Posts with tag 'Buy a home'

When most people think about buying a home, they focus on the big numbers: the purchase price, the interest rate, and the monthly mortgage payment. But there's another cost that's becoming increasingly important—and it's one many buyers don't fully consider until they're well into the process: homeowners insurance.

Across the country, insurance premiums have been rising at a pace that has surprised both homeowners and industry professionals. While every market is different, understanding why rates are increasing—and how they can affect your overall housing budget—can help you make more informed decisions when buying or owning a home.

Why Are Homeowners Insurance Rates Increasing?

Several factors have contributed to higher homeowners insurance premiums in recent years.

The cost to rebuild a home has increased. Construction materials, skilled labor, and supply chain disruptions have all driven up the cost of repairing or rebuild...

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Winter in Cleveland has a way of stripping things down.

The light goes gray earlier in the day. Snow settles into corners and lingers. Streets feel quieter, not just because fewer people are outside, but because fewer people are lingering. You start to notice details that fade into the background in warmer months. Which sidewalks get shoveled first. Which houses seem to hold heat. Which blocks feel protected from the wind and which don't.

For many buyers, this is when the home search pauses. They wait for more listings, brighter days, and curb appeal to return. That instinct makes sense. But winter has a different advantage. It removes much of the noise that comes with peak buying season, and that can make decision-making clearer rather than harder.

When the Pace Changes

By January, the market do...

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UPDATE: Effective February 6, 2026, the City of Cleveland no longer requires a mandatory exterior inspection before the sale or transfer of 1–3 unit vacant residential properties. Read more here.

After much debate, the city of Cleveland just passed a new ordinance requiring vacant homes in the city to be registered and have the exterior inspected before they transfer to a new owner. How's this going to impact you? This is a major change that's going to impact buyers and sellers in the marketplace, and Progressive Urban is here to help you navigate it. 

The new ordinance (which the city calls Residents First) ONL...

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Saving up for a home is a major financial accomplishment. However, knowing exactly how much you need to save isn't always straightforward. There are many expenses associated with buying a home, and it can be difficult to keep them all straight. To further complicate matters, some costs are confusing or aren't always apparent to buyers. It's easy to feel overwhelmed when determining what you can afford, but that's why our real estate agents are here to help. We created this list of hidden home-buying costs to help our clients prepare.

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Closing on a home is a multi-party process that typically takes place over 4 to 6 weeks. During this time, you'll need to conduct inspections and secure a mortgage to finance your home purchase. In order to protect all parties involved, an earnest deposit and all paperwork will be placed in a third-party escrow account, which will prevent funds or documents from changing hands until the deal is complete. Escrow plays an important part in the closing process, and our real estate agents can help you understand why.

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