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.
Griffin Funding vs United Wholesale Mortgage (UWM): Mortgage Lender Comparison
Company Overview: Griffin Funding vs United Wholesale Mortgage (UWM) Let’s look at each company in turn: who they are, whom they serve, and how they operate, so you can see how they stack up. Griffin Funding Overview Griffin Funding is a direct-to-consumer mortgage lender known for specializing in VA loans, DSCR loans for real estate...
Can I Refinance With Griffin Funding?
Borrowers can refinance with Griffin Funding to lower their rate, change their loan term, or alter their loan ...
What Is PACE Financing?
Property Assessed Clean Energy (PACE) financing has become an increasingly popular option for homeowners looki...
50-Year Mortgage Pros & Cons
As rising home prices continue to challenge buyers, the topic of introducing a 50-year mortgage has come up as...
What Is Mortgage Amortization?
Mortgage amortization is the built-in repayment plan that gradually pays off your home loan over time. Even though your monthly payment often stays the same, what that payment does changes as the years pass. Early on, you’re mostly covering interest on the loan, while later on you’re mostly paying down the balance. Knowing how amortization...
Net Operating Income: Definition, Formula, & Examples
What Is Net Operating Income (NOI)? Net operating income measures how much money your investment property gene...
Best DSCR Lenders: Griffin Funding vs Angel Oak vs Kiavi vs Visio vs Lima One vs Easy Street
What to Look for in a DSCR Lender Choosing the best DSCR lender for your unique situation means evaluating sev...
Cash on Cash Return in Real Estate: Definition, Formula, & Examples
What Is Cash on Cash Return? Cash on cash return (CoC) is a metric that measures the annual income you generat...
FHA Loan Waiting Periods for Bankruptcy, Foreclosure, & Short Sale
Financial hardships happen to many Americans, but they don’t have to end your homeownership dreams forever. The Federal Housing Administration (FHA) provides specific waiting periods after major credit events like bankruptcy, foreclosure, and short sales. These FHA waiting periods help you plan your path back to homeownership and prepare for a successful loan application. What...
5 Benefits of Homeownership
As Bill Lyons, CEO of Griffin Funding, shares: “I believe the saying ‘Homeownership is the first step on t...
4 Benefits of Investing in Real Estate
1. Appreciation: Grow Your Property Value Over Time Appreciation refers to the increase in your property’s v...
Real Estate vs Stocks: Which Is the Better Investment?
Understanding the Basics Before you can make an informed decision about investing in stocks vs. real estate, i...
Down Payment Calculator
Planning to buy a home? One of the biggest questions you’ll face is figuring out how much cash you need ...
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...
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 cr...
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 sourc...
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 to Know as a Buyer, Seller, or Investor
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...
Latest Posts on the Blog
Griffin Funding vs United Wholesale Mortgage (UWM): Mortgage Lender Comparison
Company Overview: Griffin Funding vs United Wholesale Mortgage (UWM) Let’s look at each company in turn: who...
Can I Refinance With Griffin Funding?
Borrowers can refinance with Griffin Funding to lower their rate, change their loan term, or alter their loan ...
What Is PACE Financing?
Property Assessed Clean Energy (PACE) financing has become an increasingly popular option for homeowners looki...