# Claude Loan

> Claude Loan (https://claude-loan.com/) is a free information website about U.S. mortgages, published by Clément Lacaille (Tech-Bharat). It explains first-time home buyer programs, conventional loans, hard money loans and options when you are behind on payments, state by state for all 50 states, along with the federal rules (TILA, RESPA, ECOA, HOEPA…) that apply to each type of buyer. It is not a lender, broker, law firm, servicer or financial advisor, and it promises no rate, approval or outcome.

## Key facts

- What it is: Claude Loan is an information website published by Tech-Bharat. We are not a lender, broker, law firm, credit counselor, mortgage servicer, HUD-approved housing counselor, or financial advisor. Nothing here is legal or financial advice, and no rate, approval or outcome is promised. Our state guides and answers are free; the only paid items are optional printable workbooks, sold at the price shown. For free, personalized help, contact a HUD-approved housing counselor or the CFPB.
- Coverage: all 50 U.S. states, each with a conventional loan page (2026 FHFA county loan limits) and a mortgage laws page (first-time buyer programs, hard money rules, foreclosure type and timeline, closing practice, usury, licensing); 16 federal mortgage regulations and 13 buyer-type pages; 121 guides; 15 editorial reviews scored on published criteria (no user ratings).
- 2026 conforming loan limit (FHFA, one-unit): $832,750 baseline, up to $1,249,125 in high-cost counties; the full county table is on each state's conventional loan page.
- Mortgage rates: weekly Freddie Mac PMMS averages (via FRED) since 1971; latest week in the site's data, September 10, 2026: 6.76% for a 30-year fixed and 6.09% for a 15-year fixed. Rates shown are market averages, never offers.
- Free downloads: a PDF guide for every state and pillar (first-time buyer, conventional loan, hard money, foreclosure), emailed on request; questions are answered within 24 to 48 hours.
- Paid printable workbooks (optional, sold by Lacangel Group SAS, card payment via Stripe, instant access): Conventional Loan Qualification Workbook ($14); Mortgage Shopping & Closing Workbook ($12); Both Mortgage Workbooks: Qualification + Shopping & Closing ($19).
- Talking to a licensed lender is optional and only happens if the reader asks for it, with explicit consent.
- Free personalized help: HUD-approved housing counselors (hud.gov/findacounselor, 800-569-4287) and the CFPB (consumerfinance.gov).
- Sources: eCFR, CFPB, HUD/FHA, FHFA, Fannie Mae Selling Guide, Freddie Mac, VA, USDA and state legislatures, cited with the exact section.
- Publisher: Clément Lacaille (Clem corp, sole proprietorship, Tech-Bharat brand), 19 avenue des Rochers, 94170 Le Perreux-sur-Marne, France. Contact: mail@noreply.claude-loan.com.

## Main sections

- [First-time home buyer: programs, loans and the real numbers by state](https://claude-loan.com/first-time-home-buyer/): First-time home buyer programs in all 50 states — down payment assistance, HFA loans, tax credits, closing costs — plus guides on affordability, credit and PMI.
- [Conventional loans: requirements, limits, refinancing and the payment math](https://claude-loan.com/conventional-loan/): Conventional loan rules from the Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac guidelines: credit, down payment, DTI, loan limits, PMI removal, refinancing, plus payment tables.
- [Hard money loans: how they work, what they cost, and the rules in your state](https://claude-loan.com/hard-money-loans/): Hard money loans for investors: how asset-based lending works, typical rates and points, fix-and-flip and bridge structures, and the rules in all 50 states.
- [Mortgage problems: behind on payments, foreclosure, and the options that remain](https://claude-loan.com/mortgage-problems/): Missed a payment or facing foreclosure? The federal timeline, forbearance vs modification, short sale vs deed in lieu, state foreclosure rules and free help.
- [Mortgage laws by state](https://claude-loan.com/mortgage-laws/): closing, foreclosure, hard money and borrower protections for each of the 50 states.
- [Federal mortgage regulations](https://claude-loan.com/regulations/): 16 federal rules explained in plain English.
- [Mortgage guidance by buyer type](https://claude-loan.com/buyers/): 13 buyer profiles.
- [Mortgage rates this week](https://claude-loan.com/mortgage-rates/): Freddie Mac PMMS weekly averages, history since 1971.
- [Mortgage calculator](https://claude-loan.com/mortgage-calculator/): monthly payment with principal, interest, taxes and insurance.
- [Mortgage payment tables](https://claude-loan.com/mortgage-payment/): monthly payment by loan amount and rate.
- [All guides](https://claude-loan.com/guides/): 121 guides.
- [Editorial reviews](https://claude-loan.com/reviews/): 15 loan types and lenders scored on published criteria.

