Online mortgage lenders, web marketplaces, new brokers and non-bank lenders are all trying to make it easier to get a mortgage.

Mortgages from the Department of Veterans Affairs are known for not requiring a down payment. So why in the world would you make one? Here are five good reasons to put some money down on a VA loan.

The misdeeds of a few rogue bankers in London are going to cause headaches for millions of American home buyers and homeowners.

It is often said that home ownership builds wealth. So, what is home equity, and how can it enhance your net worth?

Perhaps you feel more at home surrounded by pastures than pavement. If so, buying a home might be well within reach, thanks to the U.S. Department of Agriculture mortgage program. In fact, the USDA might have one of the government’s least-known mortgage assistance programs.

VA loans play an important role in putting our military-serving citizens into a home of their own.

A mortgage with no down payment seems a little bit like scoring a buy-a-home lottery ticket.

The impulse to just pay up and move in is understandable, but you wouldn’t buy a car or a TV without researching prices on other, similar products. Same goes here. And cutting these costs even a little could help you buy a new stove or outfit the nursery.

Hurricanes can impact the housing market just as easily as the homes themselves.

There may be more ways than you think to chip away at your monthly payment.

Spoiler alert: Everything. It's everything.

A financial emergency doesn't have to break you. Or your bank

You've taken the hit. These lenders are here to help you recover as quickly as possible.

Learn from their example. It's possible to turn your credit around.

Spoiler alert: Any way you can.

You can refinance or recast your mortgage. Or you can create your own DIY mortgage restructuring plan. We compare so you can decide.

Private mortgage insurance is unavoidable for some homeowners, but don’t pay PMI premiums a day longer than required by your lender.

Classic advice — with a few modern twists for today’s homeowners.

Mortgage recasting is one way to reduce your monthly mortgage payments. It’s less common than refinancing or modifying a loan, and it’s rarely advertised, but it decreases mortgage payments for those who can apply a lump sum toward their loan’s principal.

If your house is worth more than the remaining balance on your mortgage, you’ve got equity. If you’re lucky enough — or smart enough — to be in that situation, here’s how you can turn that equity into spending power.