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Pests can really detract from your enjoyment of your home. And if you have pets or kids, you might not want to treat them with traditional methods”aka poisons that can be harmful, not only to the critters youre trying to eliminate, but also to your loved ones. Here are a few ways to say goodbye to ants, mice and more in your home in a safe way. The best part? You might have everything you need in your pantry already.

Ants

• Use vinegar: Ants hate this pungent smell, so spraying it where they are entering your house, or in the areas where you see them, will get them to avoid the area in the future.
• Try citrus: On a similar note, ants arent big fans of citrus, so saving your peels from oranges and grapefruits, and leaving them near entry points, can deter ants. This also works well with citrus essential oils.
• Outline your domain in chalk: Draw a line in the proverbial sand with ants! They dont like to cross chalk, so if you outline where you want them to stay (aka outside your home), they just might heed the warning. This also works well with used coffee grounds.
• Mix borax or baking soda with sugar: Mix equal parts of these with powdered sugar and make a mini trap out of a lid or plate (keep out of reach of pets and kids). The ants will be attracted to the sugar, eat the borax and baking soda (which is fatal to them) and bring it back to their colony so they can ingest it, too.

Rodents

• Seal up food: All your food (from the dry goods in the pantry to the dog food) should be properly sealed”this obvious but important step can make your home a lot less appealing for a hungry mouse.
• Restrict access: Tools like caulk or steel wool, poked into cracks or holes in your home, can keep rodents out”another early step that is essential yet often overlooked.
• Stink them out: Like ants, mice have sensitive noses and dislike oil scented with peppermint, cayenne, and cloves (which, incidentally, will make your home smell lovely!). Soak cotton balls with the essential oils and stick them where mice (used to) like to hang out.
• Try a humane trap: There are several good types of humane traps on the market. Some literally trap the unwelcome visitor. The downside is that you have to check the trap and get up close and personal when you release it. If you forget to check it, the mouse can die because of lack of food. There are also repeller devices that work by sending out sound waves.

Still have a problem? Consult an expert. A good pest control company should be able to help you win your war against bugs or rodents”sans dangerous chemicals.

Published with permission from RISMedia.

Most Americans need a car to travel to and from work, run errands and take their kids to after-school activities. People also need a place to live. If you want to purchase a house in the near future, splurging on a brand-new vehicle could make it difficult or impossible to qualify for a large enough mortgage to buy the home you want.

How a New Car Loan Could Affect Your Ability to Get a Mortgage
When you apply for a mortgage, a lender will consider your debt-to-income (DTI) ratio, which is the total cost of car, student and other loans, as well as credit card bills and other debts. Most lenders dont want a borrower to have a DTI ratio above 35 percent of gross income. If you buy a new car with a high monthly payment and have other debt, your DTI ratio might be too high to qualify for a mortgage, or a lender might approve you for an amount thats too low to buy a house in your area, unless you come up with a huge down payment.

To qualify for a mortgage at a low interest rate, youll need your credit to be in the best shape it can be. A new car loan would lower your credit score temporarily because of a hard inquiry when the lender checked your credit report, as well as the increased debt load. Making auto loan payments on time each month could raise your score, but that could be a long process.

Consider a Used Car
If your car is on its last legs and you need to replace it, consider purchasing a used vehicle. Since cars depreciate quickly, a car thats one or two years old would cost significantly less than a new one, but it would likely have low miles, be in excellent condition and still be covered by a warranty. You could get a reliable vehicle with a much lower payment than you would with a new one, and you would pay less for car insurance. Your debt-to-income ratio would be lower than it would be if you bought a new car, and youd be able to qualify for a bigger mortgage and buy the house you wanted.

Prioritize Large Purchases
If you want to replace your car and buy a home, youd be better off focusing on a house first. Since a home is probably the largest purchase youll ever make, you want to be sure that your credit score is as high as possible and that a lender will be confident in your ability to pay a mortgage. If you cant put off replacing your vehicle, buy one used to keep your debt obligations down so you can qualify for a mortgage to purchase your dream home.

This article is intended for informational purposes only and should not be construed as professional or legal advice.

Published with permission from RISMedia.

When a lender processes your mortgage application, one of the most important factors itll consider is your debt-to-income ratio. If your ratio is too high, you may get approved for a mortgage with a high interest rate, which could add tens of thousands of dollars to your payments over the term of the loan”or your application may be denied, even if you have a good credit score and a steady job with a substantial income.

What Is Debt-to-Income Ratio?
DTI is calculated by adding up monthly debts and dividing by gross monthly income to arrive at a percentage. Some lenders factor in utilities, food, health insurance, transportation and other costs, while others dont. Most dont factor in student or car loans if theyre almost paid off.

Lenders generally want a borrower to have a debt-to-income ratio of 36 percent or below. They use an applicants DTI to figure out whether to approve a mortgage application, how much an individual can afford in mortgage payments and what interest rate to offer.

