Strip away taxes and insurance to see the pure loan payment — useful when comparing rates or estimating how much house fits a target P&I budget.
Loan Details
Practical tips & common mistakes
P&I is half the payment
Taxes, insurance, HOA, and PMI stack on top. Budget housing at 28% of gross using PITI, not principal and interest alone.
Maximum approval ≠ affordable
Lenders approve to their limit, not your savings goals. Model payments with room for maintenance and job loss buffer.
Extra $100/month
One extra payment per year (or $100/mo) can shave years off a 30-year term — use the extra-payment tool next.
Rate locks
Quoted rates assume credit score, LTV, and points. A 0.25% rate bump adds tens of thousands over 30 years.