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Something every new homeowner wants is to feel safe and secure. Here are steps you can take to ensure that feeling.

Do a little research and look into things like the crime rate in the area. Find out about neighborhood watch groups and how they work.

Change the locks as soon as you move in. You have no idea how many existing copies of keys may be circulating.

Also, ensure that window locks are functional.

Install new fire alarms. Its easy and inexpensive.

Consider an alarm system. Its a smart investment in the safety and value of your home.

Also consider a range of smart home devices and apps, that alert you whenever someone approaches your door.

Published with permission from RISMedia.

When working from home”whether its once in a while, one day a week or your daily routine”your work space should reflect the quality of work you put out. To create an effective home office, you need the right tools to keep you organized and ready for whatever work comes your way.

Get ready to work in your new home office with these essentials.

Natural Light
When you work in an office building, natural light can be hard to come by. When it comes to designing your home office or desk space, you give yourself an opportunity to situate yourself close to windows or in a room that has plenty of natural light. Being able to connect to nature and enjoy the views can keep your mind clear and your workflow productive.

Artificial Light
Whether or not you can surround yourself with natural light, a desk lamp can be just as important to your productivity. Since you dont have to settle for fluorescent lighting that can cause headaches or strain your eyes, you can bring in the right type of light. Utilize ambient lighting to create a peaceful environment. Even put lighting behind your monitor to help reduce glare from your screen.

Plants
Bringing nature inside your home office will provide stress relief, activate the mind and spark inspiration. Not only is this decorative, but plants are healthy for the human mind and body. Caring for your plants adds another level of brain power and creativity. And for those who dont have a green thumb, artificial plants can still do the trick.

Equipment
Possibly the most important part of your home office is the equipment you work with. Whether youre a writer who only needs a laptop or a lawyer who may need a bit more, you need to make sure youre prepared. Aside from your computer and possibly a spare monitor, you may also want to have the following: wireless mouse, wireless keyboard, printer, shredder and file cabinet.

Organization
With all of your lighting, decor and equipment on top of your workload, things can get cluttered quickly. Be sure to bring in bookshelves and bins to hold notebooks, reference materials and any other items you desire in your work space. Display a calendar or dry erase board to keep your schedule organized.

Creating an efficient work space for your home office doesnt have to be difficult. With these essentials, youll become more productive and ready for your next day of hard work.

Published with permission from RISMedia.

A laundry room is one of the most frequently used areas in a home. Whether you live alone or house a family of five, this space can easily get out of control and become cluttered and messy, making it harder to maneuver baskets, mixing clean and dirty clothes and impairing overall productivity.

By following these steps, your laundry room can become a more functional space where you can clean, fold, organize and truly enjoy your clothes:

Maximize Storage Space
Whether the room is large or small, adding a shelf, cabinet, drawers or an entire organization system is a great start to improving functionality. Use this space to safely store detergent and other cleaning chemicals, as well as dryer sheets, irons and other tools so you can keep the tops of your machines clear and reduce any risks, especially to children and pets. If you have extra cabinets, utilize them for storing seasonal linens, guest towels and more.

Add a Folding Station
Forget carrying clean clothes around the house, bundled up in a wrinkle-inducing pile in a basket. Create an area in your laundry room where you can fold. From a simple table or countertop, to utilizing the space on top of a font-loader, to a mounted shelf that folds out when needed, you have many options to add this functional piece to your space.

Dont Forget the Hangers
For garments that you prefer to be hung and not folded, adding hangers to your laundry room is key. Thankfully, hanging clothes doesnt take up too much room. Add hanging rods under high cabinets, a mounted, fold-out drying rack, or even simple hooks on the back of the door toutilize vertical space.

Published with permission from RISMedia.

Buyers agents need to be competitive to attract clients. In many cases, an agent will offer a client a rebate, or a refund of part of the agents commission. Agents also sometimes offer non-cash incentives, such as gift certificates for home inspections or moving services, to bring in business.

