Mortgage Affordability Calculator
Skip the lenders that stretch you. The honest home price range for your income, plus the monthly payment it really adds up to.
Last updated: August 5, 2026
How much home can you really afford
Lenders approve based on debt-to-income (DTI): total monthly obligations cannot exceed roughly 36% of gross monthly income, and housing alone is often capped near 28%. This calculator starts from that 36% ceiling, subtracts your other debts, then works backwards to the loan amount and home price your payment could support.
It also factors in taxes and insurance, which many online "how much can I borrow" views forget. A home's true monthly cost is principal, interest, taxes and insurance (PITI) — and forgetting the last two is how people end up house-poor.
The approach
Worked example
$90,000 income, $400 in monthly debts, $30,000 down, 6% for 30 years.
Monthly budget ≈ $2,300. That supports a loan around $330,000, for a home near $360,000.
Notice how much the input choices matter: bumping the down payment to $60,000 raises the affordable price by roughly $30,000 because the same budget buys a smaller loan — and a smaller loan means a bigger house.
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The questions people usually ask right after this one.
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Frequently asked questions
Should I count the down payment I'm saving, too?
Yes, separately. This calculator assumes you already have the down payment. Saving a bigger down payment directly shrinks the loan and the payment, letting you afford more house for the same income.
What about PMI or HOA fees?
HOA fees and mortgage insurance are real costs not included here. If either applies, they eat into the housing budget, so subtract an estimate before trusting the maximum price.
Is this what a lender will pre-approve me for?
Approximating, not exactly. Lenders verify with a full credit check and their own underwriting, and they may approve more. Use the conservative figure here as your floor for staying comfortable, not the bank's ceiling.
This is an estimate for planning a budget, not a pre-qualification. Actual approval depends on credit, location, taxes and lender underwriting. Confirm details with a lender.