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This capability is a life-changer for people in remote, rural communities. — MMCDC President Julia Nelmark

by Susan Fitter Harris, reprinted with permission of Rural LISC

Most Americans take high-speed internet access for granted. It’s there when we need it. We use terrestrial (wired) broadband when we’re working at our desks and when we stream our favorite shows at home in the evening. Students use it to explore the world beyond their classrooms and to complete and submit homework assignments. Our smartphones use mobile broadband to put communication, shopping, directions and much more right at the tips of our fingers.

This convenience is far from the daily reality for many Americans, however. Millions of people living in rural areas and on Tribal lands lack broadband access, which puts them at an increasing disadvantage as more of our daily life moves online. The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) Broadband Deployment Report for 2019 notes that broadband availability is higher than ever: “As of year-end 2017, 93.5% of the overall population had coverage of such services, up from 91.9% in 2016.” But the availability gap in rural and Tribal areas remains stark: “Over 26% of Americans in rural areas and 32% of Americans in Tribal lands lack coverage from fixed terrestrial 25 Mbps/3 Mbps [download speed/upload speed] broadband, as compared to only 1.7% of Americans in urban areas.” 

FCC data included in the report shows rural/Tribal area access has increased each year over the last five years. In 2013, slightly fewer than half of rural residents and only 37% of tribal lands had such access. Even with the recent progress, more than 20 million Americans still lack access to terrestrial high speed internet connections. In addition, the FCC’s access data measures availability of the agency’s minimum benchmark speed of 25 megabits per second (Mbps). Modern fiber optic internet connections can provide download speeds of 250 Mbps or higher, allowing the connection to handle multiple activities without slowing down. What’s more, rural residents and advocates often find these numbers, reported by telecom service providers, do not capture the full picture of who has service and who still lacks it.

Life Without Broadband

According to Nathan Ohle, Executive Director for Rural Community Assistance Partnership (RCAP), a national network of nonprofits serving rural communities, this disparity creates real obstacles for Rural America. “Many of communities we serve don’t have very good broadband access,” Ohle explained. “That means the opportunity for economic growth and prosperity, even the ability to search for a job, is really limited.”

Lack of broadband access affects daily life for many rural Americans, but it also confronts farmers and other business people, first responders, medical care providers, students, and local governments with impacts ranging from merely inconvenient to life-threatening. Ohle notes that broadband access can have a profound impact on disaster preparedness, warning and recovery. “For example, after Hurricane Harvey, our TA providers were on the ground doing assessments of water systems in the wake of storm,” he explained. The TA providers created color-coded GIS maps to indicate the status of 147 systems and communicated the information back to federal funders. “If there had not been broadband access in those communities, we would not have been able to communicate that information on system and community damage accurately to funders,” he said, noting that broadband is also an essential lifeline for economic recovery in disaster-affected areas. “Even in something as small as a water main break,” he added, “broadband can be critical in both the ability to get information out to service providers to get it fixed and the ability to communicate with the community about why water is off and the need to boil water. It has a huge impact.” Access to broadband is so significant, the FCC and American Public Health Association in 2018 deemed it a “super-determinant of health,” in recognition of its impact on other health determinants such as employment, education and access to healthcare.

A Role for CDFIs

CDFIs are stepping in to help ensure broadband reaches more rural areas. At a panel discussion during October’s Opportunity Finance Network conference, Ohle and others talked about how their organizations are helping bring high-speed internet access to more people in more places.

Gary Franke, Managing Director of the Communications group at CoBank, oversees a $4 billion telecommunications infrastructure lending portfolio, including multiple broadband projects. He sees ample potential for CDFIs to contribute to broadband financing in the near future. “We believe that there’s capital available for rural broadband,” Franke told the panel audience. Such deals “typically will involve partnerships with state, local, or federal programs in addition to private equity,” Franke explained, but he cautioned the panel audience about a conflict inherent in these projects. “You need to build it in partnership with the provider. When we see municipalities that are building [fiber] themselves, they are typically not successful. It’s very complex and you have to have the ability to run it.” On the other hand, however, rural broadband is lacking in many areas because the large national providers are not interested in making the investment, so private investment is needed, “but if you can get the right mix of cost to deploy it and residential take rate to pay for it, you can get the capital,” he assured. “We see a lot of opportunity out there. With the right capital and the right funding programs, there’s a lot more to come.”

