In Wisconsin, Menominee County has the lowest median monthly mortgage payment at $730, while Dane County has the highest at $2,750. These differences in monthly mortgage payments can affect both your short-term budget and long-term financial health, impacting your ability to save and invest for the future.
Using MoneyGeek's mortgage calculator in Wisconsin can help you estimate your monthly mortgage payment, determine which loan term suits your financial situation better, and see how much interest you pay over your loan's lifetime.
Mortgage Calculator in Wisconsin (November 2024)
The median monthly mortgage payments in Wisconsin range from $730 to $2,750. Using our mortgage calculator for Wisconsin can help you estimate how much you'll spend on your mortgage.
Updated: November 12, 2024
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Mortgage Calculator
Simply estimate your Wisconsin loan payments, taxes and PMI.
Updated: Sep 4, 2024
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Optional: add taxes, insurance, HOA Fees
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Get personalized mortgage rates from Wisconsin.
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Key Takeaways
Use the mortgage calculator in Wisconsin to estimate monthly payments, with Menominee County at $730 and Dane County at $2,750 as of March 2024.
A mortgage calculator helps find a payment fitting your budget, adjust loan terms or down payments, and estimate total interest over the loan's life.
The average APR for a 30-year mortgage in Wisconsin is 6.9%, and for a 15-year mortgage, it is 6.1%.
MoneyGeek uses publicly available data from Zillow for the rates on this page. Mortgage rates shift daily, and we take a snapshot to analyze rate information for Wisconsin. We update the data frequently to ensure you have access to the most recent rates, but the values may differ slightly between reporting sources. Unless otherwise stated, all rates are annual percentage rates (APRs).
See the sources cited for more details about data related to median mortgage payments, home prices, down payments and local tax rates.
Interest rate data was last updated in September 2024.
How to Use Our Wisconsin Mortgage Calculator
MoneyGeek's mortgage calculator in Wisconsin can calculate your monthly mortgage payments, helping you determine your mortgage's affordability. You'll also understand your amortization schedule, providing a clear financial path ahead.
Calculate Your Monthly Mortgage Payment
Understanding your monthly mortgage payment involves several factors, including the home's sale price and your down payment. Let's walk through using Wisconsin's mortgage calculator to estimate your expenses.
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Home Price
The home price directly influences your monthly mortgage payment in Wisconsin. A lower home price in Menominee County, at a median of $125,580, means lower monthly payments than in Dane County, where the median is $471,900, according to the National Association of Realtors.
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Down Payment
The size of your down payment influences your monthly mortgage payment by reducing the loan amount. Wisconsin's median down payment is $47,800, according to ATTOM data from June 2024.
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Annual Percentage Rate (APR)
Your Annual Percentage Rate (APR) impacts your monthly mortgage payment, with a lower APR resulting in lower payments. The current mortgage rates in Wisconsin change over time and vary between loan types. For example, the average APR for a 15-year fixed mortgage is 6.1%, and for a 30-year fixed mortgage, it's 6.9%.
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Loan Terms
Shorter terms, like 15 years, often have higher monthly payments but result in less interest paid over the life of the loan. Conversely, a 30-year term typically has lower monthly payments but accrues more interest over time. Choosing the right term depends on your financial situation and goals.
Using the mortgage calculator in Wisconsin, you can see that the monthly payment for a 30-year fixed rate mortgage on a $275,000 house after a 20% down payment is $1,449. This amount does not include additional costs like HOA fees or property tax.
Choosing a 15-year repayment term for your home loan increases your monthly payment to $1,868 in Wisconsin. While this may impact your short-term budget, it results in a total interest savings of $185,301 over the life of the loan.
Determine Your Mortgage's Affordability
Buying a home is one of the most significant expenses you'll have, and your mortgage payments will take a substantial portion of your monthly income. Understanding how affordable your mortgage is can greatly affect your finances. That's where MoneyGeek's mortgage calculator for affordability comes in handy—by inputting your monthly income and other monthly debts, such as car loans and student loans, you can quickly determine how much you can afford.
