Your Guide to Smarter Banking
Practical guides on mortgages, VA loans, home equity, and business banking — written by the Herring Bank team.
Mortgage & Home Loans
Buying, refinancing, VA, FHA, HELOC, jumbo
Business Banking
Merchant services, accounts, payment processing
Personal Finance
Credit, budgeting, savings, direct deposit
Veterans & Military
VA loans, BAH, PCS guides, state benefits
Nevada Military Retirement Tax Exemption: No State Income Tax for Veterans
Nevada has no state income tax – making it one of the most financially favorable states for military retirees. Military retirement pay…
Florida Hurricane Insurance and Mortgages: What Lenders Require
Florida lenders require wind and hurricane coverage on every mortgage, statewide – not just in coastal areas. Hurricanes are an actuarial certainty…
Wildfire Zones and Mortgages: Insurance, Eligibility, and Underwriting
Buying a home in a wildfire hazard zone – common in California, Colorado, Oregon, Washington, and parts of Texas and New Mexico…
Oklahoma Veteran Property Tax Exemption: Full Exemption for 100% Disabled Vets
Oklahoma provides a full property tax exemption on the homestead of veterans with a 100% service-connected disability rating from the VA. Qualifying…
Nevada Veteran Property Tax Exemption: What the Credit Covers
Nevada provides a veteran property tax exemption based on service type. Veterans who served during a recognized war or conflict receive a…
Hawaii Veteran Property Tax Exemption: Rates by County
Hawaii’s veteran property tax exemptions are set county by county – Honolulu, Maui, Hawaii County (Big Island), and Kauai each have their…
Washington State Veteran Property Tax Exemption: Who Qualifies
Washington State offers property tax exemptions for veterans with service-connected disabilities structured in income-based tiers. For qualifying veterans within the lowest income…
Colorado Veterans Property Tax Exemption: Eligibility and Application
Colorado offers a property tax exemption for qualifying veterans that exempts 50% of the first $200,000 of actual value on the veteran’s…
North Carolina Veteran Property Tax Exclusion: Who Qualifies and How Much
North Carolina offers a property tax exclusion of $45,000 in assessed value for honorably discharged veterans with a 100% permanent and total…
Special Military Pay and VA Loan Qualification: What Counts
Special military pays – flight pay, hazardous duty pay, submarine pay, sea pay, combat zone pay, and others – count as qualifying…
Using BAH to Qualify for a VA Loan: What Counts as Income
Basic Allowance for Housing (BAH) counts as qualifying income for a VA loan when your service extends at least 12 months past…
CalVet vs. VA Loan: Which Is Better for California Veterans?
California veterans have two dedicated home financing programs in addition to conventional loans: CalVet (California Veterans Home Loan Program) and the federal…
VA Loan Limits: How Much Can You Borrow With No Down Payment?
Since January 1, 2020, there are no VA loan limits for veterans with full entitlement. Veterans can borrow any amount without a…
Flood Zones and VA Loans: Insurance Requirements and Property Eligibility
When a VA loan property is in a FEMA Special Flood Hazard Area (SFHA), the lender must require flood insurance as a…
AICUZ Noise Zones and VA Loans: What Buyers Near Military Bases Need to Know
AICUZ (Air Installation Compatible Use Zone) is a DoD program mapping noise and accident potential zones around military air installations. For homebuyers…
Save Our Homes Cap: How Florida Limits Property Tax Assessment Growth
Save Our Homes (SOH) is a Florida constitutional provision that limits annual increases in the taxable assessed value of homesteaded properties to…
Florida Homestead Exemption: What It Covers and How to Claim It
Florida’s homestead exemption reduces the assessed value of your primary residence by up to $50,000 for property tax purposes. The first $25,000…
Texas Homestead Exemption: How It Lowers Your Property Tax Bill
Texas’s homestead exemption reduces the taxable assessed value of your primary residence for school district taxes by $100,000, cutting your annual school…
Texas Vet Loan: Rates, Eligibility, and How It Differs from a VA Loan
The Texas Vet Loan is a rate reduction program administered by the Texas Veterans Land Board (VLB) that provides qualifying Texas veterans…
VA Funding Fee: Rates, Exemptions, and How It Works
The VA funding fee is a one-time charge paid at closing on most VA-backed home loans. For a first-time VA buyer with…
What Is an Escrow Account and How Does It Work?
