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.

BBVA Compass Launches No Down Payment Mortgage

Sure, Fannie and Freddie now allow LTVs as high as 97%, and the FHA only requires 3.5% down, but why stop there? Today, BBVA Compass… Read More »BBVA Compass Launches No Down Payment Mortgage

Looking to calculate a mortgage payment on the fly? Instead of searching for a mortgage calculator using Google, you can now do some calculations simply… Read More »Google Launches Mortgage Calculator Within Search Results

Here we go again. It’s that time of the year when I make 10 predictions for the mortgage industry and real estate market for the… Read More »10 Predictions for Mortgage and Real Estate in 2015

It’s that time of the year again…namely the end of the year, when year-end tax tips flood the web and our inboxes. With regard to… Read More »Boost Your Tax Deduction by Making Your January Mortgage Payment This Year

I came across a promotion today from a home builder out in Arizona. The press release mentions that the company is offering the “largest incentive… Read More »Watch Out for the Old ‘No Mortgage Payments for a Year’ Gimmick

I came across an interesting study that explores real estate and mortgage preferences based on personality type (thanks WSJ). Whether you realize it or not,… Read More »Your Personality Determines If You’ll Buy or Rent and What Mortgage You’ll Get

If you’ve ever taken out an FHA loan, you may be eligible for a refund on that costly upfront mortgage insurance premium. Sure, the FHA… Read More »HUD Has $412 Million in Uncollected FHA Mortgage Insurance Refunds

Trulia releases a quarterly Rent Versus Buy report to determine if it makes more sense to buy a home or continue renting based on current… Read More »The Rent vs. Buy Argument Depends on Mortgage Type Too

In case you weren’t aware, people tend to be obsessed with the idea of paying off their mortgages. For many, it’s a major lifelong goal… Read More »Using a Home Equity Loan to Pay Off Your First Mortgage

Most individuals shopping for a home will determine how much they can afford before beginning a property search. It’s the sensible thing to do. This… Read More »What You Can Afford Isn’t Necessarily What You Should Spend on a Home