3 Reasons to Use a Mortgage Calculator

A mortgage calculator can be a great tool for helping someone figure out an estimate of their monthly mortgage payment. Even though it is not exact, it can give anyone an idea of whether they can afford a mortgage. Because the qualifying process is part of determining the interest rate, no one should totally rely on just the results of any online loan calculator.

Using a home loan calculator is very easy. It just involves putting in the mortgage amount, the mortgage rate and the number of years that the mortgage will be held. The result will be the monthly mortgage payment. Remember, the amount shown does not include any payments that lenders may require to be escrowed for homeowner’s insurance and real estate taxes. However, even though it is only an estimate, it can be an eye opener for many people.

Beyond just the monthly payment, here are 3 reasons to use a mortgage calculator:

1. Anyone can use a mortgage payment calculator to figure out their comfort zone in relation to their personal budget, especially home buyers. Since a home buyer usually knows how much they have as a down payment, putting in different mortgage amounts can give an idea of how much can be spent to purchase a home. For those who are planning to save for a home, playing around with a mortgage calculator can help them figure out what they can afford and how much they need to save.
2. Mortgage payment calculators really come in handy when someone wants to refinance an existing mortgage, especially if they are keeping track of mortgage rates. By putting in different interest rates, the homeowner can determine a target point or rate that they will be happy with receiving. Because many people wait too long for rates to drop, this makes it easier to find a mortgage interest rate and payment that they feel is acceptable and will serve the purpose of refinancing.
3. How long do you want to pay off a mortgage loan? Well, a mortgage rate calculator can be used to see what the monthly mortgage payment will be based on different terms and the relevant rates. Sometimes, there is such a small payment difference between a 30 year loan and a 15 year loan, people will consider taking on a shorter term which will save quite a bit of money in overall interest.

Mortgage calculators are everywhere on the internet to serve a purpose - giving consumers a handy tool for a complex equation. A truly free mortgage calculator won’t require input of any personal information and will let you play with different numbers as long as you want to do so.

In the end, even if the resulting payment is not what someone expects, talking to a professional will put all questions to rest. Mortgage rates, which are important to the final calculation, can differ from state to state which means that Florida mortgage rates are also state specific. Besides the rate, there are just too many mortgage products and programs available to leave this important decision up to the payment results of a home loan calculator.