# I'm a Mortgages Writer: Here's the Homebuying Advice I Ignored
A mortgages writer at NerdWallet recently examined the conventional homebuying rules she broke herself, offering a framework for when breaking the rules makes sense.
The writer's core argument centers on understanding the reasoning behind standard guidance before deciding to ignore it. Traditional rules exist for good reasons, but individual circumstances often differ from the typical case. The key lies in deliberately evaluating whether a creative compromise works for your specific situation.
She emphasizes that breaking homebuying advice requires deeper financial literacy, not recklessness. You should know exactly why lenders and financial advisors recommend something before you deviate from it. The risk tolerance, down payment requirements, debt-to-income ratios, and loan terms that work for most buyers might not apply to your exact position.
Her approach sidesteps the false choice between "always follow the rules" and "rules don't matter." Instead, she proposes a middle ground: learn the conventional wisdom, understand its foundation, then decide whether your circumstances warrant a different path.
This matters because homebuying decisions lock in costs for decades. A 30-year mortgage at one rate versus another shapes your financial life. Down payment size, loan type (fixed versus adjustable), and timing all carry real consequences. The writer's framework acknowledges that while traditional guidance protects most people from costly mistakes, blanket rules sometimes ignore legitimate personal factors.
For homebuyers, this translates to doing real homework before deviating from standard advice. If you plan to stay in a home only five years, a 15-year mortgage might not make sense despite being "better" mathematically. If you have stable income outside traditional employment, a jumbo loan might work when conventional lenders initially deny you. If you have family money available, skipping PMI becomes feasible with a