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Homeownership Essentials

Our Resource Center is your one-stop destination for all things related to mortgages and homeownership. We understand that the world of home loans can be complex, and we’re committed to providing you with comprehensive, easy-to-understand information to empower your decisions.

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How to Choose the Right Christian Mortgage Lender

Finding “Christian mortgage lenders near me” shouldn’t feel like guesswork. The right lender will combine competitive mortgage pricing with faith‑driven ethics—clear communication, honest advice, and

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The Mortgage Process

Mortgage Do's & Dont's

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See your estimated potential monthly savings when your refinance your home.

Latest Articles

HomeownershipPurchase

How to Choose the Right Christian Mortgage Lender

Finding “Christian mortgage lenders near me” shouldn’t feel like guesswork. The right lender will combine competitive mortgage pricing with faith‑driven ethics—clear communication, honest advice, and...

MortgagesRefinance

It’s Time to Talk about Refinancing your Mortgage

Refinancing your home can come with many benefits including saving money on interest or consolidating other debt. The mortgage refinance team at Fellowship Home Loans...

Refinance

Is Refinancing the Right Option for your Future?

Are you stuck with high rate debt from credit cards? Good news… right now is the ideal time to refinance your home loan. You might...

Loan Tips

What Can We Learn from the Bible about Borrowing Money?

Based on recent reports from the financial sector, an estimated 80 percent of American households are currently in debt. On a national level, consumer debt...

Loan Tips

Why the Lowest Interest Rate Is Not Always the Best Rate

Most people want to know what they can do to get a lower interest rate. When a person thinks about all the ads that are...

Loan Tips

Multi-Family Dwellings vs Single-Family: Which One is the Better Investment?

Investing in real estate offers lucrative benefits. These investments can generate a steady flow of income, allowing owners to capitalize on their efforts and improve...

Loan Tips

Can You Buy a House After Filing Bankruptcy?

It may seem like a far-off dream to be able to purchase a home after a bankruptcy. After all, a bankruptcy does stay on a...

Loan Tips

What is an Escrow Account and How Does it Work?

Escrow is one of those terms commonly used in real estate that many people may not understand if they’re buying a home for the first...

Loan Tips

Don’t Waste Any More Money Renting – Get a Home Loan and Buy a Home!

Don’t Waste Any More Money Renting – Get a Home Loan and Buy a Home! For those of you renting, wouldn’t it be nice to...

Loan Tips

How to prepare to buy a house in 2023

Buying a house in 2023 will be both an exciting and daunting process. 2023 is the year that we believe potential home buyers will have...

Updates

Fellowship Philanthropy – De La Salle School

This Christmas has been amazing at Fellowship Home Loans. We are truly Blessed to be able to help and work with so many amazing people....

Loan Tips

Pre-Qualification Versus Pre-Approval

For buyers ready to start looking at homes, terms can get confusing, especially if this is a first-time home buyer. Pre-qualification and pre-approval are often...

Loan Tips

How to Make a Competitive Offer on a Home

In today’s market, even with the recent changes, sellers still have the upper hand. Any offer you put in needs to be as competitive as...

Loan Tips

Simple Steps to Pre-Qualify for a Loan

Pre-qualification provides buyers with insight into how much money they can borrow to purchase a home. It also gives them the chance to make sure...

Loan Tips

What is LTV and Why is It Important?

In financial terms, an LTV, or loan to value ratio, is a comparison between the size of a loan and the value of the asset...

Loan Tips

How Credit Inquiries Affect Your Credit Score

Window shopping can be a lot of fun, but when it comes to credit cards, mortgages, and other loans, potential homebuyers will want to make...

Loan Tips

Using a Home Equity Loan to Pay Off Your Mortgage?

A home equity loan is a loan that is secured using the equity in the home. This can be used for just about anything, such...

Updates

Government-Backed Mortgages Explained: What You Need to Know

There are many different types of mortgages to choose from when it comes to homeownership. Today, many homeowners will opt for a government-backed mortgage because...

Loan Tips

7 Ways a Loan Officer Helps You From Start to Finish

When buying a home, working with a loan officer may be optional, but it is a good idea. Loan officers are available to help clients...

