8 home improvement projects that add the most value
Home improvement is a [$400 billion industry](https://www.statista.com/statistics/239753/total-sales-of-home-improvement-retailers-in-the-us/) in the United Sta......
Home improvement is a [$400 billion industry](https://www.statista.com/statistics/239753/total-sales-of-home-improvement-retailers-in-the-us/) in the United Sta......
## What is a home warranty? When it comes to home protection, most people think of home insurance, but what about a home warranty? A home warranty is like an ......
## Benefits of modular homes Modular homes, or those built in a factory, are a cost-effective housing alternative with a variety of eco benefits when compared......
Imagine a world where city centers are smog-free and full of thriving green ecosystems, with more cyclists and pedestrians than cars. While this vision might se......
## Staging your home for online viewers If you’ve ever played The Sims, you know how satisfying it can be to decorate an empty room with just a few clicks of a......
## Evaluating what to take and leave from your home Let’s pretend you just bought your dream home: all the bells and whistles you want, the specs you want, in......
Being a homeowner in an exercise in constantly staying ahead of whatever unexpected thing will befall your house next. What will break? What storm will hit? Wha......
## Wind power for homes: Is it right for you? Wind — you can’t see it, but you can feel it and you can definitely use it to power your home. With a movement to......
## Home Insurance: The Good, the Bad, and the Icy Winter is a magical time of year for many, but it also brings unique challenges for homeowners and drivers. F......
## How tornado severity is determined To determine the strength of a tornado, the National Weather Service created the Enhanced Fujita Scale or EF-Scale. The E......
As the Earth continues to warm, there has been a steady increase in recent years of more and larger weather events and natural disasters. These events contribut......
## Why Homeownership Costs More Than You Think Your mortgage loan is secured, the keys are in hand, and you’ve closed on that dream home you’re excited to move......
## Making it perfect vs starting over Sixty percent of Americans agree that moving is the most stressful life event — but is living in a construction zone any......
## The impact of a new lease Whether you're moving into your first apartment, transitioning to a new city, or simply seeking a change of scenery, signing a lea......
Short-term rentals are becoming increasingly popular for people who need temporary housing for work, travel or other personal reasons. So popular, in fact, that......
The holiday season is a time for joy, celebration and togetherness. However, it can also be fraught with unique perils. For example, during the holidays, you ma......
The renters insurance industry is booming – it’s expected to grow to a value of $129 billion by 2029.[[1]](#footnote-1) Currently, 55% of U.S. renters (around 6......
## The Overlooked Cost of Lightning Damage Hurricanes, wildfires, floods, and the destructive natural disasters are the biggest focus. We know they can leave a......
Single ladies are looking for mortgages across the U.S. One in every 10 homebuyers is a single female, and a majority of women prioritize homeownership over mar......
## Your holiday season smart device security guide This holiday season may not have traditional activities like the entire extended family gathered around the......
## The future of homeownership As we say goodbye to the 2010s, it’s a time for reflection. This decade brought us YOLO, a ton of superheroes, murder mystery po......
## Summary of findings The dreaded chirp of a smoke alarm in need of new batteries can be a nuisance, but it can also save your life. However, our recent surve......
If cable taught us anything about the American dream, it’s that leaving your hometown for a sunny coastline or urban playground is a rite of passage for many yo......
## Dog bites in the U.S. Over 65 million households own a dog in the U.S. — amounting to 90 million dogs. While the goal is to live harmoniously with man’s bes......
## US lightning strike statistics You often hear the phrase “lightning doesn’t strike the same place twice,” which is one of the many myths about lightning. In......
## Modern women see success in the real estate market When it comes to real estate, men may have historically dominated the industry, but the future is female.......
Did you know that your home heating and cooling habits are probably making climate change worse? Home heating is the single largest source of power consumption......
As the LA wildfires at the beginning of this year showed — wildfires can have devastating consequences. Wildfires are uncontrolled fires that spread across vege......
## The challenge of finding an affordable city When it comes to unaffordable housing, everyone knows that cities like San Francisco and New York are notoriousl......
When shopping for homeowners insurance, you might find yourself answering what seems like a never-ending series of questions about your property. These questio......
Hurricanes, floods, tornadoes, fires — these are all well known and understood perils, and you likely have a pretty good idea of what’s covered by your insuranc......
The situation in Southern California, and particularly around Los Angeles, is nothing short of devastating. While right now the biggest concern is immediate saf......
