From student loan debt, saving for a down payment and building mortgage-ready credit, it’s clear first-time homebuyers face different hurdles when it comes to buying a home. Here are some of the best options for home financing when preparing to buy your first home. FHA The FHA is the largest insurer on mortgages in the…
First-Time Homeowner Checklist: What You Need to Do Before Moving In
Congratulations on your new home purchase! Before diving in to the fun parts of being a first-time homeowner, there are several maintenance items you should take care of after closing on your home and before moving in. Here’s a checklist of what items you should tackle before you make your new house your home. Looking…
10 Budget-Friendly Home Improvements for the First-Time Homeowner
So you just bought a house; congratulations! Making your home yours is where the real fun begins, but when you’ve just purchased a home you may find yourself on a tight budget when it comes to home improvements. Here are some cost-effective but aesthetically-pleasing home improvements you can do on a budget.
Determining Home Affordability: How to Use Our Mortgage Calculators
First-time and repeat homebuyers often share a common question when it comes to purchasing a home: how much can I afford?
9 Ways to Use Shiplap in Your Home Design
If you’re a fan of any home improvement television shows, you’ve probably noticed the trend of using traditional building elements to enhance a home’s character. Whether you’re living in a newly built home or a fixer upper, shiplap is a great material to transform boring walls, ceilings, built-ins, and more into pieces of architectural interest.
Mortgage 101: Should I Pay Down Debt or Save For a Down Payment?
Many potential homebuyers cite existing debt or saving funds for a down payment as hurdles in their homebuying journey. But what if you have existing debt and a low balance in your savings account? Where do you start? The truth is, it depends. What You Need to Know About Down Payment Requirements Contrary to popular…
9 Home Maintenance Tasks Every New Homeowner Should Know How to Do
New homeownership is exciting but also full of responsibility. As a first-time homeowner, you’ll need to educate yourself on several DIY home maintenance tasks to avoid making various calls to maintenance professionals…and paying their service charges. Here are some of the most common home maintenance tasks every new homeowner should know how to do. Install…
The Ultimate Fall Home Maintenance Checklist
With each change of seasons comes the need to get your home and its systems ready for the changing weather elements. Here is a complete interior and exterior home maintenance list that can be completed in a weekend’s time.
Fire Prevention Month: 5 Facts About Home Fires & How to Prevent Them
According to the National Fire Protection Association, U.S. fire departments responded to an estimated 369,500 home structure fires in 2013. Those 369,500 fires caused 2,755 deaths, 12,200 injuries, and $7 billion in property damage. There is no time like the present to make sure your home isn’t susceptible to fire and what you and your…
10 Ways to Get Your Garden & Landscaping Ready for Fall
It’s officially fall! As the leaves begin to turn, gardening and landscaping homeowners may not have the same excitement for autumn gardening and landscaping as they do for the spring growing season. Regardless, taking care of your garden and landscaping now will contribute to a better spring bounty. Here are several ways to get your…