During the first seven years of a 30 year mortgage most of your payments go towards interest not the principle. If you refinance after the seven year period, you are virtually starting over the seven year interest payments. If, you as a homeowner is five years into a $200,000 mortgage at an interest rate of 5.5% and decides to refinance at a 4% rate; after fifteen years you will owe about $145,000. This would give you about $55,000 in equity in your home. If you hadn’t refinanced, with the same mortgage, you would owe about $139,000 and have $61,000 equity in your home. So, use the calculators that are available online or at banks and lender to help you decide if refinancing is worth it for you. Some, especially in today’s horrible economy have to lower their payments in order to hold onto their homes, no matter what the numbers say.

Don’t Forget the Closing Costs

Closing costs are usually about 1.5% of the total loan amount. Borrowers should compare those expenses to the amount that they will save each month with a lower interest rate. And find out how long they will need to be in their home before they can recoup the savings. Many lenders are now offering to lower closing costs which may or may not be a big help to some borrowers. Again, use the online calculators and talk to your lender to make sure a refinance of your home can truly save you money. How long you intend to stay in the home is a large factor in deciding which loan to go with. If you will not be staying there for more than 5 years, you should definitely look into a 5/1 ARM. The interest rate is usually a full percentage point or more, lower than the 30 year fixed mortgage. The interest rate stays the same throughout the 5 years and then adjusts once every year after that. And that adjustment could raise your mortgage payment quite a bit.

A Nasty Trick

You should never stop paying your original mortgage payment until the refinance is completed and you have the signed papers from the bank telling you what your new payment will be. Many homeowners have been caught in this ‘no man’s land’ trap. You think everything is going smoothly, so you start paying your new refinance payment and then you get a letter saying that you have missed a payment and your refinancing interest will now have to be changed or worse, you no longer qualify for a refinance because the missing payment lowered your credit score. It is an unfair and a devastating trap. So, to protect yourself, keep paying your original mortgage payment until you have all the finalized paperwork in your hand. Keep calling the lender for updates. Protect yourself.

Red Flags – Ask Questions – Do Your Homework

Lenders touting no or low closing costs should be thoroughly checked out. Ask questions like how high are the interest rates if I don’t pay closing costs? Many times there are low or no closing costs but your interest rate is much higher. Lenders also have to give you a good faith estimate of the details of the mortgage and the fees to complete the refinance. Review it carefully; sometimes the lenders will include closing costs in the mortgage. You may want that or you may want to pay them upfront and not carry the interest on them for years on your mortgage payment. You should also ask if the great interest rate is because you have to pay “points” and if the interests would be higher if you didn’t pay the points. One point is usually one percent of the loan amount and is an out-of-pocket expense. There are many things to consider before you decide to refinance and things to look at closely if you do refinance. Do your homework and protect yourself.

If you have an iPhone you can get an app for about anything you can think of. Some apps are so useful and are a must to make life so much easier; others, well, you wonder about the people who thought them up. Investment property is big business right now. Investors seasoned or brand new are out there looking for the best deals around, before some other investor snaps it up. There are several apps out there for you to try, like Zillow’s or other real estate firms that have developed their own. But a new one called HomeSnap by Sawbuck Realty; a D.C. online real estate firm is pretty interesting. All you have to do is point and click your iPhone camera at a house that you are interested in and you can find out about the house. Apps for the Android phones and iPad are also in the works.

What Information do you get?

You could be out walking your dog and see a home that you really like, take a picture and even if it isn’t for sale, it should give you the basic data like square feet, number of bedrooms, bathrooms, and an estimated price. Plus, you will receive information for similar homes for sale, all in about one minute. If the home you snap is for sale, you will get even more detailed information. You will get the name of the listing agent and number, the price and the estimated value of the house, any contracts or bids, interior photos or virtual tours, it will also give you information and ratings of local schools and information of similar homes for sale in the area. It can also rate the relative appreciation and investment value of a home, over 10 years, compared with the average. Some Snaps reveal previous sale dates and prices and give you a name and number of a buyer’s agent to call and get more information. And if you are a buyer, you want a buyer’s agent, not the seller’s agent. You want an agent who is working for you and your interests not the seller’s. This could be the property investor’s dream gadget. You may be able to get in there before the home becomes a bidding war. You might get an extra good deal or it could save you from looking at a lot of really bad homes. Not all information may be correct so it is a good idea to call a buyer’s agent. The app has a place for you to report misinformation.

