Homebuyer savings

Down Payment Calculator

Plan down payment, closing costs, reserves, available funds, and the monthly path to your cash goal.

Remaining savings gap

$40,000

Estimated time: 1 yr 8 mo

Down payment$80,000

Loan amount$320,000

Closing costs$12,000

Total cash target$100,000

Available funds$60,000

Loan-to-value80.0%

Keep emergency savings separate and verify gift, assistance, reserve, and mortgage-insurance rules with the lender.

How the savings target works

The target adds the selected down payment, estimated closing costs, and moving or repair reserve. Current savings and gifts or assistance reduce the gap, which is divided by monthly savings to estimate time.

Limitations

This does not determine mortgage eligibility, assistance eligibility, required reserves, mortgage insurance, investment returns, or future home prices.

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Planning guide

Read the complete guide →

Understand this estimate before using it

Quick answer

What does the Down Payment Calculator do?

Plan cash-to-close, savings gap, and time to reach a homebuying goal. It combines the selected down payment, closing-cost allowance, and reserves, subtracts current funds, and divides the remaining gap by monthly savings.

Formula and calculation method

It combines the selected down payment, closing-cost allowance, and reserves, subtracts current funds, and divides the remaining gap by monthly savings.

The result is only as reliable as the inputs. Use current balances, rates, fees, dates, and documents; then change uncertain assumptions to see whether the conclusion remains stable.

How to interpret the result

Treat the output as a comparison or planning range, not a quote, approval, eligibility decision, tax return, or prediction. Review the breakdown—not only its headline number—and read every stated exclusion.

For current background, review HUD homebuying resources. Product documents and official program tools control when they differ from this educational model.

Worked scenario

Put the result in context

For a $400,000 property, list acquisition cash, annual operating income and expenses, financing, reserves, and expected selling costs separately. Test a lower rent or sale value rather than assuming the base case is certain.

This scenario illustrates the method; it is not a quote, forecast, recommendation, or substitute for entering your actual facts.

Before you calculate

Gather current information before changing the defaults. A result based on verified records is more useful than a precise answer built from guesses.

the home price and down-payment percent

Check the date, unit, and source of this input before entering it.

closing costs and a moving/repair reserve

Check the date, unit, and source of this input before entering it.

current savings and any gift or assistance

Check the date, unit, and source of this input before entering it.

how much you save each month

Check the date, unit, and source of this input before entering it.

What the result can answer

It can show how the entered assumptions interact, provide a consistent comparison, and reveal whether changing one important input materially changes the estimate.

What the result cannot decide

It cannot confirm approval, eligibility, market pricing, future performance, legal or tax treatment, contract quality, or whether the choice fits every part of your finances.

A practical next-step workflow

01 · Verify
Compare the inputs with current statements, quotes, official rules, and product documents.
02 · Stress-test
Run a second case with a less favorable value for how much you save each month.
03 · Confirm
Set your savings goal to the full cash target, not the down payment, and keep a reserve so closing does not drain every dollar before acting.

Frequently asked questions

Does cap rate include the mortgage?

No. Cap rate generally divides property net operating income before financing by property value or acquisition price.

Is rent versus buy only a financial decision?

No. Flexibility, stability, maintenance responsibility, and personal preferences also matter.

What can make this estimate differ from an actual result?

Timing, rounding, rate changes, fees, taxes, eligibility rules, product conventions, and facts not requested by this focused calculator can all create differences.

Which inputs deserve a second scenario?

Retest any input that is quoted rather than fixed, depends on future behavior, or materially changes the result. Conservative and optimistic cases reveal more than false precision.

What should I verify before making a decision?

Verify current statements, disclosures, official rules, taxes, fees, cancellation or prepayment terms, and the consequences of a less favorable outcome.

Continue your research

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Prepared by Loan Lyze Editorial and reviewed under the Loan Lyze editorial framework on November 8, 2026. Educational estimate only. See our methodology, editorial policy, and corrections policy.

Plan cash for a home purchase

How the savings target works

Limitations