Mortgage
Keep up with mortgage trends and learn about mortgage tips and tricks in order to be an informed and competitive buyer in the real estate market.
No Capital Gains Tax on Home Sales Legislation: What to Know
The current tax structure creates challenges for homeowners who have seen their property values soar over recent years. Many find themselves facing substantial tax bills that can eat into their profits from selling their home. Now, rising home values have created a “lock-in effect” where homeowners choose not to sell rather than face substantial tax...
What Does the Fed Rate Cut Mean for Mortgages?
What the Federal Funds Rate Is and Why It Matters When banks need short-term liquidity, they borrow from each ...
DSCR vs. Conventional vs. Bank Statement Loans: Investor Mortgage Comparison (2025)
DSCR Loans A DSCR loan is a powerful financing tool that evaluates investment properties based on their income...
Griffin Funding vs Rocket Mortgage: 2025 Mortgage Lender Comparison
What Is Griffin Funding? Griffin Funding is a California-based national mortgage lender that has built its rep...
A Guide to Investing in Real Estate After Retirement
Traditional retirement investments remain popular, but they come with significant downsides: Stocks: Market crashes can devastate your portfolio overnight, and volatility increases as you age without time to recover from losses. Bonds: Minimal returns struggle to keep pace with inflation, eroding your purchasing power over time. Annuities: Lock up your money with limited flexibility and...
Mortgage Recasting: What It Is & How It Works
Mortgage recasting, also known as a mortgage loan recast, is when you put a substantial lump sum toward what y...
Pre-Approval vs Pre-Qualification: What’s the Difference?
What Is Mortgage Pre-Qualification? Mortgage pre‑qualification is an informal, preliminary assessment of how...
Tips for Buying a House on a Single Income
The Challenges of Buying a Home on One Income Purchasing a home on a single income can present several financi...
Using Gift Funds for a Down Payment: What to Know
What Are Gift Funds for a Down Payment? Gift funds for a down payment are monetary gifts from acceptable sources that you can use toward purchasing a home. The key characteristic that defines a gift is that you never have to repay the money. This distinguishes gift funds from loans, which must be repaid and...
Closing Cost Calculator
Try Our Closing Cost Calculator What Are Closing Costs? Closing costs are the collection of fees and expenses ...
Rent Estimator: Get a Free Rent Estimate
Rent Estimator Use our free rent estimator to get an instant estimate for any property address and start maxim...
Home Value Estimator: How Much Is Your Home Worth?
How Much Is My House Worth? Curious about your home’s current value? Use the home value estimator below to g...
SALT Deduction: What Is the State and Local Tax Deduction?
What Is the SALT Deduction? The state and local taxes (SALT) deduction is a federal tax benefit for taxpayers ...
FHA Refinance Guidelines & Requirements Checklist
Core FHA Refinance Requirement Factors Before we discuss the specific FHA refinance requirements for each prog...
Crypto-Backed Mortgages: What They Are & How They Work
What Is a Crypto-Backed Mortgage? A crypto mortgage is a home loan that uses cryptocurrency as collateral inst...
Mortgage Interest Deduction: Definition, Limit, & Example
What Is the Mortgage Interest Deduction? The mortgage interest deduction is a tax-saving deduction that applie...
Real Estate Capital Gains Tax Calculator
Selling real estate can generate significant profits, but understanding the tax implications beforehand preven...
A Guide to Budgeting for First-Time Home Buyers
Buying your first house is exciting, but it can also feel overwhelming when you start looking at all the costs...
What Is a Home Renovation Loan? Loan Types, Pros, & Cons
What Is a Home Renovation Loan? A home renovation loan is a borrowing option specifically designed to fund hom...
FHA Appraisal Checklist & Guidelines
What Is an FHA Appraisal? An FHA appraisal is a required evaluation for anyone seeking an FHA loan that determ...
How the OBBB Tax Bill Impacts Real Estate
What Is the One Big Beautiful Bill Act? The One Big Beautiful Bill Act is a comprehensive tax overhaul designe...
