--- title: The Porch Blog by Ruoff Mortgage | Courtney Christensen 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/AdobeStock_220017507.jpeg)](https://blog.ruoff.com/spring-home-maintenance-0) [Lifestyle](https://blog.ruoff.com/tag/lifestyle) ## [Spring Home Maintenance](https://blog.ruoff.com/spring-home-maintenance-0) The weather is getting warmer, and everything outside is coming alive again. That means it's time to clean, repair, and refresh your home.... [Read more](https://blog.ruoff.com/spring-home-maintenance-0) [![](https://blog.ruoff.com/hubfs/Create-a-Home-That-Prioritizes-Mental-Health.jpg)](https://blog.ruoff.com/create-a-home-that-prioritizes-mental-health) [Lifestyle](https://blog.ruoff.com/tag/lifestyle) ## [Create a Home That Prioritizes Mental Health](https://blog.ruoff.com/create-a-home-that-prioritizes-mental-health) Within the last few months, many of us have been focused on how we can be a better version of ourselves. [Read more](https://blog.ruoff.com/create-a-home-that-prioritizes-mental-health) [![](https://blog.ruoff.com/hubfs/Are-You-Being-Squeezed-Out-of-the-Market.jpg)](https://blog.ruoff.com/are-you-being-squeezed-out-of-the-market) [Refinancing](https://blog.ruoff.com/tag/refinancing) ## [Are You Being Squeezed Out of the Market?](https://blog.ruoff.com/are-you-being-squeezed-out-of-the-market) Inventory is low. Housing demand is high. It's a textbook example of a seller's market. But, when you add rising interest rates and home... [Read more](https://blog.ruoff.com/are-you-being-squeezed-out-of-the-market) [![](https://blog.ruoff.com/hubfs/Ways-to-Deal-with-Rising-Interest-Rates-and-Housing-Costs.jpg)](https://blog.ruoff.com/ways-to-deal-with-rising-interest-rates-and-housing-costs) [Homebuying](https://blog.ruoff.com/tag/homebuying), [Refinancing](https://blog.ruoff.com/tag/refinancing) ## [Ways to Deal with Rising Interest Rates and Housing Costs](https://blog.ruoff.com/ways-to-deal-with-rising-interest-rates-and-housing-costs) Are you in the market for a new house but are worried about the sharply rising interest rates and expensive homes? You're not alone. [Read more](https://blog.ruoff.com/ways-to-deal-with-rising-interest-rates-and-housing-costs) [![](https://blog.ruoff.com/hubfs/Affordable-Interior-Design-Tips-for-Your-First-Home.jpg)](https://blog.ruoff.com/5-tips-for-cohesive-home-design) [Lifestyle](https://blog.ruoff.com/tag/lifestyle) ## [5 Tips for Cohesive Home Design](https://blog.ruoff.com/5-tips-for-cohesive-home-design) People are often complex, with endless layers of likes, dislikes, and opinions. When it comes to designing your home, how do you combine... [Read more](https://blog.ruoff.com/5-tips-for-cohesive-home-design) [![](https://blog.ruoff.com/hubfs/Which-Couponing-App-is-Best.jpg)](https://blog.ruoff.com/which-couponing-app-is-best) [Finances](https://blog.ruoff.com/tag/finances) ## [Which Couponing App is Best?](https://blog.ruoff.com/which-couponing-app-is-best) Years ago, couponing meant searching through the Sunday paper with a pair of scissors and an envelope to store all the clippings. These... [Read more](https://blog.ruoff.com/which-couponing-app-is-best) [![](https://blog.ruoff.com/hubfs/How-the-Pandemic-Will-Affect-Your-2020-Taxes.jpg)](https://blog.ruoff.com/how-the-pandemic-will-affect-your-2020-taxes) [Finances](https://blog.ruoff.com/tag/finances) ## [How the Pandemic Will Affect Your 2020 Taxes](https://blog.ruoff.com/how-the-pandemic-will-affect-your-2020-taxes) With the new tax day extended to May 17th, you may be wondering what else has changed about your taxes this year due to the pandemic. We... [Read more](https://blog.ruoff.com/how-the-pandemic-will-affect-your-2020-taxes) [![](https://blog.ruoff.com/hubfs/What-Can-I-Do-If-My-House-Isnt-Selling.jpg)](https://blog.ruoff.com/what-can-i-do-if-my-house-isnt-selling) [Home Selling](https://blog.ruoff.com/tag/home-selling) ## [What Can I Do If My House Isn’t Selling?](https://blog.ruoff.com/what-can-i-do-if-my-house-isnt-selling) Are you ready to move, but your house isn’t selling? It can be a frustrating place to be, especially if time is a factor in your move.... [Read more](https://blog.ruoff.com/what-can-i-do-if-my-house-isnt-selling) [![](https://blog.ruoff.com/hubfs/How-Long-Does-it-Take-to-Get-a-Mortgage.jpg)](https://blog.ruoff.com/how-long-does-it-take-to-get-a-mortgage) [Mortgage 101](https://blog.ruoff.com/tag/mortgage-101) ## [How Long Does it Take to Get a Mortgage?](https://blog.ruoff.com/how-long-does-it-take-to-get-a-mortgage) How long does it take to get a mortgage? We get this question all the time – and for a good reason! It's different everywhere, and... [Read more](https://blog.ruoff.com/how-long-does-it-take-to-get-a-mortgage) [![](https://blog.ruoff.com/hubfs/How-to-Have-Hard-Conversations-with-Your-Kids.jpg)](https://blog.ruoff.com/how-to-have-hard-conversations-with-your-kids) [Lifestyle](https://blog.ruoff.com/tag/lifestyle) ## [How to Have Hard Conversations with Your Kids](https://blog.ruoff.com/how-to-have-hard-conversations-with-your-kids) Parenting is hard, overwhelming, and just plain exhausting. But, there’s nothing more rewarding, especially when we start to see... 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