No matter where you live, your home needs seasonal maintenance to continue to look its best. This will also help prevent future repair bills — and some can be more expensive than you realize. Here are a few maintenance tasks you won't want to overlook.
Keeping trees trimmed helps prevent limbs from damaging your gutters or roof if a storm brings one or more down. Having this type of damage repaired can easily cost thousands.
Checking to ensure that water isn't pooling next to your home helps to prevent future foundation problems. Skipping this task could eventually cause your foundation to shift or crack. This may also damage your plumbing or other major systems.
Inspecting your home's electrical system and breaker box can prevent a variety of problems, including damaged appliances, potential fire hazards, and the risk of electrical shock.
If you prefer to hire a professional to carry out some of these tasks, an annual maintenance budget can preserve your cash flow. Here are two ways to calculate how much to put aside:
Multiply your home's value by 1% or 0.01. For example, a $350,000 home would require around $3,500 for home upkeep and repairs.
Other homeowners prefer to calculate maintenance costs by size and put aside $1 per square foot. For a 2,200-square-foot home, that comes out to $2,200.
If you're a new homeowner, you may want to check out and download this comprehensive Home Maintenance Checklist.
Source: consumeraffairs.com
For decades, most home buyers have chosen a 30-year, fixed-rate mortgage for lasting affordability, predictability, and ease of budgeting. However, mortgages don't all work the same way.
Most fit into two categories: conventional or government-sponsored. A conventional loan is any mortgage not backed by a government entity. Government-sponsored mortgages are backed by the FHA, VA or USDA. Here's what sets each one apart.
FHA loans were created in 1934 and are insured by the Federal Housing Administration. They're designed to help a variety of home buyers, including those with lower credit scores and lower down payments. Before FHA loans were introduced, home buyers faced major barriers to home ownership, including 50% down payments.
VA loans were introduced in 1944 to help members of the military buy a home after returning home from WWII. Today, they're limited to current and veteran members of the military and National Guard, and some relatives. They don't require a down payment, but buyers may have to pay a funding fee.
USDA loans are backed by the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA). They were introduced to help low- to moderate-income buyers living in designated rural areas. They offer buyer-friendly features like no down payment or private mortgage insurance (PMI) requirements.
If you're thinking of buying or refinancing soon, call your local APM Loan Advisor so you can have an informal discussion about your home financing options.
Source: empower.com
If you locked in a low mortgage rate a few years ago, you probably don't want to give it up. But you've also watched your home equity grow, and you may be wondering if there's a way to use it.
There is. It's called a HELOC, short for home equity line of credit. It lets you borrow against the value you've built in your home while your current mortgage and rate stay exactly as they are.
A HELOC works more like a credit card than a loan. You're approved for a set limit, and you borrow only what you need, when you need it. You pay interest only on what you actually use.
Most HELOCs have two stages. During the draw period (often 10 years), you can borrow and typically make interest-only payments. After that comes the repayment period, during which you repay what you borrowed and can no longer draw new funds.
What homeowners use it for
Home improvements. Fund projects in phases instead of all at once, and potentially add value to your home.
Paying off high-interest debt. Credit cards and personal loans usually carry higher interest rates. Consolidating can simplify things by combining them into one payment.
A safety net. You can open a HELOC and not use it. Since you only pay interest on what you draw, it can sit there for emergencies.
Big expenses. Tuition, a wedding, a medical bill, or a career change. The money is ready when life isn't.
Is it right for you?
A HELOC tends to make sense if you have equity, want flexible access to it over time, and would rather not refinance. It's not the right fit for everyone, and your home secures the line, so it's worth thinking through carefully.
Every situation is different. If you're curious what your equity could do, contact your local APM Loan Advisor to look at the numbers together.
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Finding even a small scrape on your car or truck can ruin your day, and if the guilty driver disappears without fessing up, it may seem worse. However, following these steps can help minimize the hassle and possible expense.
Take plenty of photos. In addition to the damage, take photos of any debris if applicable, such as parts of a broken fender or headlight. Be sure to take additional photos that show where you were parked. If the guilty party was caught on film, photos of nearby surveillance cameras may help identify the driver.
File an accident report. Your auto insurer will need a copy, especially if the damage turns out to be more than a scrape. Depending on where you live, local police may or may not be willing to come out and take your report. However, you may be able to file online or at a local police station.
Call your insurance company. Be ready to provide details such as the time, date and address where it happened, photos of the damage and the surroundings, and a copy of the accident report.
Did the other driver leave a note? While you may call and ask for their insurance information, this is as far as you should go. Getting a quote for damage repairs and presenting it to the other driver may backfire. Their insurance may not cover your repair costs, or the other driver may ghost you when they find out how much it will cost. It's best to speak to your insurance company before making the call.
So... what happens next?
This depends on your insurance coverage, and whether the at-fault driver is identified. If you're not able to locate the guilty driver, you may decide to file a collision claim with your insurer. This may result in a bill for a deductible, which is a set amount you pay when a claim is processed. (Don't know your deductible? You may want to check it right now, before an accident occurs.)
Filing a claim may or may not affect your future auto insurance rates, so this is something else you may want to double-check sooner than later. If you identified the at-fault driver and file a claim with their insurance, your own insurance rates shouldn't go up.
This article is provided for your information. If you have any questions about your auto insurance, deductible, or claim process, speak to your insurance provider.
Source: experian.com
Subscriptions have come a long way from the newspaper plans from the mid-1800s. Today, you can set up monthly plans for just about anything, from streaming television and movies to meal kits and skincare.
While subscriptions are convenient and often earn discounts, it's not always easy to keep track of them, especially when you've set up automatic payments. Also, small monthly payments often cause the illusion that a subscription is more affordable than it really is. Adding features such as going ad free can also drive up your monthly costs.
If you're concerned that "subscription creep" is setting in, set aside an hour to take control. Making a list of all of your subscriptions makes it easy to review with other family members and decide which ones could be cancelled.
Reviewing all your payment methods — debit, credit, and/or online services — will help you add up the exact costs of your subscriptions. You may want to consolidate them all within one account, so you'll always know the true monthly cost.
Other tips to consider:
Look for money-saving options like bundling two or more services. Check out free streaming services like Plex, Tubi and iHeartRadio. If you're not sure about keeping a service, beginning the cancellation process may result in a discounted rate.
Source: kiplinger.com
Zucchini is at the peak of its season this month, so in addition to buying enough to prepare as a vegetable side dish, pick up some extra for dessert. This Chocolate Zucchini Cake is gluten-free and can be baked with your choice of coconut or brown sugar.
If you're ready to prepare for cooler weather, you can achieve some major upgrades to your porch with just one or two planters. They combine color and texture, sending a welcoming vibe to neighbors and guests. You'll also enjoy seeing your own unique designs every time you come home.
Here are some plants and decorative items that you can combine in your choice of pots and planters.
Ornamental cabbage and kale provide a centerpiece that's easy to work around. You can choose from a variety of colors and combinations that include green, purple, red, pink and white.
Chrysanthemums are a fall favorite, and they come in a variety of vibrant colors. If you've chosen a larger pot, they don't mind being next door to an equally large plant.
Trailing ivy comes in several perennial varieties and looks especially attractive when it's trailing the edges of a pot.
Pumpkins can replace fading cabbages or chrysanthemums as cooler weather approaches. You can choose a single pumpkin that fits the vacated space or use several sizes of pumpkins and gourds.
One last tip: as temperatures fall, any live plants that fade or are moved indoors can be replaced with dried flowers, lavender or some birch and willow branches.
Source: brocantemajolie.com