Apply securelyMortgage education
Clear answers for important mortgage decisions.
Start with plain-language guidance, then talk with a licensed mortgage professional about the programs and tradeoffs that apply to your transaction.
Topic collection
Buying and comparing mortgages
Prepare for preapproval, compare loan channels and costs, and understand common purchase programs.
Mortgage broker vs. bank vs. direct lender
Compare mortgage brokers, banks and direct lenders, including product access, pricing, communication, underwriting and the questions to ask before choosing.
Read the guide →Mortgage cost guideHow to compare mortgage rates, points and fees
Learn how to compare mortgage interest rates, discount points, lender fees, cash to close and total borrowing cost before choosing a loan.
Read the guide →New-construction mortgage guideBuilder mortgage incentives vs. an outside lender
Learn how to compare builder lender incentives with an outside mortgage option using rate, points, credits, price, fees, lock terms and long-term cost.
Read the guide →Homebuying preparation guideWhat to do before touring homes
Use this mortgage-readiness checklist to set a comfortable housing budget, estimate cash to close and prepare for preapproval before touring homes.
Read the guide →Homebuying preparation guideHow the mortgage preapproval process works
Learn what lenders review for a mortgage preapproval, which documents to prepare and how to strengthen an offer before shopping for a home.
Read the guide →Homebuyer financing guideFirst-time homebuyer loans: conventional, FHA and assistance
Compare conventional, FHA, VA, USDA and eligible down-payment-assistance loan options for first-time homebuyers.
Read the guide →Mortgage comparison guideFHA vs. conventional loans
Compare FHA and conventional mortgages, including credit, down payment, mortgage insurance, property and appraisal considerations.
Read the guide →VA mortgage guideVA home loans for eligible military borrowers
Understand VA purchase and refinance benefits, eligibility, funding fees, appraisal considerations and the steps toward a VA loan.
Read the guide →High-balance financing guideJumbo mortgage loan options
Understand jumbo mortgage qualification, including income, assets, reserves, appraisal and documentation for higher-value homes.
Read the guide →Homebuyer assistance guideHow down-payment assistance programs work
Understand how eligible down-payment and closing-cost assistance programs interact with a first mortgage, repayment and borrower requirements.
Read the guide →Mortgage closing guideHow mortgage consultants communicate through closing
Learn how a mortgage consultant coordinates milestones, document requests and status updates with borrowers and real-estate professionals through closing.
Read the guide →Topic collection
Self-employed and alternative documentation
Understand bank-statement, 1099, profit-and-loss, asset-based and other documentation paths.
How bank-statement loans work for self-employed borrowers
Learn how bank-statement mortgage programs may calculate eligible self-employed income from personal or business deposits and what lenders review.
Read the guide →Self-employed mortgage guideBank-statement loan requirements for self-employed borrowers
Review common bank-statement loan requirements, including deposit history, business ownership, expense treatment, credit, reserves and property eligibility.
Read the guide →Self-employed borrower guideMortgage documentation for self-employed borrowers
Learn what self-employed borrowers can prepare before applying, including income, bank statements, business records, assets and property information.
Read the guide →Alternative-documentation guide1099 mortgage loans for independent contractors
Learn how eligible 1099 mortgage programs may evaluate contractor income, business expenses, income history, deposits, credit, assets and property requirements.
Read the guide →Alternative-documentation guideProfit-and-loss mortgage loans for self-employed borrowers
Learn how eligible P&L mortgage programs may evaluate self-employed income using prepared profit-and-loss statements, business records, credit, assets and property requirements.
Read the guide →Asset-based mortgage guideAsset-depletion and asset-qualifier mortgages
Understand how eligible asset-depletion and asset-qualifier mortgage programs may evaluate liquid assets, reserves, income, occupancy and property requirements.
Read the guide →Specialty borrower guideITIN mortgage loan options
Understand how eligible ITIN mortgage programs may work for borrowers without a Social Security number, including documentation, credit, down payment, property and residency considerations.
Read the guide →Topic collection
Real-estate investor financing
Compare rental-property, DSCR, bridge, multifamily and specialty-property financing considerations.
