Real Estate Calculators
About These Real Estate Calculators
Buying, selling, or investing in real estate involves some of the largest financial decisions most people will ever make. These free calculators help you run the numbers quickly — whether you are estimating a monthly mortgage payment, deciding between renting and buying, figuring out how much house your income can support, or evaluating a rental property investment.
All calculators run entirely in your browser. Nothing you enter is sent to a server or stored anywhere.
How to Use These Calculators
Each calculator is designed to answer one specific question. For best results:
- Use realistic current interest rates (check your lender or a rate aggregator for today's rates)
- Include all debts when calculating affordability — car payments, student loans, credit cards
- Add property taxes, insurance, and HOA fees to get a true monthly housing cost, not just principal and interest
- Remember that closing costs, moving costs, and immediate repairs are not included in the purchase price
Key Real Estate Terms
- Principal
- The amount borrowed, excluding interest.
- Amortization
- The process of paying off a loan through regular payments over time. Early payments are mostly interest; later payments are mostly principal.
- LTV (Loan-to-Value)
- The loan amount divided by the property value, expressed as a percentage. Lenders use LTV to assess risk. Above 80% LTV typically requires PMI.
- PMI (Private Mortgage Insurance)
- Insurance required by most lenders when the down payment is less than 20%. It protects the lender, not the buyer, and adds to the monthly payment.
- DTI (Debt-to-Income Ratio)
- Your total monthly debt payments divided by gross monthly income. Most lenders cap this at 43–45%. Front-end DTI (housing only) is typically capped at 28–31%.
- Cap Rate
- Used for investment properties: Net Operating Income divided by property value. Higher cap rates generally indicate higher returns but also higher risk.
Frequently Asked Questions
- How accurate are these calculators?
- The results are accurate for the inputs provided. Real-world mortgage payments also include escrow for property taxes and insurance, which these calculators note separately. Always verify with your lender before making financial decisions.
- Should I talk to a financial advisor?
- For major real estate decisions, yes. These tools are designed for quick estimates and education, not as a substitute for professional financial or legal advice.