Will you be pursued by a Sawbuck Agent?

The real estate firm says no; not unless you specifically ask for one.  And this app works throughout the whole country. One of the differences of this app is that you don’t have to type in any address or scroll through lists of homes. And you can keep it all private for those of you who may get bored one day and snap all your neighbors and friend’s homes, and they will never be the wiser. That part does sound a little creepy, but if you are trying to sell your home; it definitely could help bring buyers. The application doesn’t actually have photo recognition of the house you snap, but it uses the iPhone’s GPS to identify the house and then gets the details from a server in the cloud. You can share with family and friends that have the app or through email and they can see what you see and vice versa. This free app can definitely be of help to investment property buyers, to get through homes faster and find the properties that meet their criteria. And in the investment property game being there first is a big advantage to avoid bidding wars that boost up home prices.

Before you do anything you need to know a few things. The first is the value of the homes you are looking at. This is a good point to hire an investment property adviser. They can get you the comps that are necessary for you to know just what you can ask for the home. Without these comparables you will have no idea what the house could be worth and can’t work out a budget for repairs. Advisers will have these comps for you. The value of the home is most important to know. Without it you should not even be thinking of investing in foreclosed properties.

Due Diligence

This covers a wide array of information that you need to know in order to do the deal. You need to know and understand the foreclosure laws in your state. Each state is different.  You need to know what you can and cannot do in dealing with an owner, whether your state deals in mortgages or Trust Deeds and time frames. You will need to know if you have the investment money to carry you through the whole process from beginning to end. And very important you need to know if there are any back taxes, liens, wrong information on the home or its statistics, and any leased land. This knowledge is a must. Your adviser will usually find out all these things for you, BUT, this is your investment foreclosed property and don’t leave anything to chance. Do your homework.

Pre-Foreclosure

When deciding to invest in a foreclosed property; finding out which homes are in pre-foreclosure can give you an edge. You could deal directly with the owner. This may also give you another advantage; the home will not have been vacant or neglected for as long as other foreclosures, which will hopefully cost you less money for repairs. This is a win-win situation for you and the owner. Their home will not go into foreclosure and their credit will be a little frayed; but not destroyed. You can find the pre-foreclosure information in newspapers, the county recorder’s office, but the easiest way to find this information is to subscribe to a service that provides you with all you need to know to move forward.

Purchasing the Investment Foreclosure Property

Dealing with banks and mortgage lenders can be a long and arduous process.  Some banks will hold out for the highest price that they can get and others are more motivated to get these foreclosed properties off their books. You will need fresh information about these properties. Your adviser can help you a lot here. If you can make an offer on investment foreclosure properties that need a lot of work and before the bank puts any money into the property; you have a much better chance of the deal going through. Banks are like dealing with the government; they work at a snail’s pace, stuck in all that red tape. Make sure when you place your offer it has a limited acceptance period. That way if the date passes, you can go onto something else if necessary. Also, when making an offer, be realistic about the property, your requirements and the bank’s position. Do the math and make sure that you have the funds to fix up the property and the expected income after it is rented. Make the lowest offer you can without breaking the deal; a close to fair market offer and you just may have an investment property. If you really want to pay the very least you can; you may want to go after the ugly, damaged and left on the market for a very long time properties. These are properties that everyone wants to get rid of; you could get a pretty good deal on this kind of property. And on the other hand, you may want to look at the overpriced properties. Most of the other investors will be looking at the cheap homes. You may hit the jackpot; the bank or homeowner may have had enough and take a much lower price just to rid them of the property and you will avoid the bidding wars of the cheaper investment properties. Having a property investment adviser can be a real help especially if you are a first time property investor. They are with you from beginning to end of the whole process and know contractors and tradesmen that can help you make your investment foreclosure property into a cash cow, whether you intend to sale it or use it as a rental property.

Since the beginning of this Country, it has been the dream of every American and immigrant to own a home and a piece of land to go with it. Over the years, the population has grown and that piece of land has been shaved down to less than an acre for most Americans. And for the most part, we have been fine with that; as long as we owned our home. The last four years have not only cost our Country dearly; it has also cost each and every American dearly. Our lives have changed; our security is gone and replaced by fear of what is to come. We have a national debt that has grown, with this President, substantially more, over the last 3 ½ years than all the other President’s combined.  Every family in American knows that such a debt cannot be sustained. Millions of Americans have felt the crushing blow; as their financial debts have crushed them and they have lost everything. And I don’t just mean our homes and cars; but our security and self-esteem. And let’s not forget our good credit that affects every part of our lives.