Midwest Minnesota Community Development Corporation (MMCDC) President Julia Nelmark described how the organization used New Markets Tax Credits to finance a project with a local , quasi-public communications agency to run high-speed fiber in rural Wyoming. The project required a variety of funding sources, including the New Markets Tax Credit Equity, including debt capital and grant funding. Nelmark described the deal as a learning experience, but the project will bring much higher data speeds to area residents and result in 150 households gaining internet access for the first time.

Mapping the Gaps

In addition to direct financing, CDFIs and other advocates like the National Association of Counties (NACo) are helping carry the message about the importance of broadband and the gap that still remains for underserved communities. Several pieces of legislation have been introduced on Capitol Hill this year that would require the FCC to take steps to increase broadband access in rural areas. However, as these bills acknowledge, a critical first step is simply knowing the scope of the problem.

The FCC’s current coverage maps indicate where broadband is available by census tract, using self-reported information from the service providers. As RCAP’s Ohle explained to the panel audience, an internet service provider could therefore serve one town in a large rural tract and count that entire tract as “served” because there is broadband access somewhere in it, even if not all residents have the same access. “What we know is that is not accurately describing the access in rural communities,” Ohle said, noting that federal funding for addressing broadband is driven by the FCC and its maps.

To combat misleading reports, create a more accurate picture of coverage and, they hope, drive more funding to rural broadband, RCAP and NACo teamed with LISC Rural and other partners to create TestIT, a mobile app designed to crowd-source information gathering about data speeds, particularly in rural areas. With TestIT, iOS and Android users can download the app and, with one click, test the mobile broadband speed anywhere they are. The app automatically reports the data speed and precise location so advocates can begin mapping more accurately where broadband access does and does not exist. Even if a user is in an area with zero broadband, the app will store that data and report the test and populate the database later when the user enters an area with service. Test it will tell you no access. Then will populate that data to the national data base later. “TestIT was created to provide a role for small, community-based organizations to have real, concrete action steps to take to increase broadband access in their communities,” said LISC Rural’s Julia Malinowski.

LISC, RCAP and NACo are using their national and regional networks to encourage as many people as possible to download the app and test broadband speed in their communities. Users have conducted more than 85,000 speed tests so far.  With this information, the TestIT partners can give a much clearer picture of true broadband coverage and urge the FCC to take steps to expand service to places providers have already “checked off” on their maps, but that are not served in reality. Ohle explains, “What we will start with is just having conversations with FCC about the data and what we are seeing. I think they recognize there is a need and are looking for as much input as possible on how to make that better.” Ohle listed several pieces of proposed legislation – including the bipartisan Broadband Data Improvement Act of 2019 introduced by Sen. Shelley Moore Capito ( R-WV) in the Senate and the Broadband Deployment Accuracy and Technological Availability (DATA) Act sponsored by Rep. David Loebsack (D-IA) – that would mandate better data about where broadband is available. If and when the legislation passes, RCAP, LISC, NACo and their partners will be ready with the results gleaned from TestIT users.

MMCDC’s Nelmark emphasized the importance of increasing both wired and mobile broadband, noting “most rural people, especially lower-income, have a cell phone, but often have no computer at home.” She added, “This capability is a life-changer for people in remote, rural communities.”

Printed with permission of the Capri

The Capri renovation and expansion has been supported by hundreds of individuals and organizations, including the City of Minneapolis, Hennepin County, the State of Minnesota Department of Economic Development, Midwest Minnesota Community Development Corporation, Sunrise Banks and US Bank.

After nearly 10 years in the making, construction on the Capri Theater expansion and renovation in North Minneapolis has begun.  To celebrate this milestone the Capri held a Groundbreaking Ceremony at 11:30 a.m. Thursday, October 17, near the construction site at 2210 Oliver Avenue North in Minneapolis.  Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey, Minneapolis 5th Ward Council Member Jeremiah Ellison, and District 2 Hennepin County Commissioner Irene Fernando offered brief remarks, among others. 

The new Capri will feature a smartly renovated theater with new amenities, a Best Buy Teen Tech Center, a Great Hall performance and community space, classrooms, an outdoor plaza and more.  The design blends and connects the old with the new; integrating enhancements to the current theater while creating a distinctive new structure wrapped around the west and south of the current building.

