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Authors
Steve Nicastro

Steve Nicastro

Content Lead

Steve Nicastro is a managing editor and mortgage and housing finance specialist at Best Interest Financial, where he helps home buyers, homeowners, and real estate investors make sense of mortgages and financing decisions.

Before joining Best Interest Financial, Steve worked as a licensed real estate agent and investor, closing more than $6 million in transactions and personally buying and selling over 30 homes. That hands-on experience shapes his coverage of mortgages, refinancing, DSCR loans, buyer incentives, and financing strategies.

Steve spent more than six years as a personal finance writer at NerdWallet. His work has also appeared in USA Today, U.S. News, Yahoo Finance, Associated Press, and The New York Times.

Expertise: Mortgages and refinancing, homebuyer financing strategies, real estate investing loans, housing affordability
Education: Quinnipiac University
Background: Former licensed real estate agent and active real estate investor

Featured Published Articles

  • If you want to buy a home for an aging parent or a disabled adult child who can't qualify for a mortgage on their own, the Family Opportunity Mortgage may be the most affordable way to do it. The program is backed by Fannie Mae guidelines and lets you finance the purchase as an owner-occupied…

  • Home improvements can add real value to your property, but financing them the right way matters. If you've built up equity in your home, a home equity loan or HELOC is often the most cost-effective way to fund a renovation. Our calculator estimates how much equity you can access, your monthly payment, and total interest…

  • Mortgage insurance adds to your monthly housing cost, but how much you pay, and for how long, depends on your loan type, down payment, and credit score. Our mortgage insurance calculator estimates your monthly PMI, FHA MIP, or VA funding fee, shows when mortgage insurance drops off, and breaks down the full impact on your…

  • Commercial real estate loans work differently than residential mortgages, and the differences matter. Loan structures vary widely, balloon payments are common, and lenders evaluate deals based on the property's income as much as the borrower's financials. Our commercial mortgage calculator estimates your monthly payment, balloon payment amount, and total interest cost for fully amortizing, balloon,…

  • A bridge loan lets you tap your current home's equity to fund the purchase of a new home before your existing home sells. It's a short-term financing solution (typically 3 to 12 months) that can help you avoid the timing gap between buying and selling. Our bridge loan calculator estimates your loan amount, monthly interest…

  • Bad credit doesn't automatically disqualify you from getting a mortgage, but it will affect your interest rate, your loan options, and how much you'll pay over the life of the loan. Our calculator helps you estimate your monthly payment based on your loan details. If your credit score is below 700, adjust the interest rate…