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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.
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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
What is a non-QM loan and who is it for?
A non-QM loan is a mortgage that does not follow the standard Fannie Mae, Freddie Mac, FHA, VA, or USDA rulebook, which lets it qualify borrowers those rules turn away, such as the self-employed, real estate investors, and people with a recent credit event.
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How does a profit-and-loss-only loan work for business owners?
A profit-and-loss-only loan qualifies self-employed borrowers on a P&L statement prepared by a licensed tax professional, using the net income of the business instead of tax returns, W-2s, or bank statements, on the condition that the preparer is a CPA, enrolled agent, or licensed tax preparer and not the borrower.
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Can I buy a house after a recent late payment, collection, or charge-off?
Yes, you can often buy a home soon after a late payment, a collection, or a charge-off, as long as the rest of your file is strong and you can explain the event, because none of these carry a fixed waiting period the way a bankruptcy or foreclosure does.
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Can I get approved through manual underwriting when the AUS says no?
Yes, manual underwriting is a real second path to approval when the automated system returns a refer or a denial, on the condition that you have compensating factors strong enough to offset whatever the software flagged.
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USDA Loan Requirements Explained
To qualify for a USDA loan you need to buy in a USDA-eligible area and keep total household income at or below 115% of your county median. Here is how the location rule, the 2026 income limits, credit, DTI, and costs actually work on one of the last true zero-down loans.
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How Mortgage-Backed Securities Affect Your Rate
Mortgage rates don't move in lockstep with the Federal Reserve. They move with the mortgage-backed securities (MBS) market, which is why rates can shift even on days the Fed does nothing.
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