05/17/2026
Your pre-approval letter may show a home price, but it's really built on the monthly payment. 🥜
Lenders start with your income before taxes. Some loan programs use half of that income to set the max mortgage payment allowed. However, minimum debt payments lower that number. Car payments, credit cards, student loans, or other loans.
This is still a rough estimate. The opportunity for creativity happens in a few places, including how that monthly income is calculated. If one lender says you qualify for a $3,000 payment, that might not be the only option. Another lender may see your approval differently.
Here’s the part I care about most:
What you can qualify for and what you can comfortably pay each month aren't always the same number. A good pre-approval, especially for a first-time homebuyer, should help you understand your options.
That’s why I look at the full picture with my clients: budget, goals, pre-approval, and the payment that actually makes sense.
Pistachio math makes the mortgage math simple. Real life makes it personal.
Compared to your income, was the pre-approval estimate higher or lower than you expected? 👇