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Mortgage Comparison Calculator

Mortgage Comparison Calculator

Calculator developed by
Michael Jensen
, Mortgage and Finance Guru
Edited by Harry Jensen

Use our Mortgage Comparison Calculator to compare the monthly payment, total interest expense and closing costs for up to three mortgages. The calculator simplifies the process of comparing mortgage quotes from multiple lenders which often vary widely and use different terminology. You can use this information to select the mortgage, program and lender that are right for you.

Watch our Mortgage Comparison Calculator "How To" video

Inputs

Mortgage Info
Indicates the size and type of mortgage you would like to obtain
Please Enter Mortgage Amount
Please Select Mortgage Type
Submit Valid Info to Compare Lenders and Save Money!When you provide valid personal info we may connect you with lenders which enables you to compare mortgage proposals and find the mortgage that is right for you. Click calculator for a version of this calculator that does not require personal info
Borrower Info
Please Select Credit Score
Please Enter Your First & Last Name
Please Enter a Valid First Name
Please Enter a Valid Last Name
Please Enter Your Phone Number
Please Enter a Valid Phone
Please Enter Your Email
Please Enter a Valid Email
Mortgage 1
Mortgage 2
Mortgage 3
Mortgage Term (Years)
The length, in years, of the mortgage. The most common mortgage term is 30 years
Please Enter Mortgage Amount
Interest Rate (%)
The current interest rate for a 30 year fixed rate mortgage is approximately 5.750%
Total Closing Costs ($)
Total of all fees charged by lender or mortgage broker to process your mortgage.
By clicking the button above, you agree to allow FREEandCLEAR to connect you with lenders or other third parties and that FREEandCLEAR and other parties may contact you at the email address and phone number you provided, even if your number appears on a Do Not Call Registry or List. Your consent is not a condition to work with a lender or to qualify for a mortgage. Please review our Privacy Policy for more information. NMLS: 357085

Outputs

Mortgage 1
Mortgage 2
Mortgage 3
Estimated Monthly Mortgage Payment (Principal and Interest) ($)
Total Interest Expense Over the Life of the Mortgage ($)
Total Closing Costs ($)
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How Our Mortgage Comparison Calculator Works

Because loan terms differ significantly by lender and program, our calculator enables you to perform a comparison of multiple mortgages. To use the calculator input the loan amount and length, interest rate and closing costs for the mortgages you want to compare.

You can input different values for all three mortgages. For example, you can compare a 15 year mortgage with a 3.000% mortgage rate and $2,000 in closing costs to a 20 year mortgage with a 3.500% rate and $2,5000 in costs to a 30 year mortgage with a 4.000% rate and $1,500 in costs.

This enables you to evaluate loans with different lengths -- such 15, 20 and 30 year mortgages -- to understand how the monthly payment and total interest expense changes. The longer the loan term, the lower the monthly payment but higher the interest expense over the life of the mortgage.

You can also use the calculator to evaluate different combinations of interest rates and closing costs. Mortgage proposals with lower rates usually charge higher closing costs and vice versa. For example you can understand how a mortgage with a low rate and high closing costs compares to a loan with a higher rate and lower costs.

Our Mortgage Comparison Calculator shows you the loan with the lowest monthly payment, lowest combination of interest rate and closing costs and lowest total interest expense over the life of the loan. These outputs enable you to choose the mortgage that best meets your financial objectives.

How to Compare Mortgages

1

Shop for Your Mortgage

Borrowers should shop for a mortgage business just like they would any other big purchase.  FREEandCLEAR recommends that borrowers compare proposals from at least four lenders before selecting a mortgage.  There are different types of lenders -- banks, mortgage banks, mortgage brokers and credit unions -- and borrowers benefit by contacting multiple types of lenders.  For example, a mortgage broker compares multiple lenders on behalf of borrowers while a big bank may offer competitive mortgage rates, especially for existing customers.  Shopping for a mortgage takes extra time but can save borrowers thousands of dollars in closing costs and interest expense over the life of their mortgage.   Our Mortgage Comparison Calculator makes it easier to shop lenders by enabling you to compare the key terms for multiple proposals.

2

Mortgage Items You Should Compare

The key items that borrowers should compare when shopping for a mortgage are interest rate and closing costs.  Your mortgage rate is the rate of interest you pay to the lender for borrowing money while closing costs are the fees and expenses borrowers are required to pay to the lender and third party to process and close your mortgage.  In some cases there is a trade-off between mortgage rate and closing costs.  For example, a lender may quote a lower rate but higher closing costs as compared to another lender.  Use our calculator to compare loans with different interest rates and closing costs. 

