Buying & Owning Home

For both the serious shopper and the nightly scroller who just wants to gawk at seriously cool homes.

It'll help make your decision so much easier.

Here's what she wants you to know.

There's a whole lot for prospective homeowners to become familiar with.

This year has been unprecedented in so many ways, and the real estate market is no exception.

Here's how to lower your monthly payment.

With wisdom relating to making offers, hiring home stagers, and more.

Here's how you might go about that.

Their advice has stood the test of time.

Behold the components of an accessory dwelling unit.

Have you heard of these financial terms?

I never thought I'd put my home on the market, but COVID made me fall out of love with it.

Deposit any financial gifts ASAP.

It's not just about follower counts.

Here's what they look for in a home for sale.

There's a lot to know about mortgage loans, closing costs, escrow, and all that jazz.

According to real estate experts.

Here are the pros and cons of each.

With median home prices well under $250,000.

It's pretty simple.

"At times I think, ‘You silly woman. You’re going to be dead before you pay it off.'"

Don't let the idea scare you.

Keeping your rental warm throughout the season can be a challenge when you're at the whim of your building's management.

First-time buyers, take note.

Here's where to get started.

The new “Adverse Market Refinance Fee” is about to make taking out a mortgage a little more expensive.

Here's what you need to know.

Now I know about the importance of flat driveways and old windows.

But racial disparities are still rampant.

Care for an interest-free loan?

This cybercrime can occur anytime someone is “wiring” money, or transferring it electronically to another person.

Sometimes you need time on your side.

Being independently wealthy isn't required.

Putting up walls isn't always the best idea.

Your first house could be a multifamily building.

Asking for a friend (me and my HOA).

What is a notary signing agent, anyway?

Do you know how you feel about sweat equity?

And add some square footage.

There are a few things you can do to heal that heartbreak.

Plus four ways to try it.

Keep an eye out for these things during a walkthrough.

Should you try it?

From the windows... to the walls.

My "narrowboat" is moored in the city's canal network.

It’s like going back to your elementary school as an adult, but you can get whatever you want from the Scholastic Book Fair.

An insurance expert shares misconceptions.

Keep an eye out for 4 key signs.

Here's what to know about it.

In your first year of owning your own home, every new day brings on a new challenge. And thanks to that fresh and dewy homeowner glow, you’re poised to tackle them all. Who cares if the wall is crooked and the kitchen is in disarray—they’re yours. Owning a home isn’t all good feelings, though. And people don’t seem to want to discuss all the bad vibes that can frequently come along with buying your own first place… What if the neighbors are horrible?

Saving up to buy a home next year? You might need to put aside a little extra to keep up with rising home costs. According to a recent report from Zillow, the national median home will be worth $6,275 more a year from now—meaning that, on average, U.S. homebuyers will need to save an extra $105 a month (a total of $1,260 for 12 months) to keep up with the cost of a 20 percent down payment.

You don't have to fully renovate to boost the value of your home, or even its "wow" factor. Instead, tackle these small projects this summer.

We love movies because they offer us an escape from everyday life. A chance to—even just for a moment—pretend that we’re the ones touring the Italian countryside or living lavishly in a beach house in Malibu. But have you ever wondered what the real price tag would be on your fantasy life? Here are 12 homes you might recognize from your favorite movies, and right below them, the dollar amount it would actually take to live there.

How do you know what’s worth it to update? A couple of experts are here to help.

When a co-worker is able to buy a home, you're probably curious as to how the heck they did it.

Find out how long in between appointments.

It's no walk in the park.

Like assessing the value of home-staging during coronavirus.

A glamorous task it is not.

Too much personal flair can turn buyers off.

Here's how to regroup.

It can be righted with one click.

You thought doing your taxes was a nightmare? Wait until you apply for a mortgage.

From Oregon to Idaho.

Here's how I knew it was the right one for me.

​It might sound counterintuitive, but it could help save you some cash.

It's the finishing touch on my dream home.

From final walkthroughs to contingency clauses.

Sometimes you don't want to live in a house that's "been in the movies."

Here's how to make it happen.

No amount of planning could have prepared me for it.

Put the baking sheet down.