What is Paycheck-to-Home?

It is an educational planner that shows how today’s savings and a monthly amount you choose could become a home fund. The home fund can include a down payment plus estimated closing costs, prepaids, and a reserve preference.

Is the monthly amount required?

No. You can compare different monthly assumptions to see how the timeline changes. National Mortgage Center does not tell you that you must save a certain amount.

Does this mean I can afford that home or that I qualify?

No. The results are illustrations based on the assumptions you enter. They are not buying power, approval, pre-qualification, or a commitment to lend.

Why is the target higher than the down payment?

Cash to buy a home often includes more than the down payment. This planner adds educational estimates for closing costs, prepaid taxes and insurance, and an optional reserve. Those pieces are labeled as estimates.

Do I need an account to save my plan?

No. You can save the home-fund numbers to My Home Plan on this device. Email is optional and is not a request for a loan officer to call you.

Home-fund planner

How could today’s savings become tomorrow’s home fund?

Model a down payment plus estimated closing costs, prepaids, and a reserve preference. Compare monthly amounts. Nothing here is mandatory, guaranteed, or a lending decision.

Last reviewed September 2026 · Equal Housing Lender · NMLS #466690

Home-fund timelines, ownership costs, and buying-power ranges are illustrations based on the assumptions you enter or on labeled estimates. They are not guaranteed, not exact, and not a statement that you qualify. See how different assumptions change your home-fund timeline. Nothing here is a required savings amount.

Your savings assumptions

Enter what you know. A home fund includes more than a down payment.

Current home savings

Monthly amount available for home savings

Monthly take-home incomeOptional

Only used to show savings as a share of take-home. Not used for underwriting.

Target home price

Desired down payment

Down-payment percent

Target purchase date

State Optional

City or area Optional

Emergency reserve preference

Months of estimated housing cost to include in the educational cash target.

Save and continue

Save your numbers, properties, goals and next steps so you can continue later. This is not a request for a loan officer to call you.

First name Optional

Email Optional

My Home Plan saves the goals, numbers, and properties you enter so you can continue later. Saved figures are educational scenarios, not a loan offer or credit decision.

The planning link uses a scenario identifier. It does not include your name, email, or take-home income.

Explore Buying Power Compare Home Costs See My Next 3 Moves

Your 3 Moves

Move 1
Establish a home-fund target
A home fund usually includes more than a down payment — closing costs, prepaids, and a reserve preference can all matter.
Open Paycheck-to-Home
Move 2
Explore likely property taxes in a target area
Property taxes and insurance can materially change estimated monthly cost. You have not entered a target location yet.
Explore Property Intelligence
Move 3
Compare financing scenarios worth exploring
Conventional and FHA paths are often worth comparing based on down-payment and credit assumptions you can enter. This is not a recommendation of a “best loan.”
Compare Options

How Paycheck-to-Home estimates work

The educational home-fund target is the sum of: the down payment you chose (percent or dollars), estimated closing costs (default 3% of price), prepaid tax and insurance (default three months), and an optional reserve (default two months of an estimated housing cost). Property tax and insurance defaults are national educational averages unless you later replace them in other tools.

The current-path date divides the remaining gap by the monthly amount you entered. The target-date view divides the same gap by the months until the month you selected. Both dates are illustrations.

This content is for education. It is not legal, tax, or financial advice and is not a commitment to lend.

Paycheck-to-Home questions

What is Paycheck-to-Home?: It is an educational planner that shows how today’s savings and a monthly amount you choose could become a home fund. The home fund can include a down payment plus estimated closing costs, prepaids, and a reserve preference.
Is the monthly amount required?: No. You can compare different monthly assumptions to see how the timeline changes. National Mortgage Center does not tell you that you must save a certain amount.
Does this mean I can afford that home or that I qualify?: No. The results are illustrations based on the assumptions you enter. They are not buying power, approval, pre-qualification, or a commitment to lend.
Why is the target higher than the down payment?: Cash to buy a home often includes more than the down payment. This planner adds educational estimates for closing costs, prepaid taxes and insurance, and an optional reserve. Those pieces are labeled as estimates.
Is the shareable link private?: The planning link uses a scenario identifier with rounded assumptions. It does not include your name, email, or take-home income. Treat it like any link that contains planning numbers you chose to share.
Do I need an account to save my plan?: No. You can save the home-fund numbers to My Home Plan on this device. Email is optional and is not a request for a loan officer to call you.