LOANS & MORTGAGES CHANNEL

Home Affordability Calculator

Calculate your home buying budget using the standard financial 28/36 rule.

Calculator Variables

$
$
$
%

Calculation Overview

Determine your home purchasing power using verified lender debt-to-income (DTI) qualification guidelines.

Mathematical Model & Formula

Max Monthly Mortgage = min(Income * 0.28, (Income * 0.36) - Debts)

Uses standard conservative banking underwriting ratios to calculate maximum housing payments.

Variables Defined:

Worked Example Scenario

Scenario: Income of $10,000/month, debt of $500/month.

  1. Front end: $10,000 * 0.28 = $2,800
  2. Back end: ($10,000 * 0.36) - $500 = $3,100
  3. Max payment is $2,800

Result: Maximum monthly payment of $2,800 is allowed.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the 28/36 rule?

Lenders recommend that your housing costs not exceed 28% of your gross income, and total debt payments not exceed 36%.