Anna Miller

Welcome to the SmartAsset Mortgage Dictionary. Below you will find a glossary of popular terms explained in plain English. No need to thank us, this is just what we do. Compare refinance mortgages APR Annual percentage rate: This number allows you to make comparisons between loans offered by different lenders by giving you the total… read more…

Once you have decided that you would like to buy a home, the first thing you need to do is figure out how to ‘finance’ the purchase. This means deciding how much of your savings you are going to use as a down payment, how much money you want to borrow (the mortgage) and choosing… read more…

There are some bad feelings about mortgage brokers left over from the housing bubble and what seems to be at the root of the issue is a dearth of honest advice. Indeed, working with a broker isn’t always easy and sometimes their interests don’t correspond with your own. On the other hand, working with brokers can… read more…

You probably already know that the interest rate you pay is among the most important factors contributing to the cost of your mortgage.  The lower the interest rate you can get, the better for you and your finances.  You may also know that points have something to do with the interest rate you end up getting with… read more…

When you buy a home or other piece of real estate, you’ll have to deal with certain taxes and closing costs and the real estate transfer tax is one of these costs. Whenever there is an exchange of real estate, the… read more…