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 is a Loan Estimate?

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

What is a prepayment penalty?

What is mortgage insurance and how does it work?

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?

Are condo/co-op fees or homeowners’ association dues included in my monthly mortgage payment?

What are late fees on a mortgage?

Am I allowed to negotiate the terms and costs of my mortgage at closing?

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?

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

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?

What is a Qualified Mortgage?

What types of loans are covered under the Military Lending Act?

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

I heard about the new Federal Housing Authority refinancing option with reduced fees. Can you tell me more about it?

If I want to rely on the alimony or child support that I receive in my mortgage or home equity loan application, does a lender or broker have to consider that income?

Can a lender or broker ask me about the alimony, child support, or separate maintenance payments that I receive?

If I lose my home to foreclosure, can I ever buy a home again? What impact will a foreclosure have on my credit report?