Home Renovation Calculator Pack
A 9-step calculation chain from purchase to move-in: affordability, deed tax, mortgage, housing fund, renovation budget, tile & paint quantities, renovation loan and prepayment.
Buying and renovating a home involves five checkpoints: budget, taxes, loans, renovation spending and repayment strategy. This pack follows the decision timeline, pairing each step with the right calculator.
9 tools · follow the steps
Use in this order
- 1Home Affordability CalculatorHow much house you can afford from income and down payment
Step 1 · Affordability
Set your price ceiling first: back-solve affordable home price from income and debts, keeping monthly payment under 40% of household income.
- 2Deed Tax CalculatorChina home purchase deed tax by area and home count
Step 2 · Deed Tax
Tax rates differ by first/second home and the 140 m² threshold — deed tax is cash you must have at closing.
- 3Mortgage CalculatorMonthly payment, rates and early-payoff comparison
Step 3 · Mortgage Payment
Annuity vs fixed-principal schedules with month-by-month breakdown and amortization curve.
- 4Housing Fund CalculatorMonthly deposit, compound balance, loan quota
Step 4 · Housing Fund Loan
At 2.6% for first-home loans over 5 years, a ¥1M fund loan saves ¥100k+ interest vs commercial. Check balance-multiple cap first.
- 5Renovation Budget CalculatorArea x tier · 5-part breakdown
Step 5 · Renovation Budget
Generates hard-fit cost split by area and grade — your baseline for comparing contractor quotes.
- 6Tile Quantity CalculatorPieces, boxes and total cost
Step 6 · Tile Quantity
Computes pieces and boxes with 5-10% wastage so you avoid colour-mismatched reorders.
- 7Paint CalculatorLiters and buckets from area and coats
Step 7 · Paint Quantity
Converts wall area and coats into litres and buckets — no leftover cans, no stalled work.
- 8Renovation Loan CalculatorAnnuity vs card instalment · true APR comparison
Step 8 · Renovation Loan
Bank renovation loan vs card instalment: nominal rate is not true APR — compare on an IRR basis.
- 9Mortgage Prepayment CalculatorShorter term vs lower payment
Step 9 · Prepayment
When you have spare cash: shorten the term or reduce the payment? See the interest delta instantly.
Related Guides
Home Buying Costs: Down Payment, Taxes & Fees Checklist
Beyond the down payment: deed tax 1–3%, agency fees 1–2.7%, maintenance fund ~2%, plus appraisal and mortgage fees. A ¥3M first home typically needs ¥450k down + ¥80–120k in taxes and fees. Full cost tables and city policy differences inside.
Read guide →
Renovation Budget: Price Tiers & Where the Money Goes
Full renovation runs ¥1,000-3,000/sqm: basic ¥1-1.5k, mid ¥1.5-2.5k, high-end ¥3k+. A 100sqm mid-tier = ¥150-250k split roughly: labor 30%, materials 40%, furniture/appliances 20%, contingency 10%. Full allocation tables inside.
Read guide →
Equal Payment vs Equal Principal: Which Saves More?
Equal payment (annuity) keeps monthly payments constant; equal principal costs less interest overall but starts higher. Real test on a $1M loan: $67k interest difference over 30 years. Formulas, comparison tables, rate sensitivity analysis and a decision tree inside.
Read guide →
FAQ
How should a renovation budget be split?
A common split: hard fit (base work + main materials) ~60%, furniture & soft decor ~25%, appliances ~15%. Generate the itemised split with the budget calculator, then refine each quote.
Which is cheaper: renovation loan or credit-card instalment?
A low nominal rate is not a low true cost. Card instalments charge the full-amount fee monthly while principal declines, making true APR ≈ monthly rate ×12×2n/(n+1). Compare both in the renovation loan calculator on a true-APR basis.
Should prepayment shorten the term or reduce the payment?
Shorten the term to minimise total interest; reduce the payment if cash flow is tight. Compare both scenarios in the prepayment calculator, weighing against investment returns.