FinCalcs

Mortgage Calculators

9 free mortgage tools

Work out what a house actually costs you — monthly, and over thirty years.

A mortgage quote gives you a monthly payment. It rarely tells you the total interest, how much of each payment goes to principal, or what an extra $200 a month would save you over the life of the loan. These calculators show all of it, including the taxes and insurance that turn a quoted payment into a real one.

Mortgage calculators
The monthly payment is the number lenders compete on. Total interest is the number that decides what a house costs.

The number that matters is total interest, not the monthly payment

Lenders compete on monthly payment because it is the number buyers compare. Stretching a loan from 15 to 30 years lowers the payment substantially while roughly doubling the interest paid. On a $400,000 loan, that difference is usually well over $150,000. Run both terms before you decide which one you can afford — affordability and total cost are different questions, and only one of them shows up on the quote.

Payment quotes usually leave things out

The figure a lender advertises is normally principal and interest only. Your actual monthly outgoing includes property tax, homeowners insurance, and — if your deposit is under 20% — private mortgage insurance. In high-tax states, taxes and insurance can add 30% or more on top of the quoted payment. Use the affordability calculator to work backwards from what you can genuinely pay each month, rather than forwards from what a lender is willing to approve.

Frequently Asked Questions

How much house can I afford?+

A common guideline is that total housing costs stay under 28% of gross monthly income and all debt under 36%. That is a starting point, not an answer — it ignores your other commitments, your job stability and local property taxes. Work from your actual budget rather than a lender's maximum.

Is it worth paying extra on my mortgage?+

Extra payments go entirely to principal, so they cut both the balance and the interest that accrues on it. Even one extra payment a year typically removes several years from a 30-year term. Whether it beats investing the same money depends on your rate versus your expected return after tax.

Should I refinance?+

Refinancing makes sense when the interest saved exceeds the closing costs within a period you will realistically stay in the home. Calculate the break-even month — costs divided by monthly saving — and compare it honestly with your plans.

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