QUESTION: I’m thinking about installing new flooring in my home. What are some of the pros and cons of the most popular flooring types?

ANSWER: Choosing the flooring in your home is an important decision, but since several flooring types exist, making a decision can be difficult. Hardwood flooring is both highly attractive and durable. However, hardwood flooring needs frequent maintenance and can warp.

Carpet is a great flooring option if you want something inexpensive that feels great underfoot. However, carpet floorings are also vulnerable to stains and wear out relatively quickly compared to other floors.

Tile is beneficial because it has a long lifespan, is available in several styles, and is simple to clean. Tile floors can be more challenging to install, can break over time, and require regular grout cleaning.

Laminate floors offer a low-cost, easy installation and standard pre-finish. However, these floors are vulnerable to moisture damage and can’t be refinished.

Source: U.S. News & World Report Real Estate

• Flooring,
• March Newsletter,
• Q&A

The holidays are right around the corner and for many, that means gathering with family and loved ones. If you’re hosting a holiday dinner this year, it may be easy to feel stressed or overwhelmed – especially if it’s your first time hosting. However, with good organization and a clear plan, you can make this upcoming holiday meal as stress-free as possible.

1. The first step towards a stress-free holiday gathering is to plan ahead. Before the decorations go up and the grocery shopping starts, sit down and put together a plan. How do you want your home to be decorated? What recipes do you plan on cooking and what ingredients do you need for each? Are there any dietary restrictions in your family you need to work around? What should you make ahead of time and what needs to be made the day of?
2. Once you have your plan loosely organized, it’s time to start putting everything together. Stock up on any pantry items you’ll need beforehand so that you’re just getting perishables when it comes time for the final shopping trip. Put together any decorations in advance for easy set-up on the day of. Get your deep cleaning done a week before your big feast and just touch it up before your guests arrive.

By pre-planning and staying organized, you can eliminate a lot of the holiday stress. With a clean home and all the supplies you need on hand, day-of prep can take as little as an hour or two, giving you plenty of time to enjoy the company of your family and loved ones.

Sources: Familymint.com, Marthastewart.com

Are you looking to reduce your monthly mortgage payments, get a lower interest rate, convert your home equity into cash, or switch to a fixed-rate loan? Consider refinancing your home loan.

But before you jump into the refinance process, remember that everyone’s financial circumstances are different. Loan balances, interest rates, remaining months on the loan term – they all vary depending on each situation. However, there is one thing that is, and always will be, the same for everyone: math. And it’s only after you and your First Class Mortgage Consultant “do the math” that you should decide whether or not to refinance.

How does refinancing work?

Refinancing is the process of replacing an existing mortgage with a new loan. Typically, people refinance their mortgage to reduce their monthly payments, lower their interest rate, or change their loan program from an adjustable rate mortgage to a fixed-rate mortgage. Additionally, some people need access to cash to fund home renovation projects or paying off various debts and will leverage the equity in their house to obtain a cash-out refinance.

Goals for refinancing:

• Lowering your monthly payment: With a lower monthly payment, you are free to put the savings toward other debts and other expenditures or apply those savings towards your monthly mortgage payment and pay off your loan sooner.
• Remove private mortgage insurance (PMI). Some homeowners who have enough property appreciation or principal paid off will not be required to pay mortgage insurance which will reduce your total monthly payment.
• Reducing the length (term) of your loan. For homeowners who took out a mortgage in the early stages of their career, a 30-year mortgage may have made the most financial sense. But for those who want to pay off their mortgage sooner, reducing the loan term can be an attractive option.
• Switching from an adjustable-rate mortgage to a fixed-rate loan. When you have an adjustable-rate mortgage, your payment can adjust up or down as interest rates change. Switching to a fixed-rate loan with reliable and stable monthly payments can give homeowners the security of knowing that their payment will never change.
• Using the equity in your home to take out cash. With rising home values, you may have enough equity to take out a cash-out refinance. This money can be used to finance home improvements, pay off debts or to fund large purchases.

Regardless of your goal, the actual process of refinancing works much in the same way as when you applied for your first mortgage: you’ll need to collect financial documents and submit a mortgage refinancing application before you can be approved.

Is Now the Right Time to Refinance?

Ultimately, it’s critical to crunch the numbers to see if refinancing makes sense for you. Our website has a refinance mortgage calculator designed to help you calculate what your new payment would be.

Even if you’ve been unable to refinance in the past, loan programs and rates are always changing. These changes, along with rising home values in many markets, may enable you to reduce your rate or lower your monthly payments.

But you don’t have to go at it alone! Our mortgage consultants are always ready to answer your questions and guide you along the path to a successful refinancing.

• buying a home,
• mortgage calculator,
• Process,
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Winter weather season is almost here, and the Department of Homeland Security recommends families prepare ahead to survive independently for at least 72 hours in the event of an emergency, and offers tips on creating, updating and storing supplies.

Basic disaster supplies should be stored in airtight plastic bags and placed into one or two easy-to-carry containers such as plastic bins or a duffel bag. Kits should contain:

• One gallon of water per person per day for at least three days, for both drinking and sanitation
• Non-perishable food to feed each person for three days
• Battery-powered devices such as flashlights and a radio equipped with NOAA weather and tone alert capability; or consider a hand-crank radio
• First aid kit
• Dust masks
• Personal sanitation supplies including moistened wipes, toilet paper, garbage bags and plastic ties in case public utilities are unavailable
• Tools and equipment, like manual can openers, a wrench, pliers, a whistle, plastic sheeting and duct tape to shelter-in-place if needed, local maps, backup batteries, and solar or crank chargers for cell phones

Consider unique needs your family may have beyond these basics, such as special foods and medicines or supplies for young children, seniors and pets.

If you have some warning before an emergency, a trip to the market to stock up on fresh fruits and vegetables that can last unrefrigerated for about a week will provide a welcome alternative to uncooked packaged foods.

These essential items can make a difference in comfort and survival during a disaster. Visit Ready.gov for more detailed information and free resources.

Sources: Department of Homeland Security, Real Simple

• Disaster Supplies,
• Emergency Kit,
• First Aid,
• Winter Safety

After closing, the real fun begins; moving into your new home! And, it’s all wonderful and exciting until you start to think about how much stuff you have.

To make moving a little easier, check out the infographic below with things you can do before the moving truck arrives.

• how to move,
• infographic,
• moving day,
• Moving tips,
• new home