Mortgage Calculator

How to Use the Mortgage Calculator

Enter the purchase price, your down payment, the interest rate and the loan term, and the calculator shows the principal-and-interest payment. Add property taxes, homeowners insurance and any HOA dues to see the full monthly figure, which is the number lenders use when they qualify you and the number you will actually pay.

Try a few versions: a larger down payment, a 15-year term against a 30-year term, or a rate a half-point higher or lower. Small changes in the inputs move the payment by more than most buyers expect, and seeing that before you tour homes keeps the search realistic.

Single-story tan stucco home with a two-car garage and desert landscaping under a cloudy sky

What Goes Into a Monthly Payment in Phoenix and Scottsdale

  • Principal and interest. The loan itself. Early payments are mostly interest; the balance shifts toward principal over the life of the loan.
  • Property taxes. Billed by Maricopa County in two installments and usually collected monthly through your escrow account. Rates depend on the taxing districts the home sits in, so two similar homes can carry different bills.
  • Homeowners insurance. Homeowners insurance in the Valley is usually modest, but pools, older roofs and some ZIP codes raise it, so get a quote on the specific home.
  • HOA dues. Common in newer and master-planned communities. Lenders count them in your qualifying ratios, and they are paid to the association rather than through escrow.
  • Mortgage insurance. Required on most conventional loans with less than 20 percent down and on FHA loans; it drops off a conventional loan once you reach enough equity.
  • Pool and landscaping. Not part of the mortgage, but a pool service and summer water bills are part of the true monthly cost of many Valley homes.
Modern two-story luxury home lit at night with a swimming pool in the foreground

Loan Types Buyers Use Here

  • Conventional. The default for most buyers with solid credit and at least three to five percent down.
  • VA and FHA. Widely used across the Valley, with VA offering no-down-payment loans for eligible veterans and FHA lower down-payment options for first-time buyers.
  • Jumbo. Common in Scottsdale, Paradise Valley and Arcadia where prices exceed conforming limits; expect stricter reserves and documentation.
  • Rate buydowns and seller credits. In a slower market sellers sometimes pay to lower the buyer’s rate for the first years or permanently; your agent can negotiate for it.

A pre-approval from a local lender turns the estimate into a real budget and makes your offer credible. Then use the home search and the affordability calculator to match the payment to a price range.

Desert home with a landscaped garden path and water feature in the evening

Mortgage Calculator: Frequently Asked Questions

It includes them when you enter them. Ask your agent for the current tax bill on a specific home and get an insurance quote on the address so the full payment is realistic rather than a principal-and-interest figure alone.

Conventional loans start at three to five percent, FHA at three and a half, and VA at zero for eligible veterans. Twenty percent avoids mortgage insurance. Second homes and investment properties require more.

Lenders set their own minimums. Higher scores earn better rates, and small improvements before you apply can lower the payment for the life of the loan. A lender can tell you where you stand in one conversation.

A 15-year loan carries a lower rate and far less total interest but a higher monthly payment. Most buyers choose 30 years for flexibility and pay extra toward principal when they can.

No. Rates depend on credit score, down payment, loan type, property type and whether the home is a primary residence, second home or rental. Shop two or three lenders with the same numbers.

No. It is an estimate for planning. A written pre-approval from a lender is the document sellers look for, and a Discover PHX agent can recommend lenders who work this market.

Want help turning a payment into a home? Call 480-771-1872 or send us a message and a Discover PHX agent will connect you with a lender and start the search.