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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How to buy a home with less cash—the hidden world of lender credits
Lots of folks obsess about finding the lowest possible interest rate. And, we don’t disagree that finding the lowest rate is super important—it’s why our rates… Read more
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How is the loan amount I am approved for calculated?
There’s a lot of mortgage calculators out there—these aren’t honestly all that valuable if you really want to know how much house you can afford. We… Read more
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How to game the real estate wealth-building ladder
Imagine yourself 15 years from now. You might want to live in a new city, own a larger home, or have enough savings for your kids’… Read more
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What is a buyer’s market?
A buyer’s market is a period when there are more homes or more supply in the market, than buyers or demand. This allows buyers to be… Read more
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When is the best time of year to buy a home?
When it comes to buying a home, timing can make a huge difference. But each season comes with advantages and tradeoffs. Here’s some pro tips. Fall:… Read more
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What is a 3-2-1 buydown?
Think of a 3-2-1 buydown as a mortgage’s way of easing you into the big league. It’s like giving yourself a financial warm-up before hitting the… Read more
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What’s the deal with hard vs. soft credit checks?
A soft-credit check is basically a little peek behind the curtain. You’ve probably done soft credit checks on yourself (if you haven’t, you should), where your… Read more
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15-year or 30-year mortgage?
When trying to figure out how much house you can afford, or work out the best price for a mortgage, a lot of people wonder whether… Read more
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What does clear to close mean?
“Clear to close” (CTC) is like the ultimate green light in the mortgage world. Hitting that milestone means your mortgage lender has gone through your financial stuff—income,… Read more
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Is buying a foreclosed home a smart move?
Thinking of diving into the world of foreclosures? It could be a savvy investment, but it comes with its fair share of risks. Foreclosed properties often… Read more
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Ready to buy your first home? Here’s how to do it
Thinking about buying your first home? Love that journey for you! But listen, this is a big move, so let’s make sure you do it right.… Read more
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Bank of America vs. Rocket Mortgage
Shopping for a home loan? Bank of America and Rocket Mortgage are likely top contenders. One’s a traditional bank, and the other’s a call center powerhouse.… Read more