Couples get married, buy a home and begin a family. All is well but, eventually, some small issues arise. Sometimes the small issues are blown out of proportion. People tend to think that marriage should be synonymous with happiness. That is not always the case. It is necessary for both parties to work at a marriage. A good marriage does not just happen. It takes work, negotiations, compromises, and a real respect for your partner to make a successful marriage. Love is not everything. If you are experiencing marriage problems, consider the following as possible solutions:

One of the most important issues in a marriage is communication. Consider taking the time to write down your goals for your marriage and encourage your partner to do the same. Plan to sit down and discuss these goals with your partner. Each of you should listen carefully to what the other says.

Be sure that there are many things you “like” about your spouse. Be specific and comment on them frequently.

Set dates and times to discuss issues with each other. Don’t go into things when you are angry. Wait until you have cooled down and have your discussions at the pre-appointed time.

It is always a good idea to plan date nights together. Hire a babysitter and take turns making the plans. The spouse in charge of planning should consider what the partner would most like to do and plan events around that. The goal would be to make the other person feel like you are really trying to please them.

My local realtor sends out monthly letters on a variety of “value” topics. She believes that the information contained in these letters are things her customers should be aware of for their own benefit. I have seen articles on health insurance plans, home improvements that pay good returns, and, now, sound financial management. Meanwhile, of course, the articles she forwards also serve to remind us of her availability to service our real estate needs, along with those of our family or friends.

This month’s “value” subject is about sound financial management and possibly paying down your mortgage. The article first asks that you consider the following:

Begin your future planning by paying off credit cards with a large balance and high interest rate.

Be prepared for the unexpected costs. Have emergency funds set aside that you can handle whatever comes your way.

Always make retirement plan contributions. This is the best way to plan ahead while growing your assets.

Be sure to plan ahead for major expenses, such as college tuition or new business ventures. Be financially prepared for these events.

Once debt has been reduced and future expenses have been allotted for, it is time to work towards paying off your mortgage. Here are a few different ways to approach this goal:

Biweekly payments result in 26 payments per year. This extra annual payment will help reduce your mortgage debt.

You can transfer your biweekly payment into a separate account and then withdraw your monthly payment from that account. Gradually, you will accrue an additional monthly payment, plus you will be receiving interest on these funds.

Any additional money you receive during the year (tax refund or job bonus) should also be set aside. Be certain to specify that the money should be applied to principal.

Every small contribution towards your mortgage debt brings you closer to your goal. If you pay an additional $20 per month on a $100,000 loan at 6.5%, your savings will be $13,000 over the life of the loan. Wise financial planning can help you reach your goal.

Real Estate Agents, as with most commissioned salespeople, want you to remember them when the time comes to make use of their services. The lady who sold my last house and who is a very successful sales representative, constantly stays in touch with her customer base.

Kathy, my personal real estate agent, is very good at what she does. She considers her specialty to be her extraordinary personal service and is available to help you whatever your needs may be. She waters plants, arranges for animal care, and helps you address all of the unusual things that can occur while moving into or out of a home. She’s a very good person to know, especially when you are relocating. She knows everything about her territory and is more than willing to provide you with any information you need.

One thing that Kathy does very well is to constantly stay in touch with her customers. She sends promotional material on a regular basis. In my home, I have notepads with her picture and phone numbers, promotional key rings and a variety of other useful items that will always keep her foremost in my mind. Her latest means of contact has been to send a newsletter about home-related topics. There are tips for getting ready for winter and articles advising you how much of a return you will get on specific home improvements in today’s market. All of her efforts accomplish her goal. They keep her constantly on your mind so, when someone indicates a need for a real estate person, I think of Kathy immediately and have been able to send some customers her way. I know she will take extremely good care of anyone I send to her and she is very appreciative of the referral.

There are many things we can do when building a new home to make it energy efficient and environmentally friendly, thus making it a “green” home. Although you may not be able to incorporate all of the following ideas into your new home, certainly some of them will fit in with your plans.

Whenever we think of homes, our first consideration is location. In the “green” home thought process, it is necessary to locate your home near where you go the most. It should be close to your job, near a grocery store, and children’s schools. This will save on travel costs as you will be able to walk or ride a bicycle.

