Knowing what to budget for when buying a home may feel intimidating — but it doesn’t have to be. By understanding the costs you may encounter upfront, you can take control of the process.

Here are just a few things experts say you should be thinking about as you plan ahead.

You may have heard that staging your home properly can make a big difference when you sell your house, but what exactly is home staging, and is it really worth your time and effort?

Planning to buy a home soon? Why not go for something brand-new? Because data shows a lot more buyers are seeing the appeal of new home construction these days – and you may find out it’s what you want too.

Building equity in your house is one of the biggest financial advantages of homeownership. And right now, homeowners across the country are sitting on record amounts of it.

Here’s a look at how that equity could be a game changer for you, and why it’ll flip your perspective from “Why would I move right now?” to “Why wouldn’t I?”

In today’s digital age, it’s tempting to rely on automated tools for everything — including figuring out how much your house is worth. But be careful. The automated estimates you’re seeing online often miss key details that affect the true market value of your home.