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Home Affordability Calculator

How much house can you afford? Based on the 28/36 rule, your income, debts, down payment and interest rate.

Everything runs locally in your browser. Nothing is uploaded.
Income & debts
$
$
Credit cards, auto & student loans, alimony
$
Loan & costs
%
$
$
$
Affordable home price
$0
Max loan amount
$0
Down 0%
Monthly payment
$0
LTV 0%
Principal & interest
$0
Taxes & insurance / mo
$0
HOA / mo
$0
Front-end DTI
0%
Back-end DTI
0%
Down payment under 20% — PMI (private mortgage insurance) likely applies.

About Home Affordability Calculator

Wondering how much house you can afford? This calculator turns your income, debts, down payment and interest rate into a concrete price ceiling using the same 28/36 underwriting rule lenders rely on. No guesswork, no spreadsheets — enter your numbers and get a home budget you can plan around.

Beyond the headline figure you get a full monthly payment breakdown: principal & interest, property tax, insurance and HOA — plus your front-end and back-end debt-to-income ratios and loan-to-value. Everything runs in your browser.

Features

  • 28/36 rule: Standard front-end and back-end DTI limits applied automatically.
  • Full price picture: Maximum home price, loan amount and down payment.
  • Monthly breakdown: Principal & interest, property tax, insurance and HOA, itemised.
  • DTI reporting: Front-end and back-end ratios shown against their limits.
  • LTV & PMI insight: Loan-to-value ratio, with a warning when PMI would likely apply.
  • Live updates: Results recalculate as you type.

How to Use

  1. Enter your gross annual income and any monthly debts (cards, loans, alimony).
  2. Set your down payment and expected interest rate and loan term.
  3. Add annual property tax, insurance and monthly HOA so escrow is included.
  4. Read your affordable price, loan and monthly payment — they update live.

Examples

Example 1 — First-time buyer. Earning $75,000/yr with no debts, 10% down, 6.5% rate, $3,600/yr tax and $1,200/yr insurance, the calculator shows a home near the high $300ks while keeping the payment under 28% of income.

Example 2 — High debts. The same income with $800/month in auto and student loans drops the affordable price sharply, because the back-end DTI bites first.

Example 3 — Bigger down payment. Pushing the down payment to 20% removes PMI and raises the affordable price for the same monthly budget.

Example 4 — High-cost area. With annual property tax at $8,000, escrow consumes a large share of the housing budget, so the affordable price falls — a realistic check for high-tax states.

Benefits

  • Budget with confidence: Know your real ceiling before you view homes.
  • Lender-standard math: The same 28/36 ratios underwriters use.
  • Transparent: Every input shown as an itemised monthly cost.
  • Instant scenario testing: Change any number and see the impact live.
  • Private: No upload, no sign-up, works entirely offline.

Frequently Asked Questions

How does this calculator decide what I can afford?
It applies the classic 28/36 rule. Your monthly housing payment (principal, interest, taxes, insurance, HOA) should not exceed 28% of your gross monthly income, and your total monthly debt payments including housing should stay under 36%. The affordable price is the smaller of the two limits.
What is the front-end ratio?
The front-end ratio compares only your housing expenses (mortgage principal and interest, property tax, home insurance and HOA fees) to your gross monthly income. Lenders typically cap this at 28%.
What is the back-end ratio?
The back-end ratio — also called total debt-to-income (DTI) — compares all your monthly debt obligations, including the new mortgage, to your gross monthly income. The common cap is 36%, though some programs allow up to 43% or more.
Should I use gross or net income?
Lenders qualify you on gross (before-tax) income, and this calculator follows that convention so the result matches what a lender would approve. For a more conservative personal budget you can enter your net income instead and you will get a lower, safer ceiling.
How does my down payment change the result?
A larger down payment means a smaller loan, lower monthly payment and a higher affordable price — it also lets you avoid PMI when you put down 20% or more. The calculator uses your down payment directly to compute the loan amount.
What if I have other monthly debts?
Credit card minimums, auto loans, student loans and alimony all count toward your back-end DTI. Enter their total monthly payments and the calculator reduces your housing budget so your overall debt stays within the 36% limit.
Do property taxes and insurance matter?
Yes. Most lenders include an escrow for property tax and homeowners insurance in your monthly payment. The calculator subtracts these (plus any HOA fees) from your housing budget before solving for the maximum loan, so the result reflects your real total payment.
What is an LTV ratio?
Loan-to-value compares your loan amount to the home price. A 20% down payment means an 80% LTV. Lower LTV usually means better interest rates and no PMI, which is why the calculator reports it alongside your price and loan figures.
Is this a guarantee of mortgage approval?
No. This is an estimate based on standard underwriting ratios. Your actual approved amount depends on your credit score, employment history, local rates and lender-specific rules. Always get pre-approved before house hunting.
Does anything get uploaded?
No. Every calculation runs locally in your browser. Your income, debts and down payment never leave this page.

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