After you fall in love with your dream home -- you ask, "How much will my payments be?"

Taking a few simple steps can save you thousands of dollars. It's like getting FREE MONEY!

Buying a home is most likely the largest investment you will ever make. So, it's important to know how much you will be paying for your home.

You could be paying too much -- not for your home -- but for the loan.

After the loan amount, the interest rate charged by your lending institution is the single most important element that determines how much you will pay.

Shop around for your loan. Contact several lending institutions. Ask them what interest rate they will charge you. Can you get a fixed rate? How can you avoid paying Private Mortgage Insurance (PMI)? Taking these steps can save you thousands of dollars.

Use this calculator to quickly find out how much your payments will be. Enter a variety of interest rates -- you will be suprised!

To calculate your payments, enter the loan amount, the interest rate, how many times a year you will make payments, and when the loan will begin. Then click the Calculate button to get your answer.

Optionally, you can include your annual real estate property taxes, property insurance, and Private Mortgage Insurance to get a more accurate payment amount.

To create an amortization schedule, click the Amortize button.

As always, the results of the calculations are close estimates. Talk to your lending institution and insurance company before making your final decision.