Guides
Common home-buying questions, answered with a worked example: real numbers from the same calculations as our calculators, what would change the answer, and how sure it is.
Is it better to rent or buy a house?
A worked example with real numbers: what owning really costs each month, the rent and home price growth that flip the answer, and how often buying comes out ahead.
Should you put 20% down on a house?
What PMI really costs, when a smaller down payment comes out ahead, and the investment return that flips the answer, worked through with real numbers.
When is refinancing worth it?
Why the 1% rule is too strict, how long you need to stay to come out ahead, and the term-reset trap that makes a lower payment cost you more, with real numbers.
Should you pay off your mortgage early or invest?
Paying extra saves a lot of interest, but your net worth can come out almost the same. The investment return that decides it, and your odds, worked through with real numbers.