Congratulations on hosting Thanksgiving dinner! Whether it’s your first time or your annual tradition to host, it can be a feat like no other to pull off getting a large and complex meal on the table for friends and family to share! Thanks to the grand aspect of this annual meal, prepping isn’t just a “nice to have”, it’s a true necessity! Our mouths are watering just thinking about the feast to come - cheers!

RIGHT AWAY:

Create Your Guest List 

Think about whether or not you want a sit-down meal or a more casual meal where more people can be accommodated throughout the house - then, invite away! Not only will creating your guest list allow you to make sure your guests know they’re invited and mark their calendars - but you’ll know what

In order to prepare your family to stay healthy in case of an emergency, it’s vital that you prepare a kit of necessary emergency items to keep in your home. A fully-prepared home has food, water, and medication—but that’s just the bare minimum. 

The items we recommend are generally inexpensive, easy to obtain, and appropriate for a wide range of ages. Homes that shelter pets, infants, seniors, disabled, or chronically ill family members should customize our list (below) to provide any special items needed for each person and animal for a full two weeks.

Of course, once you have purchased emergency supplies, you will want to store them properly. Airtight plastic bins from any reputable brand will ensure that your supplies remain clean, dry, and

Removing negative marks from your credit report isn't just for raising your credit score. It's also the key to getting approved for a home loan with a favorable interest rate. Use these strategies to eliminate negative information from your credit report.

Did you know that there are loan programs specifically for those with less-than-perfect credit? Contact Legacy Home Loans to learn about your mortgage options and how you can qualify while rebuilding your credit!

How to Remove Negative Marks on Your Credit Report

Submit a Dispute to Credit Bureau

The Fair Credit Reporting Act is a Federal law that says you have a right to an accurate report and can dispute any errors. The easiest way to that is online, but you can also mail your

Fall has swept in once again, and soon homeowners will be faced with the challenge of managing the piles of leaves Middle Tennessee’s beautiful trees are dropping into their yards and across rooftops. Today, we’ve got our top tips for leaf removal primed and ready to share with our dedicated readers. We’ll also discuss the ongoing gardener’s debate over whether we should be removing leaves at all.

In the United States, over 25% of household refuse consists of yard waste, so clearly gathering up leaves and discarding them is the tactic preferred by most Americans. However, many master gardeners encourage homeowners to consider what else they can do with the bounty that descends on their yards every year. If you’re interested in finding an earth-friendly

Real estate sales are primarily a localized market. That's why you wouldn't ask a Dallas real estate agent for assistance in purchasing a duplex in St. Louis. Likewise, you wouldn't ask a San Diego mechanic to winterize your Denver car or a Tallahassee-based educator what he thinks about the public school system in Chattanooga, Tennessee.

While it's true that a professional's industry knowledge will extend nationally, their expertise is specific to the local market they serve. The same goes for mortgage professionals. Here are more reasons to choose a local mortgage professional's expertise over a faceless, impersonal "rocket" one. 

The Neighborhoods We Serve Are Our Neighborhoods

Each neighborhood has a particular flavor that makes it

As Middle Tennessee welcomes the crisp weather and stunning kaleidoscopic hues of fall, we must also prepare once again for the onslaught of fall allergies that arrive alongside them. 

Although thoughts of allergies may conjure spring bouquets and undulating grasslands as the main culprits, fall can actually be the most challenging time for those suffering from seasonal sneezes. In fact, ragweed, which reigns autumn, is the most common allergy in the country, affecting 23 million people in the United States alone. Mold and dust mites join ragweed to create a perfect storm of allergens that can be almost impossible to avoid.

The good news is, there are ways to protect yourself from allergy attacks before they have a chance to ruin your day(s).

The choice in buying a home is without a doubt, overwhelming. But with so many different factors, what does it really come down to? The floorplan. The floorplan of a home is what you’ll truly be living in day to day. Because of how important floorplans are, it’s necessary to really give it some thought before you’re on your house hunt (or looking into designing a new build). By thinking about what you want and need ahead of time, you’ll have a smoother search process and end up more likely to be happy with your choice for years to come. Here are some ways we like to think about floor plans and what you might want out of them:

Budget

The harsh reality is that, unless you have a truly unlimited fund for your home, there will be a budget

Dogs are a (wo)man’s best friend - but are they a small home or apartment’s best friend? It depends. Most small dogs can be too yappy for small or shared spaces, and most big dogs need more room physically. But that’s not to say there aren’t breeds out there that were born for small spaces - they do exist!

We’ve rounded up our favorite dog breeds for “small home” living. Cheers to dog lovers! (Or should we say “treats”, instead?)

Greyhound

It’s counterintuitive that the fastest dog would do well in a small space, but greyhounds actually like to lounge most of their day, especially once they get their energy out which looks like a good walk or a trip to a dog park. They are also gentle and quiet by nature, so no neighbor distress here! 

With talk of stimulus checks and the economy, your child may be curious about what the future holds for their finances. Teaching healthy money habits can be challenging, but it's one of the most important lessons you can share and you don't need to be an expert to give kids a solid foundation in financial literacy. Use these tips for a simple yet impactful financial talk with your kids!

Make it Age-Appropriate

Finances are complicated, so make sure you tailor your talk to their level of understanding and interest. Discuss terms like "budgets," "overdraft fees," "interest rates," and "credit scores." Regardless of age, it's never too late or too early to teach financial literacy basics.

Take Advantage of Events

A grocery store is a

Debt is either "good debt" or "bad debt." --or so we've been told. "Good" debt is that money owed for things that may assist in building wealth, such as student loans or mortgages. "Bad" debt would be things like credit cards. This is an oversimplification as the differences between "good" and "bad" debt can be better defined, thereby giving us a clearer picture of debt and how to tell what is helpful. 

Here's the rundown on debt: the good, the bad, and the ugly.

Student Loans

Student loans are often necessary, as it's often the only way college education is possible for many Americans. But not all degree programs are equal when considering the debt one acquires and the income potential from that particular degree. A good rule of thumb is