Calculators
Affordability Calculator
Find out how much home you can comfortably afford across Washington DC, Maryland and Northern Virginia. Adjust your income, debts, down payment and interest rate to see your target price and monthly payment update in real time — then let’s build a strategy behind the number.
36%
Comfortable DTI guide
20%
Down payment to avoid PMI
15 / 30
Most common loan terms
3
Jurisdictions we serve
01Run the numbers
See your target price in real time
Move any control and the estimate updates instantly. Every figure below is calculated on the spot — no submitting required.
Your details
Before taxes, all earners combined
Cars, student loans, minimum card payments
About 14% of the estimated price
Your expected mortgage rate
Share of gross income toward housing + debts
Loan term
Property tax region
Applying an effective property tax rate of 1.02% for Arlington, VA. Estimates are for guidance only.
Your estimate
Home price you can afford
$635,067
Loan amount
$545,067
Down payment
14%
Est. monthly payment
$4,300
Effective DTI
36%
Monthly payment breakdown
- Principal & Interest$3,44580%
- Property Taxes$54013%
- Home Insurance$1503%
- HOA / Condo Dues$1654%
Want to push this number higher? Let’s review your debts, down payment and the neighborhoods that stretch your budget furthest.
Get a personalized plan02How it works
Four steps from a number to a plan
An affordability estimate is only useful when it translates into a strategy. Here is how we use yours.
Set your monthly comfort
Start with your gross income and the debts you already carry, then choose how much of your income you want going to housing.
Dial in the financing
Adjust your down payment, interest rate and loan term to see how each choice moves your target price and payment.
Match the DMV market
Pick a local tax region so the property-tax estimate reflects where you actually want to buy.
Turn the number into a plan
Bring your result to a strategy call and we’ll align your budget with real listings, neighborhoods and timelines.
03What shapes your number
The six inputs that decide your budget
Lenders weigh each of these differently, and small changes add up. Here is what moves your buying power the most.
Gross Annual Income
Lenders start with your total household income before taxes — including salary, bonus and other verifiable earnings.
Recurring Monthly Debts
Car payments, student loans, minimum card payments and other obligations are subtracted before housing is added.
Down Payment
A larger down payment lowers the loan amount, the monthly principal and interest, and can remove mortgage insurance.
Interest Rate
Even a small change in rate shifts your buying power meaningfully over a 15 or 30 year term.
Debt-to-Income Ratio
Most conventional loans look for total housing plus debts around 36% of gross income, up to roughly 43–45% with strong files.
Taxes, Insurance & HOA
Property taxes, homeowners insurance and association dues are part of the payment — not extras — and vary by locality.
04Local impact
Where you buy changes what you can buy
Property taxes differ across every jurisdiction we serve, and the spread can move your budget by tens of thousands of dollars. These are the effective residential rates our calculator applies.
Low effective rate · condo-friendly
Effective annual tax rate
Strong schools · close-in access
Effective annual tax rate
Old Town charm · walkable
Effective annual tax rate
Small-city feel · top-rated
Effective annual tax rate
Premium urban-suburban
Effective annual tax rate
Value · Metro-connected
Effective annual tax rate
More home for the budget
Effective annual tax rate
05Questions
Affordability, answered
The questions DMV buyers ask most about financing, down payments and how far their budget reaches.
It depends on your income, existing debts, down payment and the interest rate you qualify for. As a general guide, most lenders look for total monthly housing costs plus debts to land near 36% of your gross income, stretching to about 43–45% with a strong credit profile. This calculator applies those ratios so you can see a realistic target price for Washington DC, Maryland and Northern Virginia.
Conventional loans commonly cap total debt-to-income around 43–45%, while FHA financing can allow higher with compensating factors. Keeping your housing payment plus debts near or below 36% of gross income is the most comfortable range — and it preserves room in your budget for savings and the unexpected.
Twenty percent avoids private mortgage insurance and lowers your monthly payment, but it is not required. Many DMV buyers put down 5–15%, and VA loans for eligible service members can require no down payment at all. A larger down payment always reduces your loan amount and long-term interest.
They are part of your monthly payment and they vary widely across the region. A lower tax locality can meaningfully increase the price you can afford, while condo association dues or HOA fees reduce the portion of your budget available for principal and interest. Choosing a region above keeps the estimate grounded in local rates.
No — it is an estimating tool to guide your budget and expectations. A lender pre-approval reviews your credit, income documentation and assets to confirm a specific borrowing amount. When you are ready, BW Metro Properties can connect you with trusted local lenders and help position your offer competitively.
That is exactly the conversation worth having. Paying down a small recurring debt, adjusting your down payment, or targeting a different community can change your reach quickly. Bring your results to a strategy call and we will map the highest-value path toward the home you want.
13Ready To Make Your Next Move?
Let’s build a strategy that works for your goals.
Buyers, sellers and investors across Washington DC, Maryland and Northern Virginia trust BW Metro Properties to clear the path forward.