As a prospective homeowner, determining your monthly mortgage payment is essential, as it’s usually the largest recurring expense you’ll have to budget for. With the help of our mortgage calculator, you can easily estimate how much your monthly mortgage payment will be.
Despite market volatility, the 30-year fixed-rate mortgage remained below 7% for the first few months of the year. However, in April, the average rate rose to 7.22%, according to Freddie Mac, driven by economic tensions.
At its May meeting, the Federal Reserve chose to maintain the federal funds rate at 4.25% to 4.5% for the third consecutive time, signaling a caution amid ongoing inflation concerns.
Sign up for Kiplinger’s Free E-Newsletters
Profit and prosper with the best of expert advice on investing, taxes, retirement, personal finance and more - straight to your e-mail.
Profit and prosper with the best of expert advice - straight to your e-mail.
Although rates are higher than early 2024 levels, the combination of stabilizing mortgage rates and improving housing inventory presents a more optimistic outlook for the homebuying season.
If you’re in the market for a new home, understanding the mortgage payment will be critical to your decision-making. With this calculator, you’ll be able to view your mortgage payment for a variety of scenarios — different home prices, down payment amounts, terms and mortgage rates.
Explore your options in real time with the tool below, in partnership with Bankrate:
How to use the mortgage calculator
Understandably, you may be struggling with determining just how much you’ll owe on your mortgage, as the mortgage payment calculation looks like this:
M = P [ i(1 + i)^n ] / [ (1 + i)^n – 1].
However, with our mortgage calculator, you can forego all the complicated calculations and simply enter a few pieces of information.
First, you'll enter the overall price of your home, if you’re buying, or the current value of your home if you’re refinancing.
You’ll also include either the down payment (the cash you plan on paying upfront towards the home) or the amount of equity you have (the value of the home, minus what you owe on it).
After this, you’ll enter the term length of your loan. If refinancing, enter how many years are remaining on your current loan.
Typically, most mortgages are 30-year mortgages, but you can choose between several term lengths to decide which loan term is right for you. You can then compare how different interest rates will affect your monthly payment. Entering your annual household income and credit score will show you how much you'll be able to reasonably afford.
Using the mortgage calculator can also help you determine how much to put down on your home. While it's recommended to put down 20% to get the best rates, it's not necessary, and you can play with this number to see how it affects your mortgage rate.
Saving on your mortgage rate
Lenders consider many factors when determining the interest rate on your mortgage, including down payment, loan term and the price of the property.
The biggest factor they take into consideration, however, is your credit score. Boosting your credit score could potentially save you thousands of dollars on your home mortgage.
The chart below, from MyFICO, shows how much you can expect to pay depending on where your credit score stands, based on a 30-year fixed mortgage of $350,000.
FICO Score | APR | Monthly Payment | Total Interest Paid |
|---|---|---|---|
760-850 | 6.447% | $2,200 | $442,019 |
700-759 | 6.669% | $2,251 | $460,461 |
680-699 | 6.846% | $2,292 | $475,290 |
660-679 | 7.06% | $2,343 | $493,365 |
640-659 | 7.49% | $2,445 | $530,148 |
620-639 | 8.036% | $2,577 | $577,707 |
Here are a few other tips, besides raising your credit score, that can help you score a low mortgage rate.
- Increase your down payment: The higher your down payment, the less principal and less interest you'll have to pay over the life of the loan. You'll likely need a 20% down payment to get the best rates.
- Shop around: Because different lenders offer different rates, it's important to get at least three quotes when shopping for a mortgage in order to take advantage of the lowest rates.
- Consider an adjustable-rate mortgage (ARM): An ARM could be a good option for you, especially if you plan on selling your home sometime in the future. These mortgages offer fixed interest rates that are often lower than those for traditional mortgages for a set number of years. With this tool, you can see how much your monthly payments will be during the fixed period of an ARM, as well as when the introductory period expires. Once the fixed period is over, your mortgage rate can go up or down based on the market.
Related Content
-
What About Those ‘Guaranteed’ Life Insurance Ads?Guaranteed life insurance policies can sound tempting if you've been declined for insurance elsewhere. Here are four downsides and one alternative.
-
13 Answers to Pressing Social Security QuestionsFrom smart claiming strategies for couples to tips on maximizing your monthly check, we have advice that can help you.
-
What About Those ‘Guaranteed’ Life Insurance Ads?
Guaranteed life insurance policies can sound tempting if you've been declined for insurance elsewhere. Here are four downsides and one alternative.
-
Cord Cutting Could Help You Save Over $10,000 in 10 YearsHow cutting the cord can save you money and how those savings can grow over time.
-
Tips for Expat Retirees, From Expat RetireesYou may enjoy a lower cost of living by moving abroad, but it requires careful planning.
-
The Top Fourth of July Fireworks and Celebrations Across AmericaFrom Boston to San Diego, these iconic celebrations light up the sky — and the spirit of Independence Day.
-
Why Retirees Need a Budget, According to a New RetireeA new retiree explains why retirees need a budget.
-
My First $1 Million: Air Force Veteran, 68, Duluth, Ga.Ever wonder how someone who's made a million dollars or more did it? Kiplinger's My First $1 Million series uncovers the answers.
-
Your Home + Your IRA = Your Long-Term Care SolutionIf you're worried that long-term care costs will drain your retirement savings, consider a personalized retirement plan that could solve your problem.
-
How to Choose a Mortgage Lender in Five StepsNot all lenders are created equal — here’s how to compare offers, rates and terms with confidence.
