Settling into Your New Home
June 18, 2025
It pays to develop a simple maintenance calendar to remind you of recurring tasks like checking detectors (twice a year), cleaning gutters (spring and fall), and scheduling an annual HVAC service. You should also start saving up for replacements in the home, as we’ll discuss below.
Is it Common to Feel Buyer’s Remorse Shortly After Moving In?
Yes, it is completely normal to feel overwhelmed and even experience a bit of buyer's remorse when you begin your new life as a home owner.
Some need time to adjust to the financial pressure of having a mortgage. Some feel the list of projects around the home is never-ending at first.
When this feeling hits, acknowledge it, remind yourself why you wanted to buy a home in the first place, and focus on completing one small, manageable task to regain a sense of accomplishment and control.
I am starting an emergency fund for the house. What are the next big things I should be saving for?
Beyond your immediate emergency fund, you should save for "Capital Expenditures,” or money you will eventually need to put toward the major home systems with a long but limited lifespan.
Create separate savings goals for critical home areas such as the roof, siding, electrical systems, and climate control.
Should I plan on a home equity loan to pay for future upgrades at some point?
It’s always best to see if you can afford to pay for improvements in cash. If you do need to finance a repair or replacement, resist the urge to put these projects on your credit card unless you are fairly certain you can pay off the card quickly. You may find that interest rates are the sticking point here.
If you would pay more in interest to pay for repairs or replacements purchased with a credit card, it may make sense to consider cash-out refinancing or an FHA rehabilitation refinance (depending on circumstances and need) instead.
FHA Loan Articles
August 19, 2026Homebuyers who have enough cash for a down payment still need to consider their full financial picture before choosing between a conventional mortgage and an FHA loan. Having cash on hand changes the math for both options, but savings alone won't make a conventional loan the automatic winner. Credit scores, current debt, and the type of property you want to buy all determine which loan will cost less over time.
August 11, 2026Homeowners with FHA adjustable-rate loans need to track their loans more closely. That is because FHA ARM loans start with introductory interest rates that eventually expire and are subject to change afterwards based on market rates. When interest rates rise, monthly housing payments climb on ARM loans, pushing many homeowners to consider refinancing into a fixed-rate mortgage.
August 10, 2026If you want to buy a home with an FHA mortgage, you must set up an escrow account to cover property taxes, homeowner insurance, and upfront closing expenses. While the FHA loan program has rules for funding these accounts, buyers often do not realize those rules can include approved and unallowed sources for escrow funds. What do you need to know before you set up and fund your escrow account for an FHA mortgage?
August 3, 2026Buying a home in a high-cost area requires understanding how FHA loan limits shape your financing options. Does the house for sale have a price above the local FHA loan limit? You may need to explore your jumbo loan options. There are conventional jumbo loans and FHA versions. Which is right for you? Much depends on your financial needs, plans, and goals for the loan.
July 30, 2026There is a common misconception about FHA loans that only a first-time home buyer can use the program. This is not true; repeat buyers can qualify for an FHA loan, but why does this misconception exist? Partially because state and local programs have first-time buyer requirements for down payment and/or closing cost assistance programs. So while you do not need to be a first-time buyer to get an FHA loan, you may need to meet that definition to qualify for down payment help.
