A woman with curly hair and glasses smiles while looking at her smartphone and adding up budget numbers on a calculator.
|

How Much Down Payment Do You Need for a Home?

You’ve been picturing it — your own place, your rules, maybe even a dog in the backyard. But when talk about the down payment starts, that dream of homeownership might feel a few steps farther away.   You’ll typically need at least a little money down to buy a home, but it doesn’t always need to…

A smiling man and woman are seated at their kitchen table with an open laptop, looking at a mortgage payment estimate.
|

How to Calculate a Mortgage Payment Step by Step

The math that goes into a monthly mortgage payment might seem complex — but knowing how it works gives you serious financial power. In fact, learning how to calculate a mortgage payment is a big step toward getting mortgage-ready. It helps you estimate how much home you can afford so you can make an informed…

young man and woman play with their black dog in a sunny living room
|

How to Get a Mortgage: Step-by-Step Guide

Buying a home can be a milestone moment in your life. But working through the process of buying a home — including how to get a mortgage — can feel overwhelming. This is especially true if you’re a first-time home buyer.  With so many steps in the process, from strengthening your credit score to locking…

father and son playing ball outside their house
|

Ultimate Guide to Conventional Mortgage Loans

While finding the right loan for your home purchase can feel overwhelming, a conventional mortgage offers most buyers the clearest path to homeownership. By combining flexibility with competitive rates, a conventional loan is often the most appealing choice for those ready to buy.   In this guide, we’ll help you unravel the ins and outs of…

Young woman sitting on the floor, watching a podcast on her tablet.
|

How to Improve Your Credit to Get Mortgage Ready

Lenders will nearly always review your credit when you apply for a mortgage. That’s because they want to know what kind of a risk they’re taking in lending to you. A better credit score can lead to lower mortgage rates and better loan offers, which may lower your monthly payment and save you thousands of…

Young woman writing notes in a notebook, surrounded by home comfort.
|

Ultimate Guide to the House Closing Process

If the home-buying process is a marathon, then closing is the marathon’s final mile — but with hurdles between you and the finish. The good news? The finish line is indeed within sight. And armed with a bit of knowledge, you’ll easily leap those final hurdles on the way to being a homeowner. How long…

AmeriSave Mortgage 5/1 ARM Loan
| |

5/1 ARM vs. 5/6 ARM: Key Differences

With home prices and interest rates remaining high, more home buyers are looking for ways to lower their monthly mortgage payments. That’s where adjustable-rate mortgages (ARMs) come in.   A 5/1 ARM and a 5/6 ARM both start with a fixed interest rate for the first five years, followed by periodic adjustments. But what happens after…