## Printable workbooks (paid)

- [All workbooks](https://claude-loan.com/workbooks/): printable worksheets to qualify, compare offers and close.
- [Conventional Loan Qualification Workbook](https://claude-loan.com/workbooks/conventional-loan-qualification-workbook/): $14.
- [Mortgage Shopping & Closing Workbook](https://claude-loan.com/workbooks/mortgage-closing-workbook/): $12.

## Federal regulations

- [Truth in Lending Act (TILA) and Regulation Z](https://claude-loan.com/regulations/tila-regulation-z/): TILA and Regulation Z in plain English: APR and finance charge disclosures, the 3-day right of rescission, ARM notices, and what to do when a lender gets it wrong.
- [Real Estate Settlement Procedures Act (RESPA) and Regulation X](https://claude-loan.com/regulations/respa-regulation-x/): RESPA and Regulation X in plain English: the kickback ban, escrow cushion limits, servicing transfer notices, error-resolution deadlines and how to enforce them.
- [TRID: the Loan Estimate and Closing Disclosure](https://claude-loan.com/regulations/trid-loan-estimate-closing-disclosure/): How TRID works: Loan Estimate within 3 business days, Closing Disclosure 3 business days before closing, fee tolerances of 0% and 10%, and refunds you are owed.
- [Equal Credit Opportunity Act (ECOA) and Regulation B](https://claude-loan.com/regulations/ecoa-regulation-b/): ECOA and Regulation B in plain English: nine prohibited bases, the 30-day decision notice, your right to specific denial reasons and a free appraisal copy.
- [Fair Housing Act](https://claude-loan.com/regulations/fair-housing-act/): The Fair Housing Act for mortgages: seven protected classes, what lenders and appraisers may not do, redlining, the exemptions, and how to file with HUD.
- [Home Mortgage Disclosure Act (HMDA) and Regulation C](https://claude-loan.com/regulations/hmda-regulation-c/): HMDA and Regulation C in plain English: which lenders report, what the Loan Application Register holds, the demographic questions, and how to use the data.
- [SAFE Act and NMLS loan originator licensing](https://claude-loan.com/regulations/safe-act-nmls-licensing/): The SAFE Act in plain English: who must be licensed or registered in NMLS, the 20-hour education and exam rules, the NMLS ID on documents, and how to verify.
- [Ability-to-Repay and Qualified Mortgage rule (ATR/QM)](https://claude-loan.com/regulations/ability-to-repay-qualified-mortgage/): The ATR/QM rule in plain English: eight underwriting factors, the APR-over-APOR test, the 3% points-and-fees cap, the safe harbor, and your remedies.
- [HOEPA and high-cost mortgage rules](https://claude-loan.com/regulations/hoepa-high-cost-mortgages/): HOEPA in plain English: APR triggers of 6.5 and 8.5 points over APOR, the 5% points-and-fees test, banned balloon and penalty terms, counseling and remedies.
- [Homeowners Protection Act (PMI cancellation)](https://claude-loan.com/regulations/homeowners-protection-act-pmi/): The Homeowners Protection Act in plain English: PMI cancellation at 80% LTV on request, automatic termination at 78%, the midpoint rule, conditions and refunds.
- [CFPB mortgage servicing rules](https://claude-loan.com/regulations/mortgage-servicing-rules/): The CFPB servicing rules in plain English: no foreclosure filing before 120 days, the 36/45-day outreach duties, loss mitigation deadlines and dual-tracking ban.
- [Fair Credit Reporting Act (FCRA): credit reports, scores and trigger leads](https://claude-loan.com/regulations/fcra-credit-reports/): The FCRA for home buyers: free reports, the 30-day dispute rule, the 7-year limit, the score notice every mortgage applicant gets, adverse action and trigger leads.
- [Flood Disaster Protection Act and flood insurance requirements](https://claude-loan.com/regulations/flood-disaster-protection-act/): Mandatory flood insurance in plain English: which loans need it, the flood zone determination, coverage amounts, escrow, private policies and force-placement.
- [MARS rule (Regulation O): mortgage assistance relief services](https://claude-loan.com/regulations/mars-rule-mortgage-relief/): The MARS rule in plain English: relief companies may not charge until your lender makes a written offer you accept, must give warnings, and may not say stop paying.
- [Servicemembers Civil Relief Act (SCRA)](https://claude-loan.com/regulations/scra-servicemembers-civil-relief-act/): SCRA mortgage protections: the 6% interest cap on pre-service loans, no foreclosure without a court order during service and one year after, and how to invoke.
- [Loan originator compensation and anti-steering rules](https://claude-loan.com/regulations/loan-originator-compensation-rule/): The loan originator compensation rule in plain English: no pay tied to rate or terms, no double compensation, the three-option anti-steering safe harbor, remedies.

