Guides
Mortgage and Home Buying Guides
Clear explanations with worked examples. Every number is calculated, and every guide links to the calculator that lets you try your own.
Buying
First-Time Homebuyer Costs: Everything Beyond the Down PaymentA timeline of the costs of buying a home, from earnest money and inspections to closing, moving and ongoing maintenance, so your budget covers more than the price.October 2, 2026 · 3 min readHow Much House Can I Afford? A Practical GuideStart from income and debts, not listing prices. Learn the 28/36 guideline, what counts in the payment, and how down payment, taxes and reserves change the answer.October 2, 2026 · 4 min readRent vs Buy: How to Think About the DecisionBuying beats renting only in some situations. Learn the costs on each side, why time horizon matters most, and how to test your own assumptions.October 2, 2026 · 4 min read
Loans
15-Year vs 30-Year Mortgage: The Real Difference in CostA 15-year loan costs far less in interest but has a much higher payment. Compare both on a $400,000 loan and learn the middle path of a 30-year loan with extra payments.October 2, 2026 · 3 min readFHA vs Conventional Loans: Which Costs Less?Compare down payments, credit requirements and mortgage insurance on FHA and conventional loans, and learn when each one usually wins.October 2, 2026 · 3 min readFixed-Rate vs Adjustable-Rate Mortgage: How to ChooseAn ARM starts with a lower rate that can rise later. See how rate caps work with a worked example, and when a fixed rate or an ARM fits your plans.October 2, 2026 · 3 min readMortgage Points: Are They Worth It? How to Find the Break-EvenDiscount points trade cash now for a lower rate. Learn how to calculate the break-even point with a worked example, and when paying points does and does not make sense.October 2, 2026 · 3 min readShould You Refinance? A Break-Even ChecklistRefinancing saves money only if you stay long enough to recover the closing costs. Work through a $300,000 example, the term-reset trap, and a checklist.October 2, 2026 · 3 min readVA Loan Funding Fee: Rates, Exemptions and an ExampleThe VA funding fee replaces monthly mortgage insurance. See the rate chart, a $400,000 example at three down payments, who is exempt, and whether to finance it.October 2, 2026 · 3 min read
Costs
Closing Costs Explained: What You Pay and How to Lower ItClosing costs commonly run 2% to 5% of the price. See what they include, how the Loan Estimate and Closing Disclosure help you compare, and ways to reduce them.October 2, 2026 · 3 min readWhat Is an Escrow Account? How Property Tax and Insurance Get PaidEscrow lets your lender collect property tax and insurance with each payment. Learn how it works, why your payment can change, and when you can pay these bills yourself.October 2, 2026 · 3 min readPMI Explained: What It Costs and When You Can Drop ItPrivate mortgage insurance applies when you put less than 20% down on a conventional loan. See a worked example, the 80% and 78% rules, and how FHA insurance differs.October 2, 2026 · 4 min readProperty Taxes When You Buy a Home: What to ExpectProperty tax varies enormously by state and county, and your bill can differ from the seller's. Learn how it is calculated, how to estimate it, and how to appeal.October 2, 2026 · 4 min read
Guides
How Mortgage Interest Is Calculated, with an ExampleSee how a fixed-rate payment splits into interest and principal each month, with a $400,000 example, and why extra payments early in the loan save so much.October 2, 2026 · 3 min readHow to Read a Loan Estimate: A Page-by-Page GuideThe Loan Estimate is a three-page standardized form that lets you compare lenders. Learn what each section means and what to check before you choose.October 2, 2026 · 4 min read
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