Calculate a Mortgage Payment
Repayment of a mortgage loan requires that the borrower make a monthly payment back to the lender. That monthly payment includes both repayment of the loan principal, plus monthly interest on the outstanding balance. Loan payments are amortized so that your monthly payment remains the same during the repayment period, but during that time, the percentage of the amount that goes towards principal will increase as the outstanding mortgage balance decreases. Mortgage payments can also include pre-payments of property taxes, homeowner's insurance, and monthly homeowner's association dues into an escrow account, managed by your lender. When those items are due, your lender will make the payment to the tax authority, insurance company or homeowner's association.
Calculate a Mortgage Payment
Repayment of a mortgage loan requires that the borrower make a monthly payment back to the lender. That monthly payment includes both repayment of the loan principal, plus monthly interest on the outstanding balance. Loan payments are amortized so that your monthly payment remains the same during the repayment period, but during that time, the percentage of the amount that goes towards principal will increase as the outstanding mortgage balance decreases. Mortgage payments can also include pre-payments of property taxes, homeowner's insurance, and monthly homeowner's association dues into an escrow account, managed by your lender. When those items are due, your lender will make the payment to the tax authority, insurance company or homeowner's association.
Rent or Buy?
Depending on how fast prices and rents rise and how long you stay in your home, you may be better off renting rather than buying. Factors that are part of the equation are the difference in monthly rent versus mortgage payment, home value appreciation, annual rent increases, the interest rate you will pay on your loan, your marginal tax rate and the yield you might receive on savings. When looking at these factors, consider the present value of each option. The one with the lower present value will be the better financial choice.
Rent or Buy?
Depending on how fast prices and rents rise and how long you stay in your home, you may be better off renting rather than buying. Factors that are part of the equation are the difference in monthly rent versus mortgage payment, home value appreciation, annual rent increases, the interest rate you will pay on your loan, your marginal tax rate and the yield you might receive on savings. When looking at these factors, consider the present value of each option. The one with the lower present value will be the better financial choice.
Proceeds from Sale of a Home
One of the most important questions consumers will ask themselves is "how much money the sale of their home will yield?" That is largely dependent on two things: the amount you still owe on the home and what you will have to pay your realtor for selling the home. If you have a second mortgage, or home equity loan, on the property, you will have to pay that off when you sell the home. When you sell a home, you will also have to pay interest on your outstanding mortgage balance from the date of your last payment until the time of the sale. You are also liable for property taxes up until the day you sell the home. At times, seller's have additional expenses. Local governments will often require that you pay a transfer tax when the home is sold. Incidental closing costs may also nibble away at your proceeds.
Proceeds from Sale of a Home
One of the most important questions consumers will ask themselves is "how much money the sale of their home will yield?" That is largely dependent on two things: the amount you still owe on the home and what you will have to pay your realtor for selling the home. If you have a second mortgage, or home equity loan, on the property, you will have to pay that off when you sell the home. When you sell a home, you will also have to pay interest on your outstanding mortgage balance from the date of your last payment until the time of the sale. You are also liable for property taxes up until the day you sell the home. At times, seller's have additional expenses. Local governments will often require that you pay a transfer tax when the home is sold. Incidental closing costs may also nibble away at your proceeds.
Home Affordability
Your ability to obtain a loan for a new home purchase is based on a number of factors. Lenders typically make lending decisions based on three key ratios: (1) Loan-to-value ratio (LTV), which represents the ratio of the loan amount to the value of the home. Lenders ideally want to see an 80% LTV, meaning a 20% down payment is preferred; (2) Housing Ratio, which represents the percentage of your total income that goes towards housing expenses; and (3) Debt-to-Income Ratio, which represents your total debt payments, plus housing expenses as a percentage of your total income. Lenders will typically look at any of these ratios as constraints, meaning once any of these ratio limits is reached, the amount of the loan will be capped.
Home Affordability
Your ability to obtain a loan for a new home purchase is based on a number of factors. Lenders typically make lending decisions based on three key ratios: (1) Loan-to-value ratio (LTV), which represents the ratio of the loan amount to the value of the home. Lenders ideally want to see an 80% LTV, meaning a 20% down payment is preferred; (2) Housing Ratio, which represents the percentage of your total income that goes towards housing expenses; and (3) Debt-to-Income Ratio, which represents your total debt payments, plus housing expenses as a percentage of your total income. Lenders will typically look at any of these ratios as constraints, meaning once any of these ratio limits is reached, the amount of the loan will be capped.
