About Bryan Dornan

Bryan Dornan is a marketing leader and financial journalist who currently serves as Chief Editor of RefiGuide.org. Bryan has founded several mortgage and digital marketing companies and has worked as a loan officer and mortgage broker in the industry for nearly 30 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 educate homeowners how to leverage home equity while also promoting 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

Investment Property Equity Line of Credit Advantages

For real estate investors seeking flexible, powerful financing solutions in 2026, few tools match the strategic versatility of a Home Equity Line of Credit (HELOC) on investment property. While taking out an equity line of credit on a rental or non-owner occupied property comes with stricter HELOC requirements than financing your primary home. the advantages… Read More »

How to Qualify for a DSCR Loan in 2026

For real estate investors seeking to expand their rental property portfolios in 2026, Debt Service Coverage Ratio (DSCR) loans have emerged as one of the most powerful financing tools available. Unlike traditional mortgages that scrutinize your personal income, tax returns, and W-2s, DSCR loans qualify you based solely on a property’s rental income potential—making them… Read More »

How Much Does It Cost to Buy Down a Mortgage Rate?

When evaluating today’s mortgage landscape with rates hovering around 6%, many homebuyers wonder whether paying extra money upfront to secure a lower interest rate makes financial sense. This strategy—known as “buying down the rate” through discount points—can significantly reduce your monthly payments, but it comes with substantial upfront costs and important timing considerations that every… Read More »

Can You Pay Off a HELOC During the Draw Period?

Our featured home equity lenders frequently receive questions from borrowers is whether they can pay off their HELOC during the draw period—and if so, whether doing so makes financial sense. The short answer is yes, you typically can make principal payments during your HELOC’s draw period, but the specifics depend on your lender’s policies and… Read More »

When Does It Not Make Sense to Refinance a Mortgage?

With average mortgage rates hovering around 6% in early 2026—down from the 7%+ peaks of 2023—millions of homeowners are considering refinancing their mortgages to lower monthly payments, according to Zillow. Refinance applications have surged 120% year-over-year, now representing more than half of all mortgage activity. However, home refinancing isn’t a universal solution, and in some… Read More »

How Can I Get a Home Loan with No Credit?

For millions of American renters dreaming of homeownership, the lack of a traditional credit history feels like an insurmountable barrier. You’ve paid rent on time for years, managed your utility bills responsibly, and saved diligently—yet without credit cards or loans, you have no credit score for lenders to evaluate. The good news? Fannie Mae and… Read More »

How to Pay Off Your Home Loan Quicker

Owning a home represents the pinnacle of the American Dream, but for most families, the 30-year mortgage that makes homeownership possible can feel like a financial burden that lasts a lifetime. The good news? You don’t have to accept three decades of mortgage payments as inevitable. With strategic planning and disciplined execution, homeowners across the… Read More »

Will Mortgage Rates Go Down in 2026?

After three years of elevated borrowing costs that have kept millions of Americans on the sidelines of homeownership, one question dominates conversations among prospective homebuyers, current homeowners, and real estate professionals alike: Will mortgage rates finally drop in 2026? The answer, according to leading economists and financial institutions, is nuanced—rates will likely decrease modestly but… Read More »

No Appraisal Home Equity Loan

As a home equity lending expert who has guided thousands of American homeowners through the equity borrowing process over the past 15 years, I’ve witnessed a transformative shift in how lenders evaluate properties for home equity loans. The emergence of no-appraisal home equity loans represents one of the most significant innovations in our industry, fundamentally… Read More »

How Soon Can I Do a HELOC After Purchasing a Home?

As a home equity financing expert with three decade of experience helping homeowners leverage their property value, one of the most frequent questions I encounter is: “How soon can I apply for a Home Equity Line of Credit after buying my home?” The answer is more nuanced than many first-time homebuyers realize, and understanding the… Read More »