A mortgage is a loan that you take out to finance the purchase of a home. It is a long-term loan typically repaid over several years. The property you purchase serves as collateral for the loan, and if you fail to make the mortgage payments, the lender can foreclose on the property.

Several factors come into play when determining mortgage eligibility. These include your credit score, income, employment history, debt-to-income ratio, and the amount of your down payment. Lenders also consider the property’s appraisal value and condition.

A fixed-rate mortgage has a set interest rate that remains unchanged throughout the loan term. This means your monthly mortgage payments will also remain consistent. In contrast, an adjustable-rate mortgage (ARM) offers an initial fixed-rate period, after which the interest rate can fluctuate based on market conditions.