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23 Common First-Time Homebuyer Questions: Your Questions Answered

Redfin

What’s the difference between a fixed-rate mortgage and adjustable-rate mortgage? When choosing a mortgage, you’ll need to decide between a fixed-rate mortgage or an adjustable-rate mortgage (ARM). Should I get pre-qualified or pre-approved for a mortgage?

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First-Time Homebuyer Qualifications: A Beginner’s Guide

Redfin

Key takeaways: First-time homebuyer: Anyone who hasn’t owned a primary residence in the past three years Common first-time homebuyer qualifications: Credit score, debt-to-income ratio, down payment, income limits, employment history, purchase limits, homebuyer education Buying your first home? Let’s get started.

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Today’s Mortgage Rates March 23, 2025: Rates Are Trending Downward

Marco Santarelli

Understanding Monthly Payments on Mortgages Today It's important to understand how the current interest rates translate into actual mortgage payments. Here's a breakdown of the estimated monthly payments based on various loan amounts at these current average rates.

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21 Essential Tips for First-Time Homebuyers

Redfin

They cover topics like budgeting, building credit, mortgage options, house hunting, and closing. If you’re unsure where to start, check with HUD-approved counseling agencies, non-profit organizations, and local housing authorities to find available courses. ARMs can help you save early on, but carry the risk of rate increases.

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CHLA wants credit bureaus to restore pricing discounts for soft credit pulls

Housing Wire

“Soft credit pulls are a critical tool that our member mortgage loan originators use to work with underserved borrowers — particularly borrowers with credit blemishes — to improve their credit score and ultimately obtain a pre-qualification or an actual mortgage loan,” the CHLA wrote in a letter to the three credit bureaus on Wednesday.

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Top Mortgage Myths—Busted

Realtor.com

To avoid this fate, make sure to crunch your numbers in our mortgage calculator or a home affordability calculator , and apply for mortgage pre-approval to see just where you stand in terms of how much house you can afford. And make sure you’re aware of the biggest misconceptions about home mortgages.

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Mortgage, Mortgage, Mortgage: What First-Time Home Buyers Need to Know

Realty Biz

There are fixed-rate mortgages, adjustable-rate mortgages, hybrid loans, reverse mortgages, and FHA loans that all come with varying interest rates. To get the best rate for your situation, be sure to look closely at each type of mortgage.