When considering a mortgage, many potential homeowners are urged to use a mortgage calculator to estimate costs and work out which home loan would be the right one for them. These are indeed highly effective instruments, as they are able to subject mortgages’ many different costs and interest rates to scrutiny and to compare them with each other – a task which would be a real strain for the average layperson.

A mortgage calculator is useful to potential homeowners in many different ways, depending on their personal situation. If an individual is currently renting a property and is considering making the big shift from renter to mortgage-holder, then the mortgage calculator is invaluable when it comes to working out whether they will save money by taking out a home loan. The instrument compares their hypothetical mortgage payments to their current rent levels. However, there is one caveat here – a mortgage calculator does not tend to include extraneous costs like taxes and insurance, and it is sensible for the potential mortgage-holder to factor these into the total themselves.

If someone already owns their own home and is seeking a good refinancing deal, then a mortgage calculator is very useful when it comes to working out what their new set of mortgage payments would be given the latest interest rates. A mortgage calculator tends to have a search function for mortgage rates in different areas. If the homeowner’s current mortgage rate is also entered into the instrument, then they will get a pretty accurate idea of the new rate of payments.

The most pressing question for a potential mortgage customer is whether they will be able to afford it. Many people set their sights on a property without properly considering this, and a mortgage calculator can put things into perspective. Generally speaking, monthly mortgage payments should work out at less than 30 per cent of a customer’s monthly income before tax. With the help of a mortgage calculator, they will be able to see if this is possible.

Some homeowners who are lucky enough to possess enough equity in their property are able to consider a cash-out refinancing deal, the cash sum from which can be used to consolidate other debts or pay the bills. However, this is not the right path for everyone. Using a mortgage calculator , people can enter the amount of the new mortgage that they are considering and the probable interest rate – the calculator will then reveal whether the plan is viable.