Convert the annual rate to monthly (divide by 12) and the term to months (years x 12), then amortize the loan.
Texas real estate mortgage payment and PITI cheat sheet
Built for Texas sales agent exam prep. Use this to convert the rate and term to monthly, apply the per-$1,000 payment factor, and build full PITI before you touch the qualifying ratios.
The exam usually gives a factor per $1,000. Multiply it by the loan in thousands to get monthly principal and interest.
Add 1/12 of annual taxes and 1/12 of annual insurance to principal and interest, plus any PMI and HOA.
Qualifying uses the full housing payment, not just principal and interest.
Add monthly debt payments such as cars, cards, and student loans.
Multiply the monthly payment by the number of payments, then subtract the original loan amount.
The exam setup rule
- Read whether the question gives a rate and term or a payment factor.
- Convert the annual rate to monthly and the term to months if you have a rate.
- Find monthly principal and interest first.
- Add 1/12 of annual taxes and insurance, plus PMI and HOA, for PITI.
- Answer the exact amount asked: principal and interest, PITI, or total interest.
Five worked examples
Monthly rate 0.5625%, 360 payments. Monthly principal and interest is about $2,075.51.
240,000 / 1,000 = 240. 240 x 6.49 = $1,557.60 monthly principal and interest.
Tax 9,000 / 12 = 750. Insurance 1,800 / 12 = 150. PITI = 2,075.51 + 750 + 150 + 150 = $3,125.51.
2,075.51 x 360 = $747,185. Minus 320,000 = about $427,185 total interest.
3,125.51 / 9,200 = 33.97% front-end ratio.
Traps to check
- Do not use the annual rate as the monthly rate; divide by 12 first.
- Do not multiply a per-$1,000 factor by the whole loan; divide the loan by 1,000 first.
- Do not answer principal and interest when the question asks for full PITI.
- Do not forget to divide annual taxes and insurance by 12.
- Do not add a transfer tax to a Texas payment; Texas has no statewide transfer tax.
Sanity check
- A higher interest rate or a longer term raises total interest.
- PITI is always larger than principal and interest alone.
- Total interest equals total payments minus the original loan amount.
Use the calculator, Math Coach, Trap Library, and Texas-specific questions at passtexasrealestate.com.