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Mortgage Affordability Calculator

Find out how much house you can afford based on your income, debts, down payment, and interest rate.

Enter Your Financial Details

Annual Gross Income

Your total income before taxes

Monthly Debt Payments

Car loans, student loans, credit cards, etc.

Down Payment Amount

Interest Rate

Loan Term

Annual Property Tax Rate

Homeowner's Insurance

HOA Fees (optional)

Leave blank or 0 if none

How Much House Can I Afford? The 28/36 Rule Explained

The most common guideline lenders use to determine how much house you can afford is the 28/36 rule. This rule sets two limits on your debt relative to your gross monthly income, and the lower of the two determines your maximum housing budget.

The Front-End Ratio (28%)

The front-end ratio says your total monthly housing costs should not exceed 28% of your gross monthly income. Housing costs include your mortgage principal and interest, property taxes, homeowner's insurance, and any HOA fees. This is sometimes called the "housing ratio" or "PITI ratio" (principal, interest, taxes, insurance).

The Back-End Ratio (36%)

The back-end ratio says your total monthly debt — housing costs plus all other recurring debt payments — should not exceed 36% of your gross monthly income. Other debts include car payments, student loans, credit card minimum payments, personal loans, and child support.

What Lenders Actually Look At

Credit score: A higher score can qualify you for better rates and sometimes higher DTI limits (up to 43% or even 50% for some programs).
Down payment: A larger down payment reduces your loan amount and can eliminate private mortgage insurance (PMI), lowering your monthly costs.
Employment history: Lenders typically want to see at least two years of steady employment.
Cash reserves: Having several months of mortgage payments saved shows financial stability.
Debt-to-income ratio: While 28/36 is the standard, FHA loans allow up to 31/43, and some conventional lenders stretch to 50% back-end with strong compensating factors.

Tips for Maximizing Your Home Buying Budget

Pay down existing debts before applying to improve your back-end ratio. A higher credit score unlocks lower interest rates, which means a larger loan for the same monthly payment. Consider a 30-year term for lower payments (and higher purchasing power) versus a 15-year term for faster equity building and less total interest paid.

What This Calculator Does Not Include

This calculator uses the conservative 28/36 rule as a guideline. Your actual approval amount may differ based on your credit profile, the lender's specific underwriting guidelines, and loan program requirements. It also does not include private mortgage insurance (PMI), which is typically required for down payments below 20%.

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How to Use the Mortgage Affordability Calculator

1
Enter your values
Open the Mortgage Affordability Calculator and fill in the required input fields with your numbers or selections.
2
Review the calculation
The tool automatically computes the result as you type. Double-check your inputs to ensure accuracy.
3
Interpret your results
Review the calculated output along with any breakdowns, charts, or explanations provided to understand what the numbers mean for your situation.

Sources & Verification

Based on standard mortgage and real estate industry formulas

Freddie Mac Primary Mortgage Market Survey

Published by ConvertCrunch Editorial Team | Our Methodology

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the Mortgage Affordability Calculator?

The Mortgage Affordability Calculator is a free browser-based tool on ConvertCrunch. Find out how much house you can afford based on your income, debts, down payment, and interest rate. It requires no downloads, installations, or account signups. Simply enter your values and get instant, accurate results. The tool is designed for quick calculations and informed decision-making, whether you are a professional, student, or everyday user looking for reliable answers.

How do I use the Mortgage Affordability Calculator?

Using the Mortgage Affordability Calculator is straightforward. Enter your values into the input fields provided on the page, then calculate or adjust parameters to explore scenarios. Most processing happens locally in your browser. If a feature uses a third-party service, the tool identifies that connection and the privacy policy explains it. Most users get the answers they need in under a minute.

Is the Mortgage Affordability Calculator free to use?

Yes, the Mortgage Affordability Calculator is completely free to use with no account signup, email requirement, or premium tier. Most calculations run locally in your browser. Features that depend on live data or a third-party service require a network connection and are identified in the tool. You can use it as many times as you need for personal, educational, or professional purposes.

How accurate is the Mortgage Affordability Calculator?

The Mortgage Affordability Calculator uses standard mortgage and real estate formulas along with current market data where applicable. Actual costs may vary based on your lender, credit score, location, property type, and current market conditions. Results are estimates for planning and comparison purposes. Always obtain official quotes from lenders and consult with real estate professionals for decisions involving property purchases or financing.

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Best Free Real Estate Calculators Online (2026)

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How Much House Can I Afford? The 28/36 Rule Explained

The Front-End Ratio (28%)

The Back-End Ratio (36%)

What Lenders Actually Look At

Credit score: A higher score can qualify you for better rates and sometimes higher DTI limits (up to 43% or even 50% for some programs).
Down payment: A larger down payment reduces your loan amount and can eliminate private mortgage insurance (PMI), lowering your monthly costs.
Employment history: Lenders typically want to see at least two years of steady employment.
Cash reserves: Having several months of mortgage payments saved shows financial stability.
Debt-to-income ratio: While 28/36 is the standard, FHA loans allow up to 31/43, and some conventional lenders stretch to 50% back-end with strong compensating factors.