Editorial Policy

As of September 10, 2026, this policy applies to five published posts and eight published pages. That is 13 public items, including the calculator and this policy.

User-first publishing principles

• Answer the real question. We begin with the user’s decision and provide a direct answer before expanding into details.
• Explain tradeoffs. Mortgage choices depend on cash flow, loan structure, property and goals; we avoid universal “best” answers where none exists.
• Separate estimates from facts. Hypothetical rates and dollar examples are clearly labeled.
• Show the method. Calculators and worked examples describe their formulas, inputs and exclusions.
• Protect readers from overconfidence. Qualification is not the same as affordability, and an online estimate is not an official disclosure.
• Write for people. We do not pad articles to hit a word count or repeat exact phrases unnaturally.

Source hierarchy

For factual claims that can materially affect a financial decision, we prefer primary and authoritative sources in this order:

1. U.S. statutes, regulations, official forms and government agencies such as the CFPB, HUD, VA, USDA, FHFA and IRS where relevant;
2. official program handbooks and materials from Fannie Mae, Freddie Mac and recognized housing authorities;
3. standardized disclosures, loan documents and first-party institutional documentation;
4. peer-reviewed or established professional sources when primary material does not fully answer the question; and
5. reputable secondary reporting for context, never as a substitute for controlling rules.

Commercial pages, anonymous summaries, search snippets and AI-generated text are not treated as controlling evidence. When rules vary by program, lender, state or date, the page should say so.

Research and drafting workflow

Calculator methodology standards

A calculator page must describe what it includes, what it excludes and how each major output is calculated. Fixed-rate principal and interest uses the standard amortization formula, with a stated zero-rate method. We retain unrounded values during computation and round displayed dollars for readability.

Additional costs such as property taxes, insurance, mortgage insurance and HOA dues are modeled only according to the inputs and assumptions shown. A simplified conventional PMI estimate must not be described as an FHA, VA or USDA calculation.

Before publication or after a material change, we test:

• typical, minimum, maximum and zero-interest inputs;
• down-payment thresholds and invalid values;
• 15-, 20- and 30-year calculations where supported;
• amortization endpoints and selected-year values;
• keyboard, pointer and touch interaction;
• mobile, tablet and desktop layouts; and
• agreement between the displayed formula, sample calculations and code.

Financial-content review

Mortgage information can influence consequential decisions. Material claims about eligibility, disclosure timing, insurance, cancellation, fees, taxes or legal rights require current authoritative support and careful conditional language.

We do not invent credentials or describe a contributor as an expert without verification. When a topic requires licensed, legal or tax judgment beyond general education, we either obtain appropriate review, narrow the claim to verified information or tell readers to consult a qualified professional.

AI-assisted work

AI-assisted material must meet the same standards as any other content: primary-source verification, original synthesis, accurate examples, clear limitations and accountable review. We do not publish fabricated quotations, sources, credentials, personal experiences or testing claims. Before a financial page is published or changed, a human editor must rerun its worked examples and open its cited sources.

Writing and accessibility standards

• Use descriptive titles and headings that match the page’s purpose.
• Define acronyms such as PITI, PMI, APR, LTV and DTI on first meaningful use.
• Prefer short paragraphs, tables only when they improve comparison, and lists only when they aid scanning.
• Use descriptive link text. Repeated “click here” anchors do not identify the destination.
• Do not use fear, false urgency or guarantees to drive engagement.
• Give charts, fields and controls understandable labels and keyboard access.
• Maintain readable contrast and prevent horizontal overflow on supported screen sizes.

Search optimization

We use topic research to understand the vocabulary and subquestions people use, then cover those concepts where useful. A focus keyword is an editing guardrail, not a target to repeat mechanically. We optimize titles, descriptions, structure, entities, examples and internal links without sacrificing natural language.

We do not create doorway pages, location pages with swapped names, copied definitions, mass-produced thin pages or content whose primary purpose is manipulating rankings. A state or loan-program page must contain meaningful facts, sources and decisions specific to that subject.

Internal links

Internal links should help readers continue a decision path and should use descriptive, varied anchors. We connect a hub page to supporting guides and link related guides to one another only where the relationship is genuinely useful. Links are audited before launch and after URL changes.

Advertising, affiliates and conflicts

Advertising does not determine editorial conclusions, formulas or coverage. Ads must be visually distinguishable from navigation and content. We never encourage users to click ads.

Material affiliate or sponsored relationships will be disclosed near the relevant content. Paid relationships do not remove the duty to compare tradeoffs, identify risks or verify claims. Editorial staff should not accept undisclosed compensation for favorable coverage.

Bylines and author information

Pages should identify the responsible editorial entity and, when applicable, named writers and reviewers. Biographies must not claim licenses, experience or affiliations that have not been verified. Until individual contributors are confirmed, content may use the transparent collective byline Mortgage Calculator Editorial Team.

Updates and review cadence

Not every mortgage topic changes at the same speed. We prioritize review when:

• a government agency or program changes a material rule or form;
• a calculator formula, input or dependency changes;
• a reliable correction identifies a potential error;
• a linked primary source moves or becomes outdated;
• search or support data shows readers are misunderstanding a page; or
• a scheduled review date is reached for a time-sensitive topic.

We do not change dates merely to make old content look fresh. A review date should reflect a substantive verification or update.

Corrections policy

Readers can report a suspected error through the Contact page. A useful report includes the URL, exact passage or calculation, why it appears wrong and an authoritative source when available.

1. We acknowledge and triage the report.
2. Material claims are rechecked against primary sources and calculations are recomputed.
3. Confirmed errors are corrected as promptly as practical.
4. A correction note is added when the change materially affects the meaning, decision or result.
5. Minor spelling, grammar or formatting fixes may be made without a formal note.

We do not remove accurate material solely because a person or company dislikes it. Privacy, legal and safety requests are reviewed separately under applicable law.

How to contact the editorial team

Use the Contact page for corrections, source questions, accessibility issues or methodology feedback. Never send confidential financial files, credentials or complete identity documents.

This policy has applied to content published or revised since September 10, 2026.