Real Estate

From finding your dream home to securing a great financing offer, we guide you through every step of the homebuying process.

Bankrate and OJO help you complete the homebuying process with ease.

We've paired with OJO, an AI-driven real estate assistant that communicates via text, to help you navigate the homebuying process with speed and precision.

Get personalized recommendations

Based on your preferences, OJO quickly learns the details you crave and can text you newly listed homes or answer every little (and not so little) question.

Supercharge your agent relationship

Ready to set up a tour or put in an offer? OJO can connect you with a local expert and quickly get them up to speed so you can hit the ground running.

Get expert help with your budget

Ready for financing? OJO can help you search Bankrate’s lender network to find the top mortgage offers that you prequalify for.

This home just hit the market. It's two miles outside your preferred area, but matches your preference of four bedrooms and space to grow.

When was the bathroom last renovated?

According to the listing agent, the bathroom was remodeled last year.

Is the backyard private?

The backyard is fenced and has a large oak tree for extra shade.

Check your texts!

OJO will be texting you any minute to get things started.

Real Estate Basics

Unsolicited home sale offers

Offer letters come in many forms, and you should work with an agent to figure out the best deal.

3 min read

How to make an offer on a house

Learn what to include an offer to buy a house to get your bid noticed.

6 min read

Buy or rent? How to decide

Want to buy a home? Or keep renting? We give you some pluses and minuses.

5 min read

NAR Confederate flag ban

The National Association of Realtors determined that Confederate flags are hate symbols that have no place in listing photos.

2 min read

Editor's Picks

5 housing trends for 2022: What’s ahead for mortgage rates, home prices, demographic trends?

4 min read

Real Estate

How long does it take to buy a house?

5 min read

Real Estate

Renting vs. buying a home: Which is right for you?

5 min read

Latest Articles

Millions of tenants face eviction as Supreme Court strikes down moratorium

In a 6-3 ruling, the Supreme Court decided that only Congress has the authority to continue pandemic rental protections.

1 min read Aug 27, 2021
How home sellers can tell if an iBuyer’s offer is fair

Sellers looking to get out of their homes quickly may want to consider iBuyers rather than a traditional property sale.

3 min read Aug 25, 2021
How digital staging can help your home listing pop

Sprucing up a room through photo editing can make a home listing more appealing to buyers

3 min read Aug 20, 2021
What is a co-op?

When you buy a home or condo, you technically own it. Co-ops work differently.

9 min read Aug 17, 2021
Real estate expert explains why buying property in your kid’s college town may be a smart financial move

Jeffrey Decatur, a RE/MAX agent, is seeing more parents considering buying property for their kids during the college years.

3 min read Aug 16, 2021
Rent or own? A personal finance expert’s advice on figuring out what’s right for you

Whether to rent your home or own it is a major financial and lifestyle decision. Here’s what to know.

4 min read Aug 13, 2021
How homebuyers can compete in a strong seller’s market

With housing inventory still lagging, sellers continue to have the upper hand.

4 min read Jul 22, 2021
Having remorse over your recent home purchase? Here’s what to do

New homebuyers aren’t always thrilled with their purchase after the fact. Here’s what Matt Woods from SOLD.com says you can do.

4 min read Jul 19, 2021
Shipping container fans say metal boxes can ease housing squeeze

If you’re willing to live in a small space, you can save big bucks.

3 min read Jul 16, 2021
How renovations done without permits can affect a home sale

Renovations done without the right permits can complicate real estate transactions, sometimes derail a sale.

4 min read Jul 16, 2021