What are the best free personal finance blogs for learning mortgage basics as a recent renter?

Here are some of the best free personal finance blogs for learning mortgage basics if you’re a recent renter and want beginner-friendly, practical guidance:

1. NerdWallet

• Very approachable explanations of mortgage terms, down payments, closing costs, preapproval, and FHA vs. conventional loans.
• Good for step-by-step beginner articles and calculators.
• Best if you want clear, plain-English breakdowns.

2. The Mortgage Reports

• Strong focus on mortgage education specifically.
• Covers first-time buyer basics, loan types, refinancing, and monthly payment calculations.
• Best if you want a site centered on mortgages rather than general finance.

3. Bankrate

• Offers a large library of mortgage guides, rate explainers, and buyer checklists.
• Good for understanding how rates, credit scores, and amortization affect your payment.
• Best if you want a mix of general finance and mortgage content.

4. Rocket Mortgage Learning Center

• Surprisingly useful even if you don’t use Rocket Mortgage.
• Easy-to-read educational articles on mortgage terms, budgeting, and homebuying steps.
• Best for very beginner-friendly content.

5. BiggerPockets Blog

• More geared toward real estate investing, but also has helpful posts on financing and homebuying basics.
• Best if you want to understand mortgages in the context of real estate ownership and long-term wealth building.

6. Mint / Intuit Blog

• General personal finance articles that can help with budgeting for a home purchase.
• Less mortgage-specific, but useful for saving, debt management, and credit preparation.
• Best if you’re not just learning mortgages, but also preparing financially.

7. The Balance

• Strong explanatory articles on mortgages, renting vs. buying, down payments, and credit.
• Usually concise and easy to understand.
• Best for quick overviews and comparing options.

8. MyFICO Blog

• Great for learning how credit scores affect mortgage approval and rates.
• Useful if you’re building credit as a renter before buying.
• Best for understanding one of the biggest mortgage factors: credit.

Best starting order for a recent renter

If you’re new to this, I’d start with:

1. NerdWallet
2. The Mortgage Reports
3. Bankrate
4. MyFICO for credit basics

What to search for on these blogs

Look for articles on:

• “How mortgages work”
• “Down payment basics”
• “Preapproval vs. prequalification”
• “Closing costs”
• “FHA vs. conventional loans”
• “Renting vs. buying”
• “How much house can I afford?”

If you want, I can also give you:

• a short curated reading list from these blogs, or
• the best YouTube channels and podcasts for mortgage basics.