VA LOANS
Compare the benefits of VA loans with other mortgage types and learn how to get the most out of your VA benefits
How to Choose the Best VA Mortgage Lender for You (2026)
What Makes a VA Mortgage Lender the “Best” in 2026? The best VA lenders in 2026 are those that combine com...
VA Waiting Periods: Seasoning for Foreclosure, Short Sale, & Bankruptcy
What Is a VA Loan Seasoning Period? VA loans offer incredible benefits that make homeownership more accessible...
Griffin Funding vs Veterans United: 2026 VA Loan Comparison
Choosing a VA Loan Lender in 2026 The mortgage landscape continues to evolve, making lender selection more imp...
VA Loan Limits for 2026
Buying a house can be both an exciting and a stressful experience. For most home buyers, the process of securi...
VA Loan Income Requirements for 2026: What You Need to Know
Since 1944, the Department of Veterans Affairs has issued VA loans to help service members and veterans purcha...
The NAR Settlement and Its Impact on VA Loans: What to Know
What Is the NAR Settlement? The NAR settlement came from a series of lawsuits that challenged how real estate ...
VA Loan Affordability Calculator: How Much House Can You Afford With a VA Loan?
Factors That Impact VA Loan Affordability Understanding the key factors that influence VA loan affordab...
VA Approved Condos: Navigating the VA Condo Approval Process
As a veteran seeking to become a condo owner, it’s vital to understand the VA condo approval process. Not al...
Ultimate Guide to VA Loan Termite Inspections
The Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) presents an attractive financing option for veterans and their familie...
Your Complete Guide to VA Loans for Mobile Homes and Manufactured Properties
Veterans and active duty service members may be eligible for a special type of mortgage known as the VA loan, ...
A Guide to VA Loan Points
VA loan points are the same as loan points on a conventional mortgage, but they may not be as advantageous as ...
Do VA Loans Have PMI? What to Know About VA Loans & Mortgage Insurance
It can be tough to save up for a down payment, but VA loans offer an alternative since you may not have to p...
VA Forbearance Guidelines: What You Need to Know
Many homeowners have been facing hardship over the last few years related to the pandemic, which has caused se...
The VA Loan Pre-Approval Process
Both veterans and active military service members can qualify for a VA loan if they meet the minimum qualifica...
100 Percent Disabled Veteran Home Loan
The VA loan allows for 100% financing for eligible borrowers. Active duty service members, veterans, and survi...
VA Loan Calculator
VA loans are government-backed home loans created for military members, veterans, and military spouses with a ...
VA Restoration of Entitlement: A Guide to Restoring Your VA Loan Entitlement
VA entitlement is a benefit veterans are eligible for that allows them to get qualify for a VA loan. Entitleme...
VA Debt Consolidation Loans for Veterans: A Guide
VA debt consolidation loans are a great tool for veterans, active military members, and certain spouses to obt...
What Are VA Non-Allowable Fees & Who Pays Them?
Non-allowable fees help keep your VA loan closing costs low and can help you save money when taking out a mort...
What Is a VA ARM Loan?
The U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) backs mortgage loans taken out by eligible service members and ve...
A Guide for Military First-Time Home Buyers
For members of the U.S. military, there are programs available to assist with lowering the cost of homeownersh...
VA Loan Requirements for Sellers: What You Need to Know
Are you a veteran or service member who used a VA loan to purchase your home? If so, you may be curious about ...
Joint VA Loan: What It Is, Requirements, & How to Apply
For those who have served in the U.S. military, VA loans are a mortgage benefit that can help you get a home. ...
How Long Does It Take to Get a VA Loan?
Are you considering purchasing your dream home with your first VA loan? If so, you may be wondering how long i...
What Is a VA Statement of Service?
Eligible veterans, active duty service members, and surviving spouses may be eligible for a VA loan, with bene...
