Mortgage answers

What is the difference between a fixed-rate and adjustable-rate mortgage (ARM) loan?

What is an "interest-only" loan?

What is an option or payment-option ARM?

What is negative amortization?

What is a balloon payment? When is one allowed?

What is a second mortgage loan or "junior-lien"?

What is a home equity loan?

What is a home equity line of credit (HELOC)?

What is a construction loan?

What is a subprime mortgage?

What is an FHA loan?

What is a VA loan?

What is a USDA Rural Housing Service loan?

What is a conforming loan?

What is a jumbo loan?

What is a conventional loan?

How can I figure out if I can afford to buy a home and take out a mortgage?

What are some of the financial considerations of buying a home?

What kind of down payment do I need? How does the amount of down payment I make affect the terms of my mortgage loan?

What is a loan-to-value ratio and how does it relate to my costs?

Does having a reverse mortgage impact who can live in my home?

What happens if my reverse mortgage loan balance grows larger than the value of my home?

Should I use a reverse mortgage to consolidate my debts?

What is private mortgage insurance?

Where can I get money for a down payment on a home?