A blog for your new home journey
Category: Financing & insuring
Affording a home is all in the numbers! Get mortgage information, plus discover everything you need to think about to get your new home insured the right way.
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Home Buying Infographic: The Mortgage Process
Read moreWhether you’re a first-time home buyer or it’s just been a few years since you last looked into home financing, this infographic is for you! It gives a very simple overview of the mortgage process from start to finish and, if you want to dive deeper, a link to get our Mortgage Quick-reference Guide. Knowing what […]
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Online Tools to Improve Credit
Read moreAn acceptable credit score is one of the keys to getting your home loan application approved. Mortgage lenders have historically used FICO® scores—derived from data collected by one or more of the three major credit bureaus—as a major factor in determining whether you qualify for a mortgage. Different mortgage lenders can approve or deny loans based […]
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How to Use a Mortgage Calculator
Read moreMortgage calculators are an underappreciated example of how the web has made home shopping easier, smarter and flashier. OK, maybe not flashier, but definitely easier and smarter, as they can provide quick insights into whether you’re able to afford a mortgage, and if so, what you’ll want or need for a down payment, monthly payment, […]
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Who can qualify for a VA loan?
Read moreZero money down.* Limited closing costs. No monthly mortgage insurance premiums. Borrower’s choice of a fixed-rate or adjustable-rate mortgage. Sounds nice, right? They’re all potential perks of financing your home with a VA loan, but you have to belong to a very particular subset of homebuyers in order to qualify for one. To assess your […]
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How to Save Money for a Down Payment: 7 Strategies
Read moreSaving for a down payment on a new home might feel daunting, but small daily changes can make a big difference when it comes to setting aside money for a large purchase. We rounded up seven strategies that make it simple to streamline your spending and save up for your dream home—and it’s a lot […]
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First Steps for Buying a Home After Foreclosure
Read moreIt’s already been a decade since the start of the Great Recession, and many former homeowners sidelined by foreclosure are ready to jump back in the market. If you’re one of them, first of all, hooray! Secondly, we’ve listed a few good first steps to help you navigate the process of buying after foreclosure. We […]
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Deciding on a Conventional vs. FHA Home Loan
Read moreFederal Housing Administration (FHA) and conventional (or conforming) home loans have long been the most common mortgage options on the market. But which one is right for you? First, it’s important to clear up a major misconception that an FHA home loan is only for first-time homebuyers. While that’s a myth, it is true is […]
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What Down Payment is Needed for an FHA Loan?
Read moreInsured by the Federal Housing Administration (FHA), FHA loans are an attractive option for first-time and repeat homebuyers, as well as those interested in refinancing their current home loan. Many factors contribute to the popularity of FHA loans—chief among them being a lower down payment requirement (as low as just 3.5%), compared to as much […]
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When to Refinance a Home Loan
Read moreWith interest rates at attractive lows, it might seem like a great time to refinance your mortgage loan—a process that involves paying off your current home loan with a new loan, resulting in new principal and interest payments (the P and the I in PITI) that could save you money, among other things. But how […]
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What Can a Loan Officer Do for You?
Read moreLoan officers work to help prospective borrowers obtain home loans (a.k.a. mortgages). But there’s more to the position than meets the eye. A lender’s loan officers assist borrowers through the mortgage lending process. They are skilled at evaluating a homebuyer’s creditworthiness (the degree to which he or she is considered likely to repay a loan), […]
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New Home Loan Limits For 2017
Read moreWondering about financing a new home in 2017? Good news! Home loan limits have increased in the new year for several areas across the country. That means more homes may qualify for a greater variety of loans—potentially offering you more ways to finance your dream home! While not all areas experienced increases, it’s certainly worth checking […]
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Should I Lock in My Interest Rate?
Read moreShould I lock in my interest rate today? Many people ask their loan officers, “When should I lock in my rate?” There’s no easy answer. It’s a little like asking when you should sell your stock or which mutual fund will perform better. It all depends on the market and your individual situation. Are you […]
