Featured resources

4-minute read
How to find liens on a property: A home buyer's guide
It's essential to find and clear any liens on a property you plan to buy. Here’s how to look for, find, and resolve liens on a property before you buy it.
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4-minute read
What is a dry closing in real estate?
In dry-funding states, everything except the payment can be completed at closing. Learn about how a dry closing works, what the risks are, and where it's legal.
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6-minute read
Tenancy in common (TIC): What is it and how does it work?
Tenancy in common is when two or more people share ownership of a property. Learn more about tenants in common and how they compare to other tenancy types.
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6-minute read
Escrow refund: What is it and when does it occur?
An escrow refund is excess money returned by your lender from your mortgage escrow account. Here’s how it works.
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4-minute read
Mortgage par rates: What are they and how do they work?
Your mortgage par rate is essentially the baseline rate offered to you by a lender. You may be able to bring this rate down through discount points and more.
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4-minute read
How to remove a name from a mortgage
If you’re going through a divorce or you purchased a home with a fellow investor, there may come a time when you need to remove a name from a mortgage. We...
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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.
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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...
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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.
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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...
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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....
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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.
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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 ...
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