Mortgages basics

What are my rights as a servicemember under the Equal Credit Opportunity Act? Can a creditor refuse to extend credit to me just because I’m a servicemember?

Will I receive the Know Before You Owe disclosures when I shop for a mortgage?

What exactly happens when a mortgage lender checks my credit?

What information do I have to provide a lender in order to receive a Loan Estimate?

With an adjustable-rate mortgage (ARM), what are rate caps and how do they work?

For an adjustable-rate mortgage (ARM), what are the index and margin, and how do they work?

If I am considering an adjustable-rate mortgage (ARM), what should I look out for in the fine print?

On a mortgage, what’s the difference between my principal and interest payment and my total monthly payment?

What are late fees on a mortgage?

I’m about to close on a mortgage. What are the key steps I can expect in the mortgage closing process?

Who should I expect to see at my mortgage closing?

Do auto and homeowners insurance companies share my information about claims and policies?

What is a “higher-priced mortgage loan?”

What is a debt-to-income ratio? Why is the 43% debt-to-income ratio important?

What is a Qualified Mortgage?

Should I use a home equity loan to refinance my student loans at a lower interest rate?

How do credit reporting companies get my information?

Can my partner, family, or dependents live in my home if I have a reverse mortgage?

What is a Truth-in-Lending Disclosure? When do I get to see it?

What is mortgage insurance and how does it work?

How does my credit score affect my ability to get a mortgage loan?

Do I need an attorney or anyone else to represent me when closing on a mortgage?

What costs will I have to pay as part of taking out a mortgage loan?

What is the most important thing for me to do when I get my closing papers?

What fees or charges are paid when closing on a mortgage and who pays them?