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

USDA Streamline Refinance Guide

The USDA Streamline Refinance program is one of the only mortgage refinancing programs that requires no appraisal and no equity to qualify for in 2026. The USDA streamline represents one of the most accessible and borrower-friendly refinancing options available to rural and suburban homeowners in 2026. Designed specifically for existing USDA loan holders, this program… Read More »

Bad Credit Hard Money Loans

Homeowners with bad credit scores have been searching for hard money loans and private money mortgages this year. If you have poor credit and you still want to get a home loan, either for your own home or an investment property, you still could have some hard money loan options available. In most cases, traditional… Read More »

No Document Home Equity Loan

Yes. You can get a no documentation home equity loan without tax returns, W-2s, or pay stubs in 2026. No doc equity loans allow homeowners, business owners, self-employed professionals, retirees, and real estate investors to get cash out by accessing the equity in their property using alternative verification methods — bank statements, asset statements, or… Read More »

Can You Buy a Fixer Upper With a VA Loan?

Yes, you can buy a fixer-upper with a VA loan in 2026, through two distinct paths. A standard VA purchase loan can be used on a home needing minor repairs as long as the seller (or a negotiated credit) brings the property up to the VA’s Minimum Property Requirements (MPRs) before closing. For homes needing… Read More »

Can You Refinance a DSCR Loan​?

Yes, you can absolutely refinance a DSCR loan. Real estate investors can refinance a DSCR loan into another DSCR loan, refinance a DSCR loan into a conventional mortgage, or refinance an existing conventional or hard money loan into a DSCR loan. All three pathways are fully available in 2026, and DSCR-to-DSCR refinancing has become one… Read More »

How Do I Refinance My Mortgage and Debt Consolidation?

You refinance your mortgage for debt consolidation by executing a cash-out refinance replacing your existing mortgage with a new, larger loan and using the difference in cash to pay off credit cards, personal loans, auto debt, or medical bills at a single low mortgage rate. In 2026, this is the most powerful debt elimination tool… Read More »

Bank Statement HELOC

A HELOC loan is is a flexible home equity line of credit tool that allows homeowners to borrow against the equity in their homes. Traditional HELOCs require standard income verification methods, such as W-2 forms and tax returns. However, for self-employed individuals or those with non-traditional income sources, qualifying for a HELOC can be challenging.… Read More »

Fannie Mae Cash Out Refinance Guide

Wondering whether you should get a Fannie Mae cash-out refinance into a new mortgage with great interest rates and money coming directly to you? Check out our detailed guide to learn all the ins and outs of such a Fannie Mae cash out refinance mortgage. Fannie Mae continues to offer the most competitive rates for… Read More »

What Is a Fix and Flip Loan?

A fix and flip loan is a short-term loan designed for real estate investors who purchase properties, renovate them, and quickly sell them for profit. These loans are typically provided by private lenders or hard money lenders and offer fast approvals with flexible terms. Fix and flip loans usually have higher interest rates (8-15%), short… Read More »

Private Money Loans Guide

The popularity of private money loans has soared because the real estate market and self-employed borrowers have increased the demand for alternative mortgages from private mortgage lenders. Private money lenders are a non-institutional source that provides home loans, mortgages and cash-out home equity lines of credit for people with all types of credit. Private money… Read More »