What are front-end and back-end DTI ratios?

The front-end ratio (housing ratio) is your total monthly housing costs divided by gross monthly income. The back-end ratio (total DTI) is all monthly debt payments — including housing — divided by gross income. This calculator starts with editable 28% housing and 36% total-debt assumptions as conservative planning defaults. Actual lender underwriting limits vary by loan program, lender, borrower profile, and other factors.

Does this number mean I’ll be approved for that loan?

No. This is an educational estimate. Lenders also weigh credit, employment history, assets, loan type, and their own underwriting rules. The result is not pre-approval and does not guarantee a loan amount.

Which debts belong in monthly debt payments?

Count minimum monthly obligations: car loans, student loans, credit card minimums, personal loans, and other installment debt. Leave out the future mortgage payment — the calculator builds housing cost separately.

Why does my result say the back-end ratio is the limit?

If other debts already use a large share of income, total DTI hits its ceiling before the housing ratio does. Paying down existing debt can raise the estimated purchase price this tool produces.

Mortgage Affordability Calculator

Start from income, debts, and down payment, then estimate a home price using editable debt-to-income planning ratios.

Your Financial Details

Annual Gross Household Income

Total pre-tax income for all borrowers

Monthly Debt Payments

Car loans, student loans, credit cards — exclude future mortgage

Mortgage Details

Annual Interest Rate

Enter your mortgage interest rate (note rate), not APR

Loan Term

Years

Months

Quick select:

Down Payment

Estimated Monthly Costs

Annual Property Taxes (estimated)

Enter the annual amount; divided by 12 for the monthly estimate

Annual Homeowners Insurance (estimated)

Monthly HOA Fees

Estimated Annual PMI Rate (%)

Applied when LTV > 80%. PMI varies by lender, loan program, credit profile, and LTV.

DTI Planning Assumptions

Editable planning defaults: 28% housing and 36% total debt. Actual lender limits vary.

Front-End Ratio (%)

Housing costs ÷ gross income

Back-End Ratio (%)

Total debts ÷ gross income

Estimated Maximum Home Price$393,205Educational estimate only — not a lender pre-approval

Max Loan Amount$333,205

Down Payment$60,000

Estimated LTV84.7%

Max Monthly Housing$2,800.00

Est. Monthly P&I$2,161.16

Monthly Tax + Insurance + HOA$500.00

Estimated Monthly PMI$138.84LTV > 80% — see note below

Constrained ByHousing ratio (28.0%)

Monthly gross income: $10,000.00. The housing payment limit of 28.0% is the binding constraint.

PMI included in this estimate. Estimated LTV is 84.7% (above 80%). Estimated monthly PMI of $138.84 is subtracted from the available housing budget. Actual PMI pricing and requirements vary by lender, loan program, and credit profile.

Estimate only. Lender qualification depends on credit, employment, assets, loan type, and underwriting guidelines. This calculator is not a lender approval and does not guarantee loan terms.

From income and DTI to an estimated price

This calculator starts with editable 28% housing and 36% total-debt assumptions as conservative planning defaults. Actual lender underwriting limits vary by loan program, lender, borrower profile, and other factors. Those ratios set a maximum monthly housing payment; the tool then works backward to a matching home price.

Estimated housing costs can include principal and interest, property taxes, homeowners insurance, applicable estimated PMI, and HOA fees. The front-end ratio caps those housing costs as a share of gross monthly income. The back-end ratio caps all monthly debts the same way. Whichever limit you hit first sets the estimate.

Change the 28% and 36% defaults to try other planning scenarios. Many programs allow higher ratios when credit, reserves, or other factors support it. Treat the result as a planning estimate, not a lender approval cap.

Important: Educational use only — not lender approval, pre-qualification, or a promised loan amount. Qualification depends on your full profile and the lender's underwriting standards.

Frequently Asked Questions

: The front-end ratio (housing ratio) is your total monthly housing costs divided by gross monthly income. The back-end ratio (total DTI) is all monthly debt payments — including housing — divided by gross income. This calculator starts with editable 28% housing and 36% total-debt assumptions as conservative planning defaults. Actual lender underwriting limits vary by loan program, lender, borrower profile, and other factors.
: No. This is an educational estimate. Lenders also weigh credit, employment history, assets, loan type, and their own underwriting rules. The result is not pre-approval and does not guarantee a loan amount.
: Count minimum monthly obligations: car loans, student loans, credit card minimums, personal loans, and other installment debt. Leave out the future mortgage payment — the calculator builds housing cost separately.
: If other debts already use a large share of income, total DTI hits its ceiling before the housing ratio does. Paying down existing debt can raise the estimated purchase price this tool produces.