## Guides: First-time buyer

- [Title insurance: what it covers, who it protects, and what it should cost](https://claude-loan.com/guides/title-insurance-explained/): Title insurance pays for problems created before you owned the house. What the lender’s policy leaves out, why the owner’s policy is optional, and how to shop it.
- [How much house can I afford? The math lenders actually use](https://claude-loan.com/guides/how-much-house-can-i-afford/): Lenders size your mortgage with two debt-to-income ratios, not your rent. Here is the exact math, worked examples at several incomes, and what to leave out.
- [FHA vs conventional for a first-time buyer: which loan wins, and when](https://claude-loan.com/guides/fha-vs-conventional-first-time-buyer/): FHA accepts lower scores and 3.5% down; conventional allows 3% down and drops PMI later. Which costs less depends on your score, down payment and timeline.
- [3% down conventional loans: HomeReady, Home Possible and Conventional 97](https://claude-loan.com/guides/3-percent-down-conventional-homeready-home-possible/): Three conventional programs allow 3% down without FHA. How HomeReady, Home Possible and the standard 97% LTV loan differ on income limits, PMI pricing and education.
- [Pre-approval vs pre-qualification: what sellers actually respect](https://claude-loan.com/guides/pre-approval-vs-pre-qualification/): A pre-qualification is an estimate; a pre-approval is an underwriter’s conditional decision on verified documents. What each involves and which wins offers.
- [Closing costs explained: what is negotiable, what is not](https://claude-loan.com/guides/closing-costs-explained/): Closing costs run 2% to 5% of the price and hide in three sections of the Loan Estimate. What each fee is, which you can shop, and who else can pay them.
- [PMI for first-time buyers: what it costs and how to get rid of it](https://claude-loan.com/guides/pmi-for-first-time-buyers/): PMI costs 0.2% to 1.5% of the loan a year when you put less than 20% down. How it is priced, the four ways to pay it, and the federal rules for cancelling it.
- [Gift funds for a down payment: the rules, the letter, the paper trail](https://claude-loan.com/guides/gift-funds-for-down-payment/): Family gifts can cover an entire down payment on most loans, with the right letter and a clean paper trail. Who may give, what the letter says, how to move it.
- [Debt-to-income ratio limits by loan type — and how to lower yours](https://claude-loan.com/guides/debt-to-income-ratio-limits/): Every mortgage program caps debt-to-income differently: 45–50% conventional, up to 57% FHA, 41% VA and USDA. What counts, what does not, and six ways to lower yours.
- [Credit score needed to buy a house: minimums by loan type, and what it costs to be average](https://claude-loan.com/guides/credit-score-needed-to-buy-a-house/): FHA accepts 580 (500 with 10% down), conventional needs 620, VA and USDA use lender floors. More important: what each 20-point band costs you in rate and PMI.
- [Twelve first-time home buyer mistakes — and the cheap fix for each](https://claude-loan.com/guides/first-time-home-buyer-mistakes/): Twelve mistakes first-time buyers make most — from shopping before pre-approval to new credit before closing — ranked by cost, with the fix for each.
- [Earnest money explained: how much, who holds it, and how you lose it](https://claude-loan.com/guides/earnest-money-explained/): Earnest money is a good-faith deposit of 1% to 3% of the price, held in escrow and credited at closing. When it is refundable, and how buyers lose it.

