Homeownership comes with many responsibilities needed to keep your home in good fiscal and functional condition.  Protecting your financial health requires keeping on top of taxes, insurance, and energy efficient ways to save money.  Home maintenance means not only doing routine up-keep, but also doing research before taking out loans and hiring contractors.  If faced with foreclosure, find out how the process works and what steps you can take.

Foreclosure is the legal process that your mortgage lender uses to repossess your home when you stop making your mortgage payments.  If you are faced with foreclosure, you can work to save your home-or at least limit the financial damage caused by foreclosure-if you understand your options and take the appropriate steps.

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Home maintenance is a critical Home maintenance is a critical part of homeownership. Proper maintenance of a home keeps the property value stable. Saves money, because small issues addressed during regular maintenance do not turn into bigger, more expensive issues later and helps sell a home, since potential homeowners are more likely to purchase a home that doesn't require large projects and has been well cared for.

In addition to the principal and interest portion of your mortgage payment, you  have to pay property taxes and insurance to protect the property in the event of disaster such as a fire or flood.  Based on your down payment, you may also have to pay mortgage insurance.  Your lender may require an escrow or impound account to pay these items with your monthly mortgage payment.  If an escrow account is not required, you are responsible for making these payments.

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Your home uses energy every day, all day. It uses energy to keep you warm in the winter and cool in the summer. It uses energy to provide you with light when you need it. It uses energy to provide you with hot water. And it uses energy to run all of your appliances and home electronics. Here you can learn how to use the energy in your home more efficiently.

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