Free Mortgage Guides

Everything You Need to Know About Mortgages

Plain-language guides for homebuyers at every stage — from understanding your first loan to paying it off early. No jargon, no sales pitch.

Foundation — Start Here
Costs & Fees
Mortgage Points Explained
What discount points are, how they lower your rate, and whether buying them makes sense for you.
Insurance
PMI Guide
Private mortgage insurance explained — what it costs, when it's required, and how to get rid of it.
Costs & Fees
HOA Fees Breakdown
How HOA dues affect your monthly payment, what they cover, and red flags to watch for.
Fundamentals
Amortization Explained
How your loan balance shrinks over time, why you pay mostly interest at first, and how to read a schedule.
Fundamentals
Interest Rates Guide
The difference between rate and APR, what moves rates up and down, and how to lock at the right time.
Loan Types
Loan Types
FHA Loan Guide
Down payment rules, MIP costs, credit requirements, and who FHA loans are best for.
Loan Types
VA Loan Guide
Eligibility, the VA funding fee, zero-down benefits, and how to use your benefit more than once.
Loan Types
Conventional Loan Guide
PMI rules, down payment options, conforming loan limits, and how credit score affects your rate.
Loan Types
Refinance Guide
Cash-out vs rate-and-term refinancing, when refinancing makes sense, and how to calculate break-even.
Affordability & Budgeting
Budgeting
How Much House Can I Afford?
Income rules, the 28/36 guideline, and how lenders actually decide your maximum loan amount.
Budgeting
Debt-to-Income Ratio Guide
What DTI is, how to calculate it, and what ratio lenders want to see before approving your loan.
Qualifying
Credit Score & Your Mortgage
How your score sets your rate, payment, total interest, PMI, and how much house you can afford — with a credit-tier rate table.
Budgeting
First-Time Homebuyer Tips
The 10 most important things first-time buyers need to know before making an offer.
Extra Payments & Payoff
Payoff Strategy
How Extra Payments Reduce Interest
Why even $100/month extra can save tens of thousands — the math behind accelerated payoff.
Payoff Strategy
Biweekly vs Monthly Payments
How paying every two weeks instead of monthly results in one extra payment per year — and big savings.

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