Home > Money & Business > Personal Finance > Keeping a Safe Harbor: Maintaining & Protecting Your Home [Image: Unit 4] Unit 4. After the home purchase learn to maintain its value, properly secure and insure your home investment, avoid home repair rip-offs and prevent foreclosure. In addition, learn the life expectancy of your home appliances and home sytems and how to improve the health of your home. Sailing Through the Mortgage Process [Image: Unit 3] Unit 3: Understand mortgage terms and loan programs, know the questions to ask before choosing a mortgage and how to shop wisely for one. Be prepared when applying for a mortgage loan and know what will be needed at closing. Also learn how to avoid subprime loans. Staying on Course with Financial Management [Image: Unit 2] Complete Unit 2 materials cover: Organizing your family finances by setting goals, developing a cash flow worksheet and net worth statement, developing a budget and managing your credit. In addition, find helpful tips on homeowner tax planning, stretching your dollars and saving and preventing identiy theft. Navigating Your Way to A New Home - Unit 1 [Image: Unit 1 image] Unit 1 - Complete unit materials cover: renting versus owning, housing priorities, how to evaluate homes and house plans, how to determine housing price limits, how to choose your home-buying professional team, shopping resources, how to negotiate purchase price of home, your housing rights and what needs inspecting prior to purchasing a home.  more articles... Christmas is Coming Planning ahead can save you money and reduce holiday stress for everyone. Beware of These Common Scams Scam artists are at work even in a recession. Many scams and frauds count on people being more vulnerable when they are desperate due to hard times. The bottom line, as always, is that if it sounds too good to be true, beware! A New Normal For Personal Finance If you've been adversely affected by the economy, as most have, then you're probably wondering when things will get back to normal. Financial experts are saying we need to prepare ourselves for a "new normal." Find out what that means for you. Help For Homeowners Who Have Become Unemployed Homeowners on unemployment can take advantage of this program to prevent foreclosure. Homebuyer Education Graduates Achieve Their Dream View the story of one couple's path to achieving their "American Dream" of owning a home. Graduates of the "Charting Your Course to Homeownership" homebuyer education program relate their successful journey. Homebuyer Education Program Graduate Succeeds View the inspiring story of one family's journey from losing their home in Hurricane Rita to becoming the proud owners of a home of their own after completing the "Charting Your Course to Homeownership" homebuyer education program. Take Control of Your Credit [Image: SAIL Take Charge of Credit] Materials covered in the Saving and Investing for Life; Take Control of Your Credit unit include how to obtain, read and analyze your credit report and understanding your credit score. Also includes information regarding the Credit CARD Act of 2009. Medicare Part D 2010 These prescription drug plans can change dramatically from year to year, so it is important to comparison shop during the open enrollment period (Nov. 15 to Dec. 31) each year to be sure you get the best prescription drug coverage for the best price. Louisiana posts most stories to money management Web site [Image: group of four] Louisiana submitted the most stories – 104 – to a national extension Web site called Managing in Tough Times. Selling Your Gold Jewelry Times are tough, and gold prices are high. People are looking for ways to raise extra cash. It is important to comparison shop to avoid gold buying rip-offs. Click for more information...