Mortgage Qualifier Calculator
See the home price you can qualify for, based on your income, debts and a lender’s front-end and back-end debt-to-income limits.
Free to use No sign-up needed Updates as you type
Default interest rate: 7.18% — Freddie Mac 30-year fixed average, week of Nov 5, 2026. Enter the rate from your own Loan Estimate.
How the mortgage qualifier calculator works
This calculator answers a yes-or-no question: given your income, your debts, and the cash you have for a down payment, do you clear the bar for a specific loan you have in mind? It builds the full proposed housing payment for that loan, adds your other monthly obligations, and measures both numbers against the income you earn.
The result is your front-end and back-end ratios placed side by side with the thresholds most lenders use, so you can see not just whether you pass but by how much — and which ratio, if either, is holding you back.
Worked example: with gross monthly income of $8,000, monthly debt payments of $600 and down payment of $60,000, the mortgage qualifier calculator shows home price you qualify for of $324,232.
- Affordable payment (P&I)
- $1,790.00
- Maximum loan
- $264,232
- Limited by
- Housing ratio
- Maximum price
- $324,232
| Gross monthly income | Home price you qualify for |
|---|---|
| $5,000 | $200,235 |
| $8,000 | $324,232 |
| $12,000 | $489,562 |
| $18,000 | $737,556 |
The formula
Front-end ratio = proposed housing payment ÷ gross monthly income. Back-end ratio = (proposed housing payment + all other monthly debt payments) ÷ gross monthly income. You qualify under typical guidelines when the front-end ratio sits near or below 28% and the back-end ratio near or below 43%.
How every calculator here computes, what it assumes and how the defaults stay current: our methodology.
- Threshold values are industry norms; specific programs (FHA, VA, conventional) and individual lenders set their own limits.
- Down payment affects the result indirectly — it sets the loan size and whether PMI is added to the housing payment.
- Credit score and history are not scored here, yet they can override the ratios in either direction during real underwriting.
- Assumes income is fully documentable; gig, commission, or recent self-employment income is often averaged or partially counted.
- Passing the ratio test is necessary but not sufficient — appraisal, reserves, and program eligibility still gate final approval.
Reference data
Current figures behind this tool: Minimum Credit Score by Loan Type, DTI Limits by Loan Type.
Results are estimates for educational purposes and are not financial advice. Confirm exact figures with your lender or a licensed advisor.
Questions about the mortgage qualifier calculator
What's the difference between the front-end and back-end ratio?
The front-end ratio measures only your housing payment against income; the back-end ratio adds every other monthly debt — cars, cards, student loans — to that housing payment.
Lenders watch both, but the back-end ratio usually decides the case because it reflects your full obligation load, not just the mortgage in isolation.
I pass the front-end ratio but fail the back-end. What does that mean?
It means the home itself is affordable for your income, but your existing debts push your total obligations past what lenders accept.
The fix is usually on the debt side — paying down or paying off a card or auto loan, or choosing a less expensive home — rather than earning more, which is slower to change.
Can I qualify if my ratios are slightly over the limits?
Sometimes. Lenders allow exceptions when you bring compensating strengths — a high credit score, large cash reserves, a sizable down payment, or a long stable job history. Government-backed programs in particular can stretch the back-end ratio meaningfully.
Being just over the line is a conversation with a lender, not an automatic decline.
Is my information saved or shared?
No. Every calculation runs entirely in your browser. We never store, transmit or sell the numbers you enter.
What is a good debt-to-income ratio for a mortgage?
Most lenders want total monthly debts under 43% of gross income, and 36% or below is ideal; the housing portion alone should stay near 28%. A lower DTI improves both your approval odds and the rate you are offered.
Sources
- CFPB — What is a debt-to-income ratio?
- CFPB — What is a qualified mortgage?
- Fannie Mae — Selling Guide
How the figures on this site are calculated and tested: methodology · editorial policy.
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