Before you buy a home, it’s important to plan ahead. While most buyers consider how much they need to save for a down payment, many are surprised by the closing costs they have to pay. To ensure you aren’t caught off guard when it’s time to close on your home, you need to understand what closing costs are and how much you should budget for.

Median mortgage payments fell at the end of last year, dropping to $1,920 month-over-month, according to the Mortgage Bankers Association.

New home sales rose 2.3 percent in December, according to new numbers from the U.S. Census Bureau and the Department of Housing and Urban Development.

Once you know where the mortgage loan problems are, you can easily get around them. Mortgages don't have to be scary. After all, they're just business transactions, albeit big ones. Here are six ways to avoid mortgage mistakes.

Spring is usually the busiest season in the housing market. Many buyers wait until then to make their move, believing it’s the best time to find a home. However, that isn’t always the case when you factor in the competition you could face with other buyers at that time of year.

If you’ve been following the housing market over the last couple of years, you’ve likely heard about growing affordability challenges. But according to experts, the key factors that determine housing affordability are projected to improve this year.

It’s important to be mindful of what’s a necessity and what’s a nice-to-have when searching for a home. And the best way to understand this is to put together a list of desired features for your home search.

One of the first steps in your homebuying journey is getting pre-approved. To understand why it’s such an important step, you need to understand what pre-approval is and what it does for you.

The recent pullback in mortgage rates is great news – but if you’re ready to buy now, holding out for 3% is a mistake.

If you’re a renter, you likely face an important decision every year: renew your current lease, start a new one, or buy a home. This year is no different. But before you dive too deeply into your options, it helps to understand the true costs of renting moving forward.

If you’re getting ready to buy your first home in Bismarck or Mandan ND, you’re likely focused on saving up for everything that purchase involves. One cost that’s likely top of mind is your down payment. But don't let a common misconception about how much you need to save make the process harder than it could be.

Are you prepping to buy your first home? If so, one of the steps you should take early on is making sure you’re financially ready for your purchase. Here are just a few of the financial fundamentals you’ll need to focus on as you set out to buy a home.