Mortgage Affordability Calculator
Find out exactly how much house you can afford based on your income and debts.
Financial Profile
Before taxes.
Car loans, student loans, credit card minimums.
Mortgage Details
Maximum Home Price
$356,876
Max Monthly Payment: $2,333
Recommended Home Price (Conservative)
$322,726
Max Monthly Payment Breakdown
Debt-to-Income (DTI) Ratios
* This calculator provides an estimate based on standard lending guidelines (28/36 rule). Actual loan approval depends on your credit score, lender requirements, and other factors.
How this calculator works
- Estimates your affordable home price from your income, debts, and down payment using debt-to-income (DTI) ratios.
- Applies the standard 28/36 rule: housing costs capped at a share of gross income (front-end DTI) and total debt at a higher share (back-end DTI).
- Results are estimates only — lenders also weigh credit score, employment history, and the specific loan program.
- All math runs in your browser — no data is sent to or stored on a server.
Understanding Debt-to-Income (DTI)
When you apply for a mortgage, lenders look closely at your Debt-to-Income (DTI) ratio to ensure you can comfortably make your monthly payments. There are two types of DTI:
Front-End DTI (Housing Ratio)
This is the percentage of your gross income that goes toward housing costs (Principal, Interest, Taxes, Insurance, and HOA).
Standard Limit: 28%
Back-End DTI (Total Debt Ratio)
This includes your housing costs PLUS all other monthly debt obligations like car loans, student loans, and credit card minimums.
Standard Limit: 36% to 43%
Frequently Asked Questions
The 28/36 rule is a common guideline used by lenders. It states that your maximum household expenses should not exceed 28% of your gross monthly income (Front-End DTI), and your total debt payments (including the mortgage, credit cards, auto loans) should not exceed 36% of your gross income (Back-End DTI).
No. This calculator provides an estimate based on standard income and debt ratios. Lenders will also heavily weigh your credit score, employment history, and the specific loan program (FHA, VA, Conventional) you are applying for.
Lenders will often approve you for the absolute maximum you can theoretically afford on paper. However, being "house poor" (spending all your money on your mortgage) is risky. The recommended price uses a more conservative ratio to ensure you still have money left over for savings, emergencies, and living your life.