## The changing scope of American homes For many people, part of the American Dream involves becoming a homeowner. We all want a place to call our own, and for......
## Common home repairs There’s a reason why shows like “Fixer Upper” and “Property Brothers” are so popular – people love watching dilapidated homes transform......
Buying a home involves a lot of expenses. There are the obvious ones like the down payment and monthly mortgage. You also have to budget for closing costs and o......
What do Jane the Virgin, Barack Obama, Frasier, Charlie Bucket and the Family Matters family (The Winslows – tuck that away for your next trivia night) have in......
## Will Flood Insurance Survive? The National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) is once again facing an uncertain future, after the program expired on September 3......
Does the threat of hurricanes make you second-guess how relaxing retirement in Florida would actually be? You’re not wrong to be concerned, but the truth is you......
## Staying organized during your move Moving into a new house is an exciting endeavor, but it’s also incredibly stressful when it’s happening. Whether you’re i......
When it comes to buying a house, there are several factors to consider like location, price, size and even the friendliness of the neighbors. If you’re ready to......
## Why Federal Cuts to NOAA Matter for Homeowners The U.S. federal government has been undergoing some significant changes, and specifically large-scale reduct......
## The need for faster disaster recovery In recent years, natural disasters have become more common and severe. The recent wildfires in Los Angeles have destro......
If you're currently living in an apartment, you may be craving the companionship of a pet but have limited space to offer. You’ll be glad to hear that your opti......
## The real-life costs of iconic property catastrophes Television shows and movies love large-scale destruction. The Golden Gate Bridge, for instance, has been......
A storm is brewing, and it’s heading your way. Sometimes powerful winds or lightning strikes can lead to downed power lines or power surges. Power outages can......
## Understanding Types of Flood Protection Floods are among the most common and devastating natural disasters. According to FEMA, just one inch of water can ca......
## Homebuying FOMO in America Homeownership continues to be the cornerstone of the American dream, but the journey to achieving it isn’t getting any easier. Th......
## Home Is Where the Accidents Are Home is supposed to be the safest place in the world, yet it’s also where many accidents happen. From slips on wet floors to......
## What makes your home vulnerable to break-ins? Feeling safe and secure in your living environment is a critical part of making home feel like home. As a resu......
## From the bottom up ***Pop quiz*:** What type of home foundation do you have? Not sure? Don’t care? Well, the answer matters more than you may realize. If......
Home insurance is meant to provide you (and, let’s be real: your lender) with peace of mind. Your insurance policy ensures that your valuable investment is prot......
The home insurance landscape so many are struggling with in 2025 is shifting rapidly, and as a homeowner, you need to stay ahead of the curve. From the ongoing......
## The ultimate guide to seasonal maintenance While the thought of cleaning out your gutters might not exactly bring a smile to your face, regular home mainten......
## Home improvement help for veterans As a veteran, you’re eligible for great housing benefits in appreciation of your service. In addition to VA home loans an......
Hanukkah is a joyous time for families to come together, celebrate traditions and create lasting memories. However, during the eight-day Festival of Lights, it'......
## Embracing technology in the home A healthy life starts at home, and thanks to smart technology holistic living is easier than ever. Rather than deodorizing......
Home insurance is your saving grace in the face of (some) disasters and (most) theft. It helps you get your life back together after calamity. It’s valuable, an......
You’ve found it: The perfect house. It’s got that cute front porch and a fenced-in backyard. The rooms are a great size, and the basement is perfect for enterta......
The past year saw some dramatic changes for homeowners. The real estate market and mortgage rates made buying a home more expensive. And from the insurance side......
## Home insurance on the rise According to the Insurance Information Institute, homeowners insurance rates have increased by 4%[[1]](#footnote-1) in 2021 compa......
## By the numbers If you’re spending more than 30% of your gross monthly income on living expenses, you might be what’s known as “house poor.” A recent survey......
## Clearing the clutter Most Americans have a junk drawer – or two. Our lives are full of work, obligations and above all, stuff. The average American home has......
For nearly 20 years, Roombas have been working hard to make our homes tidy. Made by iRobot, these robotic vacuum cleaners use sensors to detect walls and items......
## What makes a water heater tankless? Tankless water heaters have grown in popularity over the past few years, primarily thanks to an energy-saving design tha......
## Home composting made easy America produces 254 million tons of garbage[[1]](#footnote-1) each year, and nearly 25% of our solid waste is food scraps. As lan......
