The Home Buyer's Red Flag Cheat Sheet: What to Walk Away From vs. What to Negotiate

Buying a home is exciting. It can also make you do things you'd never do with any other purchase, like convince yourself that a little mold in the basement "probably isn't a big deal." You're not alone. According to a 2026 survey by Clever Real Estate, 76% of home buyers would be willing to overlook

Your Home Insurance Just Went Up Again. Here's What You Can Do About It.

If your homeowners insurance bill went up this year, you're not alone. According to a recent Pew Research Center survey, 71% of U.S. homeowners say their insurance costs have increased over the past few years. And it's not a small bump for most people. A full 42% say their costs have gone up "a lot.

The Typical Down Payment Just Hit a 4-Year Low. Here's What That Means for Buyers.

According to a new report from Realtor.com, the median down payment in the U.S. fell to its lowest level in four years.  In Q1 2026, the median down payment was $23,400, or 12.8% of the purchase price. Down payments have now declined for four straight quarters, with a median of $28,900 one year ago.

Nearly 80% of Gen Z Homebuyers Got Help With Their Down Payment.

A 2026 survey looked at how Americans are actually getting into homes right now. It found 40% of all surveyed homeowners received financial help with their down payment, up from 35% just three years ago.  The generational numbers are even more striking: more than half of millennial buyers got help,