About Bryan Dornan

Bryan Dornan is a financial journalist and currently serves as Chief Editor of RefiGuide.org. Bryan has founded several mortgage and marketing companies and has worked as a loan officer and mortgage broker in the industry for over 25 years and has a wealth of experience in providing mortgage clients with the highest level of service in the industry. Bryan's continual focus is to promote affordable home-ownership to consumers like you across the United States. He also writes for RealtyTimes, Patch, Buzzfeed, Medium and other national publications. Find him on Twitter, Muckrack, and Linkedin

Maryland First-Time Home Buyer Loans

A MD first-time home buyer, per HUD guidelines, is someone who hasn’t owned a principal residence in the past three years and is applying for a home loan in Maryland. We published this post to detail the trusted and proven Maryland first-time home buyer programs, including down payment assistance, grants, and local incentives, with two… Read More »

Home Loan for Second Homes Guide

Do you want to buy a second home? You probably have many questions about how to finance a another real estate property. Whether you want to buy a second home for vacations or as an investment property, getting financing for this type of property comes with some challenges that you should be aware of. In… Read More »

Top North Carolina First Time Home Buyer Programs

Buying your first first home in North Carolina can be an intimidating yet exciting milestone, especially given the state’s diverse housing market and rising home prices. In 2025, the median home sale price in North Carolina was $355,000, with first-time buyers facing an average down payment of $37,412. Fortunately, North Carolina offers a variety of… Read More »

Can First-Time Home Buyers Buy Land?

This year first-time home buyers continue to face daunting barriers to buying land. With mortgage rates stabilizing at 6.75% and down payment assistance programs expanding under the Biden administration’s $25 billion affordable housing push, many are exploring alternatives to traditional turnkey homes. One “outside of the box” option is buying land outright. Can first-time home… Read More »

Top Ranked New Jersey First Time Home Buyer Programs

In 2026, New Jersey’s housing market remains a challenging yet promising landscape for first-time homebuyers, with median home prices at $538,300, a 9% year-over-year increase, far above the national median of $418,478. Despite high costs, especially near New York City, first-time buyers—defined as those who haven’t owned a home in the past three years—can leverage… Read More »

Top Freddie Mac Loan Program for Home Buying and Refinancing

People who want to buy their own home have a variety of mortgage options available through Freddie Mac loan programs. Below is more information about the best Freddie Mac mortgage programs available for buyers and those who want to refinance. Freddie Mac mortgage rates continue to be competitively priced with housing affordability always being a… Read More »

Florida First Time Home Buyer Guide

In the last decade, Florida’s population has surged, increasing by more than 2.6 million people. This remarkable demographic shift ranks Florida as the second-highest state in the country in terms of numerical population growth, second only to Texas. Given this substantial population influx, it’s unsurprising that Florida’s housing market is experiencing considerable expansion, resulting in… Read More »

What Is a 5/5 Adjustable Rate Mortgage?

The 5/5 adjustable-rate mortgage (ARM), a flexible alternative that’s seen a 20% uptick in originations this year, per Freddie Mac data. Among ARMs, the 5/5 adjustable rate loan variant stands out for its balance of predictability and adaptability. In October 2025, with 30-year fixed mortgage rates averaging 6.75% amid a stabilizing Federal Reserve policy, homebuyers… Read More »

How Long Does It Take to Get a Home Equity Loan?

Homeowners across the country are taking advantage of how fast they can get take out a home equity loan without being required to refinance their primary mortgage. A home equity loan is powerful and popular second mortgage that allows homeowners to tap into the value of their property to secure funds for various purposes like… Read More »

Is Chase Accepting XRP for Mortgage Payments?

In the blazing world of cryptocurrency, few tokens inspire as much fervent speculation as XRP, the native asset of the Ripple network. As of September 30, 2025, with XRP trading at around $2.88 amid a broader market recovery, whispers of mainstream adoption have reached fever pitch. The RefiGuide uncovers the mortgage crypto rumors and considers… Read More »