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Published with permission from RISMedia.

Even if you cant afford a home security system, you can protect your home and family with some quick, easy fixes that provide peace of mind without dipping deep into your pockets.

Try these tips from HGTV, the home and garden channel:

Change the locks ” If you havent changed the locks since you moved in, someone out there has a key. Upgrade the locks, and while youre at it, check the security of your doors.

Remove hidden keys ” If theres one under the mat or under a potted plant, you can bet a burglar will find it.

Get a dog ” Dogs create a ruckus that can deter the average burglar. If you dont own a dog, put a sign on the gate warning that you do. For that matter, you can fake an alarm system by posting a security system decal.

Use timers ” Digital timers enable you to randomly switch on interior lights and music to create the illusion that someone is at home.

Add lighting ” Motion detector lights around the exterior of your home are an inexpensive way to deter a break-in. A light coming as someone approaches your doors is enough to send most intruders away.

Install a camera “ Thanks to inexpensive DIY systems costing about $100, you can install a camera outside your home to let thieves know you have an eye on them.

Install window stops “ They prevent windows from being opened more than six inches ” enough to allow for ventilation but not enough to let in a burglar. For slider windows, a broomstick cut to size will bar human access.

Vacation smarter “ When you leave home for more than a day or two, stop mail and newspaper deliveries, as a pile-up advertises your absence. Let a neighbor know you will be away and ask him/her to put at least one of your trash cans on the street and take it in again. Last but not least, tell the local police when you will be away. Most departments will be happy to do an occasional observation drive-by.

Dont advertise ” You never know who may be scanning your Facebook page or reading someone elses email. Dont announce your upcoming vacation except verbally to friends and family.

Hope this helps keep your home safe. Contact me for more tips and insights.

Published with permission from RISMedia.

Here are a few tips for designing the perfect space for your little ones…

Fun Meets Function

Dont want toys and trinkets on the floor? Look for furniture that can double as storage.

Foster Creativity

A designated space for arts and crafts is an excellent way to foster your childs creativity.

Keep It Open

By keeping the space open, theres room for whatever activity they choose.

Pick a Theme

Having a fun theme is a great way to personalize your childs room.

Ready for Reading

Whether its a desk or bean bag chairs, a reading area is helpful when its time to unwind.

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With rent rising and family sizes decreasing, millennials have started to opt for smaller alternatives when it comes to real estate. Maybe the trend came from IKEA showrooms, the micro-housing wave, or simply from growing accustomed to sharing apartments with one too many people. The fact remains: people may want to pay for smaller, but they still want to live as large as possible.

The goal is to avoid creating a highly congested space. Thankfully, experts like author and real estate professional Matt Parker have done the homework for us. Learn to make the most of your small space by following these tips from Parker:

Rooms with high ceilings, 9 ft. or taller, help make small square-footage spaces feel large. In many cases, liking or disliking a home has to do with ceiling height.
Add custom bookshelves high on one wall in a room. This creates a spacer for your eye, drawing your glance up and making the room appear larger.
Use large paintings in small rooms, one wall only, and you will be amazed how much bigger they feel, says Parker.
Follow this rule: If you havent used it in a year, sell or donate it. Parker recently did this, and removed about 25% of his familys clutter.
When it comes to clothes, consider quality over quantity. According to Parker, folks in Los Angeles often hire a wardrobe assistant who helps them pick four perfect outfits per quarter. Buy really nice clothes, that are really trendy, in small batches, then immediately get rid of them, he explains. What a win/win from a fashion/lifestyle standpoint!
Use a stand-up desk instead of a sit-down desk. Sit-down desks occupy about 100 square feet, explains Parker.
In small rooms, install a very large custom mantle. This lends a sense of grandeur to a small space.
To make small rooms feel more spacious, decorate with light colors: gray, white, light blues, light yellow, light green, and stick to the same color palette throughout the room.
Large floor rugs make rooms feel much bigger.
Parker also advises against buying huge wholesale quantities of food. Instead, buy one weeks worth of healthy, fresh food each week. You will feel better, and look better, like your home!

I am recommending people buy nicer things, enjoy them more, and live better lives. I am not indicating to stop consuming or become a hermit. Simply be decisive about what you love and eliminate the rest! You will not believe the sense of peace, and style, adds Parker.

As you can see, the trick to living large in a small space is to not be afraid to let go. Freeing up space usually taken up by clutter allows you to enjoy things you actually like. Thats what makes the transition worth it. Well, that and all the extra cash youll be saving!

Matt Parker is the author of Real Estate Smart: The New Home Buying Guide and Real Estate Agent Talks. Parker works entirely paperless and happily lives in a 560 square-foot home with his wife, where he prioritizes living, not clutter.

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Coming up with the down payment on a home can be hard enough, and one way to make a home more affordable is to spread out the mortgage payments over 30 years.

But 30 years can be daunting, and that time can be cut down with a 15-year mortgage. Its a lot more expensive in the short-term than a 30-year fixed-rate mortgage, but pays off through greater long-term savings.

Here are some things to consider when weighing a 15-year vs. 30-year mortgage:

Saving Money
It can be difficult to see the long-term benefits when looking at a monthly mortgage bill that will be 50 percent higher over 15 years instead of 30.

Paying a home loan off in half the time requires a larger payment, of course, but it can save you tens of thousands of dollars in interest charges. Why? Not only is more principal paid earlier, but interest rates on 15-year mortgages are usually better than other loans types.

Heres an example of a $200,000 mortgage at 30 vs. 15 years:

Mortgage type: 30-year 15-year
Interest rate: 4.5 percent 4 percent
Monthly payment: $1,013 $1,479
Total interest: $164,813 $66,288

Thats almost a savings of $100,000 by going with a 15-year loan. Divide that savings over 15 years and its about $555 saved per month.

Borrowers should make sure they have enough income to afford it, are able to manage their household debt and have money in liquid savings for emergencies.

Building Equity
Repaying a mortgage faster not only saves you money in the long run, but you build equity in your home faster, too. If home prices rise, your equity could grow as well.

This is good for many reasons, including making refinancing easier by lowering your debt-to-income ratio. While it wont improve your cash flow, it should make it easier to get approved for a home equity loan or home equity line of credit.

An Easier Retirement
Another big advantageif you plan to retire in the next 10 to 20 years, you won’t have to worry about mortgage payments during your retirement. Instead of a house payment, you can use that money for retirement expenses.

If you continue paying a 30-year mortgage into retirement, you may have to pull money out of your savings to make the payments.

Published with permission from RISMedia.