--- title: The Porch Blog by Ruoff Mortgage | Arlene Isenburg description: Exploring homeownership - from mortgage finance to home DIY, from gardening to budgeting tips and more! --- [![ThePorch\_Color](https://blog.ruoff.com/hs-fs/hubfs/ThePorch_Color.png?width=2001&height=753&name=ThePorch_Color.png "ThePorch_Color")](http://www.ruoff.com) # The Porch The Keys to Homeownership ![Background with awesome gradient](https://f.hubspotusercontent00.net/hubfs/8534459/photos/Homepage-1-1.png) Latest Articles [![](https://blog.ruoff.com/hubfs/New-Year-Finance-Resolutions.jpg)](https://blog.ruoff.com/draft-new-year-finance-resolutions) [Finances](https://blog.ruoff.com/tag/finances) ## [New Year Finance Resolutions](https://blog.ruoff.com/draft-new-year-finance-resolutions) Every year, we make New Year's Resolutions that we ultimately break, like losing weight or reading more books. So we came up with a few... [Read more](https://blog.ruoff.com/draft-new-year-finance-resolutions) [![](https://blog.ruoff.com/hubfs/What-If-Im-a-First-Time-Homebuyer-but-My-Partner-Isnt.jpg)](https://blog.ruoff.com/what-if-im-a-first-time-homebuyer-but-my-partner-isnt) [Homebuying](https://blog.ruoff.com/tag/homebuying) ## [What If I'm a First-Time Homebuyer but My Partner Isn't?](https://blog.ruoff.com/what-if-im-a-first-time-homebuyer-but-my-partner-isnt) Buying a home is expensive, so many buyers look for ways to cut costs and save money. One such method is to apply for first-time homebuyer... [Read more](https://blog.ruoff.com/what-if-im-a-first-time-homebuyer-but-my-partner-isnt) [![](https://blog.ruoff.com/hubfs/Do-You-Need-an-Appraisal-for-a-Refinance.jpg)](https://blog.ruoff.com/do-you-need-an-appraisal-for-a-refinance) [Refinancing](https://blog.ruoff.com/tag/refinancing) ## [Do You Need an Appraisal for a Refinance?](https://blog.ruoff.com/do-you-need-an-appraisal-for-a-refinance) If you buy a home, there may come a time when you want to refinance. And refinancing without an appraisal can save you time and money. [Read more](https://blog.ruoff.com/do-you-need-an-appraisal-for-a-refinance) [![](https://blog.ruoff.com/hubfs/Is-it-Worth-it-to-Refinance.jpg)](https://blog.ruoff.com/is-it-worth-it-to-refinance) [Refinancing](https://blog.ruoff.com/tag/refinancing) ## [Is It Worth It to Refinance?](https://blog.ruoff.com/is-it-worth-it-to-refinance) If you have a mortgage, you will likely consider refinancing at some point, especially when you think of your home as an investment/asset... [Read more](https://blog.ruoff.com/is-it-worth-it-to-refinance) [![](https://blog.ruoff.com/hubfs/How-Do-I-Qualify-for-First-Time-Home-Buyer-Grant.jpg)](https://blog.ruoff.com/how-do-i-qualify-for-a-first-time-homebuyer-grant) [Homebuying](https://blog.ruoff.com/tag/homebuying) ## [How Do I Qualify for a First Time Homebuyer Grant?](https://blog.ruoff.com/how-do-i-qualify-for-a-first-time-homebuyer-grant) If you’re looking to buy your first home but need a little financial help, you have options! Many people think owning a home is a pipe... [Read more](https://blog.ruoff.com/how-do-i-qualify-for-a-first-time-homebuyer-grant) [![](https://blog.ruoff.com/hubfs/Should-You-Take-Equity-Out-of-Your-Home.jpg)](https://blog.ruoff.com/should-you-take-equity-out-of-your-home) [Refinancing](https://blog.ruoff.com/tag/refinancing) ## [Should You Take Equity Out of Your Home?](https://blog.ruoff.com/should-you-take-equity-out-of-your-home) With the unexpected nature of life, there may come a time when you find you need some extra cash but simply don’t have it lying around.... [Read more](https://blog.ruoff.com/should-you-take-equity-out-of-your-home) [![](https://blog.ruoff.com/hubfs/How-Can-I-Get-Money-for-a-Down-Payment.jpg)](https://blog.ruoff.com/how-can-i-get-money-for-a-down-payment) [Homebuying](https://blog.ruoff.com/tag/homebuying) ## [How Can I Get Money for a Down Payment?](https://blog.ruoff.com/how-can-i-get-money-for-a-down-payment) Many homeowners will say that saving up for the down payment is the hardest part of the home-buying process. To avoid paying Private... [Read more](https://blog.ruoff.com/how-can-i-get-money-for-a-down-payment) [![](https://blog.ruoff.com/hubfs/What-Should-I-Do-Before-I-Talk-to-a-Lender.jpg)](https://blog.ruoff.com/draft-what-should-i-do-before-i-talk-to-a-lender) [Homebuying](https://blog.ruoff.com/tag/homebuying) ## [What Should I Do Before I Talk to a Lender?](https://blog.ruoff.com/draft-what-should-i-do-before-i-talk-to-a-lender) Applying for a mortgage can be a bit scary, especially if you’re not familiar with the process. Besides, who wouldn’t be nervous dealing... [Read more](https://blog.ruoff.com/draft-what-should-i-do-before-i-talk-to-a-lender) [![](https://blog.ruoff.com/hubfs/How-Do-I-Know-What-House-to-Buy.jpg)](https://blog.ruoff.com/how-do-i-know-what-house-to-buy) [Homebuying](https://blog.ruoff.com/tag/homebuying) ## [How Do I Know What House to Buy?](https://blog.ruoff.com/how-do-i-know-what-house-to-buy) So, you want to buy a house? Great! Now what? If you have already worked through the process of determining when to buy, it’s time to take... [Read more](https://blog.ruoff.com/how-do-i-know-what-house-to-buy) [![](https://blog.ruoff.com/hubfs/Can-a-Loan-Fall-Through-After-Closing.jpg)](https://blog.ruoff.com/can-a-loan-fall-through-during-closing) [Homebuying](https://blog.ruoff.com/tag/homebuying) ## [Can a Loan Fall Through During Closing?](https://blog.ruoff.com/can-a-loan-fall-through-during-closing) So you made an offer on a home, it was accepted, and now, you’re ready to close. What could go wrong? [Read more](https://blog.ruoff.com/can-a-loan-fall-through-during-closing) - [Previous page](https://blog.ruoff.com/author/arlene-isenburg/page/0) - [Next page](https://blog.ruoff.com/author/arlene-isenburg/page/2) [![Ruoff\_Mortgage\_Wht-4-2](https://blog.ruoff.com/hs-fs/hubfs/Ruoff_Mortgage_Wht-4-2.png?width=2001&height=753&name=Ruoff_Mortgage_Wht-4-2.png "Ruoff_Mortgage_Wht-4-2")](http://www.ruoff.com) Copyright © 2026 Ruoff Mortgage [Logo](https://twitter.com/RuoffMortgage) [Logo](https://www.instagram.com/ruoffmortgage/)