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Homebuying help
A plain-English guide to the mortgage, document, offer, escrow, and closing terms that tend to come up while preparing to buy a home.
Homebuying process
Follow the path from lender prep and search through offers, escrow, closing, and keys.
Budget and payments
Understand monthly payment, cash to close, down payment, taxes, insurance, and closing costs.
Mortgages
Compare common mortgage types and the lender checkpoints around pre-qualification and pre-approval.
Escrow, title, and closing
Clarify purchase escrow, mortgage escrow, title work, closing money, signing, funding, and possession.
People involved
Know who usually handles what across agents, lender, escrow, insurance, and transaction coordination.
Common starting points
Pre-qualification
Usually an early lender conversation based on information you provide. Useful for planning, but weaker than a reviewed pre-approval.
Pre-approval
Typically involves more lender review and documentation. Sellers and agents often treat it as a stronger signal.
Homeowners insurance
Insurance for the property and certain losses. Lenders usually require it before closing, and quotes can affect the monthly payment estimate.
This is a general reference, not mortgage, legal, tax, or insurance advice. Exact requirements vary by lender, loan program, contract, state, and property.