Editorial policy

Our promise to readers

Every answer on Mortgage Advice Daily is written to help you make a better decision, not to sell you a loan. We put the direct answer first, explain it in plain language, show our sources, and tell you when something depends on your situation.

Independence

• We are not a lender or broker and we do not accept referral fees, commissions or payments from lenders, real estate agents or other mortgage businesses.
• No company can pay to be mentioned, reviewed or left out of an answer.
• We do not name or recommend specific lenders. When it helps, we explain how to compare lenders and how to check a lender’s license in the NMLS Consumer Access database.
• If we ever add advertising or affiliate links, each one will be labeled where it appears and explained in our advertising disclosure. Editorial decisions will stay separate from any commercial relationship.

How an answer is written

1. Choose the question. We pick a real question that many buyers or homeowners ask, and rewrite it in plain words without any personal details.
2. Research the rules. We go to primary sources first (see our methodology). We do not rely on lender marketing, forums or other blogs for facts.
3. Write the short answer. A direct reply of a few sentences that would still be right if it were the only thing you read.
4. Explain the detail. Plain language, around an eighth-grade reading level, with terms defined the first time they appear, worked examples, tables and the follow-up questions people ask next.
5. Cite and date. Every source is listed with the date we last checked it. Figures in the text match those sources.
6. Review. Before publishing, the answer is checked again against each source, read for clarity, and checked for anything that could mislead a reader.

Examples and numbers

• Worked examples use hypothetical numbers and are labeled as examples. They show how a rule works, not what you will be offered.
• We do not quote “today’s rate” as fact. Rates change daily and differ by borrower. When we need a rate for an example, we label it as an example and point to Freddie Mac’s weekly survey for current national averages.
• We do not invent statistics, survey results, reviews, testimonials or people.

Language editions

Our Spanish, Simplified Chinese, Vietnamese and Korean editions follow this same policy. Articles are written for each audience, using the terms people actually use and keeping the English term where readers will see it on their documents. They are not literal translations.

Updates and reviews

Each article shows three dates: when it was first answered, when it was last updated, and when it was last reviewed. We review answers when the underlying rules change (for example, new conforming and FHA loan limits each year, or changes to mortgage insurance rules) and at least once a year.

Corrections

If you find a mistake, tell us. We check it against primary sources and, if we were wrong, correct the article and add a dated correction note. See our corrections policy.

Advice, not a substitute for professionals

Our answers are general education, not financial, tax or legal advice. Your lender’s requirements may be stricter than the program minimums we describe. For personal guidance, a HUD-approved housing counselor, a tax professional or a real estate attorney can review your situation.