Your full monthly payment
Plan for principal, interest, property taxes, homeowners insurance, possible mortgage insurance, and any HOA dues.
Jay & AlexHOME LOANS · HAPPYDOGMenu
Chico & Butte County, California
A clearer path to
buying a home.
Jay Jones & Alex WahbaLocal mortgage guidance · Chico, California
Prepare, compare practical loan options, and move toward a useful mortgage preapproval with clear local guidance and no pressure.
PREAPPROVAL GOALS
Know where you stand before you shop.
- Understand your payment amount and your price range
- Choose the best loan program for your situation
- Identify opportunities with credit history
- Be ready to make a stronger, informed offer
MORTGAGE BASICS
Start with the numbers that shape your loan.
A mortgage is more than a rate. The right plan brings your monthly budget, cash needs, and long-term goals into the same conversation.
Credit is one part of the picture
Your credit profile matters, but lenders also review income, debts, assets, the property, and the loan program.
Loan type changes the math
The best fit depends on your goals, eligibility, cash available, and how long you expect to own the home.
You don’t have to have everything figured out.
We help people at different stages of buying a home:
First-time buyers
Understand your loan options, monthly payment, and cash needed to get started.
Buyers planning ahead
Build a plan even if buying is months or years away.
Current homeowners buying again
Explore financing for your next home, compare keeping your current home as a rental versus selling it, and understand how either choice could affect your next mortgage.
Buyers with questions about qualifying
Talk through credit history, income, savings, and possible down payment assistance.
THE PREAPPROVAL PATH
Prepare first. Shop with more confidence.
Start with your real budget
Review income, monthly debts, savings, and the payment range that feels comfortable, not just the maximum.
Compare loan paths
Conventional, FHA, VA, USDA, and California assistance programs each have different tradeoffs and eligibility rules.
Gather the basics
Recent pay stubs, bank statements, employment history, tax returns, and identification help make the review more accurate.
Get a useful preapproval
A lender reviews your finances and provides a conditional estimate of what you may be able to borrow. It is not a loan guarantee.
DOWN PAYMENT ASSISTANCE
Your down payment may not have to come from savings alone.
California programs may help eligible buyers with down payment or closing costs. Some assistance is structured as a deferred-payment junior loan, and eligibility can depend on income, occupancy, education, property, and first-mortgage requirements.
Programs, funding, limits, rates, and availability can change. We'll help you identify current options and understand the repayment terms before you decide.
Get PreapprovedHOME-BUYING CALCULATORS
Explore the numbers before we talk.
Adjust the assumptions to estimate a down payment and monthly housing cost. Property tax is calculated at 1.25% of the purchase price each year.
CURRENT RATE CONTEXT
National averages, updated by Optimal Blue
These 30-year conventional and FHA market indices are based on recent rate locks. Use them for context, then enter your own planning rate in the calculator.
Important: Optimal Blue figures are national market indices, not a personalized quote, APR, or commitment to lend. Actual rates and payments vary by borrower, property, loan terms, lender pricing, and market conditions.
01
DOWN PAYMENT
Calculate your down payment
Down payment$17,500
Starting loan amount$332,500
Loan-to-value95.0%
Does not include closing costs, reserves, prepaid taxes or insurance, or financed program fees.
02
MONTHLY PAYMENT
Estimate principal, interest, and property tax
Estimated principal, interest, and property taxEnter a rate to estimate
Principal & interestEnter a rate
Property tax · 1.25%$365
Insurance can vary widely.
Homeowners insurance depends on the property, coverage, carrier, and location, and may be significantly higher in areas with increased wildfire risk. Mortgage insurance, HOA dues, and other costs may also apply.
Planning estimate only. This calculation does not include homeowners insurance, mortgage insurance, HOA dues, closing costs, or other charges. Actual taxes, rates, eligibility, and payment will vary.
03
RENT OR OWN
A long-term monthly cost estimate
This simple illustration holds mortgage principal and interest steady, assumes homeowners insurance starts at $200 per month, grows rent and insurance by 3% annually, and assumes property taxes increase by 2% annually.
| Year | Projected rent | Projected mortgage |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | $1,957 | Enter a rate |
| Year 11 | $2,630 | Enter a rate |
| Year 21 | $3,535 | Enter a rate |
| Year 31 | $4,750 | Enter a rate |
Monthly planning estimates, not quoted payments. The projected mortgage column includes principal and interest while the loan is active, plus estimated property tax and homeowners insurance.
After the mortgage is paid off
Principal and interest are removed from the estimates after the selected loan term ends. Property taxes and homeowners insurance continue and may rise. Repairs and maintenance are not included.
This monthly cost comparison does not count home equity. Over time, equity may contribute to generational wealth, but home values and the amount a family could pass on are not guaranteed.
Illustration only. This is not a prediction or a complete rent-versus-buy analysis. Ownership includes estimated principal and interest, property tax, and homeowners insurance. It assumes principal and interest end after the selected loan term. It does not include mortgage insurance, HOA dues, closing or selling costs, repairs, maintenance, utilities, tax benefits, rent deposits, investment returns, refinancing, home-value changes, or equity. Actual taxes may be affected by reassessment, new construction, voter-approved debt, or other exceptions. Use a property-specific insurance quote, particularly in wildfire-risk areas.