Debt-to-Income (DTI) Ratio Calculator
Try Our Debt-to-Income Ratio Calculator What Is a Debt-to-Income Ratio? A debt-to-income ratio measures how mu...
Cash-Out Refinance Calculator
Use Our Cash-Out Refinance Calculator Use our comprehensive cash-out refi calculator below to explore your ref...
Buyer’s Market vs Seller’s Market
What Is a Buyer’s Market? Knowing what a buyer’s market is can help you best approach your planning. A buy...
How Much of Your Income Should Go to Your Mortgage?
Why It’s Important to Set a Mortgage Budget A house you can afford today should still be affordable tomorrow...
What Is a Lender Credit?
What Is a Lender Credit? In simple terms, a lender credit is a rebate offered by your mortgage lender to reduc...
What Is a Barndominium?
What Is a Barndominium? A barndominium (or “barndo”) is a portmanteau of “barn” and &#...
Cost Segregation Study: What It Is & How It Works
What Is a Cost Segregation Study? A cost segregation study is a tax tool that breaks down the various componen...
How to Refinance a Non-QM Loan
What Is a Non-QM Loan? A non-qualified mortgage (non-QM) loan is a type of mortgage that does not meet the Con...
1031 Exchanges: Definition, Rules, & What to Know
So what is a 1031 exchange in real estate? While the concept of a 1031 exchange might sound appealing, its int...
Trump’s Housing Market in 2025: What Real Estate Buyers, Sellers & Investors Should Expect
For many potential home buyers who delayed their purchasing decisions until after the election results, unders...
Bonus Depreciation in 2025: What to Know as a Real Estate Investor
What Is Bonus Depreciation and How Does It Work? Bonus depreciation is a powerful tax incentive that allows re...
Mortgage Refinance Rates Today
What Affects Mortgage Refinance Rates? Several key factors impact the mortgage refinance rates lenders offer: ...
How Tax Policy Changes Could Impact the Housing Market in 2025 and Beyond
How Tax Policy Directly Impacts the Housing Market Tax incentives guide housing demand and affordability acros...
How Will Tariffs Affect the Housing Market?
What Are Tariffs and Why Do They Matter for Housing? Tariffs are taxes governments place on imported goods to ...
Mortgage Commitment Letter: What It Is & How to Get One
What Is a Mortgage Commitment Letter? A mortgage loan commitment letter is a formal document from a lender sta...
First-Time Home Buyer Programs Explained
What Is a First-Time Home Buyer Program? A first-time home buyer program is specialized financial assistance t...
How Does a Recession Affect the Housing Market?
What Happens to the Housing Market During a Recession? A recession sends shockwaves through the economy. Compa...
Conventional Loan Limits in 2025
If you plan to purchase or refinance a home in the coming year, understanding the conventional loan limits in ...
Current Mortgage Rates
What Affects Mortgage Rates? Mortgage rates fluctuate constantly based on a variety of economic variables and ...
Mortgage Refinance Limits
Your Refinancing Options Most owners have several refinancing pathways depending on their financial goals and ...
Pros and Cons of FHA Loans
What Is an FHA Loan? An FHA loan is a mortgage insured by the Federal Housing Administration, a division of th...
USDA Loans vs FHA Loans
What Is a USDA Loan? A USDA loan is a mortgage backed by the United States Department of Agriculture designed ...
Home Loans for a Second Home
What Qualifies as a Second Home? A second home is a property you purchase in addition to your primary residenc...
How Many Times Can You Refinance a House?
What Does It Mean to Refinance a House? Refinancing a house involves replacing your existing mortgage with a n...
Biweekly Mortgage Calculator
Biweekly Mortgage Calculator Ready to see what biweekly payments can do for you? Enter your info into the biwe...
Rent vs Buy Calculator
Rent vs Buy Calculator Use the rent or buy calculator below to estimate the costs involved with renting a home...
Mortgage Payoff Calculator
How the Mortgage Payoff Calculator Works In order to use our mortgage payoff calculator, there are a few key p...
