Credit card debt can help establish a credit history"a good history if you have a record of paying it off on time. Late payments can hurt a mortgage application and a poor credit history can be worse than having no credit history at all. Without a substantial credit history, however, home lenders may be unlikely to approve a mortgage application.

Here are some other things that can lead to a mortgage application rejection:

New Credit Opened Recently
Opening a new credit card or two a month or so before applying for a mortgage can lower your credit score by five points. That shouldn’t hurt your mortgage application if you have good credit, but if you’re on the cusp of qualifying, it could be enough to have your loan application rejected. Wait until after you’ve moved into your new home before applying for more credit.

Unpaid Medical Bill
Not paying a medical bill can lead to your doctor’s office or hospital asking a debt collections agency to try to get the money. The debt collector could notify the credit bureaus that you’re overdue, which could put a red flag on a mortgage application.

At least try to work with the medical provider to set up a payment plan. This will show a mortgage lender that you’re serious about repaying your debt and are working on it, and could be the start to getting your mortgage application approved.

Job Change
Getting a new job is a good thing, but changing jobs just before applying for a mortgage can show banks that you don’t have a consistent income history. Lenders want to see at least two solid and consistent years of income history. Changing jobs on your own is normally a good thing but, in this case, you may want to wait until after your home loan is approved and you’ve closed on a house.

The lender may give you some leeway, however, if you were laid off and didn’t have any control over your employment.

Lying
Exaggerating your income on a mortgage application may seem like a minor offense; however, lying about your income or anything else"such as trying to hide debt or a down payment source"is mortgage fraud. That’s reason enough for automatic denial.

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Looking to update your living room vibe? Try a fresh paint color that can have a big impact on the look and feel of the room.

Deep Blue

This rich shade will give your living room a sophisticated look. Use a matte finish for a suede-like feel or a gloss for a more regal vibe.

Pale Peach

Neutral hues like pale peach help add warmth to a room and help balance

Crimson Red

This shade of red adds warmth to a room. It pairs well with neutral-toned furniture as well as bold colors like golds and greens.

Hushed Blush

This warm, neutral shade provides a great backdrop for any colors in your room, especially accents of green, blue and red.

Teal Blue

Looking to be a little adventurous? This shade is the perfect balance of blue and green"a great choice for a clean, modern living room.

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A student credit card can help as a college students first credit card, though it does come with some conditions.

First, a student will have to do more than attend college. Theyll need some type of income, and without any credit history, a card may be difficult to be approved for.

One way to get around this is to get a secured credit card, which requires a cash deposit of anywhere from $300 to $5,000 as collateral. The deposit will be paid to the card issuer if you dont pay your bill. Secured cards may have high activation fees, as well as annual fees.

Some secured cards allow customers to move to unsecured cards, which simply means that you wont have to give the lender a deposit after 12 months of good credit behavior, such as paying bills on time.

Other credit cards aimed at students allow co-signers, or people you know who have an established credit history and will be responsible for the bill if the student doesnt pay it. Such a card may be needed if you dont have a steady income and are applying for your first credit card.

Most student credit cards dont have sign-up bonuses, rewards points and other perks, though some offer lesser rewards for newbies; however, that shouldnt be the point of getting your first credit card as a student.

The main point is to use your student credit card as a tool to learn how to responsibly use and manage small amounts of credit, pay bills on time, and spend within your means. Students are unlikely to buy big purchases with credit cards, but to pay off what they can afford each month without paying interest.

Starting good credit habits early in life can pay off years later when you want to get an auto loan, home mortgage or apply for additional credit cards.

If you dont use your credit card well, remember that any negative information can stay on a credit report for seven years in most cases. That can be a long time until youre able to qualify for a credit card at all, let alone one with a good interest rate.

Published with permission from RISMedia.

Published with permission from RISMedia.

