VA financing
Benefit eligibility, costs, program choices, and a worked purchase comparison.
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Refinance decisions
Costs, holding periods, term changes, and comparing the actual offers.
Explore this topic ↗Home equity
Keep or replace the first mortgage, compare structures, and plan repayment.
Explore this topic ↗Written by Aaron Clowes
Latest articles.
Smaller Down Payment or 20% Down? Compare Cash Left After Closing
Compare a larger down payment with keeping cash for repairs, reserves, and other goals, including mortgage insurance and financing costs.
By Aaron Clowes · Sources checked October 28, 2026
Temporary Buydown vs. Price Reduction: Compare Seller Costs
Compare 1-0, 1-1, 2-1, and 3-2-1 buydowns with an equal-cost price reduction using a full seller-funded subsidy calculator.
By Aaron Clowes · Sources checked October 28, 2026
Temporary Buydown vs. Discount Points: Which Payment Are You Comparing?
Understand temporary payment subsidies, permanent discount points, qualifying payments, and the questions to ask before using a seller credit.
By Aaron Clowes · Sources checked October 28, 2026
Buying a Condo: Mortgage Approval, HOA Costs, and Project Review
Understand condo project review, master insurance, HOA budgets, special assessments, and the housing costs to check before committing.
By Aaron Clowes · Sources checked October 28, 2026
Remove PMI or Refinance? Check the Existing Loan Before Replacing It
Compare requesting conventional PMI cancellation with refinancing, including eligibility, servicer review, fees, term changes, and future debt.
By Aaron Clowes · Sources checked October 28, 2026
Mortgage Recast vs. Refinance After a Lump-Sum Principal Payment
Compare a mortgage recast, a principal-only payment, and refinancing after a home sale or other lump sum, including liquidity and payoff tradeoffs.
By Aaron Clowes · Sources checked October 28, 2026
Extra Principal Payments or a Shorter-Term Refinance?
Compare voluntarily paying extra on an existing mortgage with refinancing to a shorter term, including fees, flexibility, reserves, and payoff timing.
By Aaron Clowes · Sources checked October 28, 2026
Using Home Equity to Consolidate Debt: Build the Payoff Plan First
Compare equity-based debt consolidation with keeping current debts, including repayment time, total cost, collateral risk, and alternatives.
By Aaron Clowes · Sources checked October 28, 2026
Self-Employed Mortgage Income: Why Revenue and Bank Deposits Are Different
Understand why business revenue, taxable profit, distributions, and bank deposits may produce different mortgage qualifying-income results.
By Aaron Clowes · Sources checked October 28, 2026
DSCR Loan Qualification Is Not the Same as Rental Cash Flow
Separate a lender’s rental-coverage calculation from your operating budget, including vacancy, repairs, management, reserves, and financing terms.
By Aaron Clowes · Sources checked October 28, 2026
HELOC vs. Cash-Out Refinance When You Have a Low Mortgage Rate
Compare keeping your existing mortgage with replacing it when you need access to equity.
By Aaron Clowes · Sources checked October 27, 2026
Is Refinancing Worth It After Closing Costs?
Use break-even, remaining debt, and your timeline to evaluate a refinance.
By Aaron Clowes · Sources checked October 27, 2026
Buying Before Selling Your Current Home: What to Review
Plan for qualification, down payment funds, and overlapping housing costs before buying first.
By Aaron Clowes · Sources checked October 27, 2026
Down Payment Assistance: Grants vs. Repayable Loans
Understand deferred payment, forgiveness, and repayment before choosing assistance.
By Aaron Clowes · Sources checked October 27, 2026
How to Compare Mortgage Quotes Beyond the Interest Rate
Compare points, credits, payments, cash to close, and rate-lock terms on consistent assumptions.
By Aaron Clowes · Sources checked October 27, 2026
VA COE, Entitlement, and Preapproval: Three Different Questions
Understand what a Certificate of Eligibility proves, how prior VA use matters, and what still requires lender approval.
By Aaron Clowes · Sources checked October 27, 2026
VA Funding Fee Exemptions and Closing Costs: What to Check
Separate the VA funding fee from other closing costs and understand why exemption status matters.
By Aaron Clowes · Sources checked October 27, 2026
VA vs. Conventional: Compare Cash, Insurance, and Your Timeline
A practical comparison for eligible borrowers who can consider both VA and conventional purchase financing.
By Aaron Clowes · Sources checked October 27, 2026
Why a HELOC Payment Can Rise Without Another Draw
Understand the draw period, repayment phase, and rate changes before depending on a HELOC payment.
By Aaron Clowes · Sources checked October 27, 2026
Worked Scenario: Keep the First Mortgage or Replace It for $50,000?
A five-year illustration of a separate home equity loan versus replacing an existing first mortgage.
By Aaron Clowes · Sources checked October 27, 2026
Worked Scenario: A Lower Refinance Payment and a Possible Move
Compare short and longer holding periods before paying refinance costs.
By Aaron Clowes · Sources checked October 27, 2026
Worked Scenario: VA Zero Down vs. Conventional With 5% Down
A purchase comparison that separates cash retained from borrowing cost.
By Aaron Clowes · Sources checked October 27, 2026
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