Mortgage Calculator with PMI and Taxes (2024)

How to use the mortgage calculator

Under "Home price," enter the price (if you're buying) or the current value (if you're refinancing). NerdWallet also has a refinancing calculator.

Under "Down payment," enter the dollar amount of your down payment (if you’re buying) or the amount of equity you have (if refinancing). Or instead of entering a dollar amount, enter the down payment percentage in the window to the right. A down payment is the cash you pay upfront for a home, and home equity is the value of the home, minus what you owe.

On desktop, under "Interest rate" (to the right), enter the rate. Under "Loan term," click the plus and minus signs to adjust the length of the mortgage in years.

On mobile devices, tap "Refine Results" to find the field to enter the rate and use the plus and minus signs to select the "Loan term."

You may enter your own figures for property taxes, homeowners insurance and homeowners association fees, if you don’t wish to use NerdWallet’s estimates. Edit these figures by clicking on the amount currently displayed.

The mortgage calculator lets you click "Compare common loan types" to view a comparison of different loan terms. Click "Amortization" to see how the principal balance, principal paid (equity) and total interest paid change year by year. On mobile devices, scroll down to see "Amortization."

» MORE: What is mortgage amortization?

How a mortgage calculator helps you

Determining what your monthly house payment will be is an important part of figuring out how much house you can afford. That monthly payment is likely to be the biggest part of your cost of living.

Using NerdWallet’s mortgage calculator lets you estimate your mortgage payment when you buy a home or refinance. You can change loan details in the calculator to run scenarios. The calculator can help you decide:

  • The home loan term length that’s right for you. 30-year fixed-rate mortgage lower your monthly payment, but you’ll pay more interest over the life of the loan. A 15-year fixed-rate mortgage reduce the total interest you'll pay, but your monthly payment will be higher. c

  • If an ARM is a good option. Adjustable-rate mortgages start with a "teaser" interest rate, and then the loan rate changes — higher or lower — over time. A 5/1 ARM can be a good choice, particularly if you plan on being in a home for just a few years. You’ll want to be aware of how much your monthly mortgage payment can change when the introductory rate expires, especially if interest rates are trending higher.

  • If you’re buying too much home. The mortgage payment calculator can give you a reality check on how much you can expect to pay each month, especially when considering all the costs, including taxes, insurance and private mortgage insurance.

  • If you’re putting enough money down. With minimum down payments commonly as low as 3%, it's easier than ever to put just a little money down. The mortgage payment calculator can help you decide what the best down payment may be for you.

How lenders decide how much you can afford to borrow

Mortgage lenders are required to assess your ability to repay the amount you want to borrow. A lot of factors go into that assessment, and the main one is debt-to-income ratio.

Your debt-to-income ratio is the percentage of pretax income that goes toward monthly debt payments, including the mortgage, car payments, student loans, minimum credit card payments and child support. Lenders look most favorably on debt-to-income ratios of 36% or less — or a maximum of $1,800 a month on an income of $5,000 a month before taxes.

» MORE: Calculate your debt-to-income ratio

Typical costs included in a mortgage payment

If your mortgage payment included just principal and interest, you could use a bare-bones mortgage calculator. But most mortgage payments include other charges as well. Here are the key components of the monthly mortgage payment:

  • Principal: This is the amount you borrow. Each mortgage payment reduces the principal you owe.

  • Interest: What the lender charges you to lend you the money. Interest rates are expressed as an annual percentage.

  • Property taxes: The annual tax assessed by a government authority on your home and land. You pay about one-twelfth of your annual tax bill with each mortgage payment, and the servicer saves them in an escrow account. When the taxes are due, the loan servicer pays them.

  • Homeowners insurance: Your policy covers damage and financial losses from fire, storms, theft, a tree falling on your house and other bad things. As with property taxes, you pay roughly one-twelfth of your annual premium each month, and the servicer pays the bill when it's due.

  • Mortgage insurance: If your down payment is less than 20% of the home’s purchase price, you’ll likely pay mortgage insurance. It protects the lender’s interest in case a borrower defaults on a mortgage. Once the equity in your property increases to 20%, the mortgage insurance is canceled, unless you have an FHA loan backed by the Federal Housing Administration.

Typically, when you belong to a homeowners association, the dues are billed directly, and it's not added to the monthly mortgage payment. Because HOA dues can be easy to forget, they're included in NerdWallet's mortgage calculator.

Reducing monthly mortgage payments

The mortgage calculator lets you test scenarios to see how you can reduce the monthly payments:

Your monthly payment can go up over time if:

  • Extend the term (the number of years it will take to pay off the loan). With a longer term, your payment will be lower but you’ll pay more interest over the years. Review your amortization schedule to see the impact of extending your loan.

  • Buy less house. Taking out a smaller loan means a smaller monthly mortgage payment.

  • Avoid paying PMI. With a down payment of 20% or more, you won’t have to pay private mortgage insurance. Similarly, keeping at least 20% equity in the home lets you avoid PMI when you refinance.

