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Interest-Only Mortgage Calculator

What is an interest-only mortgage?

An interest-only mortgage is a loan with monthly payments only on the interest of the amount borrowed for an initial term at a fixed interest rate. The interest-only period typically lasts for 7 - 10 years and the total loan term is 30 years. After the initial phase is over, an interest-only loan begins amortizing and you start paying the principal and interest for the remainder of the loan term at an adjustable interest rate.
 
Using an interest-only mortgage payment calculator shows what your monthly mortgage payment would be by factoring in your interest-only loan term, interest rate and loan amount. The result is your estimated interest-only mortgage payment for the interest-only period and doesn’t account for the principal payments you’ll make later when the loan beings amortizing.
 

Who benefits from interest-only mortgages?

Mark Klein, founder and CEO at PCL Financial Group, a mortgage firm in Southern California, is a fan of interest-only mortgages for certain clients. “They're really good for people who have variable income,” he explains. “It can be beneficial when your cash flow is short, or when you need your money for other reasons.” This may apply to those who are in commission-based businesses, are self-employed or are leveraging their liquid cash for other investments.
 
Many of Klein’s clients are purchasing homes that are designated as jumbo mortgages, meaning loans that exceed the limits set by government-sponsored mortgages like the FHA mortgage. “For those higher loan amounts, we do interest-only because it's more of a financial planning tool for how they're going to use their cash flow.” Those clients may want to explore the interest-only mortgage calculator.
 
Interest-only loans can also be good for people who have a rising income, significant cash savings and a high FICO score (700 or higher) and a low debt-to-income ratio.
 

Who is not a good candidate for the interest-only mortgage?

Klein is quick to point out that interest-only mortgages aren’t for everyone. “Some people think interest-only loans will help them buy more house or that they can afford more,” he says. That’s not always the case since the standards are more stringent. “Qualifying for interest-only loans is much harder than qualifying for a normal, qualified mortgage [like a more traditional 30-year mortgage],” he explains. Often, the standards for an interest-only mortgage will include higher credit scores, more cash reserves and assets, and higher household income than a traditional amortized loan, which means a portion of the monthly mortgage payment goes toward the principal. After the Great Recession — in part caused by subprime loans for people who couldn’t afford them — lenders and investors are more cautious about extending interest-only loans.
 

How does an interest-only mortgage calculator work?

When you get an interest-only mortgage, you’ll just pay the interest at a fixed rate for a fixed amount of time, giving you a lower payment than a more traditional mortgage on the same loan amount. However, after the initial period expires, the mortgage rate on an interest-only mortgage becomes adjustable, which can significantly drive up your monthly payments. In addition, the payment will also be much higher because it will include principal that must be repaid over a shorter period than the original loan term. That can lead to sticker shock for homeowners who don’t make any principal payments during the initial phase.
 
Once the interest-only period ends, you can refinance the loan, pay it off in full or begin paying down the principal in monthly installments for the remainder of the loan term. Unless you were disciplined about making routine principal payments throughout the early payment period, your loan balance won’t go down.
 

What are the pros of using an interest-only calculator?

Ready to see if an interest-only mortgage is a good fit for you? Here are some of the benefits.
  • “One of the biggest benefits of it is your monthly payment is significantly less than an amortized loan,” Klein explains.
  • Because interest payments on your primary residence are tax-deductible (for loans up to $750,000), 100 percent of your interest-only mortgage is tax-deductible if you itemize.
  • For properties where the owner will sell or refinance before the interest-only term expires, it can be smart. For instance, one of Klein’s clients is refinancing to an interest-only loan on a large home. Even with a slightly higher interest rate, the client will save approximately $2,000 per month, which he will put towards his kids’ college education. By the time the seven-year interest-only period is up, the homeowner will either refinance to a fixed-rate mortgage or will be ready to downsize and sell the home.

What are the cons of using an interest-only calculator?

  • If you don’t pay on your principal during the initial interest-only period, you won’t build equity in the property, though it may or may not increase in value with the market.
  • Once the interest-only period expires, your monthly payment can go way up.
  • While you could gain equity if your home’s value increases (even if you don’t pay toward the principal), the opposite is true as well. If home prices plummet, you may owe more than your home is worth, which will work against you if you plan to refinance before the end of the interest-only term. You could be potentially be stuck with the house unless you can come up with the cash to make the difference between what you can sell the house for and the amount owed on the mortgage.

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Learn more about specific loan type rates

LOAN TYPE PURCHASE RATES REFINANCE RATES
The table above links out to loan-specific content to help you learn more about rates by loan type.
30-Year Loan 30-Year Mortgage Rates 30-Year Refinance Rates
20-Year Loan 20-Year Mortgage Rates 20-Year Refinance Rates
15-Year Loan 15-Year Mortgage Rates 15-Year Refinance Rates
10-Year Loan 10-Year Mortgage Rates 10-Year Refinance Rates
FHA Loan FHA Mortgage Rates FHA Refinance Rates
VA Loan VA Mortgage Rates VA Refinance Rates
ARM Loan ARM Mortgage Rates ARM Refinance Rates
Jumbo Loan Jumbo Mortgage Rates Jumbo Refinance Rates