Mortgages & Financing
Loan types, pre-approval, and the numbers behind what you can afford.
PMI Explained: What Private Mortgage Insurance Costs, How to Get Rid of It, and Whether to Wait for 20% Down
What PMI is, who it protects, what it costs per month, the difference between PMI and FHA mortgage insurance, the rules for cancelling it, and the math on paying PMI now versus saving for 20% down.
The Home Appraisal, Explained: How It Works and What to Do When It Comes In Low
What a mortgage appraisal actually measures, who orders it, why it can come in under the contract price, and the four ways a buyer can handle an appraisal gap.
How Mortgage Rates Work (and Whether Buying Points Is Worth It)
What sets your mortgage rate, why your quote differs from the headline, rate vs. APR, how points and lender credits work, and the break-even math on points.
How Much House Can You Afford?
How to find a home price you can actually live with — the 28/36 rule, debt-to-income, the full monthly payment beyond principal and interest, and why what you qualify for is not the same as what you can afford.
Mortgage Loan Types Explained: Conventional, FHA, VA, and USDA
Conventional, FHA, VA, and USDA loans compared in plain English — down payments, credit, mortgage insurance, and who each loan is actually best for.
How to Get Pre-Approved for a Mortgage
What mortgage pre-approval is, the documents lenders ask for, how it differs from pre-qualification, and how to keep your approval intact until closing.