Tools
Run the numbers before you shop.
The payment a lender quotes you and the payment you actually make are different numbers. These calculators include the parts most online tools leave out.
Monthly payment calculator
| Principal & interest | $1,887 |
| Property taxes | $464 |
| Homeowners insurance | $300 |
| PMI (estimate) | $119 |
| Total monthly payment | $2,770 |
Cash down: $15,000 · Loan amount: $285,000
Estimates only, not a loan quote. Tax presets use 2025 adopted rates for an address inside Temple or Belton city limits; 2026 rates are being set now and every property’s mix of taxing units differs. Check the exact address with the Bell County Appraisal District.
Want these numbers run on a real house? Send me the address.
Rent vs. buy
| Monthly cost of owning | $2,771 |
| Difference vs. rent per month | +$971 |
| Principal paid down over your stay | $16,869 |
| Estimated equity at the end | $31,869 |
This leaves out closing costs, selling costs (often 6–8% of the price when you sell), maintenance, and what your down payment could earn elsewhere. If you plan to stay under three years, renting usually wins.
Down payment savings planner
| Cash needed | $18,000 |
| Still needed | $13,000 |
| Months to goal | 26 months (about December 2028) |
Veterans, teachers, first responders and moderate-income buyers may qualify for Texas down payment assistance of up to 5% of the loan through TSAHC. Here's how that works.
Get pre-approved on a real number
A calculator is a starting point. A lender turns it into something you can write an offer with — the two I trust are on my partners page, and I'll walk the rest with you.