It is often said that homeownership builds wealth. So, what is home equity, and how can it enhance your net worth?What is home equity?Building home equity is a bit like investing in a long-term instrument, like bonds. Your money is, for the most part, locked up and not…

If you've never bought a home before, the sheer number of mortgage loan options can be overwhelming. What's the difference between a conventional loan and a government loan, and should you go with an adjustable-rate or fixed-rate mortgage? Even if you have bought a home…

Finding and choosing a reliable plumber is one of those things that most homeowners know they should do at some point ... and they usually wait until there's an emergency to find someone, prioritizing availability over quality. That's an understandable situation to find…

In real estate, escrow refers to the window of time in between a buyer's offer being accepted and meeting the seller at the closing table to sign the finance and title transfer documents and receive the keys to their new house. It's managed by a third party (often a title…

Taking a vacation somewhere you love can make you wonder what it would be like to own a vacation home there. It's only natural to dream about having an easily accessible dwelling that you can tap whenever you want to come back to your favorite vacation spot, and owning a…

Pets are a joy and a delight that help make our lives feel more meaningful -- but let's face it: The folks who have a problem with pets because of the mess and wear and tear on an average home kind of have a point. Pets shed their fur everywhere. They don't always smell…

Implementing some "green" upgrades in a home you own is almost always a great investment -- first, because it can often save you money as the homeowner, and second, because more and more buyers are looking for homes that are energy-efficient and have other environmentally…

Paying less than the listing price for a house might seem like a pipe dream in some markets, but for savvy buyers who know what they're doing, it's a very real possibility. That said, making an offer that's lower than the listing price can also be a dangerous game to play…

Staging a home isn't an exact science -- it's more of an art, one that covers several rooms and flows throughout a home. If you're thinking that it doesn't sound easy, well, it isn't; there's a reason why stagers can command serious dollar amounts for the work they do.

Upgrading or improving your home can be one of the most rewarding activities you could undertake -- and that includes monetarily, because depending on the improvement, you can boost your home's value and recoup some of your investment when the time comes to sell. However,…

Between the tiny-house craze and bestselling books about minimizing your life, we've probably all thought about downsizing at one point or another. But is it really the right move for you at this moment in time? Before you decide to move forward with downsizing, it's smart…

When you're thinking about buying a house, it's normal to question whether it's really the best time to jump into the market -- or whether you should wait a few months or even years to get the best deal. But a house isn't like any other investment; you can't live inside a…