DSCR LOANS
Learn how to begin or continue building your real estate investment portfolio without the need for a hard money private loan
A 1-percentage-point mortgage rate rise can outrun 4 years of rent growth
The Federal Reserve raised interest rates on Sept. 16 for the first time since 2023. For rental property inves...
When investors borrow against a rental, they tend to borrow big
Most people who take out a home equity line of credit (HELOC) are borrowing against the house they live in, an...
Understanding DSCR loans: How cash-flow underwriting works for rental properties
The property investment market is going through a period of uncertainty, with Q1 of 2026 being the quietest pe...
DSCR Portfolio Loan: Financing Rental Properties With Rental Income
A DSCR portfolio loan lets investors buy or refinance rentals based mainly on the properties’ cash flow. Ins...
DSCR Loan vs. Hard Money Loan: Which Is Right for Investors?
Choosing the right financing option for an investment property can be the difference between a profitable purc...
DSCR Loan Closing Costs: What Investors Pay at Closing
DSCR loans qualify investment properties primarily on rental income rather than tax returns, W-2s, pay stubs, ...
Debt Yield vs. DSCR: What’s the Difference for Investors?
Lenders look at more than the purchase price and the borrower’s credit score when evaluating an investme...
DSCR Loan Down Payment Requirements
Most DSCR loans require 20% to 25% down, depending on the lender, property, and loan program. Some programs al...
DSCR Loan Requirements: What You Need to Qualify
DSCR loan requirements typically consider the property’s rental income, DSCR ratio, borrower credit score, d...
Why vacation rental investors are spending more time on market research before buying
For investors already holding properties or considering new purchases, miscalculating revenue in this environm...
America’s Self-Employment Boom is Creating a New Class of Real Estate Investors
Self-employed investors are reshaping the real estate market, fueling record-high rental property investment t...
Loan Level Price Adjustments (LLPAs): What They Are & How They Impact Rates
A loan-level price adjustment is a fee charged on conventional mortgages to account for specific risk factors ...
DSCR Mortgage Document Checklist (2026): Exactly What You Need
What Is a DSCR Mortgage Loan? A debt service coverage ratio (DSCR) loan evaluates whether a property’s r...
DSCR Refinance Calculator
DSCR Refinance Calculator What Is a DSCR Loan? A DSCR loan, or debt service coverage ratio loan, is a non-QM (...
DSCR Loan Examples & Use Cases
Who Are DSCR Loans for? Debt service coverage ratio (DSCR) loans are designed for both new and experienced rea...
How to Build a Real Estate Portfolio
Whether you’re a seasoned investor seeking expansion or a beginner eager to tap into real estate, this g...
DSCR Loan Pros and Cons: What Real Estate Investors Should Know in 2026
If you’re a real estate investor, you know how difficult it can be to secure a loan for your next project. T...
DSCR Loans for Airbnb & Short-Term Rentals: A Complete Guide
Why Use a DSCR Loan for Airbnb? DSCR loans are the leading financing option for Airbnb and short-term rental...
San Diego Real Estate Investing
Real estate investing can be a profitable and reliable way to build wealth over time, and San Diego is no exce...
DSCR Loan vs. Conventional Loan: Which Is Right for Your Next Rental?
In a DSCR loan vs. conventional loan comparison, conventional financing is not always cheaper for investment p...
Do You Need Pay Stubs to Buy a House? How To Prove Your Income
Lenders ask for a variety of documentation to ensure you qualify for a home loan, including job history, tax r...
What Is a Good Debt Service Coverage Ratio?
What is a DSCR Ratio? The debt service coverage ratio (DSCR) shows whether a property generates enough income ...
DSCR Loan Calculator
DSCR Loan Calculator This calculator provides an educational estimate, not a rate quote, loan offer, or commit...
DSCR Loans in New York
A debt service coverage ratio (DSCR) loan is a type of commercial loan that is typically used for investment p...