“We are thrilled to see the future taking shape,” said Anne Long, Executive Director of PCYC, “and this is really just the beginning.  We are digging a foundation of possibilities and promise for our Northside community; students and educators; young people, families and friends, and emerging and established artists and audiences.”

“The Capri will continue to showcase the richness of this community,” added James Scott, Director of the Capri.   

The Capri Capital Campaign is now at 93% of goal for contributions toward the $12.5 million project.  Donations can be made at the event or online at thecapritheater.org.  

The Community Development Financial Institutions Fund has announced an allocation award of $70 million in federal tax credits to Midwest Minnesota Community Development Corporation (MMCDC).

This is one of the most powerful community development tools in the country. — MMCDC President Julia Nelmark 

As a prior allocatee, MMCDC has financed health care centers in medically underserved areas, nonprofit agencies benefiting youth and families, and for-profit businesses bringing overseas jobs to rural America.

NMTC Program awards historically have spurred $8 of private investment for every $1 of federal investment, according to the CDFI Fund. This has helped create or retain more than 800,000 jobs and 205 million square feet of commercial real estate.

“(These) awards will finance projects ranging from large manufacturing plants to grocery and retail stores that will create jobs and provide critically needed goods and services to residents of Low-Income Communities,” CDFI Fund Director Jodie Harris said in a press release.

The federal New Markets Tax Credit attracts and rewards private investment by offering a tax credit to the investor. MMCDC has provided flexible financing up to $20 million, but more often utilizes small loan funds to extend the benefits of the credit to small rural businesses.

The CDFI Fund is a program of the U.S. Department of the Treasury and certifies organizations, such as MMCDC, as Community Development Financial Institutions. MMCDC is a Detroit Lakes, Minn.-based nonprofit engaged in business, community and housing development. Its New Markets Tax Credit service area includes North Dakota, South Dakota, Wyoming and Minnesota.

 

Improving community facilities. Creating affordable housing. Growing small businesses.

These are the hopes of every Community Development Financial Institution (CDFI), including those of us in Minnesota. Click on the link below to see what Minnesota’s CDFIs have accomplished using funds from the U.S. Department of the Treasury.

Minnesota

 

 

 

 

 

Workforce housing. Downtown revitalization. Recruitment of business and industry.

These are the top community development needs identified by MMCDC’s members, according to survey results announced at the annual meeting, held Thursday, June 20, at the Shooting Star Casino, Hotel and

Julia Nelmark (l) and Janet Green

Entertainment center. The survey was taken as part of MMCDC’s strategic planning process for 2020-2025. 

Also noted was the need for available, affordable child care and high-speed internet.

MMCDC’s new president, Julia Nelmark (left), and chairwoman Janet Green led MMCDC’s annual meeting.  The membership reelected four board members to another term – Lester Liljedahl, Clearwater County; Jeff Haukebo, Hubbard County; Lorna LaGue, Mahnomen County; and Gary Thibert, Red Lake County. The following were elected as officers for 2019: Janet Green, chairwoman; Gary Thibert, vice chairman; Jeff Haukebo, treasurer; and Breanna Adams, Secretary.

Approximately 70 members and guests attended the meeting.

Reprinted with the permission of USDA

Rural Development State Director for Minnesota Brad Finstad today highlighted the partnerships that aid in the United States Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) ongoing efforts to assist individuals and families purchase affordable housing in rural communities.

   “Partnerships allow for expanded opportunities and are necessary in order to achieve prosperity, especially in rural communities,” Finstad said. “Through these partnerships, USDA is helping rural Americans achieve the dream of homeownership – supporting benefits that extend far beyond the home, resulting in stronger, more prosperous rural communities.”

   USDA Single Family Housing programs have served more than 4.4 million families in rural America since President Truman signed the Housing Act in 1949. Throughout June, USDA employees will celebrate National Homeownership Month with events across the Nation that demonstrate USDA’s commitment to provide access to affordable housing for rural Americans.

