What is mortgage insurance? Mortgage insurance, or MI, gives eligible homebuyers the flexibility of making a smaller down payment by lowering the risk to the lender originating the loan. Without mortgage insurance protection, lenders normally require a borrower to make a down payment of at least 20% of the home's …
What are the steps in the homebuying process?
What are the steps in the homebuying process? If you are one of many first-time homebuyers taking the leap this spring, you need to know the essentials before beginning the homebuying process. Steps in the homebuying process 1. Are you financially prepared to buy a home? The most important thing to know is if you …
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Top 7 options for closing cost assistance
How to beat the closing cost doldrums Are you in the final stretch of buying your first home, only to be surprised by unexpected closing costs? If you've been diligently saving for your down payment, additional expenses like closing costs can take a big bite out of your budget. Imagine you've managed to set aside …
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How to use a bridge loan to buy a home
How to use a bridge loan to buy a home A bridge loan is a financing option that allows you to use the equity of your current home as a source of funding for a new home. A bridge loan is a short-term loan used as a financial bridge between selling your current home and purchasing a new one. Bridge loans are also known …
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What are the differences between fixed-rate and adjustable-rate mortgages?
Know before you sign! Definitions The best way to understand the differences is first to understand what each loan is all about. Let's start by defining both options: A fixed-rate mortgage is a home loan with an unchanging interest rate for the entire loan duration. An adjustable-rate mortgage is also called an ARM. …
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What is a renovation home loan?
What is a renovation home loan? If you can’t find the perfect home, you can create it with a renovation home mortgage! With housing supply inventory at an all-time low and existing home prices rising, homeowners have been renovating like never before. A Fannie Mae HomeStyle Renovation mortgage can get you into a house …