Featured resources

Windowed Interior

5-minute read

The appraisal waiver: What home buyers should know

Appraisals are often mandatory during a real estate transaction. However, sometimes an appraisal waiver makes sense, can save you money, and expedite your sale.

Read more

A family sitting comfortably on a couch, possibly in a home setting.

5-minute read

A guide to understanding bundle of rights in real estate

A bundle of rights in real estate refers to the legal rights associated with property ownership: the rights of possession, control, enjoyment, disposition, a...

Read more

Couple smiling and eating pizza on floor of new home surrounded by unopened boxes.

8-minute read

Buydown: A way to reduce interest rates

Buydowns are methods used by buyers and sellers to lower interest rates in the early years of a new mortgage. Find out if a buydown is right for you.

Read more

Couple sitting on a couch, having a conversation or relaxing together while looking at something on the tablet.

7-minute read

Should you pay off your mortgage early?

Thinking about paying off your mortgage early? Learn the pros and cons, how to decide if it’s the right choice for you, and some strategies to make it hap...

Read more

Tan house with a double-layered front lawn, brick steps, and a wrap-around porch.

5-minute read

Escrow fees explained: What they are and how escrow costs work

Escrow fees are part of your total escrow costs and help protect both buyers and sellers. Learn what they include, why they matter, and who usually pays them.

Read more

Couple doing paperwork at dining room table.

6-minute read

Alienation clause in real estate: What it means and why it matters

An alienation clause requires a mortgage to be paid off when a home is sold or transferred. Learn how it works, common exceptions, and when it applies.

Read more

A front door with a large wooden door and potted plants, creating a warm and inviting entrance.

6-minute read

Why do lenders sell mortgages and how does it affect you?

How does selling mortgages work? Find out why lenders sell mortgages to investors, how the process works, and how it affects you.

Read more

Couple moving into new home and playing with cat on the floor surrounded by moving boxes,

6-minute read

How to add or remove someone from your mortgage without refinancing

Do you want to change who is on your mortgage? Learn how to remove someone from a mortgage without refinancing, or to add someone in specific circumstances.

Read more

Perfect neighborhood, showcasing an ideal or picturesque neighborhood setting.

5-minute read

FHLMC: Freddie Mac explained

The Federal Home Loan Mortgage Corp., better known as Freddie Mac, buys conforming conventional loans from private lenders to keep the mortgage market liquid.

Read more

Family enjoying a leisure time possibly on a picnic.

6-minute read

Float-down option: Can it lower your mortgage rate?

Want to protect yourself from higher mortgage rates? Read our article to learn all about the float-down option and how it can work with a mortgage rate lock....

Read more

Close up of man calculating figures.

4-minute read

Interest rate floor: Definition and how it works

An interest rate floor is the lowest agreed-upon rate for adjustable-rate loan products. Learn how the interest rate floor works and its impact on your loan.

Read more

Two women looking at different paint colors for their house.

5-minute read

What is a co-borrower? A beginner's guide

If you’re unable to get a mortgage on your own, adding a co-borrower may increase your chances of approval. Learn more about how adding a co-borrower can ...

Read more

A Black man's hands signing a document on a desk at home, potentially related to paperwork or contracts.

4-minute read

Deed of reconveyance: Definition, process, and FAQ

A deed of reconveyance is a document that transfers title to a property from the mortgage lender to the borrower. Learn more about how a reconveyance works.<...

Read more

African American family gardening outside their home.

8-minute read

What is a mortgage contingency?

A mortgage contingency in a purchase agreement allows you to back out of the home purchase if you can't secure financing. Learn more about how it works.

Read more

House with a brick path, highlighting architectural details and landscaping in a residential setting.

6-minute read

What is a lien and how does it work?

If you have a mortgage, you already have one lien on your property. However, there are other types of liens, and some can make it harder to sell the property.

Read more

A fashionable women sitting on a stool looking outside, possible posing for a photo.

7-minute read

What is fee simple ownership?

Fee simple ownership provides you with full, indefinite ownership of your private property and land. Learn more about how it works and which forms exist.

Read more

Couple smiling, sitting on front porch with coffee.

4-minute read

What is a warranty deed?

When you buy a home, you want to be sure that no one but you and your lender hold claim to the property. Find out how a warranty deed protects you.

Read more

Close-up of someone's hands signing paperwork being shown to them across a table.

7-minute read

How do bond rates affect mortgage rates?

Learn how bond rates affect mortgages and how the bond and mortgage markets are closely connected. See how bond and mortgage rates fluctuate and understand the ...

Read more

3 of 21

Take the first step toward the right mortgage

Apply online for expert recommendations with real interest rates and payments