   Rural Development has several programs that support rural homeownership, including:

USDA partnerships with private-sector lenders to help rural families buy homes. Providing loan guarantees for lenders working with low- to moderate-income families is the key to developing private-sector homeownership opportunities. For example, through partnership with Minnesota’s top 10 producing lenders in Fiscal Year 2018, Rural Development assisted 1,093 households and invested nearly $161 million. These lenders include: American Mortgage & Equity Consultants Bell Bank Bremer Bank, N. A. Flagstar Bank Stearns Lending Inc Lend Smart Mortgage, LLC Fairway Independent Mortgage Corp Midwest MN Community Development Corp (MMCDC) Market Place Home Mortgage Wells Fargo Home Mortgage, Inc Direct home loans for very-low- and low-income applicants. Some borrowers qualify for program benefits that reduce the effective interest rate on their mortgage loan to one percent. Partnerships with local organizations help Rural Development reach prospective homebuyers. Referrals from the Rice County Habitat for Humanity chapter have resulted in eight households becoming homeowners since Oct. 1, 2018. The partnership between Rural Development and Habitat for Humanity allows homebuyers to obtain high-quality housing with affordable financing. An additional partnership with Three Rivers Community Action, a regional nonprofit, provides these homebuyers with closing cost assistance. Repair loans and grants that help people improve access to their homes and remove health and safety hazards such as poor wiring or plumbing.

   To learn more about Rural Development’s partnerships and the investments described above, visit www.rd.usda.gov/mn or contact the State Office at (651) 788-5307.

   In April 2017, President Donald J. Trump established the Interagency Task Force on Agriculture and Rural Prosperity to identify legislative, regulatory and policy changes that could promote agriculture and prosperity in rural communities. In January 2018, Secretary Perdue presented the Task Force’s findings to President Trump. These findings included 31 recommendations to align the federal government with state, local and tribal governments to take advantage of opportunities that exist in rural America.

   To view the report in its entirety, please view the Report to the President of the United States from the Task Force on Agriculture and Rural Prosperity (PDF, 5.4 MB). In addition, to view the categories of the recommendations, please view the Rural Prosperity infographic (PDF, 190 KB).

   USDA Rural Development provides loans and grants to help expand economic opportunities and create jobs in rural areas. This assistance supports infrastructure improvements; business development; housing; community facilities such as schools, public safety and health care; and high-speed internet access in rural areas. For more information, visit www.rd.usda.gov/mn.

USDA is an equal opportunity employer, provider and lender.

Midwest Minnesota Community Development Corporation, a member of the NeighborWorks network, is receiving $532,500 in flexible grants from the Neighborhood Reinvestment Corporation, dba NeighborWorks America.  This grant will support its affordable housing and community development activities.   “The availability of affordable housing – housing that a family can fit in their budget – is one of the most important issues for families,” Sen. Amy Klobuchar said in a press release issued jointly this spring with Sen. Tina Smith. “NeighborWorks grants will help communities across Minnesota build and maintain reliable, affordable housing options for residents, and provide relief to Minnesotans who are still facing higher housing costs than they can handle.”   “Research has shown that a lack of an affordable, stable place to live makes it harder to find employment, maintain financial stability, succeed in school, and sustain healthy living,” Smith said. “The NeighborWorks grants are so important because they are investments in local organizations that work on the front lines every single day to provide affordable housing to those who need it.”   NeighborWorks America is announcing $70 million in grants to its network of nearly 250 nonprofit organizations located around the country, including several in Minnesota.NeighborWorks organizations will use the grants to develop and manage high-quality affordable housing, help consumers set and reach their goals through financial coaching, offer homeownership education and counseling, and revitalize and strengthen communities.   In fiscal year 2018, the NeighborWorks network provided 457,000 housing and counseling services; owned and managed 166,900 rental homes; and created more than 41,100 jobs.   MMCDC is a leading private nonprofit company providing commercial and home mortgage lending, as well as housing, business and community development services throughout Minnesota and the Midwest. Its board of directors is drawn from its Special Impact Area, which includes Becker, Mahnomen, Hubbard, Clearwater, Red Lake, Pennington and Eastern Polk counties, including the White Earth Reservation.    For more information about NeighborWorks America go to NeighborWorks.org.

Authored by Laura Proescholdt, Minnesota Housing Partnership, and reprinted with permission

MMCDC Note: This story has been updated to correct the maximum loan amount to $8,000.

Say you work at a school in Becker County, Minnesota. A single parent, there’s nothing you’d love more than to own a home and provide a stable place for your daughter to grow up. But for years, homeownership has felt out of reach despite working full time.

