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Asset-Based Mortgage Loans for High-Net-Worth Borrowers
Assets can sometimes help a lender assess mortgage qualification when a borrower's income does not tell the whole story. The answer depends on the account, the loan program and the full application. Having substantial savings or investments alone does not mean a mortgage is approved, and the assets may not all co
How to Prepare Bank Statements for a Mortgage Review
Prepare bank statements for a mortgage reviewSelf-employed borrowers often ask whether bank statements can help explain income that looks different on a tax return or pay stub. A bank statement mortgage review is specific to the lender and loan program. No published deposit percentage, credit-score threshold, loa
ITIN Mortgage Planning: Questions to Ask
ITIN mortgage planningAn Individual Taxpayer Identification Number (ITIN) is issued by the IRS for federal tax purposes when a person needs a U.S. taxpayer identification number and is not eligible for a Social Security number. An ITIN by itself does not establish mortgage eligibility, immigration status, or work
Archived Mortgage Rate Promotion (December 2022)
Archived notice: This mortgage rate promotion was published in December 2022 and has expired. It is retained at its original address for readers following an old link. The rate, payment example, and eligibility details from that promotion are no longer an offer and should not be used to estimate current financing
One-Page Bank Statement Mortgage: What to Verify
One-page bank statement mortgage questionsA one-page bank statement mortgage offer may sound simpler than a conventional income review, but the phrase is not a universal program rule. A lender may use selected bank-statement information as one part of its review and still request other records about the borrower,
How to Check New Jersey Property and School Taxes
Reviewed October 2026. The school portion of a New Jersey property-tax bill depends on the municipality, the applicable year's local budgets, the tax rate and the property's assessment. A statewide figure or a 2018 news table cannot tell you what one home owes today. Check the address and tax year Find the pr
2020 Conforming Loan Limits: Historical FHFA Update
Historical update: This article records the conforming loan limits announced for 2020. The amounts below are not current loan limits and should not be used to plan a new application. What FHFA announced for 2020 In its November 26, 2019 announcement, the Federal Housing Finance Agency (FHFA) set the 2020 base
How Federal Reserve Decisions Affect Mortgage Rates
Mortgage rates can move after a Federal Reserve announcement, but the Fed does not directly set the rate on a mortgage. Mortgage pricing is influenced by the bond market, inflation expectations, economic conditions, the loan program, and the borrower's financial profile. That means mortgage rates can rise, fall,
DACA and FHA Loans: Current Eligibility Rules
Policy update — reviewed October 13, 2026: This page originally reported a 2021 FHA policy that has since changed. DACA status or work authorization by itself no longer establishes eligibility for an FHA-insured mortgage. For FHA case numbers assigned on or after May 25, 2025, HUD removed the non-permanent-resi
Joseph Pisa – Best Mortgage Broker in NJ
There is no better place or person to have something as important as your home mortgage inspected than by Joseph Pisa of North Star Home Funding. What a great guy and expert in the field.
Get Pre-Approved for a Mortgage: What the Letter Means
If you want to get pre-approved for a mortgage, a preapproval letter can help you shop for a home, but it is not a promise that the loan will close. It states that a lender is tentatively willing to lend up to a stated amount based on information and assumptions reviewed so far. The letter may help a seller evalu
Archived Rate Commentary: Two-Month Low
Archived market commentary: This page formerly discussed a period when mortgage rates had reached a two-month low. Its original publication date could not be verified from the migrated record. The earlier article's day-by-day market observations are historical and should not be read as a current rate quote or for