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If youre a homeowner, odds are you dont enjoy sifting through your mail and coming across your mortgage bill every month. So just imagine your shock and dismay if you opened the envelop, only to discover that your payment has inexplicably gone up. Conversely, youd probably get excited and shout woohoo! if your payment went down, right?

There are several reasons why a monthly mortgage payment might change, and some homeowners might get confused when it happens. According to the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau, here are five common reasons your payment could go up or down:

1. You have an adjustable-rate mortgage (ARM) and the interest rate changed. Check the type of mortgage you have. Some homeowners believe they have a fixed-rate mortgage loan, when their loan actually includes an adjustable rate. Many ARMs will start at a lower interest rate than fixed-rate mortgages, but when this introductory period is over, the interest rate will change, and the monthly payment will likely to go up.

2. You have an interest-only or pay-option loan and youre starting to pay principal. With these loans, you can postpone making principal payments for a while. That means that, for a period of time, youre only paying off the interest thats accumulating on the amount you borrowed to pay for your home. Eventually, you have to start paying principal, or the actual amount you owe on the home, and thatll make your monthly payments go up.

3. You have an escrow account to pay for property taxes or homeowners insurance and those expenses changed. With an escrow account, you pay certain property-related costs through your lender or servicer, little by little every month, instead of getting a big bill once or twice a year. Your property taxes and insurance premiums can fluctuate, and if they do, your monthly mortgage payment will change accordingly.

4. You were charged new fees. Your mortgage servicer may have charged you fees that increased your monthly payment. Check your monthly mortgage statement or any correspondence you recently received from your lender or servicer.

5. Its also possible that your servicer simply made a mistake. If you think your servicer made a mistake, call the company to check and request a corrected statement. If your servicer doesnt fix the problem over the phone, send a notice of error to the company explaining why you think it made a mistake in calculating your loan payment. Make sure you send the letter to the address your servicer uses for errors and information requests. This address should be listed on your statement or the servicers website”it might be different from the address where you send your payments.

These and several other reasons can cause your monthly mortgage payment to go up or down. You may receive a notice before changes occur, and make sure to check your billing statement for an explanation. If you still dont understand changes to your payments, or you suspect an error, call your mortgage servicer immediately.

Published with permission from RISMedia.

Everyone needs calcium for strong bones.

Calcium is especially important for older women, who are at higher risk for osteoporosis.

The best way to get enough calcium is to eat foods with the nutrient in them every day.

That includes dairy products, certain vegetables, and food products fortified with calcium, including some orange juices, tofu and cereals.

When shopping, check food labels to find products with a daily value of calcium of 10 percent or higher.

Vitamin D helps you absorb calcium, so consider adding good sources of the vitamin to your diet, including certain fish and milk.

Before making changes to your diet, though, consult your doctor.

Published with permission from RISMedia.

When someone passes away, his or her house is generally left to a family member. Figuring out what to do after inheriting a house can be confusing and overwhelming, particularly when it is unexpected or when siblings become joint owners. People sometimes rush to make decisions, and sometimes, they put off making important choices. Either can lead to more financial costs and stress.

Find and Prevent Damage
If you’ve inherited a house, you should first assess its current condition. Have the house inspected by a professional so that you know what needs work and so you can make any necessary repairs. Next, contact the utility companies to have the accounts switched to your name. It’s also important to keep the heat and water turned on to avoid problems such as frozen pipes. In addition, keep the electricity working and have the yard maintained in order to avoid making it obvious that the house is unoccupied.

Clean Out the House
Invite family members to the house to take any items they want, provided they weren’t left to specific individuals in the will. Start with immediate family members, then branch out to allow others to choose things they would like. This can be an emotionally difficult task, but putting it off will prevent you from moving forward and deciding what to do with the house.

Move in, Sell or Rent?
If you want to move into the house, find out how much the mortgage (if any) and property taxes would be. If you and your siblings are joint owners of the house and one of you wants to live in the space, the future resident can buy out the others, pay them rent, or work out another arrangement.