DSCR Formula and Calculation
“No tax returns needed! No income verification! Use your rental income to finance your investment proper...
Bank Statement Loans
Whether you’re looking to buy your first home or are already a seasoned real estate investor, these tips can help set you up for success
Bank Statement Loan Document Checklist
The main difference between bank statement loans and conventional mortgages is how your income is verified. Tr...
Bank Statement Loan Refinance Calculator
Bank Statement Loan Refinance Calculator What Is a Bank Statement Loan? A bank statement loan is a type of non...
Bank Statement Loan Examples & Use Cases
Who Are Bank Statement Loans for? A bank statement loan is designed for self-employed borrowers who have diffi...
No Doc Business Loans: What You Need to Know
While “no doc” is short for “no documentation,” there are actually no true no doc loans. Instead, they...
Bank Statement Loan Calculator
Becoming a homeowner is a big step, and you must be financially prepared. Use our bank statement loan calculat...
What Is an Asset Depletion Mortgage & Is It Right for You?
When most people think about home loans, they’re thinking of conventional loans. These loans have strict in...
A Guide to NINA Loans
Investing in real estate can help you passively build wealth over time — whether you purchase a primary resi...
Stated Income Loans: Definition, Background, & Alternatives
Applying for a mortgage is a significant moment that means you’re ready to buy a house. Unfortunately, m...
How Many Months of Bank Statement Do You Need to Qualify for a Mortgage?
When applying for a mortgage loan, your lender will ask for various documents to verify your employment and in...
No-Income Verification Mortgage: Can You Get a Mortgage Without Tax Returns?
Purchasing a home is the most significant and fulfilling transaction most people will make in their lifetimes....
Proof of Funds Letter: What It Is & Why You Might Need One
When shopping for your dream home, sellers want to know you’re someone they can trust. Unfortunately,...
Bank Statement Loans for Self-Employed Homebuyers in San Diego
As a self-employed individual in San Diego, obtaining financing to buy real estate can be challenging. However...
Retirement Mortgages: A Guide to Mortgage Loans for Seniors
What Is a Retirement Mortgage? A retirement mortgage is a home loan designed to work with non-traditional sour...
A Guide to Getting a Mortgage When You’re Self-Employed
If you are self-employed, you may have heard that getting a mortgage is a bit different. A mortgage for self-e...
What Is a Bank Statement? What It Is, Why It’s Important, & How to Get One
If you are a first-time home buyer, it’s important to explore all your options when trying to secure fun...
How to Get a Loan When You’re Self-Employed
Being self-employed comes with its benefits and drawbacks. While you may be your own boss, you’re seen a...
How Self-Employed Home Equity Loans Work
Can You Get a Home Equity Loan If You’re Self-Employed? For many self-employed individuals, there are severa...
Bank Statement Loans: Get a Mortgage as a Self-Employed First-Time Home Buyer
Bank statement loans for first-time buyers are a way to secure a mortgage using non-traditional means. When yo...
How to Get a Mortgage Loan as a Gig Worker
The gig economy has changed the way Americans work — perhaps forever. There are 57.3 million freelancers ope...
How Bank Statements Loans Can Get You Your Desired Home Mortgage
Sandra has always been very independent. From a young age, she found creative ways to earn money, from lemonad...
Mortgage
Stay up to date with the most recent mortgage trends and get useful advice to guide your home financing
Conforming mortgages just lost their majority. Non-QM is helping drive the shift
Conforming mortgages accounted for nearly three-quarters of Optimal Blue’s rate-lock volume in July 2020...
More than 1 in 5 self-employed buyers who applied to multiple lenders reported an earlier turn-down
Among primary-residence buyers who applied to multiple lenders and ultimately closed, 21.4% of respondents rep...
Home equity reaches a record $18 trillion among US mortgage holders. Here is where it runs deepest
That does not mean every borrower can access their full share of that total or would qualify to borrow against...
