Move Smarter Math™
What Will This Home Really Cost?
Before you fall in love with a home, see the real monthly number — principal, interest, taxes, insurance and HOA, all in one place.
What does a home really cost per month beyond the mortgage payment?
The advertised payment is rarely the real one. A full monthly cost in Prince George’s County includes principal and interest, property taxes, homeowner’s insurance, mortgage insurance if you put down less than 20 percent, any HOA or condo fee, utilities, and a maintenance reserve of roughly one percent of the home’s value per year. Two homes at the same list price can differ by hundreds of dollars a month once all of that is added in. Move Smarter™ Math is Carole Webb’s way of putting every line on one page before you fall in love with a house, so the decision gets made on the real numbers instead of on a payment quoted without them.
Your Numbers
Adjust any field — the estimate updates instantly.
Numbers are only half the picture. When you’re ready, I’ll walk you through what these mean for your budget — no pressure, just clarity.
Talk Through My NumbersThis calculator provides estimates for educational purposes only and is not a loan offer, pre-approval, or financial advice. Actual rates, taxes, insurance, and payments vary. Please consult a licensed lender for figures specific to your situation.
The math behind a move, answered
- What is Move Smarter™ Math?
- A one-page way of putting the real numbers next to each other before a move: the full monthly cost of the home you are considering, the net proceeds from the home you are leaving, the cash required at the settlement table, and what the whole decision looks like at one year and at five.
- What actually goes into a monthly payment?
- Principal and interest, property taxes, homeowner’s insurance, mortgage insurance if the down payment is under 20 percent, any HOA or condo fee, utilities, and a maintenance reserve of roughly one percent of the home’s value per year. Two homes at the same list price can differ by hundreds of dollars a month once all of that is counted.
- Is it cheaper to rent or to buy in Prince George’s County?
- It depends on how long you will stay. Buying carries large one-time costs at both ends, so short horizons favor renting and longer ones favor buying. The break-even point is the number actually worth calculating — not a payment-to-rent comparison on its own.
- How much will I walk away with when I sell?
- Sale price minus loan payoff, brokerage fee, any buyer-agent compensation you offer, Maryland transfer and recordation taxes, settlement fees, and any repair or closing help you agree to. Carole writes this out as a net sheet before you list so it is never a surprise.
- Should I pay points to lower my rate?
- It is a break-even question: divide the cost of the points by the monthly savings to get the number of months you must stay for it to pay off. If you are likely to move or refinance before then, it does not.
- Can you run these numbers for me?
- Yes — at no cost and with no obligation. That is the entire point of the tool.