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.

Life is busy. Kids, work, meals, appointments - the list goes on. And no matter where you live, you also have to spend time keeping your home safe and running smoothly. We've put together a Yearly Homeowner's Checklist, with tasks for each month, to help remind you of common home maintenance chores to make your life just a little bit easier. 

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.