Editorial Policy

Last updated: August 2026

RefiGuide.org publishes consumer education about mortgages, refinancing, home equity and related financing. This page explains who writes our content, how we research and verify it, how we make money, and how to reach us if we get something wrong.

Who we are

RefiGuide.org was founded in 2008 by Bryan Dornan, a licensed California Real Estate Broker (DRE #01203791) with nearly 30 years in mortgage lending. We are a publisher and a lender-matching service. We are not a mortgage lender. We do not originate, underwrite, fund or service loans, and we do not make credit decisions.

How we make money

RefiGuide is free to use. We never charge consumers a fee. Our revenue comes from advertising and from referral relationships with participating NMLS-licensed lenders and mortgage providers. When you request a quote, we may match you with one or more of those participating providers, and we may be compensated for that referral.

Compensation can influence which providers appear in our matching service and where advertising is displayed. It does not determine the conclusions of our editorial content. Full details are in our Advertising Disclosures.

Editorial independence

Our editorial team operates independently of our commercial relationships. Specifically:

  • Advertisers and lending partners do not review, approve or edit our articles before publication.
  • Payment does not buy a favorable review, a recommendation, or inclusion in a “best of” list.
  • Editorial recommendations are based on publicly verifiable product terms — rates, fees, loan-to-value limits, draw periods, eligibility requirements — not on our commercial relationship with a provider.
  • Where an article discusses a provider we have a referral relationship with, that relationship does not change how the product is described.

How we research and source content

Our guides draw on primary sources wherever possible. These include lender-published rate sheets and product terms; program guidelines from HUD, FHA, the VA, the USDA, Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac; federal and state regulatory materials; and published industry rate surveys.

When we cite a rate or a market average, we name the source and the date it was collected. Rates and program terms change frequently. A figure that was accurate when published may not be accurate today, which is why we date our rate references and re-check them when we update an article.

Expert review and fact-checking

Articles covering loan qualification, program eligibility, rates or costs are reviewed by a contributor with direct professional experience in that subject before publication. Where an article has been through that review, it carries a byline noting the reviewer and the date.

Our contributors include licensed and credentialed practitioners:

  • Bryan Dornan — Founder and Chief Editor. Licensed California Real Estate Broker, DRE #01203791.
  • Tom Murphy — Loan officer with over a decade of origination experience. NMLS #662141.
  • Dusty Brazil — Licensed California real estate agent, BRE #01780273, Pacific Sotheby’s International Realty.
  • Peter G. Miller — Nationally syndicated real estate columnist and author of seven books on real estate and housing finance.

License numbers can be verified through the issuing regulator — the California Department of Real Estate for DRE and BRE numbers, and NMLS Consumer Access for NMLS numbers.

Updates and content maintenance

Mortgage rules, rates and program limits change. We review our most-read guides on a recurring basis and update them when underlying terms change. Updated articles show a revision date. An updated date reflects a substantive review of the content, not a cosmetic change.

Corrections

We correct errors of fact promptly.

If you believe something on RefiGuide.org is inaccurate, contact us through our contact page or call 800-278-7010, and tell us the page URL and what you believe is incorrect. We will review the claim against our sources.

Where we find a material error — one that could affect a reader’s understanding of a rate, cost, eligibility requirement or qualification standard — we correct the article and note the correction and its date. Minor corrections such as typographical fixes are made without a note.

Use of AI

We may use AI tools to assist with research, drafting and editing. AI-assisted material is subject to the same review as any other content: a human editor is responsible for every published article, and any article covering rates, costs or qualification is reviewed by a credentialed contributor before publication. We do not publish AI-generated content without human review.

What this content is and is not

Everything on RefiGuide.org is general educational information. It is not personalized financial, lending, legal or tax advice, and it does not constitute a loan offer, a commitment to lend, or a guarantee of rate, term or approval. Your own rate and eligibility depend on your credit profile, income, property and the lender’s underwriting. Consult a licensed professional about your specific situation.

Contact

Editorial questions, correction requests and feedback:

RefiGuide.org
4809 Clairemont Dr. #C
San Diego, CA 92117
800-278-7010
Contact form

About Bryan Dornan

Bryan Dornan is a financial journalist and mortgage industry veteran with nearly 30 years of experience as a lender, loan officer, mortgage broker, and chief marketing officer. He currently serves as Chief Editor of RefiGuide.org, where he has built one of the most trusted mortgage education platforms in the United States. Bryan has founded multiple mortgage and digital marketing companies throughout his career and remains focused on helping homeowners leverage home equity wisely while making affordable homeownership accessible to everyday Americans. He is a licensed California Real Estate Broker DRE: #01203791. and writes for RealtyTimes, Patch, Buzzfeed, Medium and other national publications. Find him on Twitter, Muckrack, and Linkedin