Shrub is a friendly financial-literacy guide that explains mortgages, credit, and budgeting using time-tested rules of thumb — no jargon, no pressure, and nobody gets your info unless you say so.
✦ Shrub is an educational tool — not a lender, loan officer, or financial advisor. It teaches the concepts; licensed professionals handle the rest.
Learn the classic 28/36 rule lenders have used for decades, and what "debt-to-income" really means in plain words.
The five ingredients of your score, why paying on time is 35% of it, and how mortgage shopping affects your credit.
Track every dime for a month, sort needs from wants, and find your surplus — the seed money for your down payment.
Pre-approval, PMI, escrow, closing costs — what each one is, when it happens, and the questions worth asking a pro.
A quick field guide to the home loans you'll hear about. Shrub explains how each one generally works and the trade-offs to weigh — never which one is "best" for you. That depends on your full picture, and a licensed pro is who runs your real numbers.
Not backed by a government agency; follows guidelines set by Fannie Mae / Freddie Mac. Often as little as 3% down. Under 20% down usually adds PMI, which can be removed later.
Insured by the Federal Housing Administration. More flexible credit guidelines and low down payments, traded against an upfront and ongoing mortgage insurance premium.
Guaranteed by the Dept. of Veterans Affairs for eligible service members, veterans, and some spouses. Often no down payment and no PMI; a one-time funding fee usually applies.
Backed by the U.S. Dept. of Agriculture for eligible rural and some suburban areas, with income limits. Can allow zero down for buyers who qualify.
A loan above the conforming limit set each year. Because it's larger, lenders typically look for stronger credit, more reserves, and a bigger down payment.
Fixed-rate keeps the same rate for the whole term — steady and predictable. An ARM starts lower then can move with the market after a set period. Different kinds of risk, not better or worse.
A shorter term means higher monthly payments but far less interest over time; a longer term lowers the payment but costs more interest overall. It's a cash-flow trade-off.
Replacing your current loan with a new one — a rate-and-term refi to change the rate or length, or a cash-out refi to tap equity. Closing costs apply, so the math matters.
Educational overview only — not a loan offer, recommendation, or endorsement of any product or lender. Availability, eligibility, costs, and guidelines vary by lender, state, and your individual situation, and change frequently. Shrub does not quote rates or tell you which loan to choose; a licensed mortgage professional reviews your real numbers.
A Home Equity Conversion Mortgage (HECM) is the FHA-insured reverse mortgage — a way for homeowners 62 and older to turn part of their home equity into cash without a monthly mortgage payment, while keeping the title and living in their home. It's a powerful tool for the right situation, with real trade-offs to weigh. Shrub explains both sides honestly — a licensed pro and the required independent counselor run your real numbers.
An FHA-insured loan that pays you from your home's equity. No monthly principal & interest payment is due — the balance is repaid when the last borrower sells, permanently moves out, or passes away.
Homeowners 62 or older who own their home outright or have substantial equity, live there as their primary residence, and can keep up property taxes, insurance, and upkeep. There's no minimum credit score, but finances are reviewed.
As a lump sum, monthly payments, a line of credit, or a mix — and an unused line of credit can grow over time. How much you can access depends on the youngest borrower's age, the home's value, and rates.
It's non-recourse — you and your heirs can never owe more than the home is worth; FHA insurance covers any shortfall. That federal insurance also keeps your payments coming even if the lender runs into trouble.
Wipe out a monthly mortgage payment, age in place in the home they love, supplement retirement income, or set up a standby line of credit for emergencies and let other accounts keep growing. Proceeds are generally tax-free (not tax advice).
The balance grows as interest accrues, so it reduces the equity and inheritance you leave behind. There are upfront and ongoing costs. And you must keep paying property taxes, insurance, and upkeep — falling behind can put the home at risk.
Before anyone can get a HECM, federal rules require a session with an independent, HUD-approved housing counselor — not the lender — to make sure you fully understand the costs, the trade-offs, the effect on your heirs, and whether it truly fits your goals. It exists to protect you, and it's a great place to ask every question. You can find an approved counselor free at hud.gov.
Educational overview only — not a loan offer, recommendation, endorsement of any product or lender, or financial/tax advice. A HECM is a complex, long-term decision; eligibility, costs, and benefits vary by individual and change over time. Independent HUD-approved counseling is required, and reverse-mortgage proceeds may affect eligibility for need-based government benefits — consult a licensed mortgage professional and your own financial/tax advisor before deciding.
Scoring models look at the same handful of things — and they never factor in race, gender, religion, marital status, or national origin.
The biggest lever by far: paying on time. And good news for home shoppers — most models count all mortgage inquiries inside a 14–30 day window as just one inquiry, so comparing lenders won't wreck your score.
Typical FICO® weighting. Your exact mix can vary by scoring model. Under federal law you can check your report free from all three bureaus — Experian®, Equifax®, and TransUnion®.
The 28/36 rule of thumb: aim to keep housing costs under 28% of gross income, and housing + all debts under 36%. Many loan programs allow higher debt-to-income ratios — that's a conversation for a licensed professional. This is a comfort guideline, not an approval rule. Want the program-aware check? Try the DTI calculator.
Educational estimate only — not a loan offer, pre-qualification, or rate quote. Actual amounts depend on credit, rates, loan program, taxes, insurance, and a licensed lender's review.
Every tool here is an educational estimate built on widely used rules of thumb — not a quote, offer, score guarantee, or individualized advice. A licensed professional can run your real numbers.