Looking for some DIY projects to kick off your starter-home revamp? Besides unfinished basements and antiquated carpeting, your kitchen is one of the fastest ways to improve the value of your home. With a few quick weekend projects, you can significantly improve the value of your house and give yourself a kitchen worthy of a master chef.

Read on for six low-cost do-it-yourself undertakings that can add value to your home without breaking the bank.

Deciding where to rent is a big decision that can have a significant impact on your day-to-day life. All too often, renters are surprised and frustrated by the policies of their property managers, simply because they didn't know about those policies before signing their leases. When meeting with your potential future property manager, it's important to come prepared with a set of questions that can properly gauge how satisfied you will be with your living arrangement after you've signed on the dotted line. 

Check out these key questions to ask your property manager before you sign your lease.

Each year, individuals and families all across the country take the leap and build the homes of their dreams. New construction is an incredible chance to build something that perfectly matches your needs, but there are a number of moving parts in the process. Do you know how prepared you are to take the next step?

Check out these key points to consider before you begin your build.

It goes without saying that landlords prefer to rent to tenants who they know will pay on time each month. To do this, they check each tenant's credit score before approving a move-in. With this in mind, it's easy to see that having a poor credit score can damage your renting prospects—but what does it take to rent an apartment when your credit history has room for improvement?

Read on to see how your credit score can affect your rental options.

Congratulations! Buying your first house is a major achievement. Just remember—with that house comes neighbors, and with neighbors come responsibilities. Now that you're all moved in, it's time to get neighborly. While it may sound like a tall order at first, it really only requires a few considerations on your end. We've listed some here to help give you the inside scoop before the family next door comes asking to borrow a cup of sugar.

Read up to learn how you can be a good neighbor.

Having extra space is one of the many benefits that come along with homeownership. But what happens when you have a bedroom to spare? How you fill it depends upon your hobbies, your lifestyle and your priorities. We know that deciding what to do with your extra space can seem overwhelming, so we put together a list of some of our favorite bonus room designations.

As you're reading, consider your space and how each option might work for you.

No matter how many properties you manage, all property managers tend to deal with a similar set of pain points. From evictions, to vacancies, to turnover, these pain points are nearly universal—but they don't have to be. For most, the path to avoiding common stressors is one of trial and error, but we have a few key tricks that can help save you time and money.

Take a look at these common property-management headaches—and how to avoid them.

Buying your first house is an exciting time, but it can be difficult to decide just how to begin making the house your own—especially when you're on a tight budget. When it comes to home improvement, a little effort goes a long way in transforming your starter home into the one you always imagined.

Read on for room-by-room tips on how to get started making improvements on your first home.

When seeking the perfect rental for a more urban lifestyle, many people turn to the desirable nature of a loft that offers the work-play atmosphere that is increasing in popularity. With more and more households in search of the walkability of a bustling neighborhood, lofts can offer a lot in terms of aesthetic and convenience.

Here are a few things we recommend keeping in mind when going on the hunt for a loft apartment.

When it comes to home loans, interest rates are usually the first thing that people look for. However, there are a number of other factors to consider before locking in on a particular home loan option. What should borrowers be looking for in their mortgages?

Read on to learn which home loan elements to look for when buying a house.