The exterior of your home should be made of whatever material is readily available in your area. Of course, it also must be cost effective. Try to design your home around the availability and energy efficiency of particular products.

Consider raising your fireplace to the level where the heat meets the height of the seat cushions. This will make everyone more comfortable and expend less energy.

Digital programmable thermostats automatically correct the level of humidity when necessary.

Consider having an overhang on your home extending approximately 3 to 5 feet to provide summer shading.

Shade trees help keep the house cool while drought-tolerant plants require less water.

A well-positioned porch captures breezes and screening is very beneficial.

Consider a detached carport versus an attached garage to eliminate gas fumes and other toxins from getting into the home.

Consider flooring made of linoleum or oak as they are durable and easy to clean. Linoleum is easy to clean and oak is plentiful and affordable. These are much better choices that importing exotic woods.

Appliances should always be Energy Star certified as they are high quality and more energy efficient than any others.

Many homeowners are very upset over the falling home prices we have been experiencing for the past two years. The home is the largest asset most people have and watching the value slipping down regularly is making them nervous.

When you have money invested in the stock market, there are ways to adjust your portfolio to the current pace of the market. You can maintain a diversified portfolio to balance risk, continue saving money, and invest wisely after thorough investigations.

To begin with, do not let the current value of your home upset you unnecessarily. Despite headlines, most homeowners still have reasonable gains even after the recent declines. Homes were artificially inflated for quite some time and they have now settled into prices more in tune with their actual value. Chances are very good that the housing market will continue with some ups and downs, but the end result should leave most homeowners with reasonable gains in the value of their property.

Today we are living with a buyer’s market and we just have to mentally adjust to the current home values. Homes take some time to sell and many are sold in response to offers from potential buyers. Do not become discouraged as it may cause marriage problems if you and your spouse are always upset. As long as you do not have to sell your home quickly, you will most likely profit on the sale. If, however, you are pressured to sell as soon as possible, then a loss should be expected.

Remember that the housing market works both ways. If you sell your home at a lower value, you will also be able to replace it with a purchase that will be a very good deal. Shop around and make sound decisions and everything most likely will work out very well.

Foreclosures are everywhere. People are losing their homes in record numbers. We would all like to think that this can’t happen to us, but we would be mistaken. It doesn’t take very long to move from a responsible bill payer to someone unable to meet their obligations and be forced to face the loss of their home. A simple life occurrence such as a job loss or a serious health issue can change everything. Statistics show that 32% of people who experienced a job loss fell behind in their home payments. Another 25% found they were unable to keep up with their obligations after a health crisis. With that thought in mind, this would be a good article for everyone to read. Even if you are fortunate enough not to have this experience yourself, chances are you may know someone who is going through this difficult time.

When financial problems arise, regardless of the cause, the first thing a person should do is discuss the situation with your mortgage holder. Call the number provided on your statement and ask what they can do to help you resolve this problem.

Usually a mortgage company will respond by putting you on a repayment plan. This will generally involve reducing, or possibly suspending, your payments for a period of time. You will still be responsible to pay this money, but it will be rolled back into your loan at a later date. Meanwhile, this action will give you a chance to find a job or, perhaps, recuperate from an illness. If this plan does not resolve the situation, it is possible that the company will offer to modify the loan’s interest rate.

If you do not find that your lender is cooperating satisfactorily, you may be able to obtain help elsewhere. One of your first contacts should be with an organization called HOPE NOW. This is an alliance of counselors, mortgage services, and investors who can be reached at (888/995-HOPE).

If you are still dissatisfied with the help you are receiving, it might be time to find a credit counseling service, but be certain that they have a housing counselor on staff. Information on counseling services in your area can be found on the web at www.HUD.gov .

Summer is over and winter is on its’ way. Fortunately we have a wonderful fall to look forward to, but that brings us to the time when we have to start preparing our homes for the snow and cold weather ahead. These are just a few suggestions of ways to prepare for the upcoming changes in season.

If your furnace requires a pilot light, make sure it is “on” at this time. Check and change air filters and vacuum the coils on your furnace.

