30-Year Fixed-Rate Mortgage Calculator
Enter your loan details to get an instant estimate of your monthly housing cost. This page focuses on the classic 30-year fixed-rate loan—America’s most common home financing option. The calculator considers principal & interest (P&I) and can include property taxes, homeowners insurance, PMI, and HOA dues for a complete picture of PITI.
Calculator Inputs
- Home price and down payment (amount or percent)
- Interest rate (APR)
- Loan term (30 years by default)
- Property tax & homeowners insurance (annual)
- PMI (if down payment < 20%)
- HOA dues (monthly), if applicable
What is a Fixed-Rate Mortgage?
A fixed-rate home loan keeps the same interest rate for the entire term. With a 30-year fixed, your principal and interest portion stays predictable month to month, which makes budgeting easier and protects you from rising rates.
Benefits
- Predictable monthly principal-and-interest amount
- Simpler budgeting
- No rate resets or surprises
Considerations
- Higher total interest vs. shorter terms (e.g., 15-year)
- Slower equity build compared to shorter terms
Key Terms and Definitions
- Principal
- The amount you borrow to buy the home (home price minus down payment).
- Interest
- The cost of borrowing the principal, based on your APR.
- PITI
- Acronym for Principal, Interest, Taxes, and Insurance. Many lenders qualify borrowers using the full PITI amount.
- PMI (Private Mortgage Insurance)
- Typically required if your down payment is under 20%. PMI protects the lender, not the borrower. It may drop off when your loan-to-value falls to ~80%.
- HOA Dues
- Monthly fees for community maintenance or amenities. These aren’t part of your principal-and-interest amount but are part of total housing costs.
How to Use the Calculator
- Enter the home price and your down payment (percent or dollar amount).
- Enter the interest rate (APR) and select the 30-year term.
- Add annual property taxes and homeowners insurance for a full PITI estimate.
- If your down payment is under 20%, include PMI (or let the tool estimate it).
- Add monthly HOA dues if applicable.
Tip: If you’re unsure about property taxes or insurance, you can start with local averages, then refine with your actual bills or a lender quote.
Understanding Your Results
The summary shows your estimated monthly cost along with total interest and overall borrowing cost over the life of the loan. Use the charts to see how your monthly amount is split among principal, interest, taxes, insurance, PMI, and HOA. The amortization schedule shows how more of each installment goes to principal over time as your balance declines.
- Monthly Cost (All-in): P&I + taxes + insurance + PMI + HOA.
- Total Interest Paid: The cumulative interest over 30 years.
- Total Cost: Principal + total interest, excluding HOA.
- Amortization: Early installments are interest-heavy; later ones shift more toward principal.
Factors That Affect Your Monthly Housing Cost
Down Payment
A larger down payment reduces your loan amount and may eliminate PMI, lowering your monthly cost and total interest.
Interest Rate
Even small rate changes can have a large impact over 30 years. Improving credit and shopping multiple lenders can help secure a lower rate.
Loan Term
A 30-year term gives the lowest monthly P&I amount but the highest total interest. A 15-year term increases the monthly payment but significantly reduces lifetime interest.
Taxes, Insurance, HOA
These vary by location and property type. Include them for an accurate PITI estimate and better affordability planning.
More Home Loan Tools
- How Much House Can I Afford?
- Refinance Calculator
- Pay Off Your Home Loan Faster
- Rent vs. Buy Calculator
Ready to compare scenarios? Adjust your inputs above and review how your monthly costs, total interest, and payoff timeline change.