Understanding Your NestCost Score

The NestCost Score (0–100) is a composite readiness index across four dimensions. It's not a pre-approval — it's an honest assessment of whether you can buy in your target market at a safe debt-to-income ratio, and what it would take to get there.

What the score measures

1. Affordability (35%): can you buy in your target market at a safe DTI? Calculated from income, debts, and savings vs. your target home price.
2. Credit readiness (25%): are your credit score and profile in mortgage-ready shape?
3. Cash reserves (25%): do you have enough for down payment + closing costs + a 3-month emergency buffer?
4. Stability (15%): employment duration, income consistency, and debt trajectory.

Score tiers

• ▸80–100 — Home-Ready: you can likely get a competitive offer accepted today.
• ▸65–79 — Close: a few months of focused work closes the gap.
• ▸50–64 — Building: 6–12 months of progress needed.
• ▸Below 50 — Starting: foundational work first — credit and savings.

Three price tiers, one score

Your score comes with three price tiers: Conservative, Balanced, and Stretch. The bank's pre-approval is a ceiling; your Balanced tier is the honest target — what you can afford without house-poor stress. The Stretch tier is the max you could carry, not what you should.

How to improve your score

• ▸Pay down debts — the fastest affordability lever. Every $200/mo of debt eliminated raises your purchasing power.
• ▸Raise your credit score — 20 points can unlock a better rate and a higher tier.
• ▸Save more — the cash reserves pillar rewards a bigger cushion and lowers your cash-to-close risk.
• ▸Lower your target price — a smaller target in a cheaper market raises every pillar at once.

Use it as a compass

The score isn't a verdict; it's a map. Run it, see which pillar is weakest, and use the What-If Studio to model the specific changes that move your number. The path to "Home-Ready" is usually shorter than people think.