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MORTGAGES, IN PLAIN ENGLISH

Look beyond the headline rate.

We’ll help you compare lenders, Loan Estimates, low-down-payment programs, and the cash you may need at closing—without making mortgage language harder than it needs to be.

Open the 48 checks ↓Browse mortgage guides →Estimate ownership cost →
48-POINT FED → HOUSEHOLD DECISION CENTER

Turn the rate headline into your own housing plan.

A Fed hold is not a mortgage-rate promise. Change the assumptions, compare the payment paths and leave with a practical checklist for buying, refinancing or repairing a home.

Fed target range3.50%–3.75%Held July 29, 2026
FOMC vote9–3Three members preferred +0.25%
June year-end median3.8%Projection, not a promise
30-year mortgage6.58%Freddie Mac · July 23, 2026
Home-price change+2.0%FHFA year over year · April
Processed materials+0.6%BLS month over month · June
01 · BUYING POWER

Build the full monthly payment

Principal and interest are only the first layer.

Loan amount$360,000$40,000 down
Principal + interest$2,294per month
All-in planning total$3,178before PMI and utilities
Suggested gross income$10,593–$12,711monthly at 30%–25%
Principal & interest$2,294
Property tax$367
Insurance$183
HOA$0
Maintenance reserve$333
02 · RATE PATHS

Stress-test four mortgage quotes

The overnight Fed rate and a 30-year mortgage can move differently.

Relief6.08%$2,177 / month−$117 monthlyMortgage quote falls 0.50%$105,941 estimated interest in 5 years
Current input6.58%$2,294 / monthBaselineYour working quote$114,973 estimated interest in 5 years
Quarter-point higher6.83%$2,354 / month+$60 monthlyA modest repricing$119,499 estimated interest in 5 years
Stress test7.08%$2,414 / month+$120 monthlyBudget cushion$124,030 estimated interest in 5 years
03 · POINTS

Find the rate-buydown break-even

Upfront point cost$3,600
Monthly savings$59
Break-even61 months5.1 years
04 · REPAIR CREDIT

Stress-test a variable HELOC

A HELOC commonly has a variable rate, so budget the reset—not only today’s payment.

Interest-only$354initial monthly illustration
10-year amortizing$620at 8.50%
+2% stress payment$675at 10.50%
05 · RENOVATION FUNDING

Compare three ways to fund the same job

The lowest monthly payment is not automatically the lowest risk or total cost.

OPTIONCashNo financing cost; preserves no payment.
RATE0%
PAYMENT$50,000
TOTAL INTEREST$0
OPTIONHELOC · 10 yearsUsually variable; payment can change.
RATE8.50%
PAYMENT$620
TOTAL INTEREST$24,391
OPTIONPersonal loan · 7 yearsIllustrative fixed-rate comparison.
RATE11.50%
PAYMENT$869
TOTAL INTEREST$23,023
06 · HOME VALUE

Use ranges—not one national forecast

Local inventory, employment, insurance and new construction can outweigh the national average.

Downside · -3% / year$388,000one-year value$343,494five-year value

Demand weakens or local supply rises

Base · +2% / year$408,000one-year value$441,632five-year value

Matches the latest national year-over-year signal

Upside · +5% / year$420,000one-year value$510,513five-year value

Tight local inventory supports prices

07 · ACTION PLAN

Finish the decision before signing

Your progress stays only on this device.

0 of 12 checked
08 · PACKAGE LEDGER

All 48 connected checks

Eight modules, one household decision path and no duplicate mini-release cycle.

  1. 01Dated Fed target range
  2. 02FOMC vote split
  3. 03Year-end policy projection
  4. 04Mortgage benchmark
  5. 05National home-price signal
  6. 06Building-material price signal
  7. 07Editable purchase price
  8. 08Editable down-payment percentage
  9. 09Automatic loan amount
  10. 10Editable mortgage rate
  11. 1115- and 30-year terms
  12. 12Principal-and-interest result
  13. 13Property-tax estimate
  14. 14Home-insurance estimate
  15. 15HOA input
  16. 16Maintenance reserve
  17. 17All-in monthly ownership cost
  18. 18Suggested gross-income range
  19. 19Lower-rate payment scenario
  20. 20Current-rate payment scenario
  21. 21Quarter-point-higher scenario
  22. 22Half-point-higher stress scenario
  23. 23Monthly payment deltas
  24. 24Five-year interest comparison
  25. 25Discount-point cost
  26. 26Discounted-rate input
  27. 27Monthly savings from points
  28. 28Points break-even period
  29. 29HELOC amount input
  30. 30Variable HELOC rate input
  31. 31Interest-only HELOC payment
  32. 32Amortizing HELOC payment
  33. 33Two-point HELOC stress rate
  34. 34Stressed HELOC payment
  35. 35Cash renovation comparison
  36. 36Personal-loan comparison
  37. 37Financing total-interest comparison
  38. 38Financing monthly-payment comparison
  39. 39Downside home-price scenario
  40. 40Base home-price scenario
  41. 41Upside home-price scenario
  42. 42One-year value projection
  43. 43Five-year value projection
  44. 44Local-market caution
  45. 45Twelve-step decision checklist
  46. 46Device-local checklist progress
  47. 47Nine primary-source links
  48. 48Dated methodology and planning disclaimer
PRIMARY SOURCES

Read the data behind the scenarios

Official releases are dated. Inputs are editable because rates, quotes and local markets move.

01MORTGAGE RATE SHOPPING

How to find the best mortgage rates

Compare live mortgage offers using APR, points, lender fees, rate-lock terms and total five-year cost—not an advertised interest rate alone.

Let’s compare →02LENDER COMPARISON

Best mortgage banks, lenders and institutions to compare

A practical lender shortlist for conventional, FHA, VA, USDA, jumbo and first-time-buyer mortgages—organized by borrower fit rather than paid rankings.

Let’s compare →03LOW DOWN PAYMENT

Lowest down payment mortgage programs

Compare 0%, 3%, 3.5% and assistance-supported paths to homeownership, including eligibility, mortgage insurance, funding fees and cash-to-close.

Let’s compare →
OUR PROMISE

No paid winner and no too-good-to-be-true promises.

Mortgage pricing is personal and can change during the day. We don’t issue loans or promise approval. Compare written offers carefully and talk with a qualified lender or HUD-approved housing counselor.

Read the methodology →
BUILD A RANGETurn a project into a realistic budget.COMPARE CITIESChicago vs New York City: home, transport and daily-life tradeoffs.WHICH CAR?Match the vehicle to your city, home and real annual cost.
CURIOUS WHAT COMES NEXT?

These pages pick up where this one leaves off, so you can answer the next question without starting over.

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04 · Insurance

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Official benchmarks and quote checklists

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