Home & Property Editor
Ariana covers the house itself: security systems, solar, home warranties, pest control, movers, and the home-adjacent borrowing people do to pay for all of it.
Her reporting starts where the problem actually starts, which is usually a Tuesday and a noise in the basement. She is most interested in the service agreement you signed on a clipboard without reading, because that is where the money in this category lives.
Average cost: $600 a year. Average approved payout: $200 to $350. Denial rates on major claims run 30 to 50 percent. The math favors the house, not the homeowner. Here's when they're still worth it.
August 18, 2026 · 9 min read
The free inspection is not the product. The annual agreement is, and the clause that makes it worth paying for is not the quarterly visit everyone thinks they are buying.
August 7, 2026 · 9 min read
The federal default is 60 cents per pound. Your 45-pound TV that cost $1,500 is worth $27 to the moving company, and you agreed to that when you signed the paperwork you didn't read.
August 5, 2026 · 10 min read
American homeowners are sitting on $35 trillion in equity, and most have never tapped it. A home equity loan gives you a lump sum at a fixed rate; a HELOC works more like a credit card secured by your house. Same collateral, very different risk profiles and use cases.
August 3, 2026 · 9 min read
The research says couples who combine accounts are happier. The fine print says either of you owns all of it, your partner's creditors can reach it, and it will override your will. Both things are true.
August 1, 2026 · 9 min read
The federal tax credit is still 30 percent. Panel prices are lower than ever. But payback still depends on three variables most solar salespeople gloss over. Here is the honest math.
July 30, 2026 · 10 min read
Home security has changed dramatically. Professional monitoring, DIY sensors, smart home integration, and video surveillance all compete for your attention and your budget. Here is what matters when choosing a system.
June 23, 2026 · 8 min read