Updates

Why Pastors Love Us

Now that the winter holidays have wrapped up (pun intended), many families come together in January and plan their finances for the next year. Pastors,...

Loan Tips

15 Year Mortgages: Are They Worth It?

The two most common types of mortgages are the 15-year and 30-year mortgages. While payments may be higher with a 15-year mortgage, it does allow...

Loan TipsUpdates

Things Most Veterans Don’t Know About VA Home Loans

For veterans, buying a home can be made easier by using a VA home loan. Unfortunately, all too many service members are not aware that...

Updates

Let the Breezes Blow!

Old man, winter is knocking on the door! He’s already forced his way in around the country. So before the breezes blast, it’s time to...

Loan Tips

Mistakes First Time Homebuyers Make – And How to Avoid Them

When the decision is made to buy a home, it’s all too easy to jump right in and start looking at homes for sale. Unfortunately,...

Loan Tips

How to Use a Mortgage for Tax Deductions

When most people think about mortgages, they consider how much they’re spending each month. What many don’t realize is that there is a way to...

Updates

Are You Talking to Me?

To everyone with an occasion to speak to an audience of one to one thousand, the following considerations might improve information retention. In that classic...

Updates

Home Sweet Home

As life returns to “normal” or at least a reasonable facsimile, we are reminded of things that carried us through the storm, also known as...

Loan Tips

Getting a Mortgage if You’re Self-Employed

When mortgage companies look at applications, they look for those who have a consistent income, as those applicants are more likely to be able to...

Loan Tips

What To Know About Buying a Vacation Home

It’s spring, and though travel has been curtailed for the last year, it’s now time to start thinking about where you’ll go and what you’ll...

Loan Tips

How to Protect Personal Information When Applying for a Mortgage

Shopping for a mortgage, especially if it’s your first time, can be exciting. It’s finally time to take the steps needed to purchase a home,...

Loan Tips

How to Save the Down Payment for a House

Buying a house is a big commitment, and you’ll need a down payment before you can purchase the home or obtain a loan. The bigger...

Loan Tips

Shop for a Mortgage Without Impacting Your Credit Score

A home is likely the biggest purchase someone will make in their life, and more often than not, they’re going to need a mortgage to...

Updates

Why Choose Fellowship Home Loans?

Buying a home isn’t something that’s done fast or without a lot of thought going into it. It’s something that you’re going to live in...

Loan Tips

What the Debt-to-Income Ratio is and How to Figure it Out

Buying a home can be a thrilling yet stressful process. For first-time homebuyers, there are a lot of new terms to understand before they start...

Loan Tips

Is it the Right Time to Refinance Your Mortgage?

Right now, a lot of homeowners and investors are talking about refinancing. But, how do you know if this is actually a good option? Not...

Updates

What is PITI? Mortgage Payments and Escrow Accounts Explained

Buying a new home is thrilling, but it can also be very confusing for new home buyers. Lots of acronyms are common in the mortgage...

Loan Tips

Everything You Should Know About Reverse Mortgages

Reverse mortgages are a special type of loan based on the equity of the home. Instead of getting money from a lender and making regular...

Loan Tips

Ways to Improve Your Credit Score to Purchase a Home

Purchasing a home with a mortgage requires a good credit score. Unfortunately, it’s all too easy for a credit score to be lower than expected....

Loan Tips

What You Need to Know About Refinance Loans

There’s a lot of talk about refinancing homes right now with all-time low interest rates. Refinancing can be an excellent option if you’d like to...

Loan Tips

Understanding Home Buying Lingo and Terminology

No matter if someone has bought a home before or they’re looking for their first home, the terminology used can be confusing. There is a...

Loan Tips

No Contact House Hunting

The COVID-19 crisis has dramatically changed the way society works but staying safe and healthy does not have to mean living with a less-than-perfect house....

Updates

An Important Message from Fellowship Home Loans

Fellowship Home Loans is open during this challenging time and welcome the opportunity to serve you. If we can assist you with a mortgage, cashback...

Updates

Tenth Avenue North – The Band We Will Miss Dearly

The band we all know and love, Tenth Avenue North, recently announced that they would be breaking up after a 20-year run. They plan to...

