Need seven tips to sell your house?  Here you go:

1. Clean up.  This is the time for a really deep clean.  If you don’t want to do it, hire a company to come in and do it for you.  You’ll want to fix any imperfections that might be obvious to potential buyers.
2. Declutter and arrange.  If you aren’t using that treadmill, now is the time to get it out of your house. You basically want to simplify each room.
3. Don’t forget the closets! As a buyer, I can tell you that I looked in the closets of every house we looked at. You don’t wanted a cluttered mess in there; you want the buyer to see how much storage space you have.
4. Neutralize. You may like the hot pink wall you have in your house. However, most likely, that will be a turn off to a lot of buyers. You are going to want neutral colors on your walls to increase your home’s appeal.
5. Curb Appeal. This is the first impression for the buyer. You need to make sure that the grass is cut, flower beds are planted, and the yard is weed free.
6. Appeal to all the senses. Make sure that natural light is able to get into the house. Scented candles, flowers, or even fresh baked goodies make your home more appealing.
7. Research your price. This is a vital step in getting your home sold. Real estate professionals can be one of greatest assets when trying to determine the value of your home.

These few steps should make selling your house a little easier.

I know one the most harrowing experiences is buying a home and looking at all the choices for mortgages. You would think DNA testing would have to easier than this. Honestly though, it is definitely not that bad once you’ve done it a few times.

Besides the convention loans out there (the ones you put down 20% or more down), you should definitely check the other kinds of programs they have out there.  For example, there is such a thing called Flex/Fixed buydowns. Sellers are able to buy down the initial interest rate for a set period of time.  The buyers then temporarily are able to pay a lower monthly payment.  There is also down payment assistance programs.  I know my bank has over 900 various programs that are offered from coast to coast.  If you are a senior over the age of 62, you could qualify for a reverse mortgage.  With this loan, you are able to use the equity from your primary home with no payments required until the primary residence is vacated.  You can also get Purchase & Renovate loans.  You are able to combine both the financing of a home with funds for home impovements you may need to make.  This allows you to take advantage of those “as is” homes and foreclosed ones too.  The loan amount is based on the value of the home after the improvements have been made.

As you can see, there are several different types of home loans you can look at.  Now, this is just a small sliver of all the programs and loans out there.  There is a program out there for almost everyone that works with theirr needs.

You all know how much I love my credit cards. I am terrible with cash, so at least with the credit card, I know what I am spending. For me, its very important to be able to compare credit cards and have a
credit card rating system for yourself.  Credit Card Club makes this super easy to do.  I love a site that gives me all the credit cards that are out there so I can compare them against one another and decide what works best for me.  For example, we don’t really fly all that often, so a credit card that allows me to earn miles is pretty much worthless to me.  My favorite credit card bonus has to be cash back.  Who can’t use cash?  Another big thing for me is that the credit card cannot have an annual fee.  Why should I pay the credit card company to take my money?  If you are carry a balance, you really need to be looking at cards that have low interest rates. You really have to decide for yourself what you need for your situation.  Make a list, check it twice, and figure out which credit cards are naughty or nice.

I have to admit that Bill and I are extremely lucky. He has a good job, and we have not ever really been over our heads in debt (college does not count). However, I know a ton of people who need credit card debt relief. Heck, if Bill ever lost his job I think we would be in the same boat as the millions of Americans who have had that happen and watched their bills swallow them whole. In this economy, it is good that there are companies who will walk you through your options such as debt settlement, bankruptcy, credit counseling, debt consolidation, and even just doing it yourself. One size does not fit all when it comes to debt, so make sure you check out all your options.

Are you looking for information on Mortgages? It certainly is a confusing market out there, but there is help if you need it. Since I have bought 2 houses and refinanced several times, I do have a fairly good understanding. However, there is so much I don’t even know, and I have been through the process several times. MoneyMagic offers a ton of FREE advice (and quotes) on their site for first time home buyers and even for people who have some experience with this. It is minefield of great information for those looking at mortgages from all angles. You can even talk to an adviser if you need too!