646.939.7375·
★92 Google reviewsIGLIFBYTTT
Calculator

Co-op Affordability Calculator

Co-op boards screen on three numbers: debt-to-income ratio, post-closing liquidity, and down payment percentage. Below, enter the same data you’d put on a REBNY financial statement and see which tier of Manhattan co-op board you’d clear — from approachable mid-tier buildings through Park Avenue trophies.

The Roebling Team at Compass
Corey Cohen, Principal
646.939.7375·c.cohen@compass.com
Schedule a consultation →
The apartment
Purchase price
$
Down payment
$
25.0% of price
Mortgage rate
%
Monthly maintenance
$
Annual household income (combined)
Base salary
$
Bonus / commission
$
Boards typically count 50% of recurring bonus
Liquid assets (cash, brokerage, money market)
$
Excludes retirement accounts and real estate. This is what counts toward post-closing liquidity at most boards.
Other monthly debt obligations
$
Student loans, auto loans, credit card minimums, alimony, child support.
+ Show advanced
Retirement assets (401k, IRA, pension)
$
Some boards count a fraction of retirement assets toward liquidity. We show this for context but don’t count it toward primary post-closing liquidity (the conservative read).
Bonus discount applied by boards
%
Most NYC co-op boards count 50% of recurring annual bonus. Some count 100% for stable W-2 finance jobs; others count 0% if not consistent.
Estimated co-op closing costs
$
Buyer-side: mansion tax, attorney, lien search, building fees, lender (if financed). Co-ops skip mortgage recording tax + title insurance.
Debt-to-income (DTI)

Total monthly housing cost (mortgage P&I + maintenance) plus other recurring debt, divided by board-counted gross income. Most boards count 50% of bonus as recurring; some count 100% (stable W-2 finance jobs), some count 0% (inconsistent history). Trophy boards want DTI under 25%. Standard luxury wants under 28%. Approachable wants under 32%.

Post-closing liquidity

Your liquid assets after paying down payment + closing costs, expressed in months/years of carrying cost coverage. Trophy boards want 3+ years. Standard luxury wants 2+ years. Approachable wants 1+ year. Some Park Avenue trophies want 5+ years and all-cash.

Down payment

Approachable co-ops typically require 25% down. Standard luxury Manhattan prewars (most of Park Ave + Fifth Ave) require 50% down. Trophy buildings (740 Park, 1040 Fifth, top CPW classics) are almost always all-cash, no financing. Many financially qualified buyers fail not on income but on liquidity after the down payment + closing.

What this calculator doesn’t cover
  • Building-specific rules. Every co-op has its own underwriting. Some boards weight reference letters and interview performance as much as numbers. We don’t simulate that.
  • Source of funds. Some boards reject LLC purchases, gifted down payments, or trust structures even when financials look strong. We don’t flag this.
  • Pied-à-terre and subletting restrictions. A building may reject a financially qualified buyer who plans non-primary use.
  • Personal/professional fit. Boards do interview. We can’t model that.
Want a building-specific read on your exact financials and which boards would say yes? That’s a 30-minute call.
Read next

Targeting a specific building?

Some boards approve in 4 weeks. Others reject 15% of applicants without explanation. Before you submit a board package, the right call is a 30-minute conversation about your specific building, your specific financials, and how to position the application.

Schedule a consultation →