Water
Pools and hot tubs may look appealing to kids, but they can be deadly. Ponds, lakes and streams can also pose a threat to your family. Even if kids only sneak outside unsupervised for a minute, they can drown, even in shallow water. If you have a pool or hot tub in your yard and you have young children who live with you or visit, install a fence with a locking gate around it or cover the water when not in use. If there is any natural body of water in your yard, put up a fence to keep your kids away. Never leave a child unattended in or around a body of water, even for a few seconds.

Gardens
Gardens can be beautiful to look at, but they can be hazardous to children and pets. Young kids like to put things in their mouths, and they could ingest dirt, fertilizer or mulch if no one is watching. Some common garden plants and types of mulch and fertilizer can be poisonous to pets. Thorny bushes can cause cuts that can become infected.

Grills
A grill can be extremely dangerous to both kids and pets. If you are having a backyard barbecue or picnic, keep your pets indoors. Your kids will obviously want to be included in the party, but make sure that someone (not the person using the grill) keeps a close eye on them at all times. Find a fun activity to keep the kids occupied while an adult is cooking. Keep the grill covered when not in use.

Window Wells
Window wells can create a tripping hazard that can lead to twisted ankles, broken bones, cuts and head injuries. These accidents could be fatal to children or pets. If there are any window wells in your yard, have them covered to prevent accidents.

Trampolines
Many kids love to jump on trampolines, and they may even learn to perform flips and other acrobatic moves; however, landing the wrong way can cause a sprained ankle or broken bone. A child can fall to the ground, sustain serious injuries and possibly hurt others. Two or more people using a trampoline at the same time can increase the chance of an accident. If you have a trampoline, ask a qualified person to teach your kids how to use it safely and install netting around the trampoline to prevent falls. Make sure kids are supervised when using the trampoline so they dont attempt any unsafe stunts.

Make Your Yard Safer
Your backyard should be a haven for rest and relaxation, but it can also be a dangerous place. If you have children or pets, look around your yard for hazards and make any necessary changes to protect your family.

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Here are a few tips to help search for the perfect residence to age in place.

Walkability

A neighborhood where you can easily walk to restaurants, shopping and entertainment will only become more desirable with age.

Space Considerations

An important factor is having a home thats manageably sized and meets your needs.

Luxurious Features

Whether its a backyard oasis or a luxury building with every imaginable amenity, identify the features that are important to your lifestyle.

Accessibility

A single-floor residence is generally the preferred choice when purchasing a home where you can age in place.

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A spouses poor credit score wont hurt yours, and credit reports for both people dont merge when they get married, but continued poor credit habits by a partner can affect each persons credit score if they have joint accounts together, such as a shared credit card.

Here are some ways to help your partner improve their credit score without jeopardizing yours:

Check Credit Reports
You first need to know how big the problem is before you can fix it. Start by helping your partner pull their credit report, check for errors and report them so they can be fixed.

Youre entitled to a free copy of your credit report every 12 months from each of the three credit reporting companies. Free reports can be ordered at annualcreditreport.com or you can call 1-877-322-8228. Your name, address, Social Security number and date of birth will be needed to verify your identity.

Tackle Debt
Paying off student loans, credit cards and other forms of debt can improve a credit score, especially if your partner has made late payments in the past. Paying bills on time is one of the best ways to improve a credit score.

Create a family budget and look for ways that both of you can cut expenses. Reducing debt and not taking on more can give your financial lives some breathing room and will ultimately make it easier to buy a home or meet other financial goals together.

Get a Secured Credit Card
For someone with middling credit, a secured credit card can help them improve their credit score without going into debt.

Secured credit cards only allow the user to spend as much money as they deposit in the account. The cardholder puts down a deposit thats usually as big as the credit limit. If they default on payments, the bank keeps their deposit.

Like a regular credit card, payment activity on secured credit cards is reported to the credit bureaus. A consistent payment history will steadily improve a credit score.

Share Credit
There are a few ways to add your spouse to your credit card without hurting your credit score.

