Lauren Hamer is a seasoned writer, reporter, and Certified Financial Education Instructor® with a decade of experience in home improvement and personal finance. She specializes in renovation financing, home modifications, and aging-in-place solutions, drawing on her extensive background in defining editorial and product testing standards for publications like Angi, HomeAdvisor, and ConsumerAffairs. Her unique blend of expertise helps readers navigate renovation planning and financing responsibly. When she's not reporting on the financial, health, and social aspects of aging, you can find Lauren making DIY improvements to her family's mountain retreat in Western North Carolina and/or building a modern-day homestead with her husband and her dog, Lyle.