Calculators and quick answers.
Run the numbers yourself before you talk to anyone. No email, no signup, no pressure — just math you can trust.
Mortgage Mom Radio's free tools include calculators for monthly mortgage payments, home affordability, rent vs. buy comparisons, extra-payment payoff acceleration, and debt-to-income (DTI) ratios. All calculators run in your browser — no email, signup, or credit pull required.
The page also offers downloadable PDF guides covering loan programs, the home-buying timeline, and refinance break-even math. Tools are maintained by Debbie Marcoux, NMLS #237926, a mortgage loan originator licensed in 13 states.
Mortgage Payment
Principal, interest, taxes, insurance, and HOA — the real monthly cost of a home, not just the loan part.
- Principal & interest$0
- Property tax$0
- Home insurance$0
- HOA$0
- PMI $0
Loan amount: $0 · Down: 0%
Affordability
How much house can you actually buy? This uses the 43% back-end DTI most conventional lenders cap at, then backs into a max purchase price.
- Max monthly PITI$0
- Max loan amount$0
- Down payment$0
This is what underwriting allows. What you should spend may be lower — talk to Debbie.
Rent vs. Buy
How many years until buying beats renting? Factors in mortgage cost, appreciation, opportunity cost on your down payment, and rent inflation.
- Monthly mortgage (P&I + tax + ins)$0
- Cost to own after 5 yrs$0
- Cost to rent after 5 yrs$0
- Cost to own after 10 yrs$0
- Cost to rent after 10 yrs$0
“Cost” here means net out-of-pocket after equity, appreciation, and the opportunity cost of investing your down payment instead.
Extra Payment
How much faster do you pay off the loan — and how much interest do you save — if you throw an extra amount at the principal every month?
- Standard payoff—
- With extra payment—
- Interest paid (standard)$0
- Interest paid (with extra)$0
- Interest saved$0
Tip: even $100 extra per month on a 30-year loan can shave years off and save tens of thousands.
Debt-to-Income (DTI)
The single number underwriters care about most. Front-end is housing only; back-end is housing plus every other monthly debt.
- Conventional cap43–50%
- FHA capup to 56.9%
- VA capno hard cap (residual income matters)
Done running numbers?
When you're ready for the real version of these numbers — with your actual rate, your actual program, and your actual approval — Debbie's a phone call away.
Plain-English guides you can actually use.
Print ‘em, share ‘em, scribble on ‘em. No email required.
First-Time Homebuyer Guide
Everything I wish every first-time buyer knew before they started: how lenders look at you, what credit really means, down payment myths, and the timeline from pre-approval to keys.
Download PDF
Mortgage Document Checklist
The exact paperwork you need to gather before you apply — W‑2s, pay stubs, asset statements, ID. Tick the boxes as you go.
Download PDF
Refinance Decision Worksheet
Plug in your current rate, your new quote, and your closing costs. The worksheet tells you the break-even month so you stop guessing whether it’s worth it.
Download PDF
Closing Costs Explained
Every line item on a Loan Estimate — what it is, who keeps the money, and what’s negotiable. The page nobody reads, written in English.
Download PDFWant me to walk you through any of these? Reach out or start an application.