See how much house you can afford
Lenders don't just look at your income — they look at how much of it your monthly payments would eat up. This tool uses the classic 28/36 rule to turn your income, existing debts, down payment, and mortgage rate into a realistic maximum home price and a full monthly payment breakdown. Everything runs in your browser — nothing is uploaded.
How affordability is estimated
- The 28/36 rule caps your housing payment at 28% of gross monthly income and your total debt payments (housing plus other debts) at 36%. The smaller of those two limits sets your maximum monthly payment.
- That payment is PITI — principal, interest, property taxes, and insurance — plus any HOA dues. Taxes, insurance, and HOA are subtracted first, and what's left funds principal and interest.
- The maximum loan is the amount whose monthly principal-and-interest payment, at your rate and term, equals that leftover. Add your down payment to get the maximum home price. Because taxes scale with price, the two are solved together.
- This does not add PMI, which usually applies below a 20% down payment, and it assumes a fixed-rate loan. Lenders also weigh credit score, reserves, and loan program.
An estimate for planning, not a loan pre-approval or financial advice. Actual limits depend on your credit, the lender's overlays, loan program, and current rates, and many buyers choose to spend less than the maximum. Get a pre-approval before you shop.
How much house can I afford?
The honest answer is: as much as your monthly budget comfortably supports, not as much as a lender will approve. Affordability comes down to three levers — your income, your existing debts, and your down payment — filtered through the interest rate and the term of the loan. This calculator applies the 28/36 rule that most lenders start with, then works backward from the maximum payment to a maximum home price.
What is the 28/36 rule?
- The 28% front-end ratio says your total housing payment — principal, interest, taxes, and insurance — should stay at or below 28% of your gross monthly income.
- The 36% back-end ratio says all your monthly debt payments together, including the new mortgage, should stay at or below 36% of gross income. Some loan programs stretch this to 43% or higher.
Whichever limit is lower is the one that binds. If you carry a lot of other debt, the 36% rule usually caps you first; if you're debt-free, the 28% housing rule sets the ceiling. Paying down a car loan or credit card before you buy can noticeably raise how much home you qualify for.
Why the down payment matters twice
A bigger down payment helps in two ways. It directly adds to the price you can buy — every dollar down is a dollar of house on top of your loan. And once you reach 20% down, you typically avoid private mortgage insurance (PMI), which lowers your monthly payment and lets more of it go toward principal and interest. Use our savings goal calculator to plan how to reach a target down payment.
Don't forget the costs beyond the mortgage
PITI is only part of the picture. Homeownership adds maintenance (a common rule of thumb is 1% of the home's value per year), utilities, and the occasional big repair. Buying also has closing costs of roughly 2–5% of the price. Deciding between renting and buying at all? Compare the full picture with our rent vs. buy calculator, and see how extra payments shorten the loan with the mortgage payoff calculator.
Frequently asked questions
How much house can I afford on a $90,000 salary?
With about $450 in other monthly debts, a $40,000 down payment, and a 6.5% rate on a 30-year loan, the 28/36 rule supports roughly a $320,000–$340,000 home. Less debt, a bigger down payment, or a lower rate all raise that number. Enter your own figures above to see your result.
What percentage of income should go to a mortgage?
The 28/36 rule targets no more than 28% of gross income for the full housing payment and 36% for all debts combined. Many financial planners suggest an even more conservative 25% of take-home pay for housing so you keep room to save and invest.
Does this include property taxes and insurance?
Yes. The maximum payment is a full PITI figure — principal, interest, taxes, and insurance — plus any HOA dues you enter. Taxes and insurance are subtracted before the leftover funds your loan, so the home price already accounts for them.
How much do I need for a down payment?
Conventional loans can go as low as 3% down, and FHA loans as low as 3.5%, but putting 20% down lets you skip PMI and lowers your payment. This tool uses whatever down payment you enter; a larger one raises your maximum price and can improve your rate.
Should I borrow the maximum I qualify for?
Usually not. Qualifying for a payment and comfortably living with it are different things. Leaving a cushion below your maximum keeps room for maintenance, emergencies, and the goals you're still saving for. Many buyers deliberately shop below their approval amount.
Fit a home purchase into the bigger picture
Free, private, and running entirely in your browser. Model your savings, down payment, and cash flow together — and track plan vs. actual — no account required.