Nelson Smith


is a freelance writer focusing on investing, real estate, and other personal finance topics. An intrepid traveler, he currently resides in South Korea. He is a former real estate and mortgage professional, as well as an owner of income property.

Follow him here or at his own finance/investing blog, Financial Uproar.



Recent Articles

How will Trump impact your finances?

Submitted by Nelson Smith on November 11, 2016, 4:27 pm

Donald Trump impact on finances

On Tuesday night, he shocked the world. Donald Trump became the 45th president of the United States after almost every political insider and pollster wrote him off.

What You Need to Know About Buying Down Mortgage Rates

Submitted by Nelson Smith on October 13, 2016, 3:14 pm

Buy down mortgage

For the most part, the world of mortgages isn’t really that complicated. You and the lender agree on an interest rate, term (usually 15 or 30 years, with most people taking the latter), payment amount, and so on.

Where things get more complicated is when lenders talk about buying down mortgage rates. What exactly does that mean? Just how much money can you save? Let’s take a closer look.

Why Some States Have Better Mortgage Rates

Submitted by Nelson Smith on July 29, 2016, 6:37 pm

Why some states have better mortgage rates than others.

When you’re on our mortgage comparison page, you’ll notice that one of the first questions we ask is which state you live in.

You’d think the answer wouldn’t matter. After all, interest rates are determined by the Federal Reserve (as well as the overall market), and most lenders operate nationwide. Additionally, much of the underwriting is done in a few central offices across the country.