Is there a simple way to track loan payments and budget at the same time?

Eric N

What I want:

1. Constant monthly budget item for mortgage.
2. Apply the principle portion to the loan tracking.
3. Total monthly expenses should include the full value of the mortgage payment.

I tried the recommendations I saw in response to other questions to

split the mortgage payment transaction to Interest, Escrow, Transfer TO Loan

The correctly tracks the loan balance (item 2) above, but fails (1 & 3) — I'd need to go month by month in the budget to record the amortization breakout for the components, and the transfer ends up hidden from the actual monthly expenses in reports, etc.

I tried removing the splits, and simple adding a new transaction manually in the loan for the principle payment, but that still ends up acting as income against the monthly budget.