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If you plan on buying a house and need a mortgage, a lender is going to perform a credit check to help determine whether to give you a loan and the interest rate youd have to pay. The higher your credit score, the more likely youll get approved and the lower your interest rate might be.

Shopping around for the best deal can save you thousands of dollars over the life of a mortgage, but its also important to understand how credit checks work and might affect you. According to the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau, here are some main factors to keep in mind:

Inquiries
A credit check is reported to the credit reporting agencies as an “inquiry.” Inquiries tell other creditors that youre thinking of taking on new debt. An inquiry typically has a small, but negative, impact on your credit score that could affect your chances of getting other types of loans. Inquiries are a necessary part of applying for a mortgage, so you can’t avoid them altogether. But it pays to be smart about them.

As a general rule, apply for credit only when you need it. Applying for a credit card, car loan or other type of loan also results in an inquiry that can lower your credit score, so try to avoid applying for these other types of credit right before getting a mortgage or during the mortgage process.

Personal Credit Checks
Because your credit plays a major role in mortgage eligibility and rates, you should make sure your credit is in good standing and the information correct before applying for a loan. Fortunately, doing a credit check on your own does not affect your credit score. You can get a free copy of your credit report at www.annualcreditreport.com. If you find any errors, get them corrected immediately to avoid potential impacts.

Shopping Around
Within a 45-day window, multiple credit checks from mortgage lenders are recorded on your credit report as a single inquiry. This is because other creditors realize youre only going to buy one home. You can shop around and get multiple pre-approvals and official loan estimates. The impact on your credit is the same no matter how many lenders you consult, as long as the last credit check is within 45 days of the first credit check. (Note: The 45-day rule applies only to credit checks from mortgage lenders or brokers”credit card and other inquiries are processed separately.)

Even if a lender needs to check your credit after the 45-day window is over, shopping around is usually still worth it. The impact of an additional inquiry is small, while searching for the best deal can save you a lot of money in the long run.

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

Published with permission from RISMedia.

Eye-catching yards can increase a homes curb appeal and boost its value, but gardening and lawn care account for a large chunk of household water consumption. The good news is that, whether you are environmentally conscious or just want to lower your water bill, you dont need to use a lot of water to have a beautiful landscape. If youre designing a new yard or sprucing up your current one, consider using water-smart landscaping techniques.

Go native or choose plants that need less water. Once established, native and low-water-using plants require little water beyond normal rainfall. Also, because native plants are adapted to local soils and climatic conditions, they rarely require the addition of fertilizer and are more resistant to pests and diseases than other species. Be careful when selecting exotic species, as some may be invasive, which may require more water and could displace native plants.

Recognize site conditions and plant appropriately. Areas of the same site may vary significantly in soil type or exposure to sun and wind. Placing plants that prefer shade in open sun will affect their ability to thrive. Be mindful of a site’s exposure to the elements and choose plants that will thrive in the site’s conditions.

Group plants according to their water needs. Grouping vegetation with similar watering needs into specific “hydrozones” reduces water use and protects the plants from both underwatering and overwatering by allowing you to water to each zone’s specific needs. For example, turf areas and shrub areas should always be separated into different hydrozones because of their differing water needs.

Maintain healthy soils. Healthy soils are the basis for a water-smart landscape; they effectively cycle nutrients, minimize runoff, retain water and absorb excess nutrients, sediments and pollutants.

Place turfgrass strategically. In traditional landscapes, turfgrass receives the highest percentage of irrigation water. To better manage outdoor water use, consider planting turfgrass only where it has a practical function, such as a play area.

Use mulch. Incorporate mulch around shrubs and garden plants to help reduce evaporation, inhibit weed growth, moderate soil temperature and prevent erosion. Adding organic matter and aerating soil can improve its ability to hold water. You should also replace mulch at least once per year.

In short, plan and maintain your landscape with water efficiency in mind, and it will continue to be attractive and healthy while requiring less maintenance and water.

Source: U.S. Environmental Protection Agency

Published with permission from RISMedia.

Looking to revamp your home before bringing it on the market? A fresh coat of paint can make all the difference. Do away with those dated walls and cover up the scuff marks that show general wear and tear. If youre looking for some inspiration, here are five of todays trendiest paint colors.

