Your numbers
All three checks are green under the base assumptions.
Needs $115,000
$100,000 down + $15,000 closing. Projected savings by then: $128,000 to $135,288, keeping a $13,500 buffer aside.
Est. $3,153/mo (13% of income)
$2,528 loan + $625 taxes and insurance. Lender guideline: under 28% is comfortable, 36% is the usual ceiling.
2.9 to 4.5 months of spending left
You asked to keep 3 months aside. This is what actually remains after paying everything at closing.
This math used six numbers you typed. Your real picture has hundreds.
Pulse connects your accounts and runs this against your actual savings rate, spending, and portfolio. Free to start.
Educational estimates only, not financial, lending, or tax advice. Pulse never tells you to buy; it shows you the math. Actual rates, taxes, insurance, and closing costs vary by lender, location, and property.
How the verdict works
1 · Cash at closing
Down payment plus about 3% in closing costs, compared with where your savings will be on your timeline. Your emergency buffer stays off the table; a plan that spends it is not a plan.
2 · Monthly payment
Loan payment plus estimated property tax and insurance, against the 28/36 lender guideline. Under 28% of gross income reads comfortable; 36% is the usual qualification ceiling.
3 · Cushion after closing
The part most calculators skip: how many months of your actual spending remain in savings after you hand over the cash. House-rich and cash-poor is a verdict, not a vibe.
Savings growth is shown as a range, 0% to 6% a year, because the future does not run on a point estimate. Fixed estimates: closing costs 3% of price, property tax 1.1% a year, insurance 0.4% a year. All of it is educational, none of it is advice.
Questions people ask
How much house can I afford?
A common lender guideline is the 28/36 rule: your housing payment (loan, taxes, insurance) should stay under 28% of gross monthly income to be comfortable, and under 36% to qualify with most lenders. This calculator also checks two things lenders do not: whether you will have the cash at closing without draining your emergency fund, and how many months of spending you have left after buying.
How much down payment do I need?
Twenty percent avoids private mortgage insurance, but many buyers put down less. The calculator defaults to 20% and lets you try anything from 5% to 30% to see how it changes both the cash you need and the monthly payment.
What are closing costs?
One-time fees at purchase: lender fees, title, escrow, inspections, and prepaid taxes. They typically run 2% to 5% of the price. This calculator estimates 3%.
Is this financial advice?
No. It is an educational estimate built on stated assumptions you can change. It never tells you to buy; it shows you the math so you can decide.
Do you store my numbers?
No. The calculator runs in your browser and nothing you type is saved unless you choose to create a Pulse account afterward.
Common scenarios
The same math, worked through for typical price and income pairs.
Put these calculators on your site
Writers and bloggers: the full interactive calculators are free to embed, no permission needed. Paste this where you want one to appear.
<!-- Home affordability --> <iframe src="https://pulse-browser.com/embed/can-i-afford-it" width="100%" height="820" frameborder="0" title="Can I afford it? calculator"></iframe> <!-- FIRE / early retirement --> <iframe src="https://pulse-browser.com/embed/fire-calculator" width="100%" height="1200" frameborder="0" title="FIRE calculator"></iframe> <p>Calculator by <a href="https://pulse-browser.com/tools">Pulse</a></p>
Pre-fill the affordability scenario by adding params, e.g. ?price=500000&income=120000. Keeping the credit link is appreciated but not required.