Mortgage learning center

Mortgage guides and tools to help you understand your options and make smarter mortgage decisions.

Homebuyer completing the mortgage pre-approval process step by step

First-time Buyers

How to Get Pre-Approved? A Step-by-Step Guide to Mortgage Pre-Approval

Homeowner reviewing whether to remove an escrow account from their mortgage

Loan types

How to Remove an Escrow Account from Your Mortgage: Pros, Cons, and Step-by-Step Guide

Elon Musk's tiny prefabricated home near SpaceX's Starbase in Boca Chica, Texas

Celebrity Homes in Texas

Inside Elon Musk’s Tiny Home: The Billionaire’s Most Unexpected Property

Self-Employed Mortgage

Jumbo Loans in Austin’s Luxury Market: 2026 Guide for $1M+ Buyers

In Austin, any loan above the 2026 conforming limit of $832,750 is a jumbo loan. Most jumbo programs expect a down payment in the 10...

Self-employed professional working on a laptop, with text overlay comparing P&L loans and bank statement loans for buying a house

Self-Employed Mortgage

Should You Use a P&L or Bank Statement Loan to Buy a House?

A P&L loan qualifies you using a profit and loss statement showing net business income, usually prepared or signed off by a CPA. A bank...

Self-employed business owner reviewing tax return documents, with text overlay asking whether you can still qualify for a mortgage when tax returns understate your income

Self-Employed Mortgage

Can You Get a Mortgage When Tax Returns Understate Your Business Income?

You can generally still get a mortgage when your tax returns understate your business income. Amending your returns just to qualify is risky and discouraged...

Contractor reviewing plans on a tablet at a construction site wearing a hard hat, with text overlay explaining what a 1099 mortgage is and how it works

Self-Employed Mortgage

What Is a 1099 Mortgage and How Does It Work?

A 1099 mortgage is a home loan that qualifies a borrower using 1099 income instead of W-2 wages. Lenders typically average 2 years of 1099...

Woman calculating loan costs with a calculator and financial documents, with text overlay comparing bank statement loan costs to conventional mortgages

Self-Employed Mortgage

Are Bank Statement Loans More Expensive Than Conventional Mortgages?

A bank statement loan usually costs more than a conventional mortgage, typically 0.5 to 3 percentage points higher. Here's what that premium actually costs per...

Woman reviewing bank statements and financial documents, with text overlay for bank statement mortgage FAQs about deposits and accounts

Self-Employed Mortgage

Bank Statement Mortgage FAQs: Deposits, Accounts, Tax Returns and More

Bank statement mortgage qualifies self-employed borrowers using deposit activity from 12 to 24 months of bank statements instead of tax returns, but lenders apply an...