A new program may help you achieve your goal of homeownership: Home Ownership for Me (HOMe). Administered by Midwest Minnesota Community Development Corporation, the program provides zero-interest down payment loans to qualifying individuals and families who work in Becker County and want to live there, too. Payments on the loan are deferred until the home is sold or the term of the first mortgage is complete. The program is a “revolving fund” because funds used to repay the loan are returned to the loan pool to help another family secure a home later on.

A team of local leaders advanced the idea for the HOMe program through MHP’s Housing Institute, an 18-month program that provides capacity building to three teams as they pursue a project that positively impacts affordable housing in their respective regions.

Karen Pifher, West Community Health Program Manager at Essentia Health was one of the Housing Institute team members who worked to develop the program. “I hope that people who are in that low- to mid-income range who have never thought that homeownership is something they can experience are able to realize that dream through this program,” Pifher says.

HOMe provides loans up to $8,000 for households earning up to 80 percent of Area Median Income (AMI). Households earning up to 115 percent of State Median Income can secure a loan up to $5,500. These figures are adjusted to account for household size. For reference, 80 percent AMI for a household of four is $55,600 and 115 percent SMI for the same household size is $96,830.

Working at Essentia Health, Pifher sees the many ways in which a safe, affordable home impacts the community. “One of the things we know is that housing — affordable, stable housing — has a huge impact on health across the lifespan,” Pifher explains.

Part of Pifher’s work is to carry out a regular health assessment for the county. “The previous and current health assessment revealed that affordable housing is a top concern of people here,” Pifher explains. “We know that housing is one of the social determinants of health, so this issue is extremely important to us because healthcare interventions are not successful without safe and stable housing.”

Local employers see the need for affordable housing for staff, and they’re taking action by contributing to the program. Several employers, including Essentia Health, BTD manufacturing, and Arvig have committed funding. Becker County and the cities of Frazee and Detroit Lakes have, as well.

Denise Anderson, Frazee City Administrator (center), meets with a potential funder at a Housing Institute in 2018 with the guidance of former MHP Community Development Manager Luis Pereira (right). 

Carrie Johnston, a member of the Housing Institute team, often hears about employers struggling to fill positions due lack of affordable housing as President of the Detroit Lakes Regional Chamber of Commerce. “I know businesses who have tried to recruit employees, but struggle because people can’t find an affordable place to live in our community.”

Pifher sees that too at Essentia Health. “Our recruiters identify childcare and housing as two major barriers to filling essential roles such as Certified Nursing Assistants and front desk professionals. It’s hard to hire for these positions because they can’t find an affordable home in our area.”

Detroit Lakes is a growing community, and the lack of affordable housing puts that growth at risk. “We are an economic center for the County,” Johnston explains. “Our school district has grown 10 percent a year for the past couple of years. Our community has convened for a couple of work sessions on workforce issues and community needs. Our shortage of housing affordable to working people with low and moderate incomes continues to rise to the top as a pressing issue.”

Denise Anderson, City Administrator for the nearby community of Frazee, was another member of the Housing Institute team. She says the Housing Institute process helped the group successfully create the HOMe initiative. “The process was so enlightening,” Anderson says. “It brings together people who are dedicated and interested in housing in their area. It opens your eyes to the pressing needs in communities across our state. Once you see that and you start working with other people who are energetic, it’s amazing what you can accomplish.”

The Becker County team plans to continue meeting to implement more solutions for housing in their community.

By Marietta Rodriguez, President & CEO, NeighborWorks America

Posted with permission of NeighborWorks America. For more information, visit www.nw.org.

Marietta Rodriguez, President & CEO, NeighborWorks America

Homeownership remains a strong aspiration for many people and remains a primary mode for wealth building for most Americans. Among the many decisions homebuyers have to make is if purchasing a home warranty makes financial sense. Weighing all the costs of homeownership can be daunting for any homebuyer, but particularly for low- to moderate-income families that are first-time buyers and learning about getting their finances in check to afford their first home (pre- and post-purchase) and counting every penny. It’s hard to know whether a home warranty is a justifiable expense. 

NeighborWorks America wants to ensure that people have the proper tools and resources so they are informed consumers from the moment they consider owning a home, and its network provides housing counselors who can educate consumers from the start of the process to the finish. 

