Choosing whether to use a mortgage broker or go straight to a bank comes down to the structural differences between the two lending channels — brokers access multiple wholesale lenders and rate sheets, while banks are limited to their own. This guide by licensed originator Duane Buziak breaks down how each channel works so borrowers can make the right call for their specific financial situation.
HELOC Versus Bridge Loans: Which Fits Your Move?
Compare HELOC versus bridge loans with real timing, payment, lien, and underwriting math to finance a new home before your current property sells first.
Condo Mortgage Approval Requirements: A Step-by-Step Guide for Buyers
Buying a condo means meeting condo mortgage approval requirements on two fronts — your own borrower qualifications and the condominium project itself. This step-by-step guide explains what lenders evaluate for conventional, FHA, and VA condo loans, and how to avoid the building-level pitfalls that derail deals after you’re already under contract.
How to Calculate Mortgage Recast Payments Exactly
Learn to calculate mortgage recast payments, test lump-sum scenarios, and decide when recasting beats refinancing or investing your cash strategically.
7 Proven Strategies to Determine If Mortgage Points Are Worth It
Paying discount points can permanently lower your mortgage rate — but only if you stay in the loan long enough to recoup the upfront cost. This article walks through 7 proven strategies for using a mortgage points worth it calculator to accurately determine your break-even point, accounting for time horizon, opportunity cost, tax implications, and loan type.
Loan Estimate Review Before You Commit Funds
Use a loan estimate review to separate fixed costs, prepaid items, credits, and cash to close before a mortgage decision becomes expensive at closing.
Bankruptcy Waiting Period for a Mortgage: Chapter 7, Chapter 13, and the Fastest Path Back to Homeownership
The bankruptcy waiting period for a mortgage is finite and navigable — and shorter than most borrowers expect. This guide breaks down exact reentry timelines for FHA, VA, conventional, and USDA loans after both Chapter 7 and Chapter 13 filings, including extenuating circumstances exceptions and a strategic roadmap for rebuilding a fundable credit profile during the wait.
DPA Stacking Example for a $350,000 FHA Home
A DPA stacking example shows how FHA financing and a second-lien assistance program can cover cash needs, while exposing limits, payments, and risks.
FHA Loan vs Conventional Loan Comparison: 7 Strategies to Choose the Right Mortgage
This article delivers a detailed FHA loan vs conventional loan comparison across seven key decision factors — including credit score thresholds, down payment requirements, mortgage insurance rules, and long-term costs — helping homebuyers identify which mortgage program genuinely fits their financial profile. Written by licensed broker Duane Buziak, it provides actionable guidance rather than generic advice, backed by access to hundreds of wholesale lending options.
How Mortgage Points Break Even: Do the Math
Learn how mortgage points break even with a worked example, tax and refinance tests, and a clear framework for deciding whether to buy down a rate today.
