Learning Center

Find first-time home buyer guides, helpful mortgage tips, and easy-to-follow articles on mortgages, real estate, and how to be a better first-time buyer.

Explore Topics:

What is a Mortgage Rate Lock?
Under Contract
5 min read

What is a Mortgage Rate Lock?

A mortgage rate lock is a mortgage lender's commitment to honor a quoted mortgage through closing to a home…

Read More →

 How To Write a Mortgage Gift Letter for Your Down Payment
Under Contract
8 min read

How To Write a Mortgage Gift Letter for Your Down Payment

Buying your first home calls for plenty of celebration with house-warming parties, neighborhood greetings, and new home photos that are sure to earn…

Read More →

 Loan Estimate Explainer for First-Time Buyers (with Examples)
Under Contract
15 min read

Loan Estimate Explainer for First-Time Buyers (with Examples)

Once you get pre-approved for a mortgage, comparing rates is important. However, what’s even more important is how you compare mortgage rates.…

Read More →

 Home Maintenance Checklist for First-Time Home Buyers
Under Contract
14 min read

Home Maintenance Checklist for First-Time Home Buyers

Your home is an investment that needs regular upkeep to protect you and your finances. Household maintenance is a skill many first-time home buyers…

Read More →

 15 Good Luck Plants To Bring Positive Energy to Your New Home
Under Contract
7 min read

15 Good Luck Plants To Bring Positive Energy to Your New Home

Plants pose a variety of benefits and have been celebrated for centuries. Horticulture therapy eases stress and increases feelings of well-being,…

Read More →

 What Is a Loan Origination Fee and Is It Negotiable?
Under Contract
4 min read

What Is a Loan Origination Fee and Is It Negotiable?

Several fees come along with a mortgage. One of the more typical is the loan origination fee charged by your lender for processing and, sometimes,…

Read More →

 10 Unique Ways to Make Money With Your New House
Under Contract
6 min read

10 Unique Ways to Make Money With Your New House

Homeownership can be a terrific financial opportunity. With each mortgage payment, you build home equity and create wealth for yourself. This is how…

Read More →

 How To Document Your Cash Gift For Down Payment
Under Contract
2 min read

How To Document Your Cash Gift For Down Payment

Nearly 25% of first-time home buyers down payment gifts to help buy a home, according to the National Association of…

Read More →

Ready to get started?

Finding your dream starts here. Apply in minutes.

Get Pre-approved
Homebuyer.com logo
Equal Housing Lender Member FDIC

About

Learn

Research

Tools

© 2021-2023 All rights reserved. Growella Inc d/b/a Homebuyer. Homebuyer.com is powered by Novus Home Mortgage, a division of Ixonia Bank, NMLS 423065. www.nmlsconsumeraccess.org Homebuyer is located at 230 Findlay Street, Cincinnati, Ohio 45202. Novus Home Mortgage, a division of Ixonia Bank, is located at 20225 Water Tower Blvd. Suite 400, Brookfield, WI 53045. We have no affiliation with the US Department of Housing and Urban Development, the US Department of Veterans Affairs, the US Department of Agriculture, or any other government agency. US Government agencies have not reviewed this information and this site is not connected with any government agency. Equal Housing Lender. Applicant subject to credit and underwriting approval. Not all applicants will be approved for financing. The receipt of the application does not represent an approval for financing or interest rate guarantee. Restrictions may apply.
Get Pre-approved »