Excel workbook
Home Buying Cost and Affordability Planner: Compare Homes, Closing Costs and Monthly Payment in Excel
Put in your income, debts and savings, then compare homes on the real monthly cost and the cash you need on closing day.
$19 one time · 14-day full refund · example and blank copies · download link by email
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Browse the storeWho it is for
First-time and move-up home buyers who want to compare homes on the same numbers before talking to a lender.
Not the right fit if
You want a loan pre-approval or a full rent-versus-buy investment analysis: this compares costs and predicts no approval.
Why it is different
- The limits you test are your own inputs, because lenders set their own rules.
- It shows the cash you need to close, not just the monthly payment.
- A filled example for an invented couple comparing three homes, and a blank copy with working formulas.
What is inside
- Start Here. Purpose, which cells to fill in and what the planner cannot tell you.
- Your Finances. Income, monthly debts, savings and the limits you want to test.
- Compare Homes. Three homes side by side: payment with taxes, insurance, HOA and mortgage insurance, total monthly cost, debt-to-income and cash to close.
- Closing Costs. An itemized estimate with the lines you know and blanks for the ones you do not.
- Rate Sensitivity. The payment and total interest if the rate is higher or lower.
- Rent vs Buy (simple). Your rent against the monthly cost of owning, with a plain note on what it leaves out.
- Savings Timeline. How many months it takes to save the cash you need.
- Checks. Missing inputs and numbers that look out of range.
A look inside
Example data, real formulas
Get it
Home Buying Cost and Affordability Planner
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Delivered as a zip with a filled example and a blank copy. Built for Excel, tested in LibreOffice; it should open in Google Sheets but not every feature is tested there. For one business, your own use. General information, not accounting, tax or legal advice. A planning aid, not financial, lending or legal advice. Lenders set their own rules and nothing here predicts approval. Taxes, insurance, closing costs and mortgage insurance vary, so use your own quotes. The rent-versus-buy tab is deliberately simple and ignores appreciation, taxes and what else your money could earn. Payment is handled by Stripe. If a file will not open or something looks wrong, reply to your order email and we will make it right.
Ways to get it
Just this kit, or more
Membership
$29 a month
Every kit and document pack in the store, including new ones. Cancel any time.
See the membershipQuestions
Common questions
What do I get and how is it delivered?
The Home Buying Cost Planner as two Excel files in one zip: a filled-in EXAMPLE so you can see every tab working, and a BLANK copy for your own numbers, plus a README. The download link arrives by email after payment.
Will it open on a Mac, Google Sheets or my phone?
Built for Excel and tested in LibreOffice, which runs on Mac and Windows; it should open in Google Sheets, but not every feature is tested there. Phone spreadsheet apps are not tested. If a file will not open or something looks wrong, reply to your order email and we will make it right. If it is not right for you, email us within 14 days of buying for a full refund.
Is this legal or tax advice?
A planning aid, not financial, lending or legal advice.
Is it the right fit for me?
It is made for first-time and move-up home buyers who want to compare homes on the same numbers before talking to a lender. Skip it if you want a loan pre-approval or a full rent-versus-buy investment analysis: this compares costs and predicts no approval.
Free starter
Try a free one-tab version first
A small working Excel file with the same kind of math, filled with made-up example numbers you can type over. We send one confirmation email, and no series follows.
Rather hand it off?
We can keep the books for you each month
If tracking this yourself is more than you want to take on, we do monthly bookkeeping in QuickBooks, Xero or Excel. Tell us what you use and what is behind, and we reply with a written quote after a short review of your books. No obligation.
Get a bookkeeping quote Free books health checkPrefer to keep it yourself but want a hand getting started? Book a 45 minute setup session ($65).
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