Factors to Consider When Choosing a Mortgage Lender

Purchasing a new home can be one of the best times of your life, but the process can also be stressful and challenging, especially when choosing a mortgage lender. However, you can consider taking steps to make the experience easier for you and your family. Below are some factors to consider when it comes to choosing a mortgage lender.

Credit Requirements

Keep in mind that your credit history could positively or negatively impact the type of loan you are offered, as far as terms, fees, and other essential factors. It would be a good idea to stay updated on your credit report to know what is accurate and to eliminate any negative accounts or false inquiries and debts. Most lenders will give you insight into their credit requirements before you apply, which provides you with time to boost your rating.

Monthly Fees

When purchasing a home, it is vital to create a budget to stay within. Knowing what you can afford and what is too expensive could reduce the risk of most new buyers' mistakes. By letting your lender know what you can afford, they can help you choose the right property within that budget. Companies like AJM Mortgage Inc can give you estimates about monthly payment amounts, making it easier to decide which option is the best for you and your family.

Contract Terms

Before making a final decision, it is vital to go over the various options and understand them as thoroughly as possible. For example, some of the most common terms when receiving a mortgage include conventional fixed or adjustable rates. With conventional, the interest rate will remain the same throughout the loan duration; however, an adjustable-rate can increase or decrease during the loan term, based on how the market fluctuates. It is up to you to understand the different terms and decide what suits your preferences and finances best.

Can You Make a Purchase Alone?

It is common for people to buy a home based on one income, whether single or married. However, leaving your partner off of the mortgage application may not be as easy as you think. Therefore, it is necessary to ask your lender if purchasing a home alone is possible, regardless if you are single, in a relationship, or legally married. Another factor to inquire about is adding your husband to the deed later if that is your preference.

Using the information above could make the buying process more enjoyable when selecting a home and reduce the challenges associated with finding the right mortgage lender.

5 Ways to Use Epoxy for Homeowners

Homeowners looking to protect the value of their homes may be interested in learning about the benefits of epoxy flooring. Epoxy is versatile and relatively easy to install, making it an attractive option for many homeowners. With its durability and ease of use, epoxy can help improve the look and feel of your home’s flooring while also protecting it from everyday damage caused by moisture, spills, and weather. If you’re thinking about adding epoxy to your home, here are five ways that it can benefit you as a homeowner.

Waterproofing

One important use for epoxy is waterproofing. While caulk can be used around sinks, bathtubs, and windows to prevent water from seeping into walls, epoxy can be used to coat hardwood floors. Apply an epoxy coating to garage flooring or even use it as a sealant for your driveway. Likewise, you can maintain your wooden deck by rubbing on an epoxy treatment every other year.

Countertops

Whether you’re refinishing your kitchen countertops or installing new ones, epoxy is a fantastic choice. It allows for custom colors and patterns to be created, meaning you can infuse personality into your home. If you choose an opaque color, you won’t have to worry about future stains or scratches because they won’t show up. If you opt for an epoxy that offers an array of hues, then you’ll have options available to change up your decor without having to worry about discoloration.

Bathroom Showers

In a small bathroom, you want to make sure that every inch of space is as useful as possible. In a shower stall, that can mean choosing epoxy floors instead of traditional tile or marble. Epoxy floors are slip-resistant and watertight, making them great choices for spaces like your shower. You can choose from a variety of colors and finishes to find something that matches your decor perfectly. The advantage of epoxy over tile is the price: it’s much more affordable, so you can put together a bathroom remodel on a tight budget.

Garage Floors

It’s a common misconception that epoxy flooring is only suited for commercial spaces. With a wide range of colors, textures, and patterns to choose from, epoxy floors can be ideal for residential garages, especially when you consider cost-effectiveness and resistance to stains and scratches. It comes in a wide range of thicknesses that can handle heavy loads with ease.

Decks

Epoxy makes a great surface for a deck. The substance is durable and lasts a long time, even in low-traffic environments. People might choose to use other substances on their decks because they’re cheaper, but when factoring in cost per square foot over time, epoxy tends to be less expensive than other options. Moreover, when it comes to safety, epoxy is one of your best bets. It is non-slip and moisture resistant so you won’t have any issues with footing or exposure to moisture if you use epoxy on your deck.

