Owning and Keeping a Home

There's nothing like the feeling of being a homeowner. But owning a home is an ongoing commitment - new issues and responsibilities can come up at any time.

• Maintenance.
  Part of homeownership is maintenance. Understand what you can expect in terms of annual maintenance and upkeep of your property.

• Moving.
  As a new homeowner, the first step you face is moving into your new home. By planning ahead, you'll eliminate a lot of last-minute challenges that many people face. In this section you can find useful information and worksheets to get those last minute details in order.

• Remodeling.
  At some point, you will probably think about remodeling or renovating, which can improve your enjoyment of your home as well as its value. Our remodeling section offers useful information about where and how to get started.

• Refinancing.
  Down the road, you may want to consider refinancing, which can lower the interest rate and monthly payment on your mortgage or allow you to take money out of your home's equity. Find out what you need to do to get a lower monthly payment or refinance to pay for other family needs.

• Protection.
  Disasters happen and are out of your control. But there are things a homeowner can do to protect their home from natural disasters.