This article was published by Freddie Mac and last reviewed on January 13, 2026. As a homeowner, maintaining your home is an important responsibility. Timely maintenance, repairs and improvements help protect your home, provide your family with greater comfort and even enhance your home's value. Maintaining your home can also help you avoid costly problems later on. Once you move in, it's a good idea to set aside part of your monthly budget toward savings that could go to your home
Read More

If you’ve owned your home for several years, you may have built more equity than you realize. That equity can be a valuable financial tool, helping you consolidate debt, improve cash flow, or achieve other important financial goals while making the most of your investment in your home. When many people think about a Home Equity Loan or Home Equity Line of Credit (HELOC), they often associate it with remodeling a kitchen or completing a major renovation. While that is one common use, it is
Read More

This article is based on information from multiple sources, including content originally published in Yahoo Finance on March 12, 2026, written by Dina Satore-Bodo with reporting by Lisa Marie Conklin, and material from National Mortgage Professional (March 23, 2026) by Lew Sichelman. All content has been compiled and edited for clarity and relevance. Prospective homebuyers have been dealt a complicated hand in recent years. Though mortgage rates fell below 6% in late February 2026, with the
Read More

For many prospective homebuyers, the biggest perceived challenge to purchasing a home is the down payment. A common belief is that you must put 20% down to qualify, but that’s no longer the reality. Today’s mortgage options provide flexibility, making homeownership more accessible than ever. Low and No Down Payment Loan Options There are several programs designed specifically to help buyers who may not have large savings: Conventional Loans: Some conventional programs also
Read More

This article, written by Linda Bell and edited by Amelia Buckley, originally appeared in Bankrate on January 29, 2026. The Federal Reserve’s interest rate decisions influence what you pay for variable-rate home equity lines of credit (HELOCs) and new home equity loans. Let’s break down how the Fed’s monetary policy affects how much it’ll cost you to borrow against your home. Following a string of rate cuts near the tail end of 2025, the Federal Reserve held steady
Read More

For many homeowners, their house is more than just a place to live, it’s one of their largest financial assets. As you pay down your mortgage and your home increases in value, you build equity. That equity can become a powerful financial tool when you need it. One way to make your home’s equity work for you is through a Home Equity Line of Credit (HELOC). A HELOC is a flexible line of credit that uses your home as collateral. Instead of receiving a lump sum, you’re
Read More

Owning a home is exciting, but it’s common to wonder “How much house can I comfortably afford?” Mortgage affordability is about more than what a lender says you qualify for. It’s about finding a payment that fits your budget, lifestyle and your financial goals. When people think about being able to afford a home, they often focus on the purchase price of a house. But your monthly payment is more important. It usually includes: Principal & Interest – The amount
Read More

This article, written by Ashley Harrison and reviewed by Amber Barkley, originally appeared in Forbes on January 20, 2026. Mortgage rates spent much of 2025 parked in the upper-6% range, held in place by persistent inflation pressures and a cautious Federal Reserve. That began to shift late in the year as the Fed signaled it was ready to ease policy. Rates slipped ahead of the September 2025 rate cut, the first of the year, and then drifted lower again before the October meeting before continuing
Read More

This blog post was published by Jean Chatzky, with reporting by Casandra Andrews, both from SavvyMoney and commenting by Wendy Hoekstra, Vice President – Retail Lending from First Community Bank and Trust. Understanding Private Mortgage Insurance in the U.S. Plan ahead: Thinking of buying a home in the next few years? Set up a meeting with Wendy Hoekstra, Vice President – Retail Lending at First Community Bank and Trust to get an idea of how much you’ll need to save to
Read More

Press Release: Beecher, IL. (June 2, 2025) - In recognition of National Homeownership Month, First Community Bank and Trust (FCBT) and the Independent Community Bankers of America (ICBA) are encouraging consumers to consult their local community banker to make the homebuying process, simple, efficient and more affordable. “An important component in building financial independence is owning a home,” said Wendy Hoekstra, Vice President – Retail Lending. “At First Community
Read More