DayCents

PITI

PITI stands for the four parts of a typical mortgage payment: Principal, Interest, Taxes, and Insurance. It's the true monthly cost of owning — not just principal and interest — and it's the figure lenders use in debt-to-income calculations to decide how much home you can afford.

Some lenders extend it to PITIA, adding HOA dues or association fees. When you compare a mortgage payment to rent, PITI (plus maintenance) is the honest number to use, since taxes, insurance, and upkeep are real costs renting doesn't carry.