Our Editorial Mission
RefinanceUSA exists to give every homeowner access to clear, accurate, and unbiased information about mortgage refinancing — the same clarity a financial professional would provide, but freely available and without a sales pitch. Our content is written with one goal: to help you make a better-informed decision about your mortgage.
We do not accept payment for editorial coverage. We do not accept sponsored content or paid placement in our guides. Advertisers have no influence over our editorial decisions.
Who Creates Our Content
Content is researched and written by the Aesepus Technology team with reference to primary sources including federal regulatory guidance, published mortgage research, and applicable state statutes. We do not use AI-generated content without human review and verification against authoritative sources.
Our team draws on expertise in software engineering, financial literacy, and the mechanics of mortgage lending. We are not licensed mortgage professionals or financial advisors, and we are transparent about that distinction throughout the site.
Primary Sources We Rely On
Every factual claim about mortgage rules, costs, and regulations is sourced to published, verifiable references. Our universal baseline sources include:
| Source | What We Use It For |
|---|---|
| Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) consumerfinance.gov | Loan types, RESPA/TRID closing cost rules, homeowner rights, Loan Estimate guidance |
| Freddie Mac freddiemac.com/research | Primary Mortgage Market Survey rates, refinance volume data, break-even research |
| Federal Housing Finance Agency (FHFA) fhfa.gov | Conforming loan limits by county, high-balance limit tables |
| IRS Publication 936 irs.gov/publications/p936 | Home mortgage interest deduction rules, points deductibility |
| HUD / FHA hud.gov | FHA refinance guidelines, streamline refinance rules, MIP rates |
For state-specific content, we additionally cite the relevant state banking department, revenue department, or legislature as the primary source for tax rates, attorney-closing requirements, and state-specific mortgage rules.
Calculator Formula Standards
Our calculators use industry-standard mathematical formulas:
- Monthly payment (P&I): Standard amortization formula — P × [r(1+r)ⁿ] / [(1+r)ⁿ−1], where r = monthly rate and n = number of payments
- Break-even point: Total closing costs ÷ monthly payment savings (in months)
- Closing cost estimates: Based on national averages from CFPB Loan Estimate research — not optimistic lower bounds
All formula assumptions are disclosed in the calculator UI and in the How to Use guide. We intentionally do not hide or minimize cost assumptions.
Independence from Lenders and Advertisers
RefinanceUSA is supported by Google AdSense display advertising. We have no affiliate relationships with any mortgage lender, bank, credit union, or financial institution. We do not receive referral fees, lead-generation payments, or commissions from any lender.
Our calculator does not recommend or rank specific lenders. Our state guides do not endorse any lender. Ad content is clearly visually separated from editorial content and is controlled entirely by Google's ad delivery system — we have no influence over which ads appear.
Accuracy and Updates
Mortgage rules, conforming loan limits, tax rates, and state closing cost requirements change. We review our content when:
- FHFA announces annual conforming loan limit updates (typically November)
- State legislatures pass laws affecting mortgage recording taxes or closing requirements
- Federal agencies (CFPB, HUD, IRS) update relevant guidance
- A reader identifies an error with a supporting source
All pages display or reference a publication date. High-change pages (conforming limits, rate benchmarks) are reviewed at least annually.
Corrections Policy
We take factual accuracy seriously. If you believe content on this site contains an error, please contact us with:
- The specific claim you believe is incorrect
- The URL of the page where the claim appears
- A link to an authoritative source supporting the correction
We review all correction requests and aim to respond within 5 business days. Verified errors are corrected promptly. We do not remove accurate content at the request of lenders, advertisers, or other commercial parties.
What We Are Not
To be fully transparent about our limitations:
- We are not licensed mortgage professionals. Our content reflects published rules, not personalized loan advice.
- We are not a news organization. We do not report on breaking mortgage market news in real time.
- We are not a rate aggregator. We do not display live rates from lenders.
- Calculator results are estimates — not quotes. Your actual costs and savings will depend on your specific lender, credit profile, and local fees.
We always direct users to consult a licensed mortgage professional before making any refinancing decision. See our Disclaimer for full disclosures.