- No signup required
- Independent calculations
- Built for homebuyers, not lenders
By the numbers
Three questions to answer before you buy
01Affordability
Can I afford it?
A realistic home price based on your income, debts, down payment, and the cash cushion you keep after closing.
Check affordability02Cash to Close
How much cash do I need?
Down payment, closing costs, prepaid expenses, moving costs, and reserves — the full check you'll actually write.
Calculate cash to close03Monthly Cost
What will it really cost each month?
Beyond principal and interest: taxes, insurance, HOA, PMI, and a maintenance reserve for when things break.
Calculate monthly cost04Reality check
The mortgage payment is only part of the number.
Lenders quote you principal and interest. But taxes, insurance, HOA dues, and maintenance don't show up in that number — and they add up fast.
The example breakdown here is hypothetical. Yours depends on where you buy, what you buy, and how the home has been kept. Run your own numbers to see.
See the full breakdownvs. $2,526/mo quoted principal & interest
- Principal & interest$2,526
- Property taxes$875
- Homeowners insurance$185
- HOA$150
- Maintenance reserve$284
05The workbook
Know whether the offer works before you fall in love with the house.
The Real Cost to Buy Workbook turns these same calculations into a workbook you can keep — so you can save scenarios, compare offers side by side, and see the warnings before you stretch.
- 01
Decide what to offer
Conservative, Target, and Stretch scenarios side by side, with a blunt verdict on each.
- 02
Know your cash, exactly
Cash to close, monthly burn, and the cushion you keep — not the optimistic version.
- 03
Keep it forever
One .xlsx file with editable inputs. No subscription, no macros, protected formulas.
What it answers
Nothing here replaces a lender, agent, or inspector. The calculators cover prepaids, title fees, reserves, and first-year maintenance — so the total picture is less of a surprise.