Why Do Some Agents Offer Rebates?
Buyers agents may offer a portion of their commission as a rebate because they use technology to operate efficiently and keep their operating costs low. They may be willing to pass some of those savings on to their clients to attract more business since they can more than make up for the lost commissions through higher volume. In a competitive buyers market, or in a market with high home prices, agents may feel comfortable offering rebates since they can still earn a substantial profit. While some agents consider rebates an effective way to attract clients, others believe rebates devalue their services.

How Do Rebates Work?
Buyers agent commissions are negotiable, and in most states its legal for agents to offer rebates. Rebates are usually capped at 1 percent of the purchase price. Since a commission rebate is considered a price adjustment, in most cases the value of the rebate isnt taxed.

You might use the money from a rebate to lower closing costs, to make some upgrades to your new home, to beef up your emergency fund or to cover part of the down payment. If you took out a mortgage to buy a home, your lender would have to approve of the way you decided to use rebate money. In many cases, a lender wont allow a buyer to take cash at closing.

A rebate could let you buy a more expensive house than you would otherwise be able to afford. In a sellers market, that could allow you to make a competitive offer and increase your chance of getting the house you want.

How Can a Homebuyer Find an Agent Who Offers Rebates?
You can try to negotiate with a specific agent one on one, but an easier option is to explore online services that have identified agents across the country who offer rebates. If you go through such a service, youll be able to read agents reviews and speak to several so you can choose the one who is best for you, and you wont have to negotiate a rebate yourself.

In a sellers market with low inventory, it may be difficult to find a house that suits your needs. That means your agent will have to do a lot of work. An agent may be more amenable to offering a rebate under those circumstances if you have already been pre-approved for a mortgage and have narrowed down your home search.

Published with permission from RISMedia.

If youre planning to buy a house, you can choose a conventional mortgage or one insured by the Federal Housing Administration. Its important to understand the requirements for each to make the right decision.

Primary Differences Between Conventional and FHA Loans
FHA loans are serviced by private mortgage lenders and insured by the FHA. Conventional loans are not insured by the federal government.

FHA and conventional lenders limit loan amounts based on location. An FHA mortgage can only be used to buy a primary residence. A conventional loan can be used to buy a house for any purpose. To qualify for an FHA mortgage, the property would need to be appraised to determine its value and to make sure its safe and conforms with local building codes.

If you had a credit score of 580 or higher and you took out an FHA loan, you would have to put down at least 3.5 percent of the purchase price. If your credit score was between 500 and 579, you might be able to get an FHA mortgage with 10 percent down.

To qualify for a conventional loan, you would most likely need a credit score of at least 620, although exact requirements vary by lender. With a conventional loan, you might be able to put down just 3 percent, but you would need a higher credit score. If you had a low credit score, you would most likely have to pay a higher interest rate.

To get an FHA mortgage, your debt-to-income ratio (the percentage of your pre-tax income that you spend to pay your debts each month) could be no more than 50 percent. You might be able to get a conventional loan with a DTI ratio that high, but most conventional lenders want a ratio of 43 percent or less.

Mortgage insurance compensates a lender if a borrower defaults on a loan. With a conventional loan, you would have to obtain private mortgage insurance if you put down less than 20 percent and pay for it until you reached 20 percent equity. With an FHA mortgage, you would have to purchase mortgage insurance no matter how much you put down and continue to pay for it as long as you had the loan if you put down less than 10 percent.

Mortgage insurance premiums for an FHA loan are the same regardless of credit score, but with a conventional loan, a higher credit score means lower PMI premiums. Either way, the amount of your mortgage insurance premiums would be based in part on the amount you put down.

You might be able to eliminate mortgage insurance by refinancing an FHA loan. The FHA Streamline Refinance is much simpler than the process to refinance a conventional loan.

Get Expert Advice
The type of mortgage you choose will affect the amount you pay each month for years to come. Talk to a mortgage professional about your financial situation to decide whether to apply for a conventional or FHA mortgage.

Published with permission from RISMedia.