Resources
Calculators
Real numbers for real decisions — this area's actual tax rates and Texas's regulated title premiums, with every rate editable. No sign-up required.
Buying
What can I afford?
Income and debts in — a comfortable target price out, with the 36% math shown.
Open →Buying
Rent vs. own
What your current rent could be buying you, and the equity difference over 5 years.
Open →Buying
Buy now or buy later
Today's payment and cash to close, what the home could be worth in a few years, and buying now and refinancing side by side with waiting.
Open →Buying
Price vs. rate
Hold your payment and move the rate: the price it carries at each rate, and what a 1% rate change is worth in price.
Open →Buying
Cash to close
Down payment, lender and title fees, and prepaids — what it takes to get the keys, less seller credits and your earnest money.
Open →Buying
Buyer-agent compensation
Enter what your written buyer agreement says: what you might owe at closing, what a seller could cover, and the lender limits to confirm.
Open →Buying
15 vs. 30 years
The payment and total interest each way, and what the 15-year payment would buy on a 30-year clock.
Open →Buying
2-1 buydown
The payment in years 1, 2 and 3+, and what the buydown costs — usually a seller or builder concession.
Open →Buying
5/1 and 7/1 ARM
Year-by-year payments after the fixed period, the worst case at the cap, and the 30-year fixed beside it.
Open →Buying
Points vs. down payment
One pile of extra cash — buy the rate down or put more down? The payment each way, and which wins for how long you'll stay.
Open →Selling
Seller net sheet
What you'd walk away with — including the exact state-regulated title policy.
Open →Selling
Sell or rent
List it now or lease it for a few years and sell later? The walk-away each way, with the rental's cash flow counted.
Open →Selling
Holding cost to sell
What waiting to list really costs each month — interest, taxes, insurance and upkeep against what the home might gain.
Open →Owning
Exemption savings
What each Texas property-tax exemption keeps in your pocket, unit by unit, at your county's actual rates. Filing is free.
Open →Owning
Early payoff
What an extra principal payment saves in interest — and how much sooner you're done.
Open →Owning
Refinance breakeven
Whether a refi pays for itself, and how fast.
Open →Talk to a lender
These are the lenders Allen works with. For any lender you’d like to talk to, tap Make introduction — we’ll make the introduction for you.
Zin Team
Zin Mortgage Group
Reilly Hupfeldt
Orca Home Loans
Cindy West
Matador Lending
Gary Warstler
Rocket Mortgage
Allen Markel is a licensed Texas REALTOR®, not a mortgage lender or loan originator. He does not quote rates or terms and does not decide whether you qualify — only a lender can do that. Introductions are a courtesy; you choose who to work with.
Numbers raising questions? Walk through them with a person.
Schedule time with Allen