Living Coral

As Pantones 2019 Color of the Year, living coral is a vibrant peach shade that will add a burst of color to any wall in your home. Whether youre looking to brighten up a dark space or create a visually interesting accent wall, this blend of orange and pink is utterly uplifting.

Hunter Green

Bold yet earthy, youll find hunter green on Benjamin Moores 2019 Color Trends Palette. This rich tone complements classic colors, making it a safe bet to stay in style well after the year ends. If youre the type who likes to play things safe, rest assured that hunter green can be accented with more neutral tones.

Moody Blue

Mood shades of blue are all the rage right now. From kitchens to dining rooms, this dark and sultry hue makes a serious statement that interior designers cant get enough of these days. It works best in a room that gets plenty of natural light and pairs well with metallic fixtures.

Soft Pastels

You can never go wrong with gentle pastels to set the tone. Sky blues and sea greens create a soft color palette that serves as the base when decorating the rest of the room. If you find bold color schemes to be too overwhelming, this could be the choice for you.

Cavern Clay

A relaxed version of living coral, cavern clay is a soothing tone that works equally well in the living room, bedroom, or powder room. Reminiscent of terracotta, it has a down-to-earth feel that can transform a room.

Published with permission from RISMedia.

Picking out the right color scheme in each room can be daunting, but sometimes a simple monochromatic design is the best solution. When done properly, a single-color palette can make for a sophisticated and relaxing setting, yet achieving this takes careful planning. Before you get started, here are a few dos and donts to keep you on the right track to creating a well-balanced monochromatic room.

Do: Start with a base color
The first thing you want to do is pick out the primary tone for this space and how its going to be applied. Whether its the walls, a sofa or bedding, this will be the center of the aesthetic that you build off of and will define the mood in the room.

Dont: Feel like you have to stick to neutral tones
If youre on the fence about a monochromatic room, neutral tones can be a safe way to test it out. However, the look can certainly be pulled off with more ambitious shades, like crisp and fun pastorals or dark, moody hues.

Do: Use a variety of shades
The entire room shouldnt be the exact tone of your base color. That would be boring. Mix it up with different shades that complement each other so that the space doesnt feel flat. A bit of variety goes a long way.

Dont: Overdecorate
When the palette revolves around a single color, it can be easy for the room to feel too intense. For this reason, its best to keep the decor uncluttered and even somewhat minimalist. This allows the color scheme to speak for itself without being overwhelming.

Do: Focus on layers
To avoid monotony, introduce different textures and patterns in the room. Window treatments, rugs and fixtures all play into providing layers that allow ones eye to flow across the room.

Dont: Be afraid to break the color scheme
Even though its a monochromatic room, you can still have a surprising accent piece that creates a bit of contrast and balances everything out.

Published with permission from RISMedia.

One of the most important steps to making your home look its best is to get rid of stuff. We accumulate a lot of things after living in a house, and when it’s time to sell, all of those possessions can make a house look cluttered.

Thankfully, the internet makes it easy to pass on your unwanted items to people who will make good use of them, thanks to websites where you can sell just about anything: clothes, toys, kitchen supplies, furniture, books, frames, etc. Each site has its pros and cons, and this guide can help you find the right one for you.

Decluttr.com is a site where you can sell just about anything. All you do is register, let them know about the things you want to sell, and you’ll get an offer. For items like CDs and DVDs, you can even use a barcode scanner to enter your items. You can also sell cellphones, tablets, laptops, books, Legos and video games. You don’t have to send photos or create listings.

They even help you remove data from your items. The downside is that you won’t get the best possible price, but you’re essentially guaranteed to get something for your items.

It’s hard to believe it, but eBay has been around for more than 20 years. You can sell just about anything here, and the advantage is that you set the price you think is fair. The negatives are that you’re not guaranteed to sell items because a shopper has to find your items and make a bid. Plus, you have competition. For example, if you want to sell DVDs because you now watch everything via streaming, you can be sure lots of other people are doing the same. It takes more work, but if you put in the effort and successfully sell items, you could walk away with some decent money.

Craigslist can be a very effective way to sell larger items, especially furniture, but it’s also helpful for items that are heavy, or could break in the mail, like kitchen appliances. Entering listings is easy, and another advantage is that each site is local, so you’ll probably be able to arrange sales quickly.

Published with permission from RISMedia.