Housing Affordability

The Housing Affordability Calculator evaluates your housing costs against standard lending guidelines: the front-end ratio (housing costs as a percentage of gross income, recommended under 28%) and the back-end ratio (all debt payments including housing as a percentage of gross income, recommended under 36%). Enter your gross monthly income, total monthly housing costs (mortgage/rent, property tax, insurance, HOA), and total monthly debt payments. The dual gauge shows both ratios with green, amber, and red zones corresponding to lender comfort levels. Spending too much on housing is the number one budget killer. By checking both ratios, you can assess whether your housing costs are sustainable and whether a lender would approve you for a mortgage at your current debt levels. It is also useful for setting a rent budget when moving to a new city.