--- title: The Porch Blog by Ruoff Mortgage | Nancy Crowe description: Nancy Crowe --- [![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 [![GettyImages-596568521](https://blog.ruoff.com/hubfs/GettyImages-596568521.jpg)](https://blog.ruoff.com/the-home-improvement-blues) [Lifestyle](https://blog.ruoff.com/tag/lifestyle) ## [The Home Improvement Blues: What You Wish You'd Known](https://blog.ruoff.com/the-home-improvement-blues) When we own a home, you never retire. We also never graduate, because there's always something else to learn about maintaining "Our House"... [Read more](https://blog.ruoff.com/the-home-improvement-blues) [![Home Improvements Bang for Your Buck](https://blog.ruoff.com/hubfs/Home%20Improvements%20Bang%20for%20Your%20Buck.jpg)](https://blog.ruoff.com/best-home-improvement-bang-for-your-buck) [Lifestyle](https://blog.ruoff.com/tag/lifestyle) ## [Overhead and Underfoot: The Best Home Improvement Bang for your Buck](https://blog.ruoff.com/best-home-improvement-bang-for-your-buck) When considering which home improvement project you’ll take on next, you want it to pay off in enjoyment and quality of life, but also in... [Read more](https://blog.ruoff.com/best-home-improvement-bang-for-your-buck) [![shutterstock\_634527005](https://blog.ruoff.com/hubfs/shutterstock_634527005.jpg)](https://blog.ruoff.com/weeding-out-common-gardening-mistakes) [Lifestyle](https://blog.ruoff.com/tag/lifestyle) ## [Weeding Out Common Gardening Mistakes](https://blog.ruoff.com/weeding-out-common-gardening-mistakes) Misinformation and bad habits can be as persistent as weeds for both new and seasoned gardeners. We're all learning, right? [Read more](https://blog.ruoff.com/weeding-out-common-gardening-mistakes) [![Companion Planting](https://blog.ruoff.com/hubfs/Companion%20Planting.jpg)](https://blog.ruoff.com/companion-planting-in-the-garden) [Lifestyle](https://blog.ruoff.com/tag/lifestyle) ## [Companion Planting Creates Harmony in the Garden](https://blog.ruoff.com/companion-planting-in-the-garden) If you don’t have a plentiful, pest-free garden, it could be that your plants are working against each other. Or perhaps they just aren’t... [Read more](https://blog.ruoff.com/companion-planting-in-the-garden) [![shutterstock\_378375292 (1)](https://blog.ruoff.com/hubfs/shutterstock_378375292%20(1).jpg)](https://blog.ruoff.com/garden-starter-raise-your-odds) [Lifestyle](https://blog.ruoff.com/tag/lifestyle) ## [Garden Starter: Raise Your Odds](https://blog.ruoff.com/garden-starter-raise-your-odds) If you are new to gardening, you’re probably craving a little success — some small, green or blooming sign that you can, in fact, do this.... [Read more](https://blog.ruoff.com/garden-starter-raise-your-odds) [![shutterstock\_79889554](https://blog.ruoff.com/hubfs/shutterstock_79889554.jpg)](https://blog.ruoff.com/garden-starter-hit-the-deck) [Lifestyle](https://blog.ruoff.com/tag/lifestyle) ## [Garden Starter: Hit the Deck](https://blog.ruoff.com/garden-starter-hit-the-deck) It’s spring. You want to grow something. Anything. But maybe you haven’t done much gardening, you have only a deck or balcony to work with... [Read more](https://blog.ruoff.com/garden-starter-hit-the-deck) [![just add flowers](https://blog.ruoff.com/hubfs/just%20add%20flowers.jpg)](https://blog.ruoff.com/garden-starter-just-add-flowers) [Lifestyle](https://blog.ruoff.com/tag/lifestyle) ## [Garden Starter: Just Add Flowers](https://blog.ruoff.com/garden-starter-just-add-flowers) Want to start gardening but aren’t sure where to begin? It’s easy to get overwhelmed by all the options and information available, but... [Read more](https://blog.ruoff.com/garden-starter-just-add-flowers) - [Previous page](https://blog.ruoff.com/author/nancy-crowe/page/0) - [Next page](https://blog.ruoff.com/author/nancy-crowe/page/0) [![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/)