Proper Home KC - BHHS Kansas City Realty

Is your home security system a scam magnet? Here's how to foil fraudsters.

Protecting Yourself from Alarm System Scammers If you have a sign in your front yard warning burglars that you have a home alarm system in place, y...

Looking to keep your computer files safe? Take this precautionary step.

Using Encryption to Protect Your Computer No matter how complex your computer password is, it isn’t enough to stop a thief from using other me...

Have kids? It's never too early to start preparing for college, and student loans aren't the only way to fund their education.

Alternative Ways to Fund a College Education The average student loan debt for a college graduate in 2016 was $37,172, according to Forbes. That’...

Check out these pros and cons.

The Good and Bad of Zero-Interest Credit Cards The offer of a zero-interest credit card can look enticing when it arrives in the mail. Who doesn’t ...

Everything in your home should have a place. Even those pesky, unsightly cables.

Minimizing Clutter by Maximizing Storage Looking for space to store your things at home? Everything you own is competing for space in your ho...

Low credit shouldn't stop you from getting a second mortgage to pay off debt or make home repairs. What home project would you use the money for?

Refi Options for Those With Low Credit Scores If you want to get a second mortgage so you can make renovations to your home, it can be difficult i...

Don't put off retirement saving until it's too late.

How to Save for Your Retirement Having a student loan payment each month as a college graduate leaves little room in the budget to c...

Getting your credit report hacked can lead to identity theft. Have you taken the necessary precautions?

3 Ways to Protect Yourself from Identity Theft Checking your credit report consistently for fraudulent activity may not be enough to protect your p...

Which spot do you find the hardest to clean?

5 Overlooked Places to Clean Regardless of how much time you spend cleaning, there are likely to be a few places you overlook. Be...

Banks vary in the fees that they charge. Your best protection against hidden fees is to find out which ones your financial institutions enforce.

Hidden Bank Fees to Look Out For Fees can eat away at your money if you don’t keep on top of your banks enforced regulations. U.S. co...

Looking to invest? Here's what you need to know.

Growth vs. Value Investing: Know the Differences Your investing style and tolerance for risk can help determine what type of stock mutual funds you i...

Check out these quick tips for paying down debt. What do you think?

3 Ways to Pay Down Your Debt Faster When we think about lottery winners, we likely imagine new cars and mega-mansions. But according to ...

Thinking of adding a splash of red to your home? Here's how!

How to Add Red to a Room Love the color red but not sure how to add this bold shade to your space? Below are a few tips. Art....

Are you struggling with high credit card interest rates? Here's how you can avoid interest with three easy steps.

How to Avoid Credit Card Interest The typical credit card charges about 16 percent interest per year on balances, effectively adding $...

Set it and forget it!

Apps to Make Saving Easier Saving for a home, retirement, a vacation or anything else can be difficult. The median retirement s...

Pass along the financial lessons you've learned to the younger generations.

Making Financial Lessons a Family Tradition Teaching children manners and how to tie their shoes is one thing, but financial lessons are often p...

Do you plan to repaint? Don't forget about gray as a color choice.

5 Reasons to Paint Your Walls Gray When it comes to painting your space, there are myriad options: bright and sunny yellow, the classic...

Short answer a lot. What preventative measures are you taking?

Your Credit Card: What's in it for Thieves Online security breaches where retailers are hacked and customers’ credit card information is stolen...

For the home cook! What are your favorite spices to cook with?

5 Spices That Add Flavor but Not Heat Are you looking to add spice to your home cooking, but not heat? Here are five interesting flavors t...

Do you pay your credit card bill in full each month? If not, you could be throwing away cash-back bonuses.

Cash-Back Credit Card Mistakes to Avoid A cash-back credit card can result in 5 percent or more back on your purchases, essentially giving y...

Heard about a recent increase in interest rates? Here's how it could affect your credit card and loan terms.

How Federal Rate Increases Affect Credit Cards and Loans If you’ve ever noticed a rise in interest rates in the news or saw your credit card bill get a littl...

Pro You may not even need wedding insurance!

Pros and Cons of Wedding Insurance Rain, the bride falling into a pool, a wedding cake falling over, and deposit money that’s lost beca...

They add up! Avoid bank fees, like ATM charges, with these tips.

How to Avoid Bank Fees The average bank fee for overdraft protection is $33. Make the mistake of not having enough money in...

Here are some financial priorities newlyweds can keep in mind.

Financial Priorities for Newlyweds Deciding where to live, if you’re going to have children, and who takes out the garbage are some of ...

Too much credit card debt? Here's four ways to manage it with your creditor.

What Is a Negotiated Debt Settlement? If you’re buried by credit card debt, a negotiated debt settlement with your creditor may be worth c...

Here's how to protect yourself from being pressured into buying an extended warranty.

When to Buy Extended Warranty? Usually Never You just bought a new dishwasher, TV, tablet, refrigerator or other big-ticket item you’ve been want...

Guests on the way? Here's how to fake a clean home, fast!

How to Fake a Clean Home in 15 Minutes We’ve all been there: guests are scheduled to arrive in 15 minutes, but you got caught up, and...

Lose your wallet? Call the credit bureau and ask for a fraud alert. Here are some important steps to take.

Steps to Take After Identity Theft Reacting quickly is essential after you’ve been the victim of identity theft. It can lessen the dama...

Avoid becoming a victim of debt collection scams by paying attention to these red flags.

How to Check If a Debt Collector Is Legitimate Figures from the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) show that about 70 million people—more ...

Want to refinance your home loan? Start by improving your credit score.

How to Get the Best Mortgage Refinance Rates If you can find a lower mortgage rate than the one you already have, then refinancing a mortgage can...