Tips, trends and insights for homebuyers like you.
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Can I Get a Mortgage With a 580 Credit Score?
Key Takeaways What the Federal Housing Administration (FHA) permits at a 580 credit score FHA loans are built around the 580 credit score line. In fiscal year 2025, the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) insured 87,846 FHA loans for borrowers with credit scores from 580 to 619. That was 10.7% of the… Read more
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2025 mortgage interest rate forecast
See how Tomo Mortgage’s head of Capital Markets breaks down the latest mortgage rate forecasts, predictions, and outlooks for 2025. Read more
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How Many Veterans Use VA Loan Benefits?
The Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) guaranteed 528,340 home loans in fiscal year 2025, a 26.9% increase over fiscal year 2024’s 416,376, according to VA’s 2025… Read more
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How to Refinance With a VA IRRRL: Step-by-Step Guide
Refinancing with a VA Interest Rate Reduction Refinance Loan (IRRRL) takes six steps: confirm eligibility, pass the net tangible benefit test, verify your payment history, shop… Read more
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Nonbank Lenders Originate Two-Thirds of All U.S. Mortgages. Here’s Why
Nonbank lenders, mortgage companies that are not banks or credit unions, originated 64.2% of home purchase loans in the United States in 2025, against 30.1% for… Read more
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Mortgage Rate Lock: When to Lock, How Long, and Float-Down Options
A mortgage rate lock is a lender commitment to hold your quoted interest rate for a defined period, regardless of what the market does before closing.… Read more
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Does Tomo Mortgage Offer VA Loans?
Tomo Mortgage offers VA purchase loans and VA refinancing for veterans, active-duty service members, and eligible surviving spouses, available in 40 states and Washington, D.C. (confirm… Read more
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VA Funding Fee 2026: How Much It Costs and Who Is Exempt
The VA funding fee is 2.15% of the loan amount for a first-time VA loan with less than 5% down, or $8,600 on a $400,000 loan.… Read more
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How Much Does a $0 Origination Fee Save You?
A $0 origination fee saves you the full amount another lender would otherwise charge, typically 0.5% to 1% of your loan amount. On a $400,000 loan,… Read more
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Is E-Closing Legal in My State?
E-closing your conventional, FHA, VA, or jumbo loan with a remote online notarization (RON) is legal in most states as of 2026. In states without a… Read more
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Can I Use a VA Loan More Than Once?
VA home loan benefits can be used multiple times throughout a lifetime, with no hard cap on the number of uses. The most common path is… Read more
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Can You Get Pre-Approved for a Mortgage Completely Online?
Full digital preapproval is available online from lenders including Tomo Mortgage. A preapproval typically involves a lender reviewing your credit and financial information to estimate how… Read more
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Who Qualifies for a VA Loan? Eligibility Requirements Explained
You qualify for a VA loan if you meet one of the VA’s service requirements: 90 consecutive days of active duty during wartime, 181 days during… Read more
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Online Lender vs. Traditional Bank: Mortgage Rate and Fee Comparison
Online mortgage lenders typically offer lower rates and fees than traditional banks, because they operate without a branch network and pass the lower overhead cost per… Read more