An escrow account in a mortgage context is a holding account managed by your loan servicer that collects monthly amounts from you…
Best Fort Worth Neighborhoods for FHA Buyers
FHA loans are well-suited for Fort Worth buyers looking for established neighborhoods with homes priced below the FHA loan limit ($524,225 in…
VA Loans in Fort Worth: How to Apply With Herring Bank
Fort Worth is home to one of the largest veteran populations in Texas, anchored by Naval Air Station Fort Worth Joint Reserve…
How Much House Can I Afford With a $200K Salary in Texas?
With a $200,000 annual salary in Texas, you can typically afford a home in the $600,000-$900,000 range depending on your down payment,…
What Is a Home Equity Loan?
A home equity loan is a second mortgage that allows you to borrow a lump sum against the equity in your home…
Cash-Out Refinance Credit Score Requirements in Texas
To do a cash-out refinance in Texas, you need a minimum credit score of 620 for most conventional programs, though lenders generally…
Texas Land Loans: How to Finance Raw and Rural Land
Land loans in Texas are categorized by how the land is developed: raw land (no improvements), rural lots (undeveloped but with road…
Can You Buy a Fixer-Upper With an FHA Loan in Texas?
Yes – FHA has two specific programs for buying and financing renovation costs simultaneously: the FHA 203(k) Standard and the FHA 203(k)…
FHA vs. Conventional Loans for Texas Homebuyers
FHA vs. conventional is one of the most common mortgage decisions Texas buyers face. The right answer depends on your credit score,…
What Is Home Equity in Texas?
Home equity is the difference between your home’s current market value and what you owe on it. On a $400,000 home with…
FHA Loans and PMI in Texas: What You’ll Pay
FHA loans do not technically have PMI – they have MIP (Mortgage Insurance Premium). The distinction matters because unlike conventional PMI which…
Texas Ranch Loans: How to Finance Rural Land and Improvements
Financing a Texas ranch involves loan products that differ meaningfully from standard home mortgages. Working farms and ranches with significant acreage are…
Mortgagee Clause in Texas: What It Is and Why It Matters
The mortgagee clause is a provision in your homeowners insurance policy that names your mortgage lender as a co-insured on the policy.…
Texas Jumbo Loan Limits by County
In Texas, a jumbo loan is any mortgage above the conforming loan limit for the county. For 2025, the baseline limit in…
Credit Card Processing for Dental Practices
Dental practices need reliable, low-cost payment processing that handles high-ticket transactions, integrates with practice management software, and operates within HIPAA compliance considerations.…
How to Sell a House As-Is in Texas: A Complete Guide
Selling a house as-is in Texas means listing the property in its current condition without making repairs or improvements before closing. Texas…
Today’s Mortgage Rates in Austin Texas
Mortgage rates in Austin, Texas move daily based on bond market activity, Federal Reserve policy expectations, and individual lender pricing strategies. Austin…
What Income Do I Need to Afford a $200K House in Texas?
To comfortably afford a $200,000 home in Texas, you typically need $40,000-$55,000 in annual gross income depending on your down payment, other…
What Are the Benefits of Using Direct Deposit?
Direct deposit is the electronic transfer of funds directly from a payer into your bank account. For employees, it means your paycheck…
How to Refinance a Mortgage in Texas
Refinancing a mortgage in Texas follows the same basic steps as a purchase: pre-approval, appraisal, underwriting, and closing. But Texas has specific…
Best Mortgage Lenders in Fort Worth: What to Look For
Finding the best mortgage lender in Fort Worth means more than shopping for the lowest advertised rate. Service quality, local market knowledge,…
HELOC Requirements: What You Need to Qualify
To qualify for a HELOC, you typically need a credit score of 620 or higher (most lenders prefer 680+), combined loan-to-value (CLTV)…
How to Get a Mortgage in Texas: Step by Step
Getting a mortgage in Texas follows a predictable six-step process: pre-approval, home shopping, offer and contract, inspection and appraisal, underwriting and final…
How to Get a VA Loan in Texas
Getting a VA loan in Texas involves five steps: obtain your Certificate of Eligibility, find a VA-approved lender, get pre-approved, make an…
VA Loan Requirements in 2025: What You Need to Qualify
To qualify for a VA loan in 2025, you need to meet three requirements: military service or surviving spouse status (establishing entitlement…
Physician Loans: How They Work for Medical Professionals
Physician loans are specialized mortgage programs designed for medical professionals – specifically to address the financing challenges that arise from high student…
Bridge Loans: How They Work and When to Use Them
A bridge loan is short-term financing that bridges the gap between buying a new home and selling your current one. It uses…
What Happens If I Pay 2 Extra Mortgage Payments a Year in Texas?
