The first summer in a new home can prove to be an adventure. In fact one of the struggles new homeowners have in a new house is figuring out the right items to buy for summer and paying for it. 

As a first time home owner, you're going to find out that you have a lot to worry about. Spills and stains are part of that list. Today's guest post offers tips to get stains out, before you call a professional cleaning service.

A lot of media and news outlets are reporting interesting news about the current housing market. One article from the Associated Press says home buyers should really save up for a 20% down payment. The same article puts mortgage pre-approval down on the list of "first steps." The problem is that the article is a bit misleading. Sure, 20% down will work. However, home buyers have some great low down payment options available in today's housing market.

This guest post focuses on finding the right real estate agent for your home buying (or selling) experience. Having the right team around you as a first time home buyer or as a seller is important. Real estate agents are a vital part of the process. They're not always a part of it, as the for-sale-by-owner (FSBO) market has grown over the years. However, agents have knowledge of the housing market and a professional toolkit that could help you tremendously. Enjoy today's article!

Interest rates are certainly an important part of the home buying process. Your rate will determine - in part - how much your house payment is. But it's not the only factor. In fact, sometimes you might pay a higher interest rate, but end up with a lower monthly payment. Or you may have a slightly lower interest rate offered by one lender, and end up only paying $15 less per month. So you may want to look at more than just interest rates when looking to buy a house. Check out the video below for more details.

Every year, we promise we're finally going to finish that project we've daydreamed about for years. Browsing Pinterest and DIY sites only makes the envy grow, but it doesn't have to be that way. There are a million gorgeous, simple outdoor DIY projects waiting for you online and at your local hardware store. Check out our favorites below:

I have daughters, and I know they'd love this bedroom design. This is a great DIY home decor project for a daughter's bedroom. The colors and leaf decor is pretty, plus the "day bed" design to go with the bed is perfect for sleepovers. Of course, any chance to have a little extra storage in a child's room is great, too. 

Home appraisals can be one of those things home buyers get tripped up about during the buying process. In fact, we've talked about home appraisals and why they're needed before. The fact is, they're good for buyers, sellers and everyone involved. But they can also be frustrating when an appraisal comes back with required repairs.

Avoiding mistakes as a first time home buyer can be tricky. You'll hear all kinds of advice from everyone in your life. Today we're getting advice from a housing market expert: licensed REALTORS®. Enjoy this guest article.

"What is your interest rate?" may not the best question to ask a lender. At least don't make it your only question. It's a very popular one, and an important one - but it's one of many and it's not always the most important one. For one thing, the housing market is still seeing historic and near-historic interest rates right now. Mortgage interest rates are at some of lowest prices we've ever seen, and they're low at all lenders.