Lender credits: What are they and how do they work?
It saves costs upfront, but it’s not free money.
5 min read
Jun 16, 2025
Taylor Freitas
Contributor, Personal Finance
Taylor Freitas is a Bankrate contributor with over a decade of professional journalism experience. Over her career, she has covered various topics, including personal finance, credit cards, travel rewards, home ownership, mortgages, and home improvement.
When she isn’t writing, Taylor can be found using points and miles to explore new countries (most recently, Cambodia and Vietnam), discovering new music, and cheering on her beloved USC Trojans.
Find Taylor Freitas beyond Bankrate
- LA Weekly
- CNET
- ZDNet
Taylor's latest articles
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How to get the best mortgage rate
With interest rates rising, shopping around is more important than ever.
9 min read Jun 16, 2025 -
Home equity line of credit (HELOC) vs. home equity loan: What’s the difference?
Know the differences between these debt products before you put your home on the line.
7 min read Jun 11, 2025 -
Real estate commissions in South Carolina: What to expect
A breakdown of real estate agent commissions in South Carolina.
4 min read Jun 02, 2025 -
What is an alienation clause?
It’s the reason your mortgage lender gets paid back first from your home sale’s proceeds.
3 min read May 23, 2025 -
What is mortgage recasting?
You pay a lump sum now to cut future monthly payments. But there are drawbacks.
5 min read May 20, 2025 -
Real estate commissions in Minnesota: What to expect
A breakdown of real estate agent commissions in Minnesota.
4 min read May 20, 2025 -
What to do when your mortgage application gets denied
First, you cry. Then you fix the issue. Here’s how.
6 min read May 19, 2025