Excited to shop for your first home? Before you schedule showings and attending open houses, there are a few steps you should take to prepare. 1. Check Your Credit Score If you're like most first-time homebuyers, you'll need to take out a mortgage in order to pay for your home. Before you apply for any kind of home...

If you’re somebody who only digs out the good tableware for large gatherings or parties, consider upgrading your everyday setup as well. While styles and price tags vary greatly from one set to the next, shopping around for the perfect tableware and flatware can be extremely rewarding. If your everyday dinnerware needs a refresh, here are some tips...

While severe storms like hurricanes can be unnerving and stressful, there are ways to prepare for these types of storms. Hurricanes are one of the few natural disasters that residents of hurricane-prone areas can prepare for. The biggest key to being thoroughly prepared is to know where to start. While paying close attention to weather alerts and monitoring...

If you want to enhance your outdoor living space as well as the interior, there are countless ways to add functionality and aesthetic appeal with DIY building projects. You can transform an empty backyard into a custom oasis in a variety of ways. To get started, here are some ideas for backyard building projects to try: Build a...

Expanding your home to add value and square footage can be costly, so it’s important to know how to finance a home addition. Just like with buying a home, there are many loan options available to homeowners to fund their projects. Here is a quick guide to the most common options for financing an addition to your home:...

A power outage can happen anywhere. Even if you don't live in an area prone to extreme weather or natural disasters, it's crucial to know what to do if you lose power for an extended period. Here are some of the best ways to prepare for sheltering at home without power: Get an Emergency Weather Radio Emergency weather...

Houseplants come in a rainbow of colors beyond the expected green. Growers are discovering new colorful varieties of popular plants, including those with dark foliage. Dark-leafed plants make a bold statement in an indoor space and add a touch of drama to any plant collection. If you’re interested in finding the perfect dark foliage for your space, here...

Eligible borrowers can use their VA loan benefits to purchase a condominium rather than a single-family home. For first time homebuyers, a condo or townhome can have multiple benefits compared to a standalone house. However, to use your VA loan on a condo property, the property must be within a VA-approved development. Here's a guide to the basics...

Making upgrades to your home can improve its safety, but these types of upgrades aren't always cheap. If you're avoiding these upgrades due to the cost, keep in mind funding options are available. These funding options can make some projects more affordable. Weatherization Assistance Program The Weatherization Assistance Program is available for households with incomes below a certain...

Houseplants can add color and natural beauty to our living spaces, but can also improve our health. By converting carbon dioxide into oxygen, plants provide us with fresh air to breathe purely by living alongside us. Some plants can even filter harmful chemical compounds and pollutants from the air. Here we will go over some of the best...

Does your home have a wall radiator you wish you could hide? While immobile, radiators can be hidden or disguised in plenty of creative ways. If you're looking for smart and safe ways to make your radiator less of an eyesore, here are some ideas to try. Upcycled Iron A clever way to hide your radiator while also...

There's nothing more exciting than having the opportunity to travel. Whether you are taking a weekend trip to a nearby locale or you have planned an international adventure in hopes of seeing the world, you are going to make memories that you will cherish for a lifetime. While traveling is wonderful, there's also something special about coming home...