Home Buying
10 First-Time Home Buyer Mistakes That Cost Thousands
Avoid the most expensive first-time home buyer mistakes. Real dollar amounts, sourced data, and practical advice to save you $10,000 or more.
Can I Afford This House?
Enter the listing price → see TRUE monthly cost (not just mortgage). Includes property tax, insurance, PMI, HOA, maintenance reserve, utilities estimate. Compares to 28/36 rule automatically.
Can I Afford This House?
Let's find out what you can really afford.
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$0$500,000
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$0$10,000
Car loans, student loans, credit card minimums
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$0$500,000
You can comfortably afford a home up to $257,694
Here's what I'd tell a friend
Your housing costs would be 28.0% of gross income, well within the recommended 28%. You'd still have plenty of room in your budget for saving and living. Don't forget to keep an emergency fund of 3-6 months of expenses on top of your down payment.
Maximum home price
$257,694
Loan amount
$207,694
Monthly mortgage (P&I)
$1,313
$188 principal + $1,125 interest
Property tax
$236/mo
Home insurance
$114/mo
PMI
$87/mo
Goes away once you have 20% equity
Total monthly housing cost
$1,750
Maintenance reserve
$215/mo
1% of home value per year, set aside monthly
Debt-to-income ratio
36.0%
Within guidelines, but on the higher side
Est. total interest over loan life
$405,004
Over 30 years
The Money Friend
You can comfortably afford a home up to $257,694
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This calculator provides estimates for informational purposes only and does not constitute financial advice. Actual costs may vary based on your creditworthiness, location, and lender. Consult a licensed financial advisor or mortgage professional before making financial decisions.
Interest rates, payments, and loan terms shown are examples for illustration purposes only and do not represent an offer to lend, a commitment to make a loan, or a guarantee of any specific rate or term. Actual rates and terms are determined by lenders based on your individual credit profile and may differ from examples shown.
Past performance and historical data do not guarantee future results. Equal Housing Opportunity.
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Home Buying
How Much House Can I Afford? A Real-Numbers Breakdown
Learn exactly how much house you can afford using the 28/36 rule, with worked examples at $60K, $80K, and $120K income levels.
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