Maximum Loan Amount Calculator
Two separate ceilings decide how much you can borrow. This shows both, and which one binds.
What This Calculator Does
Works backward from the monthly payment you can support to the loan principal it services at your rate and term, then compares that figure against the loan-to-value ceiling your down payment and the property price impose. Your real maximum is whichever of the two comes in lower.
Who Is This For
Buyers who know their comfortable payment and want the price that matches it, borrowers with a fixed amount of cash testing how far the down payment reaches, and anyone handed a pre-approval number who wants to understand where it came from.
How It Works
Enter the monthly payment you can carry, the rate and term you expect, and the cash you have available for a down payment. The calculator returns the payment-driven loan amount, the loan-to-value ceiling, and the constraint that actually binds.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why are there two ceilings?
Because a lender tests two different things. One is whether you can make the payment, which is an income and ratio question. The other is how much of the property's value they are willing to lend against, which is a collateral question. Both have to clear, so the smaller answer is your true maximum.
What is loan-to-value?
The loan amount divided by the property's value or purchase price, whichever is lower. It is how a lender measures its own exposure. A larger down payment lowers the ratio, and lower ratios open better pricing and can remove mortgage insurance from the payment entirely.
Does the appraisal affect this?
Yes, and this is where deals break. If the appraisal lands below the contract price, the loan-to-value ceiling is calculated on the appraised figure rather than on what you agreed to pay. The gap becomes cash you have to bring or a price you have to renegotiate.
Is the maximum the amount I should borrow?
No. It is a boundary, not a target. Borrowing at your ceiling leaves nothing for insurance increases, special assessments, or maintenance — all of which move more in South Florida than buyers coming from other markets expect.
How much does the rate move the ceiling?
A great deal, because the payment-driven side is entirely rate-sensitive. With benchmark 30-year rates near 6.6-6.7% in mid-2026, a given monthly payment supports a very different principal than it did in a lower-rate market. Re-run the number every time your quote changes.