Updates

Should I Use My Tax Refund to Pay Down My Mortgage?

Approximately 80 percent of all Americans who file taxes receive a tax refund each year, with an average of about $3,000 each. While it’s possible...

Updates

Medical Debt Cancelled by Ohio Church

Crossroads Christian Church in Ohio has teamed up with RIP Medical Debt, a med debt nonprofit, to deliver $46.5 million dollars in miracles to 45...

Loan Tips

Considering Mortgage Refinancing Rates: When Is It Worth It?

The process of refinancing a mortgage means a person pays off their existing loan and replaces it with a new one. There are several reasons...

Loan Tips

Mortgage Pre-approval vs. Pre-qualification: Learn the Difference Before Shopping for a Home

Hopeful first-time home-buyers need to take their time as they select their home. The excitement of becoming a homeowner can cause people to rush the...

Loan Tips

Common Mortgage Questions Answered

Mortgages are complicated, but homebuyers need to know about their options. That’s why it’s a good idea to get those pressing Mortgage Questions Answered before...

Updates

What to Expect from the Housing Market in 2020

In 2020, the housing market is expected to heat up. Low mortgage rates are likely to boost the buyers’ market, resulting in increased competition as...

Loan Tips

The Ins and Outs of VA Loans

Veteran Affairs (VA) loans is an excellent way of giving back to the brave soldiers who serve and protect the United States of America. A...

Updates

Home Equity: What Is It and How do I Use It?

You may have heard that as a homeowner, building equity can be one of the smartest decisions you can make. Home equity is the difference...

Updates

The Real Wonder Woman!

Fellowship Home Loans is seeking help for a dear friend! Say hello to Joy your basic 11-year-old who loves the color pink, unicorns and Wonder...

Updates

Angel Armies July Update

Fellowship Home Loans continues to support Angel Armies in the fight against youth trafficking and homelessness. Check out the video for July and running totals....

Loan Tips

First Rate Cut in More Than A Decade!

Last week, The Federal Reserve lowered its benchmark interest rate for the first time since 2008 — a decision which led analysts to believe that...

Updates

Jacob Sloan Foundation’s first annual golf tournament

Fellowship Home Loans is proud to team up in support of the Jacob Sloan Foundation’s first annual golf tournament September 6th at the majestic Queenstown...

Loan Tips

First Time Home-buyer Mistakes to Avoid

A first-time home purchase can be exciting and a demanding process. To help you avoid some of the pitfalls along the way we have a...

Updates

Grand Slam!

A tip of the hat and a nod of great thanks is due to baseball superstar and legend, Albert Pujols, of the Los Angeles Angels....

Loan Tips

Rates Plummet… Savings Soar!

Mortgage rates are falling dramatically, which means millions more homeowners can now find benefit in refinancing their loans. The average rate on the popular 30-year...

Updates

Angel Armies-The Battle’s On!

A battle is raging in America. A fight our future depends on. A war we must win. Over 400 thousand kids are in foster care...

Updates

Carrey & Cruz Round Two

Star of The Mask, Jim Carrey and Texas Republican Senator Ted Cruz are facing off, again! Following a failed pro-abortion tweet about Alabama’s Republican Governor...

Updates

Senator Cory Booker calls thoughts and prayers “BS”

When it comes to the issue of gun control, 2020 Democratic Presidential Nominee Cory Booker argues that sending thoughts and prayers to the victims and...

Loan Tips

How To Cut Down the Term of Your Loan

Mortgage payments are one of the recurring monthly financial obligations that eat up a chunk of your savings. While purchasing a new home is...

Updates

A Fellowship Home Loan

Fellowship home loans provide loans for either the acquisition or refinancing of a home. They work with integrity to satisfy their client needs and that...

Updates

Buying a Home with a Budget

It is every family’s dream to own a home. Mortgaging a home is a preferred option for families and individuals with no upfront cash to...

Updates

Tips for the Millennial Home Buyer

Despite the recession of the economy that has caused struggles and frustrations in the real estate market, a first time home buyer should not...

Updates

What is Mortgage Insurance?

Owning a home is one of the greatest achievements you can ever make in a lifetime. However, at times, you may not be able...

