Buying Tips

June 8, 2026

Could Moving a Bit Further Out Change Everything About Your Budget?



Whether you're dreaming about buying your first home or wondering if it’s time to move on from the one you're in, affordability is probably weighing on your mind. Home prices are still high in many markets, and even though things have improved a bit over the past year, making …

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June 1, 2026

Less House, More Home: Why Smaller Homes Are Paying Off for Today’s Buyers



You started shopping with a specific mental image of your future home in your mind. Then the houses in your budget came in smaller than you pictured.

That’s the reality for a lot of buyers right now. Affordability is tight.

But don’t let that discourage you. Going …

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May 26, 2026

What Most Veterans Don't Know About Their VA Home Loan Benefit



Nearly half of Veterans (49%) feel homeownership is currently out of reach, according to a recent survey from NewDay USA.

But many are closer than they think. And you might be, too.

If you’re a Veteran, you probably know the Veterans Affairs (VA) home loan benefit …

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May 21, 2026

Newly Built Home Prices Hit a 5-Year Low



If you’ve always assumed a newly built home is just not in your budget, you should know the math just got a little friendlier.

The median sale price of a newly built home is now at its lowest level since 2021, according to the latest data from …

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May 7, 2026

Could Co-Buying Be the Answer for Some First-Time Buyers?



For a lot of would-be first-time buyers, affordability is the thing that’s standing in the way. But some buyers are getting creative and finding a way to still make the numbers work – and that’s through co-buying.

The Dream Is Still Alive. The Math Just Isn’t …

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May 4, 2026

4 Ways To Give Your Offer an Edge This Spring



Looking to buy a home this season? Here's what you should know. 

Buyers have more leverage today than they’ve had in years. There are more homes to choose from and, in many areas, sellers are more open to negotiation. 

But that doesn’t mean competition is gone completely. …

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Posted in Buying Tips, For Buyers
April 27, 2026

Think You Have To Put 20% Down? Most First-Time Homebuyers Don’t.



According to Google Trends, online searches for down payment information recently hit an all-time high. And that’s a clear sign more buyers are trying to figure out what they really need to save before making a move (see graph below):

a graph of a line graphIf you’re wondering the same thing, …

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April 15, 2026

Getting a Tax Refund? Here’s How It Can Help You Buy a Home



If you’re getting a tax refund this year, here’s something worth thinking about. That money could actually help you get closer to buying a home.

It may not be something you’ve factored into your plan yet, but it can give your savings a nice boost right when you …

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April 9, 2026

When Buying a Home Feels Out of Reach, Some Families Do This Instead



For a lot of people, the math on buying a home just doesn’t really work right now. Maybe that’s how it feels for you too. You look at the cost of buying. Then you look at the cost of childcare. And it starts to feel like you have …

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April 8, 2026

Thinking About an Adjustable-Rate Mortgage? Here’s What You Need To Know.



If you’ve been looking for a home lately, you’ve probably felt how tough affordability still is. And that's exactly why more buyers are opting for adjustable-rate mortgages, or ARMs.

Here's what you need to understand about how they work, and whether they make sense for you.

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