Reverse Mortgage
HECM for Purchase Down Payment: Sourcing Rules and Seasoning Requirements (2026)
HECM for Purchase down payment rules in 2026: acceptable sources, the 6% IPC cap after FHA's April 2024 change, and 12-month seasoning explained.
All guides
Refinancing
MCC Reissuance After a Rate-and-Term Refinance: 2026 Rules, Deadlines & IRS Conditions
MCC reissuance rules for 2026: preserve your federal mortgage tax credit after a rate-and-term refinance, meet the 1-year deadline, and avoid cash-out traps.
FHA Refinance
FHA Streamline Refinance on an Investment Property: The Owner-Occupancy Exception in 2026
FHA lets you streamline a converted-rental FHA loan in 2026 — but only under strict rules on occupancy, seasoning, principal-balance cap, and NTB. Here's how.
FHA & Streamline
FHA Streamline Refinance Owner Occupancy Certification Rules (2026 Guide)
FHA streamline refinance owner occupancy rules for 2026: how primary, HUD-approved secondary, and non-owner classes work and what docs your lender needs.
Cash-Out
Cash-Out Refinance on Inherited Property in 2026: Title, Lien and Occupancy Rules
Conventional cash-out lenders waive the six-month title-seasoning requirement for inherited property. Here is how the 2026 title, lien and occupancy rules work across conventional, FHA and VA financing.
Cash-Out
FHA Cash-Out Refinance Seasoning in 2026: The 12-Month Rule Explained
Understand FHA cash-out refinance rules for 2026, including 12-month ownership and occupancy, mortgage payment history, exceptions and Streamline differences.
FHA Loans
FHA 203(k) Refinance in 2026: Limited vs Standard, Limits and Process
Compare Limited and Standard FHA 203(k) refinancing in 2026, including the $75,000 cap, loan limits, MIP, eligibility, draws and costs.
VA & IRRRL
VA IRRRL on a Manufactured Home in 2026: Term Limits, Seasoning and What Lenders Add On Top
Learn the 2026 VA IRRRL rules for manufactured homes, including seasoning, 36-month recoupment, the 0.5% funding fee, term limits and lender overlays.
Rate & Term
Rate-and-Term Refinance After a Loan Modification: 2026 Seasoning Rules by Program (FHA, VA, USDA, Conventional)
How long you must wait to refinance after a loan modification in 2026 — FHA, VA, USDA, and conventional rules, payment history traps, and the Flex Mod balloon.
HELOC
HELOC Fees After Closing in 2026: Annual, Inactivity, Draw, Minimum-Draw, and Early-Closure Charges by Lender
HELOC ongoing fees in 2026: annual, inactivity, per-draw, minimum-draw, and early-closure charges by lender, plus how to spot and avoid each one.
FHA & Streamline
FHA Case Number Transfer Between Lenders: How to Switch FHA Streamline Lenders in 2026
Switching FHA streamline lenders in 2026? See how the case number transfer works, HUD's 5-day standard, fees, appraisal handoff, and how to escalate stalls.
HELOC
Home Equity Loan Prepayment Penalty Rules by State (2026): Federal Caps, State Bans and Texas’s Constitutional Rule
Federal law caps home equity loan prepayment penalties at 3 years. Some states ban them entirely. Texas prohibits them constitutionally. Full 2026 breakdown.