Compare Two Mortgage Loans
When purchasing a home the mortgage you choose and the options you want with it will have a significant impact on how much your home costs you in the long run. Interest charges, origination fees, fees paid for a particular interest rate (formerly referred to as 'points') and settlement costs will often have the most impact. Of these, the interest rate you pay will matter most.
Compare Two Mortgage Loans
When purchasing a home the mortgage you choose and the options you want with it will have a significant impact on how much your home costs you in the long run. Interest charges, origination fees, fees paid for a particular interest rate (formerly referred to as 'points') and settlement costs will often have the most impact. Of these, the interest rate you pay will matter most.
Adjustable Rate Mortgage Analyzer
Adjustable rate mortgages typically offer home buyers the advantage of having a lower mortgage payment during the initial period of the mortgage. Adjustable rate mortgages are generally offered on a 1, 3, 5 or 7-year basis. Once the initial period expires, the mortgage rate will reset at then current interest rate levels. Depending on the direction interest rates are taking, these resets can result in higher or lower monthly payments to the borrower. This adjustable rate mortgage analyzer will help you understand the implication of your adjustable rate terms by showing what your monthly payment will be under different scenarios.
Adjustable Rate Mortgage Analyzer
Adjustable rate mortgages typically offer home buyers the advantage of having a lower mortgage payment during the initial period of the mortgage. Adjustable rate mortgages are generally offered on a 1, 3, 5 or 7-year basis. Once the initial period expires, the mortgage rate will reset at then current interest rate levels. Depending on the direction interest rates are taking, these resets can result in higher or lower monthly payments to the borrower. This adjustable rate mortgage analyzer will help you understand the implication of your adjustable rate terms by showing what your monthly payment will be under different scenarios.
Time to Refinance?
The decision to refinance a home mortgage can involve many factors. You might want to take cash out of your home at when you refinance to use for other purposes. But the most common purpose is to obtain a lower interest rate and lower monthly payments. In the latter case, the decision to refinance should be based on lowering the overall mortgage costs and breaking even on the refinance in a reasonable period of time.
Time to Refinance?
The decision to refinance a home mortgage can involve many factors. You might want to take cash out of your home at when you refinance to use for other purposes. But the most common purpose is to obtain a lower interest rate and lower monthly payments. In the latter case, the decision to refinance should be based on lowering the overall mortgage costs and breaking even on the refinance in a reasonable period of time.
Compare a Bi-Weekly Mortgage to a Monthly Mortgage
One popular strategy for accelerating the payoff of a loan is to make 'Bi-Weekly' payments. Under a Bi-Weekly mortgage plan, you will make payments to your lender every two weeks instead of monthly. Each payment will represent half of your monthly payment. One important thing to note here is that this method will result in you making 26 payments each year, which is two more than you would make if you made a payment on the 1st day of the month and middle of the month, so you will have to budget accordingly. By making Bi-Weekly mortgage payments, you will comparatively make an extra monthly payment each year which will reduce your amount owed. By making payments every other week, you will also save a bit on interest charges for the outstanding loan balance that would normally still be there until the end of the month.
Compare a Bi-Weekly Mortgage to a Monthly Mortgage
One popular strategy for accelerating the payoff of a loan is to make 'Bi-Weekly' payments. Under a Bi-Weekly mortgage plan, you will make payments to your lender every two weeks instead of monthly. Each payment will represent half of your monthly payment. One important thing to note here is that this method will result in you making 26 payments each year, which is two more than you would make if you made a payment on the 1st day of the month and middle of the month, so you will have to budget accordingly. By making Bi-Weekly mortgage payments, you will comparatively make an extra monthly payment each year which will reduce your amount owed. By making payments every other week, you will also save a bit on interest charges for the outstanding loan balance that would normally still be there until the end of the month.
Debt-to-Income Calculator
Your debt-to-income ratio is the percentage of your gross income used to cover your mortgage and other debt payments. This ratio and your credit score are two key factors used to determine if you qualify for a loan. The lower your ratio, the easier it is for you to pay your bills each month.
Debt-to-Income Calculator
Your debt-to-income ratio is the percentage of your gross income used to cover your mortgage and other debt payments. This ratio and your credit score are two key factors used to determine if you qualify for a loan. The lower your ratio, the easier it is for you to pay your bills each month.