Home Affordability Calculator
Estimate how much home you can afford. Enter your income, monthly debts, and down payment — we apply standard debt-to-income limits to suggest a price range.
Home price split
How you compare
🏠 Get pre-qualified with a lender
Get quotesHow lenders judge affordability
Lenders use debt-to-income ratios: roughly 28% of gross income toward housing and 36% toward all debt are common limits. This tool finds the payment those rules allow, then works backward to a loan and price. It treats the budget as principal and interest, so once you add property tax and insurance your realistic price is a bit lower — a useful, conservative starting point.
How it’s calculated
Max payment = lesser of (front-end % of income) and (back-end % − monthly debts). Max loan works backward from that payment; price = loan + down payment.
Results update as you type and are estimates, not professional advice — verify important decisions with a qualified professional.
Worked example
On $90k income with $500 of monthly debt and $40k down, you can afford roughly a $372,000 home.
Common mistakes
- Treating the maximum as a comfortable budget.
- Forgetting taxes and insurance lower real affordability.
Where it is used
- Setting a home-price budget before shopping.
- Seeing how paying down debt raises your budget.
Frequently asked questions
What are the 28/36 rules?
Guidelines that cap housing at ~28% of gross income and total debt at ~36%. Some loan programs allow higher.
Does this include taxes and insurance?
The payment is principal and interest. Property tax, insurance, and HOA reduce what you can actually afford, so treat the result as a ceiling.
Should I borrow the maximum?
Often no. Borrowing below your limit leaves room for savings, emergencies, and lifestyle.
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