Fixer-Upper Calculator

Calculate your renovation purchase loan payment with FHA 203k or Fannie Mae HomeStyle. See instant equity created, compare loan types side by side, and get a full cost breakdown including contingency and contractor fees.

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Monthly Payment
$1,787
$1,675 P&I · $113 MIP · $245,472 total loan
Down Payment: $8,750
Purchase Loan: $193,000
Renovation Loan: $50,000
FHA Upfront MIP: $4,222
Total Loan (Purchase + Reno)
$245,472
Down Payment
$8,750
Instant Equity Created
$50,000
Your Cost vs ARV
83.3%
Total Interest (est.)
$397,869
Upfront MIP
$4,222

Side-by-side comparison of all three renovation financing approaches for your $200,000 purchase + $50,000 renovation.

FHA 203k Standard
$1,787/mo
Down: $8,750 (3.5%)
Loan: $245,472
MIP/mo: $113
Lowest down — MIP for life of loan
HomeStyle (5% down)
$1,760/mo
Down: $12,500 (5%)
Loan: $237,500
PMI/mo: $99
No FHA limits — PMI drops at 80% LTV
Traditional + Cash Reno
$1,038/mo
Down: $40,000 (20%)
Upfront reno: $50,000
Total upfront: $90,000
Lowest monthly — highest upfront
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203k Monthly Savings vs HomeStyle
$27
HomeStyle cheaper/mo
Upfront Cash: 203k vs Traditional
$81,250
203k needs less cash
203k vs Traditional (monthly)
$749
203k costs more/mo
HomeStyle vs Traditional (monthly)
$722
HomeStyle costs more/mo

True all-in cost including contingency, professional fees, and temporary housing if needed during renovation.

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Purchase Price: $200,000
Renovation Budget: $50,000
Contingency (15%): $7,500
HUD Consultant: $700
Permits & Inspections: $2,000
Total All-In Investment
$260,200
All costs before financing
Contingency Reserve
$7,500
15% of renovation budget
Professional Fees
$2,700
Consultant, permits, inspection
Temp Housing Total
$0
0 months at $1,500/mo

How to Use This Fixer-Upper Calculator

This calculator is designed for owner-occupants buying a home to live in — not for investors flipping properties for profit. It covers FHA 203k and Fannie Mae HomeStyle renovation loans, the two primary tools for financing a purchase-plus-renovation.

Quick Calculator

Enter the Purchase Price (what you will pay for the home as-is), your Renovation Budget (all planned work), and the After Repair Value (ARV) — what the home will be worth after renovations. Select your loan type and down payment percentage. The calculator shows your total monthly payment including FHA MIP (if applicable), the instant equity you create, and how your cost compares to ARV.

Advanced: Loan Type Comparison

The 203k vs HomeStyle vs Cash tab compares all three financing approaches side by side for your specific numbers. See monthly payments, upfront costs, and the key trade-offs for each option.

Pro: Full Cost Breakdown

Enter the full picture — contingency reserve, HUD consultant fee (required for 203k Standard), permits, inspection, and temporary housing if you cannot live in the home during renovation. The Equity Created and vs Move-In Ready tabs show you the true financial picture.

How Renovation Loan Costs Are Calculated

FHA 203k Total Loan = (Purchase Price + Renovation Budget) − Down Payment
Upfront MIP = Base Loan × 1.75% (added to loan balance)
Annual MIP = Financed Loan × 0.55% (paid monthly)

HomeStyle Total Loan = (Purchase Price + Renovation Budget) − Down Payment
PMI required if LTV > 80% — cancels when equity reaches 20%

Instant Equity = ARV − (Purchase Price + Renovation Budget + All Fees)
Contingency Recommended = 15% of renovation budget

The key difference: FHA 203k MIP lasts the life of the loan if your down payment is under 10%. HomeStyle PMI cancels automatically once you reach 20% equity — a significant long-term savings for borrowers who can qualify for conventional financing.

Example: First-Time Buyer Using 203k Standard

Sarah buys a distressed home in Columbus, OH

Purchase Price (as-is)$185,000
Renovation Budget$55,000
Total Loan Base$240,000
Down Payment (3.5%)$8,400
Base Loan$231,600
Upfront MIP (1.75%)+$4,053 (financed)
Total FHA Loan$235,653
Interest Rate7.25% (30-year)
P&I Payment$1,608
Annual MIP (0.55%)+$108/mo
Total Monthly$1,716
ARV (after reno)$295,000
Instant Equity Created$55,000
HUD Consultant$750
Contingency (15%)$8,250

Sarah paid $193,400 all-in (purchase + reno + fees) for a home worth $295,000 — creating $101,600 in equity on a $8,400 down payment. That is a 12x equity leverage on her down payment, the core financial benefit of the fixer-upper strategy.

Frequently Asked Questions

An FHA 203k loan lets you finance both the purchase price and renovation costs into a single mortgage. The Limited version covers cosmetic repairs up to $35,000. The Standard version covers structural and major renovations with no dollar cap but requires a HUD consultant ($400–$1,000). You make one monthly payment covering both the home purchase and the renovation financing.
FHA 203k Limited (formerly Streamlined) is for cosmetic renovations up to $35,000 — paint, flooring, HVAC, windows, non-structural kitchen and bath remodels. Standard allows structural work, additions, and major renovations with no dollar cap, but requires a HUD consultant ($400–$1,000) and a licensed contractor who completes work in 5 draws inspected by the lender.
HomeStyle is a conventional renovation loan with no FHA restrictions. You can finance luxury improvements, pools, ADUs, and landscaping — items FHA prohibits. HomeStyle requires 3–5% down versus 3.5% for 203k, has no upfront MIP, and PMI drops off once you reach 20% equity. For buyers with good credit (720+), HomeStyle often results in a lower total cost than 203k.
FHA 203k requires 3.5% down on the combined total of purchase price plus renovation costs. For example, if you buy a $200,000 home and plan $50,000 in renovations, your down payment is 3.5% of $250,000 = $8,750. The FHA upfront MIP of 1.75% is also added to the loan balance, increasing your financed amount.
Instant equity is the difference between a property's After Repair Value (ARV) and your total investment (purchase price + renovation costs). If you buy a home for $200,000, invest $50,000 in renovations, and the ARV is $300,000, you have created $50,000 in instant equity. This forced appreciation is the primary financial benefit of buying a fixer-upper over a move-in ready home.

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