Lower price or lower rate?

See which seller concession creates more value based on how long you expect to keep the mortgage.

Your offer

Full purchase price

$

Seller concession

$

Down payment

%

Rate with lower price

%

Rate after buydown

%

Loan term

yrs

Sell or refinance after7 years

Move the slider to see how your timeline changes the answer.

Assumes the full concession either reduces the price or funds a permanent rate buydown. Taxes, insurance, closing costs, appreciation and tax effects are excluded because they are deal-specific.

Decision at your timeline

Monthly payment savings

True break-even

Includes equity and remaining balance

Advantage at selected year

Side-by-side

Lower priceRate buydown

Measure	Lower price	Rate buydown

Rate buydown advantage over time

Above zero means the lower rate has recovered the higher price.

How much home fits your budget?

See the full monthly payment on a home you are considering, then work backward to a conservative payment and purchase-price ceiling.

Income and purchase

Annual household income (before tax)

$

Home price to test

$

Cash down payment

$

Other monthly debt payments

$

Mortgage interest rate

%

Loan term

yrs

Home location

Monthly HOA dues

$

Estimated property tax rate

%

Estimated insurance rate

%

Housing payment ceiling

%

Total debt ceiling

%

Estimated PMI rate if under 20% down

%

This is a ceiling, not a spending target. A lender may approve more, but approval and affordability are not the same thing.

The default ceiling uses the lower of 28% of gross income for housing or 36% for all debt after subtracting your other monthly debt payments. Both percentages are editable.

Affordability check

Estimated monthly payment

Principal, interest, tax, insurance, PMI and HOA

Monthly payment ceiling

Total home-price ceiling

Based on the payment ceiling and down payment

Annual property taxes

Annual homeowners insurance

Room below ceiling

Estimated monthly payment

Payment component	Monthly	Annual

How the ceiling is calculated

The more restrictive guideline controls the result.

Affordability measure	Monthly amount

What car can you truly afford?

Start with your payment ceiling, then see the maximum vehicle price and full cost before you walk into the dealership.

Your guardrails

Annual household income (before tax)

$

Maximum monthly payment

$

Loan term

mos

Estimated APR

%

Cash down payment

$

Trade-in value

$

Trade-in loan payoff

$

Registration state

Estimated vehicle tax rate

%

Fees & add-ons

$

Calculated as 8% of gross monthly income. Treat this as a ceiling, not a target. Staying below it is ideal, and insurance, fuel and maintenance still need room in the budget.

Enter taxes and every dealer add-on you expect to pay. The calculator works backward from your payment cap so the term and rate cannot hide the real price.

Your price ceiling

Recommended payment ceiling

Maximum vehicle price

Negotiate this number—not only the payment

Estimated out-the-door price

Vehicle, estimated tax and fees

Total loan payments

Where the money goes

Use these figures to check the dealer's worksheet.

Measure	Amount

The term trap

Same amount financed and APR—only the loan length changes.

Term	Monthly payment	Total interest

At the dealership

Keep control of the conversation

Negotiate the vehicle price first. Ask for the itemized out-the-door price in writing.
Keep your term fixed. A longer loan can make an expensive car look affordable while increasing total interest.
Compare financing separately. Bring a bank or credit-union preapproval and compare APR, term and total payments.

You’re not behind. You need a next step.

Turn your current income, expenses, savings and debt into a realistic order of operations you can start this month.

Your monthly picture

Monthly take-home pay

$

Essential expenses

$

Flexible spending

$

Emergency savings

$

Monthly workplace-plan contribution

$

Contribution needed monthly for the full employer match

$

Debts

Credit cards

Balance

$

APR

%

Minimum

$

Auto or personal loan

Balance

$

APR

%

Minimum

$

Student loans

Balance

$

APR

%

Minimum

$

Your goal

Goal name

Target amount

$

Already saved

$

Debt minimums are included separately, so do not include them again in essential expenses. Estimates assume fixed income, spending and interest rates.

Your next move

Monthly breathing room

After spending, minimums and retirement

Flexible spending per week

Emergency runway

Savings ÷ essential expenses

Debt-free with avalanche

Total debt

Full-match contribution gap

Additional monthly contribution needed

Your next-dollar plan

Follow the order, then roll each completed amount into the next step.

Milestone timeline

Each estimate assumes all current breathing room is directed to that one milestone.

Milestone	Amount remaining	Estimated time

Debt payoff options

Same monthly debt budget, different payoff order.

Strategy	Debt-free	Estimated interest

Is your cash earning enough?

Compare published savings rates and see what each account could earn on your balance over one year.

Highest listed APY

Estimated annual interest

At the highest listed APY

Value of shopping rates

Best listed rate vs. 0.01% APY

Published account rates

Sorted by APY. Conditions matter—read each account's details before opening.

Institution / account	APY	Interest / year	Key conditions	Source

Would another card actually help?

Compare a new card with the cards already in your wallet, using your spending—not marketing claims.

Your wallet

Cards you already have

Card you are considering

Credits you will truly use / year

$

Welcome offer value

$

Candidate points value

¢

Monthly spending

This analysis assumes balances are paid in full every month. Interest charges can erase rewards quickly.

Wallet verdict

Current wallet rewards

Estimated annual value

Added reward value

Before fee and usable credits

Net ongoing value

After annual fee and credits

Best card by spending category

See where the candidate changes what you should use.

Category	Current best	With candidate	Annual change