Allen Markel, REALTOR® · Texas Premier Realty

Resources

Calculators

Real numbers for real decisions — today's 7.40% average 30-year rate from Freddie Mac, this area's actual tax rates, and Texas's regulated title premiums. No sign-up required.

Today’s mortgage ratesConforming, jumbo, FHA, VA, USDA and 15-year — updated every business day.See rates →

Buying

What can I afford?

Income and debts in — a comfortable target price out, with the 36% math shown.

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Buying

Rent vs. own

What your current rent could be buying you, and the equity difference over 5 years.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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Buying

2-1 buydown

The payment in years 1, 2 and 3+, and what the buydown costs — usually a seller or builder concession.

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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.

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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.

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Selling

Seller net sheet

What you'd walk away with — including the exact state-regulated title policy.

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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.

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Selling

Holding cost to sell

What waiting to list really costs each month — interest, taxes, insurance and upkeep against what the home might gain.

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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.

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Owning

Early payoff

What an extra principal payment saves in interest — and how much sooner you're done.

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Owning

Refinance breakeven

Whether a refi pays for itself, and how fast.

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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.

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

Questions about Hub

What it does

  • Which calculator should I start with?

    Start with the question you are actually facing. If you are wondering what price range fits, begin with What can I afford. If you have a price in mind, try Cash to close to see what it takes to get the keys. If you are deciding between options, such as renting, waiting or a shorter loan, use the matching comparison. Talk to us if you are not sure which question comes first.

  • Do I need to register to use the calculators?

    The page says no sign-up is required for these calculators, so you can open one and start typing numbers. Nothing here is an application. They are budgetary tools meant to help you see how the pieces of a purchase, a sale or ownership fit together before you speak with a lender or with us.

  • What is the difference between the Buying, Selling and Owning calculators?

    Buying tools cover affordability, rent versus own, cash to close, rate and loan comparisons, and buyer-agent compensation. Selling tools cover a seller net sheet, selling versus renting, and the cost of waiting to list. Owning tools cover property-tax exemption savings, early payoff and refinancing. Each card on the page is labeled with its group so you can find the right one quickly.

  • How do I decide between buying now and waiting?

    The Buy now or buy later calculator puts the two paths side by side, including buying now and refinancing later versus waiting. The future rate and home value changes are what-ifs you control, not forecasts. It also notes that rent paid while you wait is not counted. The right answer depends on your timeline and finances, so talk to us to walk through your circumstances.

  • Is there a calculator for comparing a shorter loan with a 30-year loan?

    Yes. The 15 vs. 30 years calculator shows the payment and total interest each way, and what the 15-year payment would buy on a 30-year clock. It is a useful way to see the tradeoff between a lower monthly payment and paying less interest over time. A lender can price both options for your situation.

  • What can I learn from the buydown and ARM calculators?

    The 2-1 buydown calculator shows the payment in the early years and what the buydown costs, which is usually a seller or builder concession. The 5/1 and 7/1 ARM calculator shows year-by-year payments after the fixed period and the worst case at the cap, beside a 30-year fixed. Both help you see what a lower early payment may cost later.

  • Can the calculators help if I am thinking about selling?

    Yes. The Seller net sheet shows what you might walk away with, including the state-regulated title policy. Sell or rent compares listing now with leasing and selling later, and Holding cost to sell shows what waiting to list costs each month. These are estimates, and the right path depends on your goals and timeline, so talk to us before deciding.

  • Is there a calculator for what an extra mortgage payment does?

    Yes. The Early payoff calculator shows what an extra principal payment saves in interest and how much sooner the loan is done. If you are weighing a refinance instead, the Refinance breakeven calculator shows whether it pays for itself and how fast. Both are estimates, so confirm details with your lender before acting.

The inputs

  • Where does the mortgage rate in the calculators come from?

    The page shows the current average 30-year rate from Freddie Mac, and the calculators start from it. It is an average, not a quote for you. Your own rate depends on your lender and your situation, so the calculators let you edit the rate to match what a lender gives you. Using your lender's figure will make the result closer to your real numbers.

