Lendmire Learning Center
Learning Center

Everything you need to know about getting a mortgage.

Guides, articles, and resources covering every step of the process — from first-time buyer basics to advanced investor strategies.

Start With Pre-Approval
Featured Guide
Essential Reading · 8 Min Read

How to get pre-approved for a mortgage.

Before you begin your home search, talk to a lender about getting pre-approved. This is the most important step borrowers skip — and the one that shapes everything that follows. We’ll walk you through what to expect, what documents you’ll need, and how long the process takes.

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The Fundamentals

The six things every borrower should know.

If you read nothing else on this site, read these six guides. They cover the questions every mortgage borrower asks — and the answers that shape every loan decision that follows.

I

How to get pre-approved

What a pre-approval letter actually means, what documents you’ll need, and how long it takes.

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II

Down payment explained

How much you really need, program minimums, and when smaller down payments make sense.

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III

Cash to close

The difference between down payment and cash to close — and what to expect at the closing table.

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IV

Loan types compared

Conventional, FHA, VA, USDA, and jumbo — what each is for and how to choose the right fit.

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V

Rate buy-downs

How points work, when they make sense, and how to think about the break-even math.

Read
VI

The timeline

From first offer to closing day — what each phase looks like and how long it really takes.

Read
Learning Center

Know before you borrow.

Guides, market insights, and scenario breakdowns from our licensed loan officers.

  • Demystifying The Mortgage Approval Process: A Step-by-step Guide For First-time Homebuyers

    Demystifying The Mortgage Approval Process: A Step-by-step Guide For First-time Homebuyers

    Demystifying The Mortgage Approval Process — An investor mortgage approval runs on the property, not your paycheck.

  • Understanding the National Association of Realtors

    Understanding the National Association of Realtors

    If you have considered buying or selling a home, you may have talked to a real estate professional about how they can help you with the process. A real estate agent is the most common term for professionals who represent buyers or sellers during this transaction. Real estate agents are required to be licensed in…

  • Navigating Homeownership: Know Your Needs

    Navigating Homeownership: Know Your Needs

    Navigating homeownership requires clarity about your needs and financial capacity before touring properties. You may think that the first step to buying a home is to make an offer. While that is an exciting milestone, there are plenty of things you need to consider and do before you are ready to sign on the dotted…

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Tools to move from reading to action.

Tool One

Mortgage calculator

Run the numbers on a purchase or refinance — including principal, interest, taxes, and insurance.

Calculate Tool Two

Get pre-approved

Start your pre-approval in under 30 seconds. A Lendmire specialist will follow up to finalize the details.

Start Tool Three

Browse programs

See every loan program Lendmire offers — from conventional to DSCR — and find the right fit.

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