Is Figure Still Offering DSCR Loans? What the Kiavi Acquisition Means for Rental Investors
What changed on September 1, 2026 Three things are checkable right now. Figure closed the Kiavi acquisition. I...
Scaling multi-unit real estate: Conforming loan limits vs. cash-flow financing
The Federal Housing Finance Agency (FHFA) announced last year that conforming loan limit values (CLLs) would r...
One in ten U.S. mortgages now falls outside the Qualified Mortgage standard
Non-QM lending reached $239 billion in 2025, roughly 10% of all U.S. mortgage originations by dollar volume, a...
What Is a Homestead Exemption?
Most homeowners pay more property taxes than they have to simply because they never filed a homestead exemptio...
Top Secondary Cities for Real Estate Investors 2026
Major metros like New York, Los Angeles, and San Francisco still dominate the headlines, but savvy real estate...
Grantor vs Grantee in Real Estate: What’s the Difference?
If you’ve ever reviewed a property deed or mortgage document, you’ve probably come across the term...
How to Finance a Home Renovation
Whether you’re upgrading a dated kitchen, adding square footage, or tackling overdue repairs, figuring o...
Is Being a Landlord Still Worth It?
Owning rental property has long been one of the most reliable paths to building real wealth in America. But be...
Landlord-Friendly States Ranked for 2026: A Scored Methodology
Search for landlord-friendly states, and you will find a dozen rankings that disagree with each other, none of...
Best Bank Statement Loan Lenders 2026: Griffin Funding vs Farm Bureau Bank vs CrossCountry Mortgage vs North American Savings Bank vs Angel Oak vs Newfi
What to Look for in a Bank Statement Loan Lender Choosing the best bank statement loan lender for your situati...
Housing Market Data Tool: Access Local Housing Market Insights
Housing Market Insights Tool Access comprehensive local housing market data for any address or neighborhood in...
Do HELOCs Have Closing Costs?
Yes, most lenders charge closing costs on a home equity line of credit, though they’re typically lower than ...
Does a HELOC Require an Appraisal?
Yes. In most cases, a lender will require an appraisal for a home equity line of credit to determine your home...
Amortization Calculator
How well do you understand your mortgage loan? If you’re like most people, you pay your mortgage loan monthl...
DSCR Loan for an LLC: Requirements, Documents, and How to Close
Do You Need an LLC to Get a DSCR Loan? Usually, no. DSCR loans are business-purpose loans for investment prope...
Mid-Term Rentals: Guide for Real Estate Investors
Mid-term rentals are furnished properties leased for 30 days to 12 months, targeting traveling professionals, ...
What Is Fannie Mae HomePath?
Fannie Mae plays an important role in the housing market by purchasing and guaranteeing mortgages from lenders...
What Is a Subject-To Mortgage?
A subject-to mortgage, often called “buying subject to the existing mortgage” or “sub to,...
How to Get Rid of PMI
What Is PMI and Why Do Lenders Require It? Private mortgage insurance is a monthly fee added to your mortgage ...
HELOC Draw vs Repayment Period
A home equity line of credit is a revolving credit line secured by your home that allows you to borrow money a...
What Is a Non-Traditional Mortgage and When Should I Use One?
What Is a Non-Traditional Mortgage? A non-traditional mortgage, also known as a non-QM loan, is a home loan th...
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...
Latest Posts on the Blog
A 1-percentage-point mortgage rate rise can outrun 4 years of rent growth
The Federal Reserve raised interest rates on Sept. 16 for the first time since 2023. For rental property inves...
Conforming mortgages just lost their majority. Non-QM is helping drive the shift
Conforming mortgages accounted for nearly three-quarters of Optimal Blue’s rate-lock volume in July 2020...
More than 1 in 5 self-employed buyers who applied to multiple lenders reported an earlier turn-down
Among primary-residence buyers who applied to multiple lenders and ultimately closed, 21.4% of respondents rep...