When a person purchases a home, they often will be offered a home warranty. A home warranty is not to be confused with homeowners insurance, which covers damage caused to the home by events like fires, theft and natural disasters. A home warranty is a service contract that covers the repair or replacement costs of home appliances such as a broken furnace or dishwasher. The seller may offer to purchase a home warranty on the buyer’s behalf to address any concerns they may have, or the buyer will likely receive mail solicitations once the sale closes. A consumer could also reach out to a company to purchase a home warranty after closing. 

A home warranty can provide the peace of mind a homeowner is looking for, but they must read the fine print carefully. Not all warranties are created equal and consumers want a home warranty service that best serves their needs. They need to understand the exclusions and limitations of the home warranties they research. Some home warranty companies have overall limits, where they’ll only pay a certain dollar amount out for each repair in the home. Once that limit is hit, all of the repairs and replacements come out of your budget. Others place dollar amount limits on certain items, so the homeowner pays the rest. Some home warranty companies will also allow you to receive a cash-in-lieu option, where you simply get what the home warranty company would have paid to replace the system or appliance. Pay attention to lower-priced home warranty companies because they likely have significantly less coverage and higher limits than their higher cost counterparts.

The local community development organizations in the NeighborWorks network have found ways to help homeowners decide whether a home warranty is right for them. NeighborWorks network organization Neighborhood Housing Services of the Inland Empire (NHSIE) (San Bernadino, California) has historically purchased a home warranty for all homebuyers who have bought a home from its Acquisition Rehab and Resale Program. The organization believes home warranties allow buyers to put their mind at ease when they move into a home, knowing that any repair and replacement of many major systems or appliances that might breakdown due to normal wear and tear will be covered. In NHSIE’s Homes and Hammers post-purchase class, the instructors educate new homeowners about the benefits of a home warranty, what they might cover and how long they generally last, in addition to tips and resource for maintaining their home. 

Additionally, NeighborWorks Northeastern Pennsylvania (Scranton, Pennsylvania) highlights home warranties in its homebuyer education course and specifically when discussing what to look for in a home inspection. The organization advises the prospective buyer to ask if there has been any major work recently completed at the property (such as HVAC, plumbing, electrical, or on the roof) which may have work or materials that may be covered by a warranty; if so, they should check if the warranties are transferrable (and how). 

A home warranty typically covers most major components of large home systems, such as the HVAC (central heating ventilation air condition), hot water heaters, and plumbing. It may also cover regular appliances such as washers, dryers, refrigerators and stoves. When a covered repair is needed, consumers call their home warranty company. They can set up an appointment with a licensed service provider in their area that is covered by the plan. The consumer typically only pays the service call fee for a covered repair. 

Depending on the provider and location, a home warranty costs a few hundred dollars a year, paid up front (or in installments, if the warranty company offers a payment plan) for a policy that includes most major appliances and home systems. You can add on coverage for additional larger systems. Most home warranty terms are one year and in most cases are renewable. 

Weighing the pros and cons of purchasing a home warranty is an important step for homeowners. They need to closely read the terms and conditions of the agreement, as home warranties often include clauses addressing conditions under which coverage would be denied.

Marietta Rodriguez blog, 2/7/2019, www.nw.org

A home warranty has definite benefits. For a homeowner who doesn’t have emergency savings, a home warranty can protect them financially. Home warranties are also helpful for people who aren’t handy or don’t want to have to track down a contractor when a problem arises. Home warranties make sense for first-time homeowners, who may not be as familiar with how their new home’s systems work.

One major problem with a home warranty is that it will not cover items that have not been properly maintained. What is considered proper maintenance can be a significant gray area and causes many disagreements between home warranty companies and warranty holders. That’s why it’s important to read and be clear about what is covered by the warranty and what is not. When a homeowner purchases an existing home, it might come with older appliances that the previous owner may not have maintained. The manufacturer’s warranty that comes with appliances generally only covers replacement and repair for about a year.

Weighing the pros and cons of purchasing a home warranty is an important step for homeowners. They need to closely read the terms and conditions of the agreement, as home warranties often include clauses addressing conditions under which coverage would be denied. HUD-approved counselors are available at NeighborWorks organizations around the country to help consumers understand the paperwork. Making the homeownership leap is often stressful and understanding how to navigate additional budget items—like a home warranty—can reduce that burden.