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Mortgages

Compare mortgage rates locally, evaluate lenders, and utilize our calculators to determine affordable home prices. Access expert guidance and updates.

Mortgage basics

A house
With interest rates rising, shopping around is more important than ever.
Family moving into home
Being a novice often feels like a nuisance. However, there are actually perks to being a first-timer.
A comprehensive list to help you find the right financing tool for your dream home.

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The latest

A single-story home with lawn and front path
First off, the mortgage still needs to be repaid — whatever your ultimate plans for the home.
Want to borrow against your home’s value? Be ready to meet these criteria.
Paying your mortgage biweekly translates to one additional payment per year. Should you do it
Which credit score do mortgage lenders use? Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac use FICO scores to determine borrower eligibility for conforming loans, which make up most mortgages. Mortgage lenders have traditionally [...]
A hand shake, with money in one hand
A home down payment is the part of a home’s purchase price you pay upfront.
A couple meets with their lender to close on their mortgage
The lender must provide final details of your mortgage on the closing disclosure.
A closeup of the U.S. flag on a single-family home
Though far from home, you can still get an affordable VA home loan.
A woman searches for mortgage rates on her phone with her child in tow
Don’t go crazy. But it’s important to look regularly when looking to purchase or refinance.
A woman searches for mortgage rates on her phone with her child in tow
Don’t go crazy. But it’s important to look regularly when looking to purchase or refinance.
A mortgage loan officer meets with a borrower.
For borrowers with credit dings or unusual financials, manual underwriting can be key.
A house on a stack of money
Mortgage rates retreat amid swings In markets
A dad and his two children riding bicycles together
The cash you’ll get comes at cost. Here’s how to minimize it.
Borrowers meet with a loan officer to refinance their mortgage.
Usually, no. But you still need to have some cash on hand at the closing.
design image of a home and down trending arrow behind it
If you hope to refinance in today’s turbulent market, here’s what to watch.
Illustrated collage featuring a house
It’s not as easy to refinance your mortgage when you have equity debt. Here are the options.
A single-family home in Phoenix, Arizona
Trust us, you don’t want to trigger it. Here’s why.
Here are the best mortgage lenders for April 2025.
When it comes to these easier-to-qualify-for loans, these lenders are tops.
Here is Bankrate’s guide to the best 203(k) rehab mortgage lenders.
Here are some of the best bad credit mortgage lenders in 2025.
Here are some of the best mortgage refinance lenders in 2025.
Our list of lenders best suited to helping out a novice homeowner-to-be.
Illustrated image featuring a house
Bankrate’s guide to finding the best reverse mortgage lender for you
OK with doing your loan digitally? These mortgage companies are the tops.
San Francisco homes
San Francisco had the most homes topping list price in December.
house with snow
The National Association of Realtors expects price appreciation to dip below 3% in 2022.
Chicago homes and skyline
See which markets are more likely to reward renting over buying, and vice-versa.
Welcome to Texas sign
Texas and Florida added the most new residents. New York and Illinois lost the most.
Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-KY) talks with reporters.
It’s an “in case of fire, break glass” kind of moment.
President-elect Joe Biden
Biden’s housing platform attacks affordability issues.
woman in mask
U.S. home prices rarely fall during recessions, and the latest downturn follows that pattern.
Envelopes
Readers ask: How low can mortgage rates possibly go?