Estimate your net equity, available down payment, and monthly cost for your next South Denver home — in under 30 seconds. No email required.
How do I calculate my home equity and next-home affordability?
Your net home equity equals your current home value minus your remaining mortgage balance and transaction costs (typically 7–9% in Colorado). Your next-home affordability is driven by how much of that equity covers the down payment, plus how the new loan's monthly payment fits your budget. The calculator below runs both calculations together so you can see your full picture at once.
Calculating…
Estimates only. Actual equity depends on your final sale price, specific mortgage payoff, and negotiated closing costs. Monthly payment estimates assume a 30-year fixed conventional loan; your actual rate, taxes, and insurance will vary by lender and property. This tool is not a loan approval, pre-qualification, or mortgage offer. For precise figures, consult a licensed mortgage lender and Jacob Stark for a current comparative market analysis.
Home equity is the difference between what your home is worth on today's market and what you still owe on your mortgage — minus the costs of actually getting the equity out through a sale. In South Denver Metro, sellers typically net 91–93 cents on the dollar of their sale price after commissions, title fees, Colorado transfer tax, and basic prep.
For most move-up sellers in Littleton, Highlands Ranch, Centennial, Parker, and surrounding communities, the big lever isn't the commission percentage — it's the sale price itself. A home priced aggressively and marketed well sells in 14 days at full list; a mispriced home sits 60+ days and takes a price reduction. Jacob Stark's sellers average 100.6% sale-to-list ratio, which compounds directly into more equity available for the next purchase.
Below is a directional model for a $700,000 South Denver home with a $300,000 mortgage balance. Actual results depend on your specific mortgage payoff, negotiated concessions, and prep costs — but this is a realistic starting point.
The calculator's verdict block tells you which approach typically fits your equity position — but here's the underlying math. A bridge loan typically costs 0.5–1.5% in origination plus an interest rate 1–2% higher than a conventional 30-year. On a $300,000 bridge, that's roughly $3,000–$4,500 in origination plus maybe $1,500–$3,000 in extra interest for the 30–90 days you hold it. Total cost: $4,500–$7,500.
A contingent offer typically costs you 2–5% of your target home's purchase price because sellers in competitive markets discount contingent offers when ranking bids. On a $950,000 target, that's $19,000–$47,500 in lost negotiating leverage. In a balanced market the gap narrows, but in a seller's market — where South Denver has sat for most of 2024 and 2025 — non-contingent almost always wins.
Want to see whether a bridge loan actually pencils for your situation? Start here with the full move-up sellers guide, or book a free 30-minute equity strategy call.
Home equity is your current home value minus your remaining mortgage balance and transaction costs. In Colorado, sellers typically pay 7–9% in combined transaction costs — agent commissions (both sides), title insurance, transfer fees, and basic prep. Subtract that from your estimated sale price, then subtract your mortgage payoff, and the remainder is your net equity. Our home equity calculator above runs this math live as you adjust the inputs.
South Denver sellers typically pay 7–9% of the sale price in closing costs. That includes roughly 5–6% in combined agent commissions (seller and buyer agent), 0.5–1% in title insurance and escrow fees, 0.01% in Colorado state transfer tax, and varying prep costs like staging, photography, and minor repairs. The 8% default in our calculator reflects a realistic midpoint for most South Denver neighborhoods including Littleton, Highlands Ranch, and Centennial.
The right answer depends on your equity cushion, target neighborhood, and risk tolerance. Sellers with strong equity (net equity more than 2x the required down payment) often buy first with a bridge loan, which allows non-contingent offers and stronger negotiating power. Sellers with adequate equity (covering the down payment with a modest cushion) typically use a contingent offer or sell first to keep finances simple. Sellers with tight equity should almost always sell first. Jacob Stark runs a personalized equity analysis with current South Denver market velocity data to make this call for your specific situation.
Down payment requirements vary by loan type. Conventional loans typically require 5–20% down; 20% avoids PMI and generally produces the strongest offer in competitive South Denver markets. FHA allows as low as 3.5% but has loan limits and mortgage insurance. Jumbo loans (required for most homes above $806,500 in the Denver metro for 2026) often require 10–20% down depending on the lender. For move-up buyers using home sale equity, 20% is the most common target because it avoids PMI and maximizes monthly cash flow.
The calculator provides a directional estimate based on the inputs you provide. Actual net equity depends on precise final sale price, current mortgage payoff quote (which includes interest through the closing date), specific title and escrow fees, and any seller-paid concessions negotiated during the transaction. For a precise analysis, Jacob Stark runs a full CMA (comparative market analysis) on your current home plus a detailed closing cost estimate specific to your target price range.