All mortgage guides
Every guide we publish, grouped by topic. Each one is sourced, dated and reviewed.
Government-backed loans
Browse the topicFHA Loans in 2026: Requirements, Limits, MIP and Who Qualifies
What you need for an FHA loan in 2026: 580 and 500 credit tiers, 3.5% down, MIP costs, county loan limits, DTI rules and who no longer qualifies.
VA Home Loan Eligibility in 2026: Service Rules, Funding Fee and Limits
Who qualifies for a VA home loan in 2026: service rules, the COE, no limit with full entitlement, the funding fee table, exemptions and residual income.
USDA Loan Requirements in 2026: Eligible Areas, Income Limits and Fees
USDA guaranteed loan rules for 2026: eligible rural areas, income limits, guarantee fees, credit and debt ratios, property rules and direct loans.
FHA vs Conventional Loan: Costs, MIP vs PMI and Which Wins in 2026
FHA vs conventional loans compared for 2026: credit, down payment, MIP vs PMI, loan limits and DTI, with hypothetical cost examples of when each wins.
Conventional and jumbo loans
Browse the topicConventional Loan Requirements in 2026: Credit, Down Payment, Limits and PMI
What a conventional loan requires in 2026: the $832,750 conforming limit, credit score rules, DTI caps, 3% down options like HomeReady, PMI and reserves.
Jumbo Loan Requirements in 2026: Limits, Down Payment, Reserves and Credit
When a mortgage becomes a jumbo loan in 2026, and what lenders typically ask for: down payment, credit, cash reserves, documents and appraisals.
Mortgage Insurance Explained: PMI, FHA MIP, VA Funding Fee and USDA Fees
Mortgage insurance explained in plain English: how PMI, FHA MIP, the VA funding fee and USDA guarantee fees work, what they cost, and how to remove PMI.
Non-QM and self-employed
Browse the topicNon-QM Loans Explained: Types, Costs, Risks and Your Protections
What non-QM loans are, how the CFPB Ability-to-Repay rule applies, the main types (bank statement, DSCR, asset depletion, foreign national) and risks.
Bank Statement Loans: How Self-Employed Borrowers Qualify Without Tax Returns
How a bank statement loan works for self-employed buyers: 12 vs 24 months, personal vs business statements, expense factors, documents, costs, red flags.
Immigrant home buyers
Browse the topicITIN Mortgages: How to Buy a House With an ITIN in 2026
How an ITIN mortgage works in 2026: why FHA and most conventional loans are off the table, who lends, typical requirements, documents and scams to avoid.
Mortgages for Immigrants: Loan Options by Immigration Status (2026)
Which home loans fit your status in 2026: green card, H-1B and other visas, DACA, refugees and foreign nationals, including HUD's 2025 FHA change.
First-time buyers
Browse the topicTypes of Mortgage Loans Compared: Which Mortgage Is Right for You?
Every main type of mortgage loan in one place: FHA, conventional, VA, USDA, jumbo and non-QM, plus fixed vs ARM, 15 vs 30 years and how to choose.
Mortgage Requirements by Loan Type: Credit, Down Payment and DTI in 2026
2026 mortgage requirements: credit score, down payment, DTI, reserves, documents and residency for FHA, VA, USDA, conventional, jumbo and ITIN loans.
Down Payment Assistance Programs: How DPA Works in 2026
How down payment assistance works: grants, forgivable and deferred seconds, matched savings and MCCs, finding your state HFA, the rules and the catches.