What the amortization table shows
Each row shows one year of your loan: how much of your payments went to principal, how much to interest, and the balance still owed. In the early years most of each payment is interest — the balance falls slowly, then accelerates.
PITI: the real monthly cost
Lenders and budgets use PITI — Principal, Interest, Taxes and Insurance. This calculator adds annual property tax, homeowner's insurance and any HOA dues to the loan payment so the total matches what you would actually pay each month.
Frequently asked questions
Why is so much of my early payment interest?
Interest is charged on the remaining balance, which is largest at the start. As the balance falls, more of each fixed payment goes to principal.
What is included in the total monthly payment?
Principal and interest on the loan, plus property tax and home insurance divided monthly, plus any HOA dues — commonly called PITI.
Does a bigger down payment change the schedule?
Yes. A larger down payment shrinks the loan amount, which lowers both the monthly payment and the lifetime interest shown in the table.