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.

The Best Time to Buy a Home Is in August and September

Wondering when the best time to buy a home is? And the worst time? Well, thanks to data science, we no longer have to guess… Read More »The Best Time to Buy a Home Is in August and September

So you just closed on your mortgage and you’re beginning to settle into your new home (and your new loan). You’re assessing the many things… Read More »What Is Mortgage Protection Insurance? And Do You Actually Need to Buy It?

There’s a popular new loan in town that a lot of credit unions seem to be offering known as the “5/5 ARM,” which essentially replaces… Read More »The 5/5 ARM Is an Adjustable-Rate Mortgage for the Faint of Heart

With home prices (and interest rates) on the rise, it’s getting more and more difficult to qualify for a mortgage. One simple strategy you can… Read More »Pay Down Your Debts Before You Apply for a Mortgage to Increase Purchasing Power

Before you panic, take comfort in the fact that mortgage rates probably won’t do too much in 2017, just as they haven’t in recent years,… Read More »2017 Mortgage Rates Are Expected to Stay in the 4% Range

My friend asked me the other day if I’d rather have a low mortgage rate or pay a lower price for a home. I paused… Read More »Would You Rather Have a Low Mortgage Rate or Pay a Lower Price for a Home?

Well, another year has passed, and not just any year. Some have referred to 2016 as the worst year ever, though I’m a little more… Read More »2017 Mortgage and Real Estate Predictions

You may remember GMAC Bank, which was taken down by its fateful mortgage arm Residential Capital (ResCap) before eventually requiring a government bailout. It wasn’t… Read More »Ally Home Loans: Bank Now Offers Retail Mortgages to Its Customers

I typically refer to the 30-year fixed mortgage as a set-it-and-forget-it type of mortgage because it’s fixed for the entire duration of the loan. The… Read More »Is the 30-Year Fixed Mortgage Actually a Lot of Work?

Now that mortgage rates have jumped, it might be time to take a look at how you’re repaying your mortgage. Put simply, if your mortgage… Read More »Is Now the Time to Slow Down Mortgage Repayment?