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Understanding the Path to Homeownership

Research

Take some time to learn about homebuying before you dive in.

How to Get Started

Learn how to make room in your budget for a mortgage payment and what other costs to expect.

Create a budget

Know where you stand so you can get a great loan rate and terms.

Check your credit

Are you looking for a fixed-rate loan, or does an adjustable rate make more sense? Check out all your options.

Research loan options

More Info to Get You Moving

Head to our homeownership hub for articles and podcasts about buying and owning a home. 
Learn more

about home loan preapprovals

Prepare

Get everything in order now to set yourself up for home-buying success.

Gather key documents

When you apply for a mortgage, you'll need to provide information about your financial history.


Learn more about documents

Find a real estate agent

Use RealtyPlus® to choose a top-performing agent in your area, and you could earn cash back, too.Footnote 1


Find an agent

Crunch the numbers

Use our calculators to see how much home you could afford, determine your down payment options and estimate your closing costs.


Start calculating

Learn about a preapproval

Before you start house hunting, it's a good idea to get a loan preapproval so you'll know how much you can borrow. 


Get more details

Which Mortgage Could Be the Best Option for You?

Answer a few simple questions in our interactive video to see what type of home loan works best for you. If you still have questions, give our Mortgage Specialists a call at 1-888-842-6328.

Why Choose Navy Federal?

We have everything you need to de-stress your next address. Learn about your loan options, the benefits of a Verified Preapproval letter and different ways you could save money.

Learn more in our Home Buying Center about our Home Buying Center

To take out a mortgage with us, you'll need to be a Navy Federal member. We'd love to have you join our family!

Check your eligibility and join today

Learn How to Apply

From application to closing, review the mortgage process.

Manage your application

Find out how to keep your mortgage application moving with HomeSquad, your personalized loan hub.

Learn about HomeSquad

 

Prepare for closing

Learn what to expect during closing, the last step in your home-buying journey.

Get the details

Determine your budget 

Find out how much you could afford with an affordability estimate. It's fast, and it won't affect your credit score.Footnote 2

Learn morewith our affordability tool

 

Disclosures

1

The program is only available for individual home purchases/sales in the contiguous US, Alaska, and Hawaii, excluding Iowa and all employer-sponsored relocations. You are not required to receive financing through Navy Federal Credit Union in order to receive the benefits of this program. The cash back is only available with the purchase or sale of your home through the use of a program-referred and -approved real estate agent, and is offered in most states, with the exception of Iowa, Alaska, and Oklahoma, and is not available in certain transactions with restricted agent commissions (including many new constructions, For Sale by Owner, or For Sale by iBuyer transactions). Your assigned agent can help you identify any transactions where the cash back would not be available. The amount of your cash back depends on the value of the property you are buying or selling. Obtaining the full $9,000 cash back requires transacting in a property valued at $3 million or greater. To calculate your potential cash-back amount, please visit the RealtyPlus website: https://navyfederalrealtyplus.com/. The cash-back offer is limited to one cash back per property with no limit on the number of times you may use the program. In some states, a gift card or commission credit at closing may be provided in lieu of the cash back. In Kansas and Tennessee, a Mastercard® MAX gift card will be issued with preloaded points that are ready for spending at specified retail establishments after closing. State regulations in Kansas limit the dollar amounts and the type of incentive. In Mississippi, New Jersey, and Oregon, a commission reduction may be available at closing in lieu of cash back. Please check with the program coordinator for details. All real estate commissions are negotiable. Contact RealtyPlus for terms and conditions. Seller listing fees apply. This program is offered, in part, by Anywhere Leads Inc., which may receive a co-operative brokerage fee as a result of a referral to any affiliated real estate companies, including Better Homes and Gardens® Real Estate, Coldwell Banker®, Century 21®, ERA® Real Estate, and Corcoran. Program terms and conditions are subject to change at any time without notice. Additional terms, conditions, and restrictions apply. This is an advertisement and not a solicitation for agent representation if your property is currently listed with an agent. Anywhere Leads Inc., 175 Park Avenue, Madison, NJ 07940. Licensed broker in the state of Texas. Broker license #9009191. 

2

The purchase affordability tool is not available for individuals who have an unsubmitted mortgage application in HomeSquad. Please call 1-888-842-6328 and a Member Service Representative will provide assistance.