Mortgage Resources For Borrowers

LendFriend Mortgage publishes mortgage calculators, weekly rate alerts, The REcap market newsletter, and a Learning Center covering home purchases, refinances, and specialty financing. Every tool is free and built to help you compare loan options before you apply. Borrowers deciding where to apply can also weigh how mortgage brokers compare with banks on pricing and program access.

A calculator produces an estimate from the price, down payment, rate, taxes, insurance, and HOA dues you enter, so the result is only as precise as those inputs. Final terms depend on credit, income documentation, property type, and loan size, and pricing on a jumbo loan follows different guidelines than a conforming mortgage. The math behind a purchase budget is illustrated in how much house you can afford with a $100K salary.

Start with the break-even point: the closing costs of the new loan divided by the monthly savings. A mortgage refinance also closes out your existing escrow account, and the refund timeline is covered in what happens to your escrow account when you refinance. Homeowners who prefer to preserve cash can consider a no-closing-cost refinance, which trades a slightly higher rate for lower upfront expense.

Non-QM loans qualify borrowers with documentation other than W-2s and tax returns, which suits business owners, investors, retirees, and high-net-worth buyers whose finances do not fit agency guidelines. Self-employed borrowers often use a bank statement loan, which calculates income from 12 or 24 months of deposits, and the underwriting process is explained in how lenders review your bank statements. Program and pricing differences across the market are compared in the best mortgage lenders for Non-QM loans in 2026.

Yes. High-net-worth and retired borrowers may be able to qualify with an asset depletion mortgage, which converts eligible brokerage, retirement, and other liquid assets into qualifying income without requiring you to sell them. Eligible account types, seasoning, and reserve rules are detailed in the asset depletion mortgage requirements for 2026. Buyers holding appreciated positions often pair this approach with the strategies in how high-net-worth buyers avoid capital gains tax when buying a home.

Investors can qualify on a property's rental income rather than personal income with a DSCR loan, and the DSCR calculator on this page estimates the coverage ratio before you apply. Rates, leverage, and minimum ratios across the market are compared in the best DSCR loan lenders for 2026. Owners of existing rentals will find the options for lowering a rate or taking cash out in the DSCR refinance guide.

LendFriend Mortgage is licensed in 18 states: California, Colorado, Connecticut, Florida, Georgia, Idaho, Illinois, Maryland, Michigan, New Hampshire, New Jersey, North Carolina, Ohio, Oregon, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas and Virginia. Each state page covers local programs, loan limits, and market conditions. Non-QM programs are also available at the state level, including asset depletion loans in Florida, bank statement loans in Texas, and DSCR loans in California.