This morning in the Finance Headlines, we’re talking about how to get approved for a home loan. In the Credit Tips blog, we’re thinking about some odds and ends related to buying a home:

In addition to paying a hefty down payment for a new home, there are other costs that will crop up when you are buying a home. Money for closing costs, the costs associated with finalizing the loan, will take a bite out of your savings.

Order your credit report one year before you decide to buy a home. Look for problem areas and get them resolved as quickly as possible. In addition, pay bills on time each month or pay ahead if you can in the year leading up to the time you want to buy a home.

A cash back credit card or a rewards credit card can help improve your credit history and provide you with extra money after you buy your home. These rebate credit cards give you cash back or rewards for using the cards to make purchases. A rebate credit card can be a big money saver when you’re making big purchases like buying furniture, appliances or other items for your new home. 

The Miles by Discover airline rewards credit card offers big rewards for people who frequently travel. I occasionally review popular credit cards on the Credit blog and just found this card. The Miles by Discover airline rewards credit card is designed for customers who have excellent credit, so not everyone is eligible. The lowdown on the Discover Miles credit card:

• This airline rewards credit card has a promotional 0% annual percentage rate (APR) on new purchases and balance transfers. The special introductory rate lasts for 12 months.
• Miles by Discover gives cardholders 12,000 bonus miles after the card is used for the first time to make a purchase. The airline rewards credit card gives you two points per dollar charged to the card when used for travel or restaurant expenses. The card provides a dollar for dollar exchange on all other purchases made using the card.
• The Discover Miles credit card stands out because in addition to the 0% APR and generous rewards program, it doesn’t charge an annual fee. Most airline rewards credit cards charge annual fees that are close to $100.

Before you choose a credit card, check out our online credit card reviews to learn more. You can quickly see the pros and cons of any credit card before you apply.

All you can eat seats at major league ballparks is the latest way ballparks are giving fans a way to save money when they go to a game. Prices for food at the ballpark are often astronomical- some average prices for food at a MLB ballpark include:

• Large Soda Pop $5.00
• Bottled Beer $7
• Cracker Jacks $4.50

Ballparks have been accused in the past of serving food that was high cholesterol, high fat and with no nutritional value. In response many major league ballparks, especially the newer ones, started serving additional food choices that catered to a variety of dietary needs. The newest MLB ballparks have restaurants and bars that serve restaurant-quality food, including “heart smart” and low calorie options. However, the food prices in the upgraded stadiums have people cringing- and sneaking their own food into the ballparks.

Sports industry newsletter Team Marketing Report said in April that the average cost for four people to attend an MLB game including four seats, four hot dogs, four soda pops, two beers, parking, caps and programs jumped more than 8% in 2008 to $191.75! Clearly, going to a game has become a pricey night out. With the new all you can eat seats at MLB ballparks, offered by teams including the Cincinnati Reds, L.A. Dodgers and Atlanta Braves, unlimited concessions will add $10-$35 to ticket prices- and not all of them include beer.

Fans who want to try to save money can use their rewards credit card or a cash back credit card for additional savings at an MLB ballpark. 

Northwest and Delta Airlines plan to honor all frequent flier programs related to both airlines, say reports. The merger of the two airlines, which has not yet gone through, seems likely to receive regulatory approval. Many people have worried if their frequent flier credit cards and airline miles programs will still be worth anything after the merger. According to Delta officials, not only will the programs and cards be honored, they should improve.

Customers with frequent flyer credit cards for other airlines that went bankrupt found themselves without an airline-sponsored program for their accumulated miles. The airline miles credit cards only had value if they could be rolled to another airline’s program or used for rebates or discounts at airline partners like hotels and rental car companies. With Delta and Northwest frequent flier credit cards and miles programs, the two programs will merge and become one, all-encompassing rewards program.

“We're going to be looking at best practices from both companies to create an industry leading frequent flier program," said Delta spokeswoman Susan Chana Elliot. The two programs are quite similar in nature, so customers with airline miles credit cards who are transitioning to the new and improved program shouldn’t feel too much discomfort. In addition to the new and improved program for frequent flier credit cardholders, the merged airlines will offer an expansive number of flights to multiple destinations, says Elliot.

The experts at Experts on Credit have had a great time this year writing about tips you can use to improve your credit in the blogs and elsewhere on the site. On the Credit Tips blog, we’ve written about a variety of topics:

“Tips to Help You Stop Living from Paycheck to Paycheck” was a popular series that ran in January. Reverse mortgages, plastic surgery loans and getting ahead of credit card debt were just a few of the topics that spoke to popular credit issues of 2008.

Introducing the new credit card reviews and pros and cons sections were exciting additions to the blog. Credit card reviews included a number of specialty credit cards that provide rewards to people who love staying in resorts and hotels. We also reviewed points rewards cards that provided a way to save money on some of the world’s most popular vehicles. 

As long as identity thieves continue to come up with ingenious ways to steal identities, identity theft protection tips will continue to show on the Credit Tips blog.

If you have ideas for a topic that you’d like to see addressed on the Credit Tips blog, please use the comment form below.