Mortgage documents, explained
Know what your mortgage paperwork is telling you.
Loan Estimate vs. Closing Disclosure: what to compare
Compare your Loan Estimate and Closing Disclosure: loan terms, monthly payments, closing costs, and cash to close. Know which questions to ask.
Read the guide →How to read your mortgage statement
Find your mortgage balance, payment breakdown, due date, escrow, fees, and payment history. Learn what to check when your statement changes.
Read the guide →Why did my mortgage payment increase?
Understand payment changes caused by escrow, taxes, insurance, rate adjustments, or fees, and gather the documents needed to check the explanation.
Read the guide →How to compare Loan Estimates from different lenders
Compare mortgage offers using the same loan amount, term, rate-lock assumptions, points, lender credits, and closing costs—not just the monthly payment.
Read the guide →How to read a Loan Estimate, page by page
Read all three pages of your Loan Estimate: loan terms, projected payments, closing costs in sections A–J, and the In 5 Years, APR, and TIP comparisons.
Read the guide →Got an escrow shortage letter? What it means and your options
An escrow shortage means your account is below its target balance. Learn how a shortage can be repaid, why your payment changed, and which bills to check.
Read the guide →Why did I get an escrow refund check from my mortgage servicer?
An escrow refund check usually means your annual analysis found a surplus. Learn when it must be refunded, what to verify, and what it means for your payment.
Read the guide →Got an ARM rate adjustment notice? What to check
Read your adjustable-rate mortgage notice: when it should arrive, how the index and margin set the new rate, which rate caps apply, and which numbers to verify.
Read the guide →HELOC draw period ending? What changes and what to check
When a HELOC draw period ends, borrowing stops and repayment begins. Learn how your payment can change, when a balloon payment may apply, and what to ask.
Read the guide →How to read a mortgage payoff statement
A payoff statement shows what it takes to pay off your mortgage by a set date. Learn how the good-through date, daily interest, fees, and escrow fit together.
Read the guide →How to read Form 1098, the mortgage interest statement
Understand each box on Form 1098: mortgage interest, outstanding principal, refunded interest, mortgage insurance premiums, points, and property details.
Read the guide →Mortgage transferred to a new servicer? What to check
Got a mortgage servicing transfer notice? Learn what it must include, where to send payments, how the 60-day late-fee protection works, and how to avoid scams.
Read the guide →General education from Lighthouse Companies, LLC. Sources are linked in each guide. Your documents and circumstances determine what applies to your loan.