See the total cost of a mortgage before you apply, not just the monthly payment
Mortgages.id models conventional, FHA, VA and adjustable-rate mortgages so you can see the monthly payment, total interest and closing costs side by side. We are based in the United States, we are not a lender, and we do not make credit decisions — we help you understand the numbers before you talk to one.
What are you actually trying to figure out?
Six routes through the same decision
Pick the one that matches what you are actually trying to work out.
How the payment is actually calculated
The formula behind the number, and why term length moves it more than rate.
See the math →What lenders look at
Credit, income, down payment and the property — what actually moves the decision.
Read the guide →Fixed vs adjustable
Which structure fits a buyer who wants certainty vs one chasing a lower start rate.
Compare the two →15-year vs 30-year
A lower payment and a much higher total cost, in the same mortgage.
Run the numbers →Closing costs people miss
Origination, title, PMI, escrow — the costs that don't show up in the headline rate.
See what to check →Improving your position first
What genuinely moves your terms before you apply, and what doesn't.
Get ready to apply →Work out the number that actually matters
Total cost, not just the monthly payment. Every calculator here runs in your browser and shows what the term really costs.
Mortgage payment breakdown
See the full monthly payment — principal, interest, taxes and insurance — and total interest over the life of a home loan.
Assumptions this uses
- Uses a standard amortizing loan formula with a fixed rate for the full term
- Assumes equal monthly principal-and-interest payments across the entire term
- Property tax and insurance are estimated annually and divided evenly across 12 months
- Does not include closing costs or PMI unless you enter them separately
- Assumes no extra or early payments during the term
Limitations: Does not reflect ARM rate resets, PMI removal thresholds, or lender-specific fee structures.
Runs entirely in your browser.
The monthly payment is the least useful number on any mortgage offer
Two mortgages can have the same monthly payment and differ by tens of thousands of dollars in total interest, because term length and loan type change everything. Before you compare offers, ask each lender for the total amount you'll pay over the full term, not just the payment. If a lender won't give you that number plainly, that's information too.
Ask about your specific numbers
A quick way to get a plain-English read on what a calculator result actually means for your situation.
Tell us about your mortgage situation
If you'd like a more direct next step than the calculators, send us a few details and we'll point you toward partners relevant to your situation.
This isn't a mortgage application — it's just a way for us to point you in the right direction, with no obligation.
Partner link — we may be paid a fee at no cost to you. How we make money.
See real rate ranges from US mortgage partners
Once you know your target price range and rough credit range, comparing actual offers is the next honest step.
Compare mortgage partners →A few things worth owning, not selling
These are plain, useful items for managing a big financial decision — not products we're pushing, and removing them changes nothing about the site.
How we make money: some links here are partner or affiliate links and we may be paid a fee at no cost to you. It never changes what we write or how options are ordered — see our disclosure and methodology.
The US Mortgage Cost Checklist
A short, practical guide for anyone about to buy or refinance a home in the US — a fillable worksheet, the questions to ask a lender, and where to check official information before you sign.
Where to compare actual mortgage offers
These are the partners we work with once you're ready to see real numbers from real lenders — the calculators above work the same whether or not you ever click through.
How we make money: some links here are partner or affiliate links and we may be paid a fee at no cost to you. It never changes what we write or how options are ordered — see our disclosure and methodology.
Rocket Mortgage
A direct online US lender for purchase and refinance mortgages.
Start an application →Credible mortgage marketplace
A US marketplace focused specifically on mortgage refinancing.
Explore refinance options →Mortgage questions people actually ask
No hedging, no upsell. Where the honest answer is 'it depends', we say what it depends on.
What is the difference between APR and interest rate?
The interest rate is the cost of borrowing the principal, expressed as a yearly percentage. APR (annual percentage rate) adds in most upfront fees — like origination charges — and spreads them across the term, so it is usually the better number for comparing two mortgages that have different fee structures.
How much down payment do I actually need?
It depends on the loan type. Conventional loans can go as low as 3%, FHA loans typically require 3.5%, and VA and USDA loans can allow 0% down for eligible buyers. A down payment under 20% on a conventional loan usually means PMI applies until you build enough equity.
What is PMI and when does it go away?
Private mortgage insurance protects the lender, not you, and is typically required on conventional loans when your down payment is below 20%. It usually costs 0.3% to 1.5% of the loan amount per year and can generally be removed once your loan balance drops to roughly 80% of the home's original value.
Does a 30-year term always cost more overall than a 15-year term?
Almost always, yes. A 30-year term lowers the monthly payment but keeps the balance outstanding longer, so more of your total payments go to interest — often over a hundred thousand dollars more on a typical loan. Our guide on 15-year vs 30-year mortgages walks through the arithmetic with real numbers.
What do mortgage lenders actually look at before approving a loan?
In the US, the core factors are credit history and score, income relative to existing debt (your debt-to-income ratio), your down payment and loan-to-value ratio, and the appraised value of the property itself. Employment stability also matters.
Is a fixed or adjustable rate mortgage better?
It depends on how long you plan to stay in the home and how much certainty you want. A fixed rate never changes, which makes budgeting predictable. An adjustable-rate mortgage (ARM) often starts lower but can rise after the initial fixed period, which suits someone who expects to sell or refinance before that period ends.