You’ve probably asked yourself lately: Is it even worth trying to buy a home right now? It’s a question a lot of people are asking. With today’s home prices and mortgage rates, renting can feel like the easier path. In some cases, it might even seem like the only realistic option right now. And if that’s where you are, there’s nothing wrong with that. But if you’re weighing the decision, there’s one part of the conversation that doesn’t get talked about enough. It’s what ea

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 to choose one or the other. But some families are finding a way to make both work by doing something a little different: teaming up to purchase a multi-generational home . One Reason This Is Becoming More Common It’s no secret that affordability ha

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. What Is an Adjustable-Rate Mortgage? Since a lot of people aren’t familiar with this type of loan, let’s start with a definition. This is how Business Insider explains the main difference between a fix

Be honest. Have you started looking at homes online yet? If you have, it’s already time to get pre-approved . Because here’s what not enough people know. If buying a home is on your radar – even if it’s more of a someday plan than a right now plan – you don’t want to wait until later on in the process to tackle this step. No matter what you’ve heard, pre-approval isn’t about commitment . It’s about clarity . And here are the two big ways pre-approval sets you up for succes

🛒 Ingredients Tart crust 1 ½ cups flour ½ cup butter (cold, cubed) ¼ cup sugar 1 egg yolk 2–3 tbsp cold water Lemon filling 1 cup fresh lemon juice Zest of 2 lemons ¾ cup sugar 4 eggs ½ cup heavy cream Topping 1–2 cups fresh blueberries Powdered sugar (optional) 👩‍🍳 Step 1: Make the Tart Crust Mix flour + sugar Cut in butter until crumbly Add egg yolk + water Press into tart pan Chill (20–30 min), then blind bake at 350°F (175°C) for ~15 min 🍋 Step 2: Prepare Lemon Fillin

Mortgage rates have been volatile lately. And if you’re thinking about buying a home, that can make it harder to plan. But there are still things you can do to get the best rate possible in today’s market. It starts with having the right information. So, what’s causing the bumps in rates? And what can you do about it? Let’s break it down. Mortgage Rate Volatility Is Normal Data from Freddie Mac shows the recent volatility. After trending down for well over a year, there was

You may have seen headlines on social saying the number of buyers backing out of their contracts is on the rise – and has recently reached a high not seen since 2017. That can sound intimidating. But it varies a lot by market. And here’s the key thing to understand if you want to sell . A lot of the time, there’s one common cause. And it’s something you can actually control. Here’s what you can do to get ahead of the biggest dealbreaker before it ever becomes a problem. The T

Online searches for “ can’t sell house ” just hit an all-time high according to Google Trends . So, if your house has been sitting on the market without any bites, you’re not the only one. But it's also not the end of the road.   Homes are selling every day, so you can turn this around. You just need to take another look at your approach. If you’re feeling this pain, know this: an online search engine isn’t where you should go for your answers. It’s much better to talk to you

Creamy, comforting, and perfectly sweet, homemade banana pudding is a timeless dessert that brings pure nostalgia in every bite. Layers of fresh, ripe bananas, smooth vanilla pudding, and soft vanilla wafers come together to create a rich and velvety texture. As it chills, the cookies soften into a cake-like layer, soaking up the luscious pudding and banana flavor. Finished with a fluffy whipped topping or a light meringue, this classic treat is cool, indulgent, and perfect f

For a lot of parents or grandparents, watching a family member struggle to buy their first home right now is hard. That's because you saw firsthand how homeownership gave your life more stability and helped grow your net worth – and you want your loved ones to have those same opportunities. But with all the affordability challenges in recent years, that can feel like an uphill battle – even though it’s slowly improving lately. Here’s what you may not realize. You may be in a

There’s one decision you're going to make when you sell that determines whether your house sells quickly, or it sits. Whether buyers make an offer, or scroll past it. Whether you walk away with the maximum return, or you end up cutting the price later. And that’s your asking price . The #1 Mistake Sellers Make Today: Trusting the Wrong Number If you’re thinking of moving and trying to figure out what your house may sell for, it’s tempting to start with an online home value to

You may have heard homeowners today have a lot of equity built up. But what does that really mean? Let’s break it down. Because your equity isn’t just a number, it’s a powerful asset that can help you take your next big step in life. How Much Equity Does the Typical Homeowner Have? Here’s how it works. As you pay down your loan and home prices rise through the years, the share of your home that you own free and clear grows. That’s your equity . And according to data from the

There’s finally a little good news for anyone who’s been priced out or sitting on the sidelines. Buying a home is getting more affordable. Monthly payments have started to come down, and the squeeze buyers have been feeling for the past few years is slowly loosening. Now, that doesn’t mean everyone can suddenly afford a home, but with how tough the market’s been, the improvement we’re seeing matters. Affordability Is Finally Moving in the Right Direction One of the best ways

For a growing number of homeowners, retirement isn’t some distant idea anymore. It’s starting to feel very real. According to Realtor.com and the Census, nearly 12,000 people will turn 65 every day for the next two years . And the latest data shows as many as 15% of those older Americans are planning to retire in 2026. And another 23% will do the same in 2027. If you’re considering retiring soon too, here’s what you should be thinking about. Why Downsize? Now's the perfect

They say that after a while you start mimicking, or even mirroring, your partner and we believe that is the case with these red velvet cheesecake brownies . The flavors swirl together and complement each other in a way that just makes sense. The fudginess of the red velvet and the tang of the cheesecake make a beautiful partnership, while the brownie is the perfect base to hold it all together. It’s a true celebration of love. Ingredients Brownie Batter Cooking spray 3/4 cu

Filet Mignon Ingredients Filet mignon steaks: This recipe was designed to cook four filet mignon steaks, each weighing in at 6 ounces. If your cuts are notably larger, well then, that’s exciting for you. Just up the other ingredients proportionally. Kosher salt and pepper: Cooking a filet mignon without salt and pepper would be heresy. Notice that the salt is used in two different steps as you prepare the steak. Olive oil:  You’ll be cooking the steak in a pan that’s good and

Who doesn’t love a top 10 list? Well, here are two top 10 lists for the housing market this year. But before you take a look, there’s something you should know. If a move is on your radar for 2026, here’s the most important thing you need to understand upfront: there isn’t one housing market this year – there are many. Experts agree 2026 is shaping up to be one of the most geographically split housing markets in years. Some areas are tilting in favor of sellers, while others

If you’ve seen headlines saying foreclosure activity has been climbing for 10 straight months , it’s easy to assume that's a sign of trouble for the housing market. But when you look at the full picture, a few simple truths become clear: Today’s foreclosure numbers are in line with what’s considered normal High home equity is keeping most homeowners in a strong financial position None of the data points to a big wave of distressed sales that’ll crash the market Foreclosure Fi

It’s hard to scroll online lately without seeing some version of this claim: “Big investors are buying up all the homes.” And honestly, if you’re a homebuyer who’s lost out on a few offers, that idea probably sounds believable. When homes are expensive and competition is tight, it’s easy to assume giant companies are scooping everything up behind the scenes. But here’s the thing: what people assume is happening and what the data actually shows aren’t always the same. Let’s lo

Red velvet whoopie pies (or gobs, depending on where you live) are filled with cream cheese frosting and are perfect for Valentine’s Day dessert! Red Velvet Whoopie Pies with Cream Cheese Filling Yield: 24 assembled whoopie pies Prep Time: 40minutes mins Cook Time: 30minutes mins Total Time: 1hour hr 10minutes mins Red velvet whoopie pies (or gobs, depending on where you live) are filled with cream cheese frosting and are perfect for Valentine's Day dessert! Ingredients For t