As a homeowner, you have many responsibilities to maintain your home’s integrity. Keep these five benefits of epoxy in mind as you decide if it’s right for your home.

How You Can Avoid Unwanted Fires In Your Home

Your home may be one of your most significant investments. It may be full of memories, and you may still be building other memories. It is, therefore, wise to protect it from any dangers. Not only that, but it would be such a loss when you lose your home and everything inside it from a fire disaster. It has been proven that home fires are also one of the top attributors to fires other than wildfires. When a house fire happens, usually, a smoke damage clean-up crew needs to come and clean up the situation. Although it may be impossible to control your home from ever catching fire, there are things that you can do to reduce such risks. Let’s go over them.

Avoid Leaving Open Flames Unattended

You may need to ensure that you are present whenever there is an open flame in your home. Whether you are cooking using your stove or using candles as your lighting source, you should always ensure they are attended to. The stove should first be turned off whenever you leave the said location, such as your kitchen. You also need to ensure that anything that can catch fire easily, such as curtains or blankets, is kept far from the open fire.

Store Your Flammable Items Properly

Flammable items may include your cosmetic products, such as your hairspray or even household cleaners. It would be wise to keep them far from heat. Exposing such items to heat may appear in their combustion. As a result, if you are not around that area, fire can quickly start, and spread pretty fast.

Check On Your Electrical Items Regularly

One of the causes of home fires is electrical fires resulting from electrical faults. There are those times when there may be an excessive flow of electricity on the electrical devices. As such, you may experience a surge in electricity, resulting in a fire to break out. It would be best to use surge protectors for your electronics. The excess electrical flow is eliminated when you have surge proctors in your home.

Regularly Check On Your Heating System and Dryers

Your home’s heating system and dryers need to be regularly cleaned. They often accumulate dust which gets trapped inside their lint. They should, therefore, always have a regular change of the filters. Failure to remove dust from the filter lint may result in a home fire. The reason for this is that dust is quite combustible, especially when exposed to lots of heat. You may need to hire professionals to regularly check and maintain these systems to be sure of their efficiency in performance.

In conclusion, it is no doubt that home fires can be disastrous. You don't only risk losing your items but may also be a risk to your life, especially if you are in the house during the fire breakout. Therefore, finding ways of reducing such risks is paramount.

Ways To Add a Vintage Touch to Your Bathroom

Do you love the aesthetic of vintage clothing and wish you could bring this style into your home? Believe it or not, a great place to start is by transforming your bathroom. Discover a few easy and creative ways to add a vintage touch to your bathroom.

The Classic Claw-Foot Tub

When you hear the phrase “vintage bathroom,” what image comes immediately? For many people, it might be the image of a beautiful claw-foot tub. You can scour your local thrift stores and flea markets to find an authentic vintage piece, or you can opt for a modern take on the classic claw-foot bath. You might be surprised to learn that modern claw-foot baths are available almost everywhere, and you can find many online.

Repurposing Old Mirrors

If you decide to go after a genuine antique claw-foot bath, pick up a few old mirrors at your local antique shop as well. These mirrors often feature decorative frames, making them a great art piece. Or, with a little white vinegar and some elbow grease, you can clear up that foggy old mirror and repurpose it into your new bathroom mirror.

Swap Out Your Finishes

Consider updating the finishes on your exposed bathroom fixtures to something with more character. If your pipes are chrome or gold now, consider “downgrading” to a more classic-looking brass. Brass comes in various finishes, so you can choose to keep it looking shiny and new or distressed and antique. Remember to match your new claw-foot tub. And note that real brass tarnishes over time, but the cleaning steps to help your brass fixtures last are simple.

These small changes can bring your whole bathroom together in a cohesive style. You could even implement these tips throughout the rest of your home, too, by finding more mirrors and adding more brass accents. Once you’ve tried these ways to add a vintage touch to your bathroom, you can set your sights on the rest of your home.