Mortgage FAQs

Home Appraisals
Q: What are home appraisals?
Q: What methods are used to appraise my home?
Q: Is an appraisal needed to obtain a loan?
Q: Is an appraisal needed to determin a home's market value?
Q: Are there any other reasons to order an appraisal?
Q: How can I help the appraiser?

Credit
Q: How will my credit affect the mortgage process?
Q: How can I improve my credit?
Q: How does credit scoring work?
Q: How can I estimate my credit grade?
Q: How do I order a consumer credit report?

Down Payment
Q: What does a low down payment have to do with mortgage insurance?
Q: How do I qualify for a low down payment option?
Q: Is there any down payment assistance available?
Q: Who are our local State Housing and Finance Authorities?

FHA Loans
Q: Is there a program that helps low and moderate income families become home owners?
Q: What are FHA mortgage insurance costs?
Q: What are FHA escrow refunds?
Q: What are down payment gifts for FHA loans?
Q: What are FHA mortgage closing costs?
Q: What is a FHA Stremline Refinance Loan?
Q: What is a FHA Single Family Rehab Mortgage?
Q: What is a FHA Adjustable Rate Mortgage?
Q: What is a FHA Property Improvement Loan Insurance?
Q: What is a FHA Energy Efficient Mortgage?

Insurance
Q: What is homeowners insurance?
Q: What are 12 ways to save me money on homeowners insurance?
Q: What is Private Mortgage Insurance?
Q: What's the difference between Private Mortgage Insurance and FHA Mortgage Insurance?
Q: What is Title Insurance?
Q: What is Title Insurance Protection?
Q: What is a Flood Insurance?

Interest Rates
Q: How do I get the best interest rate?
Q: What is APR?
Q: What happens when I meet with a Lender?
Q: How do I lock in my interest rate?

Choosing Loans
Q: How do I choose the best home loan?
Q: What is a fixed rate mortgage?
Q: What is an interest rate buy down?
Q: What is a balloon mortgage?

Refinance
Q: How can I build home equity faster?
Q: How can I "cash out"?
Q: What are the benefits from trading my ARM for a Fixed Rate?
Q: What are mortgage refinance costs?
Q: How can I analyze my savings?
Q: What does "paying points for a lower rate" mean?

Second Mortgages and Home Equity Lines of Credit
Q: What is a home equity line of credit? (HELOC)
Q: What would my length be for a second mortgage?
Q: What costs are associated with a second mortgage?
Q: What are some second mortgage rates?

VA Loans
Q: How do I get a certificate of eligibility?
Q: What are the eligibility requirements?
Q: What are the financing benefits of this loan?
Q: What are some of the costs associated with the VA Loan?
Q: What are the VA office locations?