Updates

Mortgage Fraud: What is it and How do I avoid it?

Fraud is a common problem in many different industries, but it’s a particularly big problem within the home buying and selling process since there...

Updates

Reverse Mortgage Seminar in New Jersey

Mike and Brian would like to see you in New Jersey on February 21st for our Reverse Mortgage Seminar! Learn ways to utilize your home value...

Updates

Does the 2019 government shutdown disrupt mortgage lending?

On 21 December 2018, the government shutdown started at midnight, and now we are four weeks into the current state of affairs. This makes it...

Updates

Top 10 First-Time Home buyer Myths – Debunked

Buying a home for the first time is a huge step that most of us encounter when Life dictates it. Whether it’s a job change,...

Updates

Understanding your FICO Score

Understanding your FICO score If you are looking forward to becoming a homeowner, you must evaluate your financing options. You may consider applying for...

Updates

What to Expect on Closing Day

What to bring to closing It is very important to have with you all the paperwork during the closing day. You will need to carry...

Updates

How To Cut Down the Term of Your Loan

In an ideal world, paying off your mortgage would be quick and easy. But unfortunately for most of us it’s going to take years, and...

Updates

Avoid Things That Could Go Wrong In Your Home Buying Process

Buying a home generally takes time and perseverance, but it’s easy to run into a # of Things that could go wrong in your home...

Updates

Learn About the Different Options for a Down Payment

While a 20% down payment is still the standard option, there are other options to consider. Potential homeowners should make sure they look through each...

Updates

How Can You Understand the Difference Between Interest Rate and APR?

Understanding the difference between interest rate and APR is crucial for individuals who are attempting to obtain a home loan. When someone is attempting to...

Updates

What to Ask Your Lender Before Choosing Them for a Mortgage

Choosing the right mortgage lender is crucial. The right lender offers a better deal, can make obtaining a mortgage much easier, and is going to...

Updates

What is a Loan Officer, and What Do They Do?

What is a loan officer? The answer to that question is a bit more complex than most people believe. Today’s loan officers are representatives of...

Updates

Tips on How to Improve Your Credit Before Buying a Home

Now more than ever, it is important for potential home buyers to prepare their credit for the mortgage application process. Cleaning up a credit report...

Updates

Considering Mortgage Refinancing Rates: When Is It Worth It?

When a mortgage is refinanced, the borrower pays off his or her current loan and replaces it with a new one. There are many reasons...

Updates

A Guide to the Benefits of Using a Direct Lender

Achieving a home financing goal is a momentous occasion, but with many options and so much information available, it may be hard to know where...

Updates

Buying a Home vs. Renting: Which Option is Right for You?

Renting a home is something most people do when they first move out of their parent’s home. Renting provides flexibility if they’re not sure where...

Loan Tips

How to apply for a mortgage in 2018

How to Apply for a Mortgage: What to Know and Which One to Choose Did you always dream that you’d be renting an apartment forever? ...

Updates

A Guide to Home Loans With No Down Payment

A Guide to Home Loans With No Down Payment Not so long ago, Home loans with no down payment were a popular financing option for...

Updates

3 Types of Home Loans You’ll Want to Know About

Purchasing a new home can be a thrilling experience! However, there is a lot that needs to be done before the new homeowner can get...

Updates

Bad Credit Home Loan – What Options Are Available?

Almost everyone makes a financial mistake now and then. When those mistakes add up, it impacts their credit score negatively. Eventually a person may be...

Updates

Are Closing Costs for a Refinance Tax Deductible?

What exactly is a mortgage versus a refinancing of your home? A mortgage is a legally bound, interest bearing contract between a home owner...

Updates

Difference Between Home Equity and Personal Loan

The ongoing debate over home equity vs. personal loans continues. Which is better? Put simply, neither is objectively better. But, there is likely one that...

Updates

203k Rehab Seminar in Maryland

Mike and Brian would like to see you in Baltimore on March 22nd for our 203k Rehab Seminar! Learn ways to have your house make you...

Updates

FHA VS. Conventional Loan

One of the big questions homeowners and potential buyers ask is, “Should I go FHA or Conventional and what are the pros and cons...

Updates

Announcing our Latest Sweepstakes Winner!!!

