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Independent editorial. Not a lender, broker, or financial advisor.
About MortgagePreApprovalCalculator.com
An independent mortgage pre-approval reference. DTI-based math, primary-source rule citations, no lead capture, no affiliate strings. Verified May 2026.
Why this site exists
Lender pre-approval portals (Rocket Mortgage, Chase, Wells Fargo, Bank of America, Navy Federal, Veterans United, Quicken) require an email address, a phone number, or a full application before they will show the DTI math behind a pre-approval amount. Rate-aggregator portals (Bankrate, NerdWallet, Zillow, Credit Karma, Credible) embed affiliate revenue inside their editorial coverage so the highest-paying lender lands at the top of the comparison table. The CFPB owns the Ability-to-Repay and Qualified Mortgage rule (12 CFR 1026.43) and Fannie Mae / Freddie Mac / FHA / VA / USDA own the program selling guides, but those documents run 50 to 1,000 pages and are written for underwriters, not borrowers.
The gap is an independent reference that shows the DTI math, names the source for every ceiling and limit, and does not depend on a lead-capture form to display the answer. This site fills that gap for the calculator-tool corner of the mortgage information surface.
Editorial position
MortgagePreApprovalCalculator.com is not a lender, mortgage broker, mortgage marketing service company, loan officer, affiliate lead-gen funnel, mortgage consultancy, or financial advisor. We do not originate loans, generate leads for lenders, sell lead data, take application fees, or earn commissions on any product or service. We have no commercial relationships with Rocket Mortgage, Chase, Bank of America, Wells Fargo, Navy Federal, Veterans United, USAA, Quicken, Better, SoFi, Credible, Bankrate, NerdWallet, or Zillow. Nothing on this site constitutes a loan offer or a commitment to lend.
Where rate ranges or program details have two ends (FHA MIP at 0.55% annual but 1.75% upfront; VA funding fee 2.15% first use vs 3.30% subsequent use; conventional PMI 0.30 to 1.50% annual depending on credit and LTV), both ends are shown. Rules are quoted with their handbook section number where possible. The DTI math is shown long-form so readers can verify the calculator output by hand.
Who runs the site
Built and maintained by Digital Signet (Oliver Wakefield-Smith). Digital Signet runs an independent portfolio of consumer-finance reference sites covering loan programs, retirement accounts, and tax planning. Sister sites with closely related editorial scope: conventionalloanvsfha.com and whatisagoodmortgagerate.com.
What this site covers
Pre-Approval Calculator
How Much House Can I Afford
DTI Ratio Explained
Credit Score and Mortgage Rates
Down Payment Guide
FHA vs Conventional
FHA Loan Pre-Approval
VA Loan Pre-Approval
Self-Employed Mortgage
2026 Mortgage Rates
Pre-Approval vs Pre-Qualification
First-Time Buyer Guide
$100K Salary Scenarios
$75K Salary Scenarios
Editorial principles
Source pattern
Every DTI ceiling, loan limit, MIP / PMI rate, FHA MIP schedule, VA funding fee, and credit-score rate band traces to a primary source (CFPB ATR / QM rule under 12 CFR 1026.43, Fannie Mae Selling Guide, Freddie Mac Single-Family Seller Servicer Guide, FHA Single Family Housing Policy Handbook 4000.1, VA Pamphlet 26-7, FHFA Conforming Loan Limit announcement, Freddie Mac PMMS) or a clearly attributed industry survey.
No paid placements
No lender, broker, mortgage marketing service company, or rate-aggregator portal has paid for placement, mention, ranking, or favourable treatment in any content on this site. Mentions of Rocket Mortgage, Chase, Bank of America, Wells Fargo, Navy Federal, Veterans United, Quicken, Better, SoFi, and similar are descriptive and editorial only.
No affiliate parameters
Outbound links to lender or rate-comparison sites do not carry affiliate tracking parameters. We do not earn commissions on rate lookups, lead generation, application submissions, or originated loans.
Monthly verification
DTI ceilings, FHA / VA / USDA program rules, conforming loan limits, FHA MIP schedules, VA funding fee tables, and Freddie Mac PMMS rate observations are reviewed during the first business week of each month. The current full-pass date is shown in the footer and via the single-source LAST_VERIFIED constant.
Single-source freshness
One canonical constant (LAST_VERIFIED_DATE / LAST_VERIFIED_LABEL in src/lib/schema.ts) sources the footer date stamp, Article schema dateModified, WebSite schema dateModified, and the rate-stamp badges across the site. There is no per-page freshness drift.
Conservative math
Worked examples use standard DTI ceilings (43% back-end conventional, 50% FHA with compensating factors), not maximum-exception cases. Affordability tables use both the lender maximum and a comfortable 25% of take-home pay number side by side so the gap is visible. We treat exception-case approvals as the exception, not the headline.
Methodology in brief
DTI ratios follow the CFPB ATR / QM framework and the Fannie Mae / Freddie Mac / FHA / VA / USDA selling-guide limits as they stand today. Rate observations cite the Freddie Mac Primary Mortgage Market Survey for the 30-year and 15-year fixed averages. Loan limits cite the FHFA Conforming Loan Limit announcement (conventional) and HUD FHA mortgage limit lookup (FHA, by county). MIP / PMI math uses the FHA Single Family Housing Policy Handbook 4000.1 MIP schedule and standard PMI rate ranges by credit score band.
The calculator engine runs entirely client-side in JavaScript. There is no server-side data capture, no analytics tied to inputs, and no transmission of income, debt, credit-score, or down-payment values off the device. The Google Analytics tag captures page-view events only, not calculator inputs.
Contact and corrections
If a DTI ceiling, MIP rate, conforming limit, funding fee, or rate citation looks wrong, email [email protected] with the page URL and the source you are citing. We aim to acknowledge corrections within 5 business days and publish a fix the same working week.
This site is an independent educational resource. Calculator results are estimates based on standard DTI and program guidelines and do not constitute a loan offer or guarantee of approval. Consult a licensed mortgage professional for personalised advice.