3

Documents You Should Request from Lenders

When you are shopping for a mortgage make sure that lenders provide you with a Loan Estimate and Lender Fees Worksheet.  Lenders are legally required to provide a Loan Estimate that outlines key mortgage terms such as interest rate and closing costs within three days of submitting a loan application.  The Lender Fees Worksheet provides more detailed information on mortgage costs and fees.  Lenders should provide both the Loan Estimate and Lender Fees Worksheet to borrowers free of charge.  Borrowers can use the information provided on these two documents to more easily compare mortgage proposals from different lenders.  Input the information provided by the lenders into our calculator to find the loan and lender that best meet your financial objectives.   

4

Compare Different Types and Lengths of Mortgages

Mortgage shopping is also about comparing different types and lengths of mortgages.  For example, borrowers should compare a fixed rate mortgage to an adjustable rate mortgage (ARM) or a 30 year loan to a 15 year loan.  When comparing different types and lengths of mortgages borrowers should consider if their interest rate and monthly payment can change over the course of their loan, like it can with an ARM.  Additionally borrower should compare both the monthly payment as well as total interest expense over the life of the mortgage.  For example, a 15 year mortgage has a higher monthly payment than a 30 year mortgage but can save borrowers tens or hundreds of thousands of dollars in interest expense of the term of the loan. 

5

Make Sure the Rate Lock Period is the Same for All Proposals

When you compare mortgage quotes from different lenders make sure that the interest rate lock period is the same for all proposals. The rate lock period is the amount of time your loan terms are good for.  As long as you close your loan within that period of times, your mortgage rate and closing costs should not change, even if interest rates increase while your loan is processed.  The length of the rate lock period impacts your mortgage rate and potentially your closing costs, with the longer the lock period, the higher your rate.  Mortgages with different rate lock periods -- for example if one lender uses 15 days and another lender uses 45 days -- could have very different loan terms so make sure that the quotes you compare use the same lock period length.  

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Current Mortgage Rates in San Diego1, Virginia as of March 19, 2024
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Rate data provided by RateUpdate.com. Displayed by ICB, a division of Mortgage Research Center, NMLS #1907, Equal Housing Opportunity. Payments do not include taxes or insurance premiums. Actual payments will be greater with taxes and insurance included. Read through our lender table disclaimer for more information on rates and product details.
While we pride ourselves on the quality and breadth of the FREEandCLEAR mortgage calculators please note that they should be used for informational purposes only. Our calculators rely on assumptions by us and inputs and assumptions provided by you, which may be inaccurate. The outputs from our calculators are estimates only and should not be used as the sole basis for making any financial decisions. Always consult multiple financial professionals when determining the mortgage size and program that is appropriate for you.

More FREEandCLEAR Mortgage Resources

Mortgage Guides

How to Compare Proposals and Select the Right Mortgage

Review our step-by-step guide on how to compare mortgage proposals including how to negotiate the lowest mortgage rate and closing costs

Interest Rates

Mortgage Rates

Compare mortgage rates and fees for top lenders near you.  Comparing proposals from multiple lenders is the best way to save money on your mortgage

Ask a Mortgage Expert

Ask a Mortgage Expert

Got mortgage questions? We love answering them. Submit your mortgage questions and receive an informative response within 24 hours

Mortgage Expert Insights

Mortgage Advice

Money and time-saving advice across a wide range of mortgage topics from an expert with over forty years of industry experience

Programs

What Mortgage Program is Right for Me?

Review how fixed rate, adjustable rate and interest only mortgages work, including advantages and disadvantages and key program features, so you can select the program that works for you

Resources

What Length of Mortgage Should I Choose?

Understand how the length of your mortgage affects your interest rate, monthly payment and total interest expense so you can choose the loan term that best meets your needs

Sources

“Comparing Loan Offers.” CFPB. Consumer Financial Protection Bureau, 2017. Web.

About the calculator developer

Michael Jensen, Mortgage and Finance Guru

Michael is the co-founder of FREEandCLEAR. Michael possesses extensive knowledge about mortgages and finance and has been writing about mortgages for nearly a decade. His work has been featured in leading national and industry publications. More about Michael

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