One of the perks of owning your own home is making it your own. Home rehab and choosing which projects you want to do is half the fun, yet it still pays to make smart decisions. Many home renovations can add value to your home and increase its resale value. Others may not change the value all that much, yet they're still worthwhile because they give your home that personal feel. 

But beware, some home rehab projects can actually decrease both your home’s curb appeal resale value. Let's take a look at ten home improvement projects you should absolutely avoid, no matter how tempting they may sound. 

Searching for your first home is so exciting, but it can also be a little overwhelming, especially if you're not sure what you want. The best thing you can do to find the right home is create a house hunting checklist to narrow down your search. Of course, you want to identify how many bedrooms and bathrooms you need, but we're talking about things like school district, neighborhood, crime rating, etc. 

Before working with a realtor, here are four tips to narrow your search for your online house hunting checklist.

With the extreme snow and cold we've recently experienced here in the Twin Cities, our team of experts wanted to share their tips on what you should do as a homeowner to prepare your house for the worst winter weather conditions.

Twin Cities Habitat recently expanded its homeownership program to include the option of buying with Habitat on the open real estate market. Qualified homebuyers still receive the same education and support to become successful homeowners, and then they can work with a realtor of their choice on the open market. This allows folks to buy a home they love with a mortgage they can afford.

We caught up with a few people who bought homes with Habitat on the open market. They shared how long their home search took and some of their top tips.

As a Gold Standard Radon Resistant Builder and January being National Radon Action Month, Twin Cities Habitat for Humanity encourages all households to test their homes for radon. Here are some facts and links to find out more about radon, courtesy of the Minnesota Department of Health.

Congratulations, you’re a homeowner!

You paid your down payment, signed on the dotted lines, and are now holding the keys to your very own home. But now what do you do? Can you move in right away? Should you move in right away? You followed a lot of steps to become a homeowner, but there are a few final steps to take before you can sit back, relax, and enjoy homeownership.

Note: You don't have to complete any of these before moving your belongings into your home if you don't want to (although it may be easier for painting and floor installation). In fact, it's safest to occupy your new home as soon as possible to prevent crime.

Buying a house can be one of the most exciting moments in your life, especially if it’s your first home! Learning the basics of real estate before you start searching for a home can save you time and keep you clear of common headaches down the road. Here are a few house hunting tips as you begin your search, because once you’re out looking at houses, things get exciting fast!

You may have already practiced this skill in your everyday life. Can you think of a time when you were hungry and wanted to go out to eat, but decided to stay in and cook rather than going out to your favorite restaurant?

Separating wants from needs is a skill that will serve you well as you begin looking for your first home. With our suggestions and a little brainstorming, you will be ready to create your first home checklist in no time.

To understand property taxes, it may help to start with something more familiar: Sales taxes. Imagine you're at a restaurant and you order $23 worth of food. But, when you received the bill, the total came out to $24.58. That's because there was $1.58 added in sales tax, which typically goes to your state government’s general fund.

It's much the same way with property taxes. You want to buy a house, which requires a monthly mortgage, but you also need to pay property taxes, which go towards specific government-funded activities. For first-time homebuyers, this can raise a lot of questions. So, we've created a list of frequently asked questions when it comes to your property taxes.

Twin Cities Habitat, along with many other local and national housing organizations, is gearing up to celebrate National Homeownership Month over the next few weeks. This special month is dedicated to recognizing the many benefits of homeownership to our families, our communities, and our Nation.