Thinking about making a big life change in 2026? Well, buying a home is a lot like getting married. The planning seems to take forever, everything's more expensive than you thought it would be, and stress can quickly reach "Should we even be doing this?" levels.

All of that leads up to a single day — closing day for buyers or the wedding itself — that goes by in the wink of an eye. And that one day isn't an end, it's a beginning. You're now a spouse or a homeowner, and that brings new responsibilities, joys and challenges. You've reached a major milestone, but it's only the first big step on this journey.

This coming year, it's going to be vital that prospective home buyers think beyond closing day to their lives (and budgets) as homeowners. Those who already own homes have plenty to con

See Full Page