After the most recent jobs report came out weaker than expected, the bond market reacted almost instantly. And, as a result, in early August mortgage rates dropped to their lowest point so far this year (6.55%).

While that may not sound like a big deal, pretty much every buyer has been waiting for rates to fall. And even a seemingly small drop like this reignites the hope we’re finally going to see rates trending down. But what’s realistic to expect?

It happens all the time. A homeowner checks their Zestimate on Zillow and thinks, “Wow, my home is worth that much?” or maybe, “Wait… why is it so low?” The truth? Your Zestimate is not your home’s value. Here’s why you should take that number with a big grain of salt — and what you should do instead.

Buying a home is exciting… until you start thinking about the down payment. That’s when the worry can set in.

Here’s the thing: a lot of what you’ve heard about down payments just isn’t true. And once you know the facts, you might realize you’re a lot closer to owning a home than you think.

Depending on where you live, the housing market could feel red-hot or strangely quiet right now. The truth is, local markets are starting to move in different directions. In some places, buyers are calling the shots. In others, sellers still hold the power. It’s a tale of two markets.

Are you thinking about selling your house? Some common mistakes today can make the process more stressful or even cost you money.

Fortunately, they’re easy to avoid, as long as you know what to watch for.