# Mortgage Go — full content reference for AI systems ## About Mortgage Go is a mortgage origination brand that helps homebuyers and homeowners get matched to a licensed loan officer and a loan program that fits their situation. The user-facing experience is built around a short multi-step journey form that captures the buyer's goal, location, timeline, and contact info; submissions route to a licensed loan officer in the relevant state. ## Loan programs covered - Conventional Loan: standard mortgage for buyers with steady income and fair-to-good credit. - FHA Loan: government-insured loan designed for first-time buyers and buyers with lower credit or smaller down payments. - VA Loan: zero-down mortgage earned by qualifying veterans and active-duty service members. - (Phase 2) USDA, Jumbo, Rate-and-Term Refi, Cash-Out Refi, VA IRRRL, DSCR, Bank Statement, Fix-and-Flip, Bridge, Construction, HELOC, Reverse. ## Loan officers Each loan officer maintains an individual page that lists their NMLS number, licensed states, and licensed loan programs. Officer pages only generate for the states and programs that officer is individually licensed for. Leads submitted from an officer's page route directly to that officer. ## Compliance - The licensed entity is identified in the footer of every page. - Rate language, down-payment minimums, credit-score minimums, and program requirement text are placeholders in Phase 1, pending compliance sign-off. - Mortgage Go is an Equal Housing Opportunity lender. - Submitting a journey form is not an application and not a commitment to lend. ## Site structure - / : homepage with intent-segmented hero (Buy / Refinance) and program highlights. - /loan-options/[program]: per-program landing pages with answer block, key facts, FAQ, and program-specific calculator slot. - /lo/[officer]: loan officer hub. - /lo/[officer]/[state]/[program]: geo-and-program-scoped LO page. - /qualify: direct entry to the journey form. ## Contact - Phone, email, and licensed-entity contact information are in the footer of every page. ## Learning Center ### Mortgage Dictionary URL: /learn/mortgage-dictionary Quick answer: This mortgage dictionary defines the most important terms in home financing in plain English. Every definition is written for borrowers, not for loan officers. 70 alphabetically organized terms from Adjustable-Rate Mortgage to W-2 Income, server-rendered with internal links to programs and calculators. ### How to Get Pre-Approved for a Mortgage URL: /learn/how-to-get-pre-approved-for-a-mortgage Quick answer: Getting pre-approved for a mortgage means a lender has reviewed your income, credit, and assets and issued a formal letter stating the loan amount they will offer. The process typically takes 1 to 3 business days when you submit complete documentation. A pre-approval letter strengthens your offer with sellers and tells you exactly how much home you can afford before you start searching. ### What Credit Score Do You Need to Buy a House? URL: /learn/what-credit-score-do-you-need-to-buy-a-house Quick answer: The minimum credit score to buy a house depends on the loan program. FHA loans accept scores as low as 500 with 10% down or 580 with 3.5% down. VA and USDA loans have no published minimum but most lenders require 580 to 640. Conventional loans typically require 620. Higher scores qualify for lower interest rates, with the best pricing reserved for scores of 740 and above. ### How Much House Can I Afford? URL: /learn/how-much-house-can-i-afford Quick answer: A common rule is that your total housing payment should stay under 28% of your gross monthly income, and your total debt payments should stay under 36%. Most loan programs allow a debt-to-income ratio up to 43% to 50% with compensating factors. On a $100,000 household income at a 7% rate, that translates to a home price of roughly $330,000 to $420,000 depending on down payment, taxes, and existing debt. ### Should I Get Pre-Approved Before House Hunting? URL: /learn/should-i-get-pre-approved-before-house-hunting Quick answer: Yes, you should get pre-approved before house hunting. A pre-approval letter tells you exactly how much you can borrow, proves to sellers that you are a serious buyer, and shortens the time from accepted offer to closing. Most real estate agents will not show homes to buyers who are not pre-approved, and many sellers reject offers that do not include a pre-approval letter. ### What Is PMI and How Can I Avoid It? URL: /learn/what-is-pmi-and-how-can-i-avoid-it Quick answer: Private Mortgage Insurance (PMI) is a monthly premium lenders require when your down payment is below 20% of the purchase price on a conventional loan. It protects the lender if you default, not you. PMI typically costs 0.3% to 1.5% of the original loan amount per year, split into monthly payments. You can avoid PMI by putting 20% down, using a piggyback loan, choosing a