Home Affordability 101
Buying a home is a big decision and one of the most important factors to consider is how much you can afford. It can be difficult to determine the amount of house you can afford, but there are some useful tools and websites available to help you calculate your home affordability.
The first step in determining your home affordability is to calculate your debt-to-income ratio (DTI). Your DTI ratio is the percentage of your monthly income that goes towards paying debts. Lenders generally prefer a DTI ratio of 36% or less.
To calculate your DTI ratio, add up all of your monthly debt payments (including mortgage payments, car loans, credit card payments, etc.) and divide that by your gross monthly income (your income before taxes and other deductions). Multiply that number by 100 to get your DTI ratio.
Once you have your DTI ratio, you can use online mortgage calculators to estimate how much home you can afford. These calculators take into account factors such as your income, debt, and down payment to give you an estimate of your maximum home purchase price.
Some useful websites for calculating your home affordability include:
Bankrate - This website offers a variety of mortgage calculators, including affordability calculators and DTI calculators.
Zillow - In addition to helping you find homes for sale, Zillow also offers an affordability calculator to help you estimate your monthly mortgage payments.
NerdWallet - This website offers a range of calculators and tools to help you estimate your home affordability, including a DTI calculator and a mortgage payment calculator.
Trulia - Trulia's affordability calculator takes into account your income, debt, and other expenses to estimate how much home you can afford.
By using these online tools and calculators, you can get a better idea of how much home you can afford and what your monthly mortgage payments might be. It's important to keep in mind that these calculators provide estimates only and should not be used as a substitute for professional financial advice.
When it comes to buying a home, it's important to do your research and take the time to understand your options. By using online tools and resources to calculate your home affordability, you can make a more informed decision and find the home that's right for you.