What is a conforming loan? A conforming loan is a mortgage that meets lending rules set by Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac and is within loan limits set by the…

3% Down payment mortgage options Today’s home buyers have a wide variety of low- and no-down payment mortgage options. If you have good credit, a 3% down payment conventional loan…

What is an HFA loan? HFA stands for “Housing Finance Agency” or “Housing Finance Authority.” This refers to each state’s agency that provides advice — and sometimes financial assistance —…

First-time home buyer down payments start at 3% Certain home loan programs allow 0% down. But these have special requirements. So realistically, most first-time home buyers need at least 3%…

What are the best first-time home buyer loans? There’s a wide range of first-time home buyer loans on the market, from zero-down VA and USDA mortgages all the way up…

What is a HomeReady loan? Several loan programs can help home buyers with a lower income and/or low down payment. One such program is the Fannie Mae HomeReady mortgage. You…

Conventional loan vs. FHA: What’s better? There’s no one–size–fits–all mortgage. When deciding between conventional loans vs. FHA loans, you’ll have to compare costs and benefits based on your personal finances.…

Guide to conventional loans When most people think of a mortgage, they’re thinking of a conventional loan. Conventional loans are the closest you can get to a ‘standard’ mortgage. There…

Can you get a grant to buy a home? Grants to buy a house? That sounds too good to be true. What’s the catch? Actually, there isn’t one. Many people…

Buying your first home starts here Buying a house is a lot to wrap your head around, especially as a first–time home buyer. But if you know what to expect,…