What to Do If Your DTI Is Too High
If your DTI ratio is above a lenders guidelines, you should focus on lowering it before you apply for a mortgage. If you have a lot of debt, work on paying it down and avoid making large purchases with credit cards before you apply for a mortgage. You might also want to ask your boss for a raise or take on a second job or a part-time gig to earn extra money to put toward debt.

Dont Automatically Borrow the Amount a Lender Approves
If a lender doesnt consider all monthly expenses, it may approve a borrower for a larger mortgage than the person can reasonably afford. If your lender didnt factor in all your expenses when calculating your DTI, you shouldnt borrow the full amount the lender will allow because doing so could leave you unable to afford all your bills.

DTI is based on gross income. Depending on your income, where you live, your tax bracket and other circumstances, your actual disposable income may not be enough to cover all your bills if your lender approves you for a large mortgage.

Focus on Your DTI
Your DTI ratio is a key factor that a lender will use when assessing your mortgage application. If its high, work on lowering it and getting yourself on solid financial footing before you apply for a mortgage. If a lender approves your loan application, be sure to look at your after-tax income and all your debts and expenses to figure out how much you can afford so you dont take on a larger mortgage than you can repay.

This article is intended for informational purposes only and should not be construed as professional or legal advice.

Published with permission from RISMedia.

With all that goes into constructing a new house, building a dream home is not for the faint of heart. Undoubtedly, one of your biggest considerations will be whether to build on a developed or undeveloped plot. There are advantages to both: Because the home is new, itll likely boast modern features and energy efficiency and be built to code and secured with the builders warranty. Not a bad deal, considering the amount of home inspection horror stories out there.

Because the terms lot and land are often used interchangeably, its important to note that for the purposes of this article, lot will refer strictly to developed properties divided up by builders (i.e., located in subdivisions), and land will refer to any undeveloped piece of property.

So, lots vs. land”which is it going to be? Weigh the pros and cons below:

Lots: The Pros

• Price advantage and foreseeable price appreciation.
• Established roadways, either maintained by the municipality or by homeowners.
• Water/sewer provided.
• Electric, phone and cable lines wired.
• Builder disclosure of land concerns, such as drainage and soil.
• HOA fees typically include lawn care, trash pickup and other community maintenance.

Lots: The Cons

• Cookie-cutter floor plans.
• Minimal outdoor space.
• Close to neighbors.
• Restrictions on cosmetic changes.

Land: The Pros

• Homeowner can be involved in all aspects from start to finish.
• Cleaner air, if located in a rural area.
• More potential for eco-friendly features, such as solar panels.
• Isolation, if desired.

Land: The Cons

• Zoning changes.
• Costs to transport building materials.
• May need to install a septic or dig a well.
• May need to run electric, phone and cable lines.
• Need to install a generator and/or propane storage.
• May need to pave an access road.
• Potential land hazards, such as buried oil tanks.

Keep in mind that these lists are not exhaustive, and what works for some may not work for others”some people like living close to their neighbors, for example. Before you break ground on your dream home, make an informed decision by carefully considering all the pros and cons of developed and undeveloped plots. Happy building!

Published with permission from RISMedia.

If youve noticed unusual signs of damage around your property, pests may be to blame. Rodents, insects and other types of pests can wreak havoc on properties and cause unforeseen damage that ends up resulting in costly repairs.

Here are four signs to look for to determine whether pests are damaging your home:

Unstable Floors
The sudden feeling that the floors in your home are unstable could be a sign of a pest problem. This may be especially true if you have hardwood floors that are damaged because of termites. You might notice the boards curling on your floor as damage persists. Flaking and crumbling may also become noticeable as your floors continue to deteriorate from the damage. Crushed-looking wood at structurally significant points can be another obvious sign of a pest problem.

Tap Test Failure
Damage that’s impossible to see can sometimes be detected by performing a tap test on wood surfaces around your home. Wood that’s solid all the way through should produce a thudding sound when tapped, and any hollow sounds could mean that termites or other pests are wearing away at the wood. Hollow sounds also mean that significant portions of your wood have already been lost. Calling a termite treatment specialist and contractor to repair the damage can resolve the problem.

Electrical Problems
If lights, appliances or other equipment around your home that’s powered by electricity start to fail, you might have a pest problem on your hands. Lights that dim or completely go out, as well as appliances that don’t have as much power or fail to turn on when plugged in, could mean that pests are damaging the wires. Rodents are known to chew through wires, which can also create a fire hazard in your home.

Mud Tunnels
Tubes that appear to be made of mud may be visible in your yard and even on the side of your home. These tunnels are often constructed by organ pipe mud dauber wasps to store their larvae. Termites are also known to build tunnels that look like mud but are made from a combination of soil and wood along with a substance consisting of their saliva and feces. You might find these lining walls and floors, acting as a sure sign of infestation if you find them in your home.

Learning about the signs of pest damage will make it easier for you to act quickly to resolve the problem. Pest damage isn’t always obvious, and taking the time to perform a thorough inspection will allow you to stay on top of any situation that may arise.

Source: Meghan Belnap/RISMedia’s Housecall

Published with permission from RISMedia.