Homebuyer topics starting with C
33 guides, comparisons, calculators, and mortgage terms from The Homebuyer's Knowledge Center — written for people who have never bought a home.
- California homebuyer guideGuide6 minLoan limits, assistance programs, taxes, and closing customs in California.
- Can gift funds be used for a down payment?Guide6 minYes — but the documentation and source rules are strict. Here's exactly how to receive and document a gift.
- Can I afford a home making $100,000 a year?Guide8 minA $100K salary opens most of the market — here's the price range, monthly payment, and program pick that actually fits.
- Can I afford a home making $150,000 a year?Guide8 minAt $150K, the question shifts from 'can I' to 'should I' — here's how to size the right payment and pick the smartest program.
- Can I afford a home making $50,000 a year?Guide7 minA realistic look at the price range, monthly payment, and loan program a $50K salary actually supports in 2026.
- Can I afford a home making $75,000 a year?Guide7 minThe real 2026 answer on price range, monthly payment, and loan programs for a $75K household income.
- Can I buy a house after a divorce?Guide9 minDivorce doesn't disqualify you from buying — but the timing, documentation, and how you split shared debt matters more than most buyers realize.
- Can I buy a house if I'm paying child support?Guide6 minYes — but child support you pay counts as a monthly debt, even when it's not on your credit report. Here's how to plan around it.
- Can I buy a house if I'm recently married?Guide7 minMarriage doesn't change what you qualify for — but combining incomes, debts, and credit files can unlock (or complicate) a bigger loan than either of you could get alone.
- Can I buy a house if I'm retired?Guide9 minAbsolutely — retirees have some of the strongest mortgage files lenders see. Fixed income, assets, and no employment risk. Here's what actually counts.
- Can I buy a house right out of college?Guide8 minNew grads with a degree in a related field can often qualify with **less than 12 months** of income. Here's the college-completion exception and how student loans really count.
- Can I buy a house with 1099 income?Guide8 minYes — 1099 contractors qualify for every major loan program. Here's exactly how underwriters read your 1099 income and what alternatives exist when tax returns understate your business.
- Can I get a mortgage on commission income?Guide8 minYes — but commission is treated like self-employment. Here's the 2-year rule, how expenses affect qualifying income, and the sales-role playbook.
- Can I get a mortgage on Social Security income?Guide7 minYes — Social Security is fully qualifying income for every major loan program, and the non-taxable portion is grossed up 125%. Here's the full picture.
- Can I Qualify vs Should I Buy: Two Questions, Two Different AnswersGlossary6 min
- Can I use bonus income to qualify for a mortgage?Guide7 minYes — bonus income is fully qualifying with a 2-year history. Here's the exact math and how to avoid the #1 documentation mistake.
- Can I use child support as income for a mortgage?Guide7 minYes — child support you receive is fully qualifying income, and it's tax-free so lenders gross it up 125%. Here's how to document it.
- Can I use RSUs to qualify for a mortgage?Guide8 minYes — but only the vested portion, and only when you have a documented 2-year history of receiving and selling them. Here's the exact math lenders use.
- Certificate of Eligibility (COE)Glossary1 minthe document that proves you qualify to use a VA home loan benefit
- Clear to close: the final approvalGuide5 minClear to close (CTC) means underwriting is fully done. Here's what happens between CTC and keys.
- Closing Costs CalculatorCalculator3 minCash to close, itemized.
- Closing Costs vs Cash to Close: The Number That Actually Leaves Your AccountGlossary6 min
- Closing Costs vs Down Payment: Two Very Different Cash RequirementsGlossary6 min
- Closing Disclosure (CD)Glossary1 minthe final five-page form showing your exact loan terms and cash needed, delivered at least three days before you sign
- combined loan-to-value (CLTV)Glossary1 minall the loans against the home added together, compared to what the home is worth
- Conditional Approval vs Clear to Close: Where You Actually StandGlossary6 min
- Conditional approval: what it means and what comes nextGuide6 minConditional approval is the underwriter's yes — with a to-do list. Here's how to clear conditions fast and get to clear-to-close.
- Condo vs Single-Family Home: The Financing Difference Nobody MentionsGlossary6 min
- Conventional 97 vs FHAGuide6 min3% down conventional vs 3.5% down FHA.
- Credit mistakes to avoidGuide7 minThe credit moves that raise your rate, and the ones that lower it fast.
- Credit Score Needed for a Mortgage: Minimum Score to Buy a House (2026)Guide7 minThe minimum credit score to buy a house on a conventional loan is 620 — but 740+ is where pricing really opens up. Here's what each tier actually costs.
- Credit Score vs Mortgage Readiness: One Number Is Not the Whole FileGlossary6 min
- Credit Union vs Mortgage Company: Member Pricing vs Product DepthGlossary6 min