Real Estate Insights & Home Buying and Selling Guides - Homes.com

What to look for when viewing a house: A room-by-room checklist

Buying a Home

What to look for when viewing a house: A room-by-room checklist

A printable walkthrough guide covering the exterior, every major room and the questions to ask your agent before you leave.

Buying a Home

Buying a home in 10 steps — Buying a home in 10 steps

Homes.com helps you find your community, navigate the mortgage process, negotiate an offer and seal the deal.

Jul 28, 2025

Bus routes, walk zones and school commutes: What to research before buying — Bus routes, walk zones and school commutes: What to research before buying

Transportation can shape your family's daily routine for years. Here's what to check before you make an offer.

Sep 01, 2026

Buying a home in September 2026: pricing, leverage, timing — Buying a home in September 2026: pricing, leverage, timing

Local market data, agent strategies and concession tactics to help you close on the right property this fall.

Aug 27, 2026

How to determine if a rental property will make money — How to determine if a rental property will make money

Three formulas help investors screen deals, stress-test financing and measure operational efficiency before buying.

Aug 06, 2026

Selling a Home

Selling a home in 10 steps — Selling a home in 10 steps

Homes.com helps you get your place show-ready, hire an agent, negotiate offers, and seal the deal.

Aug 04, 2025

8 tips for selling a house you're still living in — 8 tips for selling a house you're still living in

Decluttering, cleaning and removing personal items are necessary to appeal to buyers.

18 hours ago

Selling a home in September 2026: Pricing, prep and timing — Selling a home in September 2026: Pricing, prep and timing

Market data, agent advice and preparation strategies to help you close before year-end.

Aug 26, 2026

How long does it take to sell a house? — How long does it take to sell a house?

Learn how factors like market conditions, location and pricing influence the process.

Aug 10, 2026

Renting a Home

How to rent a home in 10 steps — How to rent a home in 10 steps

What to know from checking your credit score to signing the lease to moving in.

Feb 10, 2026

The real cost of owning a car as a renter — The real cost of owning a car as a renter

Parking, insurance, gas and payments can rival your rent. Here's what to budget.

2 days ago

Affordable vs. workforce housing: The differences explained for renters — Affordable vs. workforce housing: The differences explained for renters

Find out which income band you fall into, how each program works and where to apply.

Aug 28, 2026

Rental walk-through checklist: Protect your deposit — Rental walk-through checklist: Protect your deposit

A room-by-room guide to documenting existing damage, handling pest evidence and keeping your security deposit intact.

Aug 11, 2026

Local Insights

Why the back-to-school season matters for buyers and sellers — Why the back-to-school season matters for buyers and sellers

Homes.com offers practical guidance on timing, schools and moving decisions.

2 days ago

Predicting the housing market: Indicators that shape every forecast — Predicting the housing market: Indicators that shape every forecast

Learn how building permits, mortgage rates and sale-price trends work together to signal where conditions may be headed.

Aug 24, 2026

How to prepare your home for fall and winter — How to prepare your home for fall and winter

A checklist for your yard, exterior and mechanical systems before you seal up for the season.

Aug 12, 2026

Does off-street parking affect home value? — Does off-street parking affect home value?

How driveways, garages and dedicated parking spaces factor into pricing, buyer demand and resale

Aug 27, 2026

Architectural Styles

A guide to the most popular home architectural styles — A guide to the most popular home architectural styles

How to identify common home styles, their key features, origins and maintenance costs.

Jun 12, 2026

What is a Cape Cod-style house? — What is a Cape Cod-style house?

From colonial origins to modern renovation costs, here's what to evaluate before making an offer.

Aug 03, 2026

What is a Contemporary home? Here is a guide to the style. — What is a Contemporary home? Here is a guide to the style.

This constantly evolving architectural approach prioritizes open layouts, natural light and mixed materials.

Aug 18, 2026

What is a bungalow home? — What is a bungalow home?

From Craftsman porches to century-old wiring, here's what defines this single-story style and what owning one actually costs.

Jul 30, 2026

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