Conditional Approval: Meaning & Next Steps
What Does Conditionally Approved Mean? Conditional approval is a key step in the mortgage process that shows y...
Condo Mortgages: What to Know
What Is a Condo? A condominium, or condo, is a type of property where individuals own their specific unit but ...
How Much House Can I Afford With a $100k Salary?
How Much Home Can I Afford With a $100k Salary? The answer largely depends on your financial situation and oth...
Property Taxes By State
How Do Property Taxes Work? Property taxes are local government fees imposed on real estate, determined by the...
Portfolio Loans Guide: What Is a Portfolio Loan & How Does It Work?
What Is a Portfolio Loan? Mortgage lenders don’t usually keep the loans they originate. Instead, mortgages a...
Reverse Mortgage Loan Limits
What Is a Reverse Mortgage? A reverse mortgage allows homeowners aged 62 and older to convert part of their ...
Home Equity Line of Credit Requirements Checklist
How Does a Home Equity Line of Credit Work? A home equity line of credit (HELOC) is a revolving line of credit...
Second Mortgage vs Home Equity Loan
Let’s break down the differences between a home equity loan vs second mortgage and also explore when a HELOC...
Pros and Cons of Home Equity Loans
How a Home Equity Loan Works A home equity loan lets you borrow money by using your home’s equity as col...
Can You Refinance a Home Equity Loan?
Can I Refinance a Home Equity Loan? Yes, you can refinance a home equity loan (HELOAN). A HELOAN is a type of ...
Home Equity Loan Requirements: What Is Needed to Qualify?
How Do Home Equity Loans and HELOCs Work? Before diving into specific requirements, it’s important to un...
Can You Refinance a Reverse Mortgage?
Why Refinance Your Reverse Mortgage? There are several compelling reasons that make a reverse mortgage refinan...
What Affects Mortgage Rates?
What determines mortgage rates is a complex interplay of market forces, economic conditions, and individual ci...
Mortgage Terms Glossary
2/1 buydown: A 2/1 buydown mortgage is a financing option that offers a temporarily reduced rate. Borrowers pa...
Cash-Out Refinance vs HELOC
Cash-Out Refinance A cash-out refinance allows you to replace your existing mortgage with a new one for a larg...
How Much Does It Cost to Refinance a Mortgage?
Why Refinance a Mortgage? Refinancing a mortgage can offer several advantages, depending on your current finan...
When Should You Refinance Your Mortgage?
Why Refinance Your Mortgage? Refinancing your mortgage can be a strategic financial decision that helps you sa...
Home Buying FAQs
General Home Buying FAQs Why buy a home? Buying a home is one of the most significant financial decisions you&...
Using a Home Equity Loan for Debt Consolidation
Using your home equity to pay off debt might sound like a big step, but with the right approach it can give yo...
What Is a Hard Money Loan? A Guide to Hard Money Lending
But what is a hard money lender? Hard money lenders offer loans based primarily on the value of the property b...
BRRRR Method: Buy, Rehab, Rent, Refinance, & Repeat
Read on to learn more about BRRRR loans and explore how this approach can open doors to lucrative opportunitie...
How Does Mortgage Interest Work?
First-time and even seasoned home buyers typically ask their mortgage lender many questions during the home bu...
How to Use a Self-Directed IRA for Real Estate?
Offering you the best of both worlds, a self-directed IRA for real estate, or SDIRA, offers the preferential t...
What Is High-Net-Worth Lending?
That is exactly what high-net-worth lending is. It includes a more personalized level of service that is often...
5-8 Unit Commercial Multifamily Financing
In this article, we’ll discuss 5-8 unit commercial multifamily financing, exploring the unique opportunities...
What Does Homeowners Insurance Cover?
This insurance serves as a safety net, offering financial protection in the face of unforeseen events that cou...
How to Finance an ADU: 5 ADU Loan Options
With the right ADU loan, you can build the kind of ADU you want and start earning passive income. In this arti...
