Straight answers about buying, selling and paying for a home, written in plain English. Pick your goal below and start with the first article. Each one links to the next step, so you never have to guess what to read next. New here? Buyers start with the checklist, sellers start with the cost of selling, and everyone should know their budget first.
Buying a home
- First-Time Homebuyer Checklist: Step by Step
- How Long Does It Take to Buy a House?
- Buyer Agreements Explained: What You Sign Before You Tour
- What Is Earnest Money? How Much, Where It Goes and How to Protect It
- Home Inspection Checklist: What Inspectors Check and What to Ask
- Understanding Closing Costs: What Buyers Pay
- Relocating to a New State: A Buyer's Guide
- Is It a Buyer's Market? How to Tell and What to Do
Full walk-through: home buying guide.
Selling a home
- How Much Does It Cost to Sell a House?
- How to Price Your Home Right in a Shifting Market
- Home Staging Tips to Sell Faster
- Selling a Home When Interest Rates Are High
- Seller's Market Trends: When to List Your Home
Full walk-through: home selling guide.
Paying for a home
- How to Budget for a Home When Rates Are High
- How to Improve Your Credit Score for a Better Mortgage Rate
- FHA vs. Conventional Loans: Which Is Right for You?
- Down Payment Assistance Programs: How They Work
- What Moves Mortgage Rates, and the Parts You Control
Full walk-through: home financing guide.
Local market guides
Prices, taxes, neighborhoods and closing rules change by city. Read the guide for where you want to live, or see the national housing market. New to the lingo? Start with the real estate glossary.
Where to start
Where should a first-time buyer start?
Start with the first-time homebuyer checklist, then get pre-approved so you know your budget before you tour homes.
Where should I start if I am selling?
Start with what it costs to sell a house, so you know your real take-home number, then get a free home value estimate.
Are these articles financial or legal advice?
No. They are general information. Rules change by state and loan type, so talk to a licensed agent, loan officer or attorney about your situation.
What Is Earnest Money? How Much, Where It Goes and How to Protect It
When a seller accepts your offer, you usually put down a deposit to show you are serious. That deposit is earnest money. Handle it right and it becomes part of your down payment. Handle it wrong and you can lose it. How much is earnest money? Freddie Mac puts it at about 1% to 5% of the price. The r
How to Budget for a Home When Rates Are High
When rates are high, the same house costs more each month. That doesn't mean you can't buy. It means your budget has to be real, not a guess. Here is how to build one. Step 1: Know your real monthly payment Your payment is more than the loan. It is four things, often called PITI: Principal: paying d
Relocating to a New State: A Buyer's Guide
Buying a home in a state you don't live in yet is harder than buying across town. You can't drive past homes on a Sunday, and the rules are different. Here is how to do it without costly surprises. 1. Pick the area before the house Map your commute at rush hour, not at noon. Check property taxes and
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