How much cash should remain after closing?
Keep emergency reserves plus moving, immediate repair, furnishing, and ownership-startup money outside the down payment and closing-cost budget.
LEVEL 300 · STEP CLIMB
True Home Affordability Calculator
Set a responsible home-price ceiling using the complete monthly cost—not the maximum a lender might approve.
READY WHEN YOU ARE—
Set your household limits and complete ownership costs, then review the purchase ceiling. Enter 0 for amounts that do not apply.
Try a lower comfort limit or a different down payment, then calculate again before replacing the saved plan. Keep reserves and closing cash outside the down payment.
HOW TO USE THE RESULT
Lender approval is not the same as affordability
A lender primarily tests whether the debt can be approved. A household needs the purchase to coexist with repairs, retirement saving, insurance, taxes, utilities, and the rest of life. This calculator builds the ceiling from the complete monthly cost and the down payment you say remains available after protecting other cash.
How should maintenance be estimated?
Use the property’s age, condition, systems, and inspection—not one universal percentage. Older roofs, HVAC, plumbing, foundations, pools, and large lots can dominate the first years.
Should future raises justify a larger purchase?
Base recurring housing costs on reliable current income. Future income can improve the plan later; it should not be required to make the first year survivable.
OPTIONAL NEXT TESTS
Pressure-test the assumptions before acting on this result.
RELATED TEST
Compare renting and buying
Test a specific purchase price against rent over your expected time in the home.
OPEN →02Check monthly cash flow
Make sure the modeled housing cost fits real spending.
OPEN →03Measure the diversion
Compare the down payment with its investment opportunity cost.
OPEN →