Mortgages & Money
HELOC vs. Cash-Out Refi: Which Way to Tap $100K of Equity in 2026
With $35 trillion in homeowner equity on the table, the borrowing route you pick can swing total cost by five figures.
Mortar Home / Blog
All Stories
Every report, guide and tour from the Mortar Home newsroom — newest first.
Selling
Staged Homes Sold 9 Days Faster Last Quarter. Here’s the Room That Matters Most
We pulled 40,000 closed listings. The living room is not the answer.
Buying
Home Inspectors Reveal the 12 Red Flags They’d Never Ignore
Foundation cracks you can live with, moisture readings you cannot — veteran inspectors on what should stop a sale.
Interiors & Design
The 2027 Paint Colors of the Year, Ranked by Our Design Desk
Every major brand has announced. We put all nine colors on real walls and ranked the results.
Market News
Rent vs. Buy in 2026: The Math Finally Tilts in 31 Major Metros
Our model compares five-year costs city by city. Buying now beats renting in more places than any time since 2021.
Renovation & DIY
The $900 Weekend Bathroom Refresh (No Plumber Required)
Re-grout, re-glaze, re-light: a step-by-step plan that reads like a rescue mission for dated bathrooms.
Selling
We Requested iBuyer Offers on the Same House. The Spread Was $38,000
An experiment in instant offers — what the convenience really costs, and when it is still worth it.
Mortgages & Money
Adjustable-Rate Mortgages Are Back to 12% of Applications. Should You Bite?
The 5/1 ARM discount is the widest in three years. Who it fits, who it burns, and the caps to read twice.
Interiors & Design
Designers Are Done With Open Shelving. Here’s What’s Replacing It
Appliance garages, pocket pantries and the quiet return of upper cabinets.
Market News
Six States Just Rewrote Their Zoning Laws. Builders Are Already Responding
Missing-middle reforms are translating into permits at record pace. What it means for prices in 2027.