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Thinking about buying a home? Start here.
Free tools to check your numbers, compare loan options, find down payment help and follow every step to closing. Use them whether or not you ever talk to us.
Five steps, in order
- Check your numbers with the qualification check and the cash planner.
- See your loan options in the options finder.
- Find help. Use the assistance finder and the first-time buyer benefits finder.
- Follow the checklist in the home buying checklist.
- Talk to a lender for a pre-approval and written estimates.
Free tools for buyers and owners
Home payment calculator
Estimates a full monthly payment with Texas property tax and insurance, or the price a budget fits.
BuyersHome loan qualification check
Shows a prospect their payment, their payment-to-income ratios and the price range their numbers support.
BuyersDown payment and closing cost planner
Adds up the down payment, closing costs and reserves a buyer needs, and how long saving would take.
BuyersHome loan options finder
Five questions that point a prospect to the loan types worth asking a lender about.
BuyersDown payment assistance finder
Shows a prospect where to look for down payment help and grants, and which questions to ask each one.
BuyersFirst-time buyer benefits finder
Explains what first-time buyer status can unlock and what to ask about each benefit.
OwnersRefinance break-even calculator
Shows the new payment, the monthly savings and how many months it takes to earn back refinance costs.
BuyersHome buying checklist
A step-by-step checklist from getting ready to closing day. Ticks save in the buyer's browser only.
Get free counseling
A HUD-approved housing counselor can review your budget and point you to local programs for little or no cost. Search at hud.gov/findacounselor.
If you own a home you need to sell first
Some buyers need to sell their current house before they can move. If it needs work or you want a simple, fast sale, see our sell fast page or compare options with the cash offer vs. listing calculator.
Common questions
Do these tools approve me for a loan?
No. They show where your numbers stand and which options to ask about. A lender reviews your credit, documents and the property, and makes the decision.
Do I have to give you my information?
No. The tools run in your browser and send nothing to us. You can ask us for help at the bottom of the page, but you never have to.
Can I get a grant to buy a home?
Some programs offer grants, forgivable loans or repayable second loans for buyers who meet their limits. The assistance finder shows where to look, and each program decides who qualifies.
Who is behind this page?
Captain Saves A Home, a Houston home buyer, not a lender or a law firm. These tools are free whether or not you ever contact us.
Tell us what you are looking for
Share where you want to buy and when, and we will point you to programs and lenders to ask about. There is no cost and no obligation.
General information, not legal, tax or financial advice. Captain Saves A Home is a Houston home buyer, not a law firm, lender or government agency. We buy houses, so we have an interest in a sale; the tools are free to use whether or not you ever contact us.
Lenders and housing counselors
You can put these tools on your own website for free, with your name and colors. See tools for lender partners.