Disclaimer

Please read this disclaimer before you rely on anything on The Mortgage Guide Hub. It applies to every guide, page and email we publish, in every language.

Educational information only

The Mortgage Guide Hub publishes general educational information about US mortgage programs. Our guides explain how programs such as FHA loans, VA loans, USDA loans and conventional loans usually work. They are written for a general audience, not for your specific situation.

Not financial, legal or tax advice

Nothing on this site is financial, legal, tax, immigration or investment advice. Reading our guides does not create an adviser or client relationship. Your income, credit, debts, immigration status, location and goals can all change what is right for you.

Not an offer to lend

We are not a lender, broker, loan originator, government agency, law firm or financial adviser. Nothing on the site is an offer to lend, a loan approval, a rate quote or a commitment of any kind. We do not take loan applications.

Figures change

Loan limits, fees, mortgage insurance rates, credit score minimums and eligibility rules change, sometimes several times a year. We check every figure against an official source and show the month we checked it. Even so, a figure may change after that date. Always confirm current numbers with the official source we link to and with your lender.

Lenders add their own rules

Government and agency rules set the minimums for each program. Many lenders add stricter rules of their own, often called “overlays.” For example, a program may allow a certain credit score, but a lender may ask for a higher one. A lender may also offer different rates, fees and terms than another lender for the same program.

No guarantee of approval

We never promise that you will qualify for a loan, a rate or a program. Only a lender can decide whether to approve a loan, after reviewing your full application. Hypothetical examples in our guides use round numbers to show how a rule works. They are not estimates of your costs.

Talk to licensed professionals

Before you make a decision about a mortgage, talk to people who can look at your situation:

• a licensed loan officer or mortgage broker
• a HUD-approved housing counselor, who can often help at low or no cost. You can find one with HUD’s housing counselor search.
• an attorney for legal questions, including immigration questions
• a tax professional for tax questions

The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau also offers free, unbiased home buying resources.

External links

Our guides link to official websites, such as those of HUD, the VA, USDA, FHFA, Fannie Mae, Freddie Mac, the CFPB and the IRS. We do not control those sites and are not responsible for their content or for changes to them.

Errors

If you think something on the site is wrong, please tell us through the contact page. Our corrections page explains how we fix errors. See also our terms of use.