Learning Center
Understand the loan before you sign it.
Thirty-one plain-language guides to loan programs, the buying process, credit and common mistakes, written and reviewed by Patriot Home Mortgage. No rate promises, no sales pitch.
VA LoansEligibility, entitlement, property rules and how VA compares with other programs.
VA Home Loans: Eligibility, Entitlement and Your Questions Answered
Who qualifies for a VA home loan, how entitlement works, what the funding fee is, and answers to the questions veterans ask most.
Read the article →When Should You Use Your VA Loan? Signs It’s the Right Move
The situations where a VA loan may be hard to beat, the cases where another loan may serve you better, and how to decide.
Read the article →Choosing the Right Home for Your VA Loan
What kinds of homes a VA loan can buy, what the VA appraisal checks, and practical tips for choosing a home you'll be glad you bought.
Read the article →VA Loans vs. Conventional Loans: How to Choose
A side-by-side look at VA and conventional loans: down payment, mortgage insurance, fees, property rules and when each one may make more sense.
Read the article →VA Loans vs. FHA Loans: Which Is Right for You?
VA and FHA loans are both government-backed and flexible on credit. Here's how they differ on down payment, mortgage insurance, fees and eligibility.
Read the article →FHA LoansFHA basics, 203(k) renovation loans and refinancing an FHA loan.
FHA Loans Explained: Who They Help and How They Work
How FHA loans work, who qualifies, what mortgage insurance costs, and how FHA compares with a conventional loan.
Read the article →Refinancing an FHA Loan: Your Options and When It Makes Sense
The ways to refinance an FHA loan, including the FHA Streamline and switching to a conventional loan to drop mortgage insurance, and how to tell when…
Read the article →FHA 203(k) Renovation Loans: Buy and Fix Up a Home With One Loan
How an FHA 203(k) loan rolls the price of a home and the cost of repairs into one mortgage, the difference between Limited and Standard 203(k), and w…
Read the article →Conventional, Jumbo and USDAConforming loans, larger loan amounts and rural zero-down financing.
Conventional Loans Explained: How They Work and Who They Fit
What a conventional loan is, how conforming and jumbo loans differ, what down payment and mortgage insurance look like, and who a conventional loan f…
Read the article →Conventional vs. FHA Loans: How to Choose
How conventional and FHA loans compare on down payment, mortgage insurance, credit, loan limits, property rules and co-borrowers, and when each one m…
Read the article →Jumbo Loans: Financing a Home Above the Conforming Limit
What a jumbo loan is, where the conforming limit comes from, what jumbo lenders look for, and how to prepare if you're buying a higher-priced home.
Read the article →USDA Loans: Zero-Down Financing for Rural and Suburban Homes
How USDA guaranteed loans work, who qualifies, where they can be used, what they cost and how they compare with conventional loans.
Read the article →Specialty LoansReverse mortgages and construction loans.
Reverse Mortgages: How They Work and Who They’re For
How a reverse mortgage lets homeowners 62 and older turn home equity into cash, what you still have to pay, the required counseling, and what happens…
Read the article →Construction Loans: Financing the Home You Build
How construction loans work, the difference between one-time-close and construction-only loans, what lenders look for, and the benefits of building y…
Read the article →Buying Your First HomeHow the process works, what you can afford, budgeting and saving for a down payment.
How the Mortgage Process Works, Step by Step
Every step of getting a mortgage, from checking your credit and getting pre-approved to underwriting, the Closing Disclosure and closing day.
Read the article →How to Prepare Before You Talk to a Loan Officer
What to gather and check before your first mortgage conversation: your debts, your credit, your income documents and the source of your down payment.
Read the article →How to Choose the Right Home Loan for You
How to narrow down your mortgage options: set your budget, match your situation to a loan program, choose a term and rate type, and compare offers wi…
Read the article →How Much House Can I Afford?
How lenders decide how much you can borrow, the costs that make up a monthly housing payment, and how to set a budget you'll be comfortable with for …
Read the article →How to Budget for Your First Mortgage
A step-by-step way to build a budget for your first home: find your comfortable payment, list your fixed costs, plan for ownership costs and track yo…
Read the article →First-Time Home Buyer Tips: Six Pitfalls and How to Avoid Them
Six common first-time buyer mistakes, from falling for a house before you're pre-approved to skipping the inspection, and how to avoid each one.
Read the article →Saving for a Down Payment: Practical Ways to Get There
How much you may really need to put down, low and no down payment loan options, down payment assistance, gift funds and practical ways to save.
Read the article →Buying vs. Renting: How to Decide
The real advantages of buying and of renting, the costs that are easy to overlook, and the questions that help you decide which makes sense for you r…
Read the article →Mortgage Basics for Beginners
A plain-language introduction to mortgages: what one is, what makes up your payment, how you qualify, how much to put down and the main loan types.
Read the article →Credit and Common ProblemsImproving credit, avoiding mistakes, myths and what to ask your loan officer.
10 Common Mortgage Myths, Debunked
Ten things many buyers believe about mortgages that aren't true, from needing 20% down to never qualifying after bankruptcy, and what's actually the …
Read the article →Common Mortgage Mistakes and How to Avoid Them
Seven mistakes homebuyers commonly make with their mortgage, from stretching the budget to changing their credit before closing, and simple ways to a…
Read the article →Solving Common Mortgage Problems
What to do when your loan terms change before closing, when you can't make your payment, or when your servicer says it didn't get your payment, with …
Read the article →Questions to Ask Your Loan Officer
The questions worth asking before and during your mortgage application, and the signs you've found a loan team that will serve you well.
Read the article →Improving Your Credit Before You Apply for a Mortgage
What goes into your credit score, practical steps that can raise it before you apply, and the moves to avoid while you're shopping for a home.
Read the article →Mortgage Options When Your Credit Isn’t Perfect
Loan programs that may work with lower credit scores, smaller incomes or higher debt, plus practical steps to strengthen your application.
Read the article →Second Homes and InvestingVacation homes, rental property and DSCR financing.
DSCR Loans: Financing Rental Property Based on Rental Income
How DSCR loans let real estate investors qualify using a property's rental income instead of personal income, how the ratio is calculated, common req…
Read the article →Financing a Second Home or Investment Property
The difference between a second home and an investment property in the eyes of a lender, what each requires, and the loan options for buying either o…
Read the article →Articles are educational and do not constitute an offer of credit or a commitment to lend. Program requirements change; confirm details with a licensed loan officer. Patriot Home Mortgage is a d/b/a of Belem Servicing LLC, NMLS ID #715386. Equal Housing Opportunity.