Mortgage Guides

Buying or refinancing a home involves a lot of moving parts. These guides break down the terms, costs, and decisions in plain English, so you know what to expect before you run the numbers in our mortgage calculators.

Each guide focuses on a single question — how much to put down, what PMI costs, whether to refinance — and links to the calculators and definitions that go with it. New to the vocabulary? Start with our mortgage glossary.

How Much Down Payment

A clear look at how much you need to put down by loan type and how your down payment shapes your monthly payment.

What Is PMI and How to Avoid It

What private mortgage insurance costs, why lenders require it, and how to drop it.

Credit Score for a Mortgage

A practical look at the credit scores lenders typically expect and how your score shapes your interest rate.

Fixed vs. Adjustable-Rate

How fixed and adjustable-rate mortgages differ, with the trade-offs that help you pick the right one.

Mortgage Closing Costs

What closing costs include, how much to expect, and practical ways to lower them.

Get Pre-Approved for a Mortgage

A step-by-step look at mortgage pre-approval, the documents you need, and what lenders check.

Conventional vs FHA vs VA Loans

A side-by-side look at conventional, FHA, and VA loans and how to choose the right one.

How to Lower Your Monthly Mortgage Payment

Practical ways to reduce your monthly mortgage payment, from refinancing to dropping PMI.

When Should You Refinance Your Mortgage

How to tell whether refinancing your mortgage will actually save you money.

What Is an Escrow Account

A plain explanation of mortgage escrow accounts and how they affect your monthly payment.