Mortgage News & Insights
The Reno & Tahoe Mortgage Journal
Straight answers on buying, refinancing, and the Northern Nevada market, written by Art Loera.
Market Updates
Reno Tahoe Mortgages Weekly Update
Mortgage rates and housing market news
Tap for key points
In this article
- What is happening with local elections and their potential impact on housing?
- Are there any new developments in renewable energy that could affect housing costs?
- What is the current state of affordability for renters in Las Vegas?
Buying a Home
Down Payment Myths: Separating Fact from Fiction
Twenty percent down is a choice
Tap for key points
In this article
- What is the minimum down payment required for a mortgage?
- How do down payment assistance programs work?
- What are the benefits and drawbacks of putting twenty percent down?
Buying a Home
Understanding Closing Costs
Closing costs explained
Tap for key points
In this article
- What do closing costs typically include?
- How are closing costs disclosed to the borrower?
- How do closing costs affect the amount of cash needed at closing?
Buying a Home
The First-Time Buyer Roadmap in Northern Nevada
Step by step guide to buying a home
Tap for key points
In this article
- What are the first steps in the mortgage application process?
- How do I get pre-approved for a mortgage?
- What are the different types of mortgage options available?
Buying a Home
What Pre-Approval Really Means
Pre-approval vs pre-qualification
Tap for key points
In this article
- What is the difference between pre-approval and pre-qualification?
- What gets verified during the pre-approval process?
- How do sellers view pre-approval letters?
Market Updates
Mortgage and Housing Market Update
Fed rate hike
Tap for key points
In this article
- What does the Fed rate hike mean for borrowing costs?
- How will the Fed rate hike affect the housing market?
- What are the implications of the rate hike for mortgage payments?
Mortgage 101
Mortgage Basics for the Self-Employed
Mortgage income documentation for self-employed
Tap for key points
In this article
- How do lenders calculate my income when I'm self-employed?
- What financial documents do I need to provide as a self-employed borrower?
- How do lenders view my business debt when I apply for a mortgage?
Market Updates
Mortgage and Housing Market Update
Housing market news
Tap for key points
In this article
- What is happening with low-income housing in the US?
- Are there any positive trends for homebuyers in the current market?
- What are the current mortgage rates and how do they affect the housing market?
Mortgage 101
The Documents to Gather Before You Apply
Gather necessary documents
Tap for key points
In this article
- What income documents do I need to provide?
- What asset documents do I need to provide?
- What credit documents do I need to provide?
Mortgage 101
Debt to Income, Explained Simply
Understanding DTI ratio
Tap for key points
In this article
- Why Lenders Care About DTI
- Calculating DTI
- Importance of DTI for Home Buyers
Buying a Home
The Home Appraisal Process
Home appraisal step by step
Tap for key points
Mortgage 101
Escrow Accounts Explained
Understanding escrow accounts
Tap for key points
In this article
- How Escrow Accounts Work
- Taxes and Insurance Payments
- Importance of Escrow Accounts
Refinancing
When a Refinance Review Makes Sense
Life changes may signal a refinance review
Tap for key points
In this article
- Changes in Financial Priorities
- Changes in Property Value
- Exploring Options
Mortgage 101
Understanding Rate Locks in the Mortgage Process
Learn about rate locks
Tap for key points
Market Updates
Reno and National Housing Market Update
Mortgage rates ease
Tap for key points
Mortgage 101
Credit History and Mortgage Options
Credit history impacts mortgage options
Tap for key points
In this article
- Understanding Credit Reports
- Building a Strong Credit Profile
- Maintaining Good Credit Habits
Loan Programs
VA Home Loans in Nevada: A Complete Guide for Veterans
Zero down, no monthly mortgage insurance, and a government guarantee: the VA loan is the most powerful tool many Nevada veterans never use. Here is how it works and who qualifies.
Tap for key points
In this article
- What a VA loan actually is
- The advantages that set it apart
- Who qualifies in Nevada
Buying a Home
How Much House Can You Afford in Reno?
Affordability in Reno is not a number on a calculator. It is where your income, debts, down payment, and full monthly payment line up. Here is how lenders actually decide, and how to find your real number.
Tap for key points
In this article
- The 28/36 guideline, and what it really means
- What is actually inside that monthly payment
- The four levers you actually control
Nevada & Local
Reno, Sparks, or Tahoe? Where to Buy in Northern Nevada
Where you buy in Northern Nevada shapes your whole life here. A local rundown of Reno, Sparks, the outlying towns, the Carson Valley, and Tahoe, and how to choose the right one.
Tap for key points
In this article
- Reno: a different city in every direction
- Sparks: value, community, and room to grow
- The outlying towns: where your dollar goes furthest
Market Updates
How to Actually Read the Reno Housing Market
There is no single housing market, only yours. Here is how to read the Reno, Sparks, and Tahoe markets, why timing rarely works, and what actually moves your buying power.
Tap for key points
In this article
- The only market number that truly matters is yours
- Reno, Sparks, and Tahoe are not the same market
- What actually moves your buying power
Loan Programs
FHA, VA, USDA, or Conventional? Which Fits You in Nevada
There is no single best loan, only the one that fits you. Here is the plain-language breakdown of FHA, VA, USDA, conventional, and jumbo, and who each one is actually for in Nevada.
Tap for key points
In this article
- Conventional loans: the default for most buyers
- FHA loans: built for the buyer who is still building
- VA loans: the best deal in mortgage lending, if you earned it
Refinancing
When Does Refinancing Your Reno Home Actually Make Sense?
Refinancing is not free, and it is not always the right move. Here is how to tell whether it pays off for you, the three main types, and the one Reno myth that quietly costs people money.
Tap for key points
In this article
- What refinancing actually is
- The three reasons people refinance
- The break-even test that tells you the truth
Buying a Home
How to Buy a Home in Reno: The Step-by-Step Timeline
From your first conversation to the day you get keys, buying a home in Reno usually takes 30 to 45 days. Here is exactly what happens at each step, and where buyers get stuck.
Tap for key points
In this article
- Step 1: Get pre-approved before you look at a single house
- What if your credit is not perfect?
- Step 2: Find your agent and start shopping
Mortgage 101
Nevada's Home Is Possible Program, Explained
Plenty of buyers have heard the name Home Is Possible but cannot say what it does. Here is the plain version, the good and the not so good, including the rate question.
Tap for key points
In this article
- What Home Is Possible actually is
- Are the rates the same as other programs?
- The honest pros
Mortgage 101
What You Actually Need to Buy Your First Home in Reno
Most first-time buyers in Reno believe they need 20 percent down. They almost never do. Here is the honest math on what it actually takes.
Tap for key points
In this article
- The 20 percent myth
- The help most people leave on the table
- The real costs, so nothing surprises you
Reno & Nevada Market Snapshot
Live data, updated automatically
Reno median list price$645,450-2.2%
Nevada median list price$480,000-1.8%
Reno active listings1,499+0.4%
Reno days on market54+5.9%
Source: FRED. As of 2026-09-01
This Week in Nevada History
A look back at the Silver State
October 20, 1846
The Donner Party Rests in the Truckee Meadows
In late October 1846, the Donner Party camped in the Truckee Meadows, near present-day Reno, to rest their oxen before crossing the Sierra. The delay proved costly when early snows trapped them in the mountains, a story that marked the emigrant trail era forever.
Source: National Park Service
