--- title: The Porch Blog by Ruoff Mortgage | Bailey Twillman 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 [![Exterior view of one-story home with a turquoise door, blue siding, and black shutters.](https://blog.ruoff.com/hubfs/AdobeStock_539052491%20(2).jpeg)](https://blog.ruoff.com/the-new-dream-might-not-be-a-bigger-house) [Lifestyle](https://blog.ruoff.com/tag/lifestyle) ## [The New Dream Might Not Be a Bigger House](https://blog.ruoff.com/the-new-dream-might-not-be-a-bigger-house) For years, the traditional homeownership journey seemed pretty straightforward: Buy a starter home, build some equity, and eventually... [Read more](https://blog.ruoff.com/the-new-dream-might-not-be-a-bigger-house) [![Skyscrapers of Indianapolis skyline, White River State Park, Indiana](https://blog.ruoff.com/hubfs/AdobeStock_337786806%20(1).jpeg)](https://blog.ruoff.com/greenwood-team-helps-homebuyers-find-their-place-in-a-growing-community) [Branch Spotlight](https://blog.ruoff.com/tag/branch-spotlight) ## [Greenwood Team Helps Homebuyers Find Their Place in a Growing Community](https://blog.ruoff.com/greenwood-team-helps-homebuyers-find-their-place-in-a-growing-community) Just 30 minutes south of downtown Indianapolis, Greenwood, Indiana, offers residents the best of both worlds: the convenience of a growing... [Read more](https://blog.ruoff.com/greenwood-team-helps-homebuyers-find-their-place-in-a-growing-community) [![Row of houses in neighborhood. Sidewalk and front yards visible. ](https://blog.ruoff.com/hubfs/AdobeStock_339543847%20(1).jpeg)](https://blog.ruoff.com/what-actually-makes-a-neighborhood-feel-like-home) [House to Home](https://blog.ruoff.com/tag/house-to-home) ## [What Actually Makes a Neighborhood Feel Like Home?](https://blog.ruoff.com/what-actually-makes-a-neighborhood-feel-like-home) When you're searching for a new home, it's easy to get caught up in the details of the house itself. How many bedrooms does it have? Is the... [Read more](https://blog.ruoff.com/what-actually-makes-a-neighborhood-feel-like-home) [![Home with an open floorplan, showing living room in the foreground and kitchen in the background.](https://blog.ruoff.com/hubfs/AdobeStock_323053375.jpeg)](https://blog.ruoff.com/the-death-of-the-open-floor-plan-why-homeowners-want-walls-again) [Lifestyle](https://blog.ruoff.com/tag/lifestyle) ## [The Death of the Open Floor Plan? Why Homeowners Want Walls Again](https://blog.ruoff.com/the-death-of-the-open-floor-plan-why-homeowners-want-walls-again) For years, open floor plans have dominated home design. From HGTV renovations to new construction homes, knocking down walls to create one... [Read more](https://blog.ruoff.com/the-death-of-the-open-floor-plan-why-homeowners-want-walls-again) [![Two female friends chatting and laughing together on the green grass lawn in front of a house.](https://blog.ruoff.com/hubfs/AdobeStock_2090584594.jpeg)](https://blog.ruoff.com/would-you-buy-a-house-with-your-friends-the-rise-of-co-buying) [Homebuying](https://blog.ruoff.com/tag/homebuying) ## [Would You Buy a House With Your Friends? The Rise of Co-Buying](https://blog.ruoff.com/would-you-buy-a-house-with-your-friends-the-rise-of-co-buying) Have you ever considered buying a home with a friend, sibling, or even a partner you are not married to? More and more people are joining... [Read more](https://blog.ruoff.com/would-you-buy-a-house-with-your-friends-the-rise-of-co-buying) [![Living room with bold wall colors of yellow and