Duane Buziak: Mortgage Rate Lock Explained, With a Worked Dollar Example

Duane Buziak: Mortgage Rate Lock Explained, With a Worked Dollar Example

A mortgage rate lock is a written commitment to hold your quoted rate for a set number of days, but it only protects you as far as its length, extension terms, and written confirmation allow. This mortgage rate lock explained guide from Duane Buziak walks through how locks work, what they cost, how to size one, what a float-down does, and how to compare lock terms, with a worked dollar example.

Duane Buziak’s 7 Strategies for Saving Money on Home Loan Costs in 2026

Duane Buziak’s 7 Strategies for Saving Money on Home Loan Costs in 2026

Saving money on home loan costs takes more than chasing the lowest rate: fees, PMI pricing, points, and loan program choice move the total just as much. Duane Buziak walks through seven strategies for 2026, including comparing same-day quotes from hundreds of wholesale lenders with a soft credit pull, using a $400,000 purchase example where the better quote saves about $11,200 over five years.