Mortgage Research Network

Major mortgage agency removes 620 minimum credit score for conventional loans. Do you qualify?

Fannie Mae Scraps 620 Minimum Credit Score. Will More Applicants Be Approved? It's the end of the 620 minimum credit score for Fannie and Freddie. But that doesn't mean a free for all.

Here's what experts are saying about 2026 mortgage rates. Will rates go down next year?

2026 Mortgage Rates Forecast According to Experts Major agencies expect rates to hover around 6.2% in 2026. On-the-ground industry experts say this sideways rate movement will help balance the market.

Heard of HUD $100 Down Homes?
HUD offers foreclosed homes for just $100 down.
Learn how to find these homes and check your eligibility.

HUD Homes $100 Down: Is This Program For Real? HUD homes $100 down program can make you a homeowner with very little money out of pocket. See if you qualify for this program.

How much do you have to make to qualify for a $200k, $300k, or $400k home?

We did the math. Here's what you might be able to afford.

Income Needed to Buy a $200k, $300k, and $400k House

Parents can buy a home for their college student for less than it costs for dorm life.

Mortgage Research Network analyzed home prices near 121 colleges and universities and found that at 23 schools, buying a house beats room and board, financially speaking.

Buying a home involves more than saving for a down payment. Hidden costs like inspections, appraisals, and fees can add up to 5–7% of the purchase price. Read this article to learn what to expect and how to prepare.

Hidden Costs of Buying a House Upfront costs of buying a house can add up to 5-7% of the home's price, not including the down payment. But there are ways to minimize out-of-pocket costs.

The surge in home prices over the last two years has been an advantage for consumers who want to take advantage of their property’s equity and use the proceeds for renovations, education or to pay down debt. See how you can use your home's equity:

Ready to tap into your home equity? How to compare cash-out refinances, home equity loans and HELOCs. A surge in home values means mortgage lenders and banks can offer owners larger cash-out refinances, home equity loans and HELOCs. Here’s what you need to know.

Mortgage rates in the U.S. reached the highest level since 2008, after gaining almost three-quarters of a percentage point since the beginning of June, according to a Freddie Mac report:

Mortgage Rates Hit a Nearly 14-Year High. Here's The Silver Lining for Homebuyers. Higher interest rates and slowing home sales have tipped real estate into a “buyers market” after two years of sellers calling the shots.

Almost a quarter of home sellers had to drop their property’s listing price in May, signaling a run-up in mortgage rates has softened demand for real estate, according to a Redfin report.

Housing Shows Signs of Shifting From a Seller’s Market to a Buyer’s Market, Redfin Says “Sellers are losing control of the housing market," Redfin's deputy chief economist said.

U.S. companies added 390,000 jobs in May, beating the expectations of economists and giving the Federal Reserve support for continuing the monetary tightening it began in March.

May’s Jobs Increase Exceeds Expectations, Supporting Fed’s Tightening Path The economy added 390,000 jobs in May, giving leeway to Federal Reserve policymakers to pursue an aggressive plan to tighten monetary policy.

Consumer confidence in the housing market dropped to the lowest level since the early months of the Covid-19 pandemic, according to a Fannie Mae report on Monday.

Consumer Sentiment Toward Housing Falls to 2-Year Low, Fannie Mae Says Consumer confidence in the housing market dropped to the lowest level since the early months of the Covid-19 pandemic, according to a report on Monday.

Home loan rates rose this week to the highest level in nearly 13 years after the Federal Reserve hiked its benchmark rate and laid out a plan to reduce the almost $6 trillion in Treasuries and mortgage bonds it purchased in the first two years of the pandemic.

Mortgage Rates Spike to a 13-Year High as Fed Cites Plan to Offload Bonds The average U.S. rate for a 30-year fixed mortgage rose to the highest level since August 2009, Freddie Mac said in a report.