teal. ](https://blog.ruoff.com/hubfs/AdobeStock_1142255202.jpeg)](https://blog.ruoff.com/homeowners-are-no-longer-designing-with-future-homeowners-in-mind) [House to Home](https://blog.ruoff.com/tag/house-to-home) ## [Homeowners are no longer designing with future homeowners in mind](https://blog.ruoff.com/homeowners-are-no-longer-designing-with-future-homeowners-in-mind) The way people are making home design and renovation decisions is changing. While resale value and the preferences of a hypothetical future... [Read more](https://blog.ruoff.com/homeowners-are-no-longer-designing-with-future-homeowners-in-mind) [![Columbus Ohio reflected in Scioto River at sunset.](https://blog.ruoff.com/hubfs/AdobeStock_192209375%20(1).jpeg)](https://blog.ruoff.com/branch-spotlight-worthingtons-experienced-loan-officers-make-homeownership-a-reality-for-clients-throughout-central-ohio) [Branch Spotlight](https://blog.ruoff.com/tag/branch-spotlight) ## [Branch Spotlight: Worthington’s experienced loan officers make homeownership a reality for clients throughout Central Ohio.](https://blog.ruoff.com/branch-spotlight-worthingtons-experienced-loan-officers-make-homeownership-a-reality-for-clients-throughout-central-ohio) The Ruoff Mortgage Worthington branch, located in Columbus and serving the Central Ohio region, is unique when it comes to the longevity of... [Read more](https://blog.ruoff.com/branch-spotlight-worthingtons-experienced-loan-officers-make-homeownership-a-reality-for-clients-throughout-central-ohio) [![At-home coffee bar with coffee maker, decorations, and a place for coffee and sugar.](https://blog.ruoff.com/hubfs/AdobeStock_1029172192.jpeg)](https://blog.ruoff.com/celebrate-national-coffee-day-with-the-coffee-bar-of-your-dreams) [Lifestyle](https://blog.ruoff.com/tag/lifestyle) ## [Celebrate National Coffee Day With the Coffee Bar of Your Dreams](https://blog.ruoff.com/celebrate-national-coffee-day-with-the-coffee-bar-of-your-dreams) Have you started your yearly “Gilmore Girls” rewatch yet? [Read more](https://blog.ruoff.com/celebrate-national-coffee-day-with-the-coffee-bar-of-your-dreams) [![Adult woman and young boy pick apple in apple orchard](https://blog.ruoff.com/hubfs/AdobeStock_285097348.jpeg)](https://blog.ruoff.com/the-ultimate-fall-bucket-list-10-things-to-do-this-season) [Lifestyle](https://blog.ruoff.com/tag/lifestyle) ## [The Ultimate Fall Bucket List: 10 Things to Do This Season](https://blog.ruoff.com/the-ultimate-fall-bucket-list-10-things-to-do-this-season) Fall will officially be here on September 22, and that means it's time to make the most of crisp mornings, colorful leaves, cozy sweaters,... [Read more](https://blog.ruoff.com/the-ultimate-fall-bucket-list-10-things-to-do-this-season) [![Living room with seasonal fall decor](https://blog.ruoff.com/hubfs/AdobeStock_384657670.jpeg)](https://blog.ruoff.com/hello-fall-10-cozy-ways-to-make-your-home-feel-ready-for-autumn) [House to Home](https://blog.ruoff.com/tag/house-to-home) ## [Hello, Fall! 10 Cozy Ways to Make Your Home Feel Ready for Autumn](https://blog.ruoff.com/hello-fall-10-cozy-ways-to-make-your-home-feel-ready-for-autumn) There’s just something special about fall. The kids are back to school, routines are settling in, the leaves are starting to change and... [Read more](https://blog.ruoff.com/hello-fall-10-cozy-ways-to-make-your-home-feel-ready-for-autumn) - [Previous page](https://blog.ruoff.com/author/bailey-twillman/page/0) - [Next page](https://blog.ruoff.com/author/bailey-twillman/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/)