Mortgage Calculator
Estimate Monthly Payments & PMI
Frequently Asked Questions
- Standard fixed-rate mortgages use the amortization formula. The payment includes principal and interest, plus Private Mortgage Insurance (PMI) if your down payment is less than 20%.
- PMI is usually required when your down payment is below 20%. It typically costs between 0.5% to 1.5% of the original loan amount per year.
- A 15-year loan has higher monthly payments but lower interest rates and saves you thousands in total interest. A 30-year loan offers lower monthly payments and more flexibility.
- 20% is the benchmark to avoid PMI. However, many buyers use programs with as little as 3% or 3.5% down, accepting higher monthly costs for earlier homeownership.
- This version focuses on Principal, Interest, and PMI. Taxes and insurance vary greatly by location; we recommend adding ~1.2% of home value annually for a full estimate.