The calculator also shows your debt-to-income ratio, a critical metric for borrowers. This ratio helps you understand how much of your income goes toward debt payments, which is important when planning to secure a mortgage. According to Experian, the average debt in Wisconsin is $85,881, which translates to an average monthly debt of $7,157.
See Your Amortization Schedule
Mortgage amortization is the process of paying off a loan over time through regular payments.
Key terms:
- Principal: The loan amount you borrow. Understanding this helps you see how much you owe.
- Interest: The cost of borrowing the principal. Knowing this shows the total cost of your loan.
MoneyGeek's mortgage calculator allows you to see your amortization schedule and estimate the total interest you'll pay over the life of your loan in Wisconsin. You can also see when your monthly payments begin to go more toward your principal versus your interest, helping you understand your payment allocation over time.
Additional Mortgage Fees in Wisconsin
Aside from the loan amount and interest rate, homebuyers need to consider the other standard mortgage fees that could impact their budget. For example, mortgage insurance and HOA fees could increase your monthly payment. Property taxes and homeowners insurance are other costs to keep in mind.
Homeowners Insurance
Homeowners insurance protects your property and personal belongings from damage or theft. It also provides liability coverage if someone is injured on your property. The average homeowners insurance in Wisconsin costs $1,172 per year.
Property Tax
Property tax is a levy on real estate that homeowners must pay to the local government. It funds public services like schools and infrastructure. According to the Tax Foundation, Wisconsin's effective property tax rate is 1.61%, ranking it 8th in the nation.
HOA Fees
HOA fees are payments to homeowners associations for property management, maintenance, and community amenities. These fees are typically paid monthly or annually.
Private Mortgage Insurance
Private mortgage insurance (PMI) protects lenders if a borrower defaults on a loan. It applies to conventional mortgages when the down payment is less than 20%. Borrowers must request cancellation once they reach 20% equity, or it will only be automatically removed at 22%.
How Much Is Private Mortgage Insurance in Wisconsin?
The average APR for a 30-year fixed loan in Wisconsin is 6.9%, while for a 15-year fixed loan, it's 6.1%. Using MoneyGeek's PMI calculator, you can see that for a $275,000 home with a 10% down payment, borrowers with a credit score between 680 and 719 pay PMI worth $117 per month if they get a 30-year fixed rate loan. The amount becomes $115 if they opt for a 15-year loan instead.
MoneyGeek's Wisconsin mortgage calculator allows you to see your amortization schedule and determine when you can stop paying for PMI:
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Calculate your monthly mortgage payment
Input the necessary information, such as the home's price, down payment, and mortgage rate in Wisconsin. If you already know some fees you need to cover, such as property tax or HOAs, include these. If not, leave them blank but know that you'll still have to pay for these. Run the calculator and get your total monthly payment.
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Calculate for your target equity
You can request that PMI be canceled when you've accumulated at least 20% equity in your home — this will be your target equity. To calculate your target equity, multiply your home's price by 20%.
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Determine the remaining equity required
Your down payment already contributes towards the 20% equity you need to request your PMI's cancellation. Deduct your down payment from your target equity to get the remaining amount.
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Establish a timeline
Go to the third tab of the mortgage calculator. Move the slider until the 'Principal Paid' exceeds your remaining equity required — that'll be the year you can stop paying for PMI.
Private Mortgage Insurance Calculator
Calculate your monthly private mortgage insurance (PMI) premium based on your credit score and down payment.
Your Expenses
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You put in an 8% down payment for a home in Wisconsin priced at $350,000. With an average APR of 6.9% for a 30-year fixed-rate loan, your monthly mortgage payment is $2,121.
20% of $350,000 is $70,000 — that's how much you need in total to request your PMI's cancellation. Subtracting $28,000 (8% of $350,000) from $70,000 gives you $42,000 — that's how much you still need to pay to hit 20% equity. Assuming that your home's value remains the same over the years and that you consistently pay your mortgage, you can request your lender to cancel your PMI before the end of Year 11.
