Mortgage answers
The questions I get every single week
I like explaining this stuff. These are the things people actually ask me, written out properly — including the parts where the honest answer costs me a deal.
First-time buyers
NC Home Advantage Mortgage: How North Carolina's Program Actually Works
North Carolina's state mortgage program pairs a normal FHA, VA, USDA or conventional loan with down payment help that's forgiven if you stay 15 years. Here's who qualifies, how the 3% and $15,000 options stack, what the tax credit is worth, and when it's the wrong move.
Mortgage basics
Are mortgage points worth it? Do this one calculation first
Paying points buys a lower rate with money you have today. Whether that's clever or expensive comes down to a single number — how long you'll keep the loan versus the break-even.
Mortgage basics
APR vs. interest rate: why the lower APR isn't always the better deal
The rate sets your payment. The APR is supposed to let you compare offers — but it makes one assumption that's wrong for most people, and it quietly punishes the cheaper loan.
Mortgage basics
15-year vs. 30-year mortgage: the case for each, honestly
A 15-year saves a fortune in interest and takes away your flexibility. A 30-year costs more and gives it back. Here's how to work out which trade suits you, rather than which one sounds more responsible.
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