How It Works
Our calculator uses the same underwriting formulas that banks and lenders apply when reviewing mortgage applications. All calculations are based on standard amortization math, current Fannie Mae/Freddie Mac guidelines, and real market data from NAR, CFPB, and Freddie Mac.
Results are for educational purposes. Always consult a licensed mortgage professional before making financial decisions.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is this calculator free?
Yes — completely free. No sign-up, no email required, no hidden fees.
How accurate are the results?
Results use standard amortization formulas and national average assumptions for taxes, insurance, and PMI. Your actual costs will vary based on location, lender, and credit profile. Use these as a starting point, not a final answer.
What data sources do you use?
Rate data from Freddie Mac PMMS. Tax averages from US Census Bureau. PMI estimates from Urban Institute. Lending criteria from Fannie Mae and FHA guidelines.
The part almost nobody publishes free
Prices and rates are widely reported. Whether a lender says yes is not. In the complete 2025 federal record, denial rates across the 100 largest FHA lenders ran from 1.8% to 78.7% — same programme, same year.
And it is not simply who applies where: standardizing on state, loan amount, income, debt-to-income and loan-to-value, applicant mix explains only a 2.7× range in expected outcomes.
CFPB HMDA 2025, computed by FinanceRateCalc. Covers the highest-volume lenders published per market, not all lenders. Historical observations, not predictions. CC BY 4.0, not independently reproduced.
The Denial Dispatch
One finding a week from the federal mortgage record.
One chart, three paragraphs, every Saturday. Measured, not assumed.
Get the Dispatch →