Data sources
Every figure our calculators use that you don’t enter yourself comes from one of these sources. Each tool page lists the ones it relies on.
How each source is used
| Figure | Value used | Source |
|---|---|---|
| State effective property tax rates | Median tax ÷ median value, e.g. U.S. 0.89% | Census ACS 2024 1-year, B25103 & B25077 |
| Typical PMI cost | $30–$70/month per $100,000 borrowed | Freddie Mac |
| PMI cancellation / termination | 80% request; 78% automatic; loan midpoint | Homeowners Protection Act; CFPB |
| Closing costs | Typically 2%–5% of purchase price; two months of escrow reserves | Freddie Mac |
| FHA upfront MIP | 1.75% of base loan | HUD ML 2023-05 |
| FHA annual MIP (>15 yrs, ≤ $726,200) | 0.50% (LTV ≤ 95%); 0.55% (LTV > 95%) | HUD ML 2023-05 |
| FHA MIP duration | 11 years (LTV ≤ 90%); life of loan (LTV > 90%) | HUD ML 2013-04 |
| FHA minimum down payment | 3.5% with 580+ credit score | HUD Handbook 4000.1 |
| DTI limits | 36% manual; up to 45% with factors; 50% DU | Fannie Mae Selling Guide B3-6-02 |
| Discount points | 1 point = 1% of loan amount | CFPB |
| Concrete bag yields | 40 lb 0.30; 50 lb 0.375; 60 lb 0.45; 80 lb 0.60; 90 lb 0.675 cu ft | QUIKRETE No. 1101 data sheet |
| Paint coverage | 350–400 sq ft/gal; quart 100 sq ft; primer 200–300 sq ft/gal | Sherwin-Williams |
| Shingle bundles | Most shingles 3 bundles per 100 sq ft square; some lines 4 | GAF |
| Recommended insulation R-values | By climate zone (R13–R60) | ENERGY STAR (2021 IECC) |
Stated assumptions (not statistics)
Some inputs are assumptions we state openly rather than measured figures: example interest rates and insurance premiums; door (3 × 7 ft) and window (3 × 5 ft) sizes for area deductions; waste allowances; home price growth, rent growth and investment return in the rent vs buy calculator. All are editable.
All sources
- U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 2024 1-year estimates, table B25103 (median real estate taxes paid) and table B25077 (median value, owner-occupied units)
- U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 2024 table-based summary file (raw data used for the state figures)
- Freddie Mac, “Breaking down PMI,” My Home by Freddie Mac (accessed September 2026)
- Freddie Mac, “Understanding homebuying costs,” My Home by Freddie Mac (accessed September 2026)
- Freddie Mac, Primary Mortgage Market Survey (weekly average rates)
- Consumer Financial Protection Bureau, “When can I remove private mortgage insurance (PMI) from my loan?”
- Homeowners Protection Act of 1998, Public Law 105-216
- Consumer Financial Protection Bureau, “What are (discount) points and lender credits and how do they work?”
- Consumer Financial Protection Bureau, “Closing Disclosure explainer”
- Consumer Financial Protection Bureau, “Loan Estimate explainer”
- U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, Mortgagee Letter 2023-05, “Reduction of Federal Housing Administration (FHA) Annual Mortgage Insurance Premium Rates” (February 22, 2023)
- U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, Mortgagee Letter 2013-04, “Revision of Mortgage Insurance Premium (MIP) Duration” (January 31, 2013)
- U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, Single Family Housing Policy Handbook 4000.1 (minimum required investment and credit score rules)
- Fannie Mae Selling Guide, B3-6-02, “Debt-to-Income Ratios” (April 2, 2025)
- QUIKRETE, Concrete Mix Product No. 1101 product data sheet (bag yields)
- Sherwin-Williams, “Paint Calculator” and FAQs (coverage per gallon, quart and primer)
- GAF, “How Many Bundles of Shingles Are in a Square?”
- ENERGY STAR, “Recommended Home Insulation R-Values” (based on the 2021 International Energy Conservation Code)
- ENERGY STAR, climate zone map for insulation recommendations
- Internal Revenue Service, Publication 936, Home Mortgage Interest Deduction