Lighthouse
Navigate with confidence
Mortgage Glossary
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Upload Loan Estimates
Upload 1-3 Loan Estimates and Lighthouse Logic will read every number and give you a full breakdown. Get quotes from multiple lenders to compare.
Don't have one yet? See other ways to get started →
Lender 1
Upload Loan Estimate
PDF or photo
Lender
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Lender 2
Upload Loan Estimate
PDF or photo
Lender
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Lender 3 (optional)
Upload Loan Estimate
PDF or photo
Lender
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Reading your Loan Estimate...
About you
The home you want
Loan preferences
Pre-Approval Checklist
Based on your profile
0%
✓ Statement read — fields updated below. Review and run your checkup.
Mortgage Health Checkup
Upload your most recent mortgage statement and Lighthouse Logic will calculate your Mortgage Health Score — then tell you exactly how to improve it.
Don't have a statement handy? See other ways to get started →
Upload mortgage statement
Most recent statement — PDF or photo
Reading your statement...
Escrow Analysis
Upload your annual escrow statement to see shortages, overages, and why your payment changed.
Upload Escrow Analysis Statement
Annual escrow analysis — PDF or photo
Reading your escrow statement...
✓ Escrow analysis read
Your loan
Monthly breakdown
Property info
Your situation
My Saved Loans
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Mortgage Glossary
Tap any term for the definition
Ask Lighthouse Logic about this →
Loan Details
Enter your loan info or auto-filled from your loaded profile.
Loan
Extra Payment Simulator
30-Year Fixed
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How Rates Work
What moves your rate
1
Credit score
A 740+ score gets the best rates. Each tier below can add 0.25–0.5% to your rate.
2
Down payment
20% down eliminates PMI and typically earns a lower rate. Less down = more risk = higher rate.
3
10-Year Treasury
Mortgage rates track the 10-yr Treasury yield. When it rises, mortgage rates follow — usually within days.
4
Loan type
VA and FHA loans often beat conventional rates but come with specific eligibility requirements and fees.
Rate Lock Guide
When and how to lock
A rate lock guarantees your interest rate for a set period — typically 30, 45, or 60 days — while your loan closes.
Lock early if rates are rising or your closing date is firm.
Float if rates are falling and your close date is flexible.
Float-down options let you capture a drop after locking — ask your lender if they offer it.
If the lock expires before closing, you pay to extend or lose the rate.
Fixed vs ARM
Which is right for you?
Fixed Rate
Rate never changes. Predictable payment for the life of the loan. Best if you plan to stay 7+ years or rates are low.
Adjustable Rate (ARM)
Fixed for 5–10 years, then adjusts annually. Lower starting rate — best if you plan to sell or refi before it adjusts.
In a high-rate environment, ARMs offer short-term savings. In a low-rate environment, locking fixed is almost always smarter.
Mortgage Points
Should you buy your rate down?
1 point = 1% of the loan amount paid upfront to lower your rate — usually by 0.25%.
On a $400k loan, 1 point = $4,000 upfront to save ~$60/mo.
Break-even: $4,000 ÷ $60 = ~67 months to recoup the cost.
If you sell or refi before break-even, you lose money on the point.
Ask Lh Logic to calculate your exact break-even based on your loan amount and rate difference.
Market Commentary
What's driving rates today
Before you generate
Have these ready to fill out your letter accurately.
Always needed
Your full legal name as it appears on the loan
Property address
Loan or account number (on your statement)
Servicer name and mailing address
Today's date
For dispute letters
Specific dollar amounts and dates involved
What you believe the correct information should be
Any prior communication with the servicer
How to send
Always send with proof
Certified mail with return receipt — creates a legal record your servicer received it.
Keep a copy of every letter sent and every response received.
Note the date you send — response deadlines start from receipt.
