According to CNNMoney, the average American has $10,700 in credit card debt, and a total of $59,000 in household debt.

Home ownership is a great way to provide stability for your family and long-term wealth as well, but getting your credit under control first is a must.

To work on improving your credit and diminishing your debt, you need to take a serious look at your finances. Are you spending more money than you're earning? If so, you need to establish a budget with the necessities first, and paying off debt with what's left over.

It's a challenge to stick to a budget, but with a goal of home ownership, you can persevere through.

For more advice on how to tackle your debt, check out this article from realtytimes.com.

According to a study from Berkeley, every 1 watt of energy a solar panel in a home generates equals a $5.50 increase in home value. A small 5-panel roof system would add over $6,000 to a typical home's value.

With the number of incentives solar power offers, more and more homeowners are making the switch, saving themselves money, and adding value to their homes in the process.

Click here for more information about solar paneling and homeownership.

Lovely, spacious 2 bedroom, 1.5 bathroom cape with an open floor plan and recently updated eat-in kitchen. Featuring an oversized 1-car garage with plenty of extra storage space, this fantastic home is move-in ready. The home is part of a strong FHA-approved association.

Click here to see more about this property and others.

Click here for a full virtual tour of this property.

As if the beautiful coastline and mild climate aren't enough reasons to move to Maine, here's one more: 77 % of homeowners in the Northeast are satisfied with their home ownership, compared to the nation average of 72%.

To find out more about current homeowner satisfaction, check out this article from realtytimes.com.

When selling your home, making improvements can drastically increase its appeal to potential buyers, and the kitchen is a focal point.

To keep your kitchen renovations from getting out of hand, look at the surrounding areas - what are other sellers in your neighborhood doing to their kitchens? By doing research on other homes for sale, you'll be able to compare your kitchen to theirs and determine if they are of equal quality.

Of course, it's possible to spruce things up without spending a fortune - sometimes just adding a fresh coat of paint in a cheerful color will help add eye appeal to your kitchen for potential buyers to see.

Researching other area home listings will help guide you in your journey to updating your kitchen and selling your home.

To see more about this topic, visit realtytimes.com.

Click here for a full virtual tour of the property!

Gorgeous 3 bedroom, 2 bathroom Colonial in a desirable area. Newly updated spacious kitchen, two new bathrooms, and lovely hardwood floors. Wonderful three-season porch for relaxing! Move in today!

For more information on this property and others, visit www.findportlandhomesnow.com

Jeff Mateja is the CEO of Universal Properties at Keller Williams Realty in Portland, ME. For information about Portland homes for sale, or if you have questions about buying and selling real estate, contact Jeff at 207-553-2605.

Spacious and well-maintained, this 3 bedroom, 2 bathroom doublewide ranch home features a breakfast bar, built-in surround sound, a beautiful deck, a storage shed, a stainless steel refridgerator, and a jetted bathtub!

Click here to view a virtual tour of the property!

For more information on this property 6 Meserve Circle, Saco, and to search ALL Maine listings please visit, http://www.FindMaineHomesNow.com

Universal Properties is happy to announce a new addition to the Maine team – Buyer Specialist Krystal Louten!

Krystal is originally from the Augusta area and has lived in between Portland and California since 1999.

“I truly love people and working to help them in all aspects possible, especially in buying and selling property, one of life’s most exciting and challenging experiences,” Krystal says.

When she isn’t working, Krystal’s other big passion is music and singing – she was a contestant on “American Idol” in 2003 and 2007. She loves working out, running, and traveling the world (some of her favorite places are Paris, Los Angeles, NYC, and Bora Bora), as well as spending time with her fiancé Yegor, 8 month old son Kingston, and friends.

"Krystal is going to be a wonderful addition to the team," says CEO and realtor Jeff Mateja. "She's focused and determined; she'll do great things here."

To find out more about real estate in the Greater Portland area, call Krystal at (207) 553-2647 or email her at Krystal@UniversalPropertiesMaine.com.

Universal Properties at Keller Williams Realty is pleased to announce that Kari Davis has joined the team as a Buyer Specialist.

Kari is a Portland native, which has allowed her to use her unique perspective of the area for the past 2 years in the real estate industry.

“We are so excited to have Kari join our team,” CEO and realtor Jeff Mateja says. “With her outgoing personality and dedication to customer care, Kari is a great asset to the team.”

Kari graduated with honors from Casco Bay College and earned an Associate’s degree in management, as well as obtained a Travel Certification.

Kari resides in Gorham with her two children. In her free time, she enjoys helping with the Cubs Football Team.

If you’d like to contact Kari about real estate in the Greater Portland area, she can be reached at (207) 553-2665 or by email at Kari@UniversalPropertiesMaine.com.

For those who struggle to find parking spaces day after day, an online solution is available.

According to an article on realtynews.com, more people than ever are taking to the internet to find parking spaces, and to rent out their driveways to commuters. Parkatmyhouse.com is one such website that has taken off, with more than 40,000 homeowners signing up to rent out extra space in their driveways.

Driveways that are close by to public transit, theaters, and downtown areas usually charge more than those in more remote areas, but all provide commuters with a convenient alternative to driving aimlessly in search of a good parking spot.

Of course, there are some restrictions in place by some homeowners associations and city jurisdiction, and it's a good idea to check your homeowner's insurance policy as well before participating in any rental of your driveway.

The website also keeps your address private, until you allow it to during transactions.

For those seeking a convenient parking spot, and for homeowners looking to make a little extra cash, this is the perfect program to join!