Mortgages & Home Buying
Work out what you can actually afford — before you talk to a lender.
A mortgage is the largest transaction most Americans ever make, and the monthly payment a lender quotes is rarely the number you actually pay. Property taxes, homeowners insurance, PMI and HOA dues routinely add 25–40% on top of principal and interest.
The tools below model the complete payment, not the advertised one. Each shows where every dollar goes, what the loan costs over its full term, and which levers — down payment, term, rate, extra principal — move the total most.
Tools
Mortgage calculators
AI Mortgage Advisor
A verdict, not a payment — risk level, stress test, and whether the down payment is the right call.
Mortgage Calculator
See principal, interest, taxes, insurance and PMI — then what the loan really costs over 30 years.
Home Affordability Calculator
Two answers: what a lender will approve, and what your budget can genuinely sustain.
Rent vs Buy Calculator
Buying wins eventually in most markets. This finds the year it starts winning in yours.
Refinance Calculator
A lower rate is not automatically a win. This shows what restarting the clock costs.
Closing Cost Calculator
Down payment plus 2–5% in costs most first-time buyers discover far too late.
Most used here
Guides
Understand the decisions behind the mortgage numbers.
- beginner12 min read
The First-Time Home Buyer Guide
A complete first-time home buyer guide for the US: what to save, how pre-approval works, what closing costs cover, and the mistakes that cost the most.
Updated January 15, 2026
- beginner9 min read
How Much House Can I Afford?
Work out how much house you can afford using the 28/36 rule, your actual budget, and the costs lenders ignore. Includes salary-by-salary examples.
Updated January 15, 2026
- intermediate8 min read
Understanding Mortgage Rates
How mortgage rates are determined, what moves them, and the six factors that decide whether you get the advertised rate or half a point above it.
Updated January 15, 2026
Related goals
See how mortgage fits into the bigger picture.
Buy a Home
Work out what you can afford, what it truly costs, and when to buy.
Save More Money
Build the cushion, automate the habit, and raise the yield.
Not sure where to start?
Describe your mortgage situation and the AI coach will point you to the right tool and walk through the trade-offs.
Mortgage questions
How much house can I afford on my salary?
A common starting point is the 28/36 rule: housing costs stay under 28% of gross monthly income, and total debt payments under 36%. On a $100,000 salary that is roughly $2,333 a month for housing. But the rule ignores your actual savings rate, childcare, and how secure your income is. Run the home affordability calculator with your real numbers rather than relying on the ratio alone.
What is included in a monthly mortgage payment?
Four components, abbreviated PITI: principal, interest, property taxes and homeowners insurance. If your down payment is under 20% you also pay private mortgage insurance (PMI), and a condo or planned community adds HOA dues. Only principal builds equity — everything else is a cost of ownership.
Is a 15-year or 30-year mortgage better?
A 15-year loan carries a lower rate and cuts total interest dramatically, often by more than half. The trade-off is a payment roughly 40–50% higher, which reduces your flexibility if income drops. A middle path is taking the 30-year loan and paying it like a 15-year one voluntarily, which captures most of the interest savings while keeping the lower payment as a safety valve.
When does refinancing make sense?
Refinancing pays off when your monthly savings recover the closing costs before you sell or refinance again. Divide total closing costs by monthly savings to get the break-even month. The old 'refinance at 1% lower' rule is unreliable because it ignores both closing costs and how far into the loan you already are — restarting a 30-year clock at year eight can raise lifetime interest even at a lower rate.