If you’re serious about buying a home, it’s the first thing you should do.

Before most house hunters can close the deal, they need to qualify for a mortgage. Learning how to apply for a mortgage in advance — and breaking the process down into digestible steps — can help ...

Truth is, not all credit checks work the same way. Some won’t touch your score at all, while others create inquiries that stay on your report for years. Understanding how soft and hard credit pulls ...