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How Much House Can You Actually Afford?

Not a toy calculator - this one uses the same debt-ratio rules underwriters use, with taxes and mortgage insurance built in.

Your Numbers

Enter Your Situation

Car payments, minimum card payments, student loans, other loans. Not rent or utilities.
On conventional loans, your credit score changes your mortgage insurance cost. On FHA, it doesn't.
Check today's average rates at Mortgage News Daily - 30yr Conventional or 30yr FHA, then set the slider to match.
Estimated Purchase Power
$0
estimated maximum purchase price
Turn This Into a Real Pre-Approval
Estimate only - not a loan offer or approval. Uses 1.25% annual property taxes, an insurance estimate, and standard program debt-ratio guidelines. Your real approval depends on full underwriting.
Understanding the Numbers

How This Calculator Thinks (Like an Underwriter)

Debt-to-income ratios drive everything. On a conventional loan, your total monthly debts - housing plus everything else - generally must stay at or under 50% of your gross income. On FHA, the housing payment itself should stay under about 47% of income, while total debts can stretch to roughly 57% - which is why FHA often approves more than people expect.

Mortgage insurance works differently by program. On a conventional loan with less than 20% down, PMI pricing is based on your credit score - stronger credit, cheaper PMI - and it can be removed later as you build equity. On FHA, the annual mortgage insurance is a standard rate based on your loan amount and term regardless of credit, plus an upfront premium usually financed into the loan. That's why the right program depends on your whole picture, not just the rate.

Taxes and insurance count too. This tool builds in 1.25% annual property taxes (a common East Bay planning number - Mello-Roos areas run higher), an insurance estimate, and any HOA you enter - because your approval is based on the whole payment, not just principal and interest.

This is an estimate, not an approval. The real version takes about 15 minutes: book a free consult or text me at (925) 550-9733 and we'll turn your numbers into a pre-approval letter sellers take seriously.

Questions

Straight Answers

Why does FHA approve me for more than conventional?
FHA's guidelines allow total debts to reach a higher share of income (up to roughly 57%) than conventional (capped at 50%). The tradeoff: FHA carries mortgage insurance based on the loan amount regardless of your credit, including an upfront premium. Which one wins depends on your credit and down payment - I'll run both.
Is 50% DTI safe for me personally?
Guidelines are ceilings, not recommendations. The right budget is the one that fits your life - which is exactly the conversation we have before you shop.
Where does the interest rate come from?
Rates move daily. Check the current averages on Mortgage News Daily (linked above), set the slider to match, or just text me - I'll price your exact scenario, which is more accurate than any average.
What's not included in this estimate?
Mello-Roos special taxes (common in newer East County neighborhoods), specific insurance quotes, and program-specific quirks. It's designed to get you close - your pre-approval makes it exact.
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