Courtesy of Diane Schaffer, REALTOR®

How Big A Mortgage Can I Afford?

Not only does owning a home give you a haven for yourself and your family, it makes great financial sense, too.

This calculation assumes a 28-percent income tax bracket. If your bracket is higher, your savings will be too.

Rent: _________________________

Multiplier: X 1.32

Mortgage payment:__________________

Because of tax deductions, you can make a mortgage payment—including taxes and insurance—that is approximately one-third larger than your current rent payment and end up with the same amount of income.

To determine what your monthly mortgage payment would be on various loan amounts, visit

http://www.realtor.org/realtororg.NSF/pages/FMCalculators?OpenDocument&Login

Reprinted from REALTOR® Magazine Online by permission of the NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF REALTORS®. Copyright 2003. All rights reserved.