FHA loans are available to some first time home buyers who are purchasing single family homes or homes in small multifamily units.  A buyer with a credit score above 580 will typically be eligible for a loan with only 3.5% of the purchase price as a down payment on the mortgage. Borrowers with scores between 579-500 are eligible for 90% financing (or a 10% down payment), and borrowers with credit scores below 500 are ineligible. Just as you would if you were buying a car, you should start by checking your credit. That way, you maximize your information and minimize the surprises. Therefore, check your credit score and get a copy of your credit report before you even start to visit with lenders. You can get a copy of your credit report at https://www.annualcreditreport.com/index.action. You can get your credit score directly from the credit bureaus, or from sites like creditkarma.com or credit.com. As with applying for any loan, the more you can tweak your credit score to adjust it higher, the better. Try and establish a year's worth of on-time payments, reducing your credit utilization to 30% or less than your credit limit, and minimizing your applications for large lines of credit, like car loans. Now that you have your credit report, check the items in your credit report against the standard disqualifiers. The standard disqualifiers are: bankruptcy within 2 years, a mortgage foreclosure within 3 years,  late mortgage payments or a credit to debt ratio that is too high.While FHA lenders will review any of these items for extenuating circumstances, these usually disqualify a buyer from loan eligibility. If you have any of these items on your credit report, you should consider postponing your application for an FHA loan If you are turned down for an FHA loan, then you can make adjustments to your financial situation that will increase your chances of approval down the road. For instance, if you have cash reserves equal to at least three months of mortgage payments, a reduced debt-to-credit utilization ratio, or apply for a loan for a home that has a payment that is no more than $100 greater than your current payment, the lender may approve you for the loan where you were denied before. As always, lenders look more favorably upon borrowers who have larger down payments than borrowers with small down payments, as it is indicative of financial stability.

Summary: Know the terms. Check your credit score. Know the disqualifiers. Make adjustments.


Warm it over low heat. When lukewarm, transfer it to a bowl. Add 1 teaspoon of sugar and stir well to combine. Set aside for a quarter of an hour. This will be sufficient time for the yeast to dissolve. Add the salt and baking powder and stir through. Mix to form a dough. When it is smooth and well formed, shape it into a ball. Cover and place aside in a warm place. Allow to rise for an hour. Prepare a baking sheet by lining with parchment paper or a silicone sheet. (You could grease it instead, if preferred.) Then divide it into nine even pieces and roll each piece into a ball. Using a rolling pin, roll the ball out flat. Repeat for all the other balls. Place straight into the center of the oven, as many as sensibly fit. (Do the baking in rounds.) The naans are ready when they are slightly browned. Wrap baked naans in a fresh tea towel while baking the remaining ones. Naan goes well with dhal, curries and seasoned vegetable dishes.

Summary: Pour the milk into a saucepan. Crumble the yeast into the bowl of milk. Sift the flour into a large mixing bowl. Slowly add the remaining teaspoon of sugar, and the milk and yeast mixture, the oil, yogurt and egg. Knead the dough well. Preheat the oven to 225ºC/425ºF. Knead the risen dough. Place the first ball onto a floured surface. Place the flat bread on the prepared baking sheet or sheets. Bake for 6 to 8 minutes. Serve hot.


Whether you're shopping for new plugs, you just bought new plugs that you want to check before installing, or you want to check the function of your current set of spark plugs, you need to learn the appropriate gap between the two electrodes on the end of each plug.  Each vehicle's measurement will be different, though most are generally somewhere between 0.028-.06 inch. You can either look in your owner's manual or go to the auto parts store and have them look it up for you. Modified engines require smaller gap settings to account for the amount of power you're putting through the engine. General rule of thumb: the more power, the smaller the gap. There are several varieties of tools used to measure the gaps of spark plugs, some of which are more appropriate for more modern plugs, which sometimes feature delicate precious metals. Most measuring tools will also feature a flat edge typically used for bending the bottom electrode on the spark plug to adjust the gap slightly.  A coin-style gap measure is usually the cheapest option, and works by running the edge of the "coin" through the gap until you reach a point where it stops. The edge is marked like a ruler, designating the thickness of the edge at that point. This is a good tool for older plugs you want to check the efficacy of, but can also inadvertently widen the gaps as you use it. A wire coin gap works essentially the same way as the regular coin-style gap, but features different wire measures of varying lengths on the edge around the coin. A blade-style feeler gauge is an effective and versatile tool. Built like a pocket-knife, this gauge features different blades of varying widths, some with wire on the end and some without, placed in the gap to check the spacing of the electrodes. You can also use multiple blades to measure larger gaps. These are effective to use while adjusting. . If you've just pulled it out of the box, it should be in pretty good shape, but if you're checking a plug that you've been using in your car it's a good idea to clean it off a little with a clean cloth. Spark plugs can build up some whitish soot on the contact points, so you'll want to make sure they're somewhat clean to get the most accurate reading. You can use a little bit of quick-drying (90%) alcohol on the contact points to clean them off if they're especially dirty. Lots of build-up or any blackening on the contact points might be a sign of a plug that's outlasted its prime, however. If they're especially dirty, you might consider buying new ones. Place the appropriate blade or wire on your gap tool between the electrode tips of the plug, or pass the coin through the electrodes to determine the measurement.
Summary: Learn your vehicle's gap specifications. Select an appropriate gap tool. Clean the spark plug Measure the gap by passing the tool through the electrodes.