AND THE SWEEPSTAKES WINNER IS…………………. Earlene Becton from Washington DC!!! When asked what she was going to do without having to pay a mortgage for...

Loan Tips

Start your loan BEFORE you search for your home

Buying a home is a very big and important step and it should not be taken lightly. It is one of the biggest financial steps...

Updates

Fellowship Home Loans is different from large banks

As a mortgage loan officer for over 18 years I have seen both sides of the entire loan mortgage process from beginning to end with...

Updates

DIY Improvements to Boost Your Home Value

If you want to boost your home value, for any reason you may have, whether to simply feel more comfortable in it, or in order...

Loan Tips

The Dangers Of A Loan Modification

If you’ve ever been significantly behind on a mortgage then you’ve probably been offered a loan modification by your mortgage servicer. They tell you that...

Updates

Choosing The Right Reverse Mortgage Professional

Often times I am asked if I would recommend a reverse mortgage for one of my own family members. I think this is a great...

Loan Tips

Factors to Consider when Searching for a Loan

With several different loan products available, you want to choose an honest lender, that holds strong principles to work with to help find the program...

Loan Tips

PURCHASE OR REFINANCE AFTER FORECLOSURE

Since Fellowship Home Loans is a faith based lender, we take a different approach to the mortgage process. Whether you are refinancing, purchasing or just...

Loan Tips

The Pros and Cons of VA Home Loans

What are VA loans? What are pros and cons? With so many mortgage products available on the market, the Veteran’s Affairs have developed a specific...

Updates

Five Steps before Purchasing a Home

An aspect of the American dream is owning real estate. Buying a home can be combined with many emotions (happiness, excitement, worry, etc.)These emotions can...

Updates

Ravens Tailgate Party!

Fellowship Home Loans will be hosting a Baltimore Ravens tailgate party at the home opener on September 17th! Come by tents 4 and 5 starting...

Updates

The Metrics of Refinancing

What are lenders looking at to qualify you for a loan? By Senior Loan Officer – Thomas Rakeman With several different loan products available to...

Updates

How Does Refinancing Work?

What is a refinance? A refinance is a method used by an individual or company which allows them to revise the nature of their liabilities...

Updates

Home Improvements for Better Home Value

Maintaining your home in good condition and making some changes can add some value to your home. Certain projects can be costly and end up...

Updates

Three Reasons to Get a Mortgage Pre-Approval First

Buying a home has become something of a rite of passage. Because the purchase of a home is such an important part of creating personal...

Updates

Is Refinancing the right choice?

Similar to a living, breathing organism the realty market grows, evolves, expands, contracts, progresses, and backtracks. The environment around it impacts all of these variables....

Loan Tips

The 3 “C’s” to understanding Home Loans

Individuals don’t purchase a home every day. Although people move more frequently now than they did in the past, obtaining a mortgage is still a...

Updates

Achieve Your Dream – Purchase

If you’ve wanted to own your own home, there’s no better time than the present. Interest rates are at the most competitive they’ve been, allowing...

Updates

How to Choose a Trustworthy Lender

Buying a new home is a big deal. And a lot of money is involved. Your future is at stake. You deserve to pick the...

Updates

When, Why, and If Refinancing is Right for You

Are you stuck with high mortgage rates after the 2007 housing crisis? We have good news: right now is the ideal time to refinance your...

Updates

Fellowship’s Recent Real Estate Event

We invited real estate agents in the Baltimore area and had an amazing opportunity to meet all of them! At Fellowship Home Loans, we find it vital...

Updates

Buying a Home in 2017? Choose an Honest Lender

If your goal is to purchase a home in 2017, it is still an excellent time to lock in a great deal on a mortgage....

Updates

Fellowship Sponsors 15th Annual Prayer Breakfast

Fellowship Home Loans was blessed to have had the honor of sponsoring the 15th annual Prayer Breakfast in Washington DC Saturday March 18. Even though...

Updates

Ditch The Stress!

Home Loan Preapproval is Tough! If you’re in the home purchase or home refinance process you’ve probably experienced the stressful experience of gathering pay stubs, tax,...

