Texas Homebuyer Tool
Plan the payment before you shop for the house.
A lender may calculate what fits the guidelines. This planner helps you decide what fits your actual life.
Homebuying Budget Planner
Find a housing payment that works with your life before testing home prices.
This planner does not calculate mortgage approval. It compares your real monthly budget with a DTI benchmark you choose. Credit, assets, loan type, property costs, and underwriting findings still matter.
01 · Income
What actually reaches your household after taxes and payroll deductions.
Before taxes. Used only for the DTI planning reference.
02 · Recurring debts
Include payments that normally appear in mortgage DTI, such as auto loans, student loans, personal loans, support obligations, and credit card minimums. Do not include rent here.
03 · Protect the rest of your life
Food, transportation, utilities, insurance, childcare, medical costs, and other essentials.
Emergency fund, retirement, travel, maintenance reserves, or other priorities.
Money you do not want committed before the month begins.
A reference point, not a program limit or approval threshold.
Lifestyle budget allows
$2,425/mo
36.0% DTI reference allows
$2,335/mo
Planning housing-payment target
$2,335/month
This uses the lower of your lifestyle budget and DTI reference. It should include principal, interest, property taxes, homeowners insurance, flood insurance, HOA dues, and mortgage insurance when applicable.
Recurring debts
$725
Debt-only DTI
8.5%
DTI at target payment
36.0%
Cushion after target
$590
Your selected DTI reference is the tighter limit. Your monthly-life budget has more room, but a full mortgage review is needed before treating that extra room as buying power.
Educational planning estimate only. This tool does not determine pre-qualification, pre-approval, loan eligibility, or a maximum purchase price. Income treatment and debt calculations vary by loan program and borrower circumstances. Shalanda Smith · NMLS #554554 · Secure Choice Lending · NMLS #1689518.
Ready to test home prices against that payment?
Use the Texas Mortgage Payment Calculator →