Where does your state stand in the ranking of foreclosures across the U.S.? Click here to find out.

Looking for a home but can’t be approved for a mortgage? Owner-financed homes could be the key to getting you out of the rental cycle and into a home of your own.

How long does it really take to close on a house? Here we discuss the average length of time the closing process takes — as well as some of the pitfalls to look out for and how you can be prepared.

How much is a home where you live? Click here to discover the average home price in each state compared with the average mean wage.

Homeownership is a long-term commitment. But even if you’re financially stable when you buy a home, there’s no guarantee you’ll remain that way for the 15- or 30-year term of your mortgage loan. One in every 1,882 homes is in foreclosure in the U.S., according to August 2018 data from RealtyTrac. That’s 555,120 homes total, which is 7 percent lower than the same time last year. Some states are well below the national average. In South Dakota, for instance, only 1 in 26,121 homes is in foreclosure. Fourteen states, however, have a higher foreclosure rate than the national average, and a handful has close to double or triple the rate nationwide. Here are the 25 states with the most foreclosures

Roughly four percent of homeowners who refinanced their mortgages in July 2018 had a credit score of less than 600, according to mortgage software company Ellie Mae. While that figure shows that it’s more challenging to refinance your home when you have bad credit, it also shows that it’s possible. There are several mortgage refinance programs available, depending on the type of mortgage you currently have. Here are a few of them, plus some other strategies that may improve your chances of getting approved.