Home affordability is the most a buyer can pay for a home given their income, debts, down payment and today’s rate, within the debt-to-income limits lenders use. The calculator returns a price range and the monthly payment behind it, so the search starts in the right bracket.
Find out how much house you can afford based on your income, existing debts, and down payment. We use the 28/36 rule to calculate a comfortable home price range.
Before taxes, all household earners
Car loans, student loans, credit cards, etc.
You can afford up to
$299,805
with $60,000 down (20%)
Conservative
$254,834
Recommended
$299,805
Maximum
$329,785
Monthly Income: $7,083
Housing Payment: $1,966
Other Debts: $500
Total Obligations: $2,466
Input your annual income, monthly debts, and available down payment to start your calculation.
Set your interest rate, loan term, property tax rate, and other monthly costs for accuracy.
Get your maximum home price, monthly payment breakdown, and DTI analysis instantly.
Determining how much house you can afford is one of the most important steps in the home buying process. Our free home affordability calculator uses the industry-standard 28/36 rule to analyze your income, debts, and down payment to find a realistic price range. Unlike simple calculators that only look at income, this tool considers your complete financial picture including existing debts, property taxes, insurance, and PMI.
Your home buying budget is determined by several factors: your gross income, existing monthly debt payments, available down payment, and current interest rates. Lenders use debt-to-income (DTI) ratios to ensure you can comfortably afford your mortgage. The front-end ratio (28%) limits housing costs, while the back-end ratio (36%) limits total debt. This calculator applies both limits to find your maximum comfortable purchase price.
While this calculator provides a solid starting point, your actual buying power depends on additional factors like your credit score, employment history, and the type of loan you choose. FHA loans may allow higher DTI ratios, while VA loans offer no-down-payment options for veterans. We recommend getting pre-approved by a lender to know your exact borrowing limit.
Just because you can afford a certain price doesn't mean you should maximize your budget. Consider leaving room for unexpected expenses, home maintenance, and lifestyle costs. Many financial advisors suggest targeting the conservative estimate rather than the maximum to maintain financial flexibility and avoid becoming "house poor."
Explore our mortgage calculator and closing cost estimator to plan your purchase.
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Key facts
Maximum monthly housing payment = the smaller of (gross monthly income × 28%) and (gross monthly income × 36% − other monthly debts). The loan amount is the payment that remains after tax and insurance, divided by the payment per dollar at today’s rate.
With 10% down, a price of about $404,000. The calculator shows the range and the payment behind it.
Most conventional lenders look for a front-end ratio (housing payment over gross income) near 28% and a back-end ratio (all debts over gross income) near 36%, with approvals up to 43% to 50% for strong files. FHA loans commonly allow 31% and 43%. The lower of the two limits sets the payment.
At $100,000 a year, the 28% rule allows about $2,333 a month for housing. After roughly $450 of tax and insurance, about $1,880 is left for principal and interest, which at 6.5% over 30 years supports a loan near $297,000. With 10% down that is a price around $330,000; less debt or a lower rate raises it.
Last reviewed September 8, 2026 by the EstatePass editorial team. Formulas and program limits are checked against the published rules; figures on this page are arithmetic, not market statistics.
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