Preparing to buy a house

Get answers to common home-buying questions as you start down the path toward becoming a homeowner.

Featured articles

How much house can I afford?

What is down payment assistance?

What credit score do you need to buy a house?

Prequalification helps you see how much you might be able to borrow.

Prequalify

Mortgage calculators

Mortgage affordability calculator

Mortgage payment calculator

Rent vs. buy calculator

Down payment calculator

Additional articles

How much should my down payment be?

What to ask before you start house shopping

Myths about buying a home

Decoding the 5 C’s

What to know when buying a home with your significant other

How I did it—Bought a home without a 20% down payment

How to build and maintain a solid credit history and score

Rent vs. buy: Is buying a better option than renting?

How do I make an offer on a house?

Quiz: How prepared are you to buy a home?

Beyond the mortgage: Other costs for homeowners

Uncover the cost of building a home

Explore additional resources if you’re at a different stage in your home-buying journey.

The mortgage process

Closing on your house