Housing terms & practical skills

Understand agreements, ownership costs and the records behind a housing decision.

Start with a term you recognize. Each page explains the idea, introduces three related skills and shows an example you can check.

Choose a term

Lease
Skills: read terms, compare totals, keep records.
Security deposit
Skills: separate charges, document condition, track communication.
Mortgage
Skills: read the offer, compare complete costs, plan resilience.
Down payment
Skills: calculate the share, compare cash needs, preserve flexibility.
Principal
Skills: read statements, check reductions, ask about extra payments.
Amortization
Skills: read a schedule, compare terms, distinguish totals.
Escrow
Skills: read the breakdown, track changes, avoid double counting.
Home equity
Skills: estimate carefully, separate access, consider uncertainty.
Closing costs
Skills: read disclosures, separate categories, confirm funds.
Maintenance reserve
Skills: inventory needs, estimate timing, update the plan.