How we work

Editorial Standards

A short, honest account of how content here is written, checked, and kept current.

Accuracy first

Every calculation is backed by a documented formula on our methodology page, and every default assumption is tied to a named source. Before a number goes live, we test the underlying math against known worked examples. When a calculation could be done more than one way, we choose the method lenders actually use and say so plainly.

Sourcing

We cite primary sources wherever possible: the Freddie Mac Primary Mortgage Market Survey for rates, the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau for consumer rules, the Tax Foundation for property-tax figures, and HUD and the VA for loan-program details. We link to them directly on the sources page so you can check our work.

Freshness

Rate data is refreshed weekly and the date is shown on the page. Every article carries a visible published and updated date. When rates change, the update is recorded in our public changelog. When guidance or a formula changes, we revise the affected pages and update the modified date.

Education, not advice

We explain how mortgages work and help you run the numbers. We do not tell you which loan to take, and nothing here is personalised financial, tax, or legal advice. For decisions that turn on your specific situation, speak with a licensed professional. This line is drawn deliberately, and it is spelled out in our disclaimer.

Independence

The site is funded by advertising, not by lenders paying for placement. We do not sell leads, and no advertiser can change what a calculator shows or what an article says. If that ever changes, we will disclose it here.

Corrections

If we get something wrong, we fix it and note material changes. Found an error? Tell us through the contact page, and please include the page and the number you think is off so we can check it quickly.

MF
Marcus Fielding· Mortgage analyst & editor
Published June 2026 · Updated July 2026
How we calculate →