Clear mortgage guides for the US, UK, Canada and Australia
Independent, plain-English explanations of how mortgages, home loans and property investing work in each country, with dated sources and free calculators so you can run your own numbers before you talk to a lender.
Choose your country
Mortgage rules, taxes and government schemes are different in every country. Start with the guides for where you are buying.
US Mortgages
FHA, VA, USDA and conventional loans, down payments, rates and lenders.
All US guides →UK Mortgages
Fixed and tracker deals, remortgaging, rates and Stamp Duty.
All UK guides →Canada Mortgages
The stress test, fixed and variable mortgages and current rates.
All Canada guides →Australia Home Loans
Borrowing power, first home buyer schemes and fixed or variable loans.
All Australia guides →Popular guides
Start with the questions readers ask us most.
How does a mortgage work?The eight stages from pre-approval to getting the keys.
What credit score do you need?Minimum scores for FHA, VA, USDA and conventional loans.
30-year vs 15-year mortgagePayment, interest and equity compared round by round.
Mortgage rate predictionsWhat forecasters expect in all four countries.
Fixed vs adjustable rateWhen an ARM can beat a fixed rate, and its worst case.
Invest with little moneyFive ways to start, from REIT funds to house hacking.
Learn the basics or start investing
Guides that apply wherever you live.
Mortgage Basics
How mortgages work, affordability, amortization, credit scores and refinancing.
All basics guides →Real Estate Investing
Rental yield, cap rates, short term rentals and starting with less money.
All investing guides →Latest guides
Our newest and most recently updated guides.
- Offset Account Explained: Is It Worth It?
- Best Mortgage Lenders for First-Time Buyers in Canada
- Mortgage Rate Predictions: What Forecasters Expect in the US, UK, Canada and Australia
- Best Mortgage Rates in Canada: Today’s Fixed and Variable Rates Explained
- How Much Mortgage Can I Afford in Canada?
- Best Home Loans for First Home Buyers in Australia: Grants and Schemes by State
How we research
Our guides are based on primary sources such as Freddie Mac, Fannie Mae, HUD, the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau, the Bank of England, HM Revenue and Customs, the Office of the Superintendent of Financial Institutions, the Reserve Bank of Australia and the Australian Prudential Regulation Authority. We date every guide, label examples as illustrations and update rate and rule changes as they happen.
MortgageCompass publishes general information, not financial advice. We are not a lender, broker or financial adviser. Always confirm rates, rules and eligibility with a licensed professional in your country.