Ditech : Mortgage Refinancing: Using a Mortgage Calculator

A mortgage calculator is a useful tool to help you budget for your new mortgage. A good mortgage calculator allows you to calculate your monthly payments based on your desired interest rate, taxes, and insurance. Here is how this useful tool can help you avoid common mistakes when refinancing your mortgage.

Mortgage calculators can provide you valuable information about your mortgage. A good mortgage calculator will show you monthly payment information and amortization tables to help you understand how your mortgage works. Amortization with a mortgage calculator describes the process of paying interest and principle graphically; using a mortgage calculator can help you get your head around a complicated financial concept like amortization.

To use a mortgage calculator you will need to provide the amount of the mortgage principle, your interest rate, the amount of your property taxes, and private mortgage insurance if you pay it. The calculator will figure your payment amount and show how the interest is paid over time. Mortgage loans are front loaded with interest; at the beginning almost all of your payment is pocketed by the mortgage lender for the interest due. As time passes, the ratio of interest to principle gradually reverses and more of your payment goes to pay back the loan.

If you are in the process of refinancing our mortgage a mortgage calculator can help you budget to avoid taking out more mortgage then you can afford. There are dozens of free mortgage calculators available online for you to use; your mortgage lender of choice will probably offer one on their website as well. To learn more about refinancing your mortgage and how to avoid costly mortgage mistakes.