Interest rates can move while your loan is being processed, and a rate lock is the tool that keeps that movement from working against you. A rate lock is an agreement with your lender that freezes your interest rate for a set period of time while your loan moves through…

This is one of the first real decisions buyers face, and most people pick based on habit instead of actually comparing their options. Neither option is universally better. Your bank offers a direct relationship and sometimes streamlined service if you already have accounts there, while a mortgage broker shops your…

Most buyers are surprised by exactly how much paperwork a mortgage application actually involves, and scrambling for it after you find a house only slows you down. At a minimum, expect to provide income documentation, bank and asset statements, identification, and information about your existing debts. The exact list varies…