Montana Mortgage Calculator

Best mortgage lenders in Montana

The most popular mortgage lenders in Montana operate nationwide. These include such recognizable names as Morty Inc, NBKC, AmeriSave.

How to calculate mortgage payment in Montana

Use our fast and simple mortgage calculator MT to evaluate your future monthly expenses. A detailed step-by-step instruction follows below.

Why and How to Use Our Mortgage Calculator

Use our house payment calculator Montana for thorough planning of your future spendings. Let’s take a closer look at each field in order to gain a better understanding of the mortgage in Montana parameters.

The first piece of the puzzle is the home price – that is, how much you are planning to spend on your future property. A down payment is the portion of this price to be paid upfront. To avoid costly insurance, you must come up with at least 20% down (in case of a conventional loan). The remaining amount makes up the principal (e.g. 80% of the home price given a 20% down payment).

A loan term is the period of full repayment of your mortgage by making scheduled payments. Fixed-rate conforming loans are allowed to last 30 years most, while adjustable-rate options typically have shorter terms.

An interest rate is a fixed or floating fraction of the principal that you must pay through the duration of the loan. It is worth mentioning that you are actually charged an annual percentage rate (commonly abbreviated as APR), which is not exactly the same as the interest rate. Although the interest rate makes up the bulk of the APR value, the latter also includes various fees (e.g. origination fee, closing costs, insurance payments etc).

For more precise assessment, the interest rate used for these calculations is based on the current mortgage rates in Montana, given a $400,000 home price and a 10% down payment.

Median property taxes in Montana counties

The property tax is another important thing to consider when selecting your future house. Many lenders insist on setting up a mortgage escrow account to ensure the borrower’s keeping up with the tax and insurance costs.

Source: American Communities Survey 2016, U.S. Census

Montana Housing Market 2023

The past year has seen a steep increase in the market value of housing in Montana. This continues a longstanding trend amplified by the COVID pandemic. Nevertheless, the pace of growth has diminished compared to the previous year, while both purchase and refinance rates have been on the increase for some time and are expected to rise further in the near future.

How do I calculate my mortgage payment?

The most convenient way to do this is to make use of our calculator. It's powered by a simple formula, which you can also use to calculate the amount to be paid by hand:

M = P*i(1 + i)^n / (1 + i)^n – 1

M – estimated monthly mortgage payment;

P – principal;

I – monthly interest rate (to determine it, divide your annual mortgage rate by 12);

N – the loan term expressed in months (in other words, the overall number of monthly payments)

Imagine you are applying for a 15-year mortgage loan with a fixed 6.99% APR (which is .0699 as a unit fraction). The house costs $500k, with 10% ($50,000) to be paid down. The principal amount (P) will be equal to 90% of the initial home cost ($500,000 – $50,000 = $450,000).

I = .0699 % / 12 = .005825%.

Finally, let’s convert the loan length from years to months: N = 15 * 12 = 180.

M ($) = 450,000*.005825(1 + .005825)^180 / (1 + .005825)^180 – 1 ≈ 4042.

So, you are going to pay about $4042 a month.

It is important to note that the calculated M value is approximate, as no extra fees are taken into account.

Tips for first-time home buyers in Montana

First, there are several federal agencies (USDA, FHA and VA) that guarantee loans for selected borrowers. Many first-time homebuyers can find options which most fit their budget.

Besides these government-guaranteed programs, it is worth considering some offers from UHC (Montana Housing Corporation) available to Montanans. In particular, first-time home buyers can apply for FirstHome – down payment and closing costs assistance program, if they qualify for a FHA loan and their FICO score is at least 660. This option covers up to 6% of the loan amount toward down payment and/or the closing costs. It is important to note that this option comes in the form of a 30-year-fixed-rate second loan only. If you do not qualify for the FirstHome program, do not despair. Montana Housing Score Loan is an alternative program that covers up to 4%. The minimum satisfactory credit score is 620.

Some useful tips for first-timers:

1. Get pre-approved beforehand. This will increase your creditworthiness in the home sellers’ eyes. It is highly recommended to get the pre-approval letters from not only one, but at least two or three different lenders.
2. Compare different mortgage rates. Choose at least three lenders. The more, the better.
3. Do preliminary calculations based on the amount you have been pre-approved for. Plan your future expenses.
4. Set aside for a down payment as much as possible – and as early as possible. The down payment will decrease the principal amount, which, in turn, can reduce your potential expenses. So it is important to start saving in advance.
5. If you are eligible for a VA loan, consider this option first of all.
6. Consider government-backed plans, as well as local assistance programs. There can be tempting offers – don't miss the boat.
7. Pay off previous debts, if possible.