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Mortgage Loans
Buying or refinancing is the largest financial decision most people make. Compare apples-to-apples mortgage offers from regulated lenders before you apply.
Mortgage basics
- Rate environment
How Mortgage Rates Are Set
The 30-year fixed rate moves with the 10-year Treasury, but lender margin, lock period, and your credit profile add 50-200 basis points on top.
By Owen Bishop
- Buying
What to Have Ready Before You Pre-Qualify
Two years of W-2s or 1099s, last 60 days of asset statements, current debt list, and the property address if you've identified one.
By Owen Bishop
- Refinancing
Break-Even Math on a Refinance
Add closing costs, divide by monthly savings, and you have the number of months before the refinance pays for itself.
By Daniel Reyes, CFA
- Programs
FHA vs Conventional, Decided
FHA wins on low down payments and forgiving credit; conventional wins on ongoing PMI costs once you have 20% equity.
By Owen Bishop
Frequently asked questions
What's the typical APR range for Mortgage Loans today?
Rates depend on credit profile, loan amount, and the lender's funding model. The lenders listed above show their disclosed APR ranges; pre-qualifying with two or three usually produces the most accurate read for your situation.Will checking my rate hurt my credit score?
Pre-qualification uses a soft credit pull, which doesn't affect your score. A hard pull only happens after you formally apply — so you can compare offers from multiple lenders first.How long does funding take after approval?
Most lenders listed fund within 1-5 business days of accepting your offer. Mortgage Loans can take longer when underwriting requires additional documentation (income verification, asset statements, etc.).What credit score do I need?
Minimums vary by lender. Some accept scores in the high 500s; others require 680+ for the best published rates. Check each lender's "Min credit" column above.