Purchasing a home might seem like you’re signing your life away, but it also comes with a hefty price tag beyond forking over the remainder of your down payment.

When it comes time for closing, you will need to come prepared with payments to fulfill the checklist of money owed.

“’Closing costs’ is a broad term encompassing fees paid to your lender, third parties that had a role in the transaction such as an appraiser and title company, any required government or property taxes, and prepaid items like property insurance and mortgage interest,” Greg McBride, chief financial analyst at Bankrate, told Realtor.com®. “The total is often a few, or even several, thousand dollars but varies based on location and property specifics.”

Your real estate agent will help walk you through what you need to avoid any snags at closing.

A cash payment does not mean you need to come with cold, hard cash, but McBride said a cashier’s check or wire transfer are the preferable forms of payment. Personal checks and credit cards are usually not accepted at closing.

There are four main cash payments to have on hand.

1. Closing costs

Buyers and sellers pay some kind of closing costs. For buyers, this might include fees related to mortgage financing, credit checks, title services, home inspection, and appraisals.

Some of these costs may have already been paid, but the buyer is responsible for any balances on closing day.

2. Down payment

Buyers may have put an initial deposit or earnest money when signing the purchase agreement. That money is held in escrow, which is put toward your full down payment.

The remainder of the down payment will be paid at closing.

3. Mortgage interest

Per diem interest is the amount of interest a buyer owes from between the day you close and the day you begin making payments on your mortgage—this is usually on the first of the following month.

So for example, if your closing is Oct. 13, you’ll pay prorated interest for the number of days before the first monthly payment of Nov. 1.

4. Prepaid charges

Any prepayment will cover a portion of your homeowners insurance, property taxes, or HOA dues, if it pertains to your purchase.

This is usually held in escrow by your lender and distributed as needed.

How much you’ll need

The amount of money you need to pay for the above payments will vary.

When you submit a mortgage application, the lender will give you a loan estimate within three business days, McBride explained.

“While this will outline all the various charges, most figures are just estimates and only the fees the lender is charging are accurate,” said McBride. “Other third-party fees can be more but also less, so shop around.”

There are government charges for your area. You can find this online. Also, prepaid items like mortgage interest will depend on your specific closing date.

All of these added expenses need to be factored in when you’re ready to purchase a home. A 20% down is not enough as you make your way through the buying process.

“There are a lot of various transaction fees involved with buying a home, including the down payment, closing costs, moving expenses, plus the inevitable new paint, carpet, or furniture,” McBride said.

“And you have to cover all of these expenses without raiding your emergency savings,” he added. “Because once you’re a homeowner, you’ll need that emergency savings more than ever, usually without warning.”

 

For this and related articles, please visit Realtor.com

Bone-chilling temperatures are on the way for most of the U.S. as a polar vortex is in the forecast for late January. From the Midwest to the Northeast, roughly 120 million people will feel the brrr in the last days of the month.

If you’re a homeowner living in a cold climate—or one that’s about to experience this extreme chill—it’s time to consider how the cold will impact your home. We’re looking at you, pipes!

Turns out, pipes can freeze in any region and given the financial risks involved, it’s better to be safe than sorry. Because sometimes, home insurance just doesn’t cover the damage, so you want to get ahead of it!

Here are the signs that your pipes may be frozen—and what to do if they are.

How to determine if your pipes are frozen

The most obvious indicator of frozen pipes is the absence of water (assuming you’re not delinquent on your water bill).

“Frozen water pipes won’t deliver water to the sink, tub, or toilet—and blocked heating pipes will prevent hot air from reaching radiators that are past the part that’s frozen,” says Mary Redler, vice president of Polo Plumbing & Heating in Lindenhurst, NY.

Once you’ve determined that your pipes are on ice, it’s time to take action—and you have some options.

Ways to defrost your pipes

If you have frozen pipes that are undamaged, Redler says you may be able to defrost them yourself. But the first thing you should do is turn off the water at the main shut-off valve.

“This is important because as the pipe defrosts, you may discover that it did split but wasn’t leaking because it was frozen,” she explains.

Some people recommend using a blow dryer to defrost frozen pipes. Redler says using a space heater will also do the trick.

“Place the unit close by so it sends heat as directly as possible to the frozen area,” she advises.

The more heat you can deliver, the faster the pipe will thaw—but Redler warns it may take a full 24 hours using this method.

“Hopefully the heat will prevent it from freezing even more and splitting the pipe, since water expands when it’s frozen,” she explains.

In lieu of a space heater, there are other ways to thaw your frozen pipes. According to Don Glovan, franchise consultant with Mr. Rooter Plumbing, you can also use a heat lamp.

