The approval is a ceiling, not a budget
A pre-approval tells you the most a lender will lend. It doesn't know about daycare, your commute, or what you want left over each month. Start from the payment you can live with.
For home buyers
What can youreally afford?
Not the most a bank will approve — the payment that fits your life. Run your own numbers in a minute, then have Mike line up homes that fit, and introduce you to lenders when you're ready.
No obligation · never sold
Sound familiar?
Approved for isn't the same as comfortable with.
The payment is more than the loan
Property taxes, homeowners insurance, HOA dues and — near the coast — flood insurance all ride on top of principal and interest. Mike helps you see the whole payment on real homes before you fall for one.
Affordability calculator
Start from the payment.
Estimated price range to shop
Enter your payment
- Comfortable monthly payment
- —
- Taxes, insurance, HOA
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- Left for the loan each month
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- Loan that carries
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- Plus your down payment
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- Price range to shop
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An estimate from the numbers you entered — not a loan offer or a pre-approval. It leaves out mortgage insurance, which many loans with a smaller down payment carry. What you qualify for comes from a licensed lender. Nothing you type here is saved; if you send your details, this summary goes to Mike with them.
Have Mike find homes in this rangeHow it works
Your numbers. Real homes.
- 01
Tell Val what you're after
Where you're looking, what you need, and what's pushing the move. Val answers questions any hour.
- 02
Run your real numbers
The calculator turns a payment you're comfortable with into a price range — taxes, insurance and HOA included.
- 03
Get a buying plan from Mike
Homes that fit the number, what to expect in each area, and an introduction to lenders when you're ready. No obligation.
Meet Val
Ask Val about buying here. Answers in seconds.
- Works for Mike. Only Mike.What you share goes to Mike and nobody else.
- Answers any hour.Nights, weekends, the middle of a move.
- Never quotes a rate.Rates, terms and approvals come only from a licensed lender. Val tells you what to ask one.
Val is an AI assistant. It never makes up a number, and says so when it doesn't know.
Your agent
Mike Olson
Licensed Agent · Director of AI Strategy & Innovation · eXp Realty
Listings & sales · 20 years selling the Lowcountry
Questions
Straight answers.
Is this a pre-approval?
No. Mike works in real estate, not lending. A pre-approval comes from a licensed mortgage lender, who reviews your income, assets and credit. Mike can introduce you to a few — you choose.
Does this check my credit?
No. Nothing on this page checks your credit, and the calculator runs in your browser — nothing you type into it is saved or sent.
Who sees what I send?
Mike, and nobody else. It is never sold, and never passed to a lender or another agent without your OK.
Buy the home that fits your life, not just the loan.
Ready for a buying plan? Two steps, ten seconds. It goes to Mike and nobody else.