One of the major barriers to homeownership for first-time homebuyers is their limited credit background. It takes time to establish a full credit history, and only certain types of regular payments, like auto loans, student loans, credit card payments mak
If you live in one of our nation’s pricier areas or if you want to buy a home significantly above the median price for your area, you’ll probably need a jumbo loan. If you’re not familiar with these types of mortgages, here are some of the frequently aske
If you have recently bought a home, you may have heard your closing agent mention something about a prepayment penalty. This idea might have seemed strange. Why would there be a penalty for paying off your loan ahead of schedule? Here’s what you need to k
Once you find the perfect house and your offer is accepted, it is time to turn your attention to lining up the financing. If you’ve never applied for a mortgage loan before, or if it’s been many years since your last home purchase, the process of collecti
One of the new terms you’ll hear as a first-time home buyer is “escrow.” If you’re unfamiliar with this word, here’s everything you need to know about escrow accounts and how they work. A Definition An escrow account, also known as an impounds account, is
Buying a home for the first time is an adventure; it is exciting, but it can also be challenging to understand all the terms and procedures. If you are getting started on your home buying journey, here are some of the most frequently asked questions that