He recommends that you start applying heat at the area of the pipe closest to the faucet, and then move the heat application down the pipe.

“Another option is to use electrical heating tape, although some models will need to be plugged in,” Glovan says.

Avoid using these sources of heat to defrost pipes: a blowtorch, propane heater, kerosene, charcoal stove, or any other type of flammable device.

You also need to open a faucet that receives water from the frozen pipe to release pressure in the pipe when it thaws out.

What if the pipes burst while frozen?

When water freezes, it expands, which can cause pipes to burst—flooding your basement, ruining your drywall, and costing thousands of dollars in repairs.

In fact, the Hartford Insurance Co. reported in 2024 that the average claim for damage from a frozen pipe is a whopping $18,000, according to its analysis of five years of winter claims data.

Yep, you read that right—$18,000. On average.

This is by far the biggest reason you want to avoid your pipes from freezing over. Once the worst happens, you’ll have no choice but to call in a professional.

Should you call a plumber?

If your DIY plumbing efforts don’t work—or if your pipes have frozen and burst—bring in the plumbers. And if there’s a lot of water in your home that needs to be dried out, call a water remediation company, which has the equipment and the training to remove it.

“If something isn’t dried correctly, such as inside a wall cavity, under a cabinet, carpet padding, or subflooring, etc., you could develop problems with microbial (mold) growth later,” says Bud Summers, executive vice president of operations and training at PuroClean.

Tips to prevent frozen pipes

Insulating your pipes is one of the best ways to prevent the pipes from freezing in the first place. Ben Nuno, plumbing specialist at Lee’s Air Conditioning, Heating, and Building Performance in Fresno, CA, recommends insulating all exterior pipes or installing a pipe-heating cable.

Another suggestion is to let your faucets drip water, since water is less likely to freeze when there’s movement in the pipes, and opening the faucets ensures there’s no buildup of water pressure.

Also, try to keep the area around your pipes as warm as possible.

“Open your under-sink cabinet doors to keep warm room air circulating around the pipes,” Glovan says.

He also recommends sealing external openings such as basement doors, windows, and crawl spaces with weatherstripping, caulk, and sealant.

In addition, you may want to budget for a higher utility bill during the winter months.

“Very cold days are not the time to try to save money on fuel,” Redler says. “You should actually increase the temperature by a few degrees to make sure your pipes are protected.”

 

For this and related articles, please visit Realtor.com

New year, new you, right? For many, January heralds the start of a new era, whether it involves hunkering down with hot drinks, hitting up the postholiday sales, or turning over a new leaf for the coming 12 months.

But for a lot of people, this time at the start of the year also represents an opportunity to refresh your living space, yanking down festive decor and ridding yourself of clutter to begin the year on the best foot possible.

Whether you own a home or rent a room, tidying and decluttering are a vital part of everyday living—no matter how much you might hate the tasks.

The good news is that you don’t have to follow one particular method for cleaning up your space. In fact, experts say there are tips, tricks, and techniques available to suit all manner of people, from those who love a Sunday reset to those who abhor any form of chore.

That’s right. The reality is, you don’t have to follow the same path as your loved ones when it comes to organizing drawers and closets. Instead, consider the half-dozen choices, below, and then pick the one that suits you best.

Once you’ve chosen your optimal method, take comfort in the fact that your decluttering process will have another positive outcome, in addition to overhauling your living space: You also have the chance to help others by donating the items that you no longer need.

“We’ve never had so many good options for parting with our items, from free neighborhood sites to online marketplaces, plus various charity, thrift, and consignment stores,” says Pamela O’Brien of Pamela Hope Designs.

And some locations might even pay you back for your purchases, which is a win-win if you’re feeling the pinch after the end of year festivities.

But before you jump in, keep these savvy tips in mind from Katie McCann, a professional organizer and owner of Haven.

“Start your project small and avoid taking on too much in one day,” she counsels.

And don’t go it alone! “Enlist help from a family member or friend to act as an accountability partner,” she adds.

Lastly, “reward yourself for any and all progress,” she says.

Truth: Decluttering is hard, physically and emotionally, so be kind to yourself.

1. The Marie Kondo method

 

What is the Marie Kondo method?

The KonMari method of decluttering comes to us from Marie Kondo, the famous Japanese organizing consultant who penned the 2014 book “The Life-Changing Magic of Tidying Up,” selling millions of copies along the way. She also starred in her own Netflix show, “Tidying Up With Marie Kondo.”

The method here encourages homeowners to purge their items by category (clothes, books, papers), rather than by room, and to keep only those objects that “spark joy.”

As you cruise your piles, Kondo suggests that you thank your items for their service before tossing or donating them.

Who should try it?

