Interest-Only Mortgages Explained
Sold like a hack to afford more house — until the interest-only period ends and the payment resets. Here's who it fits and the reset that wrecks everyone else.
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Adjustable-Rate Mortgages in 2026
"ARM" makes everyone think 2008 — but today's capped, fully-underwritten ARM is a different animal. When it's the smart move, and when to run to a fixed rate.
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Balloon Mortgages Explained
Low payments for years, then the entire remaining balance comes due in one lump sum on a single date. Where balloons show up and the exit-plan question that protects you.
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The 80/10/10 Piggyback Loan
Buy with 10% down, pay zero PMI, and sometimes dodge a jumbo loan entirely — using two loans stacked instead of one. The variable-rate catch on the second loan.
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Wraparound Mortgages
A buyer rides on top of the seller's existing low-rate loan — but the due-on-sale clause buried in that original loan can call the whole deal due overnight.
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The All-in-One Loan (CMG)
Dave Ramsey called it a gimmick — but never ran the offset math. How parking your paycheck against principal actually saves interest, and who should avoid it.
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Shared Appreciation Mortgages
A lower rate, sometimes no payment at all — in exchange for a slice of your home's future gain. Why giving up appreciation costs the most in a hot market.
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Cross-Collateralized Loans
Buy a second property with zero cash down by pledging equity in one you already own — the same rope that skips the down payment can pull down both properties.
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Bridge Loans Explained
One of the most expensive short-term loans in real estate — and the free alternative (sale contingencies plus a pre-set HELOC) that gets you the same result.
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Hard Money Loans
Asset-based, not income-based — fast financing for fix-and-flips. The one number, ARV, the entire deal revolves around, and who has no business touching it.
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SBA Loans and Your House
An SBA loan can quietly put a lien on your primary residence. Why the government backing is the exact reason lenders reach for your home, and the personal guarantee stacked on top.
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