Home Affordability Calculator
Estimate how much house you can afford based on your income and debts.
How Much House Can I Afford?
Determining your home buying budget is the most critical step in the real estate journey. Lenders typically use the Debt-to-Income (DTI) ratio to decide how much they are willing to lend you. This calculator uses a standard DTI threshold of 36% to ensure you don't become "house poor."
Understanding the Calculation
To find your affordability, we analyze four primary factors:
- Gross Monthly Income: Your total earnings before taxes.
- Existing Debts: Monthly obligations like car loans, student loans, and credit card minimums.
- The Front-End Ratio: Usually, lenders prefer that your mortgage payment (including taxes and insurance) doesn't exceed 28% of your gross income.
- The Back-End Ratio: Your total debt (mortgage + existing debts) should generally stay below 36-43%.
A Realistic Example
Imagine a couple earning a combined $100,000 per year. Their monthly gross income is approximately $8,333. If they have $500 in monthly car payments and $300 in student loans, their total existing debt is $800.
Using a 36% DTI limit, their total allowable monthly debt is $3,000 ($8,333 x 0.36). After subtracting their $800 existing debt, they have $2,200 available for a monthly mortgage payment (PITI: Principal, Interest, Taxes, and Insurance).
With a 6.5% interest rate on a 30-year term and a $50,000 down payment, this couple could realistically afford a home priced around $345,000.
Factors That Influence Your Budget
While this calculator provides a strong estimate, other factors can shift your purchasing power:
- Credit Score: A higher score secures a lower interest rate, which drastically increases the loan amount you can afford for the same monthly payment.
- Down Payment: A larger down payment reduces the loan-to-value ratio and may eliminate the need for Private Mortgage Insurance (PMI).
- Property Taxes & Insurance: These vary significantly by ZIP code. High-tax areas will lower the maximum home price you can afford.