Learn mortgages. Understand money. Buy with confidence.
Got Mortgages University is a free mortgage and homebuying school for New Jersey buyers and homeowners. You get plain-English written lessons, short videos, downloadable guides and worksheets, a step-by-step homebuyer seminar, and a free live class every Tuesday at 4:00 PM ET. Nothing is for sale here and no application is required — the goal is that you understand the numbers before you sign anything. Lessons are taught by Abdel Khawatmi and the Got Mortgages team, with offices in Eatontown and Toms River, New Jersey, and focus on Monmouth County and Ocean County.
What is Got Mortgages University?
It is a free education library, not a sales pitch. Four learning tracks cover Buying a Home, Mortgage Basics, Credit & Money, and Homeowners. Every lesson answers one real question in the first paragraph, then explains the details step by step.
How much money do I need to buy a house in New Jersey?
It depends on the loan program. FHA loans require a minimum down payment of 3.5% of the purchase price for borrowers with a credit score of 580 or higher, under HUD guidelines (HUD). Many conventional loans allow as little as 3% down, and VA and USDA loans allow 0% down for eligible borrowers. On top of the down payment you plan for closing costs and, usually, a couple of months of reserves. Our cash-to-close lesson walks through each line with a worksheet.
What credit score do I need for a mortgage?
FHA's published floor is a 580 score for 3.5% down, and 500–579 with 10% down. Most conventional programs start at a 620 score. Score is only one part of the file: lenders also review your debt-to-income ratio, employment history, and reserves. The Credit & Money track explains how each piece is judged and what actually moves a score.
When is the free live class?
Got Mortgages University LIVE runs every Tuesday at 4:00 PM ET as a free virtual webinar. Bring questions; it is a classroom, not a closing table. See the class details and register.
Which towns and counties do the lessons cover?
The teaching focuses on Monmouth County and Ocean County, New Jersey — Toms River, Brick, Lacey, Manahawkin, Jackson, Lakewood, Red Bank, Eatontown, Middletown, Freehold, Long Branch, and Asbury Park among them — with county and town pages covering all 21 New Jersey counties. Two new local lessons publish every day, one for Ocean County and one for Monmouth County.
“Borrowers who compare offers from multiple lenders can save real money over the life of the loan.” — Consumer Financial Protection Bureau, Owning a Home