Terms of Use

Last updated: June 3, 2026

These Terms of Use ("Terms") govern your access to and use of the website, tools, and content offered by The Rate Labat the-rate-lab.com ("The Rate Lab," "we," "us"). By using the site or submitting information through our forms, you agree to these Terms and our Privacy Policy.

1. What The Rate Lab is (and is not)

The Rate Lab provides educational calculators, comparisons, and informational content to help U.S. homeowners think about refinancing and home equity. We are not a mortgage lender, broker, bank, credit repair organization, or financial advisor. We do not:

Make or arrange loans or credit decisions;
Provide personalized lending advice for your full financial situation;
Guarantee that you qualify for any rate, product, or lender;
Offer rate locks, Loan Estimates, or other TILA/RESPA disclosures on this site.

2. Estimates are illustrative — not a loan offer

Payment, savings, equity, break-even, and "market rate" figures on The Rate Lab are rough, illustrative calculations, not offers of credit. They may be based on:

Information you enter (loan balance, rate, term, address, goals, and similar inputs);
Public or third-party data (for example U.S. Census Bureau, CFPB HMDA, FHFA house price index, and historical average mortgage rates such as Freddie Mac PMMS); and
Advertised starting rates lenders publish on their own sites, which we may show for comparison and update periodically without verifying them for your profile.

Those inputs and methods produce approximations — not a quote, pre-qualification, pre-approval, commitment, or rate lock. Your actual rate, payment, fees, closing costs, and eligibility depend on the lender, your credit, income, assets, property, occupancy, program rules, and market conditions when you apply. Always confirm numbers with a licensed lender before acting.

3. Lender links and affiliates

We may link to third-party lenders and partners. Some links are affiliate links: we may earn a referral fee if you complete an action on a lender's site, at no added cost to you. That fee does not change the rate or terms the lender offers you. When you leave The Rate Lab, the lender's terms, privacy policy, and application process apply. We do not send your personal information to lenders through our affiliate links. Anything you submit on a lender's site is between you and that lender.

4. No professional advice

Content on The Rate Lab is for general informational purposes only. It is not legal, tax, accounting, or investment advice. Consult qualified professionals before making financial decisions.

5. Information you provide

You agree to provide accurate information to the best of your knowledge. You must be at least 18 years old and use the site only for lawful purposes. If you submit your name, email, phone, or loan details through our forms, you represent that you have read our Privacy Policy and consent to our use as described there—including optional emails about your scenario and rate changes where you opt in, which you may unsubscribe from at any time.

6. Acceptable use

You agree not to:

Misuse the site or attempt unauthorized access;
Scrape, overload, or reverse engineer our systems or software;
Use the site in a misleading or unlawful way; or
Violate applicable law (including laws on telemarketing, spam, or unfair or deceptive practices).

7. Disclaimers

To the fullest extent permitted by law, the site and all content are provided "as is" and "as available" without warranties of any kind, whether express or implied, including implied warranties of merchantability, fitness for a particular purpose, accuracy, or non-infringement. We do not warrant that the site will be uninterrupted, error-free, or that estimates will match any lender outcome.

8. Limitation of liability

To the fullest extent permitted by law, The Rate Lab and its operators will not be liable for any indirect, incidental, special, consequential, or punitive damages, or for lost profits or savings, arising from your use of the site or reliance on any estimate or lender link—even if we have been advised of the possibility. Our total liability for any claim relating to the site will not exceed the greater of (a) fifty U.S. dollars ($50) or (b) the amount you paid us to use the site in the twelve months before the claim (typically zero). Some jurisdictions do not allow certain limitations; in those cases our liability is limited to the maximum permitted by law.

9. Indemnity

You agree to defend and indemnify The Rate Lab and its operators against claims arising from your misuse of the site, your violation of these Terms, or your violation of any law or third-party rights.

10. Changes

We may update these Terms from time to time. We will change the "Last updated" date when we do. Continued use of the site after changes means you accept the revised Terms.

11. Governing law and disputes

These Terms are governed by the laws of the State of California, without regard to conflict-of-law rules, except where federal law applies. You agree that disputes arising under these Terms or relating to the site will be brought in the state or federal courts located in California, and you consent to personal jurisdiction there, unless applicable law requires otherwise. If you are a consumer, mandatory consumer protection laws in your state of residence may apply to the extent they cannot be waived.