How much house can you really afford?
Lenders don't just look at your income — they look at how much of it is already committed. This calculator uses the widely accepted 28/36 rule: your total housing payment should stay under 28% of your gross monthly income, and all your debt payments combined (housing plus car, cards, and loans) should stay under 36%.
From there it works backwards through your down payment, mortgage rate, term, and estimated property taxes and insurance to find the home price that keeps you inside those limits.
What the numbers mean
- Home price you can afford — the purchase price that keeps your payment within the 28/36 limits.
- Max monthly payment — your full PITI (principal, interest, taxes, insurance) ceiling.
- Loan amount — the home price minus your down payment.
Tips before you shop
- Pay down other debts first. Every $100/month of debt you clear frees up buying power.
- A bigger down payment lowers your loan and can help you avoid PMI (usually needed under 20% down).
- Get pre-approved so you shop with a real, lender-backed number.
- Leave a cushion. Just because you can borrow the maximum doesn't mean you should.