## Guides: Conventional loan

- [2026 conforming loan limits: $832,750 in most counties, up to $1,249,125 in high-cost areas](https://claude-loan.com/guides/conforming-loan-limits/): The 2026 conforming loan limit is $832,750 for one unit in most counties and up to $1,249,125 in high-cost areas ($1,209,750 in New York City). County tables, jumbo.
- [USDA vs VA vs FHA vs conventional: the four loan types compared](https://claude-loan.com/guides/conventional-vs-fha-vs-va-vs-usda/): USDA vs VA loans and how both compare with FHA and conventional: down payment, fees, mortgage insurance, limits and who qualifies, with the official sources.
- [Conventional loan requirements in 2026: what Fannie Mae’s guide actually says](https://claude-loan.com/guides/conventional-loan-requirements/): Conventional loan requirements from the Fannie Mae Selling Guide: credit score rules, 3% to 25% down by property, 50% DTI cap, reserves, 2026 loan limits.
- [Seller concessions limits: how much a seller can pay toward your closing costs](https://claude-loan.com/guides/seller-concessions-limits/): How much a seller can pay toward your closing costs: Fannie Mae 3%, 6% or 9% by down payment (2% investment), FHA 6%, VA 4% plus closing costs, USDA 6%.
- [30-year vs 15-year mortgage: the real trade-off, with the numbers](https://claude-loan.com/guides/30-year-vs-15-year-mortgage/): A 15-year loan carries a lower rate and far less interest; a 30-year a far lower payment and more flexibility. The math on $300,000, and who should pick which.
- [ARM vs fixed-rate mortgage: when an adjustable rate makes sense](https://claude-loan.com/guides/arm-vs-fixed-rate/): Adjustable-rate mortgages start lower and reset after 5, 7 or 10 years. How caps, margins and indexes work, the worst-case payment, and when an ARM beats fixed.
- [Jumbo loans: requirements, rates and how they differ from conforming](https://claude-loan.com/guides/jumbo-loans/): A jumbo loan exceeds the FHFA conforming limit and is not bought by Fannie Mae or Freddie Mac. Expect 10–20% down, 700+ credit, six to twelve months of reserves.
- [PMI removal: the 80% request, the 78% automatic cancellation, and the appraisal route](https://claude-loan.com/guides/pmi-removal/): Federal law lets you cancel PMI at 80% loan-to-value on request and requires automatic cancellation at 78%. The steps, the appraisal shortcut, the FHA exception.
- [Mortgage points and rate buydowns: when paying for a lower rate pays off](https://claude-loan.com/guides/mortgage-points-and-rate-buydowns/): A discount point costs 1% of the loan and lowers the rate about a quarter point. How to compute the break-even, when points lose money, and how 2-1 buydowns work.
- [Cash-out refinance: limits, costs and when it is the wrong tool](https://claude-loan.com/guides/cash-out-refinance/): A cash-out refinance replaces your mortgage with a larger one and hands you the difference, up to 80% LTV. Costs, the rate trade-off, and when a HELOC is smarter.
- [Rate-and-term refinance: when it pays, how to compute the break-even](https://claude-loan.com/guides/rate-and-term-refinance/): A rate-and-term refinance changes your rate or term without cash out. The break-even formula, the cost of restarting the clock, and the streamline options.
- [DSCR loans vs conventional for investment property: qualify on rent or on income](https://claude-loan.com/guides/dscr-vs-conventional-investment-property/): Conventional investment loans underwrite your income and cap you at ten properties; DSCR loans qualify on the rent. Costs, limits and who should use which.

