Money Guides
In-depth explainers written in plain English, with worked examples and figures checked against official sources.
Featured guideMortgage Payment With Taxes and Insurance (PITI), Explained
The advertised mortgage payment is only part of the story. With taxes and insurance, a $400,000 home at 7.28% costs about $2,729 a month — roughly 25% more than principal and interest alone.
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Home buyingHow Much House Can I Afford on an $80k Salary?
Lenders may approve you for $341,000 on an $80k salary — but once taxes and insurance are counted, a comfortable budget is closer to $264,000.
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PaychecksTexas Paycheck Calculator Guide
No state income tax makes Texas paychecks bigger, but federal tax and FICA still take their share. See take-home pay across five 2026 salaries.
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HousingRent vs Buy: When Buying a Home Wins in 2026
With 2026 data from Zillow, Realtor.com and NAR: the simple 5% rule and five-year test that settle the rent-vs-buy question.
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Home buyingHow Much House Can You Afford on a $75k Salary?
What a $75k salary really buys, with a full monthly-payment breakdown from principal to insurance.
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PaychecksWhat Can a $100k Salary Afford? Home Buying Guide
Six figures opens real doors — see the price range, monthly costs and trade-offs on a $100k salary.
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HousingRenting vs Buying a Home: The Complete Guide
Renting vs buying is really a question about time. See how equity grows year by year — and when each choice wins.
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Home buyingHow Much Is PMI Per Month? What You’ll Pay in 2026
Less than 20% down means PMI — roughly $150 to $250 a month on a typical loan. Here is how the number is set, how long you pay it, and five ways to shrink it.
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