Bubbers13/iStock When the time came to finance our new house earlier this year, my husband and I had already decided: We were going to do everything we could to put a 20% down payment toward our mortgage—we were definitely not going to get saddled with PMI. Many home buyers are conditioned to hear “PMI,” or […]

Morsa Images/iStock; realtor.com Finding your dream home is an exciting adventure that, at times, can also feel all-consuming. On a good day, it’s fun to swipe through listings and whiz through every open house in your area, but after umpteen hours of it—and perhaps a lost bidding war or two—it can almost drive you mad. If […]

fstop123/iStock What are some questions to ask a home inspector after he’s finished the inspection? Because, let’s face it, just staring at that hefty report highlighting every flaw in your future dream home can send many buyers into a full-blown panic! Know the right questions to ask a home inspector afterward, though, and this can help […]

lillisphotography/iStock No one likes to overpay for a purchase, and this is particularly true when buying a home. After all, every square foot of space or block closer to a top school will cost you big-time! So if you’re a thrifty soul who must make every home-buying dollar count, check out these home features that often […]

fstop123/iStock What are some questions to ask a home inspector? If you’re buying a house, you know that your home inspector will check it out and make sure it’s in decent shape. So if you want to get to know your home beyond its pretty facade, you should pepper your inspector with questions—a whole lot of them, […]

fstop123/iStock Curious about how to buy a house in your 20s? If you’re dubious it can be done, we get it. Between entry-level salaries, college loans, and the desire to just be young and have fun, 20-somethings often think homeownership is beyond their reach. No so! It is entirely possible to buy a home in […]

Leonardo Patrizi/iStock Average home buyers look at 10 houses before they find The One. And unless you’ve lucked out with a photographic memory, remembering the details of all those homes can prove challenging. Wait, which one had that weird bathroom? What was the address of that awesome house near the lakeshore? If only you’d written it […]

anyaberkut/iStock Just how much do you really know about buying a home? Sure, you’ve spent hours poring over real estate listings, dreaming of a place you can call your very own. But buying a home isn’t like buying a blender; there’s a whole lot you need to know to do it right. So before you […]

iStock; realtor.com When you go to an open house, it’s easy to get caught up in your own world of hypotheticals: How would you decorate the bedrooms if this home were yours? Is this a good open kitchen for hosting Taco Tuesdays? Is there a fireplace to cozy up to on a crisp fall night […]

BanksPhotos/iStock You’ve found the perfect house, located right near that cool new shopping area and the best schools. It even has the right number of bathrooms! Swoon. It’s time to sign the paperwork and move in … or is it? Up until now, you’ve likely been blinded by the sparkling granite counters and the hardwood […]