Homeowners Insurance and Your Mortgage: What Lenders Require
What homeowners insurance lenders require, what standard policies cover, how premiums affect your payment, and how to avoid force-placed insurance.
Mortgage Basics
Plain-English explanations of how home loans work.
Mortgage Forbearance and Hardship Options: What to Do if You Cannot Pay
How mortgage forbearance, repayment plans, deferrals and loan modifications work, steps to take now, and how to avoid relief scams.
APR vs. Interest Rate: Which Number Matters on a Mortgage?
The difference between a mortgage interest rate and APR, with a two-lender example showing why how long you keep the loan matters most.
What Is Escrow on a Mortgage? How It Works and Why Your Payment Changes
How a mortgage escrow account pays your property taxes and insurance, how the annual analysis works, and why your payment can change.
How Much Does 1% Extra Interest Really Cost on a Mortgage?
Exactly what a 1% higher mortgage rate costs per month and over 30 years, by loan size, with tips to get a lower rate.
How Mortgage Amortization Works (With a Real Example)
See exactly how each mortgage payment is split between interest and principal, with a month-by-month and year-by-year example of a $300,000 loan at 6.5%.