Editorial policy: how we write and check our guides
Every AXEN Realty guide is written in plain English, checked against government and industry sources, and updated when the rules change. Here is exactly how we do it, and what we will never do.
Where our facts come from
We start with the people who make or track the rules:
- Federal agencies: the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB), HUD, the Federal Housing Finance Agency, the VA, the EPA, the IRS and the Federal Reserve.
- Industry data: the National Association of Realtors and Freddie Mac.
- State rules: state real estate commissions and county tax offices, for anything that changes by state.
- Company fee schedules: when we compare brokerages, we use each company's own published numbers and name the source.
Every guide ends with a numbered list of its sources so you can check them yourself.
What we will never do
- Make up numbers. If we can't point to a source, the number doesn't go in.
- Predict rates or prices. Nobody knows where they are going. We explain what moves them instead.
- Promise a down payment, payment or rate. Those depend on you, your lender and your loan.
- Describe a neighborhood by who lives there. We describe homes, prices, commutes and amenities, in line with fair housing law.
- Hide a business relationship. AXEN has affiliated mortgage, title and insurance companies. We say so, and you never have to use them.
How we keep guides current
We review a guide when a law, rule or program it covers changes, and we show the date of the last update on the page. Brokerage fee comparisons are checked every quarter because companies change their fees.
Corrections
Found something wrong? Email info@axenrealty.com with the page and the problem. We fix real errors fast and update the date.
This is not advice
Our guides are general information. Rules change by state, lender and loan type. Talk to a licensed real estate agent, loan officer, attorney or tax advisor about your own situation. Find an AXEN agent, read about AXEN Realty, or browse all guides and the glossary.
Questions about our guides
Where do AXEN Realty's guides get their facts?
From federal agencies like the CFPB, HUD and the IRS, from industry data like the National Association of Realtors and Freddie Mac, and from state rules. Every guide lists its sources.
How often are the guides updated?
When a law, rule or program they cover changes. Each guide shows the date of its last update, and fee comparisons are checked every quarter.
How do I report a mistake?
Email info@axenrealty.com with the page and the problem. We fix real errors and update the date.