Sick of paying off someone else’s mortgage? If you want a place of your own, it may seem like this dream is out of reach with property prices continuing to rise in many parts of the country. However, it’s completely possible to get yourself on the property ladder with a little hard work and commitment. Here are some top tips to help you purchase that first property: Know how much you can afford Before you even begin looking at properties to rent, it’s crucial that you have a good idea of how much you can afford to pay. This will prevent heartache if you’re browsing properties and find the “perfect” property that’s out of your budget. The idea is to keep your housing payment as less than 30% of your gross monthly income. Otherwise, you could end up living in a great home, but find it difficult to cover expenses…

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Looking to save money? Start with preventative maintenance on your house. Here are some of the major tasks that can help you protect your home. Keep Moisture in Check Image via Flickr by U.S. Naval War College Knowing where moisture is bound to manifest and how to combat it will save you substantial dollars in the long run. Doing things such as checking the house for leaks, including in the kitchen, bathroom, and laundry room, could prevent a leak from causing serious water damage not just to the cosmetic finish of your home, but also to the house’s structure. An often overlooked but major source of leaks is the pressure relief valve on the hot water heater. You’ll also want to occasionally drain your hot water heater, which increases its lifespan. Another source of water damage is the foundation around your house. The soil should slope down 6 inches for…

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Is it taking forever to get the dirt off your dishes or the shampoo out of your hair? Are simple tasks like filling a glass of water from your faucet becoming frustrating? If so, you probably have low water pressure. There are a few reasons why water may be trickling and not flowing freely from your faucets. Image via Flickr by arturodonate Closed Water Valves Water comes to your faucet via a maze of pipes and valves. Pipes carry the water to its destination, and valves are the doorways that open and close to allow it through. Just like a throng of people trying to get into a building, water needs an open door to enter and flow through to your faucet. The first thing to check when water is coming out slowly is whether all the valves to the connection are open. There are two main doors, or valves,…

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Everyone wants their home to be clean. However, many people don’t realize just how harmful the cleaners they use to keep things tidy are. Most of the popular multipurpose cleaners on the market contain toxins, carcinogens, and other hazardous chemicals that are putting you and your family at risk. Consider this 10-country study that looked at 3,500 people over nine years. During this period, they used spray cleaners once a week. By the end of the study, participants had a 30 to 50 percent greater chance of having asthma. In addition to asthma, cleaners have been linked to a number of other health problems, including reproductive issues, allergies, skin irritation, burns, poisonings, and even cancer. To avoid your risk of developing these conditions, start using healthy cleaners in your home. This will require shopping for supplies that don’t contain things such as volatile organic compounds, also known as VOCs. VOCs…

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I’ve always wanted to live in Miami, and it’s truly the place to be if you like a little (or a lot) of luxury in your life. Today I’m exploring some of the hottest properties in Miami, so if you’re thinking about making a move, read on to learn where the best locations and spots are. Aria by the Bay Want to live smack bang in front of the bay? I do! Aria by the Bay has an amazing atmosphere, and you’ll be able to enjoy all the best sunsets and sunrises right from your own home. If you’ve got kids, you’ll love the volleyball, basketball, and tennis court, and the kids’ play area. And if you don’t, you’ll enjoy the courts and luxurious swimming pool. Icon Brickell I don’t know about you, but I love the idea of living on the edge of the Miami River. Icon Brickell is…

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Eventually, there comes a time when we all need to start slowing down in life. Our bodies sometimes begin having difficulty with everyday tasks, and you may find yourself recovering from surgeries or illnesses. This is often the time that many people begin thinking about selling the family home. Unfortunately, the home that you lived in for so many years and made so many memories in, simply may no longer be suited to your needs. But that doesn’t mean that you need to sell. Instead, it’s possible to make a few smart changes to your home so you can continue to live in it comfortably and safely. Here are some tips to help you stay in your current home: Consider a stairlift Are you finding it difficult to get up and down the stairs? Maybe you avoid going up and down at all costs, and you’re worried that you may…

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Whether a small cottage in the middle of the Kentucky woods or fancy digs in the Pacific Palisades, every property has the potential to be an income earner. Knowing the ins and outs of realty and the law can make the difference between a renting experience that is effortless and one that is rife with drama. With the Internet as a convenient tool and a number of on-site places for resources, owners looking to lease their property over an extended period or those looking for short-term renters have many opportunities to do so. Renting out a place can happen in two ways. The first is to rent the place out without the aid of a property manager. In taking on this responsibility, though, owners not only have to know the law but also must be well versed in handling problems that might arise when leasing a property. For those who…

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People often assume that moving house means having to spend huge sums of money. But that doesn’t necessary have to be the case. Instead, you can actually save a lot of money and make the move in a way that’s affordable if you do a few things. It’s important to get these things right, because if you don’t, you could find yourself in debt. And then things can really start to spiral. So, here’s how to get things right when you move home. Try to Avoid Gaps in Between Moving Out and Moving In When you leave a big gap between when you move out of your old home and into your new one, costs arise. For example, you will have to find somewhere to live until you move into your new place. This will probably mean stumping up the costs of staying in a hotel, which is certainly not…

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Given that the word gadget has been in use since the 19th Century, they have been a part of life for everyone around today. The modern definition of gadget is a broad one. Some people insist that gadgets have to be electrical products to be classed in this manner while other people suggest that any tool or item that makes your life easier deserves to be classed as a gadget. While there may be some debate about what actually qualifies as a gadget, there is no doubt that these devices have hugely impacted on home life. The explosion in consumerism in the 1950s led to gadgets becoming an integral part of home life for many people and families. These devices were utilized to make life easier, allowing people to save time preparing food or cleaning, allowing them more time for enjoyment or rest. The 1970s and ‘80s saw a massive…

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Buying your first piece of property, you probably think that you’re buying a home. It’s important that you don’t think of it this way. Instead, think of that new property purely as an investment possibility. We know, you’d like to consider the property the first step to starting a family. Or, perhaps your chance to own something in this world. However, you can not forget that this is the most expensive purchase you will ever make. In fact, you’ll have to take out a loan just to ensure that you can afford it. Looking at it this way, it doesn’t make sense to think of this property as just something you own. You need to consider the future value; you have to look at the bigger picture. That’s not always easy. This is why we’re going to go through the stages of your home, from buying to selling. Only then…

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