Learn → Home Buying
Home Buying
Buying a home is the biggest financial move most people ever make, and the process rewards preparation. This hub walks you through getting pre-approved, understanding down payment assistance, making a strong offer, and everything that happens on the way to closing day. Start here if you are planning your first purchase or your next one.
All Home Buying articles & guides
How to Afford a $750k House
To afford a $750,000 home you generally need about $119,000 to $165,000 in household income, plus a down payment strategy that keeps your loan on the right side of the conforming limit.
Read more
How to Afford a Million Dollar House
To comfortably afford a $1 million home you generally need household income between roughly $155,000 and $220,000, a down payment of $100,000 to $200,000, and enough reserves for closing costs and a few months of payments.
Read more
Pre-Qualification vs Pre-Approval: What's the Difference?
Pre-qualification is a quick, informal estimate based on information you report yourself. Pre-approval is a verified decision based on the lender pulling your credit and reviewing your actual documents. Sellers take pre-approval far more seriously, and it's the one that matters when you're ready to make an offer.
Read more
Gift Funds: The Rules for Down Payment Gifts
A family member can give you money for your down payment, and on most loan types the entire down payment can be a gift. The key rules: it has to be a true gift with no repayment expected, it must come from an acceptable source, and it has to be documented with a gift letter and a clear paper trail.
Read moreSeller Concessions: How Much Can the Seller Pay?
A seller concession is when the seller agrees to pay part of your closing costs as a term of the sale. It's a legitimate, common way to reduce your cash to close, and depending on the loan type and your down payment, a seller can contribute anywhere from 2% to 9% of the purchase price toward your costs.
Read more
How to Buy a House With Bad Credit
You can buy a house with bad credit, it just takes the right loan program and some strategy. FHA loans accept scores as low as 500, and there are concrete steps to strengthen your application even when your credit isn't where you'd like it.
Read moreReady to start your home search?
Get a fast, no-pressure quote and find out exactly what you qualify for.
Prefer to talk? Call (866) 617-7381