Legal timelines
What your servicer must do by law
QWR / Notice of Error acknowledgment
5 days
QWR / Notice of Error resolution
30 days
Payoff statement delivery
7 days
Loss mitigation application response
30 days
PMI automatic termination at LTV
78%
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Monthly Payment
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LTV
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PMI Status
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Equity
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Health Score
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Mortgage Learning Center

Everything you need to know about buying and owning a home — broken down by stage, so you can navigate with confidence.

1
Getting Ready to Buy
Before you ever talk to a lender
Credit
What credit score do you need to buy a home?
Minimum requirements by loan type, and how your score affects your rate.
Income
DTI explained: What it is and why lenders care
How lenders calculate your debt-to-income ratio and what the limits are.
Finances
How much money do you really need to buy a home?
Down payment, closing costs, reserves — the full picture of what to save.
First-time buyer
Tips for first-time homebuyers
What nobody tells you before you start the process — and how to avoid common mistakes.
Player
Your real estate agent — and the one working against you
The difference between a buyer's agent and a listing agent, and why it matters more than most people realize.
2
Getting Pre-Approved
Starting your loan application
Pre-approval
Pre-qualification vs pre-approval: What's the difference?
One is an estimate. One is a real commitment. Here's what matters.
Loan types
Conventional, FHA, VA, USDA — which loan is right for you?
A side-by-side breakdown of every major loan program and who qualifies.
Rates
How to shop for a mortgage rate
Why you should get multiple quotes, and how to compare them fairly.
Player
Your loan officer and mortgage broker — what they do and who they work for
The LO takes your application and guides the process. The broker shops lenders on your behalf. Here is the real difference.
3
The Loan Process
From application to closing
Underwriting
What happens during underwriting?
What the underwriter is reviewing, and why they keep asking for more documents.
Closing
Closing costs explained: What you'll pay and why
Every line item on your Closing Disclosure — demystified.
Documents
How to read your Closing Disclosure
The most important document in your home purchase — here's what each page means.
PMI
What is PMI and how do you get rid of it?
Why you pay it, how much it costs, and exactly how to remove it.
Player
The processor and underwriter — the two people deciding your loan
The processor builds your file. The underwriter approves or denies it. Here is exactly what each one does and how to work with them.
Player
The appraiser and home inspector — two very different jobs
One tells you what the home is worth. The other tells you what is wrong with it. You need both — but only one works for you.
4
After You Close — Servicing
Understanding your loan while you own it
Escrow
How escrow works and why your payment changes
Escrow accounts, annual analyses, shortages, refunds — all explained.
Payments
How amortization works — and why you pay mostly interest at first
Why your first payment barely touches the principal, and how that changes over time.
Servicing
Why your loan servicer might change
Your loan gets sold. Here's what that means and what actually changes for you.
Strategy
The real impact of making extra principal payments
Even $100/month extra can save tens of thousands. Here's the math.
Player
Title officer, escrow officer, and closing agent — who runs your closing
Three roles, one closing table. Here is who does what, who is neutral, and what to watch out for — including wire fraud.
Player
Your loan servicer and the investor behind your mortgage
The servicer takes your payment. The investor owns your loan. They are rarely the same company — and that matters when you need help.
5
Advanced Options
Refinancing and long-term strategy
Refinancing
When does refinancing actually make sense?
The break-even calculation and when a lower rate isn't worth it.
Refinancing
Cash-out refinance: How it works and when to use it
Tapping your equity — the right way and the risky way.
Hardship
What to do if you can't make your mortgage payment
Forbearance, loan modification, and loss mitigation options explained.
6
Financial Freedom Through Homeownership
Building wealth, protecting it, and going further
Wealth Building
Home equity as a wealth-building tool
Why equity is the most powerful wealth engine most Americans have — and how to use it strategically.
Financial Planning
The true cost of homeownership
Beyond the mortgage payment — the real numbers most first-time buyers never see coming.
First Generation
The first-generation homebuyer guide
No family playbook, no inherited knowledge — everything you need to know starting from zero.
Strategy
Pay off your mortgage early vs. invest — the real math
A guaranteed return vs. market returns. Here is how to think through it at any interest rate.
