Graduated Payment Mortgage Calculator

Start low payments and grow them predictably. See flow, interest, and balance at each step. Download clean reports and plan your payment growth confidently.

Calculator Inputs

Large screens: three columns. Medium: two columns. Mobile: one column.
Example: $, €, £, PKR
Payments increase during this phase, then level out.
Used when percent method is selected.
Used when custom amount is selected.
If set, graduation payments will not exceed this.
Reset

Formula Used

This calculator computes interest each period using the periodic rate: r = (annual rate / 100) / payments per year.

A standard fixed payment (for comparison) is computed with: PMT = P*r / (1 - (1+r)^(-N)), where P is principal, r is periodic rate, and N is periods.

During the graduated phase, payments rise yearly: Payment_year(y) = P0 * (1 + g)^y, where P0 is starting payment and g is annual increase.

After graduation, the remaining balance is amortized over remaining periods using the same payment formula to find a single level payment.

How to Use This Calculator

  1. Enter loan amount, annual rate, term, and start date.
  2. Select payment frequency, then choose graduation years.
  3. Set the annual increase rate for payment growth.
  4. Pick a starting method: percent or custom amount.
  5. Add extra principal to model faster payoff.
  6. Optionally include taxes, insurance, and HOA.
  7. Press Calculate; results appear above the form.

Payment growth pattern

A graduated payment mortgage starts with a lower initial payment and increases it over time. This helps borrowers with expected income growth. The calculator models a starting payment set as a percentage of the standard payment or as a custom amount, then applies an annual growth rate during the graduation years. For example, a 70% start and 7% annual growth creates higher payments by year five. Use the payment cap to limit growth when you expect bonuses or promotions later.

Interest and principal behavior

Each period, interest is computed from the current balance using the periodic rate. Principal equals payment minus interest, plus any extra principal you choose. When the early payment is below the interest due, principal becomes zero and the unpaid interest effectively increases the balance. The schedule highlights when this happens and shows the point where payments begin reducing balance consistently.

Graduation phase versus level phase

During graduation, the payment increases once per year by the growth factor. After the graduation period ends, the calculator recomputes a single level payment that amortizes the remaining balance over the remaining periods. This split shows how early affordability trades off against a higher later payment.

Cash outflow with escrows

Taxes, insurance, and HOA are optional monthly inputs. The tool converts them to a per‑period amount that matches your payment frequency, then reports both “Payment” and “Total Outflow.” This helps you compare budget impact across monthly, biweekly, and weekly schedules using consistent annual totals. If you enter $300 monthly escrows, the tool allocates roughly $138 per biweekly period.

Using results for decisions

Review total interest, payoff date, and the balance curve. If negative amortization appears, consider raising the starting payment, shortening graduation years, lowering the growth rate, or adding extra principal. Export the full schedule to CSV for further analysis or share the PDF summary with a lender.

FAQs

1) What does “graduated payment” mean?

It means the payment starts lower and increases on a defined schedule, typically once per year for a set number of years, before switching to a level payment.

2) Can the balance increase at the start?

Yes. If your early payment is less than the interest due, unpaid interest can add to the balance. The schedule will show periods where principal is zero and balance rises.

3) How is the post‑graduation payment calculated?

After the graduation phase, the remaining balance is amortized over the remaining periods using the same payment formula, producing one level payment for the rest of the term.

4) What is the payment cap used for?

A cap limits how high graduated payments can grow during the graduation phase. It is useful when you want increasing payments but need a maximum budget boundary.

5) How do extra payments affect results?

Extra principal reduces the balance faster, lowers total interest, and may shorten the payoff date. The schedule records extra principal separately so you can see its impact clearly.

6) Do taxes and insurance change the loan payment?

They do not change principal and interest. They are added as escrows to estimate total cash outflow per period, helping you budget more realistically.

Example Data Table

Sample scenarios for quick comparison.

Scenario Loan Rate Term Graduation Increase Starting Payment
Starter to steady income $300,000 6.50% 30 years 5 years 7% yearly 70% of standard
Short graduation phase $220,000 5.75% 25 years 3 years 6% yearly 80% of standard
Higher growth plan $400,000 6.90% 30 years 7 years 8% yearly $2,000 custom
Reminder: If early payments are below interest, the balance can rise before it falls.

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Important Note: All the Calculators listed in this site are for educational purpose only and we do not guarentee the accuracy of results. Please do consult with other sources as well.