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.

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

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....

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.

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 ...

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.<...

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.

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.

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.

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.

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

 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...

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.

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.

A loan estimate, or a “good faith estimate,” is a standardized document detailing your loan’s terms. Here’s how to use one before get...

A deed in lieu of foreclosure is an option that could allow you to stay in your home and protect your credit. Here’s how it works.

Mortgage forbearance lets you pause or reduce payments during financial hardship. See how it works, what it covers, and what to expect when the pause ends.

A lender may charge a prepayment penalty when you pay off your mortgage early. Find out what triggers the penalty, how much it can cost, and how to avoid it.