How much house do the ratios say you can carry?
Lenders look at two numbers before almost anything else: your front-end ratio (the housing payment as a share of your gross income) and your back-end ratio (housing plus your other monthly debts). Enter your income, your debts, and a home you are considering — the calculator shows both ratios against the common 28% and 36% guidelines and the guideline-max housing payment for your situation. These are estimates for planning only, not a pre-approval or a rate quote. Guidelines vary by program — the free First-Time Homebuyer Class covers how lenders actually read these numbers.
How to read your result:
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The front-end ratio is about the house; the back-end ratio is about everything. When the back-end ratio is the one over its guideline, paying down debts — not finding a cheaper house — is usually the faster lever.
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The guideline-max payment is a planning target, not an approval. Programs differ, and compensating factors matter.
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Bring your numbers to the free First-Time Homebuyer Class and we will walk through what to adjust before you apply.