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Affordability Calculator

Estimate the home price you can comfortably afford based on your income, monthly debts, down payment, and a target debt-to-income ratio. We show both the maximum a lender would likely allow and a more conservative comfortable number.

Your numbers

$

Before taxes, all borrowers combined

$

Cars, student loans, minimum credit card

$
%

Illustrative example rate. Not an available or quoted rate.

yrs
%

Debt-to-income (DTI) is the share of before-tax income used for housing and debt payments. Your input is an assumption, not a lender limit.

%

Annual, as % of home price

%

Annual, as % of home price

$

Leave at zero if no HOA

Plain-English summary

Your entered 36% debt-to-income assumption supports an estimated home price of $412,613 in this model. Separately, a 28% housing-only budget gives $392,041. Neither is approval or a recommended spending amount.

Amount supported by your entered assumptions

Not a loan approval. This model excludes mortgage insurance, utilities, maintenance and other living expenses. If those costs apply, your usable budget is lower.

Target home price$412,613
Loan amount$352,613
Estimated monthly (PITI)$2,820
Maximum allowed payment$2,820
Resulting total DTI36.0%

A more conservative target

28% housing-only budget estimate$392,041

A budgeting reference using 28% of before-tax income for housing. It does not subtract other debts, so it may not be more conservative than your entered total-debt target. Review after-tax income, living expenses and emergency savings before choosing a budget.

Results are estimates based on user inputs and do not represent loan terms, APR, or a financing offer. Pre-filled values are illustrative examples, not available or quoted rates. Actual terms depend on credit, property, program, and underwriting. Every result applies to the entered planning scenario, not an observation period or local market statistic. Replace price, tax, insurance and fee allowances with dated, property-specific figures. Missing inputs are not assumed to be zero.

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Frequently asked questions

How does this calculator decide what you can afford?
It works backward from a target debt-to-income (DTI) ratio. You set the maximum percent of monthly income that should go to housing plus other debts, and the calculator solves for the home price that fits.
What DTI should I target?
Most loan programs cap total DTI between 43% and 50%. Comfortable is usually lower, many buyers feel best when housing is at or under 28% of gross monthly income.
Why is the result different from what a lender will offer?
Lenders use your full credit profile, documented income, and program-specific overlays. This calculator is a directional starting point. Treat the output as a ceiling, not a target.

Related glossary terms

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Related reading

Want the story behind the numbers?

  • ArticleHow much house can you actually afford?The plain-English version of what this calculator is doing.Read
    Try: Affordability
  • ArticleWhat does pre-approval actually mean?Turn your number into a real preapproval letter.Read
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Mortgage Payment Calculator

Estimate your full monthly payment including principal, interest, taxes, insurance, HOA, and PMI.

Calculate payment

Closing Costs Calculator

Estimate the cash you will need at the closing table beyond your down payment.

Estimate closing costs

Rent vs Buy Calculator

Compare renting versus buying over 5, 7, and 10 years. Surfaces the breakeven year in plain English.

Compare renting and buying

Can I Qualify?

Walk through the qualification questions a loan officer asks first to get a directional answer.

Use can i qualify? calculator