Payment Reality
The full monthly hit, not a teaser estimate.
Official Review Desk
Version 1 Preview
The Mortgage Situation Room
What play would you like me to review?
Big housing decisions deserve more than a quick opinion. Bring the situation into the room and get a clear call on the next play.
Review Standard
Every call has to survive the tape.
Buyer Readiness
Credit, income, cash, debt, and timeline in one view.
The Next Play
A clear call, the reason behind it, and what happens next.
Mortgage Reference DeskOpen Access
The Mortgage Rule Book
Know the rule before you make the play.
Practical mortgage articles, handouts, checklists, and worksheets organized around the housing decision in front of you.
Reference Library
Find the rule that fits the situation.
Showing all resources
No rule matched that search.Try a broader topic or choose All Rules.
Mortgage Fundamentals
Payment Beats Price
The purchase price is only useful after the full monthly housing payment is understood.
The RuleShop from the payment backward, not the price forward.
Educational planning material only. Loan terms, qualification, property data, and product availability require a verified mortgage review.
Private Admin Updated today
Rate & Cost Desk
Control every planning estimate from one place.
These assumptions feed all five Official Reviews. They are planning inputs, not lockable pricing.
Play 01Moving Review
Official Review
One move. Two homes. No blind spots.
Review the current home, sale proceeds, next payment, cash timing, and the risk of carrying both properties at once.
From the Rule Book
Review the sequence before listing or shopping.
Move Timing Calculator
What Has to Happen Before the Next Closing?
Put the sale and purchase on the same board.
01
Current Home
Estimate the equity leaving the property.
02
Next Home
Build the purchase payment and cash requirement.
03
Sequence Comparison
Three ways to move
- Net sale proceeds
- $218,500
- Cash after next closing
- $116,000
Unlock equity before the purchase and avoid two housing payments.
- Cash needed before sale
- $96,000
- Two-home payment
- $6,300
Stronger timing flexibility, but the file must carry the cash gap and overlap.
- Estimated equity advance
- $96,000
- Starting bridge payment
- $820
Use current-home equity before sale, subject to lien, income, and product approval.
Play 04Renovation Review
Official Review
Fund the project without damaging the house budget.
Compare cash, fixed home-equity financing, revolving equity, and cash-out against the full project cost and contingency.
From the Rule Book
Set the project rules before moving the money.
Renovation Funding Calculator
What Is the Full Cost of the Project?
Price the work, the contingency, and the financing before construction starts.
01
Property Position
Measure current and future equity.
02
Project Budget
Build the full funding target.
03
Funding Comparison
Four ways to fund the work
- Full project budget
- $88,000
- Cash shortfall
- $68,000
No loan payment, but reserves must survive the project.
- New loan
- $69,360
- 180-month payment
- $663
Keep the first mortgage with a fixed rate amortized over 180 months.
- Initial draw
- $68,000
- Required payment
- $850
Flexible draws with a required payment equal to 1.25% of the drawn balance.
- Estimated new loan
- $324,000
- Principal + interest
- $2,100
One new first mortgage, including modeled costs, but the current first-lien rate is replaced.
Official Moving Review CenterReview #MTMR-M001August 4, 2026
Call on the Ice
Sell First, Then Buy Cleanly
The sale unlocks the equity required for the next closing and removes the overlap risk.
OfficialCALLSELL-FIRST LANE
01
Review Finding
What the timing shows
02
Coach's Notes
Sequence the transactions before shopping.
The modeled purchase depends on current-home equity. Verify the sale proceeds and purchase qualification before choosing a closing sequence.
03
Next Sequence
Verify the equity, then control the calendar.
Play 05The Rule Book
No Sales Pitch
Start with the question, not the loan product.
Browse the full Rule Book or answer three questions to build a focused reading plan and find the right Official Review.
Quick Diagnostic
What are you trying to figure out?
Your Rule Book Plan
Start with the First Home Review
Your biggest question is the monthly payment, so the next useful step is a complete price-to-payment review.
Focus firstThe full monthly housing payment
Use the payment calculator before choosing a target purchase price.
Rules to review
Play Selected
I'm Moving
A focused review of the situation, the numbers, and the next move.
Version 1 Review framework ready
This preview fully builds the first-time-homebuyer play. The remaining plays use the same review system.
Play 02
Debt Review
Official Review
Turn home equity into a debt-payoff plan.
Enter the debt you want gone and your current home-loan position. The review compares a cash-out refinance, fixed home-equity loan, and HELOC before making the call.
From the Rule Book
Protect the first mortgage before consolidating debt.
Play 03
First Home
Official Review
Your first home deserves a clean call.
Price is only one number. The review checks the full payment, current readiness, and whether the timing supports the play.
From the Rule Book
Learn the payment and cash rules before shopping.
Payment Reality Check
Can You Take the Hit to Make the Play?
Build the payment from the ice up.
01
Purchase
02
Property Costs
03
Household
Equity Debt Payoff Calculator
How Much Debt Do You Want Your Home to Pay Off?
Start with the payoff target. Then compare the mortgage payment created against the debt payments removed.
01
Current Situation
What is the home-loan position?
02
Payoff Target
What debt needs to disappear?
Rate, term, and equity assumptions
03
Payment Comparison
Three ways to run the play
Cash-Out RefinanceAvailable
Replace the first mortgage and roll the debt payoff into one new loan.
- New first mortgage
- $290,075
- Principal + interest
- $1,882
- New housing payment
- $2,452
- Household change
- -$838
Fixed HELOANRecommended
Keep the current first mortgage and add a fixed-rate second mortgage.
- New second mortgage
- $35,700
- 180-month payment
- $341
- Combined housing payment
- $2,531
- Household change
- -$759
HELOCAvailable
Keep the first mortgage and use a revolving, variable-rate equity line.
- Initial line used
- $35,000
- Required payment
- $438
- Combined housing payment
- $2,628
- Household change
- -$663
Mortgage rule: Do not refinance a strong first mortgage just because the new payment looks manageable. Compare rate, equity, closing costs, payment stability, and the debt payments eliminated.
Official Review Center Review #MTMR-001 August 2, 2026
Call on the Ice
Ready for a Strategy Call
The payment and readiness profile support moving to a verified game plan.
Official CALL PLAY STANDS
01
Review Finding
What the tape shows
02
Coach's Notes
The play is worth advancing.
Your starting profile is strong enough for a documented strategy conversation. The next step is to verify income, assets, credit, and the property target before treating any estimate as a final approval.
03
Next Sequence
Move from estimate to verified plan.
Official Debt Review Center Review #MTMR-D001 August 3, 2026
Call on the Ice
Targeted Payoff Can Open the Lane
A focused payoff may improve mortgage qualification without consuming all available cash.
Official CALL TARGET THE PAYMENT
01
Review Finding
What changes the mortgage play
02
Coach's Notes
Remove the payment, not the safety net.
The selected payoff improves the projected debt ratio, but the exact obligation and timing should be verified before money moves.
First mortgage position Keep 3.25%
Equity remaining $191,300
Verify the property value, lien balances, credit, income, costs, and product terms before ordering any debt payoffs.
03
Next Sequence