How to Home

When you hire an agent who is a REALTOR® to help sell your home, you’re gaining a partner with the skills, connections, knowledge and expertise to showcase your home to its fullest potential. Your agent will create a plan for marketing your home; talk with you about listing it in the multiple listing service (MLS), a marketplace that helps you reach the largest possible pool of serious buyers and maximize the price for your home; and guide you through preparing your home for sale.

When you’re buying a home for the first time, there are plenty of new terms to learn. One that can cause confusion is private mortgage insurance, or PMI. PMI is an insurance policy that protects the lender in case you default on the loan. You’ll likely be required to purchase PMI if you are buying a home using a conventional mortgage and you are putting down less than 20% of the purchase price.

For those who’ve completed military service or are actively serving our country, the VA Home Loan Guaranty is a great path to achieving the dream of homeownership. This U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs program can make owning a home more attainable and affordable.

Get smart about your market. Local real estate data, fresh every month.

Mortgage types explained for new buyers.

Buying or selling a home is an exciting—but stressful—milestone. For some, the most daunting part is packing and moving. But proper planning and a solid packing strategy can ease the task. These 10 practical tips will help. You’ve got this!

Follow pro advice about how to cut your electric bills and use less electricity even with rising costs and summer heat.

Homeownership has always had its perks when it comes to tax deductions, but the latest tax reform helps homeowners save even more money. Here’s why.

From architectural character to lasting craftsmanship, historic homes offer one-of-a-kind charm, but they also come with unique responsibilities for the owner. Here are a few of the things you should know before buying a historic property:

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Improving your home’s energy efficiency doesn’t have to involve a full home renovation. Whether you’re looking to lower utility bills, preparing to sell, or simply modernizing your home, here’s how to get started and what to keep in mind along the way.

Buying a home is one of the most important decisions you can make. Many professionals are available to help you throughout the homebuying process, including a real estate attorney. When navigating the homebuying process, this is how a real estate attorney can help you:

In celebration of National Homeownership Month, we believe it’s the perfect time to bring attention to a unique opportunity for first-time homebuyers in Nassau, Suffolk, and Queens counties.

Buying a home at auction can be an exciting opportunity to get involved in real estate, but there are certain risks and rules to be aware of. Whether you’re a first-time buyer or an experienced investor, understanding how auctions work can help you bid confidently:

Get smart about your market. Local real estate data, fresh every month.

Before you start house hunting, use tools and formulas to estimate how much house you can afford.

Buying or keeping a home can be financially challenging—but you may not have to do it alone. There are assistance programs designed to help. Here’s what you need to know:

The real estate market constantly shifts, and knowing whether conditions favor buyers or sellers can help you make smarter, more confident decisions. Here’s how to recognize which type of market you’re in and what each means for you.

A home is a long-term financial asset. Estate planning helps you prepare for the future by deciding what happens to your home and other assets if you can no longer care for them. Here are the basics.

For many homeowners, the mortgage interest deduction can offer meaningful tax savings. If you're navigating tax season or planning to buy a home, understanding how this deduction works can help you make smarter financial decisions. Here’s what you need to know.