DSCR loans for real-estate investors
Understand how DSCR loans evaluate eligible rental-property cash flow, what lenders review, and when an investor loan may fit.
Read the guide →Investor financing guideDSCR loan requirements investors should understand
Review common DSCR loan requirements, including property cash flow, rental-income documentation, credit, reserves, entity structure and short-term rental considerations.
Read the guide →Real-estate investor guideInvestment property loans: conventional, DSCR and bridge options
Compare real-estate investment loans, including conventional rental-property, DSCR, portfolio, bridge and short-term financing options.
Read the guide →Real-estate investor guideCash-out refinance options for investment properties
Compare cash-out refinance options for eligible investment properties, including DSCR, conventional investor, portfolio, equity, seasoning, reserves and rental-income review.
Read the guide →Short-term rental financing guideShort-term rental DSCR loans and requirements
Learn how eligible short-term rental DSCR loans may evaluate property income, market data, operating history, reserves, property rules and investor documentation.
Read the guide →Investor financing guideForeign-national mortgage loans for U.S. investment property
Learn how eligible foreign-national mortgage programs review non-U.S. investors, U.S. property, identity, assets, reserves and source of funds.
Read the guide →Investor financing guideSmall-balance multifamily loans for 5+ unit and mixed-use properties
Compare small-balance multifamily loans for 5+ unit and mixed-use properties, including first-time investor, cash-flow, lease, reserve and documentation considerations.
Read the guide →Real-estate investor guideFix-and-flip and bridge loan requirements
Learn how eligible fix-and-flip and bridge lenders may review acquisition cost, renovation budget, after-repair value, experience, liquidity, draws and exit strategy.
Read the guide →Specialty property guideCondotel and non-warrantable condo loan options
Compare condotel financing and non-warrantable condo loan options, including project review, hotel-like operations, HOA documents, occupancy and specialty lender requirements.
Read the guide →Topic collection
Home equity, refinancing and construction
Evaluate equity access, refinancing, construction, renovation and manufactured-home options.
HELOC vs. cash-out refinance
Compare a HELOC, home-equity loan and cash-out refinance, including payment structure, rate considerations and common use cases.
Read the guide →Home-equity guideHELOC and home-equity loan requirements
Understand common HELOC and home-equity loan requirements, including equity, combined loan-to-value, credit, income, lien position and property documentation.
Read the guide →Home-equity guideClosed-end second mortgages and bank-statement HELOCs
Compare closed-end second mortgages, bank-statement HELOCs and cash-out refinancing for eligible homeowners, self-employed borrowers and investors.
Read the guide →Mortgage refinance guideWhen does refinancing a mortgage make sense?
Learn how to evaluate a mortgage refinance using payment savings, closing costs, break-even timing, loan term and equity goals.
Read the guide →Credit and mortgage guideMortgage options after recent late payments
Learn how recent mortgage or other late payments may affect purchase and refinance options, documentation, waiting periods, equity and lender review.
Read the guide →Construction financing guideHow construction loans work
Learn how ground-up construction and construction-to-permanent loans handle budgets, draws, builders, appraisals and conversion to long-term financing.
Read the guide →Construction financing guideConstruction loan requirements for custom homes and renovations
Review common construction loan requirements, including plans, permits, builder approval, budgets, appraisals, draw schedules and borrower documentation.
Read the guide →Construction financing guideOne-time-close construction loans and requirements
Understand one-time-close construction-to-permanent loans, including land, plans, builder review, budget, appraisal, draws, contingencies and conversion.
Read the guide →Renovation financing guideRenovation loans and FHA 203(k) financing
Compare renovation loan options, including FHA 203(k), conventional renovation paths, construction financing and home-equity strategies for eligible improvements.
Read the guide →Property financing guideManufactured-home loan options
Review financing considerations for eligible manufactured homes, including FHA Title I, FHA-insured options, conventional paths, land, foundation, title and occupancy requirements.
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Educational information only. This content is not individualized financial, tax or legal advice, a commitment to lend, or a statement that any borrower or property will qualify. Programs and requirements can change without notice.