Mortgage education, made clear
Mortgage Guides for Homebuyers and Homeowners
Get straightforward answers about buying a home, mortgage rates, closing costs, loan programs, refinancing, and home equity. Written by Sean Mertens for California homebuyers and homeowners, with local guidance when location matters.
Start here
Essential Mortgage Guides
Buy Before You Sell: Your Financing Options
Understand ways to purchase your next home without making the offer contingent on selling your current property first.
Read the guide Mortgage ratesMortgage Rate Locks Explained
Learn what a rate lock protects, how lock periods work, and what to consider when deciding whether to lock.
Read the guide HomeownersMortgage Recast: Lowering Your Payment
See how a lump-sum principal payment and recast may lower your payment while preserving your existing loan terms.
Read the guideExplore more
Latest Mortgage Articles
FHA Streamline Refinance
Understand FHA streamline refinance eligibility, reduced-documentation options, closing costs, and questions to ask before replacing an existing FHA loan.
Temporary rate buydowns can save homebuyers from high interest rates
Temporary rate buydowns make home payments affordable.
Get offers accepted WITHOUT paying more.
Why pay more if you can improve your offer in other ways?