How to Lower Your Monthly Mortgage Payment in Wisconsin
Your mortgage is probably the biggest expense you have each month. For a $225,000 loan in Wisconsin at 6.9%, you'll pay $1,449 monthly. However, if you can reduce your APR by 0.25%, your new monthly mortgage payment becomes $1,412. That $37 difference in monthly payment adds up — over a 30-year fixed-rate mortgage, you'll save $13,175 in total interest.
This example highlights the value of finding ways to lower monthly mortgage payments. Here are some strategies to consider:
Improve your credit score
Credit score affects your mortgage payment calculations significantly. In Wisconsin, if you put in a down payment between 5% to 20% of the home's sale price, the average APR for a 30-year fixed rate mortgage is 7.1% if your credit score is above 740. However, if your credit score is lower than 680, the average APR becomes 7.5%. This change in APR makes your monthly mortgage payments go from $1,478 to $1,538.
Save for a bigger down payment
Putting a bigger down payment may result in lower monthly mortgage payments. For a $225,000 loan in Wisconsin, putting 8% down makes your APR 7.2%, resulting in a monthly mortgage of $1,717. Increasing your down payment to 25% puts your APR at 6.9% and a monthly mortgage of $1,358.
Choose a longer loan term
A longer loan term affects your monthly mortgage payment. A 15-year fixed rate mortgage in Wisconsin has an APR of 6.1%. A 20% down payment makes your monthly mortgage payment $1,868. Compare this to $1,449, which you'll have to pay each month if you change loan terms to 30 years, even if your APR increases to 6.9%.
Explore homeownership assistance programs
You can find homeowners assistance programs in Wisconsin that may help with your mortgage costs. Institutions like the Wisconsin Housing and Economic Development Authority and Wisconsin Rural Development offer various forms of assistance to eligible homeowners.
FAQ: Mortgage Calculations in Wisconsin
Understanding how to use a mortgage calculator can lead to questions for potential borrowers, especially within Wisconsin's housing market. We've addressed commonly asked questions to help clarify how mortgage calculators work in this state.
Your mortgage affordability in Wisconsin depends on your debt-to-income ratio (DTI). Typically, lenders prefer a DTI ratio below 36%.
The average mortgage debt in Wisconsin is $163,940 as of 2023, according to Experian.
The ideal down payment is 20%, but it varies by loan type. For conventional loans, it's typically 20%, while FHA loans require as little as 3.5%. VA loans and USDA loans often don't require a down payment.
In Wisconsin, PMI costs are approximately $115 for a 15-year mortgage and $117 for a 30-year mortgage. PMI is generally required if your down payment is less than 20%.
Wisconsin's effective property tax rate is 1.61% in 2023, ranking 8th nationally.
The median home price in Wisconsin varies by county. Menominee County has the lowest median home price at $125,580, while Dane County has the highest at $471,900.
About Zachary Romeo, CBCA
Zachary Romeo is a certified Commercial Banking and Credit Analyst (CBCA), and the Head of Loans and Banking at MoneyGeek. Previously, he led production teams for some of the largest online informational resources in higher education, with over 13 years of experience in editorial production.
Romeo has a bachelor's degree in biological engineering from Cornell University. He geeks out on minimizing personal debt and helping others do the same through people-first content.
sources
- ATTOM. "Wisconsin Real Estate and Property Data." Accessed November 12, 2024.
- Experian. "Average U.S. Mortgage Debt Increases to $244,498 in 2023." Accessed November 12, 2024.
- Experian. "Experian Study: Average U.S. Consumer Debt and Statistics." Accessed November 12, 2024.
- National Association of Realtors. "County Median Home Prices and Monthly Mortgage Payment." Accessed November 12, 2024.
- Tax Foundation. "Property Taxes by State and County, 2023." Accessed November 12, 2024.