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NACA budget & payment worksheet

NACA sets your mortgage payment from your budget, not from a credit score. Work through the same four steps your NACA counselor will: your maximum payment, your monthly budget, what that payment could buy, and the cash you'll still need.

Have your last three months of bank and card statements open. Real numbers beat estimates. The full walkthrough is in how the NACA budget works.

Your numbers stay on this device. A draft is kept in this browser so you can come back.

Step 1

Your maximum payment

NACA takes the lowest of three numbers. Use gross pay (before taxes) for every adult earner who'll live in the home.

One paycheck, before taxes
Minimum payments on cards, car, student and personal loans, child support you pay
What you pay each month. $0 if you don't pay rent.
Your real pattern from bank statements: growth across all accounts, not transfers
Ratios used (33% housing, 42% debt)

From NACA's 2025 workshop slides. Older materials show 31% and 40%. Your counselor confirms the current figures.

Step 2

Your monthly budget

Use your real bank and card statements, not estimates. Most people can't account for about a fifth of their spending.

What actually lands in your accounts
Renters insurance, storage, parking. Rent and debts come from step 1.
Electric, gas, water/sewer, trash
Mobile, home internet, cable, streaming TV
Use the 7-day diary below if you're not sure
Gas, insurance, repairs, tolls, parking, rideshare (not the car loan)
Premiums, copays, prescriptions, dental, eye care, gym
Daycare, tuition, lunches, activities
Clothes, hair, nails, laundry, toiletries
Food, vet, grooming
Events, hobbies, lottery
Streaming, apps, dues, delivery services
Spread yearly trips across 12 months
Overdraft, check cashing, transfer fees
Leave blank to use your step 1 maximum
Step 3

What that payment could buy

NACA finances the full price, so the loan is roughly the price. Type in NACA's current rate from naca.com; this page doesn't supply one.

2026 real estate tax rates
Get a real quote for the home you like
Each point costs 1% of the loan and lowers the rate by about 1/6 of a percent. Up to 5 points from your own funds.
Step 4

Cash you'll still need

Even without a down payment, you'll need cash. NACA calls this your Minimum Required Funds.

Checking and savings. Cash at home should be deposited.
About $500, more for multi-family
Later in the month means less prepaid interest

Fill in the rate in step 3 to see your estimate.

For education only. This is an estimate, not a loan application, pre-approval or credit decision. Only NACA decides your qualified payment, loan amount, rate and Minimum Required Funds, and its ratios and rules can change. Everything you type stays in this browser: it isn't sent to this site, emailed or saved anywhere except as a draft in your own browser, which “Clear” removes. Tax rates: 2026 real estate rates published by each locality. Independent educational session. Not affiliated with, endorsed by, or acting on behalf of the Neighborhood Assistance Corporation of America (NACA). Program terms, rates and eligibility are set by NACA, can change, and not every applicant qualifies. Built by Martin Kurylowski, REALTOR®, a past NACA buyer and referral partner, not a NACA employee.