Demonstration site. Northgate Mortgage Partners is a fictional company built by Sky-Eagle Designs to show a finished mortgage website. Not a real lender.

Couple holding house keys on the porch of their new home at golden hour

Home Purchase Loans

Know exactly what you can afford before you start looking

A Northgate pre-approval is underwritten before it is issued, so it holds up when you write an offer. No credit pull to get started, and no obligation.

Get Pre-QualifiedTalk to a Loan Officer
As little as 0% downClose in 21 to 30 daysPre-approval letters same day

Why Northgate

Buying a home without the mortgage part being the hard part

First-time buyer or fifth property, the loan is where most deals get slow. Documents get requested one at a time. An underwriter surfaces a problem in week four that was visible in week one. The rate you were quoted is not the rate on your Loan Estimate.

We work the file in the opposite order. Your scenario gets read like an underwriter will read it before it goes anywhere, we shop it across a network of wholesale lenders, and you get one consolidated document request instead of a drip. That is why a Northgate pre-approval means something to a listing agent.

Get my pre-approval letter

What lenders actually look at

  • Debt-to-income ratio: usually 43% to 49% of gross income, all debts included
  • Credit score: from 580 on FHA, 620 on most conventional files
  • Down payment: 0% on VA and USDA, 3.5% FHA, from 3% conventional
  • Employment history: two years in the same line of work is the benchmark
  • Reserves and assets: sourced and seasoned, typically two months of statements
Not sure you qualify? The pre-qualification form takes three minutes and does not touch your credit.

Purchase Programs

Five ways to buy, and one that is cheapest for you

The right program depends on your credit, your down payment, the property, and how long you plan to keep it. We run all five and show you the math.

Conventional Loans Standard financing for primary homes, second homes, and rentals. Down payments start at 3%. See Conventional details → FHA Loans Government-backed, flexible credit. As little as 3.5% down with a 580 score. See FHA details → VA Loans For veterans and active duty. Zero down payment and no monthly mortgage insurance. See VA details → USDA Loans 100% financing for eligible rural and suburban addresses. No down payment required. See USDA details → Jumbo Loans Financing above conforming limits, with competitive pricing well past $3M. See Jumbo details →

The Process

From first call to keys in hand

1

Pre-qualify online

Three minutes, no credit pull. Tells us the shape of the file.

2

Full pre-approval

Credit, income, assets, and automated underwriting. You get a letter you can attach to an offer.

3

Shop and compare

Once you are under contract we compete lenders on your locked scenario and show the comparison in writing.

4

Close on schedule

Appraisal, underwriting, clear-to-close, signing. We chase the third parties so you do not have to.

Purchase FAQ

Buying a home, answered

How much home can I afford?
Most lenders want your total monthly housing payment plus all other debt payments to land at or below 43% to 49% of gross monthly income, depending on the program and compensating factors. Our calculator gives you the payment side of that equation; a loan officer can run the debt side with you in about ten minutes.
What credit score do I need to buy a house?
580 for FHA with 3.5% down, 500 to 579 with 10% down. Conventional generally starts around 620, though pricing improves sharply at 680, 720, and 760. VA and USDA have no federal minimum but most lenders set an overlay near 620.
Is a pre-qualification the same as a pre-approval?
No. A pre-qualification is based on what you tell us and takes minutes. A pre-approval means we have pulled credit, reviewed income and asset documents, and run the file through automated underwriting. Listing agents in competitive markets want the second one.
How long is a pre-approval good for?
Typically 90 days, limited by the age of the credit report and income documents. Refreshing it is quick as long as nothing material has changed.
Can I buy with a 3% down payment?
Yes, on conventional loans for qualified first-time buyers, and 3.5% on FHA regardless of first-time status. Below 20% equity you will carry mortgage insurance, which on conventional loans falls off automatically once you reach 78% loan-to-value.

Ready to find out what you can afford?

Start with the three-minute pre-qualification, or run a payment estimate first.

Get Pre-QualifiedOpen the Calculator