All 48 tools and guides
Free calculators, checklists, and plain-English guides. Search, or browse by what you're trying to do.
Afford & Plan
Figure out your real numbers before you shop.
- Affordability SimulatorSee the price range and monthly payment that fit your income.
- Real Affordability GuideWhat lenders approve vs. what you can actually live with.
- Down Payment PlannerA simple month-by-month savings plan to hit your number.
- Cash to CloseEvery dollar you need on closing day, itemized.
- Closing Cost EstimatorEstimate the fees before you write an offer.
- Homebuyer Readiness ScoreScore your readiness 0 to 100 and see what to fix first.
- Home Buying TimelinePre-approval to keys, week by week.
- Mortgage CalculatorsPayment, amortization, PMI, and more in one place.
- Step-by-Step ChecklistEverything to do, in order, from start to closing.
- Free Readiness Tools RoundupEvery free tool worth using before you buy.
Down Payment Help
Find, stack, and understand assistance money.
- Grant Finder (the Stack)Search every down payment program you qualify for by ZIP.
- DPA Estimate CalculatorEstimate how much assistance money you could stack.
- Hidden Strings on Free MoneyThe conditions buried in most assistance programs.
- If You Sell or Refinance EarlyWhat happens to your assistance when plans change.
- Combining Assistance ProgramsWhich programs stack together, and which cancel out.
- Why Programs Run Out of FundingHow mid-year funding gaps work and how to time it.
- Repayment TriggersThe events that turn a grant into a bill.
- Grants for Low-Income BuyersPrograms built for first-time buyers on a tight budget.
- Help for High-Income BuyersAssistance that still applies above the usual income caps.
- First Responder ProgramsHome buying benefits for police, fire, EMS, and teachers.
- Approved Lenders by StateLenders cleared to write your state agency's programs.
Credit & Pre-Approval
Get lender-ready and walk in prepared.
- Credit Readiness CheckWill lenders say yes? Get your score in two minutes.
- Raise Your Score FastThe moves that lift a score before a mortgage application.
- Mortgage-Ready ChecklistDocuments, ratios, and habits lenders check for.
- Pre-Approval Meeting GuideWhat to bring and what they'll ask you.
- Questions for Your Loan OfficerThe checklist that keeps a lender honest.
- Lender MatchGet matched with lenders that fit your situation.
Compare & Decide
Weigh the options with the math in front of you.
- Rent vs Buy AnalyzerA 10-year wealth comparison for your market.
- Right Time to BuyBuy now or wait? Run it against your own numbers.
- Compare Lender QuotesThree quotes side by side, plus the credit impact.
- Compare Loan EstimatesRead a Loan Estimate line by line without guessing.
- Buy Before You SellMove-up strategies when you already own a home.
- Timing Your MoveSell first, buy first, or do both at once.
- Relocation CalculatorDIY vs. professional move costs, compared.
- Neighborhood ExplorerSchools, lifestyle, and market data by ZIP.
Own & Protect
Track value, lower payments, and handle the hard stuff.
- What Is My Home Worth?How home values are set and how to read your estimate.
- Home Value EstimatorGet a current value estimate for your address.
- Homeowner CheckupAn equity and savings snapshot for your home.
- Refi OptimizerShould you refinance now? See the break-even.
- Closing Disclosure ReviewCatch errors and junk fees before you sign.
- Avoid ForeclosureBehind on payments? Start here.
- Inherited a Home With a MortgageYour options when a home comes with a loan attached.
Get Help
Real people and nonprofits who can guide you.
- Find a Housing CounselorFree HUD-approved counseling near you.
- Nonprofit Mortgage HelpNonprofits that get buyers mortgage-ready for free.
- Find an ExpertVetted lenders, agents, and coaches in your area.
- Ask HomieYour AI guide for any homebuying question.
- Mortgage GlossaryPlain-English definitions for the jargon.
- How We Make MoneyWhy HomeApproach is free, explained honestly.