WEIGHING THE PROS AND CONS OF SWITCHING TO A 15-YEAR MORTGAGE You’re spot on about the importance of a safety net. I just bought my first place last ...

This hits home for me. When we moved in, I kept every leftover bit from the contractors—extra tiles, plumbing parts, you name it. My logic was, “I’ll ...

WHAT’S A “NORMAL” LENGTH FOR CONSTRUCTION LOANS THESE DAYS? You nailed it with the “obstacle course” comparison. I went into this thinking if I just ...

I’ve noticed the same thing with “green” products—sometimes the label just doesn’t match reality. We used a certified low-VOC adhesive for our floorin...

That’s exactly how it felt when I tried to figure out setback requirements for our new build. I thought I had the latest info, but apparently the city...

I've definitely noticed older plumbing can complicate things. When I replaced my kitchen sink recently, I assumed it'd be straightforward—until I real...

I recently replaced my roof and had similar concerns about noise and airflow. Didn't go for the baffles initially—thought they were just extra hassle—...

When I bought my first custom home, I initially relied pretty heavily on credit cards for unexpected expenses—felt convenient at the time. But honestl...