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 not easy 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 you can use to get approved.

Ever think a castle could make it onto your home search list? Believe it or not, there are castles for sale around the U.S. — and they’re not all as expensive as you might think.

If you’re in the market for a new home, then you’ve probably already thought about the implications of obtaining a 15- or 30-year mortgage — specifically, how crucial the interest rate can be. Even the smallest difference in an interest rate can have a massive impact on the total cost of a mortgage once that monthly cost adds up over several decades. That’s why it’s so important to shop for a mortgage as diligently as you shop for a house. The problem is, many people worry that applying for more than one mortgage can do serious damage to their credit scores (yes, everyone has more than one credit score). But it doesn’t have to. Here’s how you can protect your

Need a little inspiration for your next home purchase or home renovation project? Here are some of the most luxurious homes in every state to get your creative juices flowing.

Summer is finally here and, with it, vacation season. And if you’ve ever had the dream to buy a vacation home, here are a few of the most luxurious homes to drool over — I mean, inspire.