Mortgage Affordability Calculator

Stop browsing Zillow blindly. Find out exactly how much house a bank will let you buy using the industry-standard 28/36 rule.

Total household income before taxes.
Car loans, student loans, credit card minimums.
Maximum Home Price
$3,58,300

Based on a max monthly payment of $2,333

Estimated Monthly Payment (PITI)

Principal & Interest$1,885
Taxes & Insurance (Est 1.5%)$448
Total Monthly Payment$2,333
The 28/36 Rule: Lenders prefer that your housing payment is no more than 28% of your gross income, and your total debt (housing + cars + loans) is no more than 36%.

How Do Banks Decide What You Can Afford?

When you apply for a mortgage, underwriters don't just look at your credit score. They look at your Debt-to-Income (DTI) ratio to ensure you won't default on the loan. The golden standard for conventional loans is the 28/36 Rule.

The 28% Rule (Front-End DTI)

Your total monthly housing payment (known as PITI: Principal, Interest, Taxes, and Insurance) should not exceed 28% of your gross (pre-tax) monthly income. If you make $10,000 a month, your absolute maximum housing payment is $2,800.

The 36% Rule (Back-End DTI)

Your total housing payment PLUS all your other monthly debt obligations (car payments, student loans, credit card minimums) should not exceed 36% of your gross income.

If you have massive student loans or a $600/month car payment, the 36% rule will severely limit the amount of house you can afford. Paying down consumer debt is the fastest way to increase your housing budget.

Don't Forget Taxes, Insurance, and HOA

Many first-time homebuyers make the mistake of only calculating the Principal and Interest. Property taxes and homeowners insurance can easily add $500 to $1,000 to your monthly payment. If you buy a condo or a home in a gated community, HOA fees will also count against your DTI.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the Mortgage Affordability?

The Mortgage Affordability is a free online tool designed to help you calculate exactly how much house you can afford using the industry standard 28/36 rule.

How much does the Mortgage Affordability cost?

Our Mortgage Affordability is 100% free to use. We do not require any signups, subscriptions, or credit cards.

Is my data safe when using this tool?

Yes. All calculations are performed locally in your web browser. We do not store or save your financial data or inputs on our servers.