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When its time to sell your home, you want it looking its best. This often means putting your designer hat on and doing a bit of staging. One of the many areas to consider breathing new life into is your shelving. Though often overlooked, shelves are an opportunity to strike a balance between functional storage and fashionable display. If youre looking to make your house more memorable, here are five tips for curating shelves that are stylish and creative.

Form and Function
First, consider your current shelving situation and determine if its time for an upgrade to the overall aesthetic. If you dont have built-ins, there are tons of different options that are easy to install, from floating shelves to open box shelves. Wood and glass are popular to use because of their versatility, though you should have a sense of how youll decorate your shelves before picking out materials.

Show Off Books
If you read on a Kindle or tablet, the reality is that your collection of books may not be seeing the use it once did. The good news, however, is that the books still look good on your shelves. Rather than putting the entire collection out in the living room, theres a much stronger design impact if you choose a handful of books that are visually pleasing or mean the most to you. If you have a vintage record collection, that works just as well.

Go Green
Houseplants can provide the perfect sense of balance amidst your other objects and artifacts. Cacti or succulents are fun and low-maintenance options that work especially well if youre going for just a few select items in a clutter-free space.

Exhibit Your Art
Give your home the feel of a gallery with a selection of artwork displayed on the shelves. Whether its handmade pottery, sculptures, or framed pictures that are leaning against the wall, this can be a surprising use of space that feels sophisticated. Its far from just using it as a place to store everyday odds and ends.

Published with permission from RISMedia.

Understand the differences between the interest rate and the APR when comparing mortgages so you can avoid overpaying for a home loan.

What is the Interest Rate?

The interest rate is the amount the lender will charge, based on market rates when you take out a mortgage and your credit score, in exchange for loaning you the principal amount.

What is the APR?

The annual percentage rate (APR) includes the interest rate, as well as other costs, such as loan origination fees, closing costs, mortgage insurance and discount points.

Which Mortgage is Best?

The interest rate can help you figure out how much you would pay each month, while the APR can give you an idea of how much you would pay over the life of the mortgage.

An online mortgage calculator can help you compare loan offers and figure out which loan would be the best option for you.

Get Professional Advice

A mortgage broker can explain your options and help you find a loan with competitive terms.

Published with permission from RISMedia.

If you want to buy a home, youll probably need to make a substantial down payment. Putting down 20 percent can help you avoid paying hundreds of dollars each month for private mortgage insurance. You may be thinking about using all the money in your savings account for a down payment, but that could be a big mistake.

Emergencies and Repairs
You could lose your job or become unable to work because of an illness or injury at any time, or a family member could be unable to work or have unexpected medical bills. Thats why you should always have an emergency fund with enough money to cover at least three months worth of living expenses.

When you rent an apartment, you can call the landlord or maintenance department to fix any problem. When you own a house, the responsibility for repairs and maintenance falls squarely on you. Many people are unprepared for the total cost of homeownership. Having money set aside in a savings account for repairs and maintenance is much better than paying bills with a high-interest credit card.

The house you bought might need renovations to make it a comfortable or safe place to live. Upgrades could easily cost tens of thousands of dollars. You wouldnt be able to fund these projects with savings if you emptied your account to pay for a down payment. Using a high-interest credit card could leave you overwhelmed with debt and unable to afford your mortgage.

Liquidity
A savings account can be accessed at any time. When money is tied up in a house, it can be harder to utilize. If you suddenly encountered a financial problem, it would be much easier to withdraw money from your savings account than to get a home equity loan or line of credit, especially if you just recently bought your house and didnt have much equity.

Other Priorities
You probably have other financial goals that are as important, if not more important, than buying a house. High-interest credit card debt could take up a huge chunk of your monthly earnings, and high balances could make it difficult or impossible to buy a house or car with a favorable interest rate. The sooner you pay off your credit cards, the better off youll be in the long run. Retirement savings grow over time through compounded interest. If you havent started investing for retirement, you should before you buy a house.

Take a Balanced Approach
Buying a house is a major investment. It can be tempting to put all your savings toward a down payment, but you should also focus on other priorities and be prepared for the unexpected. Make sure you are building an emergency fund, paying down debt, and saving for retirement, and consider delaying a home purchase, if necessary, to keep your priorities in balance.

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

Published with permission from RISMedia.

Published with permission from RISMedia.

Many people have debts that they are unable to repay. Sometimes, this is a result of overspending. In many cases, it occurs because of a job loss, an illness or injury that makes it impossible to work, or a divorce. When people are buried in debt, bankruptcy may seem like the only viable solution.

Bankruptcy does not need to cloud your finances forever. With some hard work and patience, you may even be able to realize your dream of owning a home. Here are some strategies to improve your situation and qualify for a mortgage.

Steps to Take
The first thing you need to do is to have the bankruptcy discharged. If you are still in the process of filing for bankruptcy or working with a credit counselor, you will not be able to qualify for a mortgage.

After your bankruptcy has been discharged, request copies of your credit report from the three main credit agencies: TransUnion, Equifax and Experian. Mistakes on your credit report can make it difficult to obtain a mortgage. If you find any, write to the credit agencies, provide documentation and ask them to correct the information.

You will need to rebuild your credit to prove to lenders that you are able to manage money responsibly. One way to do that is to apply for a secured credit card. The issuer will provide you with a line of credit limited to the amount of money you have in an account with the bank. Avoid making purchases that will use too much of your available credit line. To take it up a notch, make payments on time and pay as much as possible to keep your debt low, avoid high interest payments and rebuild your credit score.

You can also improve your credit score by making payments on an installment loan. This is a loan with monthly payments, such as for a vehicle, student or personal loan. Making payments on time every month can show lenders that you are a low risk borrower.

Since mortgage lenders look for borrowers who are employed and stable, stay at your job for as long as possible to improve your chances of qualifying for a mortgage.

It is generally a good idea to wait at least two years after your bankruptcy is discharged before applying for a mortgage. While you might be able to obtain a loan sooner, it would likely be at a higher interest rate, which would result in high monthly payments. While you are waiting to apply for a mortgage, save as much money possible to put toward a down payment and closing costs.

Working Toward a Brighter Future
Declaring bankruptcy is a setback, but it does not have to prevent your dream of owning a home from becoming a reality. Take some time to rebuild your credit, save money and prove to lenders that you can be trusted to repay a loan. With time and dedication, you can be on the road to obtaining a mortgage and living in the home of your dreams.

Published with permission from RISMedia.