Articles
How Much Equity Do You Need for a HELOC
Most lenders want you to have at least 15% to 20% equity in your home before they will approve a HELOC. Some specialty HELOC lenders go up to 85% combined loan-to-value (CLTV), meaning you can borrow against everything except 15% of your home’s value. A few will stretch to 90% or even 100% CLTV, but ... Read more
Is HELOC Interest Deductible?
Sometimes yes, sometimes no. HELOC interest is tax deductible in 2026 only if you use the money to buy, build, or fix up the same home that backs the HELOC. If you use the money for other things, like paying off credit cards or going on vacation, you cannot deduct the interest. The Simple Rule ... Read more
Can You Use Your IRA to Purchase a Home?
Purchasing a home is one of the most significant financial decisions a person can make. For many, saving for a down payment or finding financing options can be challenging. One potential source of funds is an Individual Retirement Account (IRA). People ask us all the time if they are allowed to use an IRA to ... Read more
Can You Get a Home Loan with Credit Card Debt?
Yes, you can get a home loan with credit card debt in 2026, but the amount of debt and how it affects your debt-to-income (DTI) ratio determines whether you qualify and at what rate. Conventional loans backed by Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac allow DTI up to 50% with automated underwriting, FHA loans permit up ... Read more
How to Calculate Debt to Income for Mortgage Qualification
To calculate debt to income for a mortgage, add up your monthly debt obligations (housing, credit cards, auto loans, student loans, child support, and other recurring payments) and divide that total by your gross monthly income, then multiply by 100. Lenders use this DTI ratio to determine how much mortgage you can afford. In 2026, ... Read more
How Does a Home Equity Loan Work for Home Improvements?
The 2026 Guide to Using Home Equity to Remodel By John Tappan | NMLS# 394171 A home equity loan for home improvements lets you borrow against your home’s accumulated equity as a fixed-rate lump sum, repaid on a set schedule of 5 to 30 years. Most lenders in 2026 allow you to borrow up to ... Read more
How Soon Can You Refinance a FHA Loan?
By John Tappan | NMLS# 394171 How soon you can refinance a FHA loan depends on which refinance product you choose. The FHA Streamline Refinance requires a 210-day waiting period from your current loan’s closing date, six on-time payments, and at least six months since your first payment due date. The FHA rate-and-term refinance requires ... Read more
Do You Pay PMI on a USDA Loan?
By John Tappan | NMLS# 394171 No, USDA loans do not require traditional private mortgage insurance (PMI). However, USDA borrowers do pay a similar cost called the USDA guarantee fee, which has two parts: a 1.00% upfront fee charged at closing and a 0.35% annual fee paid monthly for the life of the loan. The ... Read more
How Long Is an FHA Appraisal Good For?
An FHA appraisal is valid for 180 days from the appraiser’s effective date. If the loan does not close within that window, the lender can order an appraisal update that extends validity to one full year from the original effective date. This rule comes from HUD’s Single Family Housing Policy Handbook 4000.1 and FHA Mortgagee ... Read more
How Long After Bankruptcy Can I Get an FHA Loan?
You can get an FHA loan 2 years after a Chapter 7 bankruptcy discharge or 12 months after starting your Chapter 13 trustee payment plan with court approval. The Chapter 7 wait is measured from the discharge date, not the filing date. The Chapter 13 wait does not require discharge — you can qualify while ... Read more
Can You Buy a Duplex With an FHA Loan?
Yes, you can buy a duplex with an FHA loan in 2026. The FHA 203(b) program lets you purchase a 2-unit property with just 3.5% down at a credit score of 580 or higher, as long as you live in one of the two units as your primary residence for at least one year. Duplexes ... Read more
DSCR Home Equity Loan vs. Non-QM HELOC
When leveraging home equity, borrowers often consider Debt Service Coverage Ratio or DSCR home equity loans and Non-Qualified Mortgage or Non-QM Home Equity Lines of Credit or HELOCs. Both financing options provide liquidity using home equity but cater to different borrowers and financial situations. Understanding their differences helps investors and homeowners choose the right option. ... Read more
CDFI Loans
How to Apply for a CDFI Loan in California in 2026 A CDFI loan is a mortgage, business loan, or other financing product originated by a Community Development Financial Institution—a specialized lender certified by the U.S. Treasury’s CDFI Fund to serve low-income, underbanked, and historically underserved borrowers and communities. CDFI loans cover home purchase, refinance, ... Read more
Can You Get a Home Equity Loan on a Condo?
Home equity loans are a popular way for homeowners to tap into the value of their property, but can condo owners take advantage of this financial tool as well? The answer is yes—though obtaining a home equity loan for a condo comes with unique considerations. Whether you need an equity loan on primary residence or ... Read more
DSCR vs. Conventional Mortgage
When purchasing a property, selecting the right home financing option is crucial to ensuring financial stability and long-term success. Two common types of home mortgages that real estate investors and homebuyers consider are Debt Service Coverage Ratio (DSCR) loans and conventional mortgages. BD Nationwide has been helping home buyers and real estate investors find the ... Read more
Can I Get a HELOC Loan in Texas?
If you live in Texas and own a home, you may want to take out equity for a major purchase, such as home renovations. In the Loan Star State, you can get a Texas HELOC or home equity loan to access the cash you need, but there are certain rules that lenders must follow that ... Read more
Are Non-QM Loans Safe?
For the right borrower, non-QM loans are a safe, well-regulated, and time-tested financing option in 2026. The “non-qualified” label refers to a loan’s regulatory classification, not to loan quality or borrower risk. Non-QM loans still require lenders to verify a borrower’s ability to repay, and a decade of data shows cumulative default rates near 3.8% ... Read more
Land Loan Guide
How to Finance Raw Land, Lots, Farms, and Commercial Acreage in 2026 Land loans in 2026 are available for nearly every property type raw land, improved lots, hobby farms, recreational acreage, agricultural ground, and commercial parcels, but they price 1% to 3% above conventional mortgage rates and require 20% to 50% down depending on the ... Read more
No Doc Commercial Real Estate Loan Guide
Yes, no doc commercial real estate loans are available in 2026, but the term “no doc” today means no income documentation, not zero paperwork. Modern no doc commercial loans verify the property’s cash flow, the borrower’s credit and equity, and the entity structure—but waive personal tax returns, W-2s, and DTI calculations entirely. Expect LTV ceilings ... Read more
Reverse Mortgages Guide
Reverse mortgages offer seniors a way to unlock their home equity without selling their property or taking on monthly mortgage payments. There is a lot of misconceptions about reverse mortgages that we hope to clear up for the senior homeowners in this article. What Are the 3 Types of Reverse Mortgages? There are three main ... Read more
