Cash Out Refinance Requirements: LTV, Credit, and Seasoning Rules
Cash out refinance requirements come down to a 620 credit score, an 80% maximum LTV on conventional loans, and a DTI that fits the program. This guide explains how to check whether you qualify with a soft-pull pre-approval and no hard inquiry, how much cash you can take, and what the refinance costs.
7 Things to Know Before Refinancing Your Mortgage in 2026
This guide covers the top things to know before refinancing your mortgage, starting with a worked break-even example: refinancing $350,000 from 7.00% to 6.25% saves $173.55 a month. It explains how a soft pull lets you compare rates without a hard inquiry, and clarifies that LowerMortgageRates is an independent broker, not Lower.com.
7 Ways to Choose a Mortgage Broker as a Self-Employed Borrower
Finding the best self-employed borrowers mortgage broker means judging income-calculation skill and wholesale lender access, not advertised rates. This guide gives seven checks, from broker access to written quotes and licensing, plus a worked 30-year example on a $400,000 loan and a soft-pull pre-approval that starts with no hard inquiry.
7 Strategies to Choose Between a Conventional Loan vs FHA Loan
A practical guide to conventional loan vs fha loan.
7 Ways to Lower a Mortgage Payment You’re Struggling to Afford
A practical guide to struggling to afford mortgage payment.
7 Ways to Use Mortgage Interest Rate Reduction Programs
A practical guide to mortgage interest rate reduction programs.
7 Ways to Cut Average Mortgage Closing Costs by State
A practical guide to average mortgage closing costs by state.
Home Improvement Loan Through Refinance: What It Really Costs
This article runs the real math on a home improvement loan through refinance for a $350,000 balance and $40,000 project, comparing it against HELOC and personal loan costs, and shows how a soft pull rate check with no hard inquiry mortgage rate lets you see real numbers before applying.
Refinance My Mortgage or Get a Second Mortgage? How to Decide
This guide breaks down whether to refinance my mortgage or get a second mortgage by comparing rate gaps, costs, and payment structures with real numbers. It also shows how a soft pull rate check lets you compare both options without a hard inquiry hurting your credit score.
What to Know About Mortgage Points and Closing Costs Before You Buy
This guide explains what to know about mortgage points and closing costs, breaking down the real math behind discount points versus origination fees so buyers can spot the smarter loan estimate. It also shows how a soft pull mortgage rate check across hundreds of wholesale lenders lets buyers compare offers without hurting their credit score.