Prepayment Penalty on a Mortgage: What to Know
One significant hurdle that borrowers may encounter is a prepayment penalty, which is a fee that’s triggered...
Contingent vs Pending: Key Differences Explained
Knowing the differences between contingent vs. pending is crucial, as it can help you understand how close a p...
Origination Fee: What Is a Mortgage Origination Fee?
So, what is an origination fee? In this article, we’ll discuss what a mortgage origination fee is, how it im...
Why Should I Buy a House?
Beyond the practical necessity of having a place to call home, purchasing real estate is often viewed as a sym...
Refinance an Investment Property: What to Know
In this article, we’ll discuss the key benefits and considerations associated with refinancing an invest...
What Is an Assumable Mortgage? Assumable Loans Explained
An assumable mortgage is when the buyer takes over, or “assumes”, the seller’s home loan. Some considera...
Types of Real Estate Investments: Residential, Commercial, and More
For the new investor, the variety of real estate investment options can be overwhelming. Residential propertie...
15 Questions to Ask a Mortgage Lender
Purchasing a home is one of the most significant financial decisions most people make in their lifetimes. With...
How Does a Home Equity Loan Work?
One of the most popular ways to access your home equity is to use a home equity loan (HELOAN). Home equity loa...
Tax Haven: 9 States With No Income Tax
Many corporations and individuals strive to maximize their money by avoiding paying local and federal taxes. A...
Short-Term Mortgages
The right mortgage program can help you save money while paying off your debt. While 30-year mortgages are the...
Is Refinancing for Home Improvements Worth It?
Your home isn’t just where you live—it’s an investment. As with any asset, the goal is to enhance its va...
Can You Refinance an Adjustable Rate Mortgage (ARM) Loan?
The adjustable-rate mortgage (ARM) is characterized by its variable interest rates that shift with market cond...
Average Home Appreciation Per Year: Understanding Appreciation in Real Estate
When considering homeownership, many people think beyond the immediate shelter and security of a home and lean...
When Is Your First Mortgage Payment Due?
Understanding your mortgage can be challenging, especially if you’re a first-time home buyer. Among the ...
Fair Market Value (FMV) Explained
When buying or selling a house, you’ll often hear the term “fair market value” or FMV. This ...
Dry Funding States: What Is Dry Funding & Where Is It Legal?
How funds are handled in real estate transactions varies based on various factors, including location. Underst...
Understanding Notice of Default: How to Respond to a Default Notice
Homeownership is a significant investment. Like all major financial commitments, you’ll have several res...
Reverse Mortgage Pros and Cons
A reverse mortgage allows homeowners over the age of 62 to leverage their home’s equity without selling ...
How to Buy a House Without a Realtor
For many, the home-buying journey is accompanied by a realtor who acts as a guide, offering expertise on marke...
Understanding Mortgage Forbearance
When unexpected events happen, homeowners might face difficulties in making regular mortgage payments. One too...
The Four Types of Non-U.S. Citizen Mortgage Loans
Navigating the world of mortgages can be complex, especially if you’re a non-U.S. citizen looking to pur...
Qualifying for a Mortgage: What You Need to Know
Homeownership is a dream for many, symbolizing stability, investment, and the creation of lasting memories. Ho...
How to Buy and Sell Houses at the Same Time
Buying and selling a house at the same time is a delicate balancing act that requires impeccable timing, strat...
What Does a Mortgage Broker Do?
Finding the right lender and loan program can be a daunting experience for home buyers. A mortgage broker who ...
Latest Posts on the Blog
No Capital Gains Tax on Home Sales Legislation: What to Know
The current tax structure creates challenges for homeowners who have seen their property values soar over rece...
Bank Statement Loan Document Checklist
The main difference between bank statement loans and conventional mortgages is how your income is verified. Tr...
What Does the Fed Rate Cut Mean for Mortgages?
What the Federal Funds Rate Is and Why It Matters When banks need short-term liquidity, they borrow from each ...