Renovation & DIY
Deck or Patio? The Cost, Upkeep and Resale Math for Every Backyard
Composite decking prices fell 8% this year — and that changes the usual answer.
Mortar Home / Blog
All Stories
Every report, guide and tour from the Mortar Home newsroom — newest first.
Buying
Closing Costs, Explained Line by Line (and the 5 Fees You Can Negotiate)
Title insurance, origination, escrow — a plain-English walkthrough of the settlement sheet.
Interiors & Design
The Three-Layer Lighting Rule Every Well-Designed Room Follows
Ambient, task, accent: get the ratio right and even builder-grade rooms look intentional.
Selling
Selling Without an Agent in 2026: What FSBO Sellers Actually Net
Commission reform promised savings. The closing data tells a more complicated story.
Renovation & DIY
Which Smart-Home Upgrades Actually Add Value (and Which Scare Buyers Off)
Smart thermostats help. Proprietary hubs hurt. A resale-minded guide to wiring up.
Mortgages & Money
Property Tax Assessments Are Up Again. Here’s How to Appeal — and Win
Roughly 40% of appeals succeed, yet fewer than 5% of owners file. A county-by-county playbook.
Interiors & Design
Before & After: 6 Mudroom Makeovers Under $2,500
Built-in benches, drop zones and the flooring that survives winter.
Buying
Builders Are Quietly Offering Incentives Worth 6% of Price. Ask for These First
Rate buydowns, closing credits, design-studio allowances — how to stack new-construction deals.
Renovation & DIY
The Basement Moisture Fixes That Work — Ranked From $20 to $20,000
From gutter extensions to full French drains, a contractor-reviewed ladder of fixes.
Market News
Mortar Home Forecast: Where Prices, Rates and Inventory Land by Q1 2027
Our quarterly outlook, built on listing feeds from 90 metros and interviews with 22 economists.