Artificial Turf Cost Calculator

Home Affordability Calculator

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Enter your financial details to see your home buying power.
function calculateHomeAffordability() { var annualIncome = parseFloat(document.getElementById('annualIncome').value); var monthlyDebt = parseFloat(document.getElementById('monthlyDebt').value) || 0; var downPayment = parseFloat(document.getElementById('downPayment').value) || 0; var annualRate = parseFloat(document.getElementById('interestRate').value); var loanTermYears = parseInt(document.getElementById('loanTerm').value); var monthlyTaxIns = parseFloat(document.getElementById('taxInsurance').value) || 0; if (isNaN(annualIncome) || isNaN(annualRate) || annualIncome <= 0 || annualRate <= 0) { document.getElementById('affordabilityResult').innerHTML = 'Please enter valid income and interest rate values.'; return; } var monthlyGrossIncome = annualIncome / 12; var monthlyRate = (annualRate / 100) / 12; var totalMonths = loanTermYears * 12; // Using the 36% Debt-to-Income (DTI) Rule for Conservative Estimate // (Income * 0.36) – existing debt = Max Monthly Payment for (P&I + Tax + Insurance) var maxTotalMonthlyPayment = (monthlyGrossIncome * 0.36) – monthlyDebt; // Subtract Taxes and Insurance to find max Principal & Interest (P&I) var maxPI = maxTotalMonthlyPayment – monthlyTaxIns; if (maxPI <= 0) { document.getElementById('affordabilityResult').innerHTML = '

Affordability Alert

Based on your current debt and income, your monthly obligations exceed the recommended 36% DTI limit.'; return; } // Loan Amount Formula (Present Value of an Annuity): PV = Pmt * [(1 – (1+r)^-n) / r] var maxLoanAmount = maxPI * ((1 – Math.pow(1 + monthlyRate, -totalMonths)) / monthlyRate); var maxHomePrice = maxLoanAmount + downPayment; var resultHTML = '

You Can Afford Approximately:

'; resultHTML += '
$' + Math.floor(maxHomePrice).toLocaleString() + '
'; resultHTML += '
'; resultHTML += '
Max Loan:$' + Math.floor(maxLoanAmount).toLocaleString() + '
'; resultHTML += '
Monthly P&I:$' + Math.floor(maxPI).toLocaleString() + '
'; resultHTML += '
Down Payment:$' + downPayment.toLocaleString() + '
'; resultHTML += '
'; resultHTML += '*Calculation based on a 36% Debt-to-Income ratio.'; document.getElementById('affordabilityResult').innerHTML = resultHTML; }

How Much House Can I Afford?

Determining your home buying power is the first step in the real estate journey. While a bank might pre-approve you for a high amount, understanding your "true" affordability requires looking at your gross income, existing debts, and the cash you have available for a down payment.

The 28/36 Rule Explained

Most lenders use the 28/36 rule to determine creditworthiness:

  • Front-End Ratio (28%): Your total monthly housing costs (mortgage, taxes, and insurance) should not exceed 28% of your gross monthly income.
  • Back-End Ratio (36%): Your total debt obligations (including the new mortgage plus car loans, student loans, and credit cards) should not exceed 36% of your gross monthly income.

Key Factors in the Calculation

1. Debt-to-Income (DTI) Ratio: This is the most critical metric. If you have $500 in monthly car payments and $200 in student loans, that $700 is deducted directly from the amount you can put toward a mortgage.

2. Down Payment: A larger down payment reduces your loan amount, which lowers your monthly interest costs. If you put down less than 20%, you may also need to factor in Private Mortgage Insurance (PMI).

3. Interest Rates: Even a 1% difference in interest rates can change your purchasing power by tens of thousands of dollars over a 30-year term.

Example Scenario

User Profile: $100,000 Annual Income, $400 Monthly Debt, $60,000 Down Payment.

At a 6.5% interest rate, this user can afford a home priced at roughly $445,000. This ensures the total monthly payment fits comfortably within the 36% DTI threshold.

Ways to Increase Your Buying Power

If the result isn't what you hoped for, consider these strategies:

  • Pay Down Debt: Reducing monthly revolving debt (like credit cards) has a 1-to-1 impact on your available mortgage budget.
  • Improve Credit Score: A higher score qualifies you for lower interest rates, effectively lowering your monthly payment for the same loan amount.
  • Save for a Larger Down Payment: This decreases the principal loan amount and may eliminate the need for PMI.

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