Home Buyer Toolbox
Free tools and guides to help you plan a home purchase.
No signup, no sales calls, and we do not collect what you enter.
Should I Rent or Buy?
Compare the cost of renting with buying over the years you plan to stay, and see when buying starts to win.
Will I Qualify for a Mortgage?
A quick self-check on credit, income, debt, and savings, plus what lenders look at and how to improve your odds.
How Will a Lender Count My Income?
Enter your pay, overtime, self-employment, retirement, support, and rental income to see the number a lender is likely to use.
Which Type of Home Loan Fits Me?
Learn the basics of conventional, FHA, VA, and USDA loans, and see which may fit your situation.
What Mortgage Rate Could I Get?
A quick estimate of the rate lenders might offer you, based on today's market and your credit score.
Discount Points Calculator
Does buying down the rate make sense? See how long points take to pay off, with extra payments.
How Much House Can I Afford?
See a price range and monthly payment at three comfort levels, based on your income, debts, and savings.
Cash to Close Estimator
Add up your down payment, closing costs, prepaid items, and credits to see how much cash you will need.
Compare Two Loan Estimates
Enter the numbers from two offers to see which really costs less, and when the lower rate pays off.
What If I Pay Extra?
See how much time and interest you could save by budgeting extra toward your principal each month.
First-Time Homebuyer Programs
An easy-to-read guide to low down payment loans, down payment assistance, and how to find help near you.
What Are Discount Points?
How paying points lowers your rate, what a point costs, and how to tell if it is worth it.
Should I Let a Lender Check My Credit?
Soft checks, full checks, and how to shop lenders without hurting your score.
The Loan Process and Rate Locks
What happens from pre-approval to closing, and how rate locks work, including when to lock.
How to Read a Loan Estimate
What each section means, how to compare costs, and why the lowest rate is not always the cheapest loan.
Why this site is different
Many free mortgage calculators online are lead generators. A lead generator is a website that offers a handy tool mainly to collect your name, phone number, and email. That information, called a “lead,” is then sold or passed along to lenders and agents, who may call, text, and email you for days or weeks, often before you have decided anything.
This site works differently. It never asks for your name, phone number, or email, and we do not collect or store the numbers you enter. The calculations happen in your browser, so we have nothing to sell and no way to contact you. This site is purely informational. It is here to help you learn and plan, not to find you a lender.
To keep the site free, we show ads from third-party ad networks. As on most ad-supported sites, those networks may use cookies and collect their own data, such as your IP address and which pages you visit. The ads are separate from the calculators, and we do not collect what you type into them. Our Privacy Policy has the details.
When you are ready to talk to a lender, you choose who, and when. Ads are not endorsements, and nothing on this site is a loan offer.
About Home Buyer Toolbox
Home Buyer Toolbox is a free set of tools and guides for people planning to buy a home. Start with whether renting or buying makes sense and whether you are likely to qualify, learn which type of loan may fit, then see how much house you can afford, how much cash you will need to bring to closing, which of two loan offers costs less, and what a little extra each month could save. The guides cover first-time buyer programs, the loan process and rate locks, and how to read a Loan Estimate.
Every calculation runs in your browser, and results are estimates for planning. Your lender can give you actual numbers. Already own a home? Try Homeowners Toolkit.
Common questions about buying a home
Where do I start when buying a home?
Start with the basics, in this order. Learn how lender credit checks work, see how much house you can afford, and run the mortgage qualification self-check. Then compare loan types, plan your cash to close, and get Loan Estimates from two or three lenders.
Are these home buying calculators free?
Yes. Every calculator and guide is free, with no signup and no sales calls.
Is the information I enter saved?
No. Calculations run in your browser, and what you enter stays there until you refresh or leave the page. We do not collect, store, or sell it.
Are the results a loan offer or approval?
No. The results are estimates for illustration. They are not a loan offer, pre-approval, or financial advice. A lender can tell you what you actually qualify for.
Can I see what mortgage rate I could get?
Yes. The mortgage rate estimator gives a rough range based on current market rates, your credit score, and your down payment. It is only a general idea, not a quote.