Editorial Policy

Last updated: April 2026

This policy describes how MortgageMathLab researches, writes, fact-checks, and maintains its content. Our goal is to provide accurate, useful, and trustworthy mortgage and homebuyer information. We are not licensed mortgage professionals, financial advisors, or attorneys — our content is educational only.

Our Mission

We exist to make the math of buying a home transparent and accessible. Our calculators, state pages, comparison tools, and articles aim to give homebuyers a clear understanding of payments, costs, and trade-offs — without requiring an email address, a phone call from a lender, or any other gatekeeping. We do not sell mortgages, leads, or personal data.

How We Research Content

Articles and calculator default values are based on:

• Government and regulatory sources (HUD, FHA, VA, USDA, IRS, CFPB, state housing finance agencies).

• Industry data (FHFA conforming loan limits, MBA rate surveys, NAR home sale data).

• Public records and Census Bureau data for property prices and demographics.

• State assessor and treasurer data for property tax rates.

• Reputable secondary sources cited in articles where applicable.

We try to link to primary sources when possible. When numbers are estimates or averages, we say so.

How We Write Articles

Articles are written or reviewed by people with relevant experience in real estate, mortgage, or financial data analysis. We are not licensed mortgage loan originators. Articles aim to explain concepts and provide concrete examples — not to recommend specific products or providers.

We avoid:

• Outright recommendations of specific lenders, brokers, advisors, or insurance carriers.

• Claims of expertise or licensure that we do not actually hold.

• Statements that mortgage approval, rate, or insurance pricing is guaranteed.

• Outdated dollar figures without disclosing the assumed rate environment or year.

Fact-Checking and Accuracy

We aim to verify facts before publishing — particularly anything involving program eligibility, waiting periods, tax rules, or dollar amounts. When we update an article, we revise the "Last updated" date. If we discover a meaningful error after publication, we correct it as quickly as practical and may add a correction note (see our corrections policy).

Source of Default Values in Calculators

Our calculators use default values (interest rate, property tax rate, insurance, etc.) that reflect typical 2026 conditions. These defaults are not personalized to your situation. Adjust the inputs to match your circumstances for an accurate estimate. See our data methodology page for more on data sources and assumptions.

Independence From Advertisers

Editorial content is produced independently of advertisers. Display ads on our site (primarily Google AdSense) do not affect article content, calculator results, or rankings. See our advertising policy for the firewall between ads and editorial.

AI-Assisted Content

Some articles on this site are drafted with the assistance of AI writing tools, then reviewed and edited by humans before publication. AI assistance helps us research, structure, and write longer-form content efficiently. Where AI is used, a human reviews for accuracy, removes incorrect or misleading information, and verifies key claims against the sources listed above. We do not publish AI-generated content without review.

Updates and Stale Content

Mortgage rates, tax rules, and program details change. We aim to update articles when major changes occur (annual program updates, new loan limits, significant policy changes). Articles carry a "Last updated" date so readers can judge freshness. If you believe an article contains outdated information, contact us.

Corrections

When we find or are told about a meaningful error, we correct it promptly. Significant corrections are noted on the article itself. See our corrections policy for details.

Reader Feedback and Contact

We welcome reader feedback, especially about errors or missing context. Email mortgagemathlab@gmail.com.