Rentopia

So many millions of Americans are now renting instead of buying. With this balancing act our economy is going through, comes a weak job market in most of America, college graduates not getting jobs after all that time and money, the credit of more than half of America in the tank, the cost of goods and services on the rise, and higher taxes looming, I could go on but I won’t; renting is winning over home ownership. The mobility of renting could actually be quite freeing. If you lose your job, there is no home to sell in this bad market. If you are lucky enough to find another job; you just give your 30 day notice, pack and you are out of there. There are no costs for home repairs and most landlords take care of yard maintenance and some even take care of utilities. If you have a problem, all you have to do is call, the landlord or Management Company and someone will come and fix your furnace or AC or appliances. Most landlords will allow you to paint and hang pictures as long as you put it all back the way it was before you moved in. Pets can be a problem in some rentals; but there are plenty who will allow them with a deposit. And any improvements you want to make; as long as you run it by the landlord are usually appreciated. What’s not to love? You are no longer tied to a home that you owe far more on than it is worth. You no longer have to pay property taxes or home insurance. And rental insurance is only about $100 a year.

America has Changed

Renting seems to be the only option for millions of Americans and a smarter option for many millions more. Home ownership has dropped to the lowest it has been since the Great Depression. Americans are holding their breath; waiting to see what will happen next. No one can imagine the magnitude of pain and devastation that could come when America’s bottom drops out. Our children may never know the greatness of America because of people, who, like the socialist liberals who don’t care what happens to America. They are safely above it all. It is us, the people, who will suffer the ruination of America. We are being brainwashed that will only be the rich who will suffer; but in reality it will not only affect the rich, but the middle class, and mostly, the very poor who will no longer be able to turn to the government for support. There will be No More Money! Perhaps the Obama Administration and his liberal democrats in the Congress may want to re-watch the 1986 movie” Top Gun” again. And listen for this line that seems quite appropriate for today, “You don’t own that plane, the tax payers do! Son, your ego is writing checks your body can’t cash.” Our government is definitely writing checks America can’t cash.

We should be seeing more home sales throughout the Country. The interest rates are the lowest ever and home prices are at their lowest in years. It is traditionally, the perfect time of year for home sales. Families want to purchase a new home and be situated before the next school year. First time home buyers in most cases can now afford the homes they have been dreaming of. What is the problem? I realize the unemployment numbers are skewed and don’t include all of the people who had been or want to be working. The employment rate is the lowest it has been in decades. And how many more workers do we have in the Country now? So someone is not telling us the real truth. The biggest road block to the housing recovery is jobs. I don’t care what the government comes out with, it can’t be true. I talk to people all the time that have lost their jobs and I don’t mean when this all started; when millions lost jobs. I am talking about now. These people are forced to work at jobs that pay less and that they are over-qualified for just to keep food on the table. So, if you don’t have a job; you’re not going to be buying a new home. Then there is the problem of credit. Over half of Americans do not have the credit to qualify for a mortgage. They are unable to pay their bills on time due to job loss, the loss of their homes, cars and good credit.

The Mortgage Business is Anxiously Waiting

Banks and mortgage lenders are anxiously waiting for the Fed to come out with their new regulations for consumers to qualify for a mortgage. Over the past several years, banks have knotted their own purse strings when it came to lending money for mortgages. They tightened their own regulations making it very difficult for anyone with a credit score lower that 740 to qualify. Well, so much for using all that bailout money to help average citizens buy homes and small businesses to grow. But, that is the government’s fault for not stipulating what the banks should use (our money) for. At a conference on Monday, Lewis Ranieri, a widely followed investor and a pioneer of the mortgage-backed securities market said he thought that the housing market had bottomed out but the lack of credit and pending legislation have kept both homebuyers and lender from increasing activity in the market. He also added that the flow of credit for homebuyers is very constrained and the uncertainty of how regulators will define the new set of lending standards has stunted the recovery. Many lenders are afraid the government will only make the loan restrictions tighter. Mr. Ranieri said, “I truly believe the future of our industry is decided in the next eight months, there’s a regulatory movement – as well intended as it may be – not only trying to fix [the market], it’s trying to change it.”

