---
title: The Porch Blog by Ruoff Mortgage | Tonya Dove
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

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Latest Articles

[![HQ (2)](https://blog.ruoff.com/hubfs/HQ%20(2).jpeg)](https://blog.ruoff.com/christmas-cheer)

[Ruoff Insider](https://blog.ruoff.com/tag/ruoff-insider)

## [Ruoff's Spreading Christmas Cheer](https://blog.ruoff.com/christmas-cheer)

 Ruoff Home Mortgage and its staff are much more than just a mortgage company—they truly care about homeowners, their neighbors, fellow... 

[Read more](https://blog.ruoff.com/christmas-cheer)

[![Habitat 1](https://blog.ruoff.com/hubfs/Habitat%201.jpg)](https://blog.ruoff.com/south-bend-cares)

[Ruoff Insider](https://blog.ruoff.com/tag/ruoff-insider)

## [South Bend: Community, Caring, and Comradery](https://blog.ruoff.com/south-bend-cares)

 "WITHOUT A SENSE OF CARING, THERE CAN BE NO SENSE OF COMMUNITY" - Anthony J. D'Angelao It doesn't take long to understand that this fierce,... 

[Read more](https://blog.ruoff.com/south-bend-cares)

[![Untitled design (18)](https://blog.ruoff.com/hubfs/Untitled%20design%20(18).jpg)](https://blog.ruoff.com/fall-fun)

[Lifestyle](https://blog.ruoff.com/tag/lifestyle)

## [Fall Fun](https://blog.ruoff.com/fall-fun)

 Fall is the perfect time of year to get out of the house and experience the beautiful outdoors. Grab a friend, significant other, or your... 

[Read more](https://blog.ruoff.com/fall-fun)

[![Retro-is-in-Style,-Unless-Were-Talking-Home-Financing](https://blog.ruoff.com/hubfs/Retro-is-in-Style%2c-Unless-Were-Talking-Home-Financing.jpg)](https://blog.ruoff.com/fast-home-financing)

[Mortgage 101](https://blog.ruoff.com/tag/mortgage-101)

## [Retro is in Style, Unless We're Talking Home Financing](https://blog.ruoff.com/fast-home-financing)

 The journey to finance or refinance a home too often feels overwhelming, time-consuming, and an experience that most of us would choose to... 

[Read more](https://blog.ruoff.com/fast-home-financing)

[![27752266\_197655410979066\_2592713912418233710\_n](https://blog.ruoff.com/hubfs/27752266_197655410979066_2592713912418233710_n.jpg)](https://blog.ruoff.com/ann-arbor-team)

[Ruoff Insider](https://blog.ruoff.com/tag/ruoff-insider)

## [Ann Arbor: Must Love Dogs (and golf)!](https://blog.ruoff.com/ann-arbor-team)

 Life isn't about finding yourself. Life is about creating yourself. - George Bernard Shaw This is a philosophy that Amy Maier and her team... 

[Read more](https://blog.ruoff.com/ann-arbor-team)

[![](https://blog.ruoff.com/hubfs/GettyImages-1135073129%20(2).jpg)](https://blog.ruoff.com/house-personality-tips)

[Lifestyle](https://blog.ruoff.com/tag/lifestyle)

## [Make Your House a Home: Tips Based on Your Personality Type](https://blog.ruoff.com/house-personality-tips)

 Regardless if you find great value in personality assessments like the famous Myers-Briggs indicator, believe them to be old-fashioned... 

[Read more](https://blog.ruoff.com/house-personality-tips)

[![Untitled design (8)](https://blog.ruoff.com/hubfs/Untitled%20design%20(8).jpg)](https://blog.ruoff.com/create-a-fall-friendly-outdoor-living-space-on-a-budget)

[Lifestyle](https://blog.ruoff.com/tag/lifestyle)

## [Create a Fall Friendly Outdoor Living Space on a Budget](https://blog.ruoff.com/create-a-fall-friendly-outdoor-living-space-on-a-budget)

 Believe it or not, the Fall Season is not JUST about Pumpkin Spice Lattes (we'll save our PSL obsession for another post). It's also a... 

[Read more](https://blog.ruoff.com/create-a-fall-friendly-outdoor-living-space-on-a-budget)

[![Man with bike and cell phone - GettyImages-482983366](https://blog.ruoff.com/hubfs/Man%20with%20bike%20and%20cell%20phone%20-%20GettyImages-482983366.jpg)](https://blog.ruoff.com/fannie-mae-day-1-certainty)

[Mortgage 101](https://blog.ruoff.com/tag/mortgage-101)

## [Day 1 Certainty is the Future](https://blog.ruoff.com/fannie-mae-day-1-certainty)

 The journey to finance or refinance a home too often feels overwhelming, time-consuming, and an experience that most of us would choose to... 

[Read more](https://blog.ruoff.com/fannie-mae-day-1-certainty)

[![IMG\_3273 (002)](https://blog.ruoff.com/hubfs/IMG_3273%20(002).jpg)](https://blog.ruoff.com/terre-haute-family)

[Ruoff Insider](https://blog.ruoff.com/tag/ruoff-insider)

## [Terre Haute: A Family By Choice](https://blog.ruoff.com/terre-haute-family)

 We've been going through a lot these past few months as my son, Noah was seriously injured in an accident. My family and I were also... 

[Read more](https://blog.ruoff.com/terre-haute-family)

[![12244535\_10153783593718466\_2434505518698848940\_o (2)](https://blog.ruoff.com/hubfs/12244535_10153783593718466_2434505518698848940_o%20(2).jpg)](https://blog.ruoff.com/for-the-love-of-lafayette)

[Ruoff Insider](https://blog.ruoff.com/tag/ruoff-insider)

## [For the Love of Lafayette](https://blog.ruoff.com/for-the-love-of-lafayette)

 Although Ruoff Home Mortgage serves homebuyers nationwide, our local branches, such as our team in Lafayette, Indiana pride themselves in... 

[Read more](https://blog.ruoff.com/for-the-love-of-lafayette)

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