15 Things You Didn’t Know Could Affect Your Final Home Purchase Price
They told you the house was listed at $599,000. But by the time you get the keys in hand, it feels like you just paid $648,000—and no one…
Home Buying and Ownership
Ready to make one of the biggest financial decisions of your life? Our Home Buying section offers practical tips, guides, and resources to help you navigate the home-buying process with confidence. From saving for a down payment to understanding mortgages and finding the perfect home, learn everything you need to know to make your dream of homeownership a reality.
How to Budget for Home Ownership Without Feeling Broke Every Month
Owning a home is supposed to feel like a milestone—but for many, it ends up feeling more like a monthly money trap. You scrape together the down payment,…
7 Realistic Budgeting Tips for First-Time Homeowners Who Want to Stay Ahead (US version)
Buying your first home is a huge accomplishment—but it’s also a wake-up call. One minute you’re celebrating with keys in hand, and the next, you’re staring at a…
Home Maintenance Budgeting 101: How to Prepare for What Always Breaks
Something always breaks. That’s the unspoken truth of homeownership. It doesn’t matter how careful you are—one day it’s the water heater, the next it’s the roof, and suddenly…
7 Home Buying Costs That Sneak Up After You Close (and How to Prepare)
They Don’t Warn You About This Part of Homeownership You made it. The keys are in your hand, the boxes are unpacked (well, mostly), and the mortgage paperwork…
7 Hidden Costs of Buying a Home: What to Expect Beyond the Down Payment
When you’re ready to buy your first home, it’s easy to focus on the big-ticket item—the down payment. But once you start diving into the home-buying process, you’ll…
First-Time Homebuyer’s Guide: Everything You Need to Know Before You Buy
Buying your first home is an exciting milestone, but it can also be a bit overwhelming. From figuring out your finances to understanding the home-buying process, there are…
Down Payments Explained: How Much Do You Really Need to Save?
Buying a home is one of the biggest financial milestones in life, and one of the biggest hurdles for many first-time buyers is the down payment. It can…
