The first reply to a new buyer inquiry
When a portal lead or website inquiry comes in, a link to a short calculator is a lighter first step than 'when can you meet?'. Buyers who complete it tell you their range and become warmer leads.
Buyer tools · Quick estimate
A pre-qualification calculator for the before-the-lender stage
This mortgage pre-qualification calculator for agents gives buyers a quick estimate of the home price they might qualify for, using income, monthly debts, down payment and two lending ratios. It's shorter than the full affordability calculator and works in English and Spanish, which makes it a good first link to text a buyer who has just reached out.
- Included on: every plan
- Runs in English and Spanish
- Leads arrive with all 7 results attached
What's the difference between pre-qualification and pre-approval?
Pre-qualification is an estimate from information the buyer provides, with no documents verified. Pre-approval comes from a lender after reviewing credit, income and assets. This calculator gives a pre-qualification-style estimate. It's useful for planning, but it doesn't replace a lender's pre-approval letter.
When you'd send it
When to put the Pre-Qualification Calculator in front of people
On Spanish-language pages and social posts
The calculator runs in Spanish as well as English. If you advertise to Spanish-speaking buyers, link straight to the Spanish version so the first experience is in their language.
Before recommending a lender
Buyers who've seen an estimate arrive at the lender knowing roughly what to expect. That makes the pre-approval call more productive, and you avoid surprises when you start writing offers.
What your visitor sees
The buyer enters annual income, monthly debt payments, down payment, rate, term, and monthly taxes, insurance and HOA. Two limits, the maximum housing ratio and the maximum total debt-to-income, are shown and adjustable. The result is a pre-qualified home price, the maximum loan, the maximum housing payment (PITI) and which ratio limited the result.
The lead you receiveA quick read on the buyer's range, and what's holding it back
The lead includes the Pre-Qualified Home Price, Maximum Loan, Max Housing Payment (PITI), Down Payment and Monthly Income, plus the Limiting Ratio. If the limiting ratio is total debt, other payments, not income, are constraining this buyer, and that's useful to know before a lender call.
Follow-up that works
- Reply the same day with a short list of homes at or below the estimate, and say it's an estimate.
- If the limiting ratio is total debt, mention that a lender can review options for existing debts.
- Offer a buyer consultation once they have a pre-approval, and add them to a nurture sequence until then.
- What your visitor enters
- Annual Income
- their input
- Down Payment
- their input
- Interest Rate (%)
- their input
- Loan Term (years)
- their input
- Max Total Debt-to-Income (%)
- their input
- Monthly Debt Payments
- their input
- What they see (and what you receive)
- Pre-Qualified Home Price
- their result
- Maximum Loan
- their result
- Max Housing Payment (PITI)
- their result
- Max Principal & Interest
- their result
- Down Payment
- their result
- Contact and source
- Name, email, phone
- with consent
- Page and campaign
- UTM · referrer
Happy to help with 22 Oak. Before we tour, this 2-minute estimate gives you a price range to work with: [link]. Let me know the number you get and I'll send homes that fit.
Before and after
Your page before and after this calculator
BeforeAfter
Before: Are you pre-approved? Yes / No
- Most early buyers answer no, and the conversation stalls
- You have no idea of their range
- The buyer feels screened rather than helped
After: Get your estimated price range
- Buyers get a useful number in two minutes
- You see the range and the ratio that limits it
- The lender conversation starts better informed
Reading the results
What each result means for your follow-up
The same figures your visitor sees arrive in your lead record. Here's how to read the ones that matter.
- Pre-Qualified Home Price
- The estimated price that fits both ratio limits with the down payment entered. Use it to set up a first search, labelled as an estimate.
- Limiting Ratio
- Whether the housing ratio or the total debt ratio set the limit. A total-debt limit points to existing debts. A housing-ratio limit points to income relative to local costs.
- Max Housing Payment (PITI)
- The largest monthly payment, including taxes and insurance, that fits the limits. Compare it with the payments on the listings they like.
What can go wrong
Mistakes that cost agents the lead
Calling a buyer 'pre-qualified' in writing
Don't write 'you're pre-qualified for $X' in emails or offers. This estimate comes from self-reported numbers. Say 'your estimate came out around $X' and leave qualification language to the lender.
Mixing up gross and net income
Lending ratios use gross income. Buyers sometimes enter take-home pay, which understates the range. A quick question on the follow-up call fixes it.
Ignoring monthly taxes and HOA
Leaving taxes, insurance and HOA at zero inflates the price. Set realistic defaults for your market so first-time visitors get a sensible range.
Inside the Pre-Qualification Calculator
What your visitor enters (8)
Income & Debts
- Annual Income
- Monthly Debt Payments
Loan Details
- Down Payment
- Interest Rate (%)
- Loan Term (years)
- Monthly Taxes, Insurance & HOA
Qualification Limits
- Max Housing Ratio (%)
- Max Total Debt-to-Income (%)
Field names are shown as they appear in the calculator's English interface.
