How to Read a Loan Estimate Form: A Step-by-Step Walkthrough for Comparing Loan Structures
This step-by-step walkthrough shows you how to read a loan estimate form, from confirming the basics on page 1 to weighing costs against how long you plan to keep the home. Mortgage broker Duane Buziak turns the three-page document into a practical decision tool, so you can judge whether a loan’s structure truly fits your plans.
Earnest Money Deposit Refund Conditions: When You Get It Back and When You Don’t
Whether your deposit comes back depends on your contract’s contingencies and deadlines, not on good intentions. This guide explains the earnest money deposit refund conditions that protect you, the mistakes that forfeit your deposit, and how to choose your level of risk deliberately before you make an offer.
7 Strategies to Choose Between a Correspondent Lender and a Direct Lender (and Why a Broker Changes the Math)
Choosing between a correspondent lender vs direct lender comes down to program access, underwriting rules, closing control and total cost rather than the label. This guide walks through seven strategies for matching your loan to the right channel, with a worked dollar example, a program-fit comparison and a look at where an independent broker changes the math.
7 Strategies to Document Proof of Income for Independent Contractors Applying for a Mortgage
Strong proof of income for independent contractors depends on choosing the right documentation path, not just earning enough. This guide walks 1099 borrowers through seven strategies, from building a two-year tax return trail to bank statement and DSCR loans, so you can match your income to the mortgage program that fits your situation.
How to Use a Cash-Out Refinance for Debt Consolidation: A Step-by-Step Decision Guide
A practical guide to cash out refinance for debt consolidation.
Closing Disclosure Changes After Signing: What Can Change, What Can’t, and What to Do
This guide explains how closing disclosure changes after signing work: which late changes trigger a new three-business-day wait, which need only a corrected document, and what becomes fixed once you sign the note. It includes a worked $5,000 example, a loan program comparison, and practical steps to protect your closing date.
Appraisal Gap Coverage Clause Explained: Should You Offer One in a Competitive Market?
This appraisal gap coverage clause explained guide breaks down how the clause commits your own cash to cover a low appraisal, what it can cost in real dollars, and how to decide whether offering one makes sense in a competitive market. It includes practical guidance from Duane Buziak, NMLS #1110647.
How to Use a Home Affordability Calculator With Taxes and Insurance to Set a Budget You Can Live With
This guide shows how to use a home affordability calculator with taxes insurance, mortgage insurance, and HOA dues to turn your income, debts, and savings into a realistic monthly housing budget and price range. It walks through seven steps, from choosing a loan program to stress-testing the payment with a worked example.
Home Equity Line of Credit Requirements: What Lenders Actually Check
This article breaks down the actual home equity line of credit requirements brokers check during underwriting, covering credit profile, combined loan-to-value ratio, and debt-to-income together with a worked qualifying example. It also compares HELOCs against other equity-access programs so homeowners can see how the pieces fit before applying.
How to Get Pre-Approved for a Home Loan: A Step-by-Step Guide
This step-by-step guide explains how to get pre approved for a home loan, from checking your credit and debt-to-income ratio to gathering documentation and matching your finances to the right loan program. Readers finish with a lender-issued pre-approval letter and a clear understanding of which mortgage strategy actually fits their situation.