Resources · Calculators
How much house can I afford?
Lenders qualify you using debt-to-income (DTI) ratios. Enter your income, debts, and down payment to see your max purchase price at conservative and aggressive DTIs.
Your Finances
Loan Assumptions
Comfortable (28% DTI)
Conservative — recommended for most buyers
$0
- Max monthly payment
- $0
- Loan amount
- $0
Stretch (36% DTI)
Aggressive — what most lenders will approve
$0
- Max monthly payment
- $0
- Loan amount
- $0
Anita's Take
Lenders will approve you up to ~43% DTI on a conventional loan. That doesn't mean you should buy at that level. The 28% number above is what feels comfortable month over month — leaving room to save, travel, and weather surprises.
Disclaimer
This calculator is a planning tool, not a loan pre-approval. Actual loan amounts depend on credit score, employment history, asset reserves, loan program (FHA, VA, conventional, jumbo), and lender-specific overlays. PMI is not included and applies when down payment is below 20%. Get a real pre-approval letter from a licensed lender before making offers.
DTI Explained
Front-end vs back-end ratios.
Front-end DTI (28%)
Your total housing payment (PITI + HOA) divided by gross monthly income. Keeping this at or below 28% is the traditional rule of thumb for a comfortable budget. On $180K of income, that's $4,200/month max for housing.
Back-end DTI (36%–43%)
All monthly debt obligations — housing plus car loans, student loans, credit cards, child support — divided by gross monthly income. Most conventional loans cap this at 43%; FHA can go higher with compensating factors.
Ready to Get Specific?
Get pre-approved.
A pre-approval letter is what makes your offer competitive in Dallas. Anita can introduce you to lenders who close fast and price aggressively. Free, no obligation.
Get a Lender Intro