Building equity in a home can provide you with a lot of opportunities, and maybe earn you a profit. Read about different ways you can build equity in your home.

The power of sale allows a lender to sell a home – without judicial review – if a borrower defaults on a mortgage. Learn more about how the power of sale works.

An escalation clause states a buyer is willing to raise their offer if a seller receives a higher offer. Read our guide on escalation clauses.

Proprietary reverse mortgages let homeowners take out a loan against their home equity through a private lender. Learn more about this mortgage tool.

An escrow agent upholds the escrow agreement in a real estate transaction. Read on to learn how this entity protects the property and assets in escrow.

Escrow fees ensure a secure exchange of funds between buyer, seller, lender and other parties. Read on to learn what they cost and who pays for them.

Not sure what an escrow refund is or even when they occur? Read our article on all things escrow refund related and what to expect when dealing with one.

Lenders use total debt service to measure your ability to repay a mortgage. Learn what a debt service coverage ratio (DSCR) is and how to calculate it yourself.

A personal loan is an unsecured loan, while a home equity loan is backed by your home equity. See the main differences between these two loan types.

A buyer’s agent represents you and your best interests in the home buying process. Learn more about the role of a buyer’s agent and if you should work with one.

Active under contract means an offer has been accepted but certain conditions must be met. Learn how a status of “active under contract” works in real estate.

The Federal Reserve didn’t say a whole lot new in March, but it did release projections. Here are the details for us obsessive market watchers.

Looking at bundling home renovation costs into your mortgage? The Fannie Mae HomeStyle loan program makes it easy. Learn how it works and what to expect.

A home inspector’s job is to see if a home’s systems and structure are safe and working properly. Read about what a home inspector does and what they look for.

A vacancy rate is a metric used in real estate investing that shows how many available units in a property are unoccupied. Learn more about vacancy rates here.

A lease option gives renters the opportunity to buy their rental property at the end of their lease term. Read on to learn more about how lease options work.

Planning on selling an asset that you’ve depreciated for tax purposes? Learn how depreciation recapture can lead to a big tax bill and how to avoid it.

When moving across the country, there are many steps you can take to help the process go smoothly. Explore our guide for tips on how to move across the country.