See how large a mortgage you can qualify for. This free mortgage affordability calculator applies lenders’ 28/36 DTI ratios to your income and debts to find your maximum loan and payment.
Estimate based on the 28/36 rule. Lenders also weigh credit, employment and reserves.
Use this free mortgage affordability calculator to see how large a mortgage you can qualify for. Enter your income, debts, down payment and rate to find your maximum loan amount and monthly payment.
A mortgage affordability calculator estimates the loan size you can qualify for. It applies lenders’ 28/36 debt-to-income ratios to your income and debts to find your maximum monthly payment, then calculates the mortgage amount and total home price that fits it.
Where a home affordability view focuses on the price tag, this one centers on the mortgage itself — the figure a lender will actually approve.
Lenders look at two debt-to-income (DTI) ratios: a front-end ratio (housing payment ÷ income, target ~28%) and a back-end ratio (all debt ÷ income, target ~36%). Your maximum mortgage is the loan whose payment keeps you under both. Lower debts and a lower interest rate both increase the mortgage you can carry.
| Ratio | What it measures | Typical target |
|---|---|---|
| Front-end | Housing payment ÷ gross income | ≤ 28% |
| Back-end | All debt payments ÷ gross income | ≤ 36% |
Lenders cap your housing payment near 28% of gross income and total debt near 36%. Your maximum mortgage is the loan whose payment stays under both limits, given your rate and term.
DTI is your monthly debt payments divided by your gross monthly income. Lenders use a front-end DTI (housing only, ~28%) and a back-end DTI (all debt, ~36%) to decide how much they'll lend.
They're two views of the same math. Home affordability focuses on the total purchase price; mortgage affordability focuses on the loan amount you can qualify for. The price equals the mortgage plus your down payment.
Pay down existing debts, save a larger down payment, raise your credit score for a lower rate, or increase your income. Each improves the payment you can support.
Yes. A lower rate means more of each payment goes to principal, so the same monthly budget supports a larger loan and a higher home price.
Yes, this mortgage affordability calculator is completely free, needs no sign-up, and gives instant results directly in your browser.