Your rate,

Five worksheets that take you from your first credit check to your first year in the home. Download, print, and fill them in by hand. No signup, no email.

Download all five Or get the zip

One 10-page PDF · letter size · prints in black & white

01
Know Your NumbersCredit score, LTV, DTI and the LLPA factors behind your rate.
2 pages · PDFDownload
02
Home Buying BudgetFind the payment you’re comfortable with, not just the most you can borrow.
2 pages · PDFDownload
03
Home Comparison SheetScore up to four homes side by side on cost, details and location.
1 page · PDFDownload
04
Home Buying JournalWhat you want, every showing, and the milestones to the keys.
3 pages · PDFDownload
05
First-Year ChecklistWeek one through month twelve in your new home.
2 pages · PDFDownload

CMR-00 · Signature toolMortgage rate calculator

Your rate, and your real payment.

Pick your credit score, down payment, property and loan. We estimate the rate a lender would price for you, then build the full monthly payment and payoff schedule. Everything updates as you move.

Monthly paymentUpdates live

Principal & interest

Taxes & insurance

PMI

Est. rate

What shifts your rate

Loan breakdown

View amortization See the LLPA grid

Estimates for education, not a loan offer. Rate adjustments are a simplified model of how lenders price credit, down payment, occupancy and term; your real rate depends on your lender and the market on the day you lock. PMI is estimated for conventional loans under 20% down.

Year by year

Where the money actually goes.

Early payments are mostly interest; the principal share grows over time.

PrincipalInterestBalance

The calculators

Your max home price

Monthly savings

Break-even

Lifetime net savings

Current payment

New payment

Cumulative net savingsBreak-even

Compares principal & interest on your current balance at both rates over the new term. Resetting the clock on a loan you've paid for years can raise total interest even when the payment drops.

Your equity

Verdict

Renting, total costBuying, net cost

Rent total

Buy net cost

Monthly to own

Buying pulls ahead

PMI drops off in

PMI / month

Total PMI paid

Request at 80%

Automatic at 78%

PMI rates are market estimates by credit score and loan-to-value (roughly 0.5%–1.6% of the loan a year). A new appraisal after your home gains value can get you there sooner.

Total price adjustment

Credit score × loan-to-value grid, purchase loans (points)Highlighted: your cell

Modeled on Fannie Mae's published Loan-Level Price Adjustment matrix for purchase loans. Condo, 2–4 unit and non-primary add-ons are simplified. Lenders usually fold LLPAs into your rate at roughly 0.25% of rate per point.

CMR-09 · Our specialtyFull amortization schedule

Every payment, year by year.

See exactly how much of each payment goes to interest and how much pays down your loan, and what a little extra principal each month does to your payoff date.

Monthly principal & interest

Total interest

Interest saved

Payoff date

Time saved

Balance, no extraBalance with extra

The schedule

Start hereLearn the game before you play it

Start here.

Short, clear guides: your rights, the fees nobody explains, and how to make lenders compete for you. Read a few, then go run your numbers with confidence.

Know your rights

They work for you, not the other way around.

Three numbers every buyer should know before talking to a single lender.

3business days

After you apply, the lender owes you a free Loan Estimate within three business days. It's the law. Read one with us

45days

Today's FICO models count every mortgage credit pull inside 45 days as one. Shop inside 14 days to be safe on every model. How it works

78% LTV

PMI must end automatically when your balance reaches 78% of the original value. You can ask at 80%. Find your month

← All guides Rates

ARMs: how adjustable rates actually adjust

Calculate My RateReading time: about 4 min · Rates

An adjustable-rate mortgage (ARM) opens with a fixed period — often 5, 7, or 10 years — then the rate adjusts on a set schedule, tied to a published index plus a fixed margin.

Read the numbers literally: a "5/6 ARM" is fixed for five years, then adjusts every six months. Caps limit how far the rate can move at each adjustment and over the life of the loan — always check them before you sign.

The draw is a lower intro rate than a comparable fixed loan. The risk is that your payment can rise sharply once the fixed period ends. ARMs fit best when you reasonably expect to sell or refinance before that first adjustment.

Source: CFPB consumer guidance on adjustable-rate mortgages (Consumer Handbook on Adjustable-Rate Mortgages, "CHARM").

See it on your own numbers

Move your credit score and down payment and watch your rate update.

Try the calculator

Next guideVA loans: no down payment, no PMI, one funding fee →

CMR-07 · A–ZMortgage glossary

Know what you're signing.

Clear definitions of common mortgage terms, so your Loan Estimate, your rate and the whole process finally make sense.

SEARCH

CMR-06 · GuideHow to read a Loan Estimate

Three pages. Every line, explained.

