How Much Home Can You Really Afford?
You've heard a lot of numbers including ratios that promise to provide you with a guide to how much home you can afford. Mortgage expert Ken Harney and NewHomeSource give you the insider's view on how large a mortgage you can comfortably afford.

Three Little Numbers: Your Credit Score and Why It Matters
Three little numbers -- your credit score -- determine whether you can obtain that new home mortgage, how much you can borrow, and what interest rate you'll pay. Here's what you need to know to obtain, manage and even improve your credit score.

How to Finance Your New Home
Financing a new home can be a smooth process when you know what to expect. Ken Harney, a mortgage expert and nationally syndicated columnist, provides a step-by-step guide to the info you'll need to gather and the questions you'll be asked as you obtain a mortgage.

The Mortgage Process: A Step-by-Step Look and Checklist
Finding and securing a home mortgage (especially for a first-time buyer) can be daunting, but it doesn't have to be. This step-by-step look at the mortgage process includes a checklist of action items. Both will demystify the process and make finding the right mortgage for your needs simpler and easier.

Are You Covered?
Your home is the setting for many of your most important memories. It's also one of your largest assets, so insuring it adequately is important. Here's how to get the best coverage at the best rates.

Didn't Qualify for a Home Loan? What Next?
In many cases, today's mortgage qualifying standards may be different or higher than in the past. As a result, not all buyers may qualify on their first application. Here's what to know (and do) next to pursue a home loan and the home of your dreams.

Don't Ignore the 'Quiet Period'
So you've been approved for a mortgage? You've entered what is known as the "quiet period," which means just that. Don't take on new debt or make changes to your financial profile until you've closed on your home — here's why.

Escrow Accounts Explained
An escrow account will help keep you on track — that's why many mortgage lenders require them. An escrow account can help you stay current on property taxes, homeowners insurance and even homeowner association dues.

GET INSPIRED!
Sign up for our free Home of the Week newsletter and go backstage with top interior designers. You'll get inspiring home design ideas, stunning photos, up-to-the-minute design trends — and be first to see cool new products for your home.

Getting Your Security Deposit Back
Making the transition from renting to home ownership? Take heed of this survey by Rent.com: Up to 25 percent of renters don’t receive their security deposit back from their landlord. Here are steps you can take to improve the odds you’ll get your deposit back.  

Home Insurance 101
Many people spend months shopping for a new home, but leave the decision about homeowners' insurance until just before closing. One word about that: Don't. Here's what you need to know to fully cover your new home and belongings, before you have a claim.

Home Insurance Glossary
Home Insurance Glossary: Key terms defined to help you select the right coverage for your new home.

Home Insurance: Beyond the Basics
It took a threat of hurricane to make Diane Hamilton wonder if she needed to buy a rider on her family's homeowner's insurance to cover her husband's guitar collection. Do you need a rider to cover unusual or big-ticket items? And is a home inventory a wise idea for you?

Mortgage Glossary
Run across a mortgage-related term you don't know? The NewHomeSource.com Mortgage Glossary can define many key mortgage terms for you, helping you to finance your new home.

Moving Up: The Most Popular New Home Upgrades
As the housing market continues to build strong momentum, more and more home buyers are investing in upgrades when they design and build their new home. Which home upgrades are buyers splurging on?

Who Really Owns Your Home?

You’ll soon close on your new home and are eager to move into a place to call your own. But, is it yours, really? That depends, in part, on how you title your home. A veteran real estate and finance writer makes this complicated process easy by outlining various ways you can title your home.

Your Credit Report: A Vital Step in Obtaining a Mortgage
Folks need top notch credit these days to obtain a mortgage. Yet most people don't look for mistakes in their credit report. That could mean paying a higher interest rate or not getting a mortgage at all. Here's how to get a free credit report — really free, no hooks — and what to do if you find mistakes.