Taxes
Tax benefits of homeownership most people miss
The mortgage interest deduction, capital gains exclusion, and what happens when you sell.
Protection
Protecting your home — death, divorce, disability, and bankruptcy
What happens to your mortgage when life takes an unexpected turn.

Rate Watch

Live mortgage rate benchmarks updated from market sources. Enter your profile on the left for a personalized estimate.

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Fetching current rates from live market sources...
No schedule yet
Fill in your loan details in the sidebar and hit Generate Schedule.
ARM Adjustment Calculator
See exactly what your payment becomes at each rate adjustment — including worst-case scenarios.
Found in your loan note
Check current SOFR at newyorkfed.org
Max change per adjustment period
Max total increase from start rate

Forms & Letters

Generate official mortgage letters and forms in minutes. Each template is built around your rights as a borrower — just fill in your details and Lighthouse does the rest.

Servicer Disputes & Errors
When your servicer made a mistake or won't respond
Federal Mortgage Law
Qualified Written Request (QWR)
Formally demand your servicer investigate an error or provide information. They must respond within 30 days by law.
Takes about 3 minutes
Federal Mortgage Law
Notice of Error
Formally notify your servicer of a specific error — misapplied payment, wrong balance, unauthorized fee. Triggers legal response obligations.
Takes about 3 minutes
Federal Mortgage Law
Request for Information
Formally request your servicer provide specific account information — payment history, escrow records, ownership details.
Takes about 2 minutes
Payoff & Refinancing
Getting official numbers before you make a move
Federal Mortgage Law
Payoff Statement Request
Formally request an exact payoff amount before refinancing or selling. Servicer must respond within 7 business days.
Takes about 2 minutes
HPA — Homeowners Protection Act
PMI Cancellation Request
Formally request PMI removal once you've reached 80% LTV. Servicers don't always make this easy — this letter puts it in writing.
Takes about 2 minutes
Authorization & Hardship
Give someone else access or get help during a difficult time
Servicer Authorization
Third-Party Authorization
Authorize a family member, attorney, or financial advisor to speak with your servicer on your behalf.
Takes about 2 minutes
Loss Mitigation
Hardship Letter
A properly formatted hardship letter explaining your situation when applying for a loan modification or forbearance.
Takes about 5 minutes
Federal Mortgage Law
Loss Mitigation Application Cover Letter
A cover letter to accompany your loss mitigation application that references your federal borrower rights.
Takes about 3 minutes
Escalation & Complaints
When your servicer isn't responding or doing the right thing
CFPB
CFPB Complaint Prep Letter
A summary letter you can use when filing a complaint with the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau against your servicer.
Takes about 4 minutes
Federal Mortgage Law
Escrow Analysis Dispute
Challenge an escrow analysis you believe is incorrect. Request a re-analysis and itemized breakdown of all calculations.
Takes about 3 minutes
Appearance
Lh Logic
Rate Watch
Data & Privacy
Appearance
Customize how Lighthouse looks and feels.
Dark Mode
Switch to a dark theme — easier on the eyes at night.
Font Size
Adjust the base text size across the app.
Reset Sidebar Width
Snap the sidebar back to its default width of 340px.
Lh Logic Behavior
Control how Lighthouse Logic responds to your questions.
Response Detail Level
Concise keeps answers short and direct. Detailed gives fuller explanations — better for complex topics.
Restore Last Session on Startup
When you open Lighthouse, automatically reload your last conversation and loan profile.
Show Metrics Bar by Default
Always show the metrics bar above the chat, even when no loan is loaded.
Proactive Tips
Allow Lh Logic to flag opportunities (PMI removal, refinance windows, rate alerts) without being asked.
Response Notification Sound
Play a subtle sound when Lh Logic finishes a response.
Chat Bubble Style
Comfortable uses more padding and spacing. Compact tightens everything up.
Language
Lighthouse supports English and Spanish. Switching language affects the full UI and Lh Logic responses.
