See how much home you might qualify for based on your income, credit, and savings
Pre-qualification estimates how much home you can afford based on your income, debts, credit score, and savings. It is not a guarantee of loan approval — that requires a full pre-approval with income documentation and a credit check. However, pre-qualification gives you a realistic price range to guide your home search and tells you which loan programs (FHA, VA, conventional, jumbo) you likely qualify for. This calculator provides an educational estimate in 60 seconds.
Pre-qualification is an informal estimate based on self-reported financial information. Pre-approval is a formal process where a lender verifies your income, assets, employment, and credit through documentation and a hard credit pull. In California's competitive housing market, sellers strongly prefer offers backed by pre-approval letters. This calculator gives you the pre-qualification step — the next step is connecting with a licensed broker for the official pre-approval.
All fields approximate — this is an educational estimate, not a formal pre-approval.
Pre-qualification is an initial assessment of how much you might be able to borrow, based on your income, debts, credit score, and savings. It gives you a price range for house hunting. Unlike pre-approval, it does not involve documentation verification or a hard credit pull.
To afford a median-priced California home at $850,000 with 10% down, you typically need a household income of at least $150,000-$180,000 annually, assuming no other significant debts. Higher down payments or lower-priced markets reduce the income requirement. FHA and VA loans may qualify at lower incomes.
Most mortgage programs cap your total debt-to-income (DTI) ratio at 43-50%. This means your total monthly debts — including the new mortgage payment — should not exceed 43-50% of your gross monthly income. Conventional loans typically cap at 45%, while FHA may allow up to 50% with compensating factors.
No. Pre-qualification is based on self-reported information and does not involve a hard credit inquiry. Your credit score is not affected. Pre-approval, however, does require a hard credit pull, which may temporarily lower your score by a few points.
Last updated: July 2026. Sources: Federal Housing Finance Agency (FHFA) 2025 conforming loan limits. U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) FHA Mortgage Insurance guidelines. U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs VA Home Loan program. CalHFA down payment assistance program rules. California county property tax rates per county assessor offices. Calculations are estimates for educational purposes only.
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This website provides free mortgage education for California homebuyers, homeowners, and investors. All content is written and reviewed by licensed mortgage professionals. We are not a lender or broker — we are an educational resource.
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Mortgage Guide California is an independent educational publisher. All mortgage services, rate quotes, and loan applications are handled by Save Financial, Inc. (NMLS #377740, DRE #01875766), a California-licensed mortgage broker. Equal Housing Lender. All loans subject to credit approval.