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A new home is no small purchase, and finding ways to save money both before and after buying can be a huge help. Whether youre a first-time buyer or in the market for a new place, try these money-saving tips:

Always Use a Real Estate Agent
One of the biggest mistakes people make is trying to buy a home without a licensed real estate agent. A professional can be of immense help during the purchase process. Not only can an agent help with paperwork, but they’ll also know how to negotiate the price using fair market value, the actual condition of the home and other various factors.

Shop Around for Lenders
Like with any purchase, shopping around is a smart way to save. When seeking a mortgage, contact multiple lenders. Youll be able to better understand your loan options, as well as compare estimated monthly payments and interest rates, to get the best deal for you. Do some research to find reputable lenders, and ask your real estate agent for recommendations.

Try Not to Pay PMI
Private mortgage insurance (PMI) is tacked on to your monthly mortgage payment if you buy a home with less than a 20 percent down payment. This extra expense can add thousands of dollars to the cost of homeownership. Save money in the long run by trying to save at least 20 percent for your home, or purchase a home that fits into a slightly smaller budget.

Find Better Insurance Rates
Similar to auto insurance and health insurance, monthly property insurance premiums vary depending on the company that underwrites the policy. Spend time shopping around at different insurance companies until you find the one that offers an affordable rate and sufficiently covers your property. After buying your home, check periodically to see if you can find a better deal.

Reduce Your Property Taxes
This is a very popular and often effective way to save money on a new home. If you think the assessed value of your home is too high, ask for a review. A different assessor will come out, perform an inspection and make any adjustments, if necessary. While this doesn’t always work, it’s worth a shot if you want to save as much money as possible.

Make Additional Monthly Payments
If your mortgage payment is low enough where you can consistently pay more each month, doing so could save you tens of thousands of dollars over the course of the mortgage and reduce the number of months you’ll need to pay. However, be aware that some lenders may penalize borrowers for paying off loans early. Check with your lender to see if your mortgage includes pre-payment penalties.

There are a variety of methods consumers can use to save money, both upfront and during the course of their mortgage. To avoid financial issues in the future, always purchase a home thats within your set price range and never buy a home with zero money down; doing so will make it much harder for you to borrow against the property in the future.

Source: Kara Masterson/RISMedias Housecall

Published with permission from RISMedia.

In the last few years, especially as the colder seasons approach, youve probably heard the word hygge (pronounced hoo-gah). Hygge is the Scandinavian word for cozy, but it is also a way of life and design mantra. The idea is to elevate your decor to create a warm atmosphere and a place to enjoy lifes little moments. If you are ready to embrace a cozy hygge ambiance in your home this year, these ideas are perfect for the whole family.

Create a Meeting Space:
The hygge home is centered around community. It welcomes guests to sit and chat and encourages household members to take a moment to focus on each other. You dont have to have a 70s-style conversation pit to evoke a meeting space in your home. Simply arrange furniture in a way that promotes conversation. This means avoiding centering your furniture around electronics. Dont worry, you dont have to ditch your tv altogether, but instead consider hiding your tv to further contribute to a hygge mentality.

Add Soft Textures:
Make your space warm and inviting by adding soft textures throughout your home. Faux furs, sheepskins and chunky soft knits are the epitome of hygge. The hygge home is full of comforting items that sooth and ward of winters chill.

Address the Lighting:
Since the Danes experience long winters, they know the value of embracing the sunlight when its available. A truly hygge design leaves your space bright and inviting. Avoid heavy light-blocking curtains or unsightly blinds. Opt for sheer white curtains to bring in the daylight. In the evening, avoid fluorescent lights to illuminate a large space. Instead, choose warm lighting options in divided pockets across your home or room. Encourage intimacy and comfort by eliminating harsh or sterile lighting options. Candles and fireplaces (though not always practical for every room) is the perfect example of hygge lighting.

In design terms, hygge may refer to textured throws, fire, candlelight and unfiltered daylight, but true Hygge decor goes far beyond simple aesthetic. Beautification is simply a means to an end. The real goal of a hygge home is to enjoy and embrace each day and those around you. This is a design goal everyone in the family will appreciate.

Published with permission from RISMedia.

Painting is one of the best ways to spruce up a room when staging a home. All you have to do is invest in paint and supplies and devote a few days to some hard work, and you can give a space a whole new look.

Of course, if you do decide to paint a room as part of your home staging, you want to do it well. A bad paint job is worse than not painting at all, but by following these tips, potential buyers will likely think your home was painted by a pro.

Do your prep work. Applying paint to a wall with a brush or roller is actually kind of fun, but the all-important work you do before actually painting is kind of tedious. Start by dusting the walls and ceiling, and prepare all surfaces by patching holes and filling cracks, scraping, and sanding so that everything is smooth.

It’s time to prime. New drywall is always primed before painting, but priming is also a good idea for all paint jobs. By sealing the surface, priming makes it easier for your wall to accept paint, and you may need to apply just one coat of paint after priming. Another tip is to tint the primer with some of the color you’re applying to the walls.