What they see (and what you receive) (7)
- Pre-Qualified Home Price
- Maximum Loan
- Max Housing Payment (PITI)
- Max Principal & Interest
- Down Payment
- Monthly Income
- Limiting Ratio
Definitions shown in the calculator (9)
- Pre-qualification
- An early, informal estimate of how much a buyer may be able to borrow, based on self-reported income, debts and savings. It is not a loan commitment or approval. This calculator applies standard housing and debt-to-income limits to your figures; a lender’s review of credit, income documents and assets can produce a different number.
- Pre-approval
- A more formal step than pre-qualification: the lender checks your credit and verifies income and assets, then issues a conditional commitment for a loan amount. Sellers often expect one with an offer. It still depends on the property appraisal and final underwriting, and it expires after a set period.
- Housing ratio (front-end)
- The maximum share of gross monthly income the full housing payment may take: principal, interest, taxes, insurance and HOA dues. The 28% default is a traditional guideline, not a rule every lender applies. At $95,000 a year, 28% allows a housing payment of about $2,217 a month.
- Debt-to-income ratio (DTI)
- The back-end limit: the housing payment plus all other monthly debts, divided by gross monthly income. The 43% default reflects a common guideline tied to the CFPB’s qualified-mortgage rules, not a legal cap; many lenders allow higher ratios with strong compensating factors. Existing debts reduce the housing payment this limit allows.
- Limiting ratio
- Whichever of the two limits, housing ratio or total DTI, produces the lower maximum housing payment. The calculator uses that lower figure. With few other debts the housing ratio usually limits; with significant car, student or card payments, total DTI usually does, and paying down those debts raises the pre-qualified amount.
- PITI
- Principal, interest, taxes and insurance: the full monthly housing payment lenders measure against income. In this calculator the maximum PITI is set by the limiting ratio; your monthly taxes, insurance and HOA are subtracted from it, and what remains is the principal and interest the loan can carry.
- Maximum loan
- The largest loan whose principal-and-interest payment fits within the maximum PITI after taxes, insurance and HOA, at the rate and term you enter. Adding the down payment gives the pre-qualified home price. A higher rate or shorter term lowers it; lower taxes or HOA dues raise it.
- Down payment
- Cash put toward the purchase at closing; the pre-qualified home price is the maximum loan plus this amount. It does not change the loan you qualify for here, but it raises the price you can target. Set aside separate funds for closing costs and reserves, which the down payment figure should not include.
- Gross monthly income
- Annual income before taxes and deductions, divided by 12; both ratios are applied to this figure. Lenders generally count only stable, documented income, such as salary, and may average bonus, commission or self-employment income over time, so qualifying income can be lower than what you actually earn.
Calculator disclaimer
Estimates only. Uses the lower of your housing-ratio and total debt-to-income limits. Pre-qualification is not a loan commitment or approval; your actual borrowing power depends on verified income, credit and full underwriting.
Calculator results are estimates for illustration, not Loan Estimates, pre-approvals or offers of credit.
Terms on this page
Questions by topic
Pre-Qualification Calculator: questions agents ask
Which ratios does the calculator use?
A maximum housing ratio (housing payment ÷ gross monthly income) and a maximum total debt-to-income ratio (housing plus other debts ÷ gross monthly income). The calculator finds the largest payment that satisfies both and converts it into a loan amount and price.
Why is this estimate different from the affordability calculator?
It's shorter. It uses a single debts figure and monthly taxes, insurance and HOA as one input, while the affordability calculator itemizes debts, PMI and tax rates. With the same inputs, the results should be in the same range.
Does it consider credit score?
No. Credit affects the rate and the program, so if you know a buyer's likely rate is higher, enter it. The estimate is only as good as the rate assumption.
Can I share this with buyers who aren't working with me yet?
Yes. It's a good first step for portal leads and open-house visitors. It gives them something useful before you ask them to commit to a meeting or a buyer agreement.
How do I talk about the estimate without overstepping?
Describe it as the buyer's estimate, built from their numbers. Recommend a lender for pre-approval, and don't give advice on credit or loan products. If you refer them to a lender, make sure no referral fee or thing of value changes hands.
Does the Spanish version match the English one?
Yes. It's the same calculator and the same math, with labels, help text, definitions and disclaimer in Spanish. Visitors can switch languages, or you can link to Spanish directly.
Can I change the default ratios?
Yes. You can set default housing and total DTI limits, or hide those fields and keep your defaults for a simpler form. Conservative defaults produce more realistic estimates.
Can I use it as a link instead of embedding it?
Yes. Every calculator has a direct link that works in texts, emails, QR codes and social bios. Leads from the link are captured the same way as leads from an embed.
Is it on the free plan?
Yes. Pre-qualification is one of the buyer tools available on every plan, including the free Agent plan with up to 5 calculators.
Pairs well with
Calculators that pair well with this one
Put the Pre-Qualification Calculator on your next listing
Included on every plan, including the free Agent plan. No card needed.