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Educational Tool · All Loan Programs

Mortgage calculator built to teach.

An educational tool that walks you through how every part of a mortgage payment works. FHA mortgage insurance, VA funding fee tiers, conventional PMI, and county-specific loan limits all built in. Hover the question marks to learn what each input means.

For educational purposes only. Not a rate quote.
? First time here? Read this 30-second primer. +

A mortgage payment has 4 to 5 parts. We call this PITI plus MI:

  • Principal — the amount you borrowed, paid back over the life of the loan
  • Interest — what the lender charges to lend you the money
  • Taxes — annual property tax, paid monthly through your lender into an escrow account
  • Insurance — homeowners insurance, also paid monthly through escrow
  • Mortgage Insurance (MI) — only required if you put less than 20% down on a conventional loan, or for any FHA loan

Pick your loan program below, enter your numbers, and the calculator will show you each piece. Hover any ? icon to learn what that field means. When in doubt, leave the defaults and just change the home price and interest rate.

Step 1
Pick your loan program.
For most buyers with conventional financing. 3% to 20% down. PMI required when down payment is under 20%.
Step 2
Where and what.
Step 3
Enter your numbers.
$
%
$
%
%/yr
%/yr
$ /mo
Step 4
Closing details.
$
3 months (CA auto)
$
$
Itemized closing costs
Lender Fees
$
$
$
$
$
$
Title & Escrow
$
$
$
$
$
Government
$
$
HOA & Other
$
$
Total closing costs $0
Estimated Monthly Payment
$0
Principal, Interest, Tax, Insurance, MI
Loan amount $0
P&I
$0
Tax
$0
Ins
$0
MI
$0
    Purchase price $0
    Loan amount $0
    Cash to Close
    Estimated total $0
    First payment due: —
    Down payment $0
    Total closing costs $0
    See closing costs breakdown (Loan Estimate style) +
    A Origination Charges $0
    Origination fee$0
    Underwriting fee$0
    Processing fee$0
    B Services You Cannot Shop For $0
    Appraisal$0
    Credit report$0
    C Services You Can Shop For $0
    Lender's title insurance$0
    Escrow fee$0
    Settlement fee$0
    D TOTAL LOAN COSTS (A+B+C) $0
    E Taxes & Government Fees $0
    Recording fees$0
    F Prepaids $0
    Homeowners insurance (12 mo)$0
    Prepaid interest (0 days)$0
    G Initial Escrow Payment $0
    Homeowners insurance (2 mo reserve)$0
    Property taxes (3 mo reserve)$0
    H Other $0
    Owner's title insurance$0
    I TOTAL OTHER COSTS (E+F+G+H) $0
    J TOTAL CLOSING COSTS (D+I) $0
    What this means
    Your monthly payment will be calculated based on the inputs above.
    This is not a rate quote

    Want a real number for your situation?

    The numbers above are estimates based on industry-standard formulas. Your actual rate, mortgage insurance, and total payment depend on your full financial picture and the specific home. The fastest way to get accurate numbers is a 15-minute call.

    Important disclaimer

    This is an educational estimate, not a loan offer or commitment to lend. Your actual monthly payment depends on your finalized interest rate (subject to lock), mortgage insurance factor (varies by lender, credit score, and program), property tax assessment by your county, your specific homeowners insurance quote, and any HOA dues. Final loan terms are determined at lock and disclosed in your Loan Estimate. To get an accurate quote for your situation, contact me directly. NEO Home Loans powered by Better Mortgage Corporation. Equal Housing Opportunity. Branch NMLS #2733710 · 222 Pacific Coast Hwy, 10th Floor, Suite 135, El Segundo, CA 90245.

    At a Glance

    Loan programs compared.

    The four main loan programs side by side. Use this as a quick reference for which one fits your situation. Limits shown are for Los Angeles County in 2026.

    Feature Conventional FHA VA Jumbo
    Min down payment 3% 3.5% 0% 10-20%
    Min credit score 620 580 580* 680-720
    Mortgage insurance PMI, drops at 22% equity MIP for loan life or 11 years None (funding fee instead) Varies, often none with 20% down
    Max loan (LA County 2026) $1,209,750 $1,209,750 No limit with full entitlement Above $1,209,750
    Funding fee / upfront cost None 1.75% UFMIP financed 2.15% first use (can be financed) None
    Best for Strong credit, 5%+ down First-time buyers, lower credit Active duty, veterans, spouses High-value LA homes >$1.2M

    *Many VA lenders set minimums of 620+ even though VA itself has no minimum. LA County loan limits typically update annually each January. Verify current numbers before relying on them for your specific situation.

    A Note From Daryn

    Here is what I want you to know.

    This number is one version of your future. There are others. The version where you buy this exact home. The version where you wait six months and buy something better. The version where you use equity to wipe out debt first. The version where a 5% down payment with the right strategy beats a 20% down payment by itself. Calculators do not pick between those. Advisors do.

    You do not have to know what you want before we talk. You just have to want to talk. Fifteen minutes, no commitment, no hard sell.

    Want me to verify these numbers for your situation?

    A 15-minute call with me converts these estimates into the real numbers for the specific home you are looking at, including the actual mortgage insurance factor, real insurance quote, and county-specific property tax.

    Book a 15-minute call