## Guides: Hard money

- [Hard money on a home you live in: why the rules change](https://claude-loan.com/guides/hard-money-for-owner-occupied-property/): A loan secured by the home you occupy is judged on its purpose, not the lender’s label. What consumer classification switches on, and the safer alternatives.
- [What is a hard money loan? Asset-based lending explained](https://claude-loan.com/guides/what-is-a-hard-money-loan/): A hard money loan is a short-term, asset-based loan secured by real estate, priced on the property rather than your income. Terms, costs, users and when.
- [Hard money vs conventional loan: speed, cost, and which deal needs which](https://claude-loan.com/guides/hard-money-vs-conventional/): Hard money closes in days at 9–14% plus points; conventional takes 30–45 days at market rates with strict rules. Side by side, and which deals need which.
- [Hard money rates, points and LTV: typical ranges and what moves them](https://claude-loan.com/guides/hard-money-rates-points-ltv/): Hard money typically costs 9–14% interest, 1–4 points, and lends 65–75% of ARV or 80–90% of price. What drives each number and how to compare quotes.
- [Fix-and-flip financing: structuring the loan around the project](https://claude-loan.com/guides/fix-and-flip-financing/): How fix-and-flip loans work — purchase plus rehab, funded by draws against ARV — with a budget template, the carrying-cost math and the mistakes that erase profit.
- [Bridge loans: buying before you sell, and other short gaps](https://claude-loan.com/guides/bridge-loans/): A bridge loan covers the gap between buying one property and selling or refinancing another: 6–12 months, interest-only. How it works and what it costs.
- [BRRRR: refinancing a hard money rehab into a conventional or DSCR loan](https://claude-loan.com/guides/brrrr-refinance-into-conventional/): Buy, rehab, rent, refinance, repeat — the refinance is where BRRRR lives or dies. Seasoning rules, the 75% LTV cap, the appraisal, and when DSCR is the better exit.
- [Hard money for beginners: your first loan, step by step](https://claude-loan.com/guides/hard-money-for-beginners/): First-time investors can get hard money at lower leverage and higher cost. What lenders want from a beginner, the documents, the timeline, the mistakes to avoid.
- [How hard money lenders evaluate ARV — and how to estimate it yourself](https://claude-loan.com/guides/how-lenders-evaluate-arv/): After-repair value sets your loan amount and your profit. How lenders derive it from comps, the adjustments that matter, and how to estimate it before you offer.
- [Hard money exit strategies: sell, refinance, or hold — and the plan B](https://claude-loan.com/guides/hard-money-exit-strategies/): Every hard money loan is repaid by an exit — retail sale, refinance into conventional or DSCR, wholesale sale or extension. How lenders judge it, and the plan B.
- [Hard money default: what happens, how fast, and how to avoid it](https://claude-loan.com/guides/hard-money-default-risks/): A hard money default triggers default interest, fees and, in many states, a foreclosure sale within months. How fast it moves, the guarantee, how to negotiate.
- [Private money vs hard money: individuals, funds and what each expects](https://claude-loan.com/guides/private-money-vs-hard-money/): Private money comes from individuals lending their own capital; hard money from professional lenders with programs. How terms, speed and legal risk differ.

