Mortgage Affordability Calculator
Estimate the maximum home price you can afford using the 28/36 rule and your actual financial situation.
Results
What is it?
The 28/36 rule is the traditional mortgage affordability guideline: housing costs (PITI) should not exceed 28% of gross monthly income, and all debt payments combined should not exceed 36%. This calculator applies both tests and uses the more conservative result.
How to use
Enter combined gross annual income, existing monthly debts (excluding the new mortgage), down payment, interest rate, and loan term. The calculator returns the maximum home price, loan size, and monthly payment satisfying the 28/36 rule.
Example scenario
Income $90,000/year, $400 existing debts, $20,000 down, 6.5% rate, 30 years. 28% rule gives $2,100/month max payment. 36% rule gives ($2,700 - $400) = $2,300 available. Conservative limit $2,100 gives max loan ~$331,500 and max home price ~$351,500.
Pro tip
The 28/36 rule is a guideline, not a hard limit. Factor in property taxes, homeowners insurance, HOA fees, and maintenance (budget 1-2% of home value/year) on top of the mortgage payment.