Mortgages
VA Loan Closing Costs: What Veterans Should Expect to Pay
VA loan closing costs broken down: the funding fee, appraisal fee, origination cap, and the fees the VA will not…
▲Mortgages
Applying for a Mortgage
Secondary Mortgage Market: Why Your Loan Gets Sold
Most US mortgages are sold to the secondary market. Here's why, and what it means for your monthly payment.
Mortgages
Physician Mortgage Loans: How Doctor Loans Actually Work
Physician mortgage loans let doctors borrow up to $1 million with no down payment. Here's the catch and the math.
Home Buying Costs
Earthquake Insurance: The Math and the Trade-Offs
Earthquake insurance covers what standard homeowners insurance does not, but the deductibles are large. Here is the cost, coverage, and…
Existing Home Owners
What Homeowners Insurance Covers for Plumbing (and What It Does Not)
Homeowners insurance covers sudden plumbing damage but excludes gradual leaks and neglect. Here is what is covered, what is not,…
Financing Your First Home
Getting a Mortgage or Refinance Without a Job
Getting a mortgage without a job is possible but harder. See how to document income, qualify with investments, and use…
Financing Your First Home
Dry Closing on a Home: When It Happens and Which States Allow It
A dry closing lets buyers and sellers sign without funding. We explain when it happens, the nine states that allow…
Existing Home Owners
Property encumbrances: what every home buyer needs to know
Property encumbrances explained in plain English — including mortgages, liens, easements, zoning rules, and how to find them before you…
Existing Home Owners
Mortgage Reinstatement, Explained for Homeowners Behind on Payments
Mortgage reinstatement lets you bring a defaulted home loan current. Learn how it works, what it costs, and how it…
Mortgages
Nontraditional Mortgages: What They Are and When They Fit
Nontraditional mortgages offer flexibility for borrowers who cannot qualify for a conventional loan. Here is how they work and the…
Financing Your First Home
Mortgage Float-Down Options: Worth the Fee?
A mortgage float-down option lets you lower your rate if rates drop before closing. Here is how it works and…
Adjustable Mortgage
5/6 ARM mortgages: how they work and when they make sense
A 5/6 ARM offers a fixed rate for five years, then adjusts every six months. Here is how the math…