Can you really afford this home?
Run a real-life stress test before you make an offer. We show you what the lender won't — taxes, repairs, insurance spikes, HOA changes, and how your life holds up when things go wrong.
Free to use · No sign-up required · No lender pressure
What makes HomeReality Check different?
Most calculators give you a payment. We give you the truth.
Beyond the mortgage
We calculate taxes, insurance, HOA, PMI, maintenance reserves, utilities, and hidden costs that lenders gloss over. Your real number is almost always higher.
Stress-test scenarios
What if insurance jumps 50%? What if your income drops 10%? We simulate 10 real-life stress scenarios so you see how your budget holds up when life happens.
Rent-vs-buy reality check
We build a year-by-year comparison of renting versus buying — including opportunity cost, net worth, break-even year, and total unrecoverable costs.
Most calculators stop too early.
Here's what we include that a basic mortgage calculator ignores.
| What's included | Basic Calculator | HomeReality Check |
|---|---|---|
| Principal & interest | ✓ | ✓ |
| Property taxes | ✗ | ✓ |
| Homeowner's insurance | ✗ | ✓ |
| HOA dues | ✗ | ✓ |
| PMI (if < 20% down) | ✗ | ✓ |
| Maintenance & repairs | ✗ | ✓ |
| Emergency fund impact | ✗ | ✓ |
| Rent comparison | ✗ | ✓ |
| Income stress scenarios | ✗ | ✓ |
| Insurance spike scenario | ✗ | ✓ |
| Early sale risk analysis | ✗ | ✓ |
| Repair shock calculator | ✗ | ✓ |
| True monthly cost | ✗ | ✓ |
| House poor risk score | ✗ | ✓ |
Everything you need before you offer.
Ten analysis tools, all free, all in one place.
Mortgage Calculator
Full payment breakdown with taxes, insurance, PMI, and HOA.
True Cost of Ownership
See every dollar homeownership costs beyond the mortgage.
Affordability Stress Test
10 real-life scenarios to test your budget's resilience.
Rent vs Buy Calculator
Year-by-year comparison with break-even analysis and net worth impact.
Safe Budget Finder
Find your realistic price range before you start shopping.
Compare Multiple Homes
Side-by-side comparison of up to 5 properties.
Offer Readiness
Know if you're truly ready to make an offer.
Home Risk Checklist
Structured inspection and risk tracking for each home.
Listing Import
Import listing details from text or enter manually.
Reports & Exports
Print-ready reports and shareable scenario links.
WHY TRUST US
Free to use. No lender pressure.
We don't work for mortgage companies or real estate agents. Our only job is to help you understand the real numbers before you commit to one of the biggest financial decisions of your life.
Some recommendations may include affiliate links. They do not affect your results or scores in any way.
Ready to see the real numbers?
It takes about 5 minutes. No account required. Start with a property you're considering, or just find your safe budget first.