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ForHomely
About

Professional-grade deal math, free and explained in plain English.

ForHomely exists because buying a duplex, triplex, or fourplex involves the same underwriting math institutional investors pay for, and that math should be free, transparent, and checkable.

Our mission

Every calculator on this site implements the formulas lenders, appraisers, and CPAs actually use: the amortization formula, HUD’s FHA mortgage insurance rules, Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac PMI cancellation thresholds, and the NOI waterfall behind every DSCR loan. Every guide walks through the math on a real building with real numbers, so you can reproduce the result yourself and catch us if we are wrong.

Who we serve

  • First-time homebuyers considering a 2-4 unit property as their first home
  • House hackers modeling net out-of-pocket housing costs with rental offsets
  • Small multifamily investors underwriting duplex through fourplex acquisitions
  • Self-employed investors exploring DSCR and portfolio lending

How we research and review every guide

  1. Start from the rulebook. Program rules come from the primary source: HUD Handbook 4000.1 for FHA, the Fannie Mae Selling Guide and Freddie Mac Guide for conventional lending, FHFA for loan limits, and IRS Publications 527 and 946 for rental taxation. We do not cite other blogs.
  2. Work the example. Each guide applies the rule to a specific property with prices, rents, taxes, and payments, and the same inputs can be entered in our calculators to reproduce the figures.
  3. Review by an investor. Toheeb Ekundayo reviews every guide and calculator against current agency guidance and his own underwriting experience before publication.
  4. Date it, then re-check it. Every guide shows a published date and a last-reviewed date. When an agency changes a rule or limit, we update the guide and note what changed.

Editorial and corrections policy

We clearly separate verifiable facts and worked examples from editorial opinion. If we get something wrong, we correct it on the page and note the correction rather than quietly deleting it. Spot an error? Use the contact page or email hello@forhomely.com; we read every message and aim to respond within two business days.

Independence and how the site is funded

ForHomely is a free educational resource supported by clearly labeled advertising served through Google AdSense. Advertising never influences what we cover or what we conclude. We do not accept payment for coverage of any lender, product, or platform, and where we compare tools (such as property management software) the comparison reflects publicly documented features and pricing. We are not a lender, broker, appraiser, CPA, or law firm, and nothing on the site is individualized financial advice.

Primary sources we rely on

Free, and staying that way

No plans, no tiers, no upsell

Here is exactly how the site works, so there is nothing to wonder about.

What is free

  • All four calculators
  • All 29 guides and the glossary
  • Every future tool we publish

How it is funded

  • Clearly labeled advertising
  • Ads never shape editorial decisions
  • No affiliate steering to lenders

What we never do

  • Store what you type into a calculator
  • Sell or share your personal data
  • Accept paid placement or sponsored reviews

Questions people ask before they trust a number

Who is ForHomely for?
First-time buyers considering a duplex, triplex, or fourplex as their first home; house hackers who want to live in one unit and rent the others; and small investors underwriting 2-4 unit rentals. If you are trying to decide whether a specific building makes financial sense, this site was built for that decision.
Are the calculators really free? Is there a catch?
Yes, every calculator and guide is free, with no account, email, or paywall. The site is supported by clearly labeled advertising. Ads never influence what we write, and we do not accept paid placement from lenders or software companies.
Where do the formulas and rules come from?
The calculators implement the standard amortization formula, HUD's FHA mortgage insurance rules, Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac PMI cancellation thresholds, and the NOI waterfall appraisers and DSCR lenders use. Every guide links to the primary source it relies on, such as HUD Handbook 4000.1, the Fannie Mae Selling Guide, FHFA loan limits, and IRS publications.
Is anything I type into a calculator stored?
No. The calculators run entirely in your browser. Purchase prices, rents, and rates never leave your device and are not sent to or stored on our servers.
How current are the numbers in the guides?
Each guide shows a published date and a last-reviewed date. When HUD, FHFA, Fannie Mae, or the IRS change a rule or limit, we update the affected guide and note the change. Always confirm current-year figures with your lender or CPA before acting.
Is this financial or lending advice?
No. ForHomely is an educational resource. Nothing here is financial, tax, legal, or lending advice, and calculator results are estimates built on the assumptions you enter. Verify everything with licensed professionals who know your full situation.