If you’re a fan of mindfulness and intentional living, Kondo just might be your spirit animal. And the pros are behind her.

Laura Burton of the eponymous design firm, for one, identifies with this approach as she likes to work in stages.

“I’m also a believer in not keeping things that don’t bring you joy,” she adds.

2. Five-things approach

What is the five-things approach?

The five-things process is fairly logical—its premise is that there are just a few (five!) kinds of clutter around the house that need tidying. The idea is to attack one or two of the five things in the time you have.

This handful of items includes dishes, trash, laundry or clothes, things that have a place, and things that don’t.

Who should try it?

The five-things idea means you can take on just one or two a day and then take a break. With this approach, you can feel like a hero when every dish is back in the kitchen or the laundry is finally folded and put away.

3. Swedish death cleaning

What is Swedish death cleaning?

This Scandinavian idea might sound morbid, but it’s a gift in disguise. Swedish death cleaning entails ridding your home of junk before you end up leaving the mess to your children to deal with.

Fans of the method suggest starting with easy excess first (junk drawer, clothes that don’t fit) and then moving to more precious things that you might give away to special people in your life. The process is designed to be slow and allows you to keep sentimental objects as you declutter.

Who should try it?

You don’t have to be from Stockholm to consider this idea, nor do you need to be elderly. Instead, give this one a go if you long to reduce personal chaos and (ideally) live a more serene, organized life.

4. One in, one out

 

What is the one-in, one-out technique?

Simple and streamlined, the one-in, one-out rule means you can’t add another pair of boots until you donate one you already own. The same goes for books, sets of glassware, napkins, etc. If you follow this program properly, you’ll never accumulate more than you should.

Who should try it?

Homeowners who love a strict approach should dive right into this one. It’s rigid—but it works extremely well.

O’Brien herself follows the one-in, one-out method.

“It helps cut down on impulse buying, and if you bring something into the house, it’s a good reminder to remove another item,” she explains

5. 20/20 rule

What is the 20/20 rule?

Nope, this isn’t about eye vision. Rather, the 20/20 way asks you to decide whether you could replace the item you’re thinking of tossing for less than $20 and within 20 minutes, if you needed to.

Who should try it?

Do you have nine spatulas? If so, 20/20 could be for you.

McCann also urges clients to ask similar questions, such as “Is this easily replaceable if I donated it?” and “Is there someone that would value this more?”

6. The four boxes

What is the four-boxes method?

All you need here are a few boxes—four to be exact. Label these “trash,” “donate,” “keep,” and “relocate.”

Who should try it?

It’s easy and visual and very satisfying to toss things in boxes as you move about each room. Every family member can grab the containers for their own spaces, and the boxes can be customized. (You might have a “sell” box, for example.)

 

For this and similar articles, please visit Realtor.com

Get savvy about the feng shui mirror rules to reap the benefits in your home!

Feng shui mirror rules can seem a little tricky. The ancient Chinese art promises rich benefits to quality of life when following its precepts, but those on the subject of mirrors can sometimes seem harder to understand than other guidance.

This is particularly the case in bedroom feng shui with careful placement an essential if you are to have bedroom mirrors (and some practitioners cautioning against it entirely, an issue we’ll return to).

Here, we examine the feng shui mirror rules that can help bring wealth and prosperity and promote well-being.

Feng Shui Mirror Rules

Feng shui meaning encompasses the idea that human life is connected to the environment. It comes from the Taoist belief in chi, which is the life force present in everything. In feng shui arranging objects and choosing decor has the aim of balancing opposing but complementary yin and yang elements to improve the flow of positive chi, and ward off negative chi.

Why are mirrors important? ‘Mirrors are a powerful tool in feng shui as they are said to double or increase whatever they “see”, but they do need to be used with care,’ says interiors therapy and feng shui expert Suzanne Roynon.

Feng Shui Mirror Rules For The Bedroom

(Image credit: Davide Lovatti)

Following feng shui mirror rules for the bedroom can help promote a peaceful night’s sleep and the well-being this brings.

Whether you should have a mirror in your bedroom is disputed in feng shui with some practitioners advising that they shouldn’t be hung in the room. But if you do want a mirror in there (and most of us do), then there are ways to hang one without causing problems according to feng shui.

‘Mirrors in the bedroom should never reflect a bed for two reasons; they invite the energy of a third (and fourth!) person into the relationship and also drain the energy of a sleeper. Position any mirrors so they are angled away from the bed or too high for the occupants to see themselves while sitting or lying in bed,’ says Suzanne Roynon.

Be sure to follow the guidance on feng shui bedroom layout and feng shui bed placement, too, as well as on feng shui bedroom colors for a restful and revitalizing room.

Feng Shui Mirror Rules For The Living Room