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Carpet and area rugs can influence more than the aesthetics of your home. Flooring materials can affect your familys lives in numerous ways. Here are some facts to consider when choosing the type of carpet for your home.

Carpet vs. Rug
Wall-to-wall carpet covers an entire floor. It is made of a thick woven fabric that is held to the floor with tacking strips or glue. Rugs are usually made of woven materials. They are designed to cover only a section of the floor.

Design Options
Using carpet of one color in multiple rooms can give a home a unified appearance. Rugs dont produce this same effect. They are better for giving individual spaces style and character and for providing structure in a home with an open floor plan.

Since carpet comes in a wide range of neutral colors, it can give you many choices when it comes to furniture and accessories. On the other hand, if you decide to buy new furniture or paint the walls a different color, replacing an area rug will be a lot easier and may cost a lot less than installing new wall-to-wall carpeting.

Carpets can get worn in high-traffic areas. If that happens, it may be necessary to replace some or all of the carpet, which can be expensive. Replacing area rugs is much more affordable.

Area rugs can be moved from room to room if you decide to change your dcor. If you move to a new house, you will be able to take area rugs with you. You wont be able to do that with wall-to-wall carpeting, since it was cut to match the dimensions of your current home.

Comfort
If you like to walk around barefoot, stepping from an area rug onto hardwood flooring can be jarring, especially on a cold winter morning. Since carpet covers the entire floor, you wont have to worry about having cold feet.

Health
Carpets can trap dirt, dust, pet dander and other allergens, as well as moisture, which can allow mold to form. In addition, new carpet releases chemicals in off-gassing, often for months after installation. Air can circulate through rug fibers, which makes rugs less likely than carpet to develop mold and mildew. Cleaning carpet can be difficult and expensive, while rugs are easy to clean.

These facts mean that area rugs are often a better choice than carpet for people with allergies. Rugs may also work better in a humid climate since they will trap less moisture and can be cleaned as needed.

Safety
Rugs can move, and people can trip on them, even if the rugs are slip resistant. That can make them dangerous for homes with senior citizens, young children, and people with limited mobility. Carpet has a pad underneath and is attached to the floor, which can prevent tripping. That can make carpet a safer option.

Which is Right for Your Family?
When choosing floor coverings, focus on more than how you want the rooms to look. Consider how you use your home and prioritize your familys health and safety, versatility and costs.

Published with permission from RISMedia.

A large percentage of recent college graduates have student loan debt, often totaling tens of thousands of dollars. While having significant balances might make it harder to become a homeowner, you may still be able to qualify for a mortgage.

Factors That are Important to Lenders
A lender will look at your overall financial picture to decide whether to approve your mortgage application. Each company has its own requirements, but all lenders look at several key criteria to make decisions.

An applicants payment history is one of the most important factors. If you have consistently paid your student loans and other bills on time, that demonstrates that you manage your finances responsibly and may increase your chance of qualifying for a mortgage with a competitive interest rate.

Mortgage lenders also consider an applicants debt-to-income ratio or the percentage of monthly income that goes toward paying down debts. Lenders dont want borrowers to have a DTI ratio above a specific percentage.

An applicants credit score is also important. A high score could help you get approved for a mortgage with a competitive interest rate.

Improve Your Finances
If your current student loan payments would make it difficult for you to qualify for a mortgage, you might be able to switch to an extended repayment plan or an income-driven repayment plan to reduce your monthly payments and DTI ratio. If you have multiple student loans, you might be able to consolidate them and reduce your monthly payment. Dont request a forbearance or deferment to lower your debt-to-income ratio. That could make a lender think youre in financial trouble and could hurt your chance of qualifying for a mortgage.

Pay all your bills on time. Focus on reducing your DTI ratio and your credit utilization ratio, or the percentage of your available credit you are using. Once you pay off a credit card, you should keep the account open since the length of your credit history affects your credit score. Avoid applying for new credit cards because hard credit inquiries could lower your score.

Look for Other Sources of Help
If you cant qualify for a mortgage on your own and someone close to you is also interested in buying a house, you might want to consider purchasing a home together. You could have a better chance of qualifying with a co-borrower since the lender would consider both your incomes and savings.

Another option is to ask someone to cosign a mortgage. That persons income and credit score could help you qualify, but the cosigner would not have an ownership stake in the house.

