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Anyone who has ever applied for a mortgage has probably heard the term “mortgage points” or “discount points.”Perhaps you wondered exactly what these points were, and whether they are worth the cost to purchase them. We’ll review the basics on mortgage points, and when it makes sense to consider them in this two-part blog post. […]

One of the most common questions that comes up as people start looking to purchase a new home is, “How much down payment do I need?” The actual amount that is required will depend on the type of loan you are planning to get, and your own personal financial situation. Understanding Down Payments A down […]

Everyone knows that buying a home is a significant commitment and investment, and preparing to purchase a home requires some financial discipline and smart decisions to get approved for a loan at the lowest possible interest rate. Some money decisions that you may be tempted to make right before you close on your home could […]

If you are thinking about buying a home in the near future, you’re probably paying really close attention to what happens with mortgage interest rates. In recent months they have gone down, which is great for homebuyers who are able to get a lower rate, since even a small difference in your interest rate can […]

Before you can get a loan for your mortgage, your request for the loan has to go through underwriting. The underwriting process is fairly straightforward—your lender takes the information you provide about your income, assets, property, and debts to determine whether they should give you a loan. You won’t be involved in the process except […]

Refinancing may be a better option than forbearance to save money. You may have heard of the CARES Act that has been making headlines offering relief to those affected by COVID-19, and you may also be wondering how this applies to your mortgage. This law allows borrowers, with federally backed mortgages, to request a payment […]

When you are thinking about getting a home loan, one of the first things most borrowers do is look at the current mortgage interest rates. These rates play a significant role in what your payment will be, which can affect how much money you can borrow and what home you can buy. It is a […]

As more and more of our lives are disrupted by local, state, and federal policies around mortgages, there are several questions that many people have about how these policies and the COVID-19 virus are affecting mortgages. Here are four questions that many people have around mortgage loan rates, new mortgage loans, refinancing, and home values. […]

There is a lot of information out there about the mortgage loan process itself—what documents you need, how long each step takes, and more—but not as much information about the important steps you should be taking several months, and even years, before you go to apply for that mortgage. Here are some important things that […]

There is a lot of uncertainty right now in our healthcare system and society as we try to stay on top of a global pandemic that has changed everything. At the same time that our government leaders are urging (or requiring) people to stay home to prevent the spread of disease, near-record-low mortgage rates have […]