Condo vs. Townhome: What's the Big Difference?
Curious about condo vs townhome? A condo is a unit in a larger property, and a townhome refers to a single-family home sharing walls with another home.
Contingent vs. Under Contract: What's the Difference?
What’s the difference between contingent vs under contract? Contingent means buyers and sellers can back out of the deal if certain terms are not met.
How Much Cash Should You Put Towards a Home Down Payment?
For a home down payment, it’s generally best to put down at least 20%. But, this standard is not a requirement and it’s possible to put down less than 20%.

What is a Good Credit Score for a First-Time Homebuyer?
What is a good credit score to buy a home? Ranging between 650 and 850 is optimum, but it is possible to secure a good deal with a score below 620.
What’s the Debt to Income Ratio to Get a Mortgage?
While 43% is typically the maximum debt to income ratio to get a mortgage, lenders prefer a 36% debt to income ratio or lower to qualify for loan benefits.
Can You Buy a Home Without a Down Payment?
No down payment loans and down payment assistance programs are options available for those who wish to buy a home without a down payment.
What's the Difference Between a Buyer's and Seller's Market?
A buyers or sellers market means that a local real estate market is experiencing preferable conditions for one side of the transaction.

What's the Difference Between Adjustable and Fixed-Rate Mortgages?
To decide between an adjustable vs. fixed rate mortgage, speak to your lender and observe the current market conditions to find the loan best for you.
Agent or Lender: Who Should You Speak to First When Buying a Home?
Do I need to speak with a lender first or find my agent? To achieve a streamlined purchase, the best solution is to find both your agent and lender early.
5 Steps to Writing an Offer on a Home
When writing an offer to purchase a new home, buyers should always partner with the best real estate agent.
Pre-Qualification vs. Pre-Approval: What's the Difference?
Traditionally, the difference between pre-qualification vs pre-approval is whether or not the lender verifies the information.
Common Contingencies When Buying a Home
If you’re buying a home, here is information to help you understand what are contingencies.

5 Ways to Win a Bidding War
Finding a good real estate agent will prepare you to make a strong offer that can help you win in a multiple-bid situation.

The Home Closing Process in 9 Easy Steps
After the buyer and seller have come to an initial agreement on the listing’s transaction terms, the home closing process is the final step to lock in the deal. Typically, it takes an average of 43 days to close on a home [https://myhome.freddiemac.com/blog/homeownership/20190521_shbs_closing_day.page] since there are many steps involved in the closing process. To help you prepare for closing, here is an outline of the home closing process in nine simple steps. #1. Enter into Escrow to Initi

What is a Home Appraisal and Why Do You Need It?
Financing your new home with a mortgage? Asking “what is a home appraisal” will help you understand this essential step in obtaining your loan.
