Mortgage affordability calculator
Figure out your budget before you start shopping — based on the same debt-to-income rules most lenders use.
Your finances
Loan & costs
The 28/36 DTI rule — what lenders check
Housing costs ≤ 28% of gross monthly income ($2,240.00/mo). All debt payments ≤ 36% ($2,880.00/mo). Lenders vary — some allow up to 43% back-end for qualified mortgages.
The 28/36 rule explained
Most conventional lenders want your total housing costs (mortgage P&I + property tax + insurance) to stay under 28% of your gross monthly income (front-end DTI). They also want all your debt payments — including housing — under 36% (back-end DTI). Which limit bites first depends on your existing debts.
FHA loans allow back-end DTI up to 43–50% in some cases. Jumbo loans are often stricter. This calculator uses the conventional 28/36 guideline as the starting point.