How the main U.S. mortgage programs differ on down payment, credit and mortgage insurance, including the 2026 conforming loan limit and jumbo loans.
A monthly mortgage payment usually covers principal, interest, property taxes and insurance. Here’s how each part works and why the mix changes over time.
Fixed rates never change; adjustable rates start fixed and then move with an index. How ARMs are built, what the caps mean, and how to test the worst case.
Why the APR differs from the interest rate, how discount points work and when they pay off, and which closing costs you can shop for to lower the total.