. An agent who accepts an open listing isn’t going to do much other than show the home. For instance, they won’t market it or put it in the MLS, but if the home fits the criteria for one of their clients, and it’s convenient, they may be willing to bring someone around.

One-Time Show
Very similar to an open listing, a one-time show is most often used by real estate agents who are showing a FSBO (for sale by owner) to one of their clients. The seller signs the agreement, which identifies the potential buyer and guarantees the agent a commission should that buyer purchase the home, preventing the buyer and seller from negotiating later and trying to avoid paying the agent’s commission. As with an open listing, agents will not be spending money marketing the home, and it will not be placed in the MLS.

Multiple Listing
A multiple listing service will send listing information and photos to members who are working with appropriate buyers, and many listings are available elsewhere on the internet, allowing prospective buyers to research what’s for sale on their own. MLS members can submit exclusive agency and exclusive right to sell listings to the local MLS.

Published with permission from RISMedia.

You look at the palm of your hand and you can almost see it, the glistening, sense-of-security-giving key to your new home. Youve planned out your budget, youre on track for mortgage loan approval, youve thought of neighborhoods, youve called the agent, you are pretty much set. But then you figure, wow, what kind of home do I really want?

You could be set on dimensions and location, but deciding what kind of property you want to be responsible for is a whole different ball game. For example, there are condos and there are houses. In hopes of not pining over a decision for the next six months, lets focus on the basic differences between the two.

The biggest difference between condos and houses is that when you own a house you also own the plot of land that it is on. When you own a condo, you own the airspace occupied by said home, and perhaps part of a common area. A house will require lawn and structural maintenance that are solely the owners responsibility, while a condo will require maintenance to the outer structure that is split between the tenants.

Deciding which is better for you depends on many variables, starting with how much having a lawn matters, and whether or not you will be willing to invest on its upkeep.

Is renting out your property in your future plans? Then consider that condos will see tenants come and go more quickly. However, when it comes to selling, you might be get a better return on your investment when selling a house.

Do you prefer the privacy of your own property lot or the community of a condo? Communities are not a given in condominiums, but you sure will be seeing your neighbors whenever you use any of the common areas.

In the end, no one kind of property trumps the other. Instead, careful consideration of what your priorities and preferences are when it comes to your future home will guide you to making the right choice.

Published with permission from RISMedia.