App Language
Changes the interface, forms, and letters. Lh Logic will also respond in the selected language.
Rate Alerts
Manage your saved rate target. Lighthouse checks this every time you open Rate Watch.
Current Rate Alert Target
No rate alert set.
Set New Target Rate
You will be notified when the 30-year fixed rate drops to or below this rate.
Auto-Refresh Rates
Automatically fetch current rates when you open Rate Watch. Turn off to load rates manually.
PMI Reminder
Set a reminder for when to request PMI cancellation. Lighthouse will flag it when you open the app.
Target LTV for PMI Removal
You can request PMI cancellation at 80% LTV. Automatic termination happens at 78%.
PMI Reminder Date
Load a loan profile with PMI to set a reminder date.
My Data
Everything Lighthouse stores lives in your browser's local storage. Nothing is sent to any server except messages you send to Lh Logic.
Saved Loans
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Clear Saved Loans
Remove all saved loan profiles from this device. This cannot be undone.
Clear Document History
Remove all stored document summaries Lh Logic uses for reference. Does not delete uploaded files.
Clear Session History
Remove the saved conversation that restores on startup.
Clear All App Data
Wipe everything — loans, session, settings, rate alert. Resets Lighthouse completely.
Terms & Privacy
The legal terms governing your use of Lighthouse, in full.
Terms of Service
Last updated June 21, 2026
1. What Lighthouse Is
Lighthouse is a software tool that uses artificial intelligence ("Lh Logic") to help users understand mortgage-related documents and concepts. Lighthouse is an informational and educational tool only. It is not a mortgage lender, servicer, broker, financial institution, law firm, or licensed financial advisor, and does not originate, service, broker, or underwrite loans.
2. No Professional Advice; No Fiduciary Relationship
Nothing provided by Lighthouse constitutes professional mortgage, financial, legal, or tax advice. No advisor-client or fiduciary relationship is created. Always verify information independently and consult a licensed professional before making financial decisions.
3. AI-Generated Content; Accuracy Limitations
Lighthouse uses large language model technology, which may contain errors, omissions, or outdated information, and can misread uploaded documents. AI systems can produce plausible-sounding but incorrect output. You assume all risk of relying on any output from Lighthouse.
4. User Responsibilities
You agree to use Lighthouse only for lawful purposes, to only upload documents you have the right to upload, and not to attempt to reverse-engineer, scrape, overload, or interfere with the Service.
5. Your Data and Documents
You retain ownership of anything you upload. See the Privacy Policy below for what's collected and how it's handled.
6. Intellectual Property
Lighthouse, its name, logo, design, and underlying software are the property of Branden Ramirez, protected by copyright, trademark, and other applicable laws.
7. No Warranty
Lighthouse is provided "as is" and "as available," without warranties of any kind, including accuracy or fitness for a particular purpose. We do not warrant the Service will be uninterrupted, error-free, or that AI output will be accurate or complete.
8. Limitation of Liability
To the maximum extent permitted by law, Branden Ramirez and Lighthouse are not liable for indirect, incidental, special, consequential, or punitive damages, or loss of profits, data, or financial loss arising from your use of the Service. Your sole remedy for dissatisfaction is to stop using it.
9. Indemnification
You agree to indemnify and hold harmless Branden Ramirez from claims, damages, or expenses arising from your use of the Service or violation of these Terms.
10. Third-Party Services
Lighthouse uses Anthropic's Claude API to generate responses. We are not responsible for the availability, accuracy, or practices of third-party providers.
11–13. Changes, Termination, Governing Law
We may modify or discontinue the Service, or these Terms, at any time. We may suspend or terminate access for any reason, including a violation of these Terms. These Terms are governed by the laws of the State of Arizona.
14. Contact
Lighthousecompanies2026@gmail.com
Privacy Policy
Last updated June 21, 2026
1. Information We Collect
Documents you upload and data extracted from them, messages you send to Lh Logic, and any notes or saved loans you enter. We do not collect Social Security numbers or full account numbers, and currently require no account or login.
