Home Affordability Calculator
Calculate how much house you can afford based on income, debts, and down payment.
Uses 28/36 rule with detailed DTI analysis and monthly payment breakdown.
Home Affordability Snapshot
Based on today's inputs and the 28/36 lending guideline
Based on 28% Rule
$246,000
Based on 36% Rule
$222,000
Recommended Max
$222,000
Down Payment (10%)
$22,200
Loan Amount
$199,800
$1693
Quick Mortgage Scenarios
Load curated presets to explore how income, term, and down payment shift affordability.
Your Income
Household wages before taxes. Include recurring partner income.
Monthly Debt Payments
List minimum payments lenders will see on your credit report.
Down Payment
Choose a target percentage or tap a chip to test another tier.
Loan Details
Fine-tune interest rate assumptions and annual costs.
Lender Guidelines
Adjust the 28/36 rule to mirror your lender or personal comfort.
Estimated Monthly Payment
PITI + HOA calculated from your current assumptions.
| Principal & Interest | $1263 |
| Property Taxes | $222 |
| Homeowners Insurance | $125 |
| PMI (until 20% equity) | $83 |
| Total Monthly Payment | $1693 |
Uses 25.4% of gross monthly income.
Debt-to-Income Ratios
Visualize how close you are to your housing and total debt caps.
Front-End DTI (Housing only)
25.4%
Guideline ≤ 28%
Back-End DTI (All debt)
35.9%
Guideline ≤ 36%
Home Price Scenarios
Compare payments and DTI at different price points.
| Home Price | Down Payment | Monthly Payment | Front-End DTI | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| $166,500 | $16,650 | $1,301 | 19.5% | Comfortable |
| $188,700 | $18,870 | $1,458 | 21.9% | Stretching |
| $222,000 ★ | $22,200 | $1,693 | 25.4% | At Limit |
| $244,200 | $24,420 | $1,850 | 27.7% | At Limit |
| $277,500 | $27,750 | $2,085 | 31.3% | Over Budget |
★Recommended maximum within 28/36 rule guidelines.
Understanding the 28/36 Rule
Front-End Ratio (28%): Your monthly housing expenses (PITI + HOA + PMI) should not exceed 28% of your gross monthly income.
Back-End Ratio (36%): Your total monthly debt payments (housing + car loans + student loans + credit cards + other debts) should not exceed 36% of your gross monthly income.
These are industry-standard guidelines used by lenders to determine mortgage qualification. Staying within these limits helps ensure you can comfortably afford your home.
Biweekly Payment Option
Accelerate your mortgage payoff by making biweekly payments instead of monthly
Monthly Payment Plan
Biweekly Payment Plan
How it works: Pay half your monthly payment every 2 weeks (26 payments/year = 13 monthly equivalents). This extra payment accelerates principal reduction and saves significant interest over the life of the loan.
Important: Some lenders charge fees for biweekly processing. Check with your lender first. Alternative: Make one extra monthly payment per year for similar benefits.
Total Savings with Biweekly Payments
$58,689
Pay off your mortgage 5.8 years earlier
💰 Next: Plan Your Down Payment Savings
Use our dedicated Down Payment Savings Calculator to create a detailed savings timeline with interest earnings, what-if scenarios, and more.
Calculate Down Payment Savings Timeline →Down Payment Savings Timeline (Preview)
Quick preview - Use the full calculator above for detailed analysis
Your Savings
Interest Rate
High-yield savings: ~4.0-5.0% APY
Earn more interest while you save!
Savings Timeline
Savings Growth Over Time
What If You Saved More Each Month?
| Monthly Savings | Time to Goal | Target Date | Interest Earned | Time Saved |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| $500/month (current) | 1y 10m | Sep 2027 | $1,345 | - |
| $600/month (+$100) | 1y 7m | Jun 2027 | $1,174 | 3 months |
| $700/month (+$200) | 1y 5m | Apr 2027 | $1,067 | 5 months |
| $1,000/month (+$500) | 1y 0m | Nov 2026 | $756 | 10 months |
Don't Forget Closing Costs
Your down payment is separate from closing costs (2-5% of home price). For a $222,000 home:
- Down payment: $22,200
- Closing costs (~3%): $6,660
- Total needed: $28,860
Keep Emergency Fund Separate
Don't drain all savings for your down payment. Maintain 3-6 months of expenses for emergencies AFTER closing. Homeownership comes with unexpected costs!