USDA Approval: Basic Guidelines

The United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) oversees a home loan program designed to finance properties located in rural and semi-rural areas. These areas are so designated by the United States Census Bureau and identified after the general census is taken every 10 years. This program was originally introduced in 1935 with the introduction of […]

Why Portfolio Loans are Important

There is a term in the mortgage industry called “portfolio lending” and it’s a specific type of home loan program that caters to a particular situation. Portfolio loans are so important that without it the real estate industry would suffer. What is a portfolio loan? It’s a loan that does not fit into any secondary […]

5 Questions First-Time Homebuyers Need to Ask

Buying a first home is probably the biggest financial decision someone can make. For those who already own their own homes they can relate. It’s a process that can be explained upfront but until someone goes through it, experience is the ultimate teacher. Finding, buying and financing a home can be a rather drawn out […]

The Streamline Refinance Explained

Have you heard of the term “streamline refinance”? Lenders certainly have and when you discover what this process actually is, you may very well decide it’s time to refinance after all. A streamline refinance is where an existing mortgage is completely replaced by a new one. The term was originally coined when the Federal Housing […]

When are Government-Backed Loan Programs the Best Choice?

There are three government-backed loan programs available today: The USDA, VA and  FHA loan programs. They’re referred to as a government-backed loan because the lender is guaranteed to be compensated should the loan ever go into default. Each of these three has their own special niche that is filled. USDA Loans USDA loans are used […]