What is a Mortgage Affordability Calculator?

In the world of home buying, understanding your financial limits is crucial. Enter the mortgage affordability calculator a sleek digital tool designed to help you navigate the often murky waters of home financing.

At its core, our calculator serves as a starting point, guiding you in determining how much home you can realistically afford. It evaluates your financial landscape, allowing you to assess how much mortgage you could comfortably handle. The calculator takes into account several key factors, including:

Your income
Existing debt obligations
The size of your down payment

Buying power

Make informed decisions. According to the National Association of Realtors, understanding your affordability can save you from the heartbreak of falling in love with a property that’s just out of reach. By gaining clarity on your financial situation, you can set realistic expectations and avoid the pitfall of overstretching your budget.

Getting Started

To begin, input your financial details, including your monthly income, current debts, and any upfront cash you have for a down payment. The calculator also considers prevailing interest rates, which can significantly affect your monthly mortgage payments. Based on your inputs, you’ll receive a potential loan amount, home purchase price, and estimated monthly payment.

Try Our Mortgage Affordability Calculator Top Tip

We encourage you to experiment with different financial scenarios. What if you increase your income? What if you reduce your debts? By playing around with various inputs, you can see how your affordability shifts, giving you a clearer picture of your home-buying potential.

Think of it as your financial roadmap, providing you with the confidence to explore properties that fit within your budget.

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The Real Truth About Homeownership: Why It’s Worth the Journey

As a mortgage lender, we’ve helped countless families achieve their dreams of homeownership. We understand that owning a home isn’t always a walk in the park, but the benefits far outweigh the challenges. Let’s talk about why homeownership remains one of the most powerful ways to build long-term wealth and stability.

Building Equity, Not Someone Else’s Wealth

Every mortgage payment you make is like paying yourself instead of your landlord. While renters help their landlords build wealth, homeowners gradually increase their own net worth through equity. It’s like having a automatic savings account that grows over time.

Tax Benefits That Make a Difference

Homeownership comes with significant tax advantages, including the opportunities to deduct mortgage interest and property taxes. These deductions can lead to substantial savings come tax season, putting more money back in your pocket.

Freedom to Create Your Space

Want to paint your walls hot pink? Plant a garden? Finally get that dog you’ve always wanted? As a homeowner, you don’t need to ask for permission. Your home truly becomes your castle, allowing you to customize your space to match your lifestyle and preferences.

Protection from Rising Housing Costs

While renters face annual increases in their monthly payments, homeowners with fixed-rate mortgages enjoy more stable housing costs. In today’s inflationary environment, this predictability is more valuable than ever.

Let’s Be Real: It’s Not Always Easy

Homeownership comes with its own share of challenges. From unexpected repairs to property maintenance, being a homeowner means being responsible for everything that goes wrong. That leaky faucet? It’s on you now. The AC that decides to quit in August? Another problem to solve.

But here’s the truth: these challenges are temporary, while the benefits of homeownership are long-lasting. Every obstacle you overcome as a homeowner is an investment in your future and your family’s stability.

The Long-Term Perspective

When you’re writing that monthly mortgage check or dealing with a home repair, remember that you’re playing the long game. Homeownership is about building generational wealth, creating stability for your family, and investing in your future.

While the path to homeownership might not always be easy, it remains one of the most reliable ways to build wealth and create the life you want. As a company who’s helped many people and families navigate this journey, we can tell you that most homeowners look back and say, “It was all worth it.”

Ready to start your homeownership journey? Reach out to your loan officer to talk about your options and create a plan that works for you. Don’t have a loan officer yet? Find one here.

Remember, the best investment in your future might be the roof over your head.

The Tax Benefits of Homeownership

Homeownership is often considered a significant milestone in one’s life. Not only does it provide a sense of security and accomplishment, but it also comes with a slew of financial benefits. One of the less discussed, yet highly relevant advantages are the potential income tax benefits for those who itemize on their tax returns.

Mortgage Interest Deduction

One of the most significant tax advantages of homeownership is the mortgage interest deduction. IRS allows homeowners to deduct the interest paid on their mortgage from their taxable income, provided the loan amount is within certain limits. This means the more interest you pay, the larger your deduction.

Property Tax Deduction

The IRS also permits homeowners to deduct property taxes on their primary residence. This deduction can significantly reduce your taxable income, especially in areas with high property taxes.

Home Office Deduction

In an era of remote work, the home office deduction has become increasingly relevant. If you use part of your home exclusively for conducting business, you may be eligible to deduct expenses related to that space. This includes a portion of your mortgage or rent, utilities, and home maintenance.

Capital Gains Exclusion

If you sell your home for a profit, you may be able to exclude up to 250,000 (or 500,000 if you’re married and filing jointly) of that gain from your taxable income. To qualify, you must have lived in the home for at least two of the last five years before the sale.

Home Improvement Loan Interest Deduction

If you take out a loan to make significant improvements to your home, the interest on that loan might be tax-deductible. This can make those necessary upgrades a bit more affordable.

In conclusion, owning a home not only provides a roof over your head but can also offer substantial tax advantages. While these benefits should not be the sole reason to purchase a house, they certainly sweeten the deal.

Remember, everyone’s tax situation is unique, and these benefits may vary based on your specific circumstances. Always consult with a tax professional to understand how these potential tax benefits apply to you.

