30-year fixed loan

By James A Thom

[post_date format=”F j, Y”] • 5 minute read

See if it’s perfect for me

Key Features You Can Rely On

Fixed Interest Rate
Your rate won’t change for the entire loan term. Predictable.
Low Down Payment Option
You might buy with as little as 3% down.
Lower Monthly Payments
A longer term often means more manageable monthly payments.
No Prepayment Penalty
Pay your mortgage off early without any extra fees.

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Understanding the guidelines

These are general pointers. If they sound like you, let’s talk—no pressure. We’ll explore if this loan is your best fit or find one that truly matches your goals.

Loan purpose

Use this loan to buy a home or refinance your current one. We guide you through both.

About refinancing

Credit profile

Lenders typically look for a score of 620+. Let’s review your credit picture together.

About credit score

DTI ratio

Your DTI (monthly debts vs. gross income) should ideally be under 50% to manage new payments.

About DTI ratios

Closing costs

Plan for closing costs. These are fees for loan services, separate from your down payment.

About closing costs

Estimate Your Possibilities

Use our calculators to explore numbers and understand what might work for you.

See My Matches

Real guidance. No pressure.

Cut through the noise of the mortgage process. Get direct, no-pressure, real answers and expert guidance here, helping you move confidently from homebuyer to homeowner.

The Real Talk: Before you even think about numbers, let’s talk about you. What are your hopes for this home? Is it a starter home, a place to grow your family, or an investment in your future? What does your budget feel like, not just what a calculator says? What are your must-haves versus nice-to-haves? Getting clear on your “why” and your practical needs first makes all the other steps much smoother.

Our Help: We provide resources and questions, including our unique “Home Persona & Financial Feel™ Worksheet,” to help you think through these initial, crucial considerations. No pressure to apply, just honest conversation starters.

The Real Talk: Let’s be honest, talking about money can be uncomfortable. But knowing where you stand is empowering. This means looking at your income, your debts (student loans, credit cards, car payments – we see it all, and it’s okay!), your savings, and your credit report. Understanding this landscape helps us figure out what’s realistically possible and comfortable for you.

Our Help: We’ll explain how lenders look at these factors in plain English. We can point you to resources for checking your credit score for free. If there are bruises on your credit, we can discuss common credit report nuances, potential strategies for improvement, and connect you with non-profit credit counseling resources if deeper strategies are beneficial before you formally apply, if that’s what you prefer.

The Real Talk: There isn’t a “one-size-fits-all” mortgage. There are different types of loans (FHA, Conventional, VA, USDA, etc.), each with its own quirks, benefits, and requirements. A pre-approval gives you a realistic price range for your home search and shows sellers you’re a serious buyer. It’s like getting a green light to start shopping.

Our Help: We’ll walk you through the different loan types in a way that makes sense for your situation. We’ll explain the pre-approval process step-by-step, what documents you’ll likely need (like pay stubs, W2s, bank statements), and what that pre-approval letter actually means – and what it doesn’t mean; for example, a pre-approval isn’t a final loan guarantee if your financial situation changes or the property appraisal doesn’t align. Our goal is to find the loan that truly supports your homeownership dreams.

The Real Talk: This is where the fun really begins! But it can also be emotional. You might fall in love with a place that needs work, or face competition from other buyers. Having that pre-approval in hand gives you confidence. When you find “the one,” making an offer involves more than just a price – it includes things like contingencies (inspections, financing) that protect you.

Our Help: While we don’t show you homes, we’re here to answer financing questions that come up. “Can I afford this if it needs a new roof soon?” or “How does a bidding war affect my loan?” We offer a “Rapid Offer Financial Review” to help you quickly understand how different offer scenarios (e.g., escalation clauses, appraisal gap coverage) might impact your loan parameters and overall strategy.

The Real Talk: Once your offer is accepted, we move into the formal loan approval process, often called “underwriting.” This is where our team meticulously verifies all your financial information, orders an appraisal to ensure the home’s value supports the loan, and clears any conditions. It can feel like a waiting game with requests for “just one more document.” It’s normal, and we’ll keep you in the loop.

Our Help: We’ll be your main point of contact, explaining any requests from the underwriters and keeping you updated on progress. Our team proactively reviews your file for common underwriter queries before submission, aiming to minimize back-and-forth. We aim for transparency – you’ll know where things stand and what’s needed next as we work behind the scenes to make this as smooth as possible.

The Real Talk: This is it – the finish line! You’ll sign a lot of documents (and we mean, A LOT). You’ll pay your closing costs and down payment. It can feel like a whirlwind, but at the end of it, those keys are yours.

Our Help: We provide a personalized “Closing Cost Walkthrough” call to review your specific Closing Disclosure (CD) line-by-line, ensuring you understand every fee before you sit down at the signing table, so there are no last-minute surprises. We’ll coordinate with the title company and real estate agents to ensure a smooth closing.

The Real Talk: Our relationship doesn’t end when you get the keys. Homeownership comes with new questions – about property taxes, homeowners insurance, maybe even refinancing down the road if rates change or your financial situation evolves.

Our Help: Think of us as your long-term homeownership resource. As a client, you’ll receive our annual “Home Equity & Market Review” summary, helping you track your investment and understand refinancing or HELOC opportunities as your needs evolve. We’re happy to answer questions, provide guidance, and celebrate your milestones with you because we’re invested in your success as a homeowner.