Updates

FHL is Sponsoring Daughter-Daddy Dance

For those of you in the Seattle, WA area, Fellowship Home Loans is a proud sponsor of the annual Spirit 105.3 event, Ties & Tiaras....

Updates

5 Financing Tips for Your Next Mortgage

The process of purchasing your first or next home can be exciting and also occasionally overwhelming. There’s a lot to consider and plan for...

Loan Tips

Four Tax Deductible Closing Costs to Save You Money

Everyone has heard about the dreaded closing costs when purchasing or refinancing a home. You’re considering how much to put down on the house, figure...

Updates

The Home Loans Mortgage Sweepstakes is Back!!!

All of us here at your favorite lender is proud to announce that we have decided to bring back our incredibly popular home loans mortgage...

Updates

Seasons Greetings and Happy New Year!

As we wrapped up 2016 (and also wrapped lots of presents!) and prepared to usher in the New Year, we took some time to share...

Loan Tips

How to Get the Best Mortgage Rate in 2017

With Trump soon to enter office and anticipated interest rate increases, you’ve probably heard that many things are about to change… including mortgage rates. Well,...

Updates

How the Trump Presidency Impacts You Financially

In a previous blog post we addressed that no matter which candidate wins, there will be a change in the rates and the way we...

Updates

Join Us at the Free Small Business Expo

We’d love to see you at the Small Business Expo on Thursday, November 10th. It’s free to attend, just register online and we’ll see you...

Loan Tips

How to Apply for a Mortgage

Honestly now, did you always dream that you’d be renting an apartment forever? There is nothing quite like the feeling of owning your own home....

Loan Tips

How To Cut Down the Term of Your Loan

In an ideal world, paying off your mortgage would be quick and easy. But unfortunately for most of us it’s going to take years, and...

Updates

How Will the Election Affect Loans?

As the presidential race draws closer to Election Day it’s natural to start wondering how the outcome of this campaign might affect you. From a...

Updates

Update on the Newsboys Concert Giveaway

Here at Fellowship Home Loans, we truly believe that giving back is one of the foremost responsibilities of any person. Our success is not without...

Loan Tips

10 Mortgage Lender Tips for Homeowners

For current and potential home buyers in 2016 With the economy continuing to improve and mortgage interest rates sitting near record lows, 2016 is an...

Updates

Warm Words on Our Home Loans

We are still beaming with love and gratitude from the Fellowship Home Loans Sweepstakes, and now our smile is even bigger thanks to Kim and...

Updates

Our 3rd Mortgage Sweepstakes Winner!

As we have seen through our last three winners of this sweepstakes, blessings can be paid forward in a multitude of ways; from buying groceries...

Updates

Our 2nd 2016 Mortgage Sweepstakes Winner!

The radio announcer, Scott from Star 99.1 FM, called Irene on the phone to deliver the exciting news. Irene was ecstatic to win, saying “I...

Updates

Home Loans Success is When Everyone Wins

We help ourselves by helping others, to pass on the goodness in life and help as many people as possible actualize their dreams. Buying a...

Updates

Home Loan Rates Tell Us ONE Thing. Now is the time!

If you’re in the home loan market to purchase or refinance, the Federal Reserve has probably been on your mind lately. Rates have sat at...

Updates

The Most Competitive Home Loan Company

So much of what we do here at Fellowship Home Loans is focused on helping. We see our role in the world as mission to...

Updates

Mortgage Rates Drop!

We all know that the Lord works in mysterious ways. The Fed increased the prime rate back in December which in most cases, would have...

Updates

Letter to Mike and Brian

As most of you know, we announced our latest Mortgage Sweepstakes winner recently. It’s truly a blessing to help our neighbors with a promotion like...

Updates

Mortgage Sweepstakes Winner!

The winners of the sweepstakes are Linda and Therese Decarlo of Westwood NJ. Linda submitted a sweepstakes entry for her mother. Here is the Audio...

Updates

Our Lending Approach

The broad answer is that the approach we take on each and every loan is different from that of a regular lending institution. Other banks...

Updates

FHA or Conventional loan….which suits you?

Whether you are refinancing your existing mortgage or purchasing a new home, the 2 most popular mortgages are your FHA and Conventional loans. You may...