HCL
DO

Diana Okafor

Home Finance & Insurance Editor

Diana Okafor runs the home-finance desk at HomeCostLab, covering the decisions that determine how a project actually gets paid for: mortgages and refinancing, HELOCs and home-equity loans, PMI, and homeowners and specialty insurance.

Her writing focuses on the trade-offs lenders and insurers rarely spell out plainly — when a cash-out refinance beats a HELOC, how to get PMI removed early, what actually moves a homeowners-insurance premium, and which loan products fit investors versus owner-occupants.

Diana reviews HomeCostLab's money guides for accuracy and clarity, with an emphasis on helping readers compare real options rather than chase headline rates. Every guide is written to be useful first and to hold up against current market conditions.

Areas of focus

Mortgages & refinancingHome-equity financing (HELOC/HEL)Homeowners & specialty insurancePMI, taxes & closing costs

Read Diana's coverage