See what you will actually write each month — not just principal and interest, but the full carrying cost of the home.
Home & Loan
Practical tips & common mistakes
28/36 rule is a ceiling
28% housing and 36% total debt are lender guidelines — many households target 25% housing for breathing room.
Forgetting maintenance
Budget 1–2% of home value yearly for upkeep. A $400k house can need $4k–8k annual capex beyond the mortgage.
Gross vs net
This tool uses gross income like underwriters do. If you budget from take-home pay, mentally shave 20–30% off the safe payment.
HOA and PMI
Include association fees in housing ratio — they are not optional and do not build equity.