As we pause to reflect the season, we would like to wish you and your family a very happy holiday. Thank you for being a part of our blog family this year! We are taking a couple of days off now to spend with our families, and will resume posting more great information for you here in a couple of days.

May the spirit of Christmas bring you peace,
The gladness of Christmas give you hope,
The warmth of Christmas grant you love.
-Author Unknown

Please enjoy our Christmas Video Card….

See you soon!

Low Credit Score Home Loans

For the most part, you can obtain a home loan with fair credit. In some cases, you may even be able to get a low rate. Unfortunately, if your credit score falls below 500, homeownership may be impossible. Even with a credit score below 600, your loan options are limited. It's important for anyone contemplating buying a home to improve their credit rating.

Lenders will carefully review your credit report and score before approving your mortgage. Late payments, collection accounts, excessive debts, and inquiries contribute to having a high or low credit score. Mortgage rates are based on credit rating. Therefore, if you're hoping to get a great mortgage rate, which equals lower monthly payments, now’s the time to improve credit.

Save Enough Money for a Down Payment

Because it's difficult for hard-working people to save money for a down payment and closing costs, various loan programs will incorporate fees into the total loan amount. However, if you have bad credit, a down payment can improve your chances of getting approved for a home loan.

The ideal down payment is 20% of the home price. However, lenders are willing to accept smaller amounts. If possible, attempt to have a down payment of at least 3% to 5%. Aside from boosting approval chances, a down payment may help you secure a lower rate.

Use the Right Lender for a Bad Credit Loan

To obtain the best mortgage loan with a low credit score, you need to use a sub prime or high risk lender. Some traditional lenders offer sub prime loans. However, choose a lender that specializes in bad credit loans. You may obtain better rates with a bad credit mortgage lender.

If you have any questions about low credit score home loans, please use the comment link below to ask. Your email address will never be published here.

Money Related Gifts For Kids

Teach your kids a lesson in frugality with these educational, money related gifts. Money Editor Stacy Johnson explains..(video runs 1:22)…

And for you last minute shoppers, some of these ideas might be a quick problem solver for you, and some could last a lifetime!

Home Staging: Get Help Selling Your House

Home staging, a method of presenting a home in its best light in order to appeal to the broadest audience base, has gained recognition through several popular cable television programs such as "Designed to Sell" and "Sell This House." It can range from simply repainting walls to tearing them down, or from changing window treatments to replacing windows. It now offers many more varied services to the client, such as moving in and resettling, event staging, holiday decorating, de-cluttering and organizing and one-day re-design. Home staging has boosted home sales prices on many occassions, as well as quicken the amount of time the home stays on the market.

Getting references for home stagers and checking those references is essential. Home owners should interview staging candidates and visit homes they staged.

The main benefit of hiring a professional to stage your home is that they will look at your surroundings with an experienced and objective eye. They won't be attached to grandmother's antique table, nor will they have the same affinity you may have for that yellow bathroom. They will be able to come in and tell you which items should be removed, what should be added and how best to feature your home.

Whether it's a way to differentiate yourself in your marketplace or sales aid to give higher or faster offers, staging is a tool that all home sellers should add to their bag of tricks.

Cold Weather Moving Advice

Moving can be one of the most stressful events you can go through. Moving in the winter months can add a great deal of other variables to moving, so it is critical that you prepare for anything. During bad weather, everything moves slower than usual so proper planning can equal less stress.

Here are a few tips to keep in mind if moving during the winter is in your forecast:

• This first one may seem obvious, but you'd be surprised how easy it might be to overlook this first tip amongst all the confusion of getting ready to move. Keep a close eye on the weather: Keeping an eye on the weather can make the difference between a relaxing move and one that can leave you stressed out totally. If moving to another state, plan in advance for snowy weather and delay, unless you're moving to a sunny warm spot of course. If you're moving FROM a wintery area, be sure your driveway and walkways are shoveled off for the moving crew and trucks. If it's your new home, remember it may not be shoveled off if it snows. Plan accordingly and bring a shovel.

• Select your moving company carefully: When interviewing a moving company, make sure they have the experience in moving families in all climates. Moving in the cold weather can be a stressful experience, so make sure you have a team that has moving experience in snow, ice, etc… Make sure they have a plan for taking care of your items in bad weather. You don't want your furniture and personal items stuck on a frozen highway somewhere for days.

• Think twice before moving yourself in the winter: Carrying large bulky items in snowy weather and ice can be dangerous to you and the people who may have volunteered to help. A professional moving company knows the ins and outs of moving in all weather conditions. They can keep you safe and keep your possessions from getting damaged.

• Leave plenty of extra time: Traveling in any manner, whether it's driving or flying, in winter months can be delayed for a number of reasons. Leave plenty of time to get to your new home and understand that your movers could be delayed if they hit bad weather.

• As always, prepare your children in advance for the move. It may take longer to move in bad weather so prepare children in advance. Tell them about the idea and give them some time to adjust. Have an honest question and answer session so you can address their fears and let them know you are interested in their thoughts and feelings.

Don't let a winter move be more stressful than it already is. Remember these tips, and Happy Moving!