Smart Mortgage Calculator
Loan Types
Comparing FHA, VA, conventional, ARM, and fixed-rate loans.
Loan-type articles compare underwriting tradeoffs and insurance structures (PMI vs FHA MIP, VA funding fee, ARM caps), plus county loan limits and lender overlays. Use them alongside specialized calculators so the choice is about total cost and risk, not a single headline rate. Verify current HUD, VA, and FHFA figures before you rely on any nationwide number.
ARM vs. Fixed-Rate Mortgage: Stress-Test the Reset Before You Take the Teaser
I built the ARM calculator because teasers look like a cheat code until you recast the remaining balance at the cap.
September 11, 2026 · 9 min read
VA Loan Entitlement, Residual Income & Funding Fees (2026)
I wired VA residual tables into the calculator from Franklin — South family-of-four is $1,003, and DTI-only thinking still fails files.
August 6, 2026 · 8 min read
FHA vs. Conventional Loans: Limits, MIP Duration & Which Fits
I built the FHA calculator to stop treating MIP as a monthly footnote — duration, county limits, and overlays decide the real cost.
May 22, 2026 · 9 min read
15-Year vs. 30-Year Mortgage: Which Is Right for You?
A shorter term saves a fortune in interest; a longer term frees cash flow. Here is how to choose — and shop — the right term.
March 10, 2026 · 9 min read