  • Get a lower interest rate. Making a larger down payment can not only let you avoid PMI, but reduce your interest rate, too. That means a lower monthly mortgage payment.

Monthly mortgage payments can go up

  • Property taxes or homeowners insurance premiums rise. These costs are included in most mortgage payments.

  • You incur a late payment fee from your mortgage loan servicer.

  • You have an adjustable-rate mortgage and the rate rises at the adjustment period.

Formula for calculating a mortgage payment

The mortgage payment calculation looks like this: M = P [ i(1 + i)^n ] / [ (1 + i)^n – 1]

The variables are as follows:

  • M = monthly mortgage paymentP = the principal amounti = your monthly interest rate. Your lender likely lists interest rates as an annual figure, so you’ll need to divide by 12, for each month of the year. So, if your rate is 5%, then the monthly rate will look like this: 0.05/12 = 0.004167.n = the number of payments over the life of the loan. If you take out a 30-year fixed rate mortgage, this means: n = 30 years x 12 months per year, or 360 payments.

» MORE FOR CANADIAN READERS: Canada mortgage payment calculator

Mortgage Calculator with PMI and Taxes (2024)

FAQs

What is the average mortgage payment including taxes and insurance? ›

The median monthly cost of homeownership in the US is $1,775 per month, according to the most recent data from the Census Bureau's 2022 American Community Survey. That cost includes not only the monthly mortgage payment, but also other necessary costs like homeowners insurance, HOA fees, and property taxes.

How much is a $200,000 mortgage payment for 30 years? ›

For a 30-year $200,000 mortgage at a fixed interest rate of 7%, your monthly payments would be about $1,330 (though this figure doesn't include property taxes or homeowners insurance, which could push your payment hundreds of dollars upward).

How much is a mortgage on a $500,000 house? ›

So, what does a $500,000 mortgage payment look like if you're trying to budget for your first or next home? The mortgage on a $500,000 house is $2,952 per month toward your mortgage principal and mortgage interest, assuming a 6.86% interest rate and a 30-year fixed term with 10% down.

How much is a mortgage payment on a $750,000 house? ›

Monthly payments on a $750,000 mortgage

At a 7.00% fixed interest rate, your monthly mortgage payment on a 30-year mortgage might total $4,990 a month, while a 15-year might cost $6,741 a month.

Does the 28% rule include taxes and insurance? ›

According to the rule, you should only spend 28% or less of your gross monthly income on housing expenses, which include your mortgage payment, property taxes and insurance, and homeowners association fees.

Is it better to include taxes and insurance in mortgage? ›

Having your mortgage lender or servicer hold your property tax and homeowners insurance payments in escrow ensures that those bills are paid on time, automatically. You don't have to keep track of it, or even think about it, and you avoid penalties such as late fees or potential liens against your home.

Can I afford a 500K house on a 120k salary? ›

To afford a $500,000 house, you need to make a minimum of $91,008 a year — and probably more to make sure you're not house-poor and can afford day-to-day expenses, maintenance and other debt, like student loans or car payments. One good guideline to follow is not to spend more than 28 percent of your income on housing.

What income do you need for a $600000 mortgage? ›

To comfortably afford a $600k mortgage, you'll likely need an annual income between $150,000 to $200,000, depending on your specific financial situation and the terms of your mortgage. Remember, just because you can qualify for a loan doesn't mean you should stretch your budget to the maximum.

How much money should you make a year to buy a $500000 house? ›

Since many lenders don't want more than 28% of a person's income to go toward their mortgage debt, borrowers will generally need an annual combined household income of at least $120,000 to buy a $500,000 house.

How much income to afford $800,000 mortgage? ›

To afford an $800,000 house, you typically need an annual income between $200,000 to $260,000, depending on your financial situation, down payment, credit score, and current market conditions. However, this is a general range, and your specific circ*mstances will determine the exact income required.

How much should I make a year to afford a 750K house? ›

If we assume about about a third of your income is dedicated to housing costs, multiply that $57,600 figure by three to approximate the minimum income you'd need to earn to afford a $750K house: $172,800. (Note that this number does not factor in the upfront funds required for a down payment and closing costs.)

How much do I need to make to get a 250K mortgage? ›

If you follow the 2.5 times your income rule, you divide the cost of the home by 2.5 to determine how much money you need to earn annually to afford it. Based on this rule, you would need to earn $100,000 per year to comfortably purchase a $250,000 home.

Top Articles
Latest Posts
Article information

Author: Kerri Lueilwitz

Last Updated:

Views: 5399

Rating: 4.7 / 5 (47 voted)

Reviews: 86% of readers found this page helpful

Author information

Name: Kerri Lueilwitz

Birthday: 1992-10-31

Address: Suite 878 3699 Chantelle Roads, Colebury, NC 68599

Phone: +6111989609516

Job: Chief Farming Manager

Hobby: Mycology, Stone skipping, Dowsing, Whittling, Taxidermy, Sand art, Roller skating

Introduction: My name is Kerri Lueilwitz, I am a courageous, gentle, quaint, thankful, outstanding, brave, vast person who loves writing and wants to share my knowledge and understanding with you.