How Much Do You Save With a 1% Lower Interest Rate?
Lowering your interest rate from 7% to 6% will reduce your principal and interest payments by 9.88%, saving the typical US homebuyer around $250 per month.
April 17, 2025 16 min read
Low Appraisal? Request a Reconsideration of Value (ROV)
Can a Reconsideration of Value (ROV) help increase your home's value for a mortgage?
March 26, 2025 8 min read
What Income Do You Need for a $300k Home?
We dug into the numbers to find out what someone needs to make to potentially qualify to buy a $300,000 home.
March 17, 2025 16 min read
USDA Loan Pre-Approval: Everything You Need to Know
USDA loan pre-approval provides an accurate idea of the loan size you may qualify for and gives you a competitive advantage when making offers on homes.
March 10, 2025 12 min read
Limits for USDA Loan Seller Concessions and How to Use Them
Seller concessions can be used to cover your out-of-pocket closing costs, with the USDA setting the maximum contribution limit at 6% of the home’s purchase price.
March 7, 2025 10 min read
USDA Student Loan Guidelines for Residential Mortgages
Having student loans won’t prevent you from qualifying for a USDA mortgage, but they will count toward your debt-to-income ratio, which can affect how large of a loan you are eligible for.
March 6, 2025 9 min read
USDA Loans: Direct vs Guaranteed – A Comparison
USDA direct loans are more challenging to qualify for but offer lower monthly costs. USDA guaranteed loans are more widely available but have slightly higher, although still competitive, interest rates and payments.
February 28, 2025 10 min read
USDA Funding Fee: What Is It and How Much Will It Cost?
The USDA funding fee comes in two forms: an upfront funding fee of 1% of the total amount borrowed and an annual funding fee of 0.35% of your remaining loan balance.
February 27, 2025 8 min read