First-time Homebuyers Information

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The highest offer doesn’t always win, and there are ways to win against all-cash buyers. Here’s how to win a bidding war on a house to get the home you...

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about How to win a real estate bidding war in a competitive market

Thinking about using an online lender to buy or refinance your home? Getting an online mortgage pre-approval is easy, fast, and completely on your terms.

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about Home loan pre-approval: Your first step to mortgage success

From instant pre-approval letters to eliminating unnecessary costs, here’s how digital lenders make homebuying more convenient, transparent, and speedy.

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about Benefits of buying a house online

There is a range of tax deductions homebuyers or homeowners can use to lower their tax bill. Learn which tax breaks apply to your and what tax forms to use.

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about How does buying a house affect taxes

Mortgages aren’t one-size-fits-all. To help you assess your options, learn all about understanding different home financing options.

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about Understanding your home financing options

Your down payment is the biggest upfront cost of your mortgage. Learn about down payment requirements and other best practices.

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about How much should you put down on a house?

From how budgeting really works to whether you should have a real estate agent, asking these questions when buying a house will give you a competitive edge.

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about 5 questions you need to ask when buying a house

Here we answer the most common mortgage questions for new home loans and refinancing. This is the mortgage advice you need to make the best decision for you.

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about Mortgage advice lenders don’t (usually) tell you

If you’re thinking of buying a house out of state, this article has all the tips and tools you’ll need to complete your out-of-state home purchase remotely.

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about Buying a house out of state

Get ahead of your house hunt with considerations for choosing your location and our house hunting checklist.

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about 5 tips to house hunt without the stress

We’ll show you how to budget for a mortgage payment so that you can break down your monthly payment, examine your monthly budget, and assess how much you can afford....

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about How to budget for your monthly mortgage payment

Home inspections give buyers peace of mind before closing on a home. Here’s a checklist and tips to help you prep for this process.

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about The essential home inspection checklist for homebuyers

Working with the right real estate agent can give you an enormous advantage as a homebuyer. See the best strategies for how to find a realtor, including key questions to...

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about How to find a realtor

Yes, you can use money in a 401(k) account to buy a house. But should you? Learn whether it makes sense to use your 401(k) for a down payment and...

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about Can I use a 401(k) to buy a house?

Try this interactive amortization calculator to find the amortization schedule for any fixed-rate mortgage.

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about Free mortgage amortization calculator and table

Can you still buy a home if you have student loan debt? Turns out you have some options. Here’s what you should know about getting a mortgage.

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about Yes, you can buy a home—even with student loans!

Understand how long pre-approval remains valid and when you should start the process.

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about How long does a mortgage pre-approval last?

For one local man, being able to live on the river is much more than a perk—it’s personal.

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about Finding Home: Fred

Before you can close on a home or refinance a property, an underwriter will need to verify your income, debts, and assets. See what docs they need and why.

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about Getting your mortgage docs in a row

Here’s an intro to how FHA loans work, how to qualify, and which types of borrowers might be a good match for this type of mortgage.

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about What is an FHA loan and what it does for you
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