Financial Literacy

Nobody taught us how to buy a home. Let's fix that.

Most people learn about mortgages the expensive way — in the middle of the biggest purchase of their life. Michael is an Ambassador for FirstHome IQ, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit closing the homeownership education gap, because he believes this stuff should be taught before you need it. Every resource below is free.

Who This Is For

Start wherever you are.

Teens & Students

Money basics, credit, and how homeownership actually works — before the stakes are real. The head start most of us never got.

Future First-Time Buyers

Renting now, buying someday? Learn the path from zero to keys in hand, at your own pace, with zero sales pressure.

Parents & Educators

Want to teach this at home, in a classroom, or in a workshop? FirstHome IQ provides free ready-to-use materials.

Free Tools & Courses

Real numbers. Real skills. Zero cost.

Quiz · 5 Minutes

What's Your Homebuyer IQ?

Fifteen questions that teach as you go. Most people are surprised by their score — and learn something from every question.

Test Your Knowledge →

Interactive Tool

The Big Picture

Renting and owning, side by side, over your years as a homeowner. Five minutes, no signup, leave with your first step either way.

See Your Big Picture →

Calculators

Affordability & Down Payment

The most a lender would approve versus the price that fits your life — plus how much you really need down, and a plan to save for it.

Run Your Numbers →

Worksheets

Budget & Home Wishlist

Income, needs, wants, savings — and a wishlist tool that sorts must-haves from nice-to-haves you can hand straight to your agent.

Get Organized →

Free Courses · Videos + Worksheets

Money Basics · Credit & Debt · Buying Your First Home

Three full courses with a free account: money mindset and budgeting, how credit really works, and the path to keys in hand.

Start Learning →

For Educators

Teach It Yourself

Running a classroom, a workshop, or a family conversation? FirstHome IQ brings the material, free for anyone who wants to teach it.

Get Teaching Materials →

FirstHome IQ is an independent 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization. Resources are provided by FirstHome IQ for educational purposes and are linked here as part of Michael's work as a FirstHome IQ Ambassador. Educational content is not an offer of credit or a commitment to lend.

Why Michael Cares About This

I was pre-approved for $200,000 in 1998. Nobody explained why that didn't mean I should spend it.

Michael bought his first home for $108,000 — barely half his approval — because the payment was what fit his life. Nobody taught him that. He had to figure it out himself, standing in beautiful houses he knew belonged to someone else's budget. Twenty-plus years later, closing the education gap isn't a side project. It's the reason the MMG Way starts with understanding instead of applications.

Read Michael's Story

Straight Talk

Why asking “what's your rate?” isn't enough

A rate quote by itself tells you almost nothing. Here's what actually matters.

Learned something? Have questions the tools can't answer?

Education first, always. And when you're ready to talk about your actual situation, that conversation is free too.

Start a Conversation

No pressure. No obligation. Just a conversation.