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House Affordability Calculator

Calculate how much house you can afford based on your income, debts, and down payment. See your maximum home price and monthly payment breakdown.

Affordability Summary

Max Home Price

$364,517

Based on 28/36 rule

Monthly Payment

$2,333

PITI + PMI + HOA

Loan Amount$291,614
Down Payment$72,903
Front-End Ratio28.0%
Back-End Ratio34.0%

Income & Debts

Your household financials

$
$

Include car payments, student loans, credit cards, etc.

Loan Terms

Down payment and interest details

%
330
%

Property Costs

Taxes, insurance, and HOA fees

%

US average: ~1.1%. Ranges from 0.3% (HI) to 2.5%+ (NJ, IL).

$
$

Monthly Payment Breakdown

Principal:$264
Interest:$1,580
Taxes:$365
Insurance:$125

Affordability by Income

IncomeMax PriceMonthly Payment
$60,000/yr$194,043$1,300/mo
$80,000/yr$287,500$1,866/mo
$100,000/yr$364,517$2,333/mo
$125,000/yr$460,801$2,916/mo
$150,000/yr$557,091$3,499/mo
$200,000/yr$749,853$4,667/mo

Debt-to-Income Ratios

Standard lending guidelines

Front-End Ratio (Housing)28.0% / 28%
Back-End Ratio (Total Debt)34.0% / 36%

Affordability Summary

Max Home Price

$364,517

Based on 28/36 rule

Monthly Payment

$2,333

PITI + PMI + HOA

Loan Amount$291,614
Down Payment$72,903
Front-End Ratio28.0%
Back-End Ratio34.0%

Adjust Annual Income

See how your income affects the maximum home price you can afford

$40,000$100,000$300,000

Personalized Insights

4 insights based on your inputs

Heads Up

3.6x income is on the higher end. Consider reducing debts or increasing your down payment to improve affordability.

Good News

With 20% down, you avoid PMI and get better loan terms—this saves you thousands over the life of the loan.

Note

Your $500/month in existing debts reduces your home buying power by roughly $24,000. Paying down debt increases affordability.

Frequently Asked Questions

How much house can I afford?

Generally, you can afford a home 2.5-3x your annual income. Lenders use debt-to-income ratios: front-end (housing costs) should be ≤28% of gross income, back-end (all debts) should be ≤36%. Your actual affordability depends on down payment, rates, taxes, and other debts.

What is the 28/36 rule?

The 28/36 rule is a lending guideline: housing costs (mortgage, taxes, insurance) should not exceed 28% of gross monthly income (front-end ratio), and total monthly debt payments should not exceed 36% of gross income (back-end ratio).

How much down payment do I need?

Minimum down payments: Conventional loans 3-5%, FHA loans 3.5%, VA/USDA loans 0%. However, 20% down avoids PMI, reduces monthly payments, and may get better rates. Median first-time buyer puts down 6%, repeat buyer 17%.

What costs are included in a mortgage payment?

PITI: Principal, Interest, property Taxes, homeowner's Insurance. Also consider: PMI (if <20% down), HOA fees, maintenance (budget 1% of home value/year), and utilities. Total housing costs are typically 1.5-2x the base mortgage payment.

How do interest rates affect affordability?

Every 1% rate increase reduces buying power by roughly 10%. At 6% rate, a $2,000 payment affords ~$333K. At 7%, the same payment affords ~$300K. Rate changes have a significant impact on how much house you can afford.

Formula:
By Joseph OrdunaHow this works

How this works

Calculations are run entirely in your browser. No inputs are sent to our servers and no account is required. Formulas follow standard US definitions from the IRS and the CFPB where applicable; international users should confirm local tax and regulatory rules apply.

What this tool can’t do

When to consult a professional

This is a software engineering tool, not financial advice. Run the math here, then take the result to a certified financial planner, CPA, or your bank before making a decision that materially affects your money.

Sources

  1. [1]
    Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB)
    Official sourceconsumerfinance.govAccessed Apr 21, 2026

    US consumer finance regulator; authoritative on mortgage disclosures, APR rules, credit cards.

Joseph Orduna
Founder & Software Engineer

Full-stack software engineer specializing in embedded systems, web architecture, and AI/ML. Founder of Practical Web Tools. Built the gesture-controlled drone IP acquired by KD Interactive (Aura Drone, sold on Amazon).