Tips, trends and insights for homebuyers like you.
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Buying a House With Student Loan Debt: What Lenders Actually Count
Key takeaways Mortgage lenders don’t always count what you actually pay on your student loans. They count a qualifying payment, set by your loan program and by whether your credit report shows a real payment, a $0 payment, or deferment. That number decides how much of your income is left for a mortgage. It also… Read more
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2025 mortgage interest rate forecast
See how Tomo Mortgage’s head of Capital Markets breaks down the latest mortgage rate forecasts, predictions, and outlooks for 2025. Read more
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What Is a Mortgage Appraisal and How Does It Work With an Online Lender?
A mortgage appraisal is an independent, licensed appraiser’s estimate of a home’s market value. Your lender requires it to confirm the loan amount is actually supported… Read more
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What Is a VA Loan Certificate of Eligibility (COE)?
A VA Certificate of Eligibility (COE) is the document that proves to a lender you meet the VA’s service requirements for a VA-backed loan. It confirms… Read more
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VA Loan vs. FHA Loan: Which Is Better For Veterans?
For eligible veterans, a VA loan is almost always the better default: $0 down, no monthly mortgage insurance, and typically the lowest rate available. FHA can… Read more
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Can I Get a Mortgage Online If I’m Self-Employed?
Yes. Self-employed borrowers can qualify for and close a mortgage entirely online, the same as W-2 employees. What changes is the documentation, tax returns and income… Read more
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How Many Veterans Use VA Loan Benefits?
The Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) guaranteed 528,340 home loans in fiscal year 2025, a 26.9% increase over fiscal year 2024’s 416,376, according to VA’s 2025… Read more
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How to Refinance With a VA IRRRL: Step-by-Step Guide
Refinancing with a VA Interest Rate Reduction Refinance Loan (IRRRL) takes six steps: confirm eligibility, pass the net tangible benefit test, verify your payment history, shop… Read more
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Nonbank Lenders Originate Two-Thirds of All U.S. Mortgages. Here’s Why
Nonbank lenders, mortgage companies that are not banks or credit unions, originated 64.2% of home purchase loans in the United States in 2025, against 30.1% for… Read more
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Mortgage Rate Lock: When to Lock, How Long, and Float-Down Options
A mortgage rate lock is a lender commitment to hold your quoted interest rate for a defined period, regardless of what the market does before closing.… Read more
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Does Tomo Mortgage Offer VA Loans?
Tomo Mortgage offers VA purchase loans and VA refinancing for veterans, active-duty service members, and eligible surviving spouses, available in 40 states and Washington, D.C. (confirm… Read more
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VA Funding Fee 2026: How Much It Costs and Who Is Exempt
The VA funding fee is 2.15% of the loan amount for a first-time VA loan with less than 5% down, or $8,600 on a $400,000 loan.… Read more
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How Much Does a $0 Origination Fee Save You?
A $0 origination fee saves you the full amount another lender would otherwise charge, typically 0.5% to 1% of your loan amount. On a $400,000 loan,… Read more
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Is E-Closing Legal in My State?
E-closing your conventional, FHA, VA, or jumbo loan with a remote online notarization (RON) is legal in most states as of 2026. In states without a… Read more