  • Why does the property tax in the calculators depend on the county I choose?

    Tax rates differ by county and by the districts that tax a home. The calculators use a typical rate for the county you pick and let you add a ZIP code for a closer figure. It is a budgetary estimate, so your actual bill can differ. Checking the rate on a specific home is a good step before you rely on the result.

Reading the result

  • Are the calculators a loan quote or a pre-approval?

    No. They are budgetary estimates, and the page says plainly that Allen Markel is a REALTOR, not a lender, and does not quote rates or decide whether you qualify. Only a lender can do that. Use the results to understand tradeoffs and to ask better questions, then get real numbers from a lender before you make decisions.

  • Why might a lender's numbers differ from what a calculator shows?

    The calculators use typical or assumed figures for items such as fees, insurance and mortgage insurance, while a lender prices your actual file. Your credit, loan type, down payment and the property itself all change the real numbers. Treat the calculator as a starting point and let the lender's written estimate be the number you plan around.

Limits

  • Can a calculator tell me whether I qualify for a mortgage?

    No. Qualifying is decided by a lender after reviewing your full financial picture. A calculator such as What can I afford gives a comfortable target using a common guideline, but lenders may approve more or less. A pre-approval from a lender is the real answer, and we can introduce you to lenders we work with if you would like that.

  • Why does the page list lenders if the calculators are free?

    Because a calculator cannot give you a real quote. The page lists lenders Allen works with and offers a courtesy introduction if you tap Make introduction. You choose who to work with, and you are free to talk to any lender you like. The introduction is simply a way to get real numbers sooner.

  • Do the calculators cover everything I will pay as a buyer or seller?

    No. They are budgetary tools built around the main costs, and each page lists what it leaves out. For example, Cash to close leaves out items like HOA transfer fees and repairs you agree to pay for. Read the note at the bottom of each calculator, and talk to us about anything particular to your home or contract.

Next steps

  • What should I do after I run the numbers?

    Write down the result you were surprised by and the question it raised, then bring it to a lender or to us. A calculator is most useful when it leads to a specific conversation. Waiting rarely makes the questions clearer, so schedule a short call to walk through the numbers with a person.

Calculators

  • How accurate are the calculators?

    They are budgetary estimates built from public sources and typical figures, such as the weekly average rate, typical tax rates by county and Texas's regulated title premiums. They are not a quote, a Loan Estimate or an appraisal. The more of your own numbers you enter, the closer they get, and a lender, title company and tax office confirm the real figures.

  • Can a calculator replace a pre-approval?

    No. A calculator uses averages and assumptions. A pre-approval comes from a loan originator who reviews your actual credit, pay documentation and savings. Use the calculators to learn the vocabulary and build a range, then get a pre-approval for the number that counts. The sooner you ask, the more time you have to plan.

  • Why should I change the numbers in the calculators?

    Because your situation is not an average. The tools start from typical figures, but your rate, taxes, HOA and costs will differ. Change the inputs as you learn real numbers from a lender, the listing and a title company, and try a few different scenarios to see how sensitive the result is.

  • What is the 36% guideline in the affordability tool?

    It is a rule of thumb that a household's total monthly debt payments, including the new housing payment, stay at or below 36% of gross monthly pay. It is a guideline, not a rule, and lenders may approve more or less depending on the program. Treat the result as a comfortable target and ask a loan originator what your file supports.

  • What do I do after I use the calculators?

    Use the results to set a price range and a cash plan, then talk to a loan originator for a pre-approval and to us about strategy. There are many ways to buy and sell, and the right path depends on your goals and timeline. Putting this off rarely helps, so a short conversation is a good next step.

  • Are the calculators legal, tax or financial advice?

    No. They are educational estimates. Questions about law belong with an attorney, tax questions with a CPA or tax advisor, and loan questions with a loan originator. We help you understand how the pieces fit together on your team and plan the real estate side.

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