About Bryan Dornan

Bryan Dornan is a financial journalist and mortgage industry veteran with nearly 30 years of experience as a lender, loan officer, mortgage broker, and chief marketing officer. He currently serves as Chief Editor of RefiGuide.org, where he has built one of the most trusted mortgage education platforms in the United States. Bryan has founded multiple mortgage and digital marketing companies throughout his career and remains focused on helping homeowners leverage home equity wisely while making affordable homeownership accessible to everyday Americans. He is a licensed California Real Estate Broker DRE: #01203791. and writes for RealtyTimes, Patch, Buzzfeed, Medium and other national publications. Find him on Twitter, Muckrack, and Linkedin

Is HELOC Repayment Period a Fixed Term?

Most homeowners understand that a HELOC is a home equity line of credit, but many do not understand how the HELOC repayment period works with a variable or fixed term. For many borrowers, a HELOC is an appealing financial product that offers the flexibility to borrow against the equity in their home. It allows homeowners… Read More »

What is the Good Neighbor Next Door Program

The Good Neighbor Next Door loan program was created from the Department of Housing and Urban Development in an effort to reward the good neighbors of our nation with affordable mortgage rates and low cost home loans. If you are a teacher, police officer, or firefighter, you may be eligible for buying a HUD home… Read More »

What is an Open End Mortgage or Line of Credit?

An open-end mortgage is a specialized home loan that lets you borrow more than the purchase price of the home at closing with the unused portion available as “future advances” to fund home improvements later, all under one loan, one lien, and one monthly payment without applying for a second mortgage, HELOC, or cash-out refinance.… Read More »

Can I Airbnb My House If I Have a Mortgage?

Yes — you can Airbnb your house if you have a mortgage, but the rules that govern how and when you can do it depend entirely on which loan type is secured against your property, and getting this wrong can trigger loan reclassification, higher interest rates, or in extreme cases a due-on-sale clause calling your… Read More »

How to Finance a Home Addition

Expanding your living space by adding on to your home can be a thrilling yet daunting endeavor. Whether you are considering about creating an extra bedroom, a sun-soaked family room, an ADU or a new wing to accommodate extended family, one question inevitably looms large: how do you finance a home addition? After all, home… Read More »

Can You Refinance a Reverse Mortgage Loan?

Yes. The good news is that you can refinance a reverse mortgage if you mee the lenders requirements for refinancing. Just like a traditional home mortgage, there are times when refinancing a reverse mortgage can make financial sense. However, it’s important to understand the conditions under which refinancing might be beneficial and the factors to… Read More »

What Is the Freddie Mac Second Mortgage Proposal?

For the first time Freddie Mac announced a new proposal to purchase second mortgage liens on the secondary market, which increases the trust factor for banks and mortgage lenders to roll out new home equity loan programs in 2025. Freddie Mac’s second mortgage proposal is a strategic initiative aimed at expanding homeownership opportunities, particularly for… Read More »

Mortgage Guide for Calculating Rental Income from VRBO and AirBnB

How Do Mortgage Underwriters Use Rental Income from VRBO and Airbnb in 2026? Mortgage lenders can and do use rental income from short-term platforms like VRBO and Airbnb to help borrowers qualify for home loans, providing significant advantages for real estate investors seeking to expand their portfolios or homeowners looking to leverage existing rental income.… Read More »

No Doc Loans to Buy a Home with No Verification

Buying a home with a no doc loan with no income verification from the best no doc mortgage lenders can be challenging. Learn how to buy a house with a no doc mortgage from trusted non QM lenders. The housing market was hot in the early and mid-2000’s, as most of us remember. That was… Read More »

Best Government Home Loans for Senior Citizens & The Elderly

Housing, particularly in the United States, has a fairly predictable lifecycle. The reason is that most homebuyers who buy a house finance that purchase with a mortgage earlier in life and therefore engage in a long-term financial obligation in which they ‘agree’ to accumulate equity in their home. The RefiGuide can help you learn more… Read More »