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Resources & Guides
Plain-English answers to the questions we get every week — from VA construction nuances and builder selection to refinance math and program-by-program comparisons.
How to Choose a Home Builder: Questions to Ask, Red Flags, and How to Check
Your builder matters as much as your loan. Here's how to choose one: the types of builders, the questions to ask, how to check the answers, and the red flags we see from the lender's side.
October 17, 2026
Construction Loan and Home Builder Glossary: Key Terms in Plain English
The words you'll hear when you choose a builder and finance a new home, defined in plain English, from fixed price vs. turnkey to draws, lien waivers, and warranties.
October 17, 2026
The $131,734 Question: Why We Can't Build Our Way to Affordability With Regulation Costs This High
Government regulation now adds $131,734 to the price of a new home — up more than 40% since 2021. A look at NAHB's updated study and what it means for housing affordability.
June 17, 2026
Forbearance & Loss-Mitigation Recovery — When Can You Qualify for a New Mortgage?
COVID forbearance, loan modification, payment deferral, repayment plan — how each loan program (Fannie, Freddie, FHA, VA, USDA) treats post-hardship recovery for new mortgage eligibility. The 3-payment rule, the FHA cash-out gotcha, VA's explicit COVID protections, and the strategy for clearing fastest.
May 28, 2026
Foreclosure, Short Sale & Deed-in-Lieu Seasoning by Loan Program
How Fannie, Freddie, FHA, VA, and USDA each treat foreclosure, short sale, and deed-in-lieu seasoning — with the extenuating-circumstances shortcuts most lenders won't volunteer. Side-by-side comparison plus the strategy for which program clears you fastest at each timeline marker.
May 28, 2026
Student Loan Payments by Loan Program — Fannie, Freddie, FHA, VA, USDA
How each major loan program calculates your qualifying student-loan payment for DTI — Fannie's 1% rule, Freddie & FHA's 0.5% rule, VA's 5% rule plus the deferment loophole, and USDA's strict fixed-payment-only test. With the documentation that unlocks the lower numbers.
May 28, 2026
Bankruptcy Seasoning by Loan Program — Chapter 7 vs Chapter 13
How Chapter 7 and Chapter 13 bankruptcy seasoning compares across Conventional (Fannie + Freddie), FHA, VA, and USDA — including the extenuating-circumstances shortcuts and which program fits your timeline.
May 28, 2026
VA Entitlement for Construction Loans: How It Works and How to Restore It
Learn how VA entitlement powers $0 down construction loans, how to restore it, and what to know if you want to use it more than once.
May 13, 2025
Who Pays the Interest During Construction? Understanding Your Options
Not all construction loans handle interest the same way. Here’s how each option works—and why PRMI uses the builder-paid model.
May 1, 2025
Include a Contingency in Your Construction Loan to Avoid Budget Surprises
One-time close loans don’t allow changes mid-build. Here’s why including a contingency could save your project—and your budget.
April 22, 2025
Why You Should Choose a Builder Before Buying Land
Thinking of buying land first? Here’s why choosing your builder first can save you money, time, and a lot of construction headaches.
April 15, 2025
Understanding the Construction Loan Draw Process: What to Expect During Your Build
What happens after your construction loan closes? Learn how draws work, what lenders look for, and how to avoid surprises.
April 9, 2025
Are VA Construction Loans Really Harder for Builders? What Builder's & Veterans Need to Know
VA vs conventional construction loans—what builders need to know before starting. Is it really harder? Let’s break it down
March 28, 2025