## Guides: Mortgage problems

- [Can’t pay your mortgage this month? What to do in the next 72 hours](https://claude-loan.com/guides/cant-pay-mortgage-this-month/): One missed mortgage payment is not a foreclosure. The grace period, what the servicer can do in the first 30 days, who to call first, and your options.
- [Missed a mortgage payment? What happens at 30, 60, 90 and 120 days](https://claude-loan.com/guides/missed-mortgage-payment-what-happens/): The delinquency timeline: late fee at day 16, credit reporting at 30, written options at 45, default at 90, and the 120-day rule before foreclosure can start.
- [Forbearance vs loan modification (vs repayment plan vs deferral): which tool fits](https://claude-loan.com/guides/forbearance-vs-modification/): Four ways a servicer can restructure a delinquent mortgage — repayment plan, forbearance, deferral or partial claim, modification — compared by fit and cost.
- [How foreclosure works, step by step: judicial and non-judicial](https://claude-loan.com/guides/how-foreclosure-works/): From the first missed payment to the sale and beyond: the 120-day rule, notices, lawsuit or trustee sale, eviction and deficiency — both processes mapped.
- [Short sale vs deed in lieu of foreclosure: leaving the home on your terms](https://claude-loan.com/guides/short-sale-vs-deed-in-lieu/): When keeping the home is not realistic, a short sale or deed in lieu ends the mortgage with less damage than foreclosure. Credit, taxes and the deficiency waiver.
- [How to write a mortgage hardship letter (with a one-page template)](https://claude-loan.com/guides/mortgage-hardship-letter/): The hardship letter is the one page an underwriter reads before the numbers. What it must contain, a fill-in template, and the five things that get letters rejected.
- [HUD-approved housing counselors: free help that servicers take seriously](https://claude-loan.com/guides/hud-housing-counselor/): HUD-approved counseling agencies provide free foreclosure prevention and homebuyer counseling. What they do, what they cannot, and how to spot an impostor.
- [Foreclosure rescue scams: the six patterns and the federal rule that bans upfront fees](https://claude-loan.com/guides/foreclosure-rescue-scams/): Mortgage relief scams follow six scripts — upfront fees, forensic audits, deed transfers, fake programs, bankruptcy mills, lawyer fronts. What the MARS rule bans.
- [Reinstatement and redemption: the two ways to stop a foreclosure with money](https://claude-loan.com/guides/mortgage-reinstatement-and-redemption/): Reinstatement pays the arrears before the sale; redemption pays the debt or sale price where state law allows. Deadlines, amounts, how to get a figure.
- [Deficiency judgment after foreclosure: when you can still owe money](https://claude-loan.com/guides/deficiency-judgment-after-foreclosure/): Lenders may sue for the shortfall after a foreclosure sale in most states — but not after a trustee sale in California, Arizona or Washington. Rules and defenses.
- [Buying again after foreclosure, short sale or bankruptcy: the waiting periods](https://claude-loan.com/guides/buying-a-house-after-foreclosure/): How long before a new mortgage after a foreclosure, deed in lieu, short sale or bankruptcy: the waiting period for each loan program and the exceptions.
- [Your mortgage was sold: what a servicing transfer changes, and what it cannot](https://claude-loan.com/guides/mortgage-servicer-transfer/): Servicing transfers cannot change your rate, balance or escrow terms. The 15-day letters, the 60-day late-fee protection, and how to fix a transfer error.

## About this site

- [About](https://claude-loan.com/about/): who publishes Claude Loan and what data it uses.
- [Methodology](https://claude-loan.com/methodology/): sources, calculations and verification.
- [Disclaimer](https://claude-loan.com/disclaimer/)
- [Legal notice](https://claude-loan.com/legal-notice/)