Mortgage Basics

Mortgage Basics

Plain-language guides to mortgages — rates, pre-approval, loan types, and what to watch out for.

35 articles

Mortgage Basics articles

How important is your credit score when buying a home? Buying a Home

How important is your credit score when buying a home?

Importance of the Credit Score: Let’s face it, the economy was looking bleak not all that long ago.

5 Millennial Mortgage Tips  Buying a Home

5 Millennial Mortgage Tips 

Is owning a home out of reach for millennials?

6 Tips and Best Practices To Safeguard Your Home Loans Buying a Home

6 Tips and Best Practices To Safeguard Your Home Loans

Owning a home isn’t just about having a roof over your head; it’s about building a sanctuary, a.

What Happens to Your Mortgage When You Sell? Buying a Home

What Happens to Your Mortgage When You Sell?

Selling your home comes with a long checklist, and somewhere near the top is figuring out what happens.

Credit Score Issues: How to Buy or Rent With Them Buying a Home

Credit Score Issues: How to Buy or Rent With Them

A common question for those searching for their next home is  “How can I buy or rent a house.

Mortgage Loan Comparison: 15-Year vs. 30-Year Buying a Home

Mortgage Loan Comparison: 15-Year vs. 30-Year

When it comes down to buying a home, there is no shortage of decisions that need to be.

Our selection of Free Credit Score Online in 2026 Buying a Home

Our selection of Free Credit Score Online in 2026

What a credit score? A credit score in the United States is a number representing the creditworthiness of.

What it Means to be ‘Pre-Approved’ for a Mortgage Buying a Home

What it Means to be ‘Pre-Approved’ for a Mortgage

Close your eyes. Take a deep breath in. Now, exhale. Visualize you are standing inside of a house.

Improve Credit Fast to Qualify for a Home Loan Buying a Home

Improve Credit Fast to Qualify for a Home Loan

Buying a home is one of the most significant financial decisions most people ever make.

Smart Strategies to Buy Land Even With Bad Credit Buying a Home

Smart Strategies to Buy Land Even With Bad Credit

Buying land can be a strategic way to invest in your future, build a home, or secure space.

How to Buy a Home Today With Zero Down Payment Buying a Home

How to Buy a Home Today With Zero Down Payment

Buying a home with no money down—often known as zero-down financing—refers to purchasing a property without making a.

Smart Ways to Buy a Second Home Without a Down Payment Buying a Home

Smart Ways to Buy a Second Home Without a Down Payment

Buying a second home is an exciting milestone—whether you’re thinking of a vacation getaway, a future retirement property.

Understanding PMI Costs and How to Minimize Them Buying a Home

Understanding PMI Costs and How to Minimize Them

For most homebuyers in the United States, purchasing a property involves more than just finding the right location.

Smart Strategies to Buy a Home with Poor Credit Buying a Home

Smart Strategies to Buy a Home with Poor Credit

Buying a home can be one of the most exciting financial moves you’ll ever make—but when you have.

Homeownership Timeline After Bankruptcy: What to Expect Buying a Home

Homeownership Timeline After Bankruptcy: What to Expect

Buying a house after filing for bankruptcy can feel like a distant goal, but it’s far from impossible.

How Can I Use 401k to Buy a House Smartly Buying a Home

How Can I Use 401k to Buy a House Smartly

Using money from a 401(k) to buy a house can sound like an appealing shortcut, especially when you’re.

How to Buy a Home With No Credit History Buying a Home

How to Buy a Home With No Credit History

Buying a home is one of the most significant financial decisions many people will make.

Smart Steps to Buy a Home After Chapter 7 Bankruptcy Buying a Home

Smart Steps to Buy a Home After Chapter 7 Bankruptcy

Buying a house after filing Chapter 7 bankruptcy can feel like an uphill climb—and in some ways, it.

Buy a Home with Bad Credit: Smarter Steps, Real Results Buying a Home

Buy a Home with Bad Credit: Smarter Steps, Real Results

Buying a house with a poor credit score is a challenge — but it’s not out of reach.

Smart Ways to Buy a Home with Zero Down Payment Buying a Home

Smart Ways to Buy a Home with Zero Down Payment

Buying a home without a down payment may sound improbable, but for many buyers, it’s an achievable path—especially.

Boost Your Mortgage Approval Odds by Fixing Credit Buying a Home

Boost Your Mortgage Approval Odds by Fixing Credit

Repairing your credit to buy a house is about more than just raising a number.

How to Buy a House Without Using Credit History Buying a Home

How to Buy a House Without Using Credit History

The idea of buying a house without credit might sound counterintuitive, especially in a market where credit scores.

Smart Ways to Buy a Home with Bad Credit and No Cash Buying a Home

Smart Ways to Buy a Home with Bad Credit and No Cash

Buying a home with no money down and bad credit sounds impossible at first glance—like a contradiction to.

Choosing the Right Home Loan to Maximize Buying Power Buying a Home

Choosing the Right Home Loan to Maximize Buying Power

Buying a home is a major life decision—and payday isn’t simply about affording the monthly mortgage.