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.
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...
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...

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.

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.

Buying a home is one of life's most momentous transactions. It requires patience, research, and balanced emotions. If this is your first time going through the process, you'll probably receive lots of advice, but it's important not to believe everything you hear. Our real estate agents are here to help you separate fact from fiction with this list of common home-buying myths.