It is Time for Some Truthful Good News

Every day you can read conflicting articles or hear conflicting experts tell us why the housing market is recovering slightly or why it is at a stand-still or why it is still has further down to go. To me it is just common sense; we have to get people back to work and get the government out of everybody’s pocket. People are not working at these made up jobs the government keeps coming out with. Businesses are still suffering and are still reluctant to hire all their employees back. We need jobs; with people working they will be able to establish good credit, they will be able to afford and qualify for a new home. We won’t have to borrow from countries that hate us. We will be able to take care of our own again. And along with those jobs, we need to stop stepping on the necks of those who work hard, stand out and make a good living. They should be applauded and emulated so that more and more Americans can be successful. When people have work, they have self-esteem and confidence. We need to get our confidence in America back and all the other problems will fall into line.

For the last several months we have heard from experts, right and left, that the flood is coming; build the ark and batten down the hatches. The flood of foreclosures and short sale inventory was soon to be released by the banks that had been holding them back until the Big Bank Settlement was complete. This spring and summer was to be the time to enter the ark and hold on tight. Of course, no one is definitely saying that there won’t be a deluge coming, and so we wait again for the rain to start falling.

Foreclosures and Short Sales

Over the past 4 years we have seen a growing sea of foreclosures and short sales. Millions of Americans have lost their homes to foreclosure. According to data released this week by LPS’s  “Mortgage Monitor” and CoreLogic, the foreclosure inventory still remains at historic highs and newly started foreclosures are up 8.1% on a monthly basis, but they are still 31.1% below March of last year. In March, 69,000 foreclosures were completed compared with 85,000 one year ago. Herb Blecher, senior vice president of LPS Applied Analytics, said, “What we’re seeing so far in the data, it doesn’t amount to a flood. There are regional burst of activity here and there, but not that wave of foreclosures that people were expecting,”

A Possible Reason for the Calmer Seas

A possible reason for the calm (before the storm); could actually be the reason people were expecting the flood. The Big Bank Settlement that was agreed upon in February. Many expected the flood gates to open immediately; but as with everything else, there is always a lot of red tape to unravel. The deal required banks to spend $17 million to help homeowners and deciding who gets what and why could take a long time. About $10 million has to go towards mortgage principle write-downs to help prevent some homeowners from going into foreclosure and short sales; where the banks will sell the homes for less than the homeowner’s mortgage amount. This scenario is what makes some experts think that we have seen the worse and we are finally leveling out. This scenario is also making some experts afraid that once all is worked out, the flood gates will then open. The truth of the matter is that no one really knows what is going to happen. There are still millions of potentially troubled loans out there in the “shadow inventory”, a holding cell for millions of homeowners wondering if they can hold on or if they will be part of the big flood to come. In my view, it is always good to be prepared for the worst and enjoy the miracle when it comes. Let’s hope it is the miracle we are all waiting for. A stable economy, housing market and jobs!

First time homebuyers, the market is a lot different for you than it was 4 years ago; which can be a good thing if you can follow a few tips for your first step into this new market. Realtors used to use the term “Starter home” for the first time buyers. Starter home connotes a home that you would live in only long enough to be able to buy a new and bigger home. But, unfortunately, the housing market is no longer what it used to be. But, first time homebuyers can use that to their advantage.

Looking for Your First Home

This first home will have much different criteria that the old “starter home” did. You now want a home that you can live in for the next seven to ten years. So it will have to be larger, close to work, shopping, entertainment and other amenities as well as, in a good school district and a nice neighborhood. That is, if you are planning on starting a family within the next ten years. Luckily for you there are many home that were once far out of your price range; but with the current market are now within reach of many first time homebuyers.

Price is the Highest Priority

First time homebuyers do not have the luxury of equity from a former home to use as a down payment. They have to come up with the money themselves. Parents and grandparents can gift all or part of your down payment. If the gifted money is in your bank account 3-4 months before you apply for a loan you will not have to deal with any gifting laws. In this market you also have the advantage of lower home prices. And one day, you could even have built in equity in the home you buy.  You need to sit with the bank and decide just how much house you can afford and get prequalified and then stick to your price or lower. That way when you find the home you want you can immediately put down an offer.

How big is the House?

When looking for your first home; go for square footage, especially if you plan on adding to your family. All the granite counters in the world will not make up for being squished into a tiny home. You can always add the granite counters later if you really want them. Buying a larger, plainer home with a good size yard, can be a much better deal for your future family. I am only saying put this criteria first. I have watched many young families pass up bigger homes for smaller ones that have all the cool stuff and within a few years and children, they are lamenting that they didn’t go for the larger home.

