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Loan Types
Browse 29 in-depth Loan Types guides from Mortgage Advisor Guide. Our editorial team researches and writes each one to give you clear, practical answers, current as of September 2026. The newest are shown first.
$766,550 FHFA Loan Limits 2024: What Changed
$726,200. That’s the number that quietly changed whether millions of Americans could buy a home with a …
Jumbo Loan Limits and Requirements for 2026
Most people assume jumbo loans are just “big mortgages for rich people” and leave it at that. That …
Owner Financing Risks: What Buyers and Sellers Must Know
Most articles about owner financing read like a real estate agent wrote them. Bubbly. Full of phrases like …
Condo Mortgage Requirements: What Lenders Actually Need
Buying a condo is not like buying a house. And I don’t mean that in the obvious “you share …
DSCR Loans Explained: 1.20 Ratio and How They Work
Roughly 40% of DSCR loan applications get denied not because the property is a bad deal, but because the …
One-Time Close Construction Loans: Save $3,000-$7,000
Only about 22% of new-home builders are aware that a one-time close construction loan even exists as an …
Virginia Condo Requirements: What Buyers Need To Know
Forty-three days. That’s how long I watched a veteran client of mine wait for a condo approval that …
20% Down and 12 Months to Build: Construction Loans Explained
Only about 20% of people building a custom home have ever taken out a construction loan before. That number …
FHA Condo Approval: What Lenders Really Check
Most buyers shopping for a condo with an FHA loan don’t realize the property itself has to be approved, …
USDA Rural Home Loans: Eligibility Requirements Explained
Most coverage of USDA loans focuses on two things: “zero down payment” and “rural …
How Hard Money Loans Work for Real Estate
Hard money loans get a bad reputation they only half deserve. Yes, they’re expensive. Yes, they can …
Portfolio Loans: Mortgages When Banks Say No
Most articles about portfolio loans spend three paragraphs explaining what they are and then give you a …
How Seller Financing Works in Real Estate
Most people assume that getting a mortgage means going through a bank. Full stop. That assumption costs some …
Investment Property Mortgages: What Lenders Really Look For
Most people who walk into an investment property purchase think it works like buying a primary home. It …
Take Over a Loan: The Mortgage Assumption Guide
A borrower I worked with in the mid-2010s locked in a 30-year fixed at 3.25%. She’s still in that house. …
How To Qualify For A Manufactured Home Mortgage
Most people assume financing a manufactured home works roughly like financing any other home. Get a loan, make …
Land Contracts vs. Traditional Mortgages: Which Wins
Maybe you’ve been turned down by a traditional lender. Maybe your credit score took a hit a few years …
High-Balance Conforming Loans: The Borrower's Complete Guide
Most borrowers have never heard of a high-balance conforming loan until they actually need one. Then …
Non-QM Mortgages: Your Path to Homeownership
Most borrowers stop looking the moment a conventional lender says no. Don’t. There’s an entire …
15-Year vs 30-Year Mortgages: Which Fits Your Budget
Most people treat this decision like a math problem. They pull up a mortgage calculator, see that the 15-year …
First-Time Buyer's Guide: FHA vs Conventional Loans
Most first-time buyers walk in thinking they already know the answer. FHA loans are for people with bad …
VA Loan Benefits: What Veterans Need To Know
Most veterans I’ve worked with had no idea how good their VA loan benefit actually is until they sat …
What Lenders Really Look For in Jumbo Loan Applications
You find a house you love. The price is $1.4 million. You have excellent credit, a substantial down payment, …
Fixed vs. Adjustable Rate Mortgage: Which Is Right for You?
When you’re shopping for a mortgage, the rate type you choose, fixed or adjustable, probably matters …
Getting A Conventional Loan: What Lenders Really Want
You walk into a lender’s office, pre-approval letter in hand, convinced the hard part is over. Then the …
USDA Loans Without Perfect Credit: Your Eligibility Path
Most people assume a zero-down mortgage is either a myth or a trap. Then they find out the USDA loan exists, …
VA Loan Benefits: No Down Payment Required
You served four years in the Army, separated honorably, and now you’re sitting across from a loan …
FHA Loans: Low Down Payment Path to Homeownership
You saved up $12,000, your credit score sits at 620, and the conventional loan officer just told you to come …
How Reverse Mortgages Really Work for Retirees
You’re 71, your house is paid off, and it’s worth $420,000. Your Social Security check covers …