Mortgage guides

Plain-English explanations that pair with each calculator. Skim a guide, then run your own numbers.

How to calculate a mortgage payment
The standard fully-amortizing payment formula in plain English, with a worked example.
How amortization works
Why early payments are mostly interest and how the split shifts toward principal over time.
15-year vs. 30-year mortgage
When the lower lifetime interest of a 15-year beats the cash-flow flexibility of a 30-year.
How to pay off a mortgage early
Concrete strategies — extra principal, biweekly, lump sums, recast, refinance — and when each makes sense.
Mortgage recast vs. refinance
Both reduce your monthly payment, but they work very differently. Side-by-side comparison.
How PMI works
Why lenders require private mortgage insurance, what it costs, and how to get it removed.
How much house can I afford?
How DTI ratios, down payment, and reserves combine to set your real budget — not just the lender's max.
APR vs. interest rate
APR includes fees, the interest rate doesn't. Why the gap matters when comparing loan offers.
Loan-to-value (LTV) ratio
How LTV controls PMI, refinance eligibility, and rate pricing — and how to lower it.