Mortgage Affordability Calculator
How much house can you really afford?
How Much House Can I Afford?
Size your maximum home price from income, debts, and down payment.
Maximum Home Price
Est. payment $2150/mo
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What This Calculator Does
The Mortgage Affordability Calculator answers the single most common home-buying question: how much house can I afford? It uses your gross income, monthly debts, down payment, and typical housing costs to solve for a maximum home price within a healthy debt-to-income ratio.
How It Works
The tool applies the 36% back-end DTI guideline: housing payment plus other debts should stay under 36% of gross monthly income. It backs out the largest home price whose principal-and-interest, property tax, and insurance fit that budget.
Example
With R85,000 in annual income, R400 in monthly debts, 20% down, and a 6.5% rate, the calculator finds a comfortable maximum near R430,000 with a monthly payment around R2,700.
Reading the Results
Maximum Home Price
The largest price that keeps your total housing payment inside the DTI limit. Staying under it preserves room for saving and unexpected costs.
Back-End DTI
Housing payment plus other debt payments as a share of gross income. Lenders generally want this at or under 36%.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is a healthy debt-to-income ratio?
Most lenders prefer a back-end DTI at or below 36%, with the housing portion under 28%. Higher ratios mean riskier loans and worse rates.
Should I include bonuses in income?
Lenders typically require a two-year history of bonuses before counting them. Use your reliable base income for a conservative estimate.
What if I have a large down payment?
A bigger down payment lowers the loan and monthly payment, letting you afford a more expensive home within the same income.