--- title: The Porch Blog by Ruoff Mortgage | Finances description: Finances | 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_170554793.jpeg)](https://blog.ruoff.com/when-to-get-a-home-equity-loan) [Finances](https://blog.ruoff.com/tag/finances), [Loan Products](https://blog.ruoff.com/tag/loan-products) ## [When To Get a Home Equity Loan](https://blog.ruoff.com/when-to-get-a-home-equity-loan) Tapping into your home’s equity can be a savvy financial move, but timing is everything. A home equity loan allows you to borrow against... [Read more](https://blog.ruoff.com/when-to-get-a-home-equity-loan) [![Interior shot of modern Nordic-style kitchen in a home.](https://blog.ruoff.com/hubfs/AdobeStock_136351203.jpeg)](https://blog.ruoff.com/tax-season-your-mortgage-how-your-refund-could-help-you-reach-your-home-goals) [Finances](https://blog.ruoff.com/tag/finances) ## [Tax Season & Your Mortgage: How Your Refund Could Help You Reach Your Home Goals](https://blog.ruoff.com/tax-season-your-mortgage-how-your-refund-could-help-you-reach-your-home-goals) Tax season is just around the corner. While it may not be the most exciting time of year, there’s one part many people look forward to –... [Read more](https://blog.ruoff.com/tax-season-your-mortgage-how-your-refund-could-help-you-reach-your-home-goals) [![Elegant Black 2026 Planner Notebook With Pen On Wooden Desk Near Green Plant Organized Office Stationery Concept For Planning And Writing](https://blog.ruoff.com/hubfs/AdobeStock_1540549597.jpeg)](https://blog.ruoff.com/how-to-create-a-budget-that-supports-your-homeownership-goals-in-the-new-year) [Finances](https://blog.ruoff.com/tag/finances) ## [How to Create a Budget That Supports Your Homeownership Goals in the New Year](https://blog.ruoff.com/how-to-create-a-budget-that-supports-your-homeownership-goals-in-the-new-year) The start of a new year always brings fresh energy. New goals. New plans. Maybe even a new home on the horizon. If you’ve been thinking... [Read more](https://blog.ruoff.com/how-to-create-a-budget-that-supports-your-homeownership-goals-in-the-new-year) [![](https://blog.ruoff.com/hubfs/AdobeStock_352198814.jpeg)](https://blog.ruoff.com/role-of-escrow-in-homebuying) [Finances](https://blog.ruoff.com/tag/finances) ## [The Role of Escrow in Homebuying](https://blog.ruoff.com/role-of-escrow-in-homebuying) As a homebuyer or homeowner, you’ve likely encountered the term "escrow" frequently. We know—there are a lot of terms associated with the... [Read more](https://blog.ruoff.com/role-of-escrow-in-homebuying) [![](https://blog.ruoff.com/hubfs/scott-graham-5fNmWej4tAA-unsplash-1.jpg)](https://blog.ruoff.com/now-is-the-time-cash-out-refinance) [Finances](https://blog.ruoff.com/tag/finances) ## [Why Now is the Time for a Cash-Out Refinance](https://blog.ruoff.com/now-is-the-time-cash-out-refinance) As a homeowner with a mortgage, you may be interested to know that since the beginning of 2024, approximately 62% of all properties have... [Read more](https://blog.ruoff.com/now-is-the-time-cash-out-refinance) [![](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/How-to-Keep-Your-Credit-in-the-Good-Range.jpg)](https://blog.ruoff.com/how-to-keep-your-credit-in-the-good-range) [Finances](https://blog.ruoff.com/tag/finances) ## [How to Keep Your Credit in the “Good” Range](https://blog.ruoff.com/how-to-keep-your-credit-in-the-good-range) Credit makes the world go round. Good credit can unlock so many opportunities, while mediocre or poor credit can be a barrier to entry. [Read more](https://blog.ruoff.com/how-to-keep-your-credit-in-the-good-range) [![](https://blog.ruoff.com/hubfs/how-to-raise-credit-score.jpg)](https://blog.ruoff.com/how-can-i-raise-my-credit-score-in-a-month) [Finances](https://blog.ruoff.com/tag/finances) ## [How Can I Raise My Credit Score in a Month?](https://blog.ruoff.com/how-can-i-raise-my-credit-score-in-a-month) Put simply, your credit score can open up doors or create roadblocks. So, what do you if you’re on a tight timeline and need to raise your... [Read more](https://blog.ruoff.com/how-can-i-raise-my-credit-score-in-a-month) [![](https://blog.ruoff.com/hubfs/common-tax-deductions-for-homeowners.jpg)](https://blog.ruoff.com/common-tax-deductions-for-homeowners) [Finances](https://blog.ruoff.com/tag/finances) ## [Common Tax Deductions for Homeowners](https://blog.ruoff.com/common-tax-deductions-for-homeowners) It’s that time of year again… TAX SEASON! Let’s be honest, no one likes doing taxes except accountants. We all want to keep as much of our... [Read more](https://blog.ruoff.com/common-tax-deductions-for-homeowners) [![](https://blog.ruoff.com/hubfs/does-my-credit-score-go-up-after-buying.jpg)](https://blog.ruoff.com/will-my-credit-score-go-up-after-buying-a-house) [Finances](https://blog.ruoff.com/tag/finances) ## [Will My Credit Score Go Up After Buying a House?](https://blog.ruoff.com/will-my-credit-score-go-up-after-buying-a-house) If you’re in the market for a house, you may be wondering how a large purchase (and mortgage) could affect your credit score. Will buying a... 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