Herramienta · Costo Real

El costo real de ser propietario, no solo la hipoteca

Los prestamistas lo califican por capital, intereses, impuestos y seguro. La casa cuesta más que eso. Esta herramienta añade las partes que ellos omiten, y muestra de dónde viene cada número.

As of Jul 5, 2026Methodology true-cost-v3
Default assumptions & where they come from

Every pre-filled figure below is editable. Example inputs (home price, income) are illustrations, not data; the assumptions listed here stand in for real-world statistics, so each carries its public source.

  • Interest rate: 6.5% (30-year fixed)Editable. Near the Freddie Mac PMMS 30-year average at verification; the live figure is on the Fee & Rate Index.
  • Property tax rate: 1.26%/yr of valueU.S. median effective rate (annual real-estate tax ÷ home value) from ACS tables B25103/B25077. State rates in the tool override this.
  • Homeowners insurance: $1,584/yrNational average HO-3 premium (2022 data year). Varies sharply by state; state figures in the tool override this.
  • PMI rate: 0.50%/yr of loan (while LTV > 80%)Mid-range of the published typical band (≈0.36%–0.84%). Your quoted PMI depends on credit score and LTV.
  • Maintenance reserve: 1%/yr of home valueA planning reserve, not a bill. Older homes typically run higher.

Your scenario

Adjust any value. Defaults are seeded from public benchmarks, each cited on the right.

Sets tax rate (Census) & insurance (NAIC)
$
%

$42,500 · loan-to-value 90%

%
yrs
%
$
%

Rule of thumb: budget ~1% of home value per year for upkeep.

Older homes cost more to keep. Reserve is scaled ×1.5 for pre-1980, ×1.2 for 1980–2005, ×1.0 for 2006+.

$

What a lender approves you for

$2,985/mo

Principal & interest
$2,418
Property tax
$290
Homeowners insurance
$118
Private mortgage insurance (PMI)
$159

The cost lenders do not count

+$354/mo upkeep

Maintenance reserve$354

True monthly cost of ownership

$3,339

Planning gap

$354/mo

The gap is the difference between what a lender qualifies you for and what the home actually costs to keep. It is not a judgment about affordability — just the full number, with its sources attached.

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