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Journey to Home Ownership

1. Obtain prequalification from lender

2. Identify desired home

3. Contract is accepted/home is placed in escrow

4. Submit loan application to lender

5. Lender orders title and property appraisal

6. Loan materials are reviewed and processed

7. Loan submitted to underwriting for approval

8. Preparation of the Closing Disclosure

9. Loan documents are signed

10. The loan is funded and recorded

11. Buyers get the keys to their new home

Disclaimer: SecurityNational Mortgage Company, and its loan officers, unless individually licensed and specifically denoted in their credentials, are not qualified to, and are prohibited from representing themselves as accountants, attorneys, certified financial planners, estate planners, investment specialists or tax experts, and will not advise you in those matters. Always seek the advice of a licensed professional. By submitting your contact information you agree to our Terms of Use and our Privacy Policy. You also expressly consent to having SecurityNational Mortgage Company contact you about your inquiry. This is not a commitment to make a loan. Loans are subject to borrower and property qualifications. Contact loan officer listed for an accurate, personalized quote. Interest rates and program guidelines are subject to change without notice. SecurityNational Mortgage Company is an Equal Housing Lender. Company NMLS# 3116

Start your journey home today!

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Leading the pack among mortgage lenders

While other mortgage lenders struggle to keep pace, SecurityNational Mortgage Company continues to lead our clients to the finish line.

A mortgage company with a rock-solid reputation

You can feel confident that you’re getting the guidance and professional treatment you deserve. With over 50 years of experience, SecurityNational has the consistent track record and dependable financial backing of Security National Financial, our publicly traded parent company (NASDAQ: SNFCA). We’ve steadfastly weathered all the ups and downs of the economy and gained a reputation for outstanding leadership in the home loan market.

We’ve got professional mortgage branches from coast-to-coast, and hundreds of experienced loan professionals ready to take you through the loan process with top-notch service. Not to brag, but we’re consistently ranked a Top 50 mortgage company by Scotsman Guide in the United States.

Take advantage of historically low rates today. Find a loan professional in your area or visit a local branch office to learn more.

Disclaimer: SecurityNational Mortgage Company, and its loan officers, unless individually licensed and specifically denoted in their credentials, are not qualified to, and are prohibited from representing themselves as accountants, attorneys, certified financial planners, estate planners, investment specialists or tax experts, and will not advise you in those matters. Always seek the advice of a licensed professional. By submitting your contact information you agree to our Terms of Use and our Privacy Policy. You also expressly consent to having SecurityNational Mortgage Company contact you about your inquiry. This is not a commitment to make a loan. Loans are subject to borrower and property qualifications. Contact loan officer listed for an accurate, personalized quote. Interest rates and program guidelines are subject to change without notice. SecurityNational Mortgage Company is an Equal Housing Lender. Company NMLS# 3116

Still need help?

We're great with directions!

No really, ask us for directions. Our mortgage professionals are waiting to help answer any questions or concerns you have as you begin your journey home.

Contact Us

The difference between forbearance and forgiveness

Forbearance is when a lender agrees to let a borrower postpone payments until a later date. The payments are not eliminated. They will need to be paid at the end of the forbearance period, spread over time, or added at the end of the loan. It’s important to know this is not for everyone but only those who have lost a job or have a financial hardship due to the coronavirus pandemic.

Potential Benefits

If you are eligible and in true need, this can be a big, albeit temporary help with cash flow.

Potential Problems

If you’re without funds for monthly payments now, what is the likelihood of being able to make up missed payments all at once in a few months? This is the worst-case scenario, but you must ask your servicer if alternatives are available.

The CARES Act intends to protect your credit if pursuing forbearance, yet there’s no guarantee that will occur without errors. It will be important to monitor both your monthly statements and credit report to assure accuracy.

This is temporary, not long-term relief. It may take a year or more beyond the end of the forbearance before you can refinance. Saving every month for 30 years later may be far better than a little short-term relief right now.

Possible Alternatives

If you still have sufficient household income to qualify, pursuing a “cash out” refinance could be a better option. You may be able to access equity to create a cash cushion from which you can consolidate other debts, make timely payments and eliminate risk to your credit.

If you have a 15-year loan now, stretching the term to 30 years can save hundreds of dollars per month. Once your income has returned to normal, you can always add extra principal to pay the loan off in 15 years without having to refinance again.

If you have no choice but to pursue forbearance, you MUST reach out using the contact info on your loan statement to arrange a formal, documented plan.Documentation will be critical to clear any credit reporting issues that may arise.

Think it through. A forbearance is not forgiveness. It does not eliminate payments; it only delays them. If you have emergency savings, available lines of credit or other means to pay, these may be better options to get you through these difficult times.

Disclaimer: SecurityNational Mortgage Company, and its loan officers, unless individually licensed and specifically denoted in their credentials, are not qualified to, and are prohibited from representing themselves as accountants, attorneys, certified financial planners, estate planners, investment specialists or tax experts, and will not advise you in those matters. Always seek the advice of a licensed professional. By submitting your contact information you agree to our Terms of Use and our Privacy Policy. You also expressly consent to having SecurityNational Mortgage Company contact you about your inquiry. This is not a commitment to make a loan. Loans are subject to borrower and property qualifications. Contact loan officer listed for an accurate, personalized quote. Interest rates and program guidelines are subject to change without notice. SecurityNational Mortgage Company is an Equal Housing Lender. Company NMLS# 3116

Still need help?

We're great with directions!

No really, ask us for directions. Our mortgage professionals are waiting to help answer any questions or concerns you have as you begin your journey home.

Contact Us