Free Learning Resources
Explore free educational videos and resources from Pineda Academy. Learn about homeownership, financial literacy, and opportunities to help families build a more secure future.
Why Your Mortgage Payment Can Change Even With a Fixed Rate
Learn why your monthly mortgage payment may change even with a fixed interest rate. Discover how changes in property taxes and homeowners insurance can affect your escrow account and increase or decrease your monthly payment.
Private Mortgage Insurance (PMI): What Homebuyers Should Know
Learn what private mortgage insurance (PMI) is, why some homebuyers pay it, and how it can affect monthly mortgage costs. Discover how your loan type, down payment, and home equity may influence mortgage insurance requirements and when removal may be possible.
How to Save Money on Homeowners Insurance
Learn why homeowners insurance premiums can change over time and how comparing quotes from different insurers may help you find better coverage at a competitive price. Discover why reviewing your policy periodically is an important part of managing homeownership costs.
Home Equity Explained: How Much of Your Home Do You Own?
Learn what home equity is and how it grows as you pay down your mortgage and your home’s value changes. Discover how the difference between your home’s value and remaining loan balance represents your equity and how it may be accessed through eligible financing options.
Should You Pay Off Your Mortgage Faster?
Learn how making extra mortgage payments or using a biweekly payment strategy may help you build home equity and pay off your loan sooner. Explore how to prioritize debt repayment while balancing your overall financial goals.
When Does Refinancing Your Mortgage Make Sense?
Explore two common refinancing options: rate-and-term refinancing to adjust your mortgage terms and cash-out refinancing to access home equity. Learn how closing costs, monthly savings, and debt repayment goals can affect whether refinancing makes financial sense.
HELOC vs. Mortgage Refinancing: Which Option Makes Sense?
Compare a home equity line of credit (HELOC) with a cash-out refinance. Learn how homeowners may access their home equity while keeping an existing mortgage, and explore the differences in interest rates, repayment terms, and potential risks.
Can You Keep Your First Home and Buy Another?
Learn how you may be able to keep your current home as a rental property while purchasing a new primary residence. Explore how rental income, existing mortgage payments, and debt-to-income requirements can affect your ability to qualify for another home.