Pick a price and a loan type. This uses the actual DTI limits lenders run through DU/LPA and FHA's scorecard — not the textbook 43% — and shows the residual-income truth every other calculator hides.
DU/LPA approve up to ~50% total DTI — well past the old 43% rule.
That down-payment number is the whole reason down payment assistance exists — thousands of programs can cover it. Heads up: DPA programs usually cap your DTI tighter than the limits above, because the grant or silent second is taking on extra risk.
The honest DPA guide →The DTI ratio alone lies. Picture two people. A worker earning $2,500/mo at 50% DTI has just $1,250 left for food, gas, utilities, and life. A retiree earning $30,000/mo — with barely any tax — at 70% DTI still has $10,000 left. Same-ish ratio; completely different reality. That leftover is called residual income, and it's what actually determines whether you can live in the house.
That's why the real limits aren't "43%." Here's what lenders actually allow:
| Loan type | What really caps you |
|---|---|
| Conventional | DU/LPA approve up to ~50% total DTI (manual is far stricter, ~36–45%). |
| FHA | Up to ~56.9% with compensating factors (reserves, residual income) through the TOTAL scorecard. |
| VA | No hard DTI cap — it qualifies on residual income. Strong files (credit + down payment + residual) close well past 60%. |
So "how much income do I need?" isn't one number — it depends on your loan, your credit, your reserves, and how much you have left over. This tool gives you the honest floor for each program, then shows the residual so you can judge the part that matters.
I'll send your figures plus the moves that lower the income you need — cutting the right debt, the loan that fits, and the assistance most people miss. Free, no spam.
Estimates for education only — not a loan offer, quote, or financial advice. DTI limits reflect typical DU/LPA and FHA TOTAL Scorecard maximums with compensating factors; VA uses residual income rather than a hard DTI cap. Actual approval depends on the automated underwriting decision, credit, reserves, residual income, program and investor overlays, and your full financial picture. MI/MIP, funding fees, taxes, and insurance vary. "What's left" is before income taxes. Confirm everything with a licensed professional.