🏡 Home Affordability Calculator

Estimate how much house you can afford using your income, monthly debt, down payment, mortgage rate, property taxes, insurance, HOA fees, and PMI. This calculator focuses on the real monthly housing cost buyers actually face.

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estimated affordable home price
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Max Housing Payment
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Estimated Loan
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Total DTI

Monthly Payment Breakdown

How to Use This Calculator

  1. Enter your annual household income before taxes.
  2. Add monthly debt payments such as car loans, student loans, credit cards, and personal loans.
  3. Enter your down payment and mortgage assumptions.
  4. Include taxes, insurance, HOA, and PMI so your estimate reflects real housing costs.
  5. Click Calculate to see a practical home price estimate and monthly payment breakdown.

Example: $90,000 Income With $500 Monthly Debt

A buyer earning $90,000 per year has about $7,500 in gross monthly income. With $500 in existing debt, a $60,000 down payment, and a 6.5% mortgage rate, affordability depends heavily on total monthly housing costs.

🏡 Affordability Snapshot

  • Gross monthly income: $7,500
  • Target housing budget at 28%: $2,100/month
  • Total debt limit at 36%: $2,700/month
  • After $500 of existing debt, housing budget is capped near $2,200/month
  • Taxes, insurance, HOA, and PMI reduce the loan amount the same monthly budget can support.

Why Use This Calculator?

💰 Real Monthly Cost

Includes more than principal and interest, so you can see a fuller PITI-style payment.

📋 Debt-Aware

Accounts for existing monthly debts that reduce mortgage affordability.

🏦 Lender Logic

Uses front-end and back-end DTI rules of thumb to estimate a practical range.

🔒 Private

Everything runs in your browser. No account, no saved financial profile.

Common Mistakes

Forgetting taxes and insurance. A mortgage payment without property taxes and insurance can make a home look more affordable than it really is.

Ignoring HOA fees. A $300 monthly HOA can reduce affordability by tens of thousands of dollars.

Underestimating PMI. If your down payment is below 20%, PMI can add a meaningful monthly cost.

Buying at the absolute maximum. Leave room for repairs, utilities, emergency savings, and retirement contributions.

Frequently Asked Questions

How much house can I afford?
A common starting point is to keep housing costs near 28% of gross monthly income and total debt payments near 36%. Your actual number depends on income, debt, down payment, rate, taxes, insurance, HOA, PMI, and lender rules.
What payment does this calculator include?
It includes principal, interest, estimated property taxes, homeowners insurance, HOA fees, and estimated PMI when your down payment is below 20%.
What is DTI?
Debt-to-income ratio compares monthly debt payments to gross monthly income. Lenders often use it to decide how much mortgage payment you may qualify for.
Does this replace lender pre-approval?
No. It is an educational estimate. A lender will also review your credit, assets, employment history, loan program, reserves, and local rules.
Should I use the maximum affordable price?
Usually, it is smarter to treat the result as an upper estimate and then choose a monthly payment that still leaves room for savings, repairs, and normal life.

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