Property tax
Homestead Exemption: What It Is and How to Claim Yours
A homestead exemption can cut your property tax bill. Learn how it works, how it varies by state, senior and veteran options, deadlines and how to apply.
Editorial team
The Homeowner Guide Editorial Team
The Homeowner Guide is written and reviewed by a small editorial team. We do not yet publish individual bylines, so every article is credited to the team. We start from the questions new homeowners actually ask, check each fact against an official source, cite it with the date we checked it, and review articles at least once a year. When named writers or licensed reviewers join, their names and credentials will appear here and on the articles they work on.
All guides (14)
Property tax
How Property Taxes Work: A Plain-English Guide for New Homeowners
Learn how property taxes work: assessed value, tax rates and millage, levies, bills, escrow, exemptions and the 2026 SALT deduction, in plain English.
Property tax
How to Appeal Your Property Tax Assessment, Step by Step
How to appeal property tax assessment values step by step: read your notice, meet the deadline, use comparable sales, fix errors and prep for a hearing.
Home insurance
Do I Need Flood Insurance? A Homeowner's Guide to Flood Coverage
Do I need flood insurance? Learn why home policies exclude flood, NFIP limits, the 30-day wait, flood zones, Risk Rating 2.0 and lender rules.
Home insurance
How to File a Homeowners Insurance Claim: A Step-by-Step Guide
Learn how to file a homeowners insurance claim: document damage, prevent more harm, work with the adjuster, do the deductible math and handle disputes.
Home insurance
What Does Homeowners Insurance Cover? Coverage A to F Explained
What does homeowners insurance cover? Learn HO-3 vs. other forms, Coverage A to F, replacement cost vs. ACV, common exclusions and how deductibles work.
Maintenance & repairs
How to Hire a Contractor: Licenses, Contracts and Red Flags
How to hire a contractor step by step: check licenses and insurance, compare written estimates, sign a solid contract, pull permits and pay safely.
Maintenance & repairs
Smoke and Carbon Monoxide Alarms: Where to Install, Test and Replace
Smoke and carbon monoxide alarms explained: where to install them, how often to test and replace them, CO warning signs, extinguishers and escape plans.
HOA rules & fees
HOA Fees and Rules: What New Homeowners Need to Know
HOA fees explained: what dues pay for, how reserves and special assessments work, how to read CC&Rs and bylaws, and how fines, liens and disputes work.
Home warranties
Is a Home Warranty Worth It? Home Warranty vs. Homeowners Insurance
Is a home warranty worth it? Learn how home warranties differ from homeowners insurance, common exclusions, service fees and caps, and smart alternatives.
Budgeting for upkeep
How to Build a Home Maintenance Budget: A Guide for New Homeowners
Build a home maintenance budget that works: rough rules of thumb, a sinking fund for big repairs, an emergency cushion, and how to rank repairs.
Budgeting for upkeep
How a Mortgage Escrow Account Works (and Why Your Payment Changes)
Learn how a mortgage escrow account pays your taxes and insurance, the 2-month cushion limit, annual escrow analysis, shortages, surpluses and refunds.
Seasonal checklists
Seasonal Home Maintenance Checklist: Spring, Summer, Fall and Winter
A seasonal home maintenance checklist for new homeowners: spring, summer, fall and winter tasks, monthly safety checks and regional storm tips.
Seasonal checklists
How to Winterize Your Home: A Step-by-Step Guide for New Homeowners
How to winterize your home: protect pipes from freezing, seal air leaks, service your heating, prevent carbon monoxide poisoning and plan for outages.