Yes. Most mortgage lenders allow online payments through their official websites. You can set up an account, link your checking account, and schedule payments. Another option is using your bank’s online bill-pay service. Always check the processing time to make sure your payment reaches the lender before the due date.

Not necessarily. Even with poor credit, you may qualify for a FHA loan with as little as 10% down if your credit score is at least 500. You can also work on improving your credit to qualify for a traditional mortgage faster than you might expect.

Closing costs are fees paid at the final stage of buying a home, separate from the property price. These may include loan origination charges, appraisal fees, title search, recording fees, property taxes, homeowner’s insurance, and sometimes real estate commissions.

Lenders are legally barred from asking discriminatory questions. Under the Equal Credit Opportunity Act, they cannot ask about your health, disability, or family plans. For example, they are not allowed to ask if you intend to have children, as this was once used to deny women mortgages unfairly.

Self-employed borrowers generally need to show at least two years of consistent income records in the same field. The stronger and more stable your documented income, the higher your chances of qualifying for the loan amount you want.

Interest rates directly affect the cost of borrowing. Lower rates make mortgages cheaper, boosting demand for homes and pushing property prices up. Higher rates, on the other hand, usually reduce demand and slow down price growth in the real estate market.