Understanding how long it takes to refinance your house can help you plan and prepare. Explore how the process works.

A fully amortized loan isn’t as confusing as it may sound. Read about how fully amortized loans work, what they’re for and what the payments consist of.

A 40-year loan term can bring down your monthly payment in exchange for paying more overall interest and some riskier features. Learn more about 40-year loans.

Are you interested in becoming a homeowner but have a single income? Read our guide to learn how to afford a home on a single income and explore your options.

Not sure which documents to expect at closing? Learn more about the documents you will need to sign, approve and review to close on a real estate deal.

Writing a letter to a home seller can help when making an offer on a home. Learn which details can make your offer appealing, and how it can benefit you.

How often can you refinance your mortgage? Technically, you can refinance as many times as you want. Learn the pros and cons of refinancing more than once.

Before you buy a lake house, you should understand the financial implications of owning one. Here’s a comprehensive list of pros and cons to help you.

Private mortgage insurance can be a tricky subject, so we broke down what PMI is, how much it costs, and how to tell whether it's the right option for you.

A mortgage is a type of secured debt, meaning it’s backed by your home as collateral. Learn how secured loans differ from unsecured ones.

The day of the month you close affects when your first payment is due, how much interest you pay at closing, and your taxes. Learn about the best time to close.

A kick-out clause allows sellers who’ve accepted an offer to continue showing their home. Learn about other features of a kick-out clause in real estate.

Becoming a homeowner is still possible with a low income. See what low-income house buying programs and strategies can help when applying for a mortgage.

Your loan-to-value ratio measures your loan amount against the value of the home you’re buying. Figure out how your LTV ratio is calculated.

A jumbo loan is a mortgage that exceeds current conforming mortgage limits set by the Federal Housing Finance Agency. Learn more about how jumbo loans work.

Starting your home buying journey with a salary of $100,000 a year? Find out your mortgage options and how much house you can afford with $100K.

The conforming loan limit in most areas in 2025 is $806,500 for one unit. A home above this limit may require a jumbo loan. Learn about jumbo loan limits.

A down payment is the percentage of a home's purchase price you pay up front. Learn how down payments work and how much you should put down on a house.