Duane Buziak: 7 Strategies to Lower Your Payment When You’re Struggling to Afford Your Mortgage Payment in 2026

If you are struggling to afford your mortgage payment, Duane Buziak breaks the monthly number into its four parts: principal and interest, property tax, insurance and PMI. He then walks through seven strategies with real math, starting with a soft-pull rate shop across hundreds of wholesale lenders, so you can compare every lever before committing to one.
Duane Buziak’s Guide: How to Secure a Mortgage Pre-Approval Letter in 2026 (Without a Hard Credit Hit)

To secure a mortgage pre approval letter, you need two years of income records, recent bank statements, a government ID, and about 30 minutes. Duane Buziak walks buyers through the process step by step, explains how pre-approval differs from pre-qualification, and shows how to compare more than one set of terms without a hard credit hit.
Duane Buziak Explains How Student Loan Debt Affects Mortgage Approval in 2026

A practical guide to student loan debt affecting mortgage approval.
Duane Buziak Compares 7 Ways to Lower Your Cost of Buying: Top Mortgage Options for Homebuyers in 2026

The cheapest way into a home is the structure with the lowest total cost, not the lowest advertised rate. Duane Buziak prices FHA, conventional and down payment assistance side by side on a $300,000 purchase, so you can compare the top homebuyers affordable mortgage options by cash to close, monthly payment and mortgage insurance, starting with a soft credit pull review.
Duane Buziak: 7 Ways to Find Top-Rated Mortgage Lenders According to Customer Reviews

No single ranking of top-rated mortgage lenders according to customer reviews exists, because star averages differ by platform and rarely match your loan type or timeline. Duane Buziak, an independent mortgage broker, shares seven ways to read reviews consistently, build a defensible shortlist, and test it by comparing real Loan Estimates across lenders.
Duane Buziak’s 7 Ways to Compare VA Loan Lenders and Brokers in 2026 (Segment A)

A practical guide to best va loan lenders.
Veterans United VA Comparison for Smart Buyers

Veterans United VA comparison: compare fees, service, credit options, and wholesale broker pricing before choosing a VA mortgage path for your home purchase.
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.
How to Get the Lowest Mortgage Rate in 2026: Duane Buziak’s Step-by-Step Rate-Comparison Method

A practical guide to how to get lowest mortgage rate.
How Bank Statement Mortgages Qualify Income

Learn how bank statement mortgages use deposits, expenses, and reserves. Compare terms, avoid common pricing traps, and shop wholesale options smartly.