Learning Center
Learn mortgages the plain-English way
Straight answers about mortgages, from a licensed loan officer who explains the why behind every number. Browse by topic below — home buying, loan types, refinancing, home equity, rates, and the fundamentals — or scroll for the latest guides and articles.
Browse by topic
Home Buying
Pre-approval, down payment help, offers, and closing — the full buyer journey.
Explore Home BuyingLoan Types
FHA, VA, USDA, conventional, jumbo, DSCR and more — compared plainly.
Explore Loan TypesRefinancing
When to refinance, closing-cost math, and traps to avoid.
Explore RefinancingHome Equity
Home equity loans and HELOCs — how to put your equity to work.
Explore Home EquityRates & Market
What really drives rates, plus timely market news.
Explore Rates & MarketMortgage Basics
APR, taxes, escrow, title, and the tools that tie it together.
Explore Mortgage BasicsLatest guides & articles
1099-Only and P&L-Only Mortgages: Two Simpler Paths for Self-Employed Buyers
A 1099-only mortgage qualifies you from your 1099 forms and a P&L-only mortgage qualifies you from a profit-and-loss statement, two simpler alternatives to the full bank statement process.
Read more
FHA Loans Plus a Down Payment Grant: How Little You Can Actually Bring to Closing
Combining an FHA loan with a down payment assistance grant can reduce what you bring to closing to as little as 0% to 1% of the purchase price, nationwide, not just in select states.
Read more
Types of Refinancing Explained: Rate-and-Term, Cash-Out, and Streamline
There are three main types of mortgage refinancing: rate-and-term, cash-out, and streamline. Each solves a different problem, and picking the wrong one is the most common refinancing mistake.
Read more
Home equity loan or cash-out refinance: which one should I use?
If your current mortgage rate is lower than today's rates, a home equity loan usually costs less because it leaves your first mortgage untouched. Here is the full side-by-side with the math.
Read more
How much of my home equity can I borrow?
Most lenders let you borrow up to about 80 to 85 percent of your home's value across all loans combined, then subtract what you still owe on your mortgage.
Read more
What credit score do I need for a home equity loan?
Most lenders want a credit score of at least 620 for a home equity loan, and many prefer 680 or higher for the best pricing.
Read moreReady to make your move?
Get a fast, no-pressure quote and find out exactly what you qualify for.
Prefer to talk? Call (866) 617-7381