Posts by Michael Koldaway

If you’ve ever heard someone say they are taking out a “second mortgage,” they are talking about a home equity loan. This is a type of mortgage where homeowners can borrow money by “leveraging” the funds in their home, or the money they’ve already paid into the principle of their mortgage. Home equity loans became…

VA Loans are offered through private lenders, mortgage companies or banks. Through this program, the Department of Veterans Affairs works to support the needs of servicemembers, veterans, and qualifying surviving spouses and helps them purchase affordable mortgage loans.   VA Loan candidates are evaluated based on length of service, duty status, and character of service.…

First-time home buying can be challenging due to steep down payments, tougher mortgage requirements, and higher home prices. The NY Times says, “It’s never been easy for first-time buyers to get into the real estate market, but that’s been especially true in recent years. In 2010 (or July 2009 to June 2010, to be precise),…

One of the most important things to do when shopping for a mortgage loan is to lock-in when mortgage rates are at their lowest (so you can improve your mortgage rate outcome). But let’s back up a bit. First, what is a mortgage rate? A mortgage rate is the interest rate affixed to a home…