Home Inspections

Home inspections are a must. Find one that is experienced and knows his stuff, especially, if you are purchasing a foreclosure or a short sale. You need to go through the home several times and take notes and when the inspector comes; discuss your concerns and listen to his. Many times these homes have extensive damage due to neglect or vandalism. You want to know what you are getting into before you sign the dotted line. Things to look for are rotten trim, the smell of mold or water damage, dirty air duct and filters that may affect your AC and heating, a crumbling roof and damaged gutters. Also, check and see if kitchens and bathrooms have been updated. They can be some of the most costly repairs. Good Luck!

People used to buy vacation homes in the touristy places in Florida, Southern California, Cape Code, and the Hamptons. Places far from home and even out of the country. With the way things are going here at home; vacation home buyers are now looking a lot closer to home, to get away. The home prices here at home are looking better and better, with lower prices and low interest rates. Also the rising gas prices for cars and airplanes are making vacations closer to home look more inviting. Jed Kolko, an economist at Trulia, Inc. said that increasingly “people choose second homes that are a shorter drive rather than a plane flight away.” The NAR (National Association of Realtors) has said that the median distance between a home and a vacation home has declined by 19% to 305 miles from 2011 from 2010. Places like Florida, Las Vegas and other beach front states that have always catered to vacationers are still seeing a vacation home rise. And plenty of retirees, who purchase vacation homes and later retire to them; choose warm climates year-round. Vacation homes can be on the coast or if you live inland; there are hundreds of lakes front vacation homes to choose from. If you enjoy the outdoors and live fairly close; the Northwest and the Rocky Mountains are great getaways.

Emphasis on Saving Money

Today’s vacation home buyers are not the traditional affluent; but the middle class and more cost sensitive. With vacation home prices dropping and interest rates low, at 30 year fixed rate mortgage could be just the ticket. Although, many of second home or vacation home buyers are paying for them with cash. And, most buyers are planning on renting out the vacation home when they are not using them; it makes it a very good property investment that can pay for itself.

A Short Drive From Home

“People want to stay within driving distance because they’re more able to maintain the homes, they have better networks in place and friends and family nearby to use and sustain the homes,” said Jon Gray, vice president of HomeAway.com, a website that lists vacation rentals. A survey in March by HomeAway, Inc. found that the most popular markets among vacationers this year are those that can be reached in a drive of four hours or less from home. That makes those markets good investment opportunities for the 91% of vacation-home buyers who plan to rent their properties when they aren’t using them. Vacation homes, like investment properties are usually able to pay for themselves. And a great number of vacation home buyers are paying cash for their homes. This leaves all rent monies to go to maintenance and repairs or savings. Our Country is full of wonderful places for everyone. Do some research around your area and you may be surprised at what you have been missing.

The sale of new homes in this housing market is beginning to grow. New home sales are up 16% this year compared to a year ago. This is due to the decrease in older home inventories. A home builder in Scottsdale, AZ said their new home sales are up 36% from March, last year. Taking this with a grain of salt; new home builders are still a bit squeamish about the future.

Inventory

The home inventory compared to the last few years has declined; which could be the cause of the interest in the new home building, along with all the great amenities builders are throwing in the deal. The lessening home inventory has also caused a slight upward trend in home prices; as there are not as many homes to choose from. Ivy Zelman, chief executive of a research firm; that was among the first to predict the coming housing crisis seven years ago, recently said that she has raised her home-price forecast for the year to a 1% annual gain, up from a 1% decline. She said, “We very much believe we’ve hit bottom”. Inventories are declining for a number of reasons. Many sellers have just simply taken their homes off the market, hoping for housing prices to rise in the future. The housing prices are still at least one third of what they were pre-crisis. And then there are the property investors that are outmaneuvering home buyers for the best properties and have the ready cash to buy the homes right-out.

But, alas, this may only be a temporary fluke. Millions more foreclosed homes are slotted to hit the housing market this year. The settlement with the big banks is done and now all those foreclosed homes are about to be released and re-flood the market, once again, lowering the housing prices for all homes. Especially, for homes that are in neighborhoods surrounded by foreclosures. This can lower your home value by 4% for several years. So, don’t count on the smaller inventories being an advantage for too much longer.

