Plain-English explanations with real numbers, each paired with a calculator so you can run your own.
How much you can afford, which loan fits, and what it really costs.
A salary-by-salary answer using the rule most lenders start from — and the three things that move your number more than your income does.
Which mortgage costs less depends mostly on two things: your credit score and how long you plan to keep the loan.
No down payment, no monthly mortgage insurance, and competitive rates. Here's who qualifies and what a VA loan really costs.
What private mortgage insurance costs, the dates it has to come off, and how to drop it years early.
What the typical 2% to 6% actually pays for, which fees you can negotiate, and how to avoid surprises on closing day.
The difference between fair and excellent credit can cost more than $80,000 over the life of a mortgage.
The 15-year loan saves a fortune in interest. The 30-year loan keeps you flexible. Here are the actual numbers, and a way to get some of both.
An adjustable rate can save you money for years, or cost you a lot when it resets. Here's how to tell which you're signing up for.
Your first mortgage payment and your last one are the same dollar amount — but almost nothing else about them is the same.
Worked numbers for common incomes.
A realistic price range for a $50k salary, and the loan programs built for buyers at this income.
The price range a $60k salary supports, and why your car and student loan payments may matter more than your income.
The comfortable price range for an $80k salary, and why where you buy can matter as much as what you earn.
A comfortable price for a six-figure salary, and why the amount a lender approves can be very different.
What a $150k income buys, and the costs that matter most at higher price points.
When to refinance, and the cheapest way to borrow against your home.
The one calculation that answers the question — and the hidden cost that makes a lower payment more expensive than it looks.
You replace your mortgage with a bigger one and take the difference in cash. It's a good deal in some situations and an expensive one in others.
Three ways to borrow against your home, and why the rate on your existing mortgage usually decides the winner.
It mostly comes down to one comparison: your mortgage rate against what you can realistically earn investing.
Compare loan offers and get out of debt faster.
Two numbers on every loan offer, and why comparing the wrong one can cost you thousands.
A worked example on $20,000 of credit card debt, including the fees that lenders put in the fine print.
Two ways to escape 20%-plus credit card interest. One can be nearly free, but only if you can pay it off in time.
One method saves more money. The other one people actually finish. Here's the real trade-off.
A longer loan lowers the payment, but you pay more interest and can end up owing more than the car is worth.
A lower rate can save thousands, but refinancing federal loans means giving up protections you can't get back.
Screen rental properties and measure real returns.
A 10-second test for screening rentals, and why passing it doesn't mean a property will make money.
Two investors can look at the exact same rental property and disagree about whether it's a good deal — because they're measuring different things.