Homes
Latest Homes News
78% of aspiring homeowners say affordability is a challenge. Here are the complete costs of buying a home
Key takeaways The cost of homes has skyrocketed, creating affordability issues for prospective buyers. Upfront expenses associated with buying a…
Home equity hazards: The risks of tapping into your property’s value
Key takeaways Despite their advantages, home equity loans come with risks: You could lose your home if you miss payments,…
How to prepare your home for a natural disaster
A natural disaster can be financially devastating. Thankfully, a standard home insurance policy can protect against much of the financial…
What is vacant home insurance and how does it work?
A home may stay vacant for several reasons, such as if the homeowners are waiting to do renovations or for…
Study: Typical single-family home costs over $18,000 per year in hidden expenses
Images by GettyImages; Illustration by Hunter Newton/Bankrate Key insights The average annual cost of owning and maintaining a single-family home…
Beating the generational money curse: How homeownership builds your family’s wealth
Key takeaways Buying and owning a home can lay the foundations of generational wealth. Home equity can increase substantially over…
What is a Realtor, and do I need one?
Alex Potemkin/Getty Images; Illustration by Issiah Davis/Bankrate When you’re looking to sell or buy a house, you’ll see a range…
What is a debt-to-income ratio for a mortgage?
Key takeaways Your debt-to-income (DTI) ratio is a key factor in getting approved for a mortgage. The lower the DTI…
What is the VA funding fee?
SDI Productions/Getty Images Key takeaways Most VA loan borrowers pay a VA funding fee. The fee is equal to a…
What is a VA streamline refinance (VA IRRRL) and how does it work?
Key takeaways Also known as a VA streamline refinance, an interest rate reduction refinance loan (IRRRL) is a type of…