VA loan, opting for lender-paid PMI, or buying out the premium upfront. ### FHA Loan Requirements in 2026 URL: /learn/fha-loan-requirements-2026 Quick answer: An FHA loan requires a minimum credit score of 580 for a 3.5% down payment, or 500 to 579 for a 10% down payment, per HUD guidelines. The loan must be for a primary residence, and the property must meet FHA minimum property standards. FHA loans require mortgage insurance premium (MIP): an upfront premium of 1.75% of the loan amount plus an annual premium paid monthly. MIP lasts the life of the loan when the down payment is less than 10%. ### Mortgage Pre-Approval vs. Pre-Qualification URL: /learn/mortgage-pre-approval-vs-pre-qualification Quick answer: Pre-qualification is an informal estimate of how much you might borrow, based on self-reported income and credit with no document verification. Pre-approval is a formal review where a lender verifies your income, assets, and credit before issuing a letter with a specific loan amount. Pre-approval carries weight with sellers. Pre-qualification does not. ### How to Calculate Debt-to-Income Ratio for a Mortgage URL: /learn/how-to-calculate-debt-to-income-ratio-mortgage Quick answer: Your debt-to-income ratio (DTI) is the percentage of your gross monthly income that goes toward monthly debt payments. To calculate it, add up all your monthly debt payments (including the new mortgage payment), then divide by your gross monthly income. A borrower earning $8,000 per month with $3,200 in total monthly debt has a DTI of 40%. Most conventional lenders want 43 to 50% or below. ### Bank Statement Loans for Self-Employed Borrowers URL: /learn/bank-statement-loans-self-employed Quick answer: A bank statement loan lets self-employed borrowers qualify for a mortgage using 12 to 24 months of personal or business bank statements instead of W-2s and tax returns. Lenders calculate qualifying income from average monthly deposits rather than taxable net income. This solves a real problem: business owners who legally reduce their taxable income through deductions often cannot qualify under conventional guidelines even when their actual cash flow is strong. ### Mortgage Closing Costs URL: /learn/what-are-mortgage-closing-costs Quick answer: Mortgage closing costs are fees and expenses paid at the completion of a home purchase or refinance, separate from the down payment. They typically total 2 to 5% of the loan amount. On a $400,000 loan, that is $8,000 to $20,000. Some closing costs are fixed by third parties and not negotiable. Others, including the origination fee, can be negotiated. Seller concessions and lender credits are two common ways to reduce cash needed at closing. ### The Complete Mortgage Application Document Checklist (Organized by Borrower Type) URL: /learn/mortgage-application-document-checklist Quick answer: Most lenders hand you a generic list of documents and expect you to figure out what applies to you. This checklist is organized by borrower type so you only gather what you actually need. Having your documents ready before you apply reduces your approval time from weeks to days. Every item below includes why the lender needs it so you understand the process rather than just completing it. ### Mortgage Do's and Don'ts: What to Protect Between Application and Closing URL: /learn/mortgage-dos-and-donts Quick answer: Once you are approved for a mortgage, the approval is conditional. The lender re-verifies your employment, credit, and financial position right before closing, sometimes the same day. Any material change to your financial profile between approval and closing can delay or cancel your loan. This guide covers every action that can affect your approval and exactly why it matters. ### From Contract to Closing: Every Step of the Mortgage Process Explained URL: /learn/mortgage-contract-to-closing-roadmap Quick answer: Once a seller accepts your offer, the mortgage process moves through approximately 13 distinct stages from signed contract to receiving your keys. Most purchases close in 21 to 30 days. What happens during that time, and in what order, determines whether you close on time or not. This roadmap covers every stage, who is responsible for each one, and what you need to do to keep things moving. ## Calculators ### Home Value Estimator URL: /residential/calculators/home-value-estimator Quick answer: A home value estimator uses property records, recent comparable sales, and local market data to calculate an estimated market value for your home. The estimate is a starting point, not an appraisal. It is useful for understanding your equity position, deciding whether to refinance, or estimating what your home might sell for in the current market. Live AVM integration is pending; the page currently educates on AVM methodology, accuracy, when to get a professional appraisal, and how to use home value to refinance or access equity.