Purchasing a home is probably the biggest purchase you'll ever make. It’s an exciting experience and not a simple task.

Many home loan programs require completion of a homebuyer course to qualify for a loan. A Place of Your Own is an online course to help homebuyers learn about the process of buying a home.

The six lesson topics are:

• preparing for home ownership
  
• determining a budget
  
• shopping for a home
  
• securing a mortgage
  
• closing the loan
  
• being a homeowner

Lesson activities include videos, worksheets, and quizzes. After completing the lessons, earn your homebuyer's certificate with a score of at least 70% correct on the final test.

The course can be completed anytime, anywhere from any computer with Internet access.

This publication provides information on preventing bed bugs from entering a home, how to know if a home is infested, and how to eliminate bed bugs if they are found.

Tips for improving the drainage around your home.

Basements can be dry if they are well-designed, with adequate drainage. This publication discusses basement drainage, floor and wall design, concrete mixes and curing, insulation, and commercial basement products.

Several suggestions for dealing with basement moisture problems, keeping in mind most solutions are often expensive and involve compromises.

Learn about the five cockroach species in Iowa and the management and chemical treatment possibilities.

If you suspect your house is infested with termites or if other property in your neighborhood has termites, consult this publication for information on how to make a decision for a termite service contract. Termite prevention is also discussed.

The House Handbook: Guidelines for Building or Remodeling Your Home encourages the concept of universal design in the building process.

The book was designed with icons that point you to the concepts or practices of “Affordable”, “Attractive”, “Convenient”, “Efficient”, and “Healthy”. These concepts ease in the development of an integrated house and landscape plan that fits a variety of life stages, lifestyles, income, and locations.

Contents

• Creating a Resident-friendly Home
• Working with Professionals
• Designing a Home, or Choosing to Remodel
• Selecting a Location or a Building Site
• Social Area
• Kitchens, Bathrooms, and Bedrooms
• Home Offices
• Laundry Areas
• Garages
• Entries, Doors, Halls and Stairs
• Household Storage
• Foundations
• House Utilities
• Building Materials

Dozens of drawings and photographs complement the clearly written text.

Living outside the city limits is much different than living in town. What do you need to know to live closer to nature and in harmony with rural neighbors?

If you’re thinking of moving to an acreage or inhabit one now, Living on Acreages will be a valuable instruction manual and reference to everything from building and landscaping in the country to maintaining rural property.

Topics include

• Selecting a rural living site
• Designing a homestead adaptable to lifelong needs
• Establishing or accessing systems for utilities including septic systems
• Understanding effects of seasonal weather and wind
• Minimizing damage by insects and animals
• Developing outdoor living areas
• Planning and managing a pond
• Planning and building driveways and roadways
• Establishing a routine preventive maintenance schedule

Topics include:

• Be Safe: Stay Healthy After Disaster
• Surviving and Recovering from a Power Outage
• Restoring Storm-damaged Buildings
• Salvaging Water-damaged Belongings
• Lawn and Garden Losses
• Financial Recovery and Risk Management.

This 32-page resource was created and made available in PDF by LSU AgCenter.

Siding can do more for the exterior surface of your house than any other home improvement. This publication discusses all aspects of different forms of wood, metal, synthetic, and masonry siding.

Learn about how to identify, prevent and alleviate problems with painted exterior wood. Includes pictures and detailed descriptions.

Learn how to finish, preserve and even refinish exterior wood surfaces. Includes natural weathering, clear film and water-repellent finishes, as well as bleaching oil and pigmented stains.