The altblog.

Waiving escrow can cut your cash to close by $10,000 and lower your monthly payments by 35% by combining property taxes and insurance into an annual bill. See how to do it with just 5% down

Extra payments on a 15-year mortgage barely shorten your payoff. See the math on why investing that cash elsewhere likely earns more — and when the exception applies.

One extra payment per year can cut 7 years off a 30-year mortgage. See when to prepay, how much to add, and when to invest instead.