Go for the tape. Buy new tape because old tape can be difficult to remove, and be sure to use blue painter’s tape, not standard masking tape. Run a putty knife over tape that’s on wooden window sills and molding so that the tape is smooth and covering the surface effectively. Then wait at least 24 hours before removing the tape to make sure the paint is completely dry.

Use canvas drops. A lot of people opt for plastic drop clothes because they’re less costly, but there are lots of advantages to investing in canvas drop cloths. They’re more durable, easier to lay down on the floor, safer and they absorb paint better than plastic. They’re also easier to pick up and lay down and they’re better for the environment because plastic drop cloths are typically used once, then sent to landfills.

Published with permission from RISMedia.

When shopping for a new home, its easy to get carried away and bite off more than you can chew. Many people, particularly first-time buyers, get a pre-approval letter and spend the amount they were approved for, only to be overwhelmed by the total cost of homeownership.

Consider All Potential Living Expenses
A mortgage lender will decide how much of a loan to approve you for based on your debt-to-income ratio, but those calculations dont take many important factors into account. Home maintenance and repairs, property taxes, and homeowners insurance are all necessary and can be expensive. If you put down less than 20 percent, your lender may require you to pay for private mortgage insurance, which can cost hundreds of dollars per month, until you reach 20 percent equity, which could take years. Utility bills can be expensive, especially if you buy a large house in an area with cold winters or brutally hot summers.

Other costs, such as childcare, medical expenses, and saving for college and retirement, may be central to your budget but may not be included in the lenders calculations at all. If you dont consider all your living expenses, you may buy a house that is too costly and then find yourself struggling to pay your bills.

A mortgage calculator can help you figure out how much you can afford. It will estimate the costs of a mortgage, property taxes, homeowners insurance and private mortgage insurance to give you an accurate idea of the total cost of ownership.

How to Stick to Your Budget
When you interview real estate agents, tell them what your budget is and emphasize that your limit is firm and that you are not interested in viewing more expensive homes. If your agent pressures you to consider a house you cant afford, say no, and consider finding another if the agent still doesnt listen.

Dont compare the houses youre looking at to your friends and family members. They have different incomes, debt levels, amounts saved for retirement and other costs. They also probably bought houses in different locations at different times. In addition, someone who bought a magnificent house that you envy may be struggling to make ends meet but too embarrassed to admit it.

If you and another prospective buyer make offers on the same house, it can trigger a bidding war. Resist the temptation to offer more than you can afford. Stick to your budget and be willing to walk away.

Be Realistic
Owning a house is expensive, and many buyers dont plan for all the costs and regret their purchases. Make a list of all possible costs associated with homeownership and your regular living expenses, consider your long-term goals, and figure out how much you can comfortably afford. The house you buy might not have all the amenities you would like, but its better to have a home you can afford than to get in over your head and wind up in foreclosure.

Published with permission from RISMedia.

Your family probably uses the kitchen more than any other room in your home. If it isnt well designed, it may feel cramped. If you want to remodel your kitchen to make it more suited to your needs, avoid making these common blunders.

Not Giving Yourself Enough Storage and Work Space
If youve been living in your home for a while, you may wish that you had more cabinet space or that your cabinets were configured differently to better store items you use frequently. When you design your new kitchen, think about how your current cabinets come up short and how to address that problem.

You may have also found that your current amount of counter space is inadequate. You can change the kitchens layout to give you more counter space or install an island.

If you want to add an island or buy new appliances, make sure you dont sell yourself short when it comes to storage space. Top-of-the line appliances and more workspace are all well and good, but youll be frustrated if you dont have enough room to store food, dishes and small appliances.

Not Making Enough Room to Get around Easily
You use your refrigerator, stove and sink more than any other features in the kitchen, so they should be close together. In most kitchens, these three elements are arranged in a triangle so people can move effortlessly from one to another.

Measure the refrigerator, stove, and cabinet doors and drawers to make sure there is plenty of room to open them without them bumping into something else. If you want to install an island, dont choose one so large that it will be hard for people to move around in the kitchen and to open and close cabinets and drawers. Make sure aisles around an island are wide enough for two cooks to work at the same time or for family members to walk around while someone is cooking without people bumping into each other.

Not Having Sufficient Lighting
Poor lighting can make it hard to find items when you need them and can lead to accidents in the kitchen. Make sure your new kitchen will have plenty of overhead lighting, as well as lights in the pantry and over the sink and food preparation areas.

Buying Cheap Cabinets
If your cabinets are worn out from years of daily use, they will probably need to be replaced. New cabinets can be costly, but they will last, whereas old, damaged cabinets can detract from the appearance of the entire kitchen. Spend the extra money to buy quality cabinets.

Get Professional Design Help
A remodeled kitchen can make it easier to prepare meals and enjoy time with family and friends. Since this is likely to be an expensive project, think it through carefully. Consult a kitchen design expert and a contractor to choose a layout and features that will make the best use of your available space and help you avoid common mistakes.

Published with permission from RISMedia.