## Water conservation at home In order to meet our society’s growing water needs, we’re going to have to make changes to our everyday habits. Before the pandem......
## Safeguard your garden from animals The amount of wildlife has increased in urban and suburban areas, thanks to the past several months of reduced human mobi......
Did you ever imagine that your workday might involve sleeping in until the very last minute, logging on in your pajamas and perhaps taking a shower on your lunc......
## Factors that can increase your home or property value A number of factors go into a home’s value, and not all of them fall underneath the roof. Nearby ameni......
The ongoing LA fires have been nothing short of devastating to many. Thousands of homes and businesses have been destroyed in Southern California. Preliminary d......
Your home is your sanctuary, and one of your goals is probably to keep it smelling good. Or failing that, having a neutral smell. But while some smells like th......
## The Zebra's home security and password habits survey You probably share account login information with friends, family, your partner, or in some cases, even......
## Should I worry about my smart doorbell? Perhaps smart doorbell cameras should come with a warning label: purchase at your own privacy risk. Home security te......
## Moving to a smaller home After decades of collecting your life's most cherished memories, it can be difficult to imagine leaving the home you’ve adored. But......
## Eyes in the Sky In recent years, drones and aerial photography have rapidly grown as an industry. The global aerial imaging market size was estimated at USD......
## Do your homework when buying a house Whether it's your first or fifth time around, buying a home is an exciting yet stressful experience. With average home......
## How climate is changing the rules of insurance The world is changing. Due to global climate change, the frequency and severity of extreme weather events are......
Home insurance protects your largest asset from some familiar dangers. When thinking of the most likely scenarios, you might be thinking about house fires, thef......
## Flood insurance: quick facts Floods are one of the most common— and costly — disasters in the United States. While we have methods to predict risk of floods......
## Beware of fire hazards in your home If you’ve never experienced a house fire, you may be shocked to learn the sheer volume of fires that are sparked each ye......
## Flood risks are rising If you live in a floodplain or are considering buying a home in one, you aren’t alone. Over 15 million U.S. homes are thought to be a......
In 2021 alone, Florida gained more than 200,000 residents. Despite people being drawn to the Sunshine State for its traditionally cheap real estate and the abse......
Finding the perfect place to live as a renter can already be a challenge. But if you have a less-than-perfect rental history, when it comes time to submit that......
## Unique construction options What do mushrooms, old tires and straw have in common? They’re all green building materials that you can use for your home. Sust......
## What is an HOA? Often referred to as an HOA, a homeowners association is an organization of community residents with the goal of determining and enforcing r......
Warmer weather is often welcomed after a long winter. But as you get mentally and physically ready for sunnier days, you should also be preparing for serious co......
The holiday season is underway! That means lots of cheerful memories made with friends and family, cozy nights and…many people who don’t normally cook suddenly......
## Young adults are waiting longer to buy a home Buying your first home is a major life decision. Generally, it aligns with other factors, like career stabilit......
## Invest in property in these cities As home values continue to rise throughout much of the country, many people are seeing real estate as an enticing opportu......
## Why move to a micropolitan? If you live in a big city, you may have caught yourself wondering what it’s like living in a small town free from the hustle and......
It’s easy to wonder if the grass is greener on the other side. That’s especially true if you’re melting through a 100-degree winter or plowing through six inche......
We know that moving is stressful for a number of reasons, one being all the tiny details that need to come together in order to get comfortable in new surroundi......
When you’re living on your own for the first time, setting a budget can feel daunting. Honestly, even if you’ve been living on your own for a while, it can be h......
## A Devastating Peril Fires are one of the scarier perils that can threaten our properties and lives. They can spread quickly and in just a few minutes engul......
## How to save money on homeowners insurance Homeowners insurance is often a “set it and forget it” monthly expense, especially if it’s built into your mortgag......
## Is your home protected from everything? You may think your insurance is all-encompassing, but homeowners insurance covers your home’s physical structure and......
## 3D-printed homes are on the rise 3D-printed homes are revolutionizing the construction industry by making home builds faster, cheaper and more sustainable.......
## Maintaining your home now can save you later If you own a home, you know it’s an exercise in constantly battling entropy. From the garage door to the shingl......
## Exploring agrihoods Have you ever dreamed of ditching the city and heading out for wide open spaces where you can live off the land, only to then remember t......