Kiah Treece is a former attorney, small business owner and personal finance coach with extensive experience in real estate and financing. Her focus is on demystifying debt to help consumers and ...

Matt Richardson is the senior managing editor for the Managing Your Money section for CBSNews.com. He writes and edits content about personal finance ranging from savings to investing to insurance.

If you're like most people, buying a house is the largest purchase you'll ever make, and it eventually becomes a cornerstone of your wealth. But here's what many homeowners overlook: It’s not the home ...