Learning the lingo of home buying is an important part of feeling successful when buying a home.  From APR to P&I, you need to know the acronyms that will come up along the way, and what they mean when you hear them.  
We are here to help you feel informed from start to finish, so here's a quick 'Home Buying Acronyms 101' lesson to increase your home buying confidence!

5 Home Buying Acronyms You Need To Know
APR (Annual Percentage Rate)
Annual cost of borrowing money based on the loan amount, interest rate, and certain other fees.
FRM (Fixed-Rate Mortgage)
Interest rate that doesn't change during the entire term of your loan.
DTI (Debt-to-Income)
Percentage of your monthly income that goes toward your monthly debt payments.
PMI (Private Mortgage Insurance)
Insurance that protects lenders from losses if a homeowner is unable to pay their mortgage. It's required for homebuyers who make down payments less than 20% of the home purchase price.
P&I (Prin! ...

Purchasing a home is most likely the largest financial investment most of us will make in our lifetime, so it's essential to be wise during the process.  Consider these 10 strategies to set yourself up for a successful home-buying process... and a smart long-term investment.  


1. Buy for the long haul
A home is a BIG investment.  Buy a home you'll want to live in for at least five years; a home equipped (or soon to be equipped) with the features and space you need, both now and in the future.

2. Buy to improve your life, not speculate with money
Your home is more than a financial investment; it’s where you eat, sleep, host friends, raise your kids... it’s where your life happens!
The housing market is too unpredictable to buy a primary home purely because you think it will net a large short-term financial return.  You'll most likely be living in this home for several years, regardless of how it appreciates, so your first priority should be f) ...