Smart Mortgage Guide is written and reviewed by a team of mortgage professionals, certified financial planners, and experienced financial journalists. Every guide is reviewed for accuracy before publication and updated when regulations, rates, or program details change.
Sarah is a Certified Financial Planner with 12 years of experience in consumer mortgage lending. She previously worked as a senior loan officer at a regional bank, originating over $180 million in residential mortgages. Sarah specializes in first-time buyer programs, FHA and VA loans, credit qualification, and down payment strategy. She holds her CFP® designation from the CFP Board and is a member of the National Association of Mortgage Brokers (NAMB).
Sarah covers: FHA loans, VA loans, first-time buyer guides, credit score guides, down payment strategy, bankruptcy and foreclosure recovery, self-employed mortgage guides.
James has 15 years of experience covering mortgage markets, housing finance, and consumer lending for national financial publications. He monitors the Freddie Mac PMMS weekly, tracks Federal Reserve policy, and translates rate movements into actionable guidance for consumers. James formerly covered mortgage markets for a nationally distributed financial news service and has been quoted in consumer lending coverage.
James covers: Mortgage rate analysis, refinance strategy, jumbo loans, rate comparisons, market forecasts, conventional loan guides, ARM vs fixed analysis.
Diana is a HUD-approved housing counselor with specialized knowledge of state housing finance agencies and down payment assistance programs across all 50 states. She has helped over 800 first-time buyers navigate state-specific programs, income limits, and eligibility requirements. Diana is the primary author of our 50 state mortgage guides and updates program information quarterly.
Diana covers: All 50 state mortgage guides, down payment assistance programs, state HFA programs, USDA eligibility, income limit guidance.
Marcus designed and maintains all seven of our interactive mortgage calculators. With a background in financial technology and 10 years building consumer lending tools, Marcus ensures that our calculators produce accurate results consistent with actual lender calculations. He also writes the calculator educational content, ensuring each tool is accompanied by clear explanations of inputs, outputs, and limitations.
All content on Smart Mortgage Guide is subject to the following standards:
See our full Editorial Policy for complete standards.