It's your first home, and your first spring after a long winter. Are you ready to put in the effort it takes to have a lush, green lawn? One that you can walk around in with your bare feet, throw a ball to the dog, or sit back and relax with friends? These 5 tips for spring lawn care will help get you on the right track and make your home the envy of the neighborhood.

Tackle your "to-do" list with our Home Maintenance Checklist Life is busy. Kids, work, meals, appointments - the list goes on. And hey homeowner, you still have to squeeze out time to clean the gutters (yuk!) and change your furnace filter. We've put together this monthly Home Maintenance Checklist to help you tackle your chores in bite-sized chunks so you can enjoy your home, keep it running smoothly and still hold on to your sanity.  

You should not go broke buying a home. In fact, the best home loan should not put you in the poor house. The best home loan should also help you afford more than a shack.  

Closing costs can include things like a mortgage loan down payment, appraisal fees, an origination fee and/or processing fees. These are the funds you as the home buyer will need at the closing table. Cash-to-close fees may also be paid at the time of closing, and would include things like homeowners insurance and property taxes, also called your escrow account.