Mortgage Guides
Long-form, evidence-based guides on US mortgages. Choose the right loan type, decode APR and lender fees, compare FHA / Conventional / VA, time your rate lock, and figure out what you can actually afford. Every guide links back to our calculator and state pages so you can apply what you read to real numbers.
Fixed vs ARM vs Interest-Only: Which Mortgage Makes Sense in 2026
A practical decision framework for choosing between fixed-rate, adjustable-rate, and interest-only mortgages, with break-even math and ARM cap structures explained.
APR vs Interest Rate: The $30,000 Difference Lenders Hope You Miss
Why the APR on your mortgage is almost always different from the interest rate, what goes into APR, and how to compare Loan Estimates apples-to-apples to avoid overpaying.
FHA vs Conventional vs VA: Real Cost Comparison
Down payment floors, PMI rules (FHA mortgage insurance lasts the life of the loan!), VA funding fee, credit score thresholds, and which loan actually costs less for your situation.
Mortgage Rate Locks: When to Lock and When to Float
How rate locks work, what float-down options are worth, when to lock and when to wait, and when paying for an extension is worth more than the cost.
How Much House You Can Actually Afford (Beyond the 28/36 Rule)
Why standard affordability calculators overstate what you can afford, the real DTI math, regional property tax multipliers, and the stress test to use before buying.
Run real numbers
- Mortgage calculator → monthly payment, amortization, total interest
- Compare loan types → Conventional, FHA, VA, USDA, Jumbo
- State-by-state rates → current mortgage rates by state