Closing day is an exciting milestone. You have signed the paperwork, received the keys, and officially become a homeowner. While it may feel like the mortgage process is complete, there are still a few important things to understand about what happens after closing. Knowing what to expect can help you manage your mortgage with confidence and avoid unnecessary surprises during your first year of homeownership.

Shopping for a mortgage is one of the smartest things you can do when buying a home, yet many buyers hesitate because they believe multiple credit checks will seriously damage their credit score. Fortunately, that is one of the biggest misconceptions about the mortgage process. Understanding how credit inquiries work can help you shop with confidence and potentially save thousands of dollars over the life of your loan.

Inflation has shown signs of easing for the first time since the early days of the COVID pandemic. However, inflation remains higher than anticipated. Both the PPI and CPI data releases came in lower than expected, suggesting that inflationary pressures may be beginning to moderate. This is based on the newer, more theoretical reporting for the PPI and CPI.