Be sure to have your chimney cleaned, most especially if you burn wood. Even though you might have a gas or oil-burning fireplace or stove, they should be checked to verify that maintenance is up-to-date and everything is in shape for winter.

Be sure your fireplace is thoroughly cleaned out and prepare dry wood for use this year.

If you use a humidifier in your home, check filters and clean and prepare for winter.

If you do not have gutter guards, you might want to consider them for the future. Meanwhile, be sure all gutters are free of debris and check other areas such as eaves to confirm that they are all ready to function well.

If you have window air conditioners that remain installed during the winter, be sure that you thoroughly wrap the outdoor portion.

Perform yard clean-up and inspect yard and house lighting to be sure everything is working properly.

Consider replacing outdoor faucets with new ones that are freeze-proof. Be sure to drain hoses.

Everyone knows that home purchases and new mortgages have decreased dramatically over the past year. One very surprising fact, however, is that the 2^nd quarter of 2008 showed a 42 % increase in loan fraud activity over the same period in 2007. This is an amazing increase when you consider that the volume of loans decreased by approximately 30%.

There are apparently many ways to commit fraud when filing for a loan, and information regarding many of them is readily available on the internet. These methods of fraud consist mainly of phony income verifications and credit reports, falsified employment records, financial assets being “rented” from others, and inflated appraisals. It is the availability of the necessary forms, etc. (all with disclaimers that they may not be used for fraudulent purposes) that are enabling people to become criminals. Many families are so used to all of the luxuries they have had over the years that they are desperate to continue their former lifestyles. With income down and costs up, they are finding it necessary to lie and cheat to maintain this way of living. It is sad to think that people are willing to break the law simply to maintain their creature comforts.

Another scam being used to obtain a mortgage fraudulently is to search the web to locate what is known as “straw buyers”. These are people with good credit scores and incomes who are willing to sell their financial identities temporarily to unqualified buyers. Of course, they wish to be paid very well for their part in this scam.

This large increase in loan fraud is a direct result of the economic problems facing our country. It is also, however, a terrible statement about the characters and morals of many of our citizens that they would allow themselves to become thieves.

Apartment rentals are frequently difficult to find, especially if you are looking in a specific area. There are many websites available to assist you such as apartments.com and forrent.com. These may help in your search and provide you with several choices. You can contact a real estate agent to learn what the price per square foot is currently in the area you are considering. This will let you know immediately if an apartment is within your budget and priced competitively.

Before beginning the hunt for a new home, decide which type of apartment you are looking for and what amenities you expect to have available. Do you need a place with a swimming pool and gym? Be honest with yourself about how much you would actually use these facilities. These are usually part of large apartment complexes. Is that where you would like to live? Or, would you like something smaller and cozier? You would forego the amenities, but might find yourself with a great location and a landlord who would be in a better position to negotiate with you.

Another decision to be made early is if you would like to live in an older building or a newer one. Older buildings may be less expensive in the long run. Some new ones, however, are trying to entice renters with special offers at the beginning of their leases.

After making your decision regarding the place you most want to live, bring a copy of your credit report with you, along with a completed rental application, when meeting with the landlord. Being well prepared can put you ahead of others, especially if you are looking in a competitive market.

There has been much publicity given to compact fluorescent lightbulbs (CFL’s) being available to homeowners as a cost savings measure.  Many are now replacing their current bulbs with these CFL’s which last much longer and use considerably less energy.  Others have simply replaced all of their lightbulbs so they may save more energy beginning immediately.

When it is time to replace your CFL’s, please remember to recycle them.  Although they are perfectly safe to use when intact, a broken bulb can leak mercury resulting in possible harm to the environment and/or your health.  Therefore, disposing of these lightbulbs in a safe manner can be very important.

There are several options available for recycling the bulbs.  Many Home Depot stores are accepting unbroken bulbs.  Ikea has also offered to collect these bulbs at their stores and some Ace Hardware locations are also providing this service.  It is not a requirement that the bulbs were purchased at these retailers. Additional information regarding recycling is available on the web, or you can call one of the retailers who are assisting with this recycling program.  Recycling is generally free but specific locations may choose to charge a small fee.