Mortgage basics, made simple.
Short, plain-English guides to the parts of a mortgage that matter most.
Application Checklist
Applying for a mortgage can seem like a daunting and scary process. To help, we've created a checklist of things for you to compile, complete and acknowledge before applying.
Read guideCredit
Credit history is a recorded file of past and current credit that is utilized to compile a credit score. Read about credit, how it works, how to improve your score and more.
Read guideClosing Costs
A closing cost is a payment required to finalize a home loan and is separate from a down-payment. Read about closing cost, their purpose, how you can pay them and more.
Read guideAppraisals
An appraisal is an estimate of a property's fair market value and is required by a lender to ensure the loan amount is not more than the property value. Read about appraisals, how they work, ownership and more.
Read guidePrivate Mortgage Insurance (PMI)
Private Mortgage Insurance or PMI is insurance that protects a lender from increased risk from borrowers putting less than 20% down on a house. Read about PMI, how it works, cost and more.
Read guideRefinance
Refinancing your mortgage is a common practice used to lower monthly payments, interest rates, lower your DTI and more. Read about refinancing, how it works, cost and more.
Read guideGlossary of Terms
See a full list of mortgage terms.
Read guideForeclosure
Foreclosure is the process of a lender seizing a property in accordance with the terms stipulated in the mortgage contract. Read about foreclosure and how to avoid it.
Read guideReady when you are.
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