Featured resources

Large countryside house, depicting a spacious home in a rural setting.

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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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.

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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...

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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....

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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.

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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 ...

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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.<...

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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A woman on the phone reviewing a document, potentially related to financial or property matters.

5-minute read

What is an abstract of title in real estate?

An abstract of title shows all legal documentation associated with a property. Learn why an abstract of title is important in real estate.

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Couple going through a list, potentially related to a property checklist or planning details.

7-minute read

What is an appraisal contingency, and when should I use it?

 An appraisal contingency lets you renegotiate or walk away if a home appraises below your offer price. Learn how it works, and when waiving it may be risk...

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A man researching on a computer, likely conducting real estate or financial research online.

5-minute read

PITI: What it stands for and what it means

Your mortgage payment includes principal, interest, taxes, and insurance, also known as PITI. Learn how PITI can help you budget effectively for buying a home.

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An image showing a woman engrossed in her thoughts possibly related to some real estate investment or work.

6-minute read

Understanding the right of redemption in real estate

If you fall behind on payments and get a foreclosure notice, all hope is not lost. The right of redemption may allow you to keep your home.

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