Real Estate Commission Breakdown: Who Pays What and How
Understand how real estate commissions work, who pays what, typical rates by state, and proven strategies to negotiate lower fees when selling.
Real Estate
12 articles in this category
Home Renovation ROI: Which Upgrades Actually Pay Off?
Discover which home renovations deliver the highest ROI in 2026. Data-driven analysis of kitchen, bath, exterior, and energy upgrade returns.
DSCR Loans Explained: Investor's Guide to Debt Coverage
Understand DSCR loans for real estate investors — how debt service coverage ratio works, minimum requirements, and qualifying without W-2 income.
PMI Removal Timeline: When and How to Drop Mortgage PMI
Learn when you can remove PMI from your mortgage, the steps to request cancellation, and strategies to eliminate it faster with cost tables.
1031 Exchange Math: Defer Capital Gains, Grow Portfolio
Master the math behind 1031 exchanges with real examples, boot calculations, strict timeline rules, and strategies to defer capital gains tax.
How to Calculate ROI on Rental Property (With Examples)
Master rental property ROI with real-world examples covering cash-on-cash return, cap rate, and total ROI. Includes formulas and common mistakes.
How Property Taxes Are Calculated: A Homeowner's Guide
Learn how property taxes are calculated, from assessed value to mill rates. Includes formulas, state-by-state comparisons, and appeal strategies.
Closing Costs Breakdown: What Buyers Need to Review Before Signing
A practical closing-cost guide for buyers: the difference between lender fees, third-party fees, prepaids, and cash to close, plus how Loan Estimates and Closing Disclosures should be used.
Home Affordability: The Difference Between Approval and a Comfortable Budget
A practical guide to home affordability: why lender approval is not the same as a safe housing budget, what to include beyond principal and interest, and how to test your real monthly comfort level.
Cap Rate Explained: How Real Estate Investors Evaluate Properties
Learn how to calculate cap rate, what a good cap rate looks like by market, and how investors use this metric to compare rental properties and assess risk.
Rent vs Buy: Compare the Full Housing Budget, Not Just the Mortgage
A practical rent-versus-buy guide: how to compare the all-in cost of owning with the real cost of renting, and why rates, closing cash, maintenance, and flexibility matter as much as price.
Mortgage Payment Formula: What the Monthly Number Is Actually Made Of
A practical mortgage-payment guide: the principal-and-interest formula, how PITI works, and why taxes, insurance, and PMI can matter as much as the loan rate.