If you decide to sell the house, you will need to pay taxes on any increase in value between the time of inheritance and the time of sale.

Renting is another option to consider. While you might be able to make money by renting out the property, you need to consider the potential costs that come with this option. In addition to being responsible for taxes and insurance, you would also be personally responsible for maintenance and repairs, unless you hired a property manager. Hiring someone to handle these tasks would cut into your profits, but it could also make renting the house less stressful. If you choose to rent the space, be prepared to thoroughly vet prospective tenants to avoid dealing with missed rent payments, damage and possible eviction proceedings.

Think Things Over Carefully
The death of a loved one is an emotionally painful experience that can leave people feeling overwhelmed and struggling to make decisions. If you’ve inherited a house, it has likely created a host of financial and emotional issues that you weren’t anticipating. Talk to your family and ask professionals for advice so that you can make the right choices.

Published with permission from RISMedia.

Published with permission from RISMedia.

Are you relocating for a new job? Have you chosen to move in with a significant other? If youre a renter who needs to break a lease to move out of an apartment, youre not alone”but it could cost you.

A lease is a legally binding contract between you and your landlord, and if you decide to terminate that agreement early without legal grounds, your landlord can impose penalties. Although every lease is different, you might be subject to fees, have to pay for the remaining months of your lease, or forfeit your security deposit. Even worse, not paying a required penalty could destroy your credit and lead to a lawsuit.

Check Your Lease
If youre considering breaking your lease, find and thoroughly read the rental agreement you signed. Look for an early termination or opt-out clause that specifies rules and penalties. If your lease doesnt have an opt-out clause, you could be responsible for paying rent for the rest of your lease period.

Know Your Rights
There are legitimate reasons for breaking a lease that protect you from penalties. The laws vary by state, but legal reasons might include an uninhabitable property, military duty, a serious illness or domestic abuse. Research your local laws, and if you believe your landlord isnt honoring your rights, consult a tenant union or seek legal advice. Unfortunately, getting married, finding a new job and buying a home arent legitimate reasons to break a lease.

Talk to Your Landlord
One of the best ways to avoid penalties is to be upfront and appeal to your landlords softer side. If you explain your reason for breaking the lease, a landlord might be sympathetic and decide to waive or lessen penalties, especially if youve been a good tenant. Most importantly, make sure to give your landlord as much notice as possible”no one likes being caught off guard. Plus, the longer the notice period, the more time a landlord will have to find a new tenant before you move out.

Help Find a Replacement
In many states, the landlord is required to make reasonable efforts to find a new tenant if you break a lease. However, you could still be on the hook for rent for the remainder of your lease term until a replacement is found, or you might have to pay the entire balance if the landlord doesnt re-rent the apartment in time. Offer to help your landlord find a replacement. In addition to saving you some money, the gesture could make the landlord feel better about the situation and more open to working out a solution with you.

One option is to sublet your apartment to someone whos willing to take over the remainder of your lease. Keep in mind that you could still be held accountable for any damage caused by the subtenant or missed rent payments. Discuss the option with your landlord, and make sure to find a responsible subtenant you can trust, such as a friend or family member.

You could also take steps to find a new renter. Advertise a listing on websites like Craigslist, and ask people in your social media network whether theyre looking for a new place to live. The landlord will need to sign off on the potential tenant, though, and might require background and credit checks.

Get It in Writing
Regardless of what you and your landlord agree on, make sure to get the deal in writing. Include details such as payments, refunds, timelines and any other important terms of the agreement. This could help protect you later on if your landlord has a change of heart and the matter ends up in court.

Breaking a lease isnt optimal, but if new circumstances make you decide to move out of an apartment early, be honest with your landlord and explore your options to avoid or lessen penalties. In the end, though, you might need to accept the fact that you need to pay up.

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

Published with permission from RISMedia.