2. Where Your Data Lives
Lighthouse primarily stores your data in your browser's local storage, on your own device. This means your saved loans, documents, and chat history persist on the device you used, and aren't synced across devices or accessible by us directly.
3. How We Use Your Data
Uploaded content and chat messages are sent to Anthropic's Claude API for processing, solely to generate the analysis, chat responses, and letters Lighthouse provides. We do not sell your personal information.
4. Third-Party Processing
Document content and chat messages are sent to Anthropic's API for AI processing, governed by Anthropic's own data practices.
5. Data Retention
Because data is primarily stored in your browser's local storage, it persists until you clear it. We do not currently retain copies of your documents or chat history on our own servers beyond what's necessary to process a given request in real time.
6. Your Rights
You can exercise most data rights yourself by clearing your browser's local storage. California residents have rights under the CCPA, including the right to know, delete, and opt out of sale of personal information — we do not sell personal information.
7. Children's Privacy
Lighthouse is not directed to children under 13, and we do not knowingly collect information from them.
8. Security
We take reasonable measures to protect data in transit and rely on standard browser security for locally stored data. No method of transmission or storage is 100% secure.
9. Contact
Lighthousecompanies2026@gmail.com
About Lighthouse
What this app is, what it isn't, and how it works.
Lighthouse
Navigate with confidence
What Lighthouse Is
Lighthouse is an AI-powered mortgage advisor built to give everyday borrowers — especially first-time buyers and Spanish-speaking homeowners — the clarity and tools to navigate one of the most important financial decisions of their lives. Powered by Lh Logic, a specialized AI that knows federal mortgage law, agency guidelines, borrower rights, and servicer practices.
What Lighthouse Is Not
Lighthouse is not a licensed lender, mortgage broker, financial advisor, or attorney. It does not provide official loan quotes, rate locks, or legal advice. Everything Lh Logic tells you is educational — always verify with a licensed professional before making financial decisions.
How Your Data Is Used
Loan profiles and session history are stored only in your browser's local storage — they never leave your device. When you send a message to Lh Logic, that message and your loan context are sent to the Anthropic Claude API to generate a response. No data is stored on Lighthouse's servers.
Keyboard Shortcuts
EnterSend message Shift+EnterNew line in message Ctrl+/Open Settings
Version
Lighthouse v1.0 — Navigate with confidence
Lh
Before you start
A quick, honest note about what Lighthouse is.
Lighthouse is educational, not advice. Lh Logic is an AI advisor — not a licensed lender, broker, financial advisor, or attorney. Nothing it tells you is an official quote, approval, or legal/financial recommendation.
AI can be wrong. Always verify numbers and guidance against your actual documents, your servicer, and a licensed professional before making a financial decision.
Your documents and chats stay in your browser's local storage. Messages are sent to Anthropic's Claude API to generate responses. See our Privacy Policy and Terms in Settings for the full details.
By continuing, you agree to Lighthouse's Terms of Service and Privacy Policy.
Welcome to Lighthouse.
Shining light on life's most important decisions —
from first question to final payoff.
Where are you in your mortgage journey?
For educational purposes only. Not a licensed financial advisor.
Here is where to start
As a buyer, Lighthouse works best when you give it context.
1
Upload a Loan Estimate
Lh Logic reads every line, flags red flags, and explains exactly what you are agreeing to.
2
Calculate your DTI
Know if you qualify before you apply. Lh Logic walks you through it step by step.
3
Ask anything
Rate negotiation, PMI, closing costs, loan types — Lh Logic knows federal mortgage law cold.
Here is where to start
Your mortgage statement is the starting point.
1
Upload your mortgage statement
Lh Logic calculates your Mortgage Health Score and tells you exactly where you stand.
2
Check your PMI and equity
See if you qualify to remove PMI today. Know your real equity position.
3
Dispute issues, generate letters
Servicer errors, escrow disputes, loss mitigation — all backed by federal law.