That's a good point about keeping financial activity minimal—definitely makes life easier. I had a similar but slightly different experience recently....

10% does seem safe, but honestly I think it depends a lot on your specific situation. If you've recently renovated or upgraded major systems (roof, HV...

Had my HVAC go out mid-July a couple years back... talk about timing. Learned the hard way to pad the escrow cushion a little extra—saved me from anot...

Went through something similar last year when rates were bouncing around. I ended up locking mine in, mostly for peace of mind. Sure enough, rates dip...