One is to apply for a credit card together. The card issuer will review both of your credit histories. Each person will be required to have their own income, so dont expect a large income from one person to be enough for approval.

Another option is to add your spouse as an authorized user on a credit card you already have. Then, the accounts history will appear on your spouses credit report, so make sure the card you have has a good credit history.

Whichever way you share credit, discuss with your partner how theyll use the card, payment limits and payment habits so that problems dont crop up.

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Here are definitions of some of the more complex insurance jargon terms. If you come across something in your policy or your agent says something you dont understand, ask them to explain the terms.

Bodily injury liability: This insurance provision covers costs associated with injuries and death that you or another driver causes while driving your car. Such coverage is usually mandated by state law.

Collision coverage: Optional coverage in case your vehicle is damaged in a collision with a vehicle or other object, such as a tree, when youre at fault. Collision coverage wont reimburse you for mechanical failure or normal wear and tear of your car, but it covers damage from potholes.

Comprehensive coverage: Protects against theft and damage caused by something other than a collision. Damage from fire, vandalism, hail, flood, falling rocks and other events are covered.

Deductible: Amount subtracted from your insurance payout that you must pay first. For example, if you have a $500 deductible and $2,000 in damage is caused to your car, your insurance covers the remaining $1,500. There is no deductible for liability coverage.

Gap insurance: A new cars value starts depreciating immediately after you start driving it. If you lease or finance it, youre responsible for paying the full amount owed if something happens to the car. Collision and comprehensive insurance only covers the actual market value of the car.

Gap insurance covers the difference between the current market value and what you paid for the car. If you paid $25,000 for the car and a year later you owe $20,000 on the loan and the car is worth $15,000 and you get in an accident and total the car, your insurer will pay the market value " $15,000. That leaves you with a $5,000 gap on the loan that youll have to pay, unless you have gap insurance.

OEM: Original equipment manufacturer, or OEM, auto parts are made by the manufacturer of your car to replace parts that are often damaged in auto accidents. These include fenders, hoods and door panels. Parts that are made by other manufacturers are called generic or aftermarket crash parts, and are usually cheaper though equally as safe as OEM parts.

Totaled: If the cost of repairs exceeds the cars value, the car is deemed totaled. With comprehensive and/or collision coverage, an insurer will pay the full market value of the car up to the policy limit, minus your deductible if youre at fault.

I hope you enjoyed this article. Contact me today with your real estate questions!

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Add a Pop of Color

Try a simple splash from the rooms existing color scheme or go bold with a hand-painted pattern.

Get Creative With Textures

From exposed wood to custom plaster ceiling treatments, textures add a new layer of depth.

Incorporate Unique Lighting

Dramatic chandeliers or pendants will take it to the next level while illuminating colors and textures more vividly.

Hang Wallpaper

Wallpaper doesnt just belong on the wall! Traditional patterns and custom-made designs can be added to any ceiling.

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Do it first thing. Self-care is essential, and if creativity is a part of your make-up, filling your creative cup first thing in the morning can completely change the mood of the day. Do you like to journal? Sketch? Make music? Stoke your creative fire by spending 30 minutes in the morning doing what you love while savoring your coffee or tea.

Surround yourself with art. You don’t necessarily need to be doing something creative to feel creatively stimulated. Surrounding yourself with the artwork of others can help, too. Find a few favorite pieces and hang them by your desk so you can see them while you work, or by your bed so you start the day with a creative charge.

Find a social media group. If you’re a social butterfly, you may make more time for creativity if you can do it in a group, even online. If photography or writing is your thing, find a club of like-minded folks. Not interested in getting creative with strangers? Invite your friends to a virtual hangout and catch up. Even something simple like writing or singing together, even virtually, can be a creative release.

Hope you enjoyed this information! Contact me for more tips and tricks.

Published with permission from RISMedia.

Published with permission from RISMedia.

Smart thermostats, lightbulbs, plugs, locks and doorbells are available to homeowners, and the list of things technology can connect to within a home is growing every year.

