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Military personnel, both current and past service members, have an option for a housing loan that many dont even realize exists.

TheVA loanprogram is a no-money down mortgage option available to these brave men and women, as well as select military spouses.VA loansare issued by private lenders and guaranteed by the U.S. Department of VeteransAffairs.

Originally established in 1944 as part of the Servicemens Readjustment Act, VA loans are for anyone who has served in active duty in any branch of the U.S. military for a minimum of 90 days.

In addition to not needing a down payment, the 75-year-old VA loan also doesnt allow mortgage lenders to charge private mortgage insurance, which is another big benefit of the program. However, the borrower is required to pay a one-time funding fee on the home purchase, which can either be paid upfront or financed into the total cost of the loan. The funding fee for regular military members is 2.15 percent of the loan. Reservists pay a fee of 2.40 percent.

Additionally, non-active duty personnel, such as those in the Army Reserves or National Guard, may apply for a VA-backed mortgage as long as they have completed six years of service. The spouses of deceased or missing military members are also eligible if they have not remarried. Borrowers who received a dishonorable discharge from any military branch are not eligible.

Since 1944, the program has backed more than 24 million VA home loans. In Fiscal 2018 alone, it guaranteed over 610,000 home loans totaling more than $161 billion.Still, the Department of Veterans Affairs noted there are about 25 million eligible homeowners and less than 15 percent of them have taken advantage of the opportunity when buying a home.

A chief problem is that many veterans, especially those not so recently discharged, arent entirely sure what the benefit is or do not realize that they actually have such a benefit.With the VA loan, the veteran can literally buy a home with little to no money out of pocket.

Published with permission from RISMedia.

Here are a few ways to create a sense of wellness throughout your home.

Reconnecting With the Kitchen

Wellness in the kitchen is about more than eating nutritious foods. The act of preparing food and gathering together to eat does wonders for our wellbeing.

Outdoor Spaces

Fresh air, natural light and open spaces have a significant impact on our mental wellbeing, meaning outdoor spaces have never been more important.

Activity Areas

While it might not fit the traditional definition of wellness, having an area at home to engage in your personal interests plays a role in helping you feel your best.

Sleeping Soundly

Its essential to design a bedroom that promotes relaxation and allows you to get ample rest each night, especially during stressful times such as these.

Published with permission from RISMedia.

Even though a burglary occursevery 20 secondsin the U.S., you can still protect yourself without installing top-dollar security features.

Home burglary generally has a pattern; criminals are looking for an easy target they can rob fast. Learn from the pros. Here are five tips from career burglars you can use to defend your home and prevent break-ins:

1. Nighttime Burglaries Arent the Best Time. Burglars like to break into homes during daytime hours”the last thing criminals want is to encounter someone at home. Weekdays are ideal for thieves, since weekend schedules are too unpredictable. Between 12:30 p.m. and 2:30 p.m. are themost popular timesbecause theres a high chance people will be away at work or school.

2. They Know When Youre Not Home”Thanks to Social Media. While its tempting to post about your vacation to your social media feed, wait to share those trip photos and exotic location check-ins until youre back home. Criminals scout public social media accounts on Twitter, Instagram and Facebook to find victims. Even if all your accounts are private, that old friend from high school could be a potential criminal. Never post what times youre not home or how long youll be out.

3. They Dont Like Your Security Practices. Burglars want nothing to do with alarm systems (whether theyre from thebest home security companiesor not). Homes without a security system are almost 300 percent more likely to be targeted for a break-in. If you do install an alarm system, make sure you guard it with a strong code. Dont use your house number or birthday, and clean any dirt or grease off your keypad so a burglar wont guess your code based off the numbers youve hit the most.Also, tricks that make it look like youre home really work. Motion sensor lights, TVs left on and cars parked in the driveway make burglars nervous and run from properties.

4. Shrubs and Architecture Make Great Hiding Spots. Tall bushes are favorites of burglars since they offer an obstructed view from the street and neighbors. Think twice about large architecture features, too, like fences, half walls and big fountains. Such dcor elements give a burglar more time to hide and plot their method of entry. The best defense is a clear view of your front porch.

5. Valuables in the Open Help Them Decide on a Target. Keep your expensive items out of sight. Youre making it too easy for a burglar by advertising the types of valuables they can steal. Dont leave a new laptop in front of your first-floor kitchen window, expensive jewelry on your living room coffee table, or even a nice car in a garage window with a clear sight line to the street. Key hooks”especially with labels for each key”need to be concealed out of view from windows, as well.

Source: Krystal Rogers-Nelson/RISMedias Housecall

Published with permission from RISMedia.

Published with permission from RISMedia.

Title insurance can be one of those things that someone says you need when you buy a home, but you dont understand why.

Without it, you could be left with a nagging question in the back of your mind: “Does the seller really own the property?” If the answer is no, it could be bad if you dont have title insurance.

Some people or companies other than the title owner may have rights to the property. For example, the property owner may have sold mineral, air or utility rights to someone else. Or a bank with a mortgage on the property may own an interest in it. The government can also have a lien on the property for unpaid taxes.

What does title insurance do, exactly? Basically, it covers events related to the title that have already happened. It doesnt cover future things that happen to the title after it has been issued.

First, the title company or an attorney verifies that the seller owns the property and is free to sell it. The title search includes searching property records to make sure there havent been any clerical errors and that there arent any undisclosed heirs, spousal claims, omissions in deeds, unknown liens or fraud with the deed. If there are any errors, theyre fixed before the home purchase transaction is completed.

Second, the title company contracts an underwriting company to issue an insurance policy, called title insurance. This protects you in court if anyone challenges you to the title of your home. If you lose any equity, youll be compensated.

Two insurance policies will often have to be bought by the homeowner: one protecting them as the owner, and a lenders policy protecting the lender. The lender requires the insurance because it is providing a loan with the property as security. A problem with the title affects the value of the lenders security. Only the amount of the loan will be covered in the lenders policy, and it will decrease as the homeowner pays back the loan.

Published with permission from RISMedia.