Buying Your First Home
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What Is an Appraisal Waiver? Benefits, Risks, and Requirements
By: Tomo Mortgage Staff Reviewed by: Andrew Beck, Senior Loan Advisor | NMLS #1970720 November 12, 2026 An appraisal… Read more
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Second Home Mortgage Requirements: The 5 Things Lenders Check
By: Tomo Mortgage Staff Reviewed by: Jeffrey Kriebel, Senior Loan Advisor | NMLS #30073 November 6, 2026 To qualify… Read more
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HELOC vs. Home Equity Loan: Which Is Right for You?
By: Tomo Mortgage Staff Reviewed by: Michael Welsh, Senior Loan Advisor | NMLS #1866716 November 4, 2026 Key takeaways… Read more
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How Does a HELOC Work?
By: Tomo Mortgage Staff, Reviewed by: Aaron Shaw, Senior Loan Advisor | NMLS #182019 November 3, 2026 Key takeaways… Read more
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Gift of Equity: How It Works When Buying a Home From Family
A gift of equity lets a family member sell you their home for less than it’s worth and use… Read more
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Can You Buy a House on Disability?
Yes, you can buy a house using disability income. Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI), Supplemental Security Income (SSI), VA… Read more
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Can Green Card Holders Buy a House?
Key takeaways Yes, green card holders can buy homes in the United States. You don’t need U.S. citizenship to… Read more
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Can You Buy a House Without Your Spouse?
Yes. You can get a mortgage without your spouse as a borrower if you qualify on your own. Applying… Read more
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H-1B Visa Mortgage: What You Need to Qualify in 2026
Key takeaways Can you get a mortgage on an H-1B visa? Yes. Conventional loans are generally the clearest option.… Read more
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What Is a 2-1 Buydown? Payments, Cost, and When It’s Worth It
Key takeaways How a 2-1 buydown works A 2-1 buydown temporarily lowers the principal and interest portion of your… Read more
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Can You Get a Mortgage While on Maternity Leave? How U.S. Lenders Count Your Income
Yes. You can apply for a mortgage while pregnant or on maternity leave. Federal law protects you from being… Read more
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Prequalification vs. Preapproval: Which one do you actually need?
Key takeaways: If your agent asked for a preapproval, a prequalification isn’t the same document and won’t do the… Read more
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How to Rate Shop for a Mortgage Without Hurting Your Credit Score
Shopping multiple mortgage lenders does not multiply the hit to your credit score. Under current FICO scoring models, multiple… Read more
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How to Get a VA Loan on a Condo
Yes, you can use a VA loan to buy a condo, but the condo project itself, not just your… Read more
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Online Mortgage Lender Comparison: Rate, Fees, and Close Time (2026)
There isn’t a reliable, apples-to-apples ranking of online mortgage lenders by name on conventional, FHA, VA, and jumbo rates,… Read more
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Are Online Mortgage Lenders Cheaper on Closing Costs? Here’s What’s Actually Comparable
Most of what shows up in your total closing costs, appraisal, title insurance, taxes, escrow, is priced by third… 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… 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… 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… 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… Read more