Resources

Mortgage calculators.

Run your own numbers before you talk to anyone. Nothing here pulls your credit or saves what you type.

Calculator 01

Monthly payment.

Start from a common loan type, then move anything. Taxes, insurance, mortgage insurance and HOA are all in the total.

Start with a common loan scenario below, then adjust any number to fit your situation.

The price you expect to pay for the home. Your loan amount is this price minus your down payment.
$
How many years you take to pay off the loan. A shorter term raises the monthly payment but cuts the total interest you pay.
The cash you put toward the price up front. VA loans can be zero down, FHA starts at 3.5%, and conventional loans commonly start at 5%, or as low as 3% for some first-time buyers.
$
5%of price
The yearly tax your county charges on the home. In most of California it runs about 1.1% to 1.25% of the purchase price, and it is usually paid monthly with your mortgage.
$
1.15%of price per year
The yearly cost of borrowing, shown as a percentage of the loan. Your actual rate depends on your credit, down payment, loan type and the market on the day you lock.
%
6.5%yours to enter, I publish no rates
Insurance that protects the lender when you put less than 20% down. Conventional loans charge it until you reach about 20% equity, FHA loans charge it on every loan, and VA loans have none.
%
0.55%of the loan per year, under 20% down
Homeowners insurance covers the home against damage such as fire. Lenders require it, and it is usually paid monthly with your mortgage.
$
Dues for a condo, townhome or planned community. They go to the association, not the lender, but they still count toward what you can afford.
$

$800,000 home − $40,000 down = $760,000 estimated loan

Calculator 02

How much can you afford?

Lenders compare your monthly debts, including the new mortgage, with your income before taxes. This works backwards from that to a home price.

Choose how much of your income can go to debt, then adjust anything.

Total yearly income before taxes, from everyone who will be on the loan.
$
Minimum monthly payments on car loans, student loans, credit cards and other loans. Leave out rent, utilities and the mortgage you are shopping for.
$
Cash you plan to put toward the purchase. Keep some aside for closing costs and savings too.
$
How many years you take to pay off the loan. A shorter term raises the monthly payment but cuts the total interest you pay.
The yearly cost of borrowing, shown as a percentage of the loan. Your actual rate depends on your credit, down payment, loan type and the market on the day you lock.
%
6.5%yours to enter, I publish no rates
The yearly tax your county charges on the home, shown as a share of the price. In most of California it runs about 1.1% to 1.25%.
%
1.15%of price per year
Homeowners insurance covers the home against damage such as fire. Lenders require it, and it is usually paid monthly with your mortgage.
$
Dues for a condo, townhome or planned community. They go to the association, not the lender, but they still count toward what you can afford.
$

Calculator 03

Rent or buy?

A fair comparison counts more than the payment: buying and selling costs, upkeep, the equity you build, and what your down payment could earn if you kept renting.

Start with your rent and a home you are considering. The comparison updates as you go.

What you pay in rent today, before utilities.
$
How much your rent tends to go up each year. Many California cities cap most yearly increases, often well under 10%.
%
3%a year
The price of a home you are considering.
$
The share of the price you put down up front.
%
10%$75,000
The yearly cost of borrowing, shown as a percentage of the loan. Your actual rate depends on your credit, down payment, loan type and the market on the day you lock.
%
6.5%yours to enter, I publish no rates
How long you expect to live in the home before selling. Buying usually needs a few years to beat renting, because buying and selling costs take time to earn back.
yrs
7years
How much you expect the home’s value to rise each year. Nobody can promise this, so try a few numbers.
%
3%a year
More assumptions
The yearly tax your county charges on the home, shown as a share of the price. In most of California it runs about 1.1% to 1.25%. California caps yearly increases at 2%, and this calculator does too.
%
Homeowners insurance covers the home against damage such as fire. Lenders require it, and it is usually paid monthly with your mortgage.
$
Repairs and maintenance, shown as a share of the home’s value each year. About 1% is a common rule of thumb.
%
Dues for a condo, townhome or planned community. They go to the association, not the lender, but they still count toward what you can afford.
$
Closing costs when you buy, such as lender, title and escrow fees, shown as a share of the price.
%
Costs when you sell, such as agent commissions and closing fees, shown as a share of the sale price.
%
What your down payment and buying costs could earn each year if you kept renting and saved them instead.
%
How many years you take to pay off the loan. A shorter term raises the monthly payment but cuts the total interest you pay.

Common questions

About these numbers.

They are estimates built on the numbers you enter and a few common assumptions. Your real payment depends on your credit, the loan program, the property and the market on the day you lock, so treat them as a starting point, not a quote.

No. Nothing on this page pulls your credit, and nothing you type is saved or sent anywhere.

Your monthly debt payments, including the new mortgage, divided by your income before taxes. Many loans look for 43% or less, and some programs allow more when the rest of the file is strong.

Conventional loans charge it only when you put less than 20% down. FHA loans charge it on every loan, and VA loans have none.

Get pre-approved. It shows what you actually qualify for and, if you are not at your goal yet, what it takes to get there. It does not commit you to anything.

Next step

Turn estimates into real numbers.

A one-minute quote request gives me enough to price your actual scenario. Nothing here affects your credit.

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