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FFSJTMWTD|FIRST HOME BUYER — CALCULATOR HUB
FREE · LIVE RATES · NO BS
Free · No credit card · Instant access

First Home Buyer
Affordability Calculator

The most comprehensive free mortgage affordability calculator in the US. Get your Bank Max, Comfortable, and Honest numbers — plus a printable bank-ready report — in under 3 minutes.

Live FRED ratesAll 50 statesJoint applicationsBank-ready report

New here? Start with the Scenario Explorer (2 min) to find your best path, then continue to the Full Calculator for your complete loan picture.

50k+
Calculations run
All 50
States covered
< 3 min
To complete
100%
Free, always
HOW IT WORKS4 STEPS
01

Enter your income & debts

Annual income, monthly debt payments, down payment, and state.

02

Add your credit score

We calculate your Applicant Strength Score and flag any issues to fix before applying.

03

See your three numbers

Bank Max, Comfortable, and Honest — with full monthly payment breakdown including tax, insurance, and PMI.

04

Generate your bank report

One click. Printable. In the format lenders expect. Walk in prepared.

WHAT'S INCLUDED8 FEATURES

Solo or Joint Application

Model single or dual-applicant scenarios. The calculator uses the lower middle FICO for rate qualification — exactly how lenders do it.

Applicant Strength Score

100-point score aligned to Freddie Mac's 4 Cs: Capacity, Capital, Credit, and Collateral. Know where you stand before you walk into a bank.

Three Affordability Numbers

Bank Max (what they'll lend), Comfortable (what you can live with), and Honest (what you can actually afford). Most calculators only show one.

Live 30yr & 15yr Rates

Pulls real-time rates from the Federal Reserve (FRED API). No outdated defaults — your numbers reflect today's market.

Bank-Ready Report

Generate a printable submission report in the format lenders expect. Bring it to your first meeting and walk in prepared.

State-by-State Closing Costs

Closing cost breakdown for all 50 states. Know your full cash-to-close number — not just the down payment.

Loan Type Comparison

Side-by-side comparison of Conventional 30yr, Conventional 15yr, and FHA. See the real cost difference over the life of the loan.

Rent vs. Buy Analysis

5-year and 10-year wealth position comparison. See exactly when buying beats renting in your specific situation.

WHY THREE NUMBERS — NOT ONETHE HONEST APPROACH

Most calculators show you what the bank will lend. That's not the same as what you should borrow.

Bank Max

The maximum a lender will approve based on your debt-to-income ratio. This is the ceiling — not the target.

Borrowing this much leaves no buffer for rate rises, job changes, or life.

Comfortable

What you can afford while still saving, investing, and living your life. Calculated at 28% front-end DTI.

A good target for most buyers in stable employment.

Honest

The number that won't stress you out when rates rise or life happens. Stress-tested at +2% above current rate.

This is the number to build your property search around.

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS5 QUESTIONS

Is this calculator really free?

Yes. No credit card, no sign-up, no trial. The calculator is free because we make money selling books — not selling your data.

Where do the interest rates come from?

Rates are pulled live from the Federal Reserve Economic Data (FRED) API. They update daily and reflect the current national average 30-year fixed rate.

What's the difference between Bank Max and Honest?

Bank Max is what a lender will approve based on your DTI ratio. Honest is stress-tested at +2% above the current rate — it's the number that won't break you if rates rise or your income changes.

What is house hacking?

House hacking means buying a multi-unit property (duplex, triplex) or a home with an ADU, living in one unit, and renting the others. The rental income offsets your mortgage — sometimes to zero. The Scenario Explorer shows you exactly how much.

Do I need to create an account?

No. The calculator runs entirely in your browser. Nothing is stored on our servers unless you choose to generate and download a report.

From the FFSJTMWTD Series

Want to understand every number on this page?

The FFSJTMWTD property series walks you through mortgages, house hacking, and rental investing in plain English. No jargon. No theory. Just the framework.

Ready to know your real number?

Free. No credit card. No subscription. Just your mortgage affordability numbers in under 3 minutes.

Or go straight to the Full Calculator →