Large student loan payments can make it difficult to save for a down payment. You may qualify for assistance through a program offered by the federal government or by your state government. You may also be eligible for a mortgage for first-time homebuyers with a low down payment or none at all.

Published with permission from RISMedia.

Here are the most lavish amenities in apartment buildings today.

Wellness Center

Well-being is a top priority among high-end homebuyers and the latest buildings deliver the highest of standards in this regard.

Bars and Restaurants

Theres nothing like having an excellent restaurant (or two) right in your building.

Activity Spaces

From full-sized movie theaters to golf simulators, billiard rooms and lounge areas, more and more buildings are being designed with elaborate activity spaces.

Work Space

Well-appointed conference rooms that are equipped with cutting-edge technology have become the norm in exclusive buildings.

Concierge Services

Residents need not sweat the small stuff, as such services often include dog grooming, restaurant bookings, event planning, and more.

Published with permission from RISMedia.

An inspection is important before purchasing a home, but some people assume that it isnt necessary if they plan to buy a brand new house. The truth is, even newly built houses are often far from perfect. Getting your new home inspected can allow you to have any problems addressed before you move in so you can avoid having to pay for repairs later.

Why Inspections are Important for New Homes
Builders are supposed to meet local codes, but that doesnt mean they always do. Workers can make mistakes or cut corners to save time, and a code inspector may not notice flaws in a house. Its easy to miss problems, especially things like inadequate insulation or electrical wiring issues, when the walls have already been put up.

Even if the builders do meet local codes, those requirements are minimums. If you designed the house with specifications above those minimums, such as extra insulation, you want to make sure you get what you requested.

When to Have a New House Inspected
You should have your new home inspected before you finalize the purchase. If you are planning to buy a house that has not been constructed yet, it may be a good idea to have it inspected a few times during the building process. If the inspector notes issues at any stage, the builder can fix them before continuing with the project.

Once the foundation has been poured, there isnt much that can be done to fix problems. An inspector can check before the foundation is poured to make sure the site has been prepared correctly. If there is a problem with the grading of the yard or another issue that might cause foundation problems or basement leaks, it can be addressed ahead of time.

A second inspection can take place after the frame has been built and the roof and windows have been installed, but before the walls have been put up. That will allow the inspector to check the electrical wiring, plumbing, insulation and other components that will later be hidden.

The final inspection can include a check of the entire house, including its exterior. The inspector can examine the doors, windows, appliances, HVAC system, plumbing, electrical system, roof, gutters, driveway, walkways, garage, shed, patio and deck to make sure everything is as it should be before you sign the papers and move in.

Inspections can be a Money-Saving Investment
Even though a series of inspections would add to the cost before you moved in, they could save you money in the long run. If you didnt have a brand new house inspected, problems could crop up later, after the builders warranty had expired, leaving you to pay for repairs yourself. If problems are caught during the construction process, you can require the builder to fix them and save yourself money, time and headaches down the road.

Published with permission from RISMedia.

When your outdoor space is strategically outfitted, you can treat yourself to a mini getaway without ever leaving your home! Whether you have a small balcony or an expansive patio, with a little design inspiration, you can craft an inviting and relaxing space for whenever you need an instant escape.

Implement some of the following design elements to boost your outside ambience:

Create privacy. To truly feel like youre escaping to your own oasis, focus on adding privacy to your outdoor space. A simple screen or trellis can make a small space feel more secluded, or surround your larger patio with a row of hedges, tall grasses or arborvitae trees.

Build a bar. You dont have to invest in an expensive construction project to add an inviting bar to your outdoor space. Wooden boards atop cement blocks serve as a simple DIY solution. Add some barstools, plants and candles and youve got instant ambience.

Go minimal. In order for your patio to feel truly peaceful, dont overcrowd it. Neutral colors and just a few essential, weatherproof furniture pieces will make for a relaxing, low-maintenance area. A table for resting books and drinks between two chairs, plus a couple of colorfully planted containers is all you need to set the scene.

Use a soft touch. Build in some cushy comfort to your patio with the addition of waterproof seat cushions or throw pillows. An outdoor rug and a throw for chilly nights adds even more warmth.

Add interest. Finally, add a few fun details to your patio to reflect your personality. Consider a small fountain, a bird feeder, string lights or a chiminea if allowed. These finishing touches will help complete the picture and emphasize your individual style.

Published with permission from RISMedia.