Thrifting has gone from a quaint hobby to a mainstream activity, and from clothing to home décor and beyond. Home thrifting shoppers enjoy the thrill of finding one-of-a-kind pieces that tell a story versus a big box store dupe, says Ann Couser Kittredge, creator of Dabbling & Decorating, a New England-based home décor blog. “It’s
Home-buying opportunities are looking up as mortgage rates fall. Rates have dropped to under 6.5% over the past several weeks, causing more buyers to apply for home mortgages. At the same time, pending home sales have increased. The recent rate drops can add up to considerable savings, according to a new study from LendingTree. Falling
The Federal Reserve cut its short-term interest rate by a quarter point on Sept. 17 – the first cut this year. Although mortgage rates dropped, continuing a recent trend, some home buyers may have expected deeper cuts. The 30-year fixed-rate mortgage averaged 6.26% the week of the Fed announcement, Freddie Mac reports. That means mortgage
If you’re a prospective home buyer waiting for lower mortgage rates, you might consider applying for a loan now. In mid-September 2025, mortgage rates posted their largest weekly decline in a year. Those falling rates are driving more home buyers to apply for mortgage loans. “Mortgage rates are headed in the right direction, and home
As home prices have surged in recent years, homeowners have emerged as the real winners in real estate. You may be shocked at just how much wealth you and other homeowners have built. “The market’s health is supported by a cumulative 49% home price appreciation for a typical American homeowner from pre-COVID July 2019 to
That shocking number on your latest electric bill isn’t a mistake. The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics confirmed what millions of Americans are experiencing: Electricity costs have skyrocketed at more than double the overall inflation rate over the past year ending in June 2025. We knew energy prices were climbing, but we weren’t prepared for
The heat is on. Forecasts predict hotter-than-average temperatures across the U.S. this summer, with extreme heat likely in the Northeast and West, according to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. At the same time, electricity costs will hit a record 12-year high, says the National Energy Assistance Directors Association. The double whammy of soaring heat
Curling up on the couch with your laptop and looking through home listings can be fun. But when you’re serious about purchasing your first home, things can get complicated. That cute 1,300-square-foot Cape Cod is listed at $320,000, and across town there’s a four-bedroom Colonial with an asking price of $625,000. You like them both
Let’s face it. The fun part of buying a home is looking through all the homes for sale to uncover your special gem. Not so fast, though. Without a little prep work, you could set yourself up for unpleasant surprises. After all, if you skip getting a mortgage preapproval before starting your search, you may
Burst pipes. Ice dams. Leaking toilets. Broken refrigerator icemaker. Water can infiltrate your cozy, warm, and dry home in so many ways that it’s no wonder about one in 60 insured homes has a property damage claim for water damage repair. If you can clean up water damage immediately, you’ll be in much better shape