The Loan Estimate is a standard three-page form every lender must give you within three business days of applying. Same format from every lender, so you can compare them line for line.

About usCalculate My Rate, LLC · founded 2026

Built for buyers. Not lenders.

Calculate My Rate is an independent educational platform that gives every home buyer the clarity, confidence and tools to navigate the mortgage process, without the pressure, the pitch or the confusion.

Going through the home-buying process can feel overwhelming. Between rate quotes, LLPA adjustments, closing cost breakdowns and Loan Estimates full of terms you've never heard, it's easy to feel like the whole system is designed for everyone but you.

We went through it ourselves. We sat across from lenders without knowing what questions to ask, signed documents we didn't fully understand, and wished there had been a place to go just to understand the numbers, without anyone trying to sell us something.

That's exactly what Calculate My Rate is. We built the tools we wished existed, and we made them free for everyone, because financial clarity shouldn't be a luxury.

"We built the tools we wished existed when we bought our homes. Educational, empowering tools to put you in the best spot possible, before you ever sit down with a lender."Calculate My Rate, LLC

What we stand for

Six promises, kept.

No lender to sell, no affiliate fees to collect, no loan to pitch. Our only interest is yours.

01Radical transparency

Every number we show is explained. Every term is defined. We break complexity down so you can own it.

02Complete independence

No lender to sell, no affiliate fees, no loan to pitch.

03Real-time tools

Calculators update live as you adjust, so you see exactly what moves your rate.

04Education first

Every article, guide and glossary term is written to inform, never to impress or intimidate.

05No pressure, ever

No signup. No sales calls. No follow-up emails. Use the tools on your own terms.

06Built for everyone

First home or fifth, no financial background required.

Got questions

Frequently asked.

And when you're ready, start with the calculator. No signup, no pressure, just the math.

Is this financial advice?

No. Everything on Calculate My Rate (the calculators, articles, glossary and guides) is for educational purposes only. We help you understand the numbers so you can ask better questions. Nothing here is a recommendation to buy, sell, borrow or invest. Always work with a licensed lender, financial advisor or real estate professional for advice specific to your situation.

Are the rate estimates accurate?

The rates in our calculator are educational estimates based on publicly available LLPA data and general market conditions. They are not a quote, not a commitment to lend, and not guaranteed. Your actual rate depends on your full financial profile, the lender you choose, and the market when you lock. Always get a formal Loan Estimate from a licensed lender for your actual numbers.

Do you pitch me a loan?

No. We don't make loans or pitch you one. We're an independent educational platform with no mortgage product to sell and no lender relationship that influences what we show you. No pressure, no follow-up calls, no agenda.

What is an LLPA, and why does it affect my rate?

A loan-level price adjustment (LLPA) is a risk-based fee Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac charge on most conventional mortgages. It's based on your credit score, down payment, property type and other factors, and it's folded into your interest rate instead of shown as a separate charge. Our LLPA adjuster shows you exactly which cell of the pricing grid you land in.

Can I use these tools if I'm just starting to research?

Absolutely. That's exactly who we built them for. You don't need a lender, a pre-approval, or even a specific home in mind. The tools work best before you talk to lenders, so you know what questions to ask and what numbers to expect.

Why does my rate look different from a lender's quote?

That's expected. Our calculator gives you an educational estimate so you know the ballpark before you walk in. A lender's quote reflects your full credit file, the specific loan program, their own pricing and that day's market. Use our numbers to understand what drives your rate, then compare real Loan Estimates across lenders.

Who made this, and why?

Calculate My Rate was built by people who went through the home-buying process and felt blindsided by how complicated, and how opaque, mortgage pricing really is. We built the tools we wished had existed. When buyers understand their numbers, they make better decisions and ask better questions.

Open the calculator Start here

Calculate My Rate, LLC is an independent educational platform. All content, calculators and estimates are for informational purposes only and do not constitute financial, legal or mortgage advice. Results are not a commitment to lend, a guarantee of rate or terms, or a formal Loan Estimate as defined under RESPA/TRID. Calculate My Rate is not affiliated with any lender, bank, real estate agency or government entity.

Your rate,decoded.explained.in your hands.decoded.

Plug in your rate.

Mortgage rate calculator

Affordability

Refi savings

Home equity

Rent vs. buy

PMI

LLPA adjuster

Amortization

Loan Estimate, decoded

Same loan. Different risk factors.

Five printables. Zero cost.

Your rate, and your real payment.

Where the money actually goes.

Every payment, year by year.

Start here.

They work for you, not the other way around.

ARMs: how adjustable rates actually adjust

Know what you're signing.

Three pages. Every line, explained.

Built for buyers. Not lenders.

Six promises, kept.

Frequently asked.

Questions? We're here to help.

Your rate,