How our calculators estimate costs
Where our seller net sheet, closing cost and mortgage calculators get their numbers, what each includes and leaves out, and how state
Our three calculators share one engine, so a transfer tax or a loan program’s numbers are the same in each, and the same in the calculators you can put on
Where the numbers come from#
- State taxes and customs. Each state and DC has its own rules: its transfer tax and how it’s figured, who usually pays it, who usually pays for the owner’s title policy, and whether property taxes are paid ahead of time or after the year. They come from each state’s statutes and revenue department, and every state page
lists its sources. - Loan programs. FHA’s mortgage insurance and VA’s funding fee use the agencies’ own published rates, and the conforming loan limit that
changes each year. - Property taxes. The mortgage calculator starts with each state’s median effective rate from the Census Bureau’s American Community Survey. You can type
your own amount. - Your numbers. The price, the loan payoff, commissions, the rate and anything you add come from you. Commissions are negotiable, so the calculators start with example rates
you can change.
What each one includes#
| Calculator | What it adds up | What it leaves out |
|---|---|---|
| Seller net sheet | Commissions, loan payoffs, the state’s transfer tax, title and settlement fees, prorated property taxes, credits you give the buyer and any other costs you add | Capital gains tax and moving costs |
| Closing cost calculator | The down payment, lender and title fees, the state’s buyer taxes, prepaid interest and insurance, and the escrow deposit | Lender credits and discount points |
| Mortgage calculator | Principal and interest, property tax, insurance, mortgage insurance and HOA dues, plus what paying extra saves | Rate changes on adjustable loans |
Counties and cities can add taxes of their own. Where a big one is well known, like a city transfer tax, the calculator includes it when you
These are estimates#
The calculators give a close estimate, not a quote. Your lender’s Loan Estimate and the title or escrow company’s settlement statement are the final figures, and rates, fees and insurance vary by lender and property. Use the result to plan, then
How we keep them current#
- Every state’s rules carry the date they were last checked. We review each state at least every six months, and a check flags any
that are due. - Changes we know are coming, like a new tax rate on a set date, are tracked ahead of time and built in when
they take effect. - Loan program numbers are checked when the agencies change them, and each December for the
new loan limits.
Spot something wrong?#
Every state page has a Report a correction link. Send us what looks wrong and a source if you have one, and we’ll check it against the statute. Corrections to our datasets are listed in
Something missing or wrong? Email support@brokerandagent.com and