What a mortgage actually costs
The monthly payment is only the visible part. Enter a price and a rate to see the payment, the interest over the whole term, and what an extra payment each month changes.
$84,000 down, $336,000 borrowed
US average 6.95%, week of September 17, 2026
$2,224.14 a month for 30 years, $464,692 of it interest.
- Balance owed
- Interest paid so far
| Year | Interest | Principal | Still owed |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | $23,244 | $3,446 | $332,554 |
| 2 | $22,996 | $3,693 | $328,860 |
| 3 | $22,731 | $3,958 | $324,902 |
| 5 | $22,143 | $4,547 | $316,113 |
| 10 | $20,260 | $6,430 | $287,990 |
| 15 | $17,597 | $9,092 | $248,221 |
| 20 | $13,832 | $12,858 | $191,983 |
| 25 | $8,508 | $18,182 | $112,458 |
| 30 | $978 | $25,712 | $0 |
More of the payment goes to the loan than to the bank from month 241 — year 21 of 30. Over 15 years at 6.26% the same loan costs $2,882.77 a month but only $182,899 in interest.
Educational estimate, not financial advice. Everything is calculated in your browser — nothing you enter is sent anywhere or saved.
How this calculator works
The payment is the standard fixed-rate formula: interest at the annual rate ÷ 12 on the balance still owed, and a payment large enough to clear the loan by the end of the term. The schedule applies each payment month by month and adds the extra entirely against the balance.
Property tax is estimated at 1.1% of the price a year, the rough US median, and insurance at a flat $1,800 a year. Both vary enormously by state and by house, so treat them as placeholders. Mortgage insurance on a small down payment is not included.
Common questions
What is the monthly payment on a $336,000 mortgage?
At 6.95% over 30 years, $2,224.14 in principal and interest, with $464,692 of interest over the full term. Property tax and insurance come on top, usually a few hundred dollars a month.
How much does paying $200 extra a month save?
On the same loan, $119,273 in interest, and the mortgage is gone 7 years earlier. Every extra dollar goes straight against the balance, so it stops all the future interest on that dollar.
Why is almost all of the early payment interest?
Interest is charged on the balance still owed, and at the start that is the whole loan. On this example it takes until month 241 before more of the payment goes to the loan than to the bank. The schedule on this page shows the split year by year.
What does the national debt have to do with my mortgage?
Mortgage rates track the 10-year Treasury yield, plus a spread. When the government borrows more, or when investors want more to hold its debt, that yield rises and mortgages follow within weeks. It is the most direct way the federal budget reaches a household.
Sources
- Average 30- and 15-year fixed mortgage rateFreddie Mac — Primary Mortgage Market Survey®September 17, 2026
All figures are fetched from the publishers above when this site is built; your browser does not contact them. This site is independent and is not affiliated with, sponsored or endorsed by the Federal Reserve System, any Federal Reserve Bank or any government agency. Nothing here is financial advice.