Kenponet — Your home, in plain numbers
New This week · The plain-English housing desk
Home costs, minus the guesswork.
Guides on renting, buying, owning and upkeep, with the numbers and the rules laid out so you know what to do before you sign, buy or call a contractor.
Three editors, one rule: put a number on it first
01 · Featured
The ones readers keep forwarding.
Three favourites from the archive, from negotiating your rent to the repair bill that grows the longer you wait.
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MAINTENANCE AND COSTS Weatherization Assistance Program 2026: How to Apply for Free Home Energy Upgrades This Winter
WAP pays for insulation, air sealing and safety checks for income-eligible homeowners and renters. Here is who qualifies and how to apply.
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RENTING Illinois Rental Fee Law Starts January 1, 2027: What Tenants and Small Landlords Need to Know
Illinois will cap application fees at $50, require mandatory fees on the lease's first page and ban a list of charges. Here is what changes.
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BUYING AND MOVING 2-1 Mortgage Buydown in 2026: How It Works and Whether the Payment Jump Is Worth It
Sellers and builders are offering 2-1 buydowns as rates sit near 7%. Here is the math on a 50,000 loan and the questions to ask.
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Why Kenponet exists
Rates and rents move. Good numbers last.
Headlines about rates and rents change by the week. What you need is the version you can act on: the cost, the rule and the first step. That is the one we write.
02 · Read by length
How long have you got?
Every story, sorted by how long it takes to read. Tap a length or let it turn on its own.
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Quick
Short reads that fit between two meetings.
02 / 04
Coffee
One cup, one idea, explained properly.
03 / 04
Lunch
Pieces worth a proper sit-down.
04 / 04
Deep
The long ones, for when you want the whole picture.
03 · Browse by topic
Find your corner of home.
Five desks we keep coming back to. Point at a row for a peek at its newest story.
Recently published
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Just in OCT 28 Virginia Landlord-Tenant Law Changes in 2027: What Tenants and Small Landlords Need to Know Virginia adds retaliation protections, a longer fire-damage notice, a rent payment plan and 90-day rent increase notices across 2027. Here is what takes effect when, and who it covers. -
OWNING OCT 28 Florida Amendment 3: What the $150,000 Homestead Exemption Could Save Homeowners Florida voters decide in November whether to raise the non-school homestead exemption to $150,000 in 2027 and $250,000 in 2028. Here is the math, the catches and what it means for renters. Read -
LANDLORD BASICS OCT 28 Colorado's Tenant Screening Law Starts January 2027: What Landlords Must Add to Applications Colorado HB26-1196 requires every rental application to say what data a landlord will check, which factors count and which screening company is used. Here is a plain-English checklist. Read -
RENTING OCT 27 Washington's 2027 Rent Cap Is 10%: What Tenants and Small Landlords Should Know Washington's Department of Commerce set the 2027 maximum rent increase at 10%. Here is how the formula works, who is exempt and what a tenant can do about an unlawful increase. Read -
MAINTENANCE AND COSTS OCT 27 How to Prevent Frozen Pipes This Winter, and What a Burst Pipe Costs A single frozen pipe can release hundreds of gallons of water and a five-figure repair bill. Here is a room-by-room plan to protect your pipes before the first hard freeze. Read -
BUYING AND MOVING OCT 27 Buying a Condo in 2026: What New Reserve Rules Mean for HOA Fees Condo prices are falling while Fannie Mae raises its reserve and insurance standards for buildings. Here is how to check a building before you make an offer. Read - BUYING AND MOVING OCT 26 Tri-Merge Credit Reports: What the FHFA Proposal Means for Homebuyers Federal regulators are weighing whether mortgage lenders must pull three credit reports on every loan. Here is what the tri-merge rule is, what could change and what buyers should do now. Read
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LANDLORD BASICS OCT 26 Rental Registry for Small Landlords: What Columbus Now Requires Columbus, Ohio is starting an annual rental registry in 2027. Here is who must register, what it costs and what small landlords in any city should check about their own local rules. Read -
MAINTENANCE AND COSTS OCT 26 How to Apply for LIHEAP Heating Assistance in 2026-27 The federal heating aid program is opening for the 2026-27 winter in many states. Here is who qualifies, what to bring and how two states set their dates and income limits. Read
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