The Stash
Plain-English guides to saving, buying a home, mortgages, investing and getting out of debt.
Rent vs. Buy: How to Run the Numbers Honestly
A clear framework for comparing renting and buying: the unrecoverable costs of each, how long you plan to stay, and a worked example at this week's rates.
Latest guides
Rent vs. Buy: How to Run the Numbers Honestly
A clear framework for comparing renting and buying: the unrecoverable costs of each, how long you plan to stay, and a worked example at this week's rates.
Mortgage Preapproval: What It Is, What You'll Need, and When to Get One
The difference between prequalification and preapproval, the documents lenders ask for, how preapproval affects your credit, and how to use the letter wisely.
PITI Explained: Escrow, Property Taxes and Homeowners Insurance
What makes up your full monthly mortgage payment, how escrow accounts work, why payments change, and how to shop for homeowners insurance.
Mortgage Rate Locks: When to Lock, How Long, and What If Rates Drop
How a mortgage rate lock protects you between offer and closing, how to choose a lock period, float-down options, and what happens if your closing is delayed.
First-Home Checklist: Gear That Helps on Walkthroughs and Moving Day
A practical checklist of tools and supplies for house hunting, the final walkthrough and moving day, plus one solid first-time buyer book.
How Property Taxes Change What You Can Afford (State by State)
Why the same home can cost hundreds more per month in one state than another, how effective property tax rates work, and how to estimate yours.
Emergency Fund vs. Down Payment: How to Save for Both
Why emptying your savings for a bigger down payment is risky, how big your post-closing cushion should be, and a simple plan for funding both goals.
Can You Use Retirement Savings for a Down Payment? IRA and 401(k) Rules Explained
The IRA first-time homebuyer exception, Roth contribution withdrawals, 401(k) loans and hardship withdrawals, and the real cost of using retirement money.
Treasury Bills for Your Down Payment: A Beginner's Guide
How T-bills work, how they compare with savings accounts and CDs after state taxes, and how to buy and roll them for a house fund.
How to Build a CD Ladder for Your Down Payment
A step-by-step guide to building a CD ladder that locks in rates while keeping money available on a schedule that matches your home search.
Should You Buy Mortgage Points? How to Calculate Your Break-Even
What discount points are, how to work out whether paying them saves money, and when lender credits make more sense, with examples at this week's rates.
15-Year vs. 30-Year Mortgage: Which Term Fits Your Budget?
Compare monthly payments and total interest on 15- and 30-year mortgages at this week's rates, plus a middle path that gives you the flexibility of both.
Debt-to-Income Ratio: The Number That Decides How Much House You Can Buy
How lenders calculate DTI, front-end vs. back-end ratios, worked examples at today's rates, and practical ways to improve your ratio before you apply.
Closing Costs Explained: What You'll Pay and How to Budget for It
A line-by-line guide to buyer closing costs, from lender fees to transfer taxes, how to read your Closing Disclosure, and ways to lower what you pay.
Your Credit Score and Your Mortgage Rate: What Matters and How to Improve It
How credit scores are built, why they change what you pay for a mortgage, and practical steps to strengthen your credit in the months before you apply.
First-Time Homebuyer Programs: FHA, VA, USDA, Low-Down Conventional and State Help
A guide to the main loan programs and down payment assistance options for first-time buyers, who qualifies, and how to find help in your state.
PMI Explained: What It Costs, When It Ends, and How to Get Rid of It
Private mortgage insurance in plain English: why lenders require it, how it differs from FHA insurance, and the federal rules for canceling it.
Where to Keep Your House Fund: HYSA vs. CDs vs. T-Bills vs. Index Funds
A plain-English comparison of the four most common places to park a down payment, matched to how soon you plan to buy.
How to Find the Best High-Yield Savings Rate for Your Down Payment
What APY really means, how savings rates track the Fed, which account features matter for a house fund, and how much a better rate is actually worth.
Index Funds 101: How They Work and Where They Fit Alongside a House Fund
A beginner's guide to index funds, expense ratios and diversification, and why money for a near-term home purchase usually belongs somewhere safer.
How Much Down Payment Do You Really Need?
The 20% rule isn't a requirement. Here's what different loan types actually require, what a smaller down payment costs, and how to pick your number.
5 Automatic Savings Habits That Build a Down Payment Faster
Five set-and-forget habits that grow a down payment fund without relying on willpower, with worked examples using this week's mortgage rates.
Paying Off Debt Before Buying a Home: Avalanche, Snowball, or Save First?
How debt affects mortgage approval, the avalanche and snowball payoff methods with worked examples, and how to split money between debt and a down payment.
How to Compare Mortgage Rates (and Actually Save Money)
Why the advertised rate is only part of the story, how to read a Loan Estimate, and a simple process for shopping lenders without hurting your credit.
Mortgage rates, home prices and saving tips, every week.
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