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 home appraisal and how much does it really cost?
So you’re about to buy a house and you’ve heard about this thing called an appraisal. What’s it all about, and how much is this going… Read more
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Do I need to worry about a home inspection?
A home inspection is like getting a checkup for the house you’re about to buy. A licensed inspector goes through all the critical stuff—foundation, roof, plumbing,… Read more
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Is an FHA loan a good idea?
For some people, an FHA loan can be a golden ticket to home ownership. It’s backed by the Federal Housing Administration (ie, the FHA) and it’s… Read more
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How do interest rates work? Understanding how mortgage companies make money
You’re paying to borrow. When you take out a mortgage, you’re borrowing a large sum from the bank or lender. The interest rate is essentially their… Read more
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Does finding the lowest APR guarantee the best loan?
Lenders are going to show you multiple numbers when they give you a quote—the interest rate, the APR, the points (or costs for points), and fees.… Read more
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Do I need a realtor to buy a house? Pros and cons of DIY home buying
Long story short, no, you do not need a realtor to buy a home. However, when looking at the pros and cons of having a realtor,… Read more
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Are closing costs a good way to pick a lender?
Maybe. Be careful about what you’re comparing. While it’s easy to focus on the total cash needed to close, it’s not the most reliable way to… Read more
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What’s the average age of a first-time homebuyer?
You might be asking: if I don’t own a home by the time I’m 30 am I totally failing at life? We feel you, and no. … Read more
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What Is a Promissory Note in Real Estate? (And How It Differs From a Mortgage)
A promissory note is your legal promise to repay the loan — it’s separate from the mortgage, which secures the lender’s interest in the property. Here’s… Read more
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What is a restrictive covenant in real estate jargon?
A restrictive covenant is like a set of rules that dictate what you can and can’t do with your property. It’s baked right into your property… Read more
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Is it good to buy in a HOA?
A HOA, or Homeowners Association, is essentially the neighborhood’s gatekeeper—and it can be a mixed bag. Roughly ⅓ of the U.S. lives in an HOA, and… Read more
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What’s better—a fixed rate or adjustable-rate mortgage (also known as an ARM)?
A fixed rate mortgage locks in your interest rate for the entire loan term, so your interest rate stays the same no matter what happens in… Read more