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.

Should You Drive Until You Qualify for a Mortgage?

In the mortgage/real estate world there’s a saying: “Drive until you qualify.” It’s a cute way of saying if you can’t afford a home in… Read More »Should You Drive Until You Qualify for a Mortgage?

Are You a Mortgagee or Mortgagor? It’s 2025 and it’s time for some fresh mortgage Q&A! Today’s question: “What is a mortgagee?” No, it’s not… Read More »What Is a Mortgagee? Hint: It’s Not a Typo Nor Is It Misspelled

Mortgage Q&A: “What is a lender credit?” If you’ve been shopping mortgage rates, whether for a new home purchase or a refinance, you’ve likely come… Read More »Lender Credits: The Opposite of Paying Points on Your Mortgage

1. Mortgage rates will move lower and hit the 5s at some point I always start my New Year predictions post with a guess about… Read More »2025 Mortgage and Real Estate Predictions: Where Is the Market Headed Next?

While 2025 offers some hope mortgage rates will move lower, that’s still very much up in the air. There are renewed worries that inflation could… Read More »Larger Loan Amounts Require Smaller Mortgage Rate Decreases for a Refinance to Pencil

When mortgage rates fell to around 6% in August, homeowners jumped at the opportunity to refinance. In the months of September and October, more than… Read More »Homeowners Who Refinanced Recently Saw the Biggest Mortgage Rate Improvement in Decades

Often times when you apply for a mortgage, you’ll be bombarded by offers from competing banks and lenders. The reason this happens is because the… Read More »Opt-Out Before You Begin Mortgage Shopping

Mortgage rates are a pretty complex subject. They’re also commonly misunderstood and oversimplified, with many myths perpetuated by those who work in the industry. Some… Read More »The U.S. President Doesn’t Set Mortgage Rates

Well, it sounds like the new Mesa Homeowners Card got the attention of one of its competitors. Bilt is best known for its credit card… Read More »Bilt Card to Offer Point Earning on Mortgage Payments

Lately, there’s been a ton of speculation surrounding the direction of mortgage rates. I too have taken part in this quite a bit as I’ve… Read More »Mortgage Rates Tend to Fall Within 12 Weeks of a First Fed Rate Cut