โจ Let's start simple
How does your paycheck work? ๐ต
Pick the one that sounds most like your borrower โ or your own situation if you are the borrower!
๐ผ Your business
What kind of business do you own? ๐ข
This tells us which tax forms your accountant filed โ we'll show you exactly where to look!
๐๏ธ Rental income
Rental Property Income ๐
Lenders count 75% of your rental income โ they save 25% for possible vacancies. We'll look at your Schedule E tax form.
Line 3
Rents received โ total rent for the year โ
$XX,XXX
Lines 5โ19
Expenses (mortgage, taxes, insurance, repairs)
($X,XXX)
Line 18
Depreciation expense โ we add this back โ
$X,XXX
Line 21
Net income or (loss) โ your bottom line
$X,XXX
๐๏ธ
Monthly Qualifying Rental Income
$0
75% vacancy factor applied ยท add to other income in DTI tab
๐ Rental Income Breakdown
๐ฆ Loan type
What kind of home loan? ๐
Each loan type has different rules for how much debt you can have. Not sure? Conventional is the most common!
๐ก Affordability
How much house can I afford? ๐ก
Tell us your income, debts, and down payment โ we'll figure out your max price! No guessing required.
Monthly qualifying income
From your W2 or Self-Employed tab
$
Current monthly debts
Car, student loans, credit cards, etc.
$
Down payment saved
$
Today's interest rate (%)
Ask your lender or check Bankrate.com
Loan length
Loan type
Estimated monthly taxes
Annual property tax รท 12
$
Estimated monthly insurance
Homeowner's insurance. Usually $80โ$200/mo.
$
HOA fees (monthly)
Condo or neighborhood association dues. Enter 0 if none โ but don't forget this for condos!
$
Mortgage Insurance / PMI (monthly)
Required if down payment is under 20%. Your lender calculates this. Enter 0 if unsure.
$
๐ก
Maximum Purchase Price
$0
Based on your income and debts
๐ Affordability Breakdown
Was this section easy to use? ๐
๐
NPI Compliant โ Safe for Your Company
Buy The House Calculator is designed specifically for mortgage professionals who need to follow NPI (Non-Public Personal Information) compliance rules.
โ
No SSNs collected
We never ask for Social Security numbers
โ
No data stored on servers
All calculations stay on your device
โ
No borrower accounts
No login required for borrowers
โ
No account numbers
We never collect financial account data
โ
Calculation only
Income math only โ no borrower file storage
โ
Use initials only
Borrower name is optional โ use initials or file number
What we collect: Only your subscription email and payment info (via Stripe). That is it. No borrower data ever leaves your device.
๐
The Cheat Sheet
Every tax form, line number, and rule โ in plain English!
๐
W2 Employee โ Where to Find Each Number
| Income Type | Document | Exact Line | Rule |
|---|---|---|---|
| Base Salary | W2 | Box 1 | Full annual amount |
| Hourly Pay | Paystub | Regular Rate ร 40hrs ร 52 | Capped at 40 hrs/week |
| Overtime | W2 + Paystub | Box 1 minus base; YTD OT | 2-year average |
| Bonus | W2 + Paystub | Box 1 minus base; YTD Bonus | 2-year average |
| All totals | โ | โ | Use lower of avg or annualized YTD |
๐ผ
Self-Employed โ Tax Return Line Numbers
| Item | Form | Line # | Add Back? |
|---|---|---|---|
| Starting point (AGI) | Form 1040 | Line 11 | โ starting point |
| Depreciation | Schedule C | Line 13 | โ Yes |
| Depletion/Amortization | Schedule C | Line 12 | โ Yes |
| Business Use of Home | Form 8829 | Line 36 | โ Yes |
| One-Time Loss | Documented | Various | โ Yes (if documented) |
| Meals & Entertainment | Schedule C | Line 24b | โ No |
| Car Expenses | Schedule C | Line 9 | โ No |
| Net Profit / Loss | Schedule C | Line 31 | โ bottom line |
โ๏ธ
DTI Limits โ How Much Debt Can You Have?
| Loan Type | Standard Max | With Strong Factors | Front-End Max |
|---|---|---|---|
| ๐๏ธ Conventional | 45% | Up to 50% (via DU/LPA) | No hard cap |
| ๐ FHA | 43% | Up to 50% | 31% |
| ๐๏ธ VA | 41% | Over 41% if residual income OK | No limit |
| ๐พ USDA | 41% | Up to 44% via GUS | 29% |
๐
Other Income โ What Counts?
| Income Type | Proof Needed | How It's Counted |
|---|---|---|
| Social Security | Award letter + 1099-SSA | Full amount; +25% if non-taxable |
| Pension / Retirement | Award letter or 1099-R | Full monthly amount |
| Rental Income | Schedule E + lease | 75% of gross rent |
| Child Support (you receive) | Court order + receipts | Full amount; must continue 3+ yrs |
| Disability (long-term) | Policy + award letter | Full monthly benefit |