Homeowner news
What changed today — and what it means for your house. Updated daily.
Market & Mortgage
Sun Belt Reality Check: The Hidden Costs of Moving South
Retirees flock to South Carolina for the cheap taxes, but hidden local fees and strict new condo rules complicate the Sun Belt dream.
Money & Bills
The Local Budget Squeeze (And Why Your HOA Is Sweating)
Cities are hiking property taxes to plug massive budget holes. The good news? Homeowners in fast-growing states are finally getting serious protection from their HOAs.
Home Projects
The Insurance-Proof Renovation
We used to renovate to get our dream kitchen. Today, homeowners are pouring savings into their houses just to keep their insurance from dropping them.
Energy & Solar
The Grid's New Competitor
AI data centers are quietly driving up local electricity rates, pushing homeowners to find new ways to take climate control into their own hands.
Money & Bills
The New Math of Homeownership
The housing market is splitting in two. While long-term owners sit on record equity, recent buyers are getting squeezed by rising rates and insurance bills.
Market & Mortgage
Why the $799 Mortgage Is a Myth, and Rates Are Stuck in Neutral
Mortgage markets are caught between a cooling job market and stubborn inflation. Meanwhile, a new lawsuit shows exactly why you have to read the fine print.
Home & Safety
Exploding Gadgets and Toxic Water: The Hidden Hazards in Your Home
A massive recall of a popular rechargeable hand warmer and a legal showdown over 'forever chemicals' in California tap water are on the radar this week.
Home Projects
The Great Remodel Reality Check
With mortgage rates keeping buyers locked in place, Americans are fixing up the homes they already have. Here's how to plan a remodel that actually pays off.
Energy & Solar
The Heat Pump Bottleneck
Upgrading your home's climate control is getting a lot cheaper thanks to stacked government rebates. But finding someone to install it is another story.
Market & Mortgage
The Condo Hurdle: Why Buying Your First Place Just Got Harder
A massive federal rewrite of condo lending rules and mortgage rates stuck near multi-year highs are making life tough for entry-level buyers.
Home & Safety
The Invisible Filter
Sudden sinkholes and forever chemicals have one thing in common: they're both driving up the cost of your local infrastructure.
Money & Bills
The New Cost of Staying Put
We talk a lot about mortgage rates, but the real financial squeeze for homeowners is happening with insurance, property taxes, and the price of aging in place.
Home Projects
The Power Struggle at City Hall
Homeowners are getting squeezed by a strained grid and local permit delays, while neighborhood associations bring their own financial drama.
Energy & Solar
Solar Power is Finally Getting a 'Plug-and-Play' Upgrade
Traditional rooftop solar is in a slump. But a new wave of plug-in technology and simple utility alerts are helping homeowners bypass the grid.
Money & Bills
The Fine Print Strikes Back
The era of the easy condo mortgage is ending, while local governments get creative to keep property tax bills from eating us alive.
Market & Mortgage
The One-Year Peak: Why Cash Buyers Are Taking Over
Mortgage rates just hit their highest level in a year, ending the summer waiting game and handing the keys to all-cash buyers.
Home & Safety
The Direct-to-Door Hazard in Your Home
A wave of safety recalls for popular online nursery gear exposes the risks of unbranded products. Plus, extreme heat turns summer beach escapes into rescue zones.
Home Projects
The Water-Wise Home: Why Defensive Upgrades Are the New Curb Appeal
Whether it's drought in the West or bursting pipes in the East, water is forcing homeowners to rethink their lawns and protect their basements.
Energy & Solar
The AI Power Grab: Why Your Utility Bill Isn't Spiking (Yet)
Data centers are eating up massive amounts of electricity, but regulators are finally stepping in to make sure tech companies, not homeowners, foot the bill.
Market & Mortgage
The Summer Mortgage Relief That Never Arrived
Summer was supposed to bring relief for homebuyers. Instead, global tension and a spooked Federal Reserve have sent mortgage costs to a one-year high.