Your Consumer Advocacy Hub

A bank only offers its own mortgage products. A broker like me shops dozens of wholesale lenders to find the best rate and terms for your specific situation. Brokers are licensed, regulated by NMLS, and legally required to act in your best interest in many states. You compare offers — we do the legwork across 30+ lenders simultaneously.

No — not through this tool. The estimates you see on this site use self-reported income and credit score ranges only. A hard credit pull only happens when you formally apply for a loan and give explicit consent. You're in control.

For a full application you'll typically need: two years of W-2s or tax returns, recent pay stubs (30 days), two months of bank statements, a government-issued ID, and information about any current debts. Self-employed borrowers may need additional documentation. I'll walk you through exactly what's needed for your situation before anything is submitted.

A useful rule of thumb: refinancing starts to look attractive if you can lower your rate by 0.5% or more and plan to stay in the home long enough to recoup the closing costs (usually 2–4 years). But every situation is different — rising home equity, cash-out needs, or switching from an ARM to a fixed rate can all change the math. Run our free refinance analyzer to see your specific break-even point.