Chong Song
I research mortgage costs and build calculators for first-time buyers.
Last updated: September 17, 2026
I built MortgagePro.io because I went through the home-buying process myself and found that most mortgage calculators were either too generic or too confusing. A number came out, but nothing explained where it came from — which fees were real, which were guesses, and which ones disappear as soon as the lender sends a Loan Estimate.
I've spent the past several years researching mortgage products, PMI rules, closing costs, and first-time buyer programs — first for my own purchase, and then systematically across different states and loan types.
My goal is simple: give first-time buyers a clear, no-nonsense way to understand what they'll actually pay.
I'm not a licensed loan officer or financial advisor. What I offer is careful research, transparent methodology, and a tool that I wish I had when I started.
What I Work From
Every number on this site is derived from published, verifiable sources rather than lender marketing material. These are the references I return to most often:
Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB)
Mortgage guides, Loan Estimate and Closing Disclosure rules, and the payment math we cross-check against.
HUD Handbook 4000.1 (FHA Single Family Housing Policy Handbook)
Annual and upfront FHA mortgage insurance premium factors, and the rules for removing MIP.
FHFA conforming loan limits
Baseline and high-cost-area loan limits that decide conventional vs. jumbo pricing.
IRS Publication 936 (Home Mortgage Interest Deduction)
Which interest and points are deductible, and the mortgage-debt limits.
Census / ACS data and state tax authorities
Median home values plus the state-level effective property tax rates and average insurance costs our calculators use.
Federal Reserve and Freddie Mac survey data
Rate and appreciation assumptions behind the rent vs. buy and FIRE models.
How the Content Is Built
- Methodology first. The formulas, rounding, and default assumptions behind every tool are documented on the calculator methodology page before an article quotes a number.
- Cross-verification. Figures are checked against at least two independent sources (for example, a CFPB guideline plus the underlying FHA or IRS publication) before publication.
- Re-review. Rate, loan-limit, and insurance-factor pages are revisited when new data is published, and each article carries its own "last updated" line so you can see how current it is.
- Corrections. If something is wrong, email me and it gets fixed and credited. No corrections have been requested to date.
What This Site Is Not
MortgagePro is an independent, ad-supported educational resource. We don't sell leads, we don't accept payment to feature a lender, and the calculators run entirely in your browser — the figures you type in are never transmitted or stored. Nothing here is financial, legal, or tax advice; please read the full disclaimer and editorial policy.
Contact
I read every email — questions, data corrections, and tool requests are all welcome.
New to the site? Start with the PMI guide or run your numbers in the mortgage calculator.