Free tool

Home Affordability Calculator

What lenders will approve vs. what won't wreck your budget — the 28/36 rule with an honest stretch band.

Your numbers

Annual gross household income$Monthly debt payments (cars, loans, cards)$Down payment saved$Mortgage rate (30-yr)6.5%Est. monthly taxes + insurance$

Comfortable (28/36 rule)

$431,795

Lender stretch (43% DTI)

$574,185

Comfortable zoneStretch zone

Monthly at comfortable

$2,800

Monthly at stretch

$3,700

The 28/36 rule caps housing at 28% of gross income and all debt at 36%. It exists because people who exceed it get house-poor.
Lenders will often approve up to 43% DTI — that's their risk limit, not your comfort limit.
Budget for the house you buy, not the house you're approved for: maintenance runs 1–2% of home value per year on top of the payment.

Worth connects your real accounts and runs the numbers for you — budgets, net worth, goals, and an AI assistant.