Here are some smart devices you may want to consider integrating into your home:

Thermostat
With a variety of options to choose from, one of the most popular smart thermostats among today’s homeowners is the Nest Learning Thermostat, which is owned by Google.

The Nest thermostat uses an algorithm to adapt to your preferences, as well as when you leave and arrive home. When you’re away at work, it uses your phone’s location to determine that you’ve left and enters eco mode to save money and energy, reducing bills by up to 15 percent, according to the company.

Floodlight
The Sengled Smart LED Floodlight is an inexpensive way to monitor your home as a motion sensor, while providing light without having to turn the light switch on and off.

Unlike some motion detector lights that require installing new fixtures and possibly wiring, the Sengled Smart LED bulb connects to existing fixtures. Built-in motion and daylight sensors turn the light on automatically for 90 seconds when motion is detected within 30 feet. The light can also be controlled through voice control on Alexa or Google Assistant.

With the Sengled app, you can even receive mobile notifications when motion is sensed.

Smart Lock
The August Smart Lock Pro + Connect attaches to the existing deadbolt and features keyless access. With your phone in your pocket, you can open the door without fumbling for your keys. It automatically locks the door behind you after you leave.

The lock can also be voice activated through Siri, Amazon Alexa or Google Assistant.

Smart Doorbell
Want to see who’s ringing the doorbell? With continuous streaming and video recording, the Nest Hello gives you a 160-degree view and visitor detection alerts. It also has a speaker and microphone so that you can communicate with visitors knocking on your front door whether you’re inside the house"or away from home.

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Living in a small space?

Try these tips to make more room in your tiny home or studio.

– Take advantage of vertical real estate by using wall space to install shelving for books, off-season clothes, and more.

– Hanging storage is king in small spaces, and again, can maximize height. Think hooks to hang your bike or a rack for hanging pots and pans.

– Choose functional furniture that double as storage, like ottomans that open and couches with stash space in the arm rests.

– Create stackable storage on any surface or shelf with a wire rack that lets you stack glasses above your plates, mugs above your glasses, and so on.

Use your space wisely, and youll be living large in your small home!

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You may notice when you get home that your credit card is missing. Or you may get an email from your credit card company that there is some suspicious activity on your account.

Whatever alerts you to identity theft, here are some steps to take immediately after realizing it:

Get on the phone

Depending on the circumstances, you may want to first call the police to report a crime. If someone just grabbed your purse and ran away, the police are obviously the first agency to contact.

Next, call your credit card company and ask that it cancel your credit card and send you a new one immediately. If any charges were made by the thieves, the credit card company should remove them.

With anyone you contact about this theft, be sure to take notes of the names, dates, times, phone numbers and badge numbers of people youve talked to. You may need the information later to track down a police report.

Ask for a fraud alert

Calling one of the three major credit bureaus and reporting an identity theft will allow the credit bureau to put a fraud alert on all three your credit reports within 24 hours. The credit reporting agency must alert the other agencies when a fraud alert is requested, according to the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau.

A fraud alert requires creditors who check your credit report to verify your identity before opening a new account, issuing an additional card or approving a credit limit increase request.

An initial fraud alert lasts for 90 days. It requires creditors to confirm you are who you say you are, such as by calling you to verify a credit request. An extended fraud alert can be placed on your credit report for seven years, requiring the same alerts to verify who you are.

Consider a credit freeze

You can also request a freeze on your credit reports to stop identity thieves from opening new accounts in your name.

A security freeze prevents new creditors from accessing your credit report, which most businesses require to open credit accounts. A freeze wont stop thieves from taking over existing accounts.

Check credit reports

After youve taken the immediate steps needed to deal with identity theft, be sure to periodically check your credit reports, especially in the first year after you discovered the identity theft.

Youre entitled to three free credit reports per year, so take advantage of them and be on the lookout for erroneous information.

Hope you found these tips helpful! Contact me for more insights and info.

Published with permission from RISMedia.