Plain-language guides to credit, lending, and the markets, written by working credit professionals and reviewed for accuracy.
22 articles
Free Canadian options: bureau direct, Borrowell, Credit Karma, and Big Six bank apps. Bureau, refresh cadence, and the catch on each method, explained.
Two paths into underwriting: a bachelor's plus certifications over 3-5 years, or the mortgage shortcut via loan processor in 12-18 months. Salary, outlook.
Yes, but only after going to collections. A July 2025 court ruling vacated the CFPB medical-debt rule. Here is what now applies and how to dispute.
Yes. After the on-ramp ended in September 2024, federal student loans report at 90 days late. NY Fed data: 760+ scores fall 171 points on average.
One mortgage point costs 1% of the loan and cuts the rate ~0.25%. Worked examples, breakeven by tenure, and whether points or principal wins.
Use a decision tree, a point-drop reference table, and the FICO 10T model-transition explainer to diagnose a credit score drop in 2026.
As of 2025, Affirm reports Pay-in-4 and Pay Monthly to Experian and TransUnion. The new entries are not yet weighted in FICO scores. Here is why.
A good US auto loan rate in 2026 sits near 4.7% for super-prime borrowers buying new and 7.7% on used. Here is what each credit tier should expect today.
How credit-scoring models work, which tactics realistically move which scores, and how to think about credit-building by borrower profile. Educational only.
How Canadian credit scores work, the federal and provincial rules behind them, and a category-level look at credit-building tools. Educational only.
Calculate interest rate using simple interest, compound interest, or amortization formulas. Worked examples for loans, savings, and Canadian mortgages.
A mortgage underwriter is the lender's risk reviewer who decides whether to approve your home loan. Here is what they check and why files get denied.