Mortgage Tips

This was the first category I created when this website was created in 2006.

And it’s really why I launched the site to begin with. To educate prospective home buyers and existing homeowners.

Simple guides and practical mortgage tips can help you better understand and prepare for the home loan process.

Same goes for answering mortgage questions and brushing up on the latest mortgage lingo.

Sometimes home buyers focus exclusively on the real estate piece while ignoring the home loan part.

This can result in some bad decisions when it comes to getting a mortgage. Or simply overpaying because of missteps (or a lack of shopping around!).

Learn how to get a mortgage, refinance an existing loan, and discover the many different loans programs available today.

You’re not financing a TV, or a car for that matter. It’s a big purchase and it deserves a lot more time and attention.

Arm yourself with knowledge early on and you’ll likely enjoy a better outcome.

Create a Phone Number Just for Mortgage Shopping

I think just about everyone can agree that shopping for a mortgage isn’t fun. This would explain why few people actually shop around for a… Read More »Create a Phone Number Just for Mortgage Shopping

Here’s yet another post on the rent vs. buy argument, one that never seems to go away. I’ve written extensively on the pros and cons,… Read More »Is It Actually a Good Thing That a Home Is an Illiquid Asset?

I had a nice little Sunday yesterday, strolling around a beach city south of Los Angeles with some friends of mine who were visiting from… Read More »Borrowers with Mortgage Rates of 4.25% and Below Less Likely to Sell Their Homes

We all know home prices are getting more expensive every day, and as a result, you may be looking for 100% mortgage financing when it… Read More »Looking for 100% Mortgage Financing? Check Your Local Credit Union

A new study from credit bureau TransUnion revealed that consumers still don’t get it when it comes to smart credit habits. Conventional wisdom tells us… Read More »The Surprising Mistake a Lot of People Make Before Refinancing

Here’s yet another anecdote involving some buddies who were arguing about their mortgages. This seems to be a trend lately. In short, both guys put… Read More »If You Put Down Less Than 20%, You’re Paying Mortgage Insurance

So I was chatting with a couple buddies the other night about their mortgages, as I do sometimes, and the two of them were engaging… Read More »Know Which Type of Mortgage You Want Before Speaking to Any Lenders

Most people seem to be obsessed with paying off their mortgage early, whether it’s good for them or not. Clearly it’s a psychological victory to… Read More »Paying Your Mortgage Faster So You Can Actually Sell Your Home

The Urban Institute released its monthly chartbook today, which provides tons of data about the mortgage market. As I scanned through it, I came across… Read More »Can We Use These Charts to Predict the Next Housing Crisis?

Recently, I wrote about how an adjustable-rate mortgage can make a lot of sense if you’re not planning on staying in your home (or condo)… Read More »Get a Fixed Mortgage If You’re Worried You Won’t Be Able to Get Another One