Bidding Wars

At the height of the housing bubble, most of us remember the panic of the bidding wars on homes we loved. You would have to have everything in order (financially, speaking) to even play the game. You would make an offer and then another buyer would make a higher offer and another and another until you were paying far more that the house was worth or that you wanted to pay; just to get the house. It happened in a great housing market; but unfortunately, it is also happening now in a very poor housing market. Lack of homes on the market and property investors are setting up an arena for the bidding wars again. And again, many buyers are being set up to spend much more than the home is worth or they had budgeted for. Again, many of the property investors will pay cash without even looking at the home. And cash wins out over a mortgage most of the time. It is great for sellers, who sometimes make a lot more than the house is worth. As long as it is a cash buyout it is fine. But, if there is a mortgage involved; it gets a lot crazier. To get a loan; the home has to appraise for the loan amount. If a bidding war has increased the selling price far above the appraised price; the borrower is out of luck, unless he wants to come up with the extra cash on his own. Bidding wars are not great for average home buyers. And even sellers could lose out if no one has the extra cash to cover the inflated price. Experts have grave predictions for this housing market as well as those of a turn around. Only time will tell, where we will be next year or for the next several years, for that matter.

Whether you are on your own or starting out as a couple together; you have a lot of fun ahead of you. Hopefully, by now you have an idea of what you like and don’t like. You know what styles of furniture, whether it is traditional or modern, if you like a home full of stuff or maybe you are a minimalist, don’t worry; your style is out there waiting for you. After purchasing a home; a lot of people do not have a big decorating budget, not to worry. You can find amazing pieces on Craig’s List, garage or estate sales, second hand shops, and even e-bay. Just because it is second hand doesn’t make it bad. Many treasures have been found under several coats of paint or stain. You can make whatever it is, yours.

Men’s Décor in Your New Home

Many, but not all, men when they purchase their first home; come from living with a bunch of guys. Their apartment decorated with cinder blocks and wood, futons, and yes, I have even seen blowup furniture. Out with old and in with the new you and a new look for your home. Ikea has many inexpensive furniture ideas. You can go there or any furniture store and have someone else select a whole room for you and it is done. You are all grown up now and the college look is behind you. You need a more sophisticated man cave. One that you could entertain the ladies in; without making them turn around and run. You have more room now; you have a specific place to put dirty clothes and a washer and dryer at your convenience. And they can be used every day. But, it is your home and you need to choose furniture that you like and is comfortable for you. You can soften it up a bit for the ladies with masculine pillows, artwork, and throws for cuddling under while watching a movie with her or to spread over you while you are watching the game with your eyes closed. Men have that power, I have seen it first hand; when the channel is turned and you, bark out, “I was watching that”.

Women’s Décor in Your New Home

Women, for the most part; go about decorating a home in a far different way. They usually want it homey and comfortable. They love color. They look for sensible furniture that is comfortable and long lasting. They decorated with lots of accessories; flowers, books, artwork, family photos, knick knacks, personal things that mean something to them. They use paint to set the tone or go neutral and use the accent pieces to bring in the color. Their rooms are generally cohesive; making the home a place of peace and yet fun. Women tend to bring more of nature into their homes, like flowers and plants. They tend to go for things that match; maybe styles of furniture or color or they may love the more eclectic look or shabby chic.

How do you combine, the two, Together, Peacefully?

Combining the tastes of two different people, let alone a man and a woman can be difficult and frustrating when decorating your first home together. Each side needs to remember to use the word “ours”. It needs to be appealing to both of you. In our family, my husband chose giant leather furniture for the family room. I am 5 feet tall and cannot sit on the couches without my legs sticking straight out. But, he loves them and they fit him. I, on the other hand selected regular sized furniture for other parts of the home in the styles that I like and fit me (close enough, anyway). It is a great idea, if you have the room to set aside a specific place for his man cave things that he can feel comfortable in and one for the spouse that she can have her favorite things in so she can feel comfortable. And then compromise on the rest of the home. Choose colors that you both like and can live with, furniture that fit both of your styles, maybe one style in the living room and one style in the family room. And if you can’t decide on paint color, go neutral and brighten it up with colors you both like with the accessories you choose; like pillows, throws, baskets, and artwork and accent pieces. And whoever does the most cooking should choose the color for the kitchen as they spend the most time, there. It needs to be a happy and inviting color that will draw people in. It is almost always the center of the home. And remember that you don’t have to have everything perfect to be happy in your home. Upgrade as you can and buy furniture that will last, it is worth saving for. Watch the DYI channel or go online and learn how to tile your bathroom, put up a deck or porch, re-do your front and back yards. There are so many ideas out there for you to choose from that can change your home from someone else’s to your very own. Make your home your own.