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

Wondering what to expect from the housing market in 2026? You’re not the only one. For the past few years, affordability has been the biggest barrier standing between most people and their next move. And a lot of buyers and sellers have been holding their breath waiting for things to get better. The good news? It’s finally happening. In 2025, affordability was the best it’s been in 3 years. And experts agree the momentum will keep going in 2026. And that’s based on their anal

There’s a lot of conversation about home prices, mortgage rates, and affordability right now – and those things are important. But if you’re thinking about buying a home, it’s worth remembering something the headlines rarely talk about: people don’t buy homes just for financial reasons. They buy them for their lives. Because while homeownership can absolutely be a smart long-term financial move, it also comes with some emotional benefits spreadsheets just can’t capture. Ma

You may not want to put your homebuying plans into hibernation mode this winter. While a lot of people assume spring is the ideal time to buy a house , new data shows January may actually be the best time of year for budget-conscious buyers.  Kind of surprising, right? Here’s why January deserves a serious look. 1. Prices Tend To Be Lower This Time of Year Lending Tree says January is the least expensive month to buy a home. And there’s something to that. January has histo

New home construction today is giving buyers something it feels like they haven't gotten much lately: a real shot at both the home they want and the deal they need . More brand-new options are on the market right now, and builders are rolling out incentives that make these homes more affordable than many people expect. It’s a combination that doesn’t come around often – and it’s putting buyers in a surprisingly strong position this season. Here’s why this moment matters and w

What you need for Gingerbread Men Here’s what you need to make these little Christmas Gingerbread Men! Just some notes on a few of the ingredients: Molasses – Essential for that deep, rich, caramel-like gingerbread flavour! It also helps hold the dough’s shape. Golden syrup makes a great sub, or treacle. Honey will also work, but the cookies will spread out a touch more and not have the same deep flavour (but still very, very good!). Maple syrup is no good, it’s too thin. Br

Directions Preheat the oven to 400 degrees F. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper. Toss together the sweet potatoes and beets on the baking sheet. Drizzle 3 tablespoons of the oil over top, sprinkle with salt and pepper and toss to coat. Spread into a single layer and roast until the potatoes are cooked through and the beets are tender, about 25 minutes. Remove from the oven and let cool. Meanwhile, whisk together the mustard, Creole seasoning, onion powder and sugar in

Renting can feel much less expensive and much simpler than buying a home , especially right now. No repairs, no property taxes, no worrying about mortgage rates – you just pay the bill and move on with your life. But here’s the part people don’t talk about enough: renting doesn’t help you build your financial future. Meanwhile, homeowners grow their net worth just by owning a home. So, if you’ve been wondering whether buying is still worth it, the long-term math is clearer t

Homebuyers are watching the economy closely, and for good reason. Buying a home is one of the biggest purchases most people ever make. And some recession talk in the media has made a lot of would-be buyers second guess their plans. In the latest LendingTree survey, almost 2 in 3 Americans said they think a recession is coming . And 74% of respondents say that's having an impact on their financial decisions. But here’s the good news: the experts aren’t nearly as concerned. Mo

A lot of buyers are stuck in “wait and see” mode right now. They’re watching rates hover a little above 6% and thinking, I’ll buy once they hit the 5s. Because who doesn’t want a better rate? But here’s the thing: that 5.99% number might not save you as much as you think. Affordability is still a challenge. There’s no question about that. But the market has given savvy buyers a head start. Mortgage rates have already come down over the past few months. And the drop we’ve seen

Total Time: Prep: 15 min. Bake: 30 min. By Taste Of Home Editorial Team Recipe by Lynne Hahn, Temecula, California Tested by Taste of Home Test Kitchen Taste of Home's Editorial Process One-Pot Thanksgiving Dinner Tips How can you make one-pot Thanksgiving dinner your own? Every family’s Thanksgiving table is different, so feel free to switch this dish up! Serve this recipe over mashed potatoes, add more of your favorite veggies to the pan, or drizzle cranberry sauce on to

If you stepped back from your home search over the past few years, you’re not alone – and you’re definitely not out of options. In fact, now might be the ideal time to take another look. With more homes to choose from, prices leveling off in many areas, and mortgage rates easing, today’s market is offering something you haven’t had in a while: options. Experts agree, buyers are in a better spot right now than they’ve been in quite a long time. Here’s what they have to say. Af