Useful first. Careful always.

Research and sourcing

We prefer primary sources: government agencies, statutes, regulatory guidance, official program documentation, and original research. Reputable secondary sources help explain how a rule works in practice. Commercial sources are identified and treated with appropriate skepticism when they have something to sell.

What we check

Before publication, articles are reviewed for clarity, internal consistency, source support, broken production notes, and claims that depend on a particular state, lender, contract, or date. Numbers and rules that can change are presented with dates or qualifications when possible.

Our point of view

Homebuying WTF is borrower-centered, not viewpoint-free. We believe lenders and other industry participants should communicate clearly, disclose meaningful tradeoffs, and help customers make informed choices—even when confusion or inertia would be more profitable. We are not neutral between a practice that serves the customer and one that merely takes advantage of what the customer does not know.

That does not mean assuming every bad experience reflects bad intent. Our analysis tries to distinguish documented fact from opinion, legal obligation from better practice, and structural incentives from individual conduct. People and companies can have good intentions and still create bad outcomes. They can also work within a flawed system while genuinely trying to improve it. The useful question is not simply who to blame; it is what happened, who benefited, what the customer was told, and what should have worked differently.

Limits of our review

This is a small, independently run publication. Articles are researched, edited, and vetted in good faith, but they are not routinely reviewed by an attorney, tax professional, mortgage originator, engineer, inspector, or other outside professional. The analysis and conclusions are the author’s informed opinions unless an article clearly attributes them to another source. We do not attach credentials the work has not earned.

Updates and corrections

Articles display a publication date and, when revised, an updated date. We correct material errors directly and reassess time-sensitive guidance as the library is maintained. To question a claim or suggest a correction, email hello@homebuying.wtf with the article URL and any supporting source you think we should review.

Anonymity and editorial independence

The author works in the mortgage industry and writes anonymously so this project remains separate from any employer and can assess industry practices candidly. The site does not identify, promote, or speak for the author’s employer. Readers should judge its conclusions by the reasoning and evidence provided, not by an undisclosed corporate affiliation.

The site currently publishes educational content without paid placement or affiliate recommendations. If that changes, commercial relationships will be disclosed where they affect a page.