Mortgage Affordability Calculator 2026
Find the maximum home price you can afford based on income, existing debts, and down payment. See your DTI and front-end ratios.
$
$
$
%
%
$378,000
Maximum Home Price
Based on 36% back-end DTI
$2,212
Max Monthly Payment
36%
Back-End DTI
27%
Front-End DTI
Gross Monthly Income$7,917
Max Housing (28% front-end)$2,217
Existing Monthly Debts$400
Max Housing (36% back-end)$2,450
Binding Limit Used28% front-end
Max Loan Amount$318,000
Max Home Price (with down payment)$378,000
The 28/36 Rule Explained
Lenders use two DTI ratios to assess mortgage affordability:
- Front-end ratio (28%): Monthly housing costs (PITI) ÷ gross monthly income. Should not exceed 28%.
- Back-end ratio (36%): Total monthly debt payments (housing + all other debts) ÷ gross monthly income. Should not exceed 36%.
The lower of the two binding limits determines your maximum monthly housing payment. Then, working backward through the mortgage formula, you arrive at the maximum purchase price.
FHA vs Conventional Limits
Conventional loans: typically 28/36, flexible to 45–50% with strong credit. FHA loans: up to 31/43%, flexible to 50% with compensating factors. VA and USDA loans focus primarily on residual income rather than DTI ratios.