Guide · Home affordability

How to use a home affordability calculator

Educational guide · Updated · About 5 min read

  1. Choose annual or monthly gross income and enter the amount.
  2. Enter other monthly debts (not the new mortgage).
  3. Set front-end and back-end DTI sample percentages (or keep the teaching defaults).
  4. Enter a sample mortgage rate, term, and down payment percent.
  5. Optional: add monthly tax, insurance, and HOA estimates.
  6. Read max home price, max loan, estimated P&I, binding constraint, and rate compare table.

Example: $80,000 · 20% down · 6.5% · 30 years

What it is not

  • Not a pre-approval or credit decision
  • Not a live rate quote
  • Not PMI, closing costs, or local tax lookup

How we calculate · Questions

Frequently asked questions

What inputs do I need?

Gross income, other monthly debts, sample DTI caps, mortgage rate sample, term, down payment %, and optional tax/insurance/HOA.

Can I share a prefilled link?

Yes—use income, incomeMode, otherDebts, frontDti, backDti, rate, years, down, tax, insurance, and hoa.

Related tool

Open the free affordability calculator

Max price, loan, P&I, rate compare.

Open calculator

Sources linked above include U.S. government materials (for example CFPB, FDIC, NCUA, BLS, IRS) where noted. Sample math uses only labeled Nestfigure assumptions—not bank quotes, job offers, or personalized advice. Last reviewed: August 9, 2026.

YMYL notice: This site is for education only. It is not financial, tax, or investment advice. Nestfigure is not a bank, credit union, broker, investment adviser, or fiduciary. Product terms, rates, and penalties vary—always read your institution’s disclosures before acting. Calculator results are mathematical estimates, not bank quotes.