In the past, getting a home loan was simple. You’d visit your local bank, and if they had money to lend and you were a good risk, they'd fund the loan themselves. Today, the process is much more complex—and much more connected to Wall Street.Most home loans today are funded through secondary market...

You've likely seen ads offering to save you thousands on your mortgage and cut years off your loan term—no refinancing, no credit check, and no appraisal required. These ads promote biweekly mortgage plans, and while the savings claims are mostly true, there's a simpler, better option: you can do it...

An alternative to a non-conforming loan is a land contract, which is allowed in some states. This is an agreement where the buyer makes regular payments directly to the seller, and the property title is only transferred once the buyer fulfills all the contract obligations. Land contracts can be help...

There’s really no such thing as a “no-cost” mortgage loan. Every loan comes with costs—whether it’s an appraisal, escrow, title insurance, document preparation, processing, flood certification, recording, notary, tax service, or wire fees. The term “no-cost” simply means the lender is covering these...

What if you could get a mortgage that allowed you to skip part of your payment, or pay only the interest, or qualify with minimal documentation? What if your starting mortgage rate was as low as 1.95%, or about 1% lower than a standard 30-year fixed rate, with zero points? The COFI Adjustable Rate M...

Ask any loan officer what kind of lender is best, and you’ll likely hear a glowing review of whichever type of institution they currently work for. If you meet them again years later working at a different company, you’ll probably hear a completely different answer. REALTORS® also tend to have shift...