How Do Home Renovation Loans Work? A Complete Guide

Home renovations can greatly improve your living space and increase the value of your home. However, major remodeling projects often come with high price tags that may be difficult to fund upfront. This is where home renovation loans come in handy. In this comprehensive guide, I’ll explain exactly how home improvement loans work and provide … Read more

Decoding 7 Year ARM Loans with a Calculator

Adjustable-rate mortgages (ARMs) can seem complicated, especially 7 year ARMs. But with the right calculator, you can easily estimate your mortgage payments and determine if a 7 year ARM is the right choice for your home loan. What is a 7 Year ARM? A 7 year adjustable-rate mortgage keeps your interest rate fixed for the … Read more

How to Drop PMI on an FHA Loan in 2023

Private mortgage insurance (PMI) is an extra cost many homebuyers with smaller down payments face when getting a mortgage. With an FHA loan, this insurance is called mortgage insurance premiums (MIP). FHA loans require both upfront and annual MIP, adding hundreds per month to your mortgage payment. The good news is you can request to … Read more

What Happens If You Default on a VA Loan?

Going through a foreclosure can devastate your credit score; according to credit scoring firm FICO, consumers can see their scores plummet by as many as 160 points. It can take years for a VA loan borrowers credit profile to recover fully, but it doesnt mean you have to wait years to buy another home. The … Read more

Everything You Need to Know About FHA New Construction Loans

We are an independent, advertising-supported comparison service. Our goal is to help you make smarter financial decisions by providing you with interactive tools and financial calculators, publishing original and objective content, by enabling you to conduct research and compare information for free – so that you can make financial decisions with confidence. Bankrate has partnerships … Read more

Can I Build a Home with a VA Loan?

If you’re a veteran or active military service member looking to build your dream home, you may be wondering if you can use your VA home loan benefit to finance new construction The short answer is yes, you can build a home with a VA loan under certain conditions. VA loans are guaranteed by the … Read more