Paying 2 extra mortgage payments per year on a 30-year loan can shave 4-6 years off your payoff date and save $40,000-$80,000…
The Basics of Qualifying for a Mortgage Loan
Lenders approve mortgage applications by evaluating four primary factors: credit score, income and employment stability, debt-to-income ratio (DTI), and down payment and…
What Income Do I Need to Afford a $600K House in Texas?
To comfortably afford a $600,000 home in Texas, you typically need $110,000-$145,000 in annual gross income depending on your down payment, existing…
How to Get a Mortgage in Colorado: Loan Options and Requirements
Getting a mortgage in Colorado follows the same basic process as in any state – pre-approval, offer, appraisal, underwriting, closing – but…
HELOC in Texas: Rules, Limits, and How to Qualify
A home equity line of credit (HELOC) in Texas works differently than in any other state. Texas’s constitutional homestead protections cap all…
How Much Is the Mortgage on a $400K House in Texas?
The total monthly cost of a $400,000 home in Texas typically runs $2,800-$3,800 depending on your down payment, interest rate, property tax…
Home Buying Guide: Everything You Need to Know
Buying a home is the largest financial transaction most people will make in their lives. The process moves through six major phases:…
Home Warranty Cost: What You Pay and What It Covers
Home warranties typically cost $300-$600 per year plus a service call fee of $75-$125 per visit. They cover repair or replacement of…
Texas Jumbo Loan Limits 2025: When You Need a Jumbo Loan
In Texas, a jumbo loan is any mortgage above the conforming loan limit – $806,500 in most counties for 2025. Loans above…
Pros and Cons of FHA Loans for Texas Homebuyers
FHA loans open the door for Texas buyers who cannot qualify for conventional financing – lower credit scores, smaller down payments, and…
What Income Do I Need to Afford a $300K House in Texas?
To comfortably afford a $300,000 house in Texas, you typically need $55,000-$80,000 in annual gross income depending on your down payment, other…
VA Loan vs. Conventional Loan: Which Is Better for Veterans?
For most veterans, the VA loan wins. No down payment, no private mortgage insurance, competitive interest rates, and flexible qualification standards –…
What Is an FHA Loan? How It Works and Who Qualifies
An FHA loan is a mortgage insured by the Federal Housing Administration, a government agency within HUD. The FHA does not lend…
How to Open a Merchant Account: What Businesses Need to Know
A merchant account is a business bank account that allows you to accept credit and debit card payments. Without one, you cannot…
What Home Loan Can You Get With a 680 Credit Score in Texas?
A 680 credit score puts you in a solid position to buy a home in Texas. You qualify for conventional, FHA, and…
Credit Score to Buy a House in Texas: Minimums by Loan Type
The credit score you need to buy a house in Texas depends on the loan type. Minimums: 620 for conventional, 580 for…
FHA Loans for Borrowers With Bad Credit: Minimum Scores and Requirements
FHA loans are designed for borrowers who cannot qualify for conventional financing – including those with scores as low as 500. The…
What Is a Letter of Explanation for a Mortgage?
A letter of explanation (LOE) is a written statement you provide to your mortgage underwriter explaining something in your application that needs…
VA Loan Closing Costs: Who Pays and How to Reduce Them
VA loans limit what veterans can be charged in closing costs – and what sellers can pay on their behalf is notably…
Hard Money Loans: How They Work and When to Use Them
Hard money loans are short-term, asset-based loans used primarily by real estate investors to acquire and renovate properties quickly. Approval is based…
Typical Closing Costs in Texas for Buyers and Sellers
Texas buyers typically pay 2-5% of the purchase price in closing costs. On a $350,000 home, that is $7,000-$17,500 due at closing…
How to Buy a House With Bad Credit: Loan Options and Strategies
You can buy a house with bad credit. FHA loans allow scores as low as 580 with 3.5% down, or 500 with…
How to Start an ATM Business: Step-by-Step Guide
Starting an ATM business is one of the few side businesses where you can realistically earn $300-$1,000 per machine per month in…
