Tips, trends and insights for homebuyers like you.
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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 mortgage-related hard inquiries made within a 45-day window count as a single inquiry, not one penalty per lender. Some older FICO versions still in use by certain lenders shrink that to 14 days, and VantageScore uses… 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 are real estate taxes, and why do I have to pay them?
Real estate taxes (also called property taxes) are what help keep local services—like schools, roads, and public safety—up and running. They aren’t optional; it’s how your… Read more
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What is a “lock” in the mortgage world?
Locking in a mortgage rate is a strategic move that can secure a set interest rate for a specific period—helping to protect you from potential rate… Read more
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Can You Switch Mortgage Lenders Before Closing? Yes — Here’s How
You can switch mortgage lenders at almost any point before closing, and sometimes it makes financial sense to do it. Here’s what to know about timing,… Read more
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Understanding guaranteed loans: benefits, types, and requirements
So, what exactly is a guaranteed loan? At its core, a guaranteed loan is a mortgage backed by a government agency like the FHA (Federal Housing… Read more
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What to expect when you hear the term loan servicing
So, you’re diving into the world of homebuying, and you keep hearing the term “loan servicing.” What’s the deal with that? What is loan servicing anyway?… Read more
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How to get a fair deal on a mortgage—what lenders try to hide in a Loan Estimate
Right now, about 9 in 10 home buyers in America pay too much for their mortgage. Without knowing it, people pay steep fees and higher rates… Read more
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Who Is the Grantor on a Mortgage?
The grantor is the person transferring ownership of the property — typically the seller. Here’s how grantor role works in a real estate transaction and how… Read more
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Seller concessions: a quick guide for homebuyers
If you’re exploring the homebuying process, you’ve probably heard the term “seller concessions.” But what does it mean, and how can it benefit you as a… Read more
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How is the interest rate on a home loan calculated?
Navigating the world of home loans can feel like trying to solve a Rubik’s Cube blindfolded (yikes,) especially when it comes to understanding interest rates. But… Read more
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What do contingent and contingencies mean when it comes to buying a house?
“Contingent” and “contingency” have related but distinct meanings in real estate: In short, “contingent” describes the state of a contract, while “contingency” refers to the actual… Read more
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Co-borrowing 101: when sharing a loan makes sense (and when it doesn’t)
A co-borrower is basically your mortgage sidekick—someone who applies for a loan with you and shares the responsibility of paying it back. This could be your… Read more
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What does rent-to-own mean? A blueprint of key things to know
Let’s be real, rent-to-own is kind of a unicorn in the U.S. housing market. Roughly around 5% of home deals go down this way, so it’s… Read more