Editorial Policy
The standards every guide on The Mortgage Guide Hub follows, from sourcing to review to corrections.
Last updated
This policy explains how The Mortgage Guide Hub decides what to publish, how we check facts and how we keep guides current. It applies to every guide in every language on the site.
Independence
We are an independent publication. We are not a lender, broker, loan originator, government agency, law firm or financial adviser. No lender, agency or company reviews or approves our guides before they go live.
We do not recommend specific private lenders, and we do not publish “best lender” lists. Our job is to explain the rules, not to sell a loan.
Who writes and reviews our guides
Guides are written and reviewed by The Mortgage Guide Hub Editorial Team. We do not publish individual names yet. When named writers or reviewers join, their names and qualifications will be added to their author pages.
We will not describe people, credentials or experience we do not have. You will not see invented experts, quotes, reviews or testimonials on this site.
Sourcing standard
Every number in a guide must come from an official source, and we link to that source. Examples of the sources we rely on:
- HUD handbooks and mortgagee letters for FHA loans
- VA pamphlets and circulars for VA loans
- The USDA Rural Development handbook for USDA loans
- FHFA announcements for conforming loan limits
- The Fannie Mae Selling Guide and the Freddie Mac Guide for conventional loans
- CFPB rules for consumer protections
- IRS pages for ITIN facts
Each source in a guide shows the month we last checked it, such as “October 2026”. If we cannot confirm a figure, we do not guess. We describe the rule without the number or point you to the source to check the current figure. Our methodology explains the steps in more detail.
Plain-language rule
We write for readers who are not mortgage experts. That means:
- short sentences and short paragraphs
- each technical term explained the first time it appears
- the direct answer first, then the details
- clearly labelled, hypothetical examples with round numbers
We never promise approval, a rate or a result. Lenders make those decisions, and they often add their own rules on top of program minimums.
Review cycle
Mortgage rules change. Loan limits are reset every year, fees change and agencies update their guides. To keep up:
- Every guide is reviewed at least every six months.
- A guide is reviewed sooner whenever the program it covers changes, for example when new annual loan limits are published.
- Each guide shows its “updated” and “reviewed” dates so you can see how current it is.
Translations
We publish in English, Spanish, Simplified Chinese, Vietnamese, Korean and Tagalog. Each language version is written natively for its readers rather than translated word for word. The facts stay the same, and every language version is checked against the same official sources as the English guide.
Program names such as FHA, VA, USDA and ITIN are kept as they are, because those are the names you will see on lender and government documents.
AI-assistance disclosure
Drafting tools, including AI writing tools, may assist with early drafts, outlines or translations. They never have the final word. Every fact is checked by the editorial team against the official source we cite, and the team is responsible for everything we publish.
Conflicts of interest
We do not accept payment, gifts or favors in exchange for coverage. We do not take loan applications or earn money from loans. If a conflict of interest ever arises with a topic we cover, we will disclose it on the page.
Advertising separation
The site carries no advertising and no affiliate links today. If we add them in the future, they will be clearly labelled, kept separate from guide text and disclosed on the page. Payment will never change what a guide says or how options are compared. See our advertising disclosure.
Corrections
If you spot an error, please tell us through the contact page or at Please use the contact form. We aim to fix confirmed errors within five business days and note each correction at the foot of the guide and on our corrections page.
Frequently asked questions
Do lenders or advertisers influence your guides?
No. We currently carry no advertising and no affiliate links, and no one pays to be mentioned. If we add labelled ads or affiliate links later, they will be kept separate from editorial content and will not change what we write.
How often are guides reviewed?
Every guide is reviewed at least every six months. We also review a guide whenever the program it covers changes, such as when new annual loan limits are announced.
Do you use AI to write guides?
Drafting tools may assist with early drafts. Every fact is then checked by the editorial team against the official source we cite, and the team is responsible for everything we publish.
Are translations machine-translated?
No guide is published as a straight word-for-word translation. Each language version is written natively for its readers and checked against the same official sources as the English guide.
What sources do you use?
Official sources come first: HUD, the VA, USDA, FHFA, Fannie Mae, Freddie Mac, the CFPB and the IRS. We link to them and show the month each figure was checked.