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Does your family have an emergency plan? This information will help you create one.

Safety How-to: Severe Storms and Flash Floods Safety How-to: Severe Storms and Flash Floods Because severe weather and natural disasters can occur at any time with devastating effects, The National Safety Council (NSC) encourages Americans to develop emergency plans and kits in the event of unpredictable and severe weather. In 2017, 59,985 weat...

Which car are you looking to buy? Don't forget to consider these tips when shopping!

Shopping for a New Car? Game on! Shopping for a New Car? Game on! Dreaming of a shiny new car in your driveway? Then come back down to earth and create a solid game plan. While the prospect of a new set of wheels is very exciting, it’s critical to slow down and make wise decisions—after all, a car is a big investment. Here are ...

These tips from career criminals can help you protect your home and prevent break-ins.

5 Things Professional Burglars Don't Want You to Know 5 Things Professional Burglars Don't Want You to Know Even though a burglary occurs every 20 seconds in the U.S., you can still protect yourself without installing top-dollar security features. Home burglary generally has a pattern; criminals are looking for an easy target they can rob fast. Learn f...

An adjustable-rate loan against your home's equity could backfire if interest rates rise.

HELOC Pitfalls to Avoid HELOC Pitfalls to Avoid A home equity line of credit, or HELOC, can be a convenient way to borrow against a home’s equity to pay for home renovation projects, college, debt consolidation or other major expenses. Most lenders allow up to 80 percent of a home’s equity to be borrowed from the home....

Flooding may be inevitable, but costs of damages incurred may not have to be.

Do You Need Flood Insurance? Do You Need Flood Insurance? Flooding can occur anywhere and at any time of the year. Even if you do not live near a body of water, you could still be at risk. Hurricanes strike large portions of the country every year or a large rainstorm could flood your basement. A blizzard could even dump a foot...

Add more green to your design scheme with plants that are beautiful and easy to manage.

5 Easy-to-Manage House Plants 5 Easy-to-Manage House Plants If you’re looking to add a bit more green to your design scheme, you’re not alone. House plants are a popular way to add fresh beauty, and clean up your air while you’re at it. However, keeping a house plant healthy is a responsibility, even if it’s a small one....

Some first-time buyers are shocked by the full price of homeownership.

Extra Costs That Surprise First-Time Homebuyers Extra Costs That Surprise First-Time Homebuyers You’ve found the perfect first home, and you’re anxious to close the deal, grab the keys and move in right away. However, be aware that there are a host of extra costs beyond a down payment and mortgage bills that often take first-time homebuyers b...

If you're on the hunt for a mortgage, here are some tips to help reduce the cost.

How to Save Big on Mortgage Costs How to Save Big on Mortgage Costs While a myriad of expenses go into buying and owning a home, the biggest nut for most is the mortgage payment. Here are five great tips from Bankrate for reducing mortgage costs—both before and after you purchase a home. First, get pre-approved for your mortgage, ...

How much do you know about your home's drainage?

Drainage: Elevation, French Drains and Flat Roofs Drainage: Elevation, French Drains and Flat Roofs When thinking about your home, it's important to consider the subject of deep pe*******on of water and the havoc it can wreak on your foundation and in your home, if your drainage plan doesn't cut it. The experts at Michael Hatcher & Associates (hatc...

When getting a mortgage, it's important to make sure you don't take on more debt than you can handle.

Should You Borrow the Maximum a Lender Will Approve? Should You Borrow the Maximum a Lender Will Approve? When you apply for a mortgage, a lender will decide how much money it’s willing to give you to put toward the purchase of a house. That doesn’t necessarily mean that you should take out a loan for the full amount. In some cases, borrowing the ...

While certain styles come and go, salvaged wood has timeless appeal.

5 Reasons to Use Reclaimed Wood in Your Home 5 Reasons to Use Reclaimed Wood in Your Home Some things just get better with age, and that’s certainly the case when it comes to reclaimed wood. Brand-new wood floors and ceiling beams have plenty of appeal, but if you want to give your home a distinguished look, you may want to consider salvagin...

Riding a bike is a fun and healthy activity, but it's important to stay safe while going for a ride.

Top 10 Bicycle Safety Tips Top 10 Bicycle Safety Tips People often say that something is “like riding a bike” to describe an action or skill that’s impossible to